Houston Soulution is more than just a band – it is a musical manifesto for groove. Their songs are like a pulsating heart, bringing lightness to difficult times. The lyrics speak a language that goes straight to the heart and touches the soul. In a world that increasingly feels cold and distant, Houston Soulution’s music offers a “Soulution” – an answer that reminds us of what matters most: feeling.
Musically, the band is firmly rooted in soul, with influences from funk, blues, and contemporary pop. But the true center of Houston Soulution is without a doubt the powerful voice of frontwoman Martina Houston. Once you have heard that voice, it stays with you – a unique blend of soul and blues that makes her an unmistakable figure on the Swiss music scene.
Martina Houston’s own life story could just as well be the band’s message. It has been shaped by music, which has served as her guide, advisor, and source of comfort all at once. At just 17 years old, and unaware of the power of her own voice, she overcame her stage fright and stepped in front of a funk band. Her love of music was stronger than her fear, and after her first performance on the main stage of the Heitere Open Air in Zofingen, one thing was clear: music would become more than just a hobby.
But the road there was not easy. Raised in a middle-class family with no ties to the creative world, Martina initially chose to study at university. Yet her true passion, music, faded into the background. A burnout at the end of her first semester, dropping out of university, and the question “What now?” followed. But then everything changed: a chance encounter on a train and a conversation about music led Martina to years of collaboration with the band The Fonxionaires. As “Jane Hurricane,” she toured through Switzerland and Europe, and more and more people were won over by her authentic stage presence and powerful voice.
Thanks to these experiences, she found the courage to place music back at the center of her life. She earned a place at the renowned jazz school in Bern, and after successfully completing her studies, her journey continued. Encouraged by her closest friends and bandmates, she decided to pursue her love of music where blues, soul, and funk have their roots: in the United States. In Los Angeles, at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, she not only rediscovered her passion for songwriting, but also met her present husband, Larry Houston. Their long intercontinental relationship, with all its ups and downs, is reflected in Martina’s songs and in her singing. The distance and the times of loneliness were bridged through their shared music. Martina Schibler became Martina Houston – a singer who has given everything to live her musical dream. Her music is now more than ever a reflection of her passion and wholehearted devotion.
