Kalistan

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Luthori-Kalistani Duo The Republic releases Neo-Soul album



Luthorian Expats The Republic release a Neo-Soul Album
New Soul for an Old World joins other neo-Soul Artists in backlash of Noise
Sulari, Duchy of Ananto
July 8, 5567

A new smooth music movement seems to be taking hold as a slew of singles and albums that incorporate jazz and soul into pop seems poised to replace Noise Alternative on Kalistani Radio. The movement is being led by two artists, the Luthori expatriates who call themselves The Republic and Kalistan's psychedelic rock FOMAT XXX entrant Marcus Carrangus Jr. While The Republic leans a little heavier on what critics are calling "sophistipop" that feels a bit more jazz influenced, while Carrangus' music is certainly more blues and rock based, the influence of Soul on both artists is undeniable.

The Republic's lead singer Kathy White, who speaks with an incredibly thick Luthorian accent, but whose alto singing voice comes off in perfectly clear Vrassan, and her co-composer and primary instrumentalist of the duo, Connor Overstreet both have a long history in avant garde pop music. "We moved to Sulari from Luthori nearly a decade ago," said White, "and we immediately immersed ourselves in the Sulari music scene. We felt that we could certainly bring a different sound to Sulari, given our outside perspective, and we pleased with how well we were welcomed in Sulari and across Suldanor." White said she and Overstreet began recording with various studio musicians and session players, "but we ultimately decided to stay a duo, because I think Connor and I have a unique vision, and its easier to play with journeymen that are excellent technicians in the Studio than to have a bunch of other people who are trying to really kind of change our sound with a bunch of extraneous ideas."

The Republic, Left and Marcus Carrangus Jr. are bringing a new lush sound to Kalistani Radio

One thing that both The Republic and Carrangus are bringing out in music is a strong orchestration that includes strings and brass, as well as electronic and analog music. "I think there is a thing that funk does which I think is real cool," said Carrangus. "They have these really bent kind of sounds that I have been exploring, but the funk and soul musicians are the ones who have these really lush kind of arrangements that are really groovy and really thick. Its the opposite of the LoFi, I think. It's almost baroque in its kind of flourishy sounds."

Carrangus himself is in the process of recording a studio album, but is on hiatus while he travels to Kanjor to represent the Empire at FOMAT. Both he and The Republic have released new singles, both on ARC that signify this new lush sound that Carrangus referred to. "The music I'm listening to right now has this, uh, kind of funk that is almost reminiscent of another era," said Carrangus. "It still is solidly based in rock, of course, but the funk and soul on it is highlighted, and in many places, that big band sound which is really cutting edge right now in Kalistan is featured on a lot of the stuff I am working on. You also hear that in other artists around Sulari right now, uh, you know like The Republic and some of these other guys. Its this really rich sound that a bunch of us are really keying in on."

"Yeah, we're really big fans of what Mr. Carrangus is doing here in Sulari," said White. "When we first came to Sulari, we worked with him a little while. Connor played keyboards during one of his jam sessions at ARC, and we saw him play several times last year. Our paths have crossed many times, and I think we are moving in the same direction musically." Overstreet added, "ARC is really pretty great, actually. We can meet these artists who are making music with integrity, and we ourselves have the freedom to produce the kind of music we want."

Both The Republic's Single "Listen, Baby" and Carrangus' new single "Still Together" have debuted in the Hot 100 Singles in the top 20, with The Republic scoring the Number 12 spot in its first week and Carrangus debuting at number 7. "This is very exciting," said White. "We had some excellent pre-release press, and ARC really spent a lot of money promoting advance copies to radio, and I am just so thrilled that fans have embraced our sound and our vision." Carrangus, for his part was also pretty happy. "Number 7 debut for something that sounds nothing like the Top 6 songs is really pretty awesome. It shows that people like what I'm doing, and it is a good feeling going into Kanjor next month for FOMAT.

You can check out The Republic's new Album New Soul for an Old World on ARC right here and watch the videos for both "Listen Baby" by The Republic and "Still Together" by Marcus Carrangus Jr. below.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIFadXgDO0]
The Republic's "Listen Baby" mixes jazz, funk, soul and pop in a lush, languid single

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmENMZFUU_0]
Marcus Carrangus, who will represent Kalistan at FOMAT XXX in Kanjor's new single "Still Together"