TVD Premiere: Hard Proof, “Soul Thing”

Afrobeat virtuosos Hard Proof are here to teach us all a little bit about the roots of rhythm. Their newest single, the appropriately titled “Soul Thing,” pays homage to the band’s love affair with infectious Ethiopian Jazz. The award-winning Austin ten-piece are the sole purveyors of African funk in the state of Texas and their walloping, action-packed performances have become the stuff of legend around the Longhorn State.

The band, along with engineer Chris “Frenchie” Smith, found an excellent way to translate their live performances into studio recordings earlier this year in the Austin based analog studio The Bubble.

The track, which boasts a cacophony of silky horns, Rhodes and rhythm, has a healthy dose of swing to capture the dance floor and enough punchy melody to please Jazz heads and general fans of Funk. The song’s melting pot of influences coalesces into a powerful world vibe with bongos and tasty guitar leading the charge.

Hard Proof, which consists of members from Black Joe Lewis, The Calm Blue Sea, Cougar, Ocote Soul Sounds, Spanish Gold, and the Echocentrics will be releasing the cassingle titled “Soul Thing” b/w “Lake Tana” during the second annual Cassette Store Day.

Drummer Stephen Bidwell enthusiastically states, “Most of us grew up before file sharing or burnable CDs, so tapes were a huge part of our musical upbringing and discovery. Putting it out as a cassingle reminds me of the golden age of hip hop when we consumed singles on tape and had to flip sides to hear more. You had to work harder to discover new music.”

Hard Proof Official | Facebook | Twitter

Hard Proof Tour Dates:
9/24 – 529 – Atlanta, GA
9/25 – The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
9/26 – Tropicalia – Washington, DC
9/27 – Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) – New York, NY
9/28 – WV Wine & Jazz Festival @ Camp Muffly – Morgantown, WV
9/28 – Thunderbird Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA
10/02 – Exploded Records (Cassingle Listening Party) – Austin, TX
10/03 – The Continental Club – Austin, TX
10/05 – Austin City Limits Festival – Austin, TX

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