“The name comes from the word Sojourner, which means a stranger in a foreign land,” says Michael Couts, lead singer and lead guitarist of Souljourners, a four-man band hailing from Southern California. “We were looking up names for aliens and sojourner came up. So we added Soul to the word creating Souljourner. There are four of us, so it's plural. Our name means a soul's journey in a foreign land.” The band is completed by members David Brockenborough (Scoop) on bass, Paul Elliot on keyboard and Paul Zimmer on drums.

“When I was about 8, my parents got me a guitar for Christmas and I realized I could play if I gave it time, but toys were more important back then,” Michael says. “I was not a good kid by any means. I was kicked out of a Christian school when I was in kindergarten, also suspended multiple times in elementary and middle school, so I think you can get the idea. I shaped up in high school and graduated with an A-average. I was a cool kid, though I loved Ren and Stimpy and Power Rangers.”

“I love my family!” Michael continues. “My Mom means the world to me even though I should probably do more for her. My dad is my buddy. We just smoke cigars and listen to music. My younger brother, Shaun, is the Viking version of me; we hang out all the time. My older brother is a genius and a Navy navigator.”

Michael’s band began playing in church, “back in the day,” he says. “Then we just gigged anywhere we could, including bars, parks, clubs, and backyards. We’re still doing it and we’re ready to go to the next level when ever the opportunity arises.”

“Scoop and I have been playing music since we were fourteen. People came and went, but we stayed in the band. We picked up Paul Ellingson three years ago and our newest and best drummer, Paul Zimmer, three months ago.”

“Scoop and I were all over the place in the beginning, writing jam rock, fusion, some punk and metal. The more we grew as musicians, the better the music got. By the time we were eighteen, we were into Progressive Rock. We wanted to make a new type of Progressive music with more hooks and mid range vocals.”

Along with doing vocals, Michael plays guitar, mandolin, bass and can, “fake how to play a piano with a sustain pedal,” he says.

“I am a Graphic artist for corporate jobs. I work by day, rock by night. I am also a music and movie freak. I also enjoy beautiful women and I write songs constantly. If a label rep is reading this, I will quit my job any day and tour 24/7 if you give us a deal!”

“I am a very unique person. Once you get to know me, I act silly constantly, but only around certain people I trust like my band and my close friends and my mom. I have some tattoos I had specifically designed by Randy Deshong of dd696.com on my body, each having some very intense meaning to me,” Michael says describing himself. “I am a nice, considerate person who wants a full time career making music with my band. I am a very determined individual willing to work for what I want. I am not a very open person, but I freed a bird last week that was stuck in a window. I shed a tear of joy after it and wrote some lyrics about being a free bird,” he adds with a grin.

Souljourners was discovered by producer Frank Gryner at the Southern California Music Awards where they were performing and received "Best High School Band" award that year. Their music touches on multiple genres from Hard Rock, Progressive, to Metal and even some ballads. In 2007, Souljourners was voted Best Live Band and Best Rock Band by the Inland Empire Music Awards.

Their debut album Mind Control is a concept album with a storyline about a future society that has outlawed all freedoms and controls its citizens by medicating them. The story features an unnamed character who is fighting against this society. The story is in the linear notes and weaves the lyrics of each song into the story. Guitarist Phil Collen from the band Def Leppard is featured on Mind Control's song ‘Crazy Times’ in a solo duel with Michael Couts.

“We all love making music that is fun and challenging to play,” Michael says with a smile. “Last year we played The Mexicali Metal Fest and I had tacos in the street in Mexico with our old drummer at 3 am! It was a first; the US doesn't make tacos that late outdoors! I would love for our band to get a good deal and go on tour with a well-known band to get our music out to the world. And it's my dream to tour Japan!”

“Making music is my life, plain and simple. I tried other things and it’s empty. Music is in our blood! Souljourners equals our life! I am always listening to music at work, at home, in the car. I am addicted to something better than heroin or cocaine! It’s called music,” he states enthusiastically.

Michael leaves us with some ambiguous advice that perhaps works for young men in all walks of life, not just musicians, “Don't move across country with a girl.”