"When you really think of pure soul and what it means , you think of real strings , real bass , real horns, real drums, real singing, things you can feel. If someone is sitting down playing live you can't help but feel that. That's our sound. That's Pure Soul."

Echoing the golden era, the ladies of pure soul give audiences what they've been missing, and asking for; real singers, singing real songs in a non-pretentious manner, with no artifice.

Pure Soul consists of Washington DC based  Kristin Hall, Shawn Allen, Heather Perkins and Keitha Shepard. The Soulful Divas were brought together through auditions held by University Records, CEO/President Haqq Islam, over a two year process. Although two years may seem like along time to Audition , There's a good reason for the lengthy deliberations, "Haqq was in search of real singers that could sing minus any studio gimmicks.

Pure Souls self titled debut delivers a healthy dose of "Old" school soul and R&B from a woman's perspective. If you're looking for real songs sung about real situations sung by real women, then put Pure Soul into your stereo and let their sound take you into the next century.

Twelve strong songs prove that the women are capable of handling different tempos as well as diverse styles, with strong subject matter s. Including tracks like " I feel like Running" co-produced by Foster and McElroy and University records producers, A. Haqq Islam Kim Jordan and Todd Mushaw, the ladies sing about being fed up with the world, just getting away with the one you love. Teddy Riley produced the second single from the album, "I Want You Back." providing the group with a "New Jill Swing." "You Stay On My Mind," A University Produced up-tempo, inspirational gospel-tinged song, that almost makes you want to say , AMEN, as it seems to be saying "thank you "to good men for being true.

The mid-tempo songs are some of the most groove oriented songs on the album, like the moody "What Did We Do," produced by Raphael Saadiq (Toni Tony Tone') which candidly addresses the issue of what to do when things happen unexpectedly between two people and deals with the morning after, honestly and openly. "Baby I'm Leaving," a straight up blues song tells a two-timing lover "I don't really want to go , but baby show me the door."Teddy Riley produced "Something About The Way You Do," which showcases all four members vocal abilities and may be the song that couples put on when they want to get in the mood. The song sings the praises of good love in the physical sense and contains an agile, jazzy, scatted vocal bridge that displays the versatility of the vocalists in this group.

Then, of course there is 'We Must Be In Love,' this years wedding anthem produced by University's Kim Jordan and Todd Mushaw. It's in the ballads produced by Kim Jordan, Todd Mushaw and A.Haqq Islam that you can hear their musical influences most clearly.'Wait For You ,"speaks to the pressures of being a woman pursuing a career that takes her on the road.'Turns Me On," and 'Woman That I Am," are steamy ballads cast in the classic Philly soul mold.The former extols the pleasures of a man who knows just the right way to do the right things, while 'Woman That I Am " is a Declaration of Independence and advises women to know themselves and that their true strength lies within.There's a cover of the classic O'JAYS "Stairway To Heaven"which changes the perspective to a woman's pint of view.

'Wish You Were Here," recalls Patti Labelle in style and arrangements. The song centers around the former great love of your life and not being able to bear the thought of him being with someone else. This album demonstrates Pure Soul's ability to to provide and maintain what the groove consumers are in search of.

A closely knit quartet, hearing the women describe themselves it's obvious they are each others biggest supporters and biggest fans."I love our sound,' says Kirsten "Shawn and Keitha are the highs, really high, and they compliment each other so well."she continues, 'Heather's voice and my voice are low and they compliment each other, too. Heather has a very rich and chocolatey voice. My voice is kind of raspy. Shawn's is high and clear ,and Keitha can harmonize over anything. So when you put it all together it's our sound. That's why it works out, especially for the sound we're looking for.

If you find the style reminiscent of such stalwart groups as the Emotions and the Jones Girls, it's no accident ."That's the sound were after,'says Shawn."were putting that same emotion into our songs , because that's what people relate to," adds Heather. She continues,"you'rer still listening to their music, year after year. That's what we want."

You can get this CD here!