Marc Broussard to release digital EP on Atlantic

New Orleans soul singer Marc Broussard will release his digital five-track EP Must Be The Water Feb. 19, marking his Atlantic Records debut.

Must Be The Water is a preview of a full-length album to come later this year. The EP was recorded during Broussard’s recent stint on the Rock Boat. Broussard and his band used a bare-bones studio set-up to record five new songs during the cruise, hoping to capture the feel and energy of the live shows they were performing every day on the ship.

Broussard’s soulful, Cajun-influenced 2004 debut Carencro was a reflection of both his Louisiana roots and his family’s rich musical tradition. The son of Boogie Kings’ guitarist Ted Broussard, he grew up listening to the likes of Al Green, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder and developed a deep admiration of soul and R&B music. He recorded singles from some these and some of his other favorite artists on his 2007 cover album S.O.S.: Save Our Soul.

The title track from Must Be The Water is in heavy rotation on Turner Broadcasting System networks as the theme song for TNT’s promotion of the 2008 NBA All-Star game. Broussard will perform the song prior to the game, which will be broadcast live from New Orleans Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. EST on TNT. The single version of “Must Be The Water” is currently available on iTunes.

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.