The Soul Vandals
Welcome to the band page of the SOUL VANDALS!
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Gedun and Shifty met in kindergarten shortly followed by Kardovah (we're talkin 20 years of history, here folks). Alias moved to the area about 6 years later when we were 12. We started writing around age 15. Gedun got his first "production equipment" at 16 and started experimenting with samples. After a few years, we eventually graduated and went off to college. Gedun learned to DJ and evolved writing styles along with Shifty and Alias...
...Meanwhile, Kuya J and Ro began making tracks in 1999 several miles south in Edison. Kuya went off to college which happened to be the same one Gedun was attending. Around 2001 Gedun and Kuya realized that they were trying to accomplish the same goal (but only after sharing a suit that was connected by a bathroom for an entire semester). They clicked and the rest is history...wait, no...that was just the history. The rest is the future...
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We do perform live whenever we possibly can. The last place we played where most of you would not have seen us was the Remote Lounge in NY,NY. Funny story about that one...in short, one of our members was outside smoking a Newport as our set was beginning, almost forcing us to perform his part...that person will remain forever nameless...right, Kardovah?
Your musical influences
RZA, Prince Paul, Camp Lo, Digable Planets, Linkin Park, Dead Prez, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Redman, CRU (Yogi, Chadio, Mighty Ha where the hell are you!?!), Canibus, Last Emp, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Pharoahe Monch, KRS-One, The Lox, N.W.A, Pastor Troy...way too many to list. Aside from that you can catch us listening to lots of 60's, 70's and 80's music Jazz and alternative...well, Kuya J and Gedun anyway
What equipment do you use?
our equipment list includes, a Roland XP-30, Korg Trinity, Akai MPD16's, Mackie HR-824 monitors and Event 20/20bas monitors, Tascam US428, MOTU 2408 mkIII, Gemini xl-1800q's, Technic 1200's, 2 custom built PC's (can't afford mac just yet...buy the album and we'll kick it up to logic or protools, people!), and 2 each of your friendly neiborhood generic condenser mics and preamps.
Anything else?
Of course, there's lots else, unfortunately I don't feel like writing anymore...I should be recording right now, but Kuya thought this was more important. I hate producers...
