If a young man suddenly appears, walks toward you on the street and sings Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” don’t be afraid. It’s probably not a street crazy, but Philadelphia-based musician Mutlu Onaral serenading with a romantic tune while someone nearby videotapes the performance for Mutlu’s web series, “Soul Streets.” The concept first began when Mutlu, who was playing a gig in Boston at the time, had some drinks and hung out with a few friends.
“It’s a hit or miss,” says 29-year-old Mutlu, about singing to strangers on the street. “Some people we go up to, they don’t necessarily want to hear it. And then some people really dig it…and sometimes they’ll even try to sing along with you.”
It may be hard to resist singing along with Mutlu, who professionally goes by his first name, because of his infectious and romantic vocal delivery. Rooted in the old-school R&B of his idols—such as Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye—Mutlu combines classic soul with folk, reggae and hip-hop influences.
For the Philadelphian it’s been a steady climb toward wider recognition. Coming off of his recent stint opening for Joe Jackson, Mutlu has already sold 2,000 copies of his EP. His new full-length debut, Livin’ It, which was produced by T-Bone Wolk, is set for release on July 22, and he’s the opening act on a couple of show dates for Daryl Hall, including one at the Highline Ballroom this week.
Several tuneful pop and soul songs are on Livin’ It such as “Upside” and “Think It Over.” But don’t paint Mutlu as being sunny all the time. “It just depends on when you catch me,” he says. “Like the song ‘Hello Morning’: Sometimes there’s a little bit of a darker edge to it.”
Perhaps the album’s hopeful title song best sums up Mutlu’s overall philosophy as its chorus goes, “Keep on livin’ it, keep on givin’ it.” “I think that was really the thread,” he explains. “It’s not to say that I’m always happy-go-lucky. I think I try to push myself to stay in that positive mind-set.”
Mutlu snagged some well-known guests for his album, including Amos Lee, G. Love, as well as Daryl Hall, who is featured on Mutlu’s song “See What It Brings.” Hall invited Mutlu to perform with him live on the classic hit “Maneater,” which can be seen on Hall’s Web series Live From Daryl’s House.
“It was amazing,” Mutlu says about working with Hall. “He’s always been one of my favorite singers. Musically it was just so natural at the same time. It was really an honor.”
Mutlu was born in Philadelphia after his parents emigrated from Turkey in the 1970s. His introduction to Western pop music was mainly through his friends and just being in the city that birthed famous soul acts such as the Stylistics and the Delfonics. “In Philly, the R&B thing is like in the water,” says Mutlu, “so it’s hard to escape. It was more like from my surroundings than anything else.”
During his sophomore year in college, Mutlu decided that he wanted to pursue music seriously. He opened for friend Amos Lee on his shows, and then later Mutlu was signed to Manhattan Records. So far the career highlight for him is this album and being able to work with the artists who appear on it. “It’s the kind of thing that takes time to build up to get to make your first statement,” he says. “The record as a whole definitely does that.”
As for the next episode of “Soul Streets,” which can be seen on YouTube, Mutlu is looking forward to catching people unaware with his crooning in New York City. “I’m sure that’ll be a little more of a challenge,” he says. “But it’s definitely something I’m planning to do.”
July 10, Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-414-5994; 8, $65.
“It’s a hit or miss,” says 29-year-old Mutlu, about singing to strangers on the street. “Some people we go up to, they don’t necessarily want to hear it. And then some people really dig it…and sometimes they’ll even try to sing along with you.”
It may be hard to resist singing along with Mutlu, who professionally goes by his first name, because of his infectious and romantic vocal delivery. Rooted in the old-school R&B of his idols—such as Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye—Mutlu combines classic soul with folk, reggae and hip-hop influences.
For the Philadelphian it’s been a steady climb toward wider recognition. Coming off of his recent stint opening for Joe Jackson, Mutlu has already sold 2,000 copies of his EP. His new full-length debut, Livin’ It, which was produced by T-Bone Wolk, is set for release on July 22, and he’s the opening act on a couple of show dates for Daryl Hall, including one at the Highline Ballroom this week.
Several tuneful pop and soul songs are on Livin’ It such as “Upside” and “Think It Over.” But don’t paint Mutlu as being sunny all the time. “It just depends on when you catch me,” he says. “Like the song ‘Hello Morning’: Sometimes there’s a little bit of a darker edge to it.”
Perhaps the album’s hopeful title song best sums up Mutlu’s overall philosophy as its chorus goes, “Keep on livin’ it, keep on givin’ it.” “I think that was really the thread,” he explains. “It’s not to say that I’m always happy-go-lucky. I think I try to push myself to stay in that positive mind-set.”
Mutlu snagged some well-known guests for his album, including Amos Lee, G. Love, as well as Daryl Hall, who is featured on Mutlu’s song “See What It Brings.” Hall invited Mutlu to perform with him live on the classic hit “Maneater,” which can be seen on Hall’s Web series Live From Daryl’s House.
“It was amazing,” Mutlu says about working with Hall. “He’s always been one of my favorite singers. Musically it was just so natural at the same time. It was really an honor.”
Mutlu was born in Philadelphia after his parents emigrated from Turkey in the 1970s. His introduction to Western pop music was mainly through his friends and just being in the city that birthed famous soul acts such as the Stylistics and the Delfonics. “In Philly, the R&B thing is like in the water,” says Mutlu, “so it’s hard to escape. It was more like from my surroundings than anything else.”
During his sophomore year in college, Mutlu decided that he wanted to pursue music seriously. He opened for friend Amos Lee on his shows, and then later Mutlu was signed to Manhattan Records. So far the career highlight for him is this album and being able to work with the artists who appear on it. “It’s the kind of thing that takes time to build up to get to make your first statement,” he says. “The record as a whole definitely does that.”
As for the next episode of “Soul Streets,” which can be seen on YouTube, Mutlu is looking forward to catching people unaware with his crooning in New York City. “I’m sure that’ll be a little more of a challenge,” he says. “But it’s definitely something I’m planning to do.”
July 10, Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-414-5994; 8, $65.
