NEWS: THE ROUTINE Premiere "Too Rich" With AFROPUNK

February 23, 2016 • Leave a Comment

SAN DIEGO, CA - February 18, 2016 - San Diego rock n' soul band, The Routine, have teamed up with AFROPUNK to premiere their new song, "Too Rich". Stream the track here: http://bit.ly/1oNgbl3. "Too Rich" is the second single off The Routine's upcoming sophomore EP, Black Tropics, set for release February 26, 2016. OnBlack Tropics, the band brings a fresh sound, riding the groove between funk, soul, and African, as well as vintage rock. The EP was produced by Grammy Award winner,Alan Sanderson (The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Switchfoot). For more information, please visit: http://www.theroutineband.com/

The Routine is a five-piece collective that defies categorization. While the band's first EP, Welcome, showed more of their rock side, Black Tropics boasts a funkier vibe, all the while maintaining that rock influence. The result is a dynamic range of sound, taking the listener on a journey across the world, along the equator.

"'Too Rich' is a rock ballad that brings out the heart & soul of the band with raw emotion," says vocalist Bryan Barbarin of the new single. "Smooth vocals blended with heavy guitar licks, and set over grooving bass and percussion, this song will get your blood pumping and your heart craving loves long past."

Stream the EP's title-track, "Black Tropics", on Guitar World: http://bit.ly/1Rj5ZM9.

A sonic melting pot of electric blues, soul and world styling, they are not simply a band-and they are anything but "routine". Ramo explains, "Just by looking at us, you see the story of global artistic culture: Black, White, European, Middle Eastern and Latino. We epitomize diversity and the strength of its unity. Each of us contributes a unique flavor, while still respecting the unified sound of empowering and uplifting music."

While The Routine officially formed in May of 2013, their musical brotherhood reaches back nearly a decade. Its formation is rooted in the childhood friendship of guitarist Russell Ramo and front man, Bryan Barbarin. After several years of writing, performing and recording together in between plays, Barbarin and Ramo decided it was time to form an ensemble of their own.

Piecing together the collective that would become The Routine was an organic, if not effortless, process. Nick Hein (bass), Eduardo Canelon (percussion), Dave Butterfield (drums) and Russell all played together for several years backing Fela Kuti prodigy, Fidel Bateke, in the afro-beat jazz-fusion band, Bateke Beat. Under Bateke's tutelage, they refined their chops and formed a kindred fraternity of musicianship. Adding Barbarin introduced the consummate front man: a singer with a natural stage presence and vocals that harness this locomotive of sound with a tone reminiscent of R&B legend, Ernest Evans - only more gritty and purposeful.

Together, The Routine shatters the mold of conventional, over-produced and underwhelming music with their own brand of Rock 'N' Soul. Never complacent with the status quo, they are an ever-evolving conglomerate poised to please music lovers from all walks of life.