About TuN
Funk & soul
On
their new LP Mercury Retrograde Seattle,
WA’s TuN mine rich veins of blues, funk, and soul to forge a sound at once
engaging and unique. “There was a time when what mattered most was
musicianship” says band leader and principal songwriter Chris Cootsona. “Our
mission is to recapture the essence of that era - and bring it to the present
day.” Together with his quintet of virtuosic accomplices, it’s safe to say that
with Mercury Retrograde TuN has done
just that.
Cootsona began singing (and taught
himself to play piano and write music) as a preteen. He remained a dedicated
hobbyist, writing and recording demos, for some time. In 2012 the melodic stars
aligned, and TuN was born. “I finally found the right mix of musicians; compatible personalities, who
were willing to play with no promise of making any money” laughs Cootsona.
After a fifth vocalist in as many years left the band, Lauren
Santi – having relocated from Chicago days before – auditioned. It was a
perfect fit, and the lineup was complete. Rounding out the lineup are Berklee alum Nicholas
Fair (Guitar, vocals), SoCal’s Will Bagby on drums, and classical guitarist cum
bassist Bill DeHart. When the stars are
aligned, Darryl Estes joins on saxophone, as a sixth member
Tracked in the band’s own studio,
the record was then mixed and mastered by Pierre Ferguson (Mountain Con) at Foundry Studios. Overall,
Mercury Retrograde is a mature
collection of songs that reverberate with echoes of long-gone juke joints,
imbued with the dynamic energy of passionate creatives determined to infuse these
timeless melodies with the spirit of the new.
