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RAGO MAGAZINE managed to catch up with West Midlands producer SOULL SOHPAL
Introduce your self and tell us where you’re from?
My name is Soull Sohpal, I was born in multi ethnic and cultural Birmingham, and came up in the Small Heath area, but moved from there when I was twelve years old to Wolverhampton – which was then a town – now a city..
What’s the scene like there?
The scene in Wolverhampton (Wolf City) is pretty energised, in the way that we seem to produce world class artists here.. not sure why that is, but the whole west midlands area including Birmingham seems to have some kind of formula that breeds stars! The hip hop scene in ‘wolf city’ is and has always been an interesting one! Producing artists like Drum & Bass King Pin Goldie, the soul singing diva Beverly Knight, model and RnB vocalist Jamelia, Under Ground Rapper ‘LATE’ – and Wolftown Recordings Big Gun – Tricksta! Rapper Tenny Ten, to name a few...
The west midlands area of the UK is just a wealth of artistic ideas, creative and innovative artists, producers and musicians in every genre of music and art! It’s a major playground on the world music & arts scene!
What music was bumping when you where coming up?
Mann! Everything, every style, genre, you name it, in Birmingham when I was coming up, hip hop, rap, soul RnB, Reggae, Pop, Michael Jackson! , Northern Indian pop (Bhangra) classical (both eastern and western!) African! Seriously, there was and still is a mix of everything!
Wolf City, is where I first heard Drum & Bass! (the newest addition/genre to music - thanks to Goldie! and co.
You had an album called Solstice the Album released in 2007 tell us about that project.
Solstice the Album was really just me expressing myself through music, I am a multi genre/style producer, so this album gave me the opportunity to really show off what I am capable of. I’m very proud of that album, and it continues - 3 years after release (released 2007) - to enter new territories worldwide.
The album features a wide variety of styles and genres including fusion. There’s Hip Hop, Soul, RnB, World, Classical, Funk, Fusion, you name it, it’s on there.
It’s rare to get picked up for your first album by the big names in the world! and in publishing, but to my complete surprise – that’s what happened. I got reviews from all over the world, including the prestigious Rolling Stone – right the way across the board to west midlands local press ‘The Birmingham Post & Wolf City’s ‘Express & Star’. The C.D’s sold out in a matter of months! I had three and half thousand printed up professionally, (I mastered Solstice the Album myself professionally) and they all sold out! – All over the world!... it is still available on C.D. and download with Amazon, iTunes, and many of the top digital stores worldwide. Visit my website for links: http://www.ifusedworld.com/online-store
It got radio played all over the world too, in Australia, India, Jamaica, every state in the USA! Japan, China, most countries/territories in Europe! And right here in the UK, on the BBC, among many other stations and magazines online and physical.
What artists have you worked with and what is your most successful release and why?
I collaborated with quite a few artists on this album, Wolf City’s very own TruFam Records Ltd – Rico Levant, Dezert Rhino, Syrona Marie, Steela. Rapper - Ibraheem – DHS Records West London. Joe ‘Sly Devil’ Myrthil – Sly Devil Recordings, Brooklyn – USA. Rapper -Intrigue from East London.
There is a massive list of artists that featured... to check out more info on Solstice the Album hit my website: http://www.ifusedworld.com/onlinestore
You have just released a free download single “No Guns” tell us about that release
No Guns, this project is one that really means a lot to me, as does it to so many across the country and the world.
Youth violence has just overtaken here in the UK, this project addresses this issue.
We have kids over here in the UK that think that they are in the USA hoods, but the reality is that they really don’t exist like that here in the UK - as they do over there in the USA.
Something has gone badly wrong! And it is seriously upsetting to know that young children that are barely even out of school are carrying around knives and guns and killing each other?
I teamed up with TruFam Records Ltd, the Princes Trust, and various other producers and stations including BBC’s 1 Xtra, and produced this single to run alongside the Princes Trust’s own youth anti violence campaign.
The single is **FREE*** to download, so grab it, and pass it on! Here’s the link: http://www.ifusedworld.com/no-guns-single
No Guns has been downloaded over 18,000 times over the last 3 to 4 months.
Grab it! And Spread it!
Lets protect our youths, let’s make things right again!
What are all your websites and myspaces so people can check out and download the No Guns and the rest of your music?
My main website ‘iFused World Media’: http://www.ifusedworld.com all links to Facebook, email, twitter etc etc are there. Also all info on any projects I’m involved with is published there.
What equipment do you use?
Mann! I use anything I can get my hands on! Everything! I’ve trained in ProTools, Logic, and Cubase SX, at the moment I’m stretching Cubase SX to its limits... and it has really seriously surprised me! Cubase gets knocked alot, but it is a serious sequencer. I’ve plugged Reason 4 into it, and shit loads of other stuff.... drum machines, synths... strings.. etc etc...
For Mastering I use T-Racks 3, and shit loads of other similar software’s, and to create my C.D. Master I use - Sony CD Architect.
I used to use a shit load of outboard gear, but slowly got shot of a lot of it, and now I do what has been nicknamed in the industry as Internal Mixing! Everything from the comfort of my laptop! ;)
I could write lists and lists of all the shit that I’ve used, but there’s no point. Software has massively overtaken everything any hard ware could ever do.
For people reading this and hearing about you for the first time how would you describe the type of beats you make and production style
I produce everything! And anything, I think it’s important to be versatile in this business, if you work on beats, write songs and ballads too, if you write songs and ballads produce dance and elektro.. don’t limit yourself, ... and it’s a lot of fun experimenting with different ideas, and styles..
I make beats that fuse electronic beats over hip hop; I create fusions between eastern classical instruments and western classical instruments.
I create music that inspires, energises, wakes you up, or relaxes you; I create really emotive dark and bright beats, and music.
I just do anything and everything that feels and sounds great! And grabs your emotions by the balls!
I compose visual music for film too..
If people want to work with you or collaborate what is the best way to get hold of you?
http://www.ifusedworld.com
Email my label:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
You have a publishing deal with Sunshine HQ how did that deal come about?
Well, I’m an indie, Sunshine HQ was introduced to me via a friend last year (2009). These guys are serious! They work exclusively with all of the main and biggest names in publishing. So I sent them some material and they loved it, and signed me up.
Sunshine HQ are the guys that service all the publishing for the top hip hop artists in the world including Snoop Dogg, LL Kool J, 50Cent, etc etc..
They have also worked with some of the biggest and best known bands in the industry, and some cheesy pop too (spice girls etc)
Check them out http://www.sunshinehq.com
And finally what are you working on next and what else do you have planned for the future?
Well the future looks really bright; this music thing is always changing, so at the moment, it looks like this:
I’ve got another album coming up, nearly finished, entitled ‘Human’ this is a massive mix of different styles from all over the world, look out for the press for release dates etc.
I’m doing a lot more collaborating with artists from all over the world, more info about that coming up real soon.. keep checking my website for more info.
If you want to get involved/collaborate with any of my material, please just email me, with links to your music (myspace is always the best thing) so that I can hear you.
Dream you Dream, then Chase and Live it!
Peac.
Soull Sohpal
p.s. I’ve gotta give a massive shout out to ‘LATE’ & Tricksta! Wolftown Recordings ‘Rago Magazine!’ You guys make this industry make sense!
Bless!
Interview by LATE
www.myspace.com/latewolftown |
