Soul: ID Interview - Ctrl.Alt.Shift

So... I'm back in the country, following a grueling 14-day reporting trip in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was emotional and testing, and how am I welcomed back from this journalism trial/adventure? With a review job of a soul group I've never heard of - NO REST FOR THE WICKED.



But I wasn't sulking for too long, hearing how Soul: ID was made up of reps from Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC - a welcomed touch of hope and blissful unity; especially after coming back from a country that has been ravaged by a decade-long African civil war. Though now based in the Western world, Soul: ID represent that peace can be found between the most hostile of nations - and perhaps back in Africa the corrupt powers that be need to wake up and listen to the music. From the DRC to Soho, London, here's my Ctrl.Alt.Shift feature from a night of pure soul:

Ctrl.Alt.Shift @ Soul: ID
What a grotty scene - from piss-soaked alleyways to flailing, wet scaffolding, the winding streets of Soho, London, have never looked so glamorous. So thank God for Soul: ID.

Revue Bar, London was graced with a bit of TLC by this Afropean four-piece. After a largely tedious and unmemorable October 22nd, it was real nice just to chill to the organic drug of raw soul music.

Synchronised, symphony, simply brilliant. They’ve travelled the world delivering beats like ‘Is this Luv’ and ‘Sex Love and Philosophy’. The smooth movement of these grooves transformed the venue into an old-school jazz café – what a rip you couldn’t spark up in there.

The old question always appears in a review: so what was so blimmin' special about these guys? Hmmm...

Well to start with, three quarters of the Soul: ID gateau are from war-torn countries. Gorgeous songstress Tchaï hails from Burundi, super Dad’D derives from D.R.Congo and slick V comes from Rwanda, producer and drummer Urban Deep completes the group who have come to be known as ‘ambassadors of peace.’

The turbulent history of their native lands holds no resonance here. They are a compassionate unit with their ‘peace and love’ image, lyrics and mentality. Each one is proud of their background and together they are making giant strides to portray harmony beyond borders – one notable achievement came last year as Soul: ID became the first Urban Act to play live in Rwanda.



Urban Deep took some time out to tell Ctrl.Alt.Shift more about the group and their mission for a global state of musical cohesion:

What is Soul: ID all about?
There needs to be more of a break down between economic and social barriers in order to create unity in a place like Africa. With music we send out that message, we like to think we are initiators of peace for the people. We know a record won’t change the world but it can help.

Read the rest of the interview with Urban Deep here