Soul What? Feat. Joonatan Rautio
What Lies Ahead (2016) ELiveCD 002

The second album of this super-energetic and virtuosic Finnish soul/jazz quintet. This studio album is more intense and jazz than the groups debut album. ”What Lies Ahead” is an interesting mix of soul/jazz music with intensive energy, shrilling improvisations and soulful vocals. The album contains five instrumental tracks and three vocal vocal tracks.

”What Lies Ahead” was recorded between April and May 2016. Drums, saxophone, grand piano and most of all vocal- and wurlitzer tracks were recorded on an two day session at Midas Studios in Raippaluoto, Finland. The bass- and guitar tracks along with some vocal- and wurlitzer tracks were recorded at ELive Music Studios in Kälviä, Finland.

The Silver Lining is Soul What? debute album. All tracks on this album are original pieces by Soul What?. The album was recorded in 2011-2013. Most of the songs on this record started from bass riffs and bass lines that Eevalotta Matikainen composed. The music and lyrics was then composed in collaboration with Eevalotta, Martin and Riikka. On the record you can hear inventive drum grooves by Toni Porthén, bass lines by Eevalotta Matikainen, Martin Söderbacka capturing sounds from a stratocaster and soulful hammond, rhodes and piano playing by Mikael Svarvar. Lead vocals are sung by soft and dreamy singer Riikka Elisabet Hertteli and soulful and powerful singer Mikael Svarvar. There are two lead duets featured on ”The Silver Lining”, tracks 6 and 11.

There are two additional featuring musicians on the record bringing some more energy and broader soundscapes, Mika Mylläri on trumpet and Estonian saxophone player Siim Aimla.