Get ready to hit the dance floor on Friday night as Vancouver-based Ripple Illusion brings its piano-driven mix of funk, rock and R&B to the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub.
鈥淚 like to call our style of music Funk and Roll, but I鈥檓 not sure how well that鈥檚 going to stick,鈥� said Mike Turner, the keyboard player and vocalist who started the band in 2014.
Prior to starting up the group, he played backup keyboards in a band with blues singer and guitarist Caroline Allatt, but that project eventually fizzled out.
鈥淪o I came back later with my own project consisting of songs I鈥檇 recorded on my own,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 called Caroline to do backup vocals for me. We started recording in April 2014 and didn鈥檛 finish the EP until a year later.鈥�
The self-titled Ripple Illusion EP features five original songs that highlight a high-energy and piano-heavy retro sound. After releasing the disc, Turner recruited a couple more musicians and the foursome started touring around to promote the new CD.
鈥淪o, really the album came before the band was actually created,鈥� said Turner. 鈥淲e have since become a trio, as our bass player had to pull out because of health reasons.鈥�
The band plays a mix of originals and covers, and plans to release a brand new single in October.
鈥淲e are going to start moving in a more modern direction with our sound,鈥� said Turner. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not abandoning our retro funk style, but we are going to try to modernize it a bit鈥� bring it into 2015.鈥�
He said that new take on an old sound will be taken into the studio for a full record.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to record a new album sometime in the winter,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd then we鈥檒l tour some more.鈥�
Catch Ripple Illusion at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub on Friday at 10 p.m.
For more on the band, go the Ripple Illusion page on Facebook.
