Multi-genre singer, producer, writer & performer Carla Werner (trance vocalist/co-writer of ‘Southern Sun’ with Paul Oakenfold) releases the album ‘TRUE NATURE’ with Californian bassist Alison Wunderland under the moniker Native Soul Project.
‘TRUE NATURE’ is a culmination of tracks written over several years drawing influence from Alpha & Omega, Massive Attack, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Pink Floyd and Bob Marley. Written & produced by Werner, mixed by Werner & Lucius Borich (Cog) and mastered by Stuart Hawkes (Metropolis, UK), the album was mostly recorded in the US and completed in Australia & New Zealand during the lockdown period of 2020. In that time, a remix transpired of the album’s flagship track 'One To Ten' by New Zealand producer/artist, Paddy Free of ‘Pitch Black’ (‘Salmonella Dub’ – Inside The Dub Plates) and also features as a dub version on the producers own album ‘Paddy Free In Dub II’ released April 2, 2021.
The album takes the listener through an evolution of deep dub frequencies and grooves inspired by reggae, with Werner’s vocals, at times ethereal, weaving through the tracks as social commentary, while Wunderland’s bass is the deep meditative pulse, gluing the tracks together. ‘Time’ (the albums first single) sets up the dub-sensibility of what is to come while ’In My Soul’ establishes the contrast of the album with its bass-heavy groove locked into an electronic beat that pushes it’s way toward a Pink Floyd-inspired crescendo.
‘TRUE NATURE’ is out in the USA JUNE 30th and NZ/AUST JULY 1st.
REVIEW: By Paddy Free (Pitch Black/Salmonella Dub)
"True Nature, the debut album from native Soul Project (Alison Wunderland and Carla Werner) is a beautiful addition to the genre of Aoteaora/NZ Roots and Dub. A luxurious warm bath of an album, True Nature is absolutely on-point in both intention and execution. Most of the tunes are deep and meditative, placing it firmly within the Roots and Dub genre, with nods to some more electronic grooves and textures as well. The songwriting and production are both top-notch, with bass frequencies that go ALL the way down (yum!) and conscious lyrics that while occasionally “cursing the darkness” more often than not shine a light with the intention of showing us how the world could be a better place. I can’t wait to see Native Soul Project play live. Thoroughly recommended for all lovers of Roots/Reggae and Dub.”