About Me
NewSoul Enterprises is not a band. It is a musician services company with 28 years of experience in many aspects of the field. Starting off in 1980 as X-15 Productions then became Life In General Productions in 1982 based in Seattle, WA. Artist management and live promotions were the bulk of function in the proto-grunge years of Seattle. Little did we know what was to become of it (grunge). I built and managed the now legendary Gorilla Gardens Rock Theater where your Soundgardens, Pearl Jams, Mudhoneys, etc. honed their chops. It is claimed that Gun's and Roses first gig took place there. Well, Soundgarden's first gig was at a party at the X-15 house.*****In 1985 opened up the USA offices for Burning Music Productions (Burning Spear reggae management) in Boulder, CO. this included satellite offices in New York, NY. Management, agency in tour booking, publicity, merchandising were all handled thru the company. A Grammy Nomination for 'Reggae Album of the Year' was a result.*****1986 brought operations to Santa Fe, NM to promote acts at the El Paseo Theater (800cap.) and Club West (350 cap.). Operating under the name 'Face the Music Productions' several outstanding concerts were promoted including Chubby Checker, Blow Monkeys, Leon Redbone, Queen Ida, Karla Bonoff, Arlo Guthrie, Burning Spear, Little Women, True Believers, Artie Shaw Orchestra, Stiv Bators, Mason Rufner just to name a few.*****1989 brought tragedy (let us just say 'restructuring') to FtM Prod. as I got the USA contract for a reggae superstar in Europe and Africa named Alpha Blondy. The job was to break his name in the USA. The Fastlane Agency (D.C.) booked a national tour. Early on in the tour I was mashed by a car stepping off the tour bus. Near death, over 30 days in a coma.***This is how the title 'NewSoul" came about. I made my way back to Santa Fe to recover from a near death situation and continue operations. New Mexico is the 'Land of Enchantment' and loaded with many ethereal, mantic arts types. My scholarly peeps on the subject told me about when being near death the spirit opens up and basically aquires a 'new soul'. Something like that...*****NewSoul soon made it's way back to Seattle in the early 90s (superior medical systems and music scene taking off were my reasons). Promoting in 'concert clubs' included developing local acts, promoting up and coming nationals (Judith Owen, Lucky Dube for example) and promoting still active greats (Blue Oyster Cult, Night Ranger, Robbie Krieger, etc). Overseas CD distribution, tour agent were some of the other services provided. Radio announcer at KUPS radio (Tacoma) with the "Fun With Music" show was another adventure.*****Sure, NewSoul sounds all new agey, but there is a pretty hardcore story behind it. It all made sense to me as our music industry is in quite a freefall right now. The industry needs a new soul right now. A force of and for the people. Creativity, substance, talent and a voice of change for the future is our statement of purpose.*****Currently NewSoul is focusing on 'NewSoul Records' which was created to release archives of great music from Seattle during an era which your grunge artists learned from, but the music industry bypassed. This era was a scene that got the music industry to look towards Seattle. The grungers cashed in.*****Releases by X-15 (proto-grunge standouts, myspace.com/x15) are a focus. X-15 will reform if the deal is right. Afterall, X-15 is the greatest, most substantial music and social statement ever. A recent signing by NewSoul Records is a rapper from the suburbs of Seattle going by the name of STBG ("Seatown Clubbin'" above, myspace.com/s2bg). Our producer, Edgar Peep, had a very deep involvement with the X-15 sound. We have found that his studio skills could take a raw voice trak of our rapper and create a sound very unique for rap. We call it PROG-HOP.*****I could go on and on. The way I see it, the harder you hit, the higher you bounce. NewSoul is very green, human rights in belief and action. The music speaks for the people. Let's hit hard and make it happen. The world needs it more than ever. SHOULD OUR SOUNDS AND IDEALS MELT IN YOUR MIND, LET US PUT IT IN YOUR HAND. DROP US A COMMENT OR E-MAIL.best,
Douglas Mays/NewSoul Enterprises
