Turkuaz: Whats Happening and Whats Next
The music was alive at Spirit of Suwanee Music Park this weekend at Bear Creek Music & Art Festival. Among many other amazing bands- the 9 piece power funk group Turkuaz was there preforming. Our photographer/writer/app developer Steve Prendergast sat down with Michelangelo Carubba the drummer for a chat about touring, band friends and future plans.
What have you guys been doing lately?
Touring relentlessly, we’ve been on the road for pretty hard for the past 2 1/2 years. We took a break in September to record our new album at More Sound Studio in Syracuse with Jocko Randall a great producer that just did Dopapods last album. Once that was over we kinda got back on the road and we’ve been hitting everywhere, opening up a lot of markets in the South East and now we’re here at Bear Creek ready to get down.
Where’s the band originally from?
We’re based out of Brooklyn, New York. We all met up in Boston where we went to Berklee College of Music and all moved to New York together. That’s where we’re based out of, but we don’t spend much time there because we’re always on the road.
So you’ve been playing together for a few years now?
It’s been 6 1/2 years since we’ve been playing together now
And there’s how many, nine of you? I know this is kinda hard but can you name everyone and what they play?
Yes, nine of us. Theres Chris Browers plays the trumpet and keys, Greg Sanderson plays tenor sax, Josh Shwarts is on baritone sax and vocals, Dave Brandwein plays guitar and sings, I’m Michelangelo Carubba I play the drums, Taylor Shell is our bass player, Craig Brodhead is our lead guitarist and synth player, Sammi Garett is our singer and tambo player, and we’re bringing on a new member very soon Shira Elias who’s also gonna be a singer.
If someone you had to describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before, how would you classify your sound?
It’s power funk, it’s a 9 piece band and it’s 5th gear the whole time. We love to hit hard and play loud and drop the one the whole time so that’s our bag, power funk.
What’s one venue that you’d love to play?
The Fillmore in San Francisco.
If money were no issue and the band were not together right now and you could travel around for a few months following a band, what band would it be that you would follow?
Man, that’s a really good question noones ever asked me that. I just saw Derek Trucks, Tedeschi Trucks Band on the road and they put on an amazing show. My buddies were opening up for them and I would love to see them a couple of times in a row and hang with those dudes.
Who was your buddies band that opened up for them?
Alan Evan’s Playonbrother
Awesome, so what is the one thing you want everyone you want to about Turkuaz?
That we love them. And we just wanna make em happy and play funk music.
Where are you guys gonna be in the next couple months?
Anywhere and everywhere. We’re doing a bunch of North East shows. we’ve got some big Boston shows, a big New York show on November 29th at Williamsburg Music Hall. We’re throwing a huge party up in the Catskills for New Years called the Turkuaz Ball Drop. We have a bunch of friends coming up. Tauk, Spiritual Rez, Consider the Source, and a bunch more. We rented out a big hotel and we’re gonna be throwing it down for a few days there. You can goto our website to check out the event, reserve a room, get ready for a chamange toast and one hell of a party.
Be sure to check Turkuaz out when they come to your city- you won’t be dissapointed.
*This article was co-authored by Steve Prendergast and Alexa Paradis*