Like any up and coming rock stars, the members of Soul Mates are hard to pin down for an interview. They have a busy schedule full of practices, performances, and appearances. Unlike most rock stars, however, they also have dance, soccer, and school. Because—again, unlike most rockers—the musicians are only 10 years old.
Soul Mates is a Santa Ynez Valley band made up of 12 members whose talent is only matched by their rock-star confidence.
“You’ve got this drummer who is convinced he’s Keith Moon, two guitarists who think they’re rock stars, a trumpet and sax player who are clapping their hands above their heads when they’re not playing, four ballerinas in their pink ruffly bottoms who are dancing in unison and singing backup, a keyboard player who is just kind of quietly there looking like an angel, and a singer who is just oozing confidence, walking around the stage and pointing at everyone,” said Michael Roberts, the catalyst behind the band. “And it’s just a great show.”
Since it would be nearly impossible to get the band together for an interview during this busy time, while they’re prepping for upcoming performances, Roberts spoke on their behalf.
He started the band earlier this year with one member: his son Mathew, who’s been an award-winning drummer since he was 2 years old. Roberts wanted to start a band of 10-year-olds who sing soul music, but friends called him crazy when they heard his scheme. To Roberts, however, the question of his sanity wasn’t a setback. It was a challenge.
Roberts pulled together a band, and a friend of his allowed them to practice in his studio. As the band grew, Roberts added dancers, who practice with a choreographer in a Solvang studio. Soon after, Soul Mates got their first gig, playing at Santa Ynez Days. They played one song, Mustang Sally. Then they got another gig. Then another.
The band is a well-organized machine, with mentors helping the members with their instruments, showmanship, and vocals. They recently got help from world-renowned opera singer Samuel DePalma.
And since their first gig, the band’s repertoire—and their performance schedule—
has grown.
Organizations have begun requesting performances; they recently played at the Real Men Can Cook event in the Santa Ynez Valley. Soul Mates has also received several e-mails from America’s Got Talent, seeking an audition. Confident in the band’s ability to succeed without having to stand in lines to try for the show, Roberts turned down the request. He did, however, agree to an PBS interview, filming soon.
“When they play, there’s not one person [who doesn’t] have a big smile on their face,” Roberts said. “Not one.”
Roberts, who’s in the process of arranging some Christmas music for holiday performances, acknowledged that there are other great kid-bands in the area. But he added that Soul Mates is set apart by their showmanship and their ability to put on an
entertaining live show that’s more than just fun to hear, it’s fun to watch.
“They are all great-looking kids, so you have the cutesy value,” he explained. “But then when they physically play, it’s like they shouldn’t sound as good as they do, because they are only 10. And then there’s the nostalgic value of these songs they are singing from the ’60s, so you’ve got everyone singing along.”
Arts Editor Shelly Cone points at everyone while she writes. Point back at scone@santa
mariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 11-18, 2010.