Turkuaz

Turkuaz is a 9-piece “Powerfunk” outfit from Brooklyn, NY, whose modern take on the classic funk sound has established them as leaders in the funk revolution that’s currently taking place in the genre. Blending elements of Pop, R&B, and Soul with their distinct aggressive funk core, Turkuaz sounds like the musical love child of Sly & the Family Stone and Talking Heads.

With the release of their new album Digitonium, Turkuaz’s sound is more accessible than ever and poised to break out to a more mainstream audience. With a playful feel that evokes the best of 80s dance music, Turkuaz’s tightly arranged songs are built on thick grooves, driven by powerhouse rhythm and horn sections, as well as four distinct vocalists.

The group’s constant coast-to-coast touring since 2012 has earned them a passionate and dedicated national fan base that’s consistently growing. A dance band at their roots, Turkuaz’s live shows are high-energy, floor-shaking, visually appealing events filled with colorful clothing and choreographed dance moves that always leave attendees wanting more.

Turkuaz’s crossover appeal has never been more evident—from a recent video performance going viral and receiving over 2 million Facebook views, to their music providing the soundtrack to New York Knicks games at Madison Square Garden, to constant rotation on Sirius XM Radio, Turkuaz is, as Relix Magazine says, “on the verge.”

Organ Freeman

Like many bands comprised of tight-laced musicianship, Organ Freeman emerged from the Hollywood music scene wasting no time. Steer explains that the group “initially formed the group as more of an opportunity to experiment than a serious project while we were all students, and continued on as a creative outlet while we all played out as freelance musicians. It wasn’t until years later when we were presented with the chance to do a record that the band sort of morphed into what it is today.”

That record was a self-titled collection, released at the end of 2015. The full process of recording the album wound up taking six months, due to the band members’ busy schedules. Carlson was working in Las Vegas full time, and “would drive back to Los Angeles, only on Tuesdays, to work on the record.” Talk about dedication!

There’s this undeniable synergy that takes hold when you put on the Organ Freeman debut album. From one funk groove to the next, it’s a toe-tapping odyssey from start to finish. The band’s influences belie their sound, as they cite the tightest of groovers. James Brown, Soulive, Snarky Puppy, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, D’Angelo are all mentioned at the drop of a hat, showcasing this band’s pure devotion to that in-the-pocket jam.

Carlson takes us through what it’s like to write an Organ Freeman tune, saying that he and Steer “get together and form some harmonic and melodic idea. Trevor is more straight ahead funk type stuff whereas I like a lot more modern jazz, so he often has to reign me in. Then Rob comes in and seems to have a phenomenal idea to clean up our mess every time. He has a great mind for polishing a pre-existing idea.” Carlson concludes that “writing with Trevor and Rob has taught me a lot and has fostered some musical maturity.”

For fans of the Organ Freeman funk, fear not. The band also has a new record in the works, one that will be out “by early 2017” if all goes to plan.

“Playing new material live is a big part of our tweaking process, so we’ll be using whatever opportunities we have to try out the new tunes,” explains Steer. “Overall, stylistically, the record will definitely fit in with the first record, but we have gotten better and more meticulous about our sounds and our arrangement.”

The future is bright for Organ Freeman, as they continue to turn heads in a big way. As more artists and fans take note of the band’s style, there’s no limit to their potential.