Deep Soul Deities took shape in Minneapolis in 2008 combining the visions of multi-instrumentalists Jake Staron and Dan Zamzow with the vocal stylings of Tim Edstrom, aka Automatic Earth. The trio started the project on a laptop, toying with diversity in multiple soundscapes, layering Automatic’s free-verse raps over string bass, electronic beats, and haunting guitar work- producing a collection of Hip-Hop, Funk, and Afro-beat songs ready to speak to a new generation. 

As time passed, their visions laid the groundwork for expanding the music into an intricately orchestrated collaboration of instrumentalists. Jake and Dan welcomed their classically trained University of Northern Iowa classmates Rachel Price to play alto sax, Kyle Novak on flute and soprano sax, and the articulate Dave Tiede to provide drums in the sweeping, multi-genre project taking root. Automatic’s hooks began to be animated with brilliant, swelling sonic imagery and the balance of sounds proving to be an infinite creative outlet for the musical tour de force in the Midwestern music scene. 

Deep Soul’s debut album is in self-production and will be released in 2010 through Deep Sea, a pilot label for Midwest artists. Appearing at local venues and universities, the band has been building a diverse fan base, often appearing with other acts supported under the Deep Sea umbrella. Witnessing the band live invokes involuntary dancing and generates acclaim from all schools of critique, where the average fan ends up having no easily identifiable persona. Given the spectrum of music covered it can be said the band is a swirling mass of rhythms and solos- merged into a single outspoken entity. Nostalgic to the senses and endless in combinations, the band is sure to start a metaphorical fire that will be re-calibrating the existing global music catalogues.

--Kalen Passa, Daybreak

Automatic Earth: lead vocals, percussion

Automatic earth is an mc.  He strives for nothing but the most achieved level of mastery of any ceremony, in particular the performance of music.  Automatic earth believes in the entire movement of body and mind simultaneously, in order to blur the artificial distinctions that exist within (sub)consciousness.  Concerned with the constant cycles of life, automatic earth is a realization of the inevitable circle of the earth around the sun, the spiral of each organism and cell, even inorganic mechanicals, in a constant battle against silly entropy. lyrical expression(rhyming) is not an attempt to batter language and bring it to heel, but instead to play in it in order to engage its limit while testing its rhythmic and phonetic qualities against a backdrop of endless sonic experimentation.  Truly yours boom crack repeat.

Rachel Price: alto sax, vocals

Rachel Price holds the horn that holds her heart that holds the songs she sings. She likes to read and laugh and play, and many other things.  Marcello is her saxophone, her instrument of choice. He plays the songs she hums to him and gives her soul a voice.

Dave Tiede: drums

Pulling bits and pieces from a variety of musical sources and genres helps Dave create a versatile sound that he can call his own.  Classically trained with a wide array of professional experience in music anywhere from Jazz to Rock, and everything in between, he is able to bring a fresh, diverse feel to each new musical situation.  He taps into the broad tonal palette at his disposal, laying down deep grooves while still managing to treat the drums as a melodic instrument.  Dave has shared the stage with many high profile artists in the music scene today.  In addition to being an active performer, he is an educator, teaching privately and appearing as a guest speaker and clinician throughout the Midwest. 

 Jake Staron: guitar, keys, vocals

Jake is not a guitar player. He's a sound junkie, healthily balanced between innovation and accessibility. His instrumental work morphs and evolves to provide his ensemble a unique, stimulating sonic presence, all the while acting as the unshakable bridge between the rhythmic and harmonic realms of the Deep Soul sound. He is also referred to as 'Funky Bootz'. nDoo it.

Kyle Novak: tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, vocals

Mad on the machines, mighty on the mic, Rebel Royal brings his special flavor to Deep Soul in many forms. He also likes kittens.

Dan Zamzow: bass guitar, vocals

"Better to regret something you did than something you didn't do."