Front man and manager of TEN SOULJERS,
Vancouver's - and Canada's -
Best Party, Corporate event and Dance band!
12 Questions on putting the band together, drawing the line at Katy Perry and why personality is more important than talent!All great bands start with a vision!
Who or what is your inspiration?
It's The Commitments, the Irish Soul band. I am a huge fan of Andrew Strong, what a fantastic voice he has! When I came to Canada in 2003 I had a dream to create the best events band in all of the country.
How difficult was it to find the right band members?
It was quite challenging. My first band in Canada wasn't very successful, our personalities clashed and we didn't share the same vision. When I auditioned for new members I made sure our personalities were compatible. Sometimes I even said no to a more talented musician because I knew we couldn't work together.
Why TEN SOULJERS ?
.
We started off as a Soul and R&B band. We have three vocals, a bass - and rhythm guitar player, a keyboard, a drummer and a horn section (saxophone, trombone and trumpet) - that makes 10 altogether. Put this number and our passion together and you have Ten Souljers!
Very soon we discovered we were limiting ourselves to certain events only. We extended our repertoire and added rock and some pop. We play top 40 songs for sure, we draw the line at Katy Perry though - she is a bit too much pop for us and you have to draw the line somewhere, don't you?
Why do you play covers?
Pretend you are part of the audience. Do you want to listen to songs you have never heard of all evening long? Or do you prefer listening to titles you know, you can sing, clap and dance to? Event organisers are looking for bands who can entertain in their own, unique way!
What makes Ten Souljers extraordinary?
Our versatility, our talent, our drive and motivation to be the best in the field!
Our two female vocals Karina and D árcy are world class!
Thanks to our wide range of instruments we are able to put a distinctive spin on every song.
How do you keep the morale high among the band?
We are like a family. As I said earlier, our personalities are very compatible, we trust and believe in each other. Our common goal, vision and direction is to stay at the top of our industry. And not to forget, I pay extremely well.
How is the competition doing?
To be honest, every band who is around longer than we are is our competition. There are lot of bands who already have a successful, long track record, who built up trust and created a following. And most of them are doing great work around here in Vancouver.
What is your take on talent vs. personality in the music business?
You should have some talent for sure. More important though is your drive and motivation to succeed. If you are motivated to become the best you will practise more and consequently become better. If you have the "right" personality, you have what I call, the bounce back mentality. You handle rejections well and won't take them personally. Instead of getting frustrated you will stay on your chosen course, always! Eventually, your time will come!
How often do you play at charity events?
We did a lot of charity gigs in our early days, just to get our name out! These days we are supporting BC Cancer Research and B.C. Children's Hospital during their annual fundraiser in Vancouver!
What is the goal for The Souljers over the next few years?
To remain the best in our industry here in Vancouver, BC and across Canada. Currently we are working towards securing our first gig overseas.
How impressed is your family with your vocal cords?
They are very hard to impress. My daughter (3) starts listening to me for full 10 seconds before she gets distracted by more important objects like colourful balloons. My son (8) doesn't really care and my wife banned me from playing any instruments during our barbecue's. She thinks my singing distracts our guests from talking to each other.
At a Karaoke sing-off, who would blow the audience away, Mick Jagger, David Bowie or Marty Robson?
Marty Robson!
Ten Souljers
Marty Robson
info@tensouljers.com
http://www.tensouljers.com/
Logo design: Web Design by Merge2
Photos: Marty Robson
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