slacks, and starched white shirts.  The mass of bodies gathered before them pulsates with a 

unified enthusiasm. Sweet soulful vocals rise from the man in the middle, an effect rendered 

all the more captivating by the fact that he is concurrently beating out an unrelenting 

backbeat on the drums.  Flanking him on either side are a bassist who jumps up and down 

to the rhythm as he generates the throbbing low-end, and a keyboardist whose cool 

composure belies the fire in his fingers.  This is Tortured Soul. 

Born of the simple yet adventurous belief that modern dance music can be performed 

completely live, Brooklyn’s Tortured Soul packs dance floors with their unique live 

performances, while their recorded oeuvre pushes the genre boundaries of soul, dance, and 

pop.  

Tortured Soul has blazed an amazingly uncommon trail through the world of modern music.  

Following the early success of their now-classic dance singles “I Might Do Something 

Wrong,” “Fall In Love” and “How’s Your Life” in 2001 and 2002, Tortured Soul formed 

officially as a live band and booked their first nationwide tour in 2003, often playing in club 

settings that had never before seen a live act perform dance music so seamlessly.  With the 

devotion of club-goers and DJs cemented as their foundation, TS branched out to live 

venues and festivals worldwide, from Tennessee’s Bonnaroo, to the UK’s Big Chill, to the 

Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia.  Today, after 5 years of touring and a reputation for a live 

show nothing short of legendary, they are perhaps the only band in the world that can rock 

the main room at Fabric (London) at peak hour, as well as a 15,000+ festival crowd at the 

Montreal International Jazz Festival. 

Combining elements of old soul and funk with a modern dancefloor sensibility, Tortured 

Soul’s style is both an echo of the past and a challenge to the future.  This blend of sounds 

has won them praise from palettes as diverse as Lenny Kravitz and Barry Manilow, and 

made them a fave pick of DJ’s across many genres.  Their tracks have received remix 

treatment from such luminaries as Osunlade, DJ Spinna, Alix Alvarez, Quentin Harris and 

Dimitri from Paris among others, and have appeared on over 25 compilations by the most 

prominent dance labels, from Hed Kandi to Defected - a testament in and of itself to the 

impact they’ve had on current dance music.  

2006 saw the release of their highly lauded first full-length album “Introducing Tortured 

Soul,” (Purpose Records / R2 Records) which collected their early 12” singles with some new 

studio gems, and fans around the world have been waiting with baited breath for the 

sophomore effort ever since.  In early 2009 the wait will be over, as Tortured Soul drops 

their new album “Did You Miss Me” on the band’s own newly formed TSTC Records (Dome 

UK/Europe, Columbia Japan).  Previewed for fans with the 3-song/1-remix “In Transit EP” in 

Spring ’08, “Did You Miss Me” picks right up where “Introducing” left off.  As it winds its way 

through infectious disco grooves, heartfelt raw soul, and lyrical themes that range from 

melancholic love, infidelity, and party-going mirth, the album coheres as the group’s most 

accessibly diverse effort to date. 

With the launch of TSTC Records, the new album “Did You Miss Me” forthcoming, and 

worldwide touring to follow, 2009 is sure to be a huge year for Tortured Soul.  Standing on 

the vast musical foundation that they themselves have laid, Tortured Soul looks eagerly to 

the future -- and in the words of Gilles Peterson, “the future of house music” is Tortured 

Soul.

“The future of house music…you have to see them live.” 

- Gilles Peterson, Radio 1, UK 

“Sounds like [something] I’d wake up to on a Saturday morning when the sun is coming 

through the window...There aren’t enough people [like this] singing about love and 

honesty.” 

-Lenny Kravitz in Vibe Magazine 

“Tortured Soul [are] breaking some rules and keeping me as a musician interested.” 

-Barry Manilow, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA 

“Uber-soulful…the dance floor filled up instantly as Christian, Ethan and Jason collectively 

thrilled the soul-seekers.” 

-Urb Magazine 

“Tortured Soul...create blissed-out tracks that curl around your head like cigarette smoke.” 

-XLR8R 

"Three New York City musicians are challenging the idea that dance music is just for baby- 

faced  adrenaline junkies..."  

 -Denver Post 

“House is not typically thought of as organic, live music, but New York's Tortured Soul puts a 

wrinkle in that notion. [Introducing Tortured Soul] distinguished itself in the genre for its 

simple but wickedly effective grooves ...” 

-SFWeekly, San Francisco 

“The deep grooves and intense rhythmic crescendos are indistinguishable from the vinyl 

variety, but onstage it gives booty-shakers more of a show than staid spinners can provide.” 

-Cleveland Scene, Cleveland 

“Live house groovers Tortured Soul kick serious style.” 

-Flavorpill NY 

“The guys’ sheer endurance is something to be praised...” 

-CMJ Relay 

“...John-Christian Urich, Ethan White, and JKriv get it right!  Their brand of “live soulful 

house” makes them as much a welcome, live alternative to electronic dance music as they 

are a sound reminder of disco’s refined and nappy roots. “ 

- NowPublic.com, Seoul, Korea 

“Tortured Soul are one of the few live house bands who can get crowds out of the stand- 

around-and-watch mode and up and dancing.” 

-NOW Magazine, Toronto 

“...the best - and also the best-received act...These guys should think about coming back to 

Indonesia at a later date, they could clean up.” 

-Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Indonesia 

“One of NYC's best kept secrets” 

-Rhythmism.com