Sweet Soul Records and Ramseur Records Reach Exclusive Japan Music Distribution Agreement

Tokyo, Japan, August 12, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Today, SWEET SOUL RECORDS, parent company LIFESOUND, Inc., officially announced that an agreement has been reached with RAMSEUR RECORDS for nationwide distribution of singer Liz Vice’s debut album “There’s A Light.”

Liz Vice is from Portland, Oregon. With a love of storytelling, she has found herself transitioning from behind-the-scenes in the film and video world to behind the mic. The songs from “There’s A Light” feature dynamic, soulful vocals, with classically influenced, timeless lyrics that reference her deep-rooted spirituality.

The retro-soul revival was thought to be a passing fad or trend that rose to its zenith when U.S. artists like Charles Hamilton, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and UK stars like Duffy, Adele, and, of course, Amy Winehouse, broke through to mainstream prominence and critical acceptance. However, nearly a decade since those halcyon days, there still seems to be no shortage of artists and new songs contributing to the ever-expanding canon of original ‘60s-inspired raw soul. Newcomers seem to be stepping up to the sterling mics to sing their pain and concerns.

One such young lady making her mark in that enduring world of nostalgia and swing is Liz Vice. iTunes has Liz listed as a blues artist, but her voice has some age, some rasp, and some weariness to it, but the diction and clarity lend themselves more to folk-pop and classic soul than the blues. With clean, Americana production reminiscent of Craig Street, meditating and layered lyricism, and a thread of melancholia sewn into each of the ten retro soul, urban folk, and gospel tracks, “There’s A Light” transcends any given genre. Fans of Norah Jones and Lizz Wright in particular might find Liz Vice an artist to watch. Her fan favorite tome on vulnerability, “Empty Me Out,” is a representative sample of this artist and her work.

“As soon as I heard her voice I was hooked — her voice and phrasing makes one think of legendary record labels like Stax, Motown and Specialty. It also makes one think of the sounds from Muscle Shoals. Hopefully, when you lend an ear to her wonderful voice, you will forever think Liz Vice” says Dolphus Ramseur of RAMSEUR RECORDS.

Liz Vice has been a featured artist in Portland for such events as Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland Soundcheck, Soul’d Out Music Festival, Siren Nation Music Festival, Music on Main Street, and has opened for such artist as Cody Chesnutt and St. Paul & The Broken Bones.

Michael Harris, Senior Manager at SWEET SOUL RECORDS says, “For SWEET SOUL RECORDS, “There’s A Light” is the first release for us that I personally would label “gospel” and we’re extremely proud that this first is attributed to the faith and cooperation of Liz and RAMSEUR RECORDS. With the fair-sized community of gospel music listeners in Japan, along with the larger soul music community, we are extremely confident that Liz will do very well here.”

“There’s A Light” will be released Japan-wide by SWEET SOUL RECORDS on September 2, 2015 in partnership with distributor BBQ Records, and contains 10 moving tracks.

About SWEET SOUL RECORDS
SWEET SOUL RECORDS, parent company LIFESOUND, Inc., is based in Tokyo and our main goal is to promote soul music in Japan in all its forms. We are doing this by creating our own brand of soul music, and at the same time, promoting international artists who we feel can help increase the number of loyal Japanese followers by spreading “real music.”

About RAMSEUR RECORDS
RAMSEUR RECORDS operates as both an independent record label and a management company, with a fulltime staff based all around the United States. We always put the music first, do the best we can, and have fun doing it.

Contact:
SWEET SOUL RECORDS
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sweetsoulrecords.com/
Phone: +81 3 6416 8690

RAMSEUR RECORDS
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ramseurrecords.com/
Phone: 704 360 8100