Chris Oledude – Rainbow Soul
Chris Oledude, A.K.A Chris Owens, is a Puerto Rican–born artist whose lifelong dedication to truth-telling has shaped a career where music and social conscience are inseparable. Growing up with his brothers in an artistically affluent home, he absorbed classical, folk, pop, funk, and protest music under the guidance of his mother, Ethel Werfel Owens, while his father, Congressman Major R. Owens, instilled a deep respect for ideas, justice, and public service. Performing on New York City streets in the 1980s and later stepping into decades of civic and political activism, Oledude’s artistic voice matured through lived experience. Re-emerging in 2020, he fused old-school pop, funk, and R&B with contemporary urgency.
“Rainbow Soul (Single Mix)” his latest track, released on December 30, 2025, is a radiant, funk-infused anthem born from progressive political history. It carries a timeless message of unity, love, and inclusive humanity, connecting past eras to the present. Chris Oledude recorded at Mark Dann Studio with producer and mastering engineer Mark Dann and recording engineer Kat Lewis. The track features background vocals from a large ensemble, including Kiena Williams, Geoffrey Owens, Elijah Dixon Owens, and multiple vocalists, with Beau Brady on drums and Greg DiBenedetto on lead guitar.
“Rainbow Soul” opens with a sense of gathering and intention, immediately establishing a communal atmosphere before the groove fully settles. The opening has a ceremonial quality that draws the audience into a shared emotional realm where purpose and rhythm coexist. As the beat locks in, the tempo reveals itself as steady and confident, never hurried, giving the track room to breathe while maintaining a forward motion that feels grounded and assured.
As the instrumentation progresses, it builds on a funk-driven foundation infused with gospel warmth and classic soul sensibilities. The bassline is rich, versatile, and deeply integrated. It acts as the spine of the song, giving it volume and consistency. The drums are precise and deliberate, favoring groove and pocket over complexity, creating a pulse that feels almost ritualistic. Horn stabs and subtle percussive accents enter with precision, lifting the arrangement and adding brightness without crowding the mix or distracting from the core rhythm.
The backup vocals play a crucial role in shaping the song’s emotional depth and overall richness. Their harmonies are transcendent, flowing effortlessly around the lead vocal and expanding the sonic space with warmth and clarity. These voices add a choral quality that feels both spiritual and celebratory, reinforcing the song’s message through texture rather than excess. Instead of merely supporting, the backing vocals act as a second emotional voice, amplifying the sense of unity and shared expression that defines the track.
As the song progresses, instead of dramatic shifts, it evolves through subtle expansion. Repetition becomes a strength, creating a hypnotic, unified energy that encourages immersion. Call-and-response passages heighten the communal feel, making the track sound participatory and alive, as though it is meant to be experienced collectively rather than passively consumed. Each return to the central groove feels stronger, more affirming, and more emotionally charged.
Rainbow Soul transforms funk, and history into a timeless anthem of unity, conscience, and enduring hope for humanity.
Rainbow Soul transforms funk, and history into a timeless anthem of unity, conscience, and enduring hope for humanity.
Chris Oludude’s vocal performance is commanding yet deeply sincere. His delivery carries authority akin to a preacher, but it is grounded in warmth and restraint, allowing the lyrics to resonate clearly. He phrases with patience and intention, allowing the harmonies and instrumentation to interact naturally. Overall, “Rainbow Soul” feels expansive, purposeful, and personal, blending groove, harmony, and collective energy into a powerful soul-driven statement that lingers long after it ends. The production quality remains smooth and authentic as it enhances the song’s overall emotional pull and makes every section feel intentional, cohesive, and deeply resonant.
For more information about Chris Oledude, click on the icons below.
Swedish musician Martin Hammar’s journey began at age ten, inspired by an 1980s Swedish political…
Aston Aizen is a London-based artist whose music exists at the intersection of discipline, emotion,…
Barry Allen, a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Streatham Hill, London, has spent a lifetime cultivating…
Gregg McKella is a Brighton based multi instrumentalist originally from Aylesbury, active since the early…
Steve Bradshaw, from Beckenham, England, is a veteran musician whose life has been deeply intertwined…
E.L.W.12 is a Markkleeberg, Germany based artist who recently stepped into the public eye after…