Opensouls

Opensouls — a sprawling collective of self-confessed vinyl addicts — banded together in 2001 and incorporated soul, roots and funk. Built around guitarist Jeremy Toy, drummer Julien Dyne, and later vocalist Tyra Hammond, they wowed critics with first single 'In Your Hands'. UK mag Straight No Chaser called it a "low-down, grinding funk burner". Debut album Kaleidoscope (2006) was nominated for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at the 2006 NZ Music Awards. Successful follow-up Standing in the Rain (2009) echoed the sound of 50s/60s R&B. The band are no more, but there have been occcasional reunion gigs.