The Soulfolk Experience
The Soulfolk Experience formed organically in 2008 around Maritri’s weekly appearances at NYC restaurant VOYAGE, part of Marcos Luis’ One Mic Nite open mic series. Maritri’s reputation quickly drew a stellar lineup of NY-based Soul, Blues and Rock singer-songwriters to the informal event, resulting in soaring 5-part harmonies and blazing acoustic solos around a solitary microphone. Maritri’s anthemic songs provided the anchor for these legendary performances, which brought the musical attendees great satisfaction, but ultimately proved too loud for both the neighborhood and the management of VOYAGE. Undaunted, Maritri and Marcos sustained the One Mic platform, transporting it to multiple addresses in and around NYC’s Greenwich village, attracting the same high level of professional and amateur performers regardless of venue. Through the 2010s, a regular rotation of performers became a defacto singer-songwriter supergroup, including Corey Glover (of Living Color), V. Jeffrey Smith (of The Family Stand), Shelley Nicole (of BlakBushe), Andrae Alexander, Luqmon Brown (of FunkFace and Dope Saggitarius), Jeff Jeudy, David Pilgrim, Jerome Jordan, Annekei, Ganessa James, Kay Ashley, Patrizia Ferrara, Dexter Taylor, Buttafly Soul, Moist Paula, Carla Duren, Jeni Fujita and many others.
Over time the larger cast refined itself to Maritri, V. Jeffrey Smith and David Pilgrim, choosing the name Soulfolk Experience to cover the broad range of styles they covered. They released two compilations - The Soulfolk Experience Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 which prominently featured Maritri’s material, including “Normal”, “No regrets”, “Breathe”, ”Chariot” and “Rain”. Numerous solo efforts by the members followed, featuring guest appearances from the other Soulfolks, including her own release “If Only I Could Breathe” (a duet album with guitarist Nick Cassarino), V. Jeffrey Smith’s “The Long Journey Continues To Continue” and David Pilgrim’s “All Things Being Equal” among others. Countless transcendent live performances followed wth ace drummer Howard Alper, master percussionist Ron McBee and guitar phenom Marcus Machado holding them down in effortless, powerful unison.
The Soulfolk Experience or SFX, were nominated “Best Band In Brooklyn 2011” by WNYC, New York’s preeminent public radio station. Individually they have performed on numerous American, European and Caribbean stages. In addition to group commitments, Maritri maintained “Reunion Of Souls” a nightly concert series on Instagram and Facebook, begun in the pandemic until her passing in 2026. In 2025, David’s solo release “Boil The Ocean” was launched featuring his two team members, and Jeff is a leader/contributor to innovative musical projects such as The Paradigm Shift, Electric Powered Soul and the Family Stand.
Releases
SOULFOLK EXPERIENCE VOL. 1
SOULFOLK EXPERIENCE VOL. 2