Tortured Soul is 100% live modern, deep, soulful, house music freed from the DJ Booth. Influenced by the classic songcraft of Prince, Heatwave, and Kool & The Gang, Tortured Soul is a collective of incredible international musicians united under a groove-centered rhythm. Frontman and songwriter, John-Christian Urich, leads the group while simultaneously drumming and singing with effortless mastery. Bassists Ernie Mckone or Bryan Ladd and keyboardists Isamu McGregor, Randy Emata, and Joel Martin virtuosically generate the pulsating rhythm and melodic joy that is integral to the Tortured Soul sound. Recently, guitarists Adam Rafferty, Kurt Slabbert, and Mark Tewarson have been helping to expand the musical journey and unlock new live musical pleasures. Likened to "The Roots of House Music", Tortured Soul’s sound is reminiscent of neo-soul groups like Jamiroquai or Brand New Heavies, while also being influenced by the contemporary freshness of house purveyors like Joey Negro, Louie Vega and nu disco artists like Soul Clap and Purple Disco Machine.

For their latest release, Tortured Soul has joined forces with Lisa Shaw for a deep house love duet. “I Wish You Were Here” is a sweet serenade between Lisa Shaw and John Christian Urich—a song of reassurance that a blissful time is in store once they are reunited! Despite having been in the deep-house music scene simultaneously for years, this marks the first time Tortured Soul and Lisa Shaw have collaborated. Better late than never as the chemistry is undeniable!

“I’ve known Lisa Shaw for a long time. We came up playing the same clubs have lots of mutual friends and people in common that we’ve collaborated with”, says Urich. “One day about a year ago I started writing this song--a classic Tortured Soul vibe--but I was like ‘This song is a duet, and Lisa Shaw is the right person to sing it with me’. I called her up and a couple weeks later she flew out to LA and we spent a couple days recording in my studio”.