May 2006

Soularis - Versatile
Jimi Bruce
There is no such word as Soularis in any dictionary. I have checked, as their press release says there is, so even if they invented it in order to come up with a premise to name their group, if that is their only subterfuge, then I can forgive faulty research and throw my headset on because the music is mostly dope. "Versatile" from the group Soularis [Soularis Music, Inc] is cooking non-trance, they tell me, but I say it is very dance, with elements of all of the above and very club-friendly music.
A masterfully mysterious melange of electronically-embellished rhythms and appealing smooth vocals that can plant your cosmos far beyond the star Spica whose light we see just arriving from many years past, yet still looks fresh and bright in our present consciousness, which explains the refreshing, meaningful lyrics. They named the album for the amalgam of underground, tribal, trance, and progressive grooves which are their quiddity.
All of these tracks bump with a lively pulse. "Without you (I feel blue)" achieved first place recognition in the 2003 Billboard Songwriter's Contest in the Dance category; an award Sniper feels was kind of "bogus" because they didn't even get a record deal, but instead "two thousand dollars in gifts," and nothing really tangible. "They couldn't even bring us out to L.A. like we were supposed to be [going]." Billboard didn't have their thing together for such a long-standing institution.
I especially enjoy number ten, "Follow Me (to heaven)", a slightly cathedral-like anthem with a brilliant vocal by the mellifluous songstress Julia who croons "Follow me to heaven/walk with me forever..." lyrically. This uplifting track would be the one I would put in "A" rotation on my fantasy dance music radio station or on our hometown's WKTU FM. Unfortunately the quartet was rebuffed there, a scenario that typifies what is wrong with the playlists of traditional terrestrial radio these days – the hidden scandal to come.
Fortunately, as Sniper, the founder of the group said to me, "There is XM Radio and we are [currently] being played on there." Yes, these high pointers jam out of NYC; Queens to be exact, so I'm not surprised that they have more than a clue, and more than a few studios. "We've got material backed-up..." he says. I remind you that New York City is the original melting pot, and these four all have Russian roots, so let us meet the players.
Soularis is composed of Sniper on keys, Gulliver, the "soul" of the group, on bass (who has worked with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Will Downing, Angie Stone, and more next there is Jazz, who played much of his youth in Europe and also is on keys; I mention Julia again because she has talent on the piano, specifically, as she solarizes. Finally, I introduce you to Alex, or "Universe," who rose to become one of the managers of Soularis because his forte seems to be in the marketing and promotion aspects of the music business. They came together kind of by accident; much like our solar system is suspected to have.[p]_z_dancemusic_z_);
Back to the music: on track four, "Golden Cage," we hear a very mixable rub for all us Dee Jays in da house – you know I wouldn't steer U wrong! Julia could be mistaken for any of the classic disco or underground divas of the late seventies/early eighties on this one. The piano on cut seven "Life" has the feel of the early nineties jam "Children" (you know the one) to it, and I hope that is Julia ticklin'...
With every tantalizing replay the introspective instrumental track "Dream A Dream," number thirteen, stands out even more. A song like this can help you think through your issues in a way similar to a good physical workout! Oh, that might be vigorous dancing that I'm talking about!
Insofar as where we can catch-up with Soularis, they are "in a holding pattern right now" they told me, but a video is on the cusp to be released at any time. Reinforcing their versatility, they did a jazzy track with the Sacramento Kings' mercurial forward Ron Artest. Well, we the cosmos beckon to see and hear them in person, and so with that wish in mind this astronomer bestows four stars, hoping they come out of hiding very soon and buzz us close like an asteroid.

April 2005
Now you can buy albums along with our singles in our BUY CDs section. Also, you can listen to the samples of all our songs and download each of them separately just for 99 cents each. You will also find some of our tracks that were never released and download them.

March 2005
Ilya (Gulliver) has released his own solo album “Dreaming Loud”. This album is a summary of his work as a solo electronic/dance artist. The order and the transitions between the tracks were inspired by records he used to listen to before the music industry became almost entirely a money making business, a fact that in our opinion blocks creativity.

February 2005
Alex is getting ready to go to Winter Music Conference with the new album “VERSATILE”.

January 2005
The group took some time off while the album was being manufactured.

December 2004
The album was received and reviewed by Soularis. The sound is awesome. Getting ready to print it.

November 2004
The album is finally recorded. It was sent for mastering to Israel Mastering Studio.

September 2004
A female vocalist was found who will perform SOULARIS’s songs in Russian language. Her name is AELITA. A young and talented marketing director, lyricist and artist producer was found as well. His name is MAX. He has written 6 new lyrics in Russian for SOULARIS’s songs. It sounds really cool!

August 2004
After successful trip to Russia, where Soularis performed in numerous venues, it was decided to take this project to a different level. Now it is an international project. The group “Generation Y” was created for the Russian market.

March 2004
Soularis is going to Winter Music Conference, which will be held on March 6 through March 10 in Miami Beach, Florida.

February 2004
Single "Bye" is in a manufacturing plant.
Soularis single "Bye" is in heavy rotation on www.thedancestation.com

January 2004
Single "Bye" is in a mastering plant.
Soularis single "Without You (I Feel Blue)" is in heavy rotation on www.thedancestation.com

December 2003
Soularis is in a process of designing the new album.

November 2003
The new remix of the song “Bye” is recorded.

October 2003
A new slamming Dance mix of "Without You (I Feel Blue)" is recorded.
You can listen to it in Music/Video Section of our site.

September 2003
A new song "Always" is recorded. You can listen to it in Music/Video Section of our site.

August 2003
Soularis is planning to appear at 11th Annual Billboard Songwriting Awards held in L.A.
A new song "Golden Cage" is recorded.

July 2003
A new track "Pain in my heart" is recorded.

June 2003
A new song "My man" is recorded.

May 2003
A new song "Bye" is recorded in acoustic & dance versions.

April 2003
Song "Without You (I feel blue)" has won on billboard songwriting contest of 2002 and was nominated as number 1 song in Dance genre. The nomination will take place this summer in LA, where Soularis will perform live their hit single.

March 2003
Soularis CD single "Without You (I feel blue)" with 8 versions is released. Winter Music Conference in Miami. Soularis Vinyl "Without You (I feel blue)" is in Miami Record Stores.

February 2003
Soularis is representing Toronto, Canada. Trance Remix of the song "Without You (I feel blue)" is on the air.

January 2003
Alex registred for a Music Winter Conference 2003 and flying there to present Soularis's new single to the music world.

December 2002
Finally the single "Without You (I feel blue)" that was pressed on Vinyl is released.

November 2002
The single is ready and being pressed!

October 2002
Three new versions of the song "Without You (I feel blue)" were recorded.

September 2002
It was deciede to record more versions of "Without You (I feel blue)" and make it a first single of the group.

August 2002
The new song "Without You (I feel blue)" was written by SNIPER in collaboration with the songwriter and musician OLEO.