artist 1LUV

Brothas and sistas gonna work it out, gonna work it on out! The cry of the everyman who believes there are some things still worth fighting for can be heard loud and true from the 8 member cosmic soulestra 1LUV. Birthed by simple passing-bys and meetings in the Vancouver nightlife, Dr.J has taken his “soul/jazz” sound to the next level. Fronted by Deanna Teeple, Amalia Townsend and Dawn Pemberton, three dynamic ladies with enough sass and stage savy for the whole city, this trio of amazing vocalists are the voices and harmonies that put the soul in soulestra. Percussionist Jayson Powell and drummer Rahim Gaidhar anchor the rhythm section, while Berkley-trained guitarist Tom “Ill-fingas” Hancock and Wellington-studied bass player Matt “Kutcorners” Perry provide the colorful melodic grooves. On keyboards and synths is Dr.J, the band’s producer and music director of this deep soul/funk workout. First discovered by uber-crew Jazzanova, featured on their Secret Love 2 Folk Compilation alongside 4Hero, Daft Punk and Fat Freddy’s Drop, the music is finding its way into the crates of heavyweight international DJs and tastemakers such as Phil Asher (Restless Soul), Karl Injex (Rude Movements), BITA (Goya), Osunlade (Yoruba), Benji B(BBC 1Xtra). The first single from Seattle imprint Suntzu Sound, BLACK DAYLIGHT, was co-produced with globetrotting MC Capitol A and has had a very positive response from the global dance community. Black Daylight "is a Co-op Anthem!" - Phil Asher "Hot Stuff! Solid!" - Karl Injex “Like the 1LUV tune a lot! Soulful broken beat style.” – Michael Rutten from SoulSearchin’ the Compost Records Radioshow Black Daylight "is strongly reminiscent of some of Roy Ayers' tracks." - Brian Jackson (Band leader and keyboardist for Gil Scott Heron) The debut album “NEOPHILIA” was just released on Columbia Records and is available exclusively in Japan until March 2007 when it will be released in Europe and North America on Jazzanova’s record label Sonar Kollektiv. The current single “ABOVE YOU” was released on Especial Records, another Japanese imprint that distributes music from Kyoto Jazz Massive, Mark De Clive-Lowe and Jazztronik to name a few. The past few months have been a busy time for the soulestra as they had the privilege to the share the stage with Jazzanova, spoken word artist Ursula Rucker and perform in Seattle’s DECIBEL FESTIVAL alongside Detroit’s Jeremy Ellis.

Dr.J keys/vocals/band leader
Amalia Townsend vocals
Dawn Pemberton vocals
Deanna Teeple vocals
Jzabela De Paz vocals
Jayson Powell percussion
Tom Hancock guitar
Rahim Gaidhar drums
Matt Perry aka DJ Kutcorners bass