Christopher Sluka

Christopher Sluka first rose to prominence in New York City in the 1980s playing alongside bands like Tears For Fears and Simple Minds.[4] In 1989 he put out his first full-length album, the Meldac released Emotional Battlefield.[5] Despite hailing from the United States he saw the most success in Japan and Europe.[6][7][8] This led to a variety of television and radio appearances that raised his profile. Among those was a well received performance and interview on the Japanese network Television Kanagawa on March 12, 1990.[9] Also notable was his Corragio Di Vivere performance on Italy's Rai 2.[10] In 1990 he released another album Fear Of Ordinary Life, also on Meldac and which was also released and well received in Europe on SAAR Records.[11][12] Donatella Colembo, the Top Italia Radio PR executive, stated "I was impressed with the album and his live quality" and gave Sluka a major push in 1991 across all major Italian Radio networks.[12] In 1993 the third Sluka album was released by Time Warner's Italian subsidiary CDG Wave.[5]

Since then, Sluka has been prolific putting out eight albums in the ten years between 1997 and 2017. On November 25, 2017, the song "Number One"[13] from the album Colorful Radiation reached the #13 position on the global Rock Chart as reported by Digital Radio Tracker (DRT),[14] Cashbox (magazine),[15] and Record World Magazine.[16] And on March 9, 2019, the song "Tease Me” peaked at #12.[17]

Since October 2018 the Sluka band has been composed of Lis Viegas - Drums/Vocals, Anna Eppink - Bass/Vocals, Alexandra Holt- Street Can/Theremin/Vocals, and Christopher Sluka - Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals.[18] On March 16, 2019 they began recording a new album working with Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Alan Sanderson.[19] The title track “Ready To Connect” was released as a single and video May 13, 2019 to critical acclaim and over half a million YouTube views [20] while they continued to record, releasing the second single "Hey Oh" on September 26, 2019 [21] and the complete album released October 31, 2019.[22] The video for "VIP" was released on Valentine's Day 2020 and quickly passed over a million views on Facebook.[23]

The album was nominated for the San Diego Music Awards on January 26, 2020[24] and on April 1st, 2020 Sluka was nominated in seven categories for the ISSA Awards including Best Album, Single, and Video of the Year.[25]

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and BLM, Sluka released the stand alone single/video "Vampire's Ball" on July 4th, 2020[26]

Sluka has received critical acclaim throughout his career - though early on much of it was in languages other than English.[27] In recent years though, in the US and the United Kingdom, he has been called "Ambitious", "Prophetic", and his album Introversions declared a "Masterpiece" by The Huffington Post.[4][28]

Not all praise was universal though - The Scene Magazine claimed, "When Sluka gets a sound right, it works amazingly and the faults usually come more from a lack of edge rather than bad song writing."[29] Meanwhile, Short And Sweet NYC referred to the record as "trying too hard to be commercial."[30] And although Josh Helmuth of Crave Online states "Sluka is a masterful composer with a hint of David Bowie" he adds "Sluka’s music may not be for the mainstream. His single “Number One” is certainly experimental to say the least. It starts with a ukulele, followed with a dissonant melody with experimental, electronic additions, chanting, and then ending with almost a heavy metal vibe."[31]

And yet, Scott Alexander of Abort Magazine states "Sluka is what Sluka is. And those who appreciate genius will appreciate his."[32]

According to On Stage Magazine, "Colorful Radiation" is slightly experimental with a heavy dose of the dramatic thrown in. His music is very much his own even if it's a little hard to define. It generally takes more than a quick listen to appreciate, so take a little time when you do."[33] And All Access Music states, "To categorize SLUKA’s music as “Rock” is an oversimplification. The often lush, ethereal sounds are a juxtaposition of elements found in classical, pop, gothic, progressive and alternative rock, which has resulted in a very difficult-to-define genre all its own... “Enigmatic rock,” perhaps...?"[34]

"The music of Sluka is diverse to say the least. Sluka continuously pushes the boundaries of modern rock music, which more artists need to do. More artists need to follow Sluka." - Joshua Macala for Raised By Gypsies - September 2018.[35]

"With the video of "Hey Oh", directed by Eric Bishop, Sluka's sophisticated sense of humor is both subtle and over-the-top simultaneously. They vacillate between theatrical to understated communication that the human race may have some hurdles ahead. The dapper musician-pilot-philosopher is the real deal with an unmistakable style. The tracks and the storytelling are consistently compelling as Sluka blends the issues of the day with an other-worldly quality. It's an education and a surprise with Sluka as they keep listeners on the edge of their seats waiting for more." - Donna Balancio for California Rocker - November 2019 [36]

"The video for “VIP” delivers Sluka’s love for puppies but also the playful side that our furry companions can awaken from us. The song itself is a riff-packed, high-tempo ride where Sluka’s bursting vocals alongside the swishing percussion shoots your adrenaline up in the air. But the hook of “VIP” is found within its ambitious and subtly dreamy optimism – despite all the edginess, there is a youthful touch to “VIP” that fuels you with positivity. And paired with the puppy visuals, “VIP” feels like watching a rock’n’roll show in heaven!" - Aupium - March 2020 [37]

"As a frontman, Sluka has encapsulated his own sound in a genre that too often just copies the work of “the greats,” whether we are talking Nick Cave or David Bowie… " - Punchland - March 2020 [38]

“Vampire’s Ball” opens on an elegant piano, gentle, almost tender, flowing into low-slung emerging colors as Sluka’s voice glides overhead. When the guitars and drums kick-in the melody assumes prog-rock flavors reminiscent of Queen. Choir-like harmonies infuse the lyrics with radiant tendrils of scrumptious sonic surfaces. Once again recorded by Alan Sanderson and directed by Eric Bishop, the video depicts images of starkly empty roadways and parking lots as an on-screen image shows Christopher seated at the piano. The visuals shift to the full band playing, followed by clips of massive protest marches and violent looters engaged in combat with police. The contrast between the posh milieu at the beginning of the video with the disturbing images that follow gives the visuals an intense surreal effect. With “Vampire’s Ball,” Sluka dishes out subtle nuances of elegance laced with strata of latent ominous coloration and manic passion. - Randall Radic - July 2020[39]

In 1994 Sluka returned to the USA to base himself in San Diego and launch his own label, Steel Flower Music. He also bought a pair of coffee houses where he performed acoustic versions of his songs. In 1997 he performed "live" in a San Diego KUSI-TV broadcast and interview at one of the coffeehouses.[40] It was through Steel Flower Music that he released his subsequent albums, up through his most recent offerings, 2017's Colorful Radiation[5] and 2019's Ready To Connect.[41]

Sluka has also appeared in several independent films as both an actor and stunt pilot. These include the independent films 2011's Beach Bar: The Movie, 2014's La Migra, and 1988's Vampire's Kiss starring Nicolas Cage. His albums, 2016's Introversions and 2017's Colorful Radiation, were also released as visual albums on Blu-ray.[42][43]

"Sluka is additionally a striking visual craftsman, increasing worldwide exhibition of his surrealistic oil paintings have graced displays from New York to San Diego, and Tokyo to Milan."[44] Addison Coleman - Listen Now Music - 2018

An aviation enthusiast, Sluka also owns and operates the flight school Learn To Fly San Diego [45] as the chief instructor pilot in his adopted hometown of San Diego, California. He has a Jet Type Rating for the CitationJet, or CJ 525 series of jet aircraft, and an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with over 5,000 hours of flight time.[46]

• Christopher Sluka at IMDb