The voices start coming at you, forcefully yet in sweet harmony. Then the bass guitar thumps a simple yet infectiously funky bassline. The rhythm guitar joins in the vibe while the drums and percussion really start kicking the groove. Finally, the lead guitar wails a soulful refrain reminiscent of Carlos Santana, and the organ and synthesizer complete the wall of heavy soul. Thus begins "On the Wings of Destiny", a song of hope by South of Saturn.
"I've been hard at work off and on during the past year trying to get the music just right, or as close as possible to how it sounds in my head," says South of Saturn producer and mastermind, Joey Vela.
The project takes flight with original songs, such as the aforementioned "On the Wings of Destiny", which were from the short-lived Awakened (By the Heat) project.
"The Beach Boys had Smile, the Who had Lifehouse, and I had Awakened. I guess that some projects were never meant to see the light of day, at least in their initial form," adds Vela.
After Awakened (By the Heat) was shelved, the classically-trained percussionist took a break from recording. He then retreated to family life and classical music
"I'd been spending time just working 9 to 5, taking care of family, and performing as timpanist with the Fort Bend Symphony. I rarely picked up the guitar during that time. Then I left the Symphony, and I soon found myself in the midst of a season of new beginnings. South of Saturn became a product of that season, and I felt like it was time to take the songs from the Awakened sessions off the shelf and give them new life," says Vela.
From his early days as an award-winning orchestral percussionist, to stints as a hotshot lead guitarist with various Houston area alternative rock bands, to his present day duties as a producer and multi-instrumentalist, Joey Vela has been making musical eclecticism a way of life. He got his first guitar at age 10, and a year later began studying percussion while in junor high school. He was a natural at both instruments, finding himself in high demand as a guitarist and garnering numerous awards and honors for his percussion and timpani work. To add to that, Joey also possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of music.
"My folks were the ones directly responsible for my earliest musical education. There was a lot of great music coming from their old Catalina console stereo such as the Beatles, Elvis, Chicago Transit Authority, the Eagles, and Santana, but there was also a whole lotta Stax Volt soul music and a little bit of country as well," says Vela
"I can also remember the times back in the day when I would sit in at a blues jam or two during the week and then make my gigs as a guitarist with whichever band I was in at the time. Then I was playing classical music on Sunday afternoons."
That kind of musical background is the key to unlock South of Saturn's musical door. However, such versatility has its drawbacks as well, such as limited radio airplay due to the inability to find the right format. While South of Saturn's music is unquestionably replete with killer grooves, thick and soulful vocal harmonies, and spiritual lyrics, it is impossible to categorize.
"The music isn't really jazz, funk, soul, or rock in the purist sense. However, if you could call the music anything, it would have to be 'art funk' with an indie rock undercurrent," says Vela
Fortunately, internet radio has been kind. Internet jazz stations seemed to have favored Joey's music the most in the past. However, in the case of South of Saturn, other stations should catch on as well. The sound is familiar, yet South of Saturn takes aim in somehow making it sound new again. Ultimately, the listeners of the world will have the final say.