MP3 8traC - the UPLIFT e.p.

From hard hittin' funk with a message, to passionate grooves artesian with lush harmonies - 8traC sparks up any crowd together Old School meets the new with rich female vocals, beguiling guitar, rootsy rhythm and deep and hot horn lines.

3 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Wince Shake Funk Rock

the UPLIFT e.p. Songs


Details:
...through the music, i believe we can and shall unite...

From hard hittin' funk with a message, to passionate grooves artesian with lush harmonies, 8traC is lighting new fires in the music world. Old School meets today in this fresh new outfit, with rich female vocals, beguiling guitar, rootsy rhythm and deep and hot horn lines. Having grown out of motown and 70s funk roots to become an original act with socially/politically conscious messages, 8traC is a slammin' new act not to be missed.

Spearheaded by Chantel Mead (lead vocals) in 2004, the band was originally started as a Motown and Funk project, desirous of bringing the old school grooves we all grew up with back to life, with fresh new arrangements and re-harms. Within months, Chantel finally stepped up with her original material and a new sound evolved. Soon after, Derek VanScoten(guitar) and Chris Misner (drums) joined in the writing process and a nucleus of creativity was born.


8traC is a 6 piece band with integrity at the forefront. The music is vocally driven with poignant messages, and soulful vocals sung with precision. Add Derek's rich pallet of layers and textures, not to mention a very schooled background, coupled with Chris's extensive realm of rhythms and the groove is un-stoppable. And there's more - a tight horn section, that is often harmonizing the lead vocals, and deeply soulful bass reminiscent of James Jamerson (The Funk Brothers) himself. This is the heart of 8traC.

Every artist finds their medium and then expands. Old school r&b roots provide the canvas for 8traC - life, experience, talent and love provide the paint - and the art, well you'll just have to check it out for yourself!!


Influences run far and wide, but here are a few samples: curtis mayfield, jackson 5, aretha franklin, michael franti, tower of power, zuco103, michael jackson, marvin gaye, jimi hendrix, stevie wonder, the mars volta, george benson, quincy jones, ozomatli, parliment...

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From an article in the November issue of The Marquee (Colorado Front Range):


8traC has just finished their first original EP entitled "the UPLIFT e.p." and, according to Chantel, are recording a full length album this winter. Three traCs from the EP, "Overcome", "Uplift Conspiracy," and "In My Arms," can be heard at their website (http://8traC.net). "Overcome" is a groov-elicious funk number reminiscent of late sixties/early seventies Motown, but with a flavor that is unique to 8traC's style. One can almost hear it as if it were written for an early career Stevie Wonder or a young Michael Jackson. "Uplift Conspiracy" starts out with a familiar R&B rift and then lends way to a smooth groove with sultry harmonies throughout. Takes one right back to the days of bell bottoms, platform shoes, and big hair. "In My Arms" is a sweet ballad sung with a genuine soulfulness not often heard these days. It's not unlike something Aretha might've done way back when she was roping in Grammy after Grammy year after year. And all the while the band sounds like the "Funk-Brothers," who were the back bone rhythm section that recorded most if not all of the music you've ever heard from the Motown/Soul/R&B era, keeping the groove solid and maintaining a feeling of authenticity. Tight grooves and shining instrumental solos permeate all three tunes.

The Marquee caught up with Chantel and she had this to say about the direction of 8traC:
"We will start touring next summer. Our music is strongly message driven. Though I don't overly state this in our bio, my lyrics are consciously focused on issues that affect us deeply every day. Be it fear and war, or love and community, it's all life and we all deal with it. So where are we headed? We can only hope in the direction of Unity through Music."

For more information about 8traC check out our website at
http://www.8trac.net