Soulnaturals

Introducing a band who want to inject a little positivity in to our lives – Soulnaturals.. We check in with band leader Tony Cannam as he gets set to release his mammoth new Long Player, ‘Love Says Yes!’, this coming Record Store Day…

Hi Tony, a warm, soulful welcome to DMCworld! Where are you in the world right now?

Hello! I am in the city of my birth, London – currently residing in West London, but I’m from Tooting, You can take Tone out of Tooting, but you can’t take the Tooting out of Tone!

What was the first piece of music you heard today?

It was Marlena Shaw ‘Woman Of The Ghetto’.

How would you describe your sound?

Organic, Analogue, earthy Soul with a strong songwriting foundation, complete with special melodies and ‘de profundis’ lyrics. I love pop music, I’m a big believer in the perfect pop song.

You’re just about to release your brilliant new ‘Love Says Yes’ album on your own label British Soul Standard, What can we expect to hear musically?

It’s very soulful and funky, I went for a very warm, deep analogue sound with a rich musical arrangement and occasional orchestration. It goes on a mini genre journey, touching on Reggae, Gospel, Classical, Northern Soul, Cinematic and Party Funk. It’s not a concept album, but it might be a warm up for a future one.

What’s the message in the album title?

“Love Says Yes, but hate says no” – There’s an abundance of hate rising in the world right now, unfortunately some people buy into because they are afraid, but it never builds anything or provides communities with what they need. ‘Love Says Yes!’ carries a message of positive living, it’s a choice, love can do anything, achieve anything, it is the language of imagination. Hate is a bit dull and limited, who’s party invite would you accept?

Kylie_Auldist

Tell us a bit about your favourite track from the album

‘My Love For You Is Not of This Earth’ – I had this title knocking around for a long time, but never did anything with it! I then started playing around with the bass / hook line and it then developed it a strong Soul ballad and then that title came to mind and it seemed obvious. One of our new singers Bre-Antonia heard the demo and said it was stunning, so I gave it to her and she recorded it in one take from start to finish, very impressive! I’m very fond of the departure it takes right at the end, it becomes very classical, dreamy and hypnotic. I could have happily stayed on that for another half hour, but you have to have a bit of consideration, were not a prog rock.

Was it conscious decision to weave through the spectrum of Soul on the album, or did it just happen that way?

No it was not conscious really, the set of songs just came out that way depending on what  arrangement I hear as I am writing it, it’s also about moods, joyful, brooding, romantic and ecstatic – the soul spectrum takes all these in, it’s a very human piece.

How do you set about writing your songs and where do you get your inspiration from?

I dont write songs, they write me! They find me, grab me and won’t leave me in peace until I work them out, record them and then give them to the world. They come from a variety of starting points, sometimes it’s a title that comes to me, or a melody, a bass line or a stream of lyrics. They are clues and you have to follow them to see where they lead. It’s very natural, I hear them all the time, particularly the first thought upon waking, that’s the purest. Lyrically it’s taken from observing or acknowledging life’s struggle of victories and defeats and how they make you feel.

The first single released ‘You Make Me Feel Like I Can Change The World’, has been supported by Craig Charles on BBC6 Music, among many, and features the vocals of Australian soul superstar Kylie Auldist. How did you hook up with Kylie and have you plans to work together again in the future?

Well one of the musicians I play with mentioned Kylie a few years back and then I heard one of her tracks on Craig Charles BBC6 and her voice was something else, so she stuck in my mind. When it came to making the album, I wanted some guest singers so I found her email online and sent her a few demos and she loved ‘You Make Me Feel’ – so that was it. There’s definitely more plans in the pipeline, theres a new exclusive album track on the way and I would love to make a collaboration album with Kylie, I’m working on finding potential investors as we speak, so stay tuned folks! For me she really is the best singer in the business right now.

Aside of Kylie you’ve got a plethora of soulful guests on the album, including non other than Reggae / Ska music legend Dave Barker, how did you go about selecting the artists you have worked with and who else was involved in the project?

I’ve been building a strong network of serious singers and musicians for a few years now with Soulnaturals and British Soul Standard. I only approach the best, regardless of whether they are well known or low profile, there is a magic about certain songs and certain voices that can tell their story. if I have a set of songs I have singers in mind, but i like to see which ones they are feeling, that always gets the best results. I met Dave Barker when a friend from Ireland was over and he recorded him in my studio, although he’s famous for Reggae, I thought this guy is a Soul singer too. We were in the pub after and I sang him this new gospel type song which i was working on and he really liked it. The result was ‘Let Freedom Ring’, i think the vocal is magical, it’s just got it. You have to have confidence in your songs, then you can approach great singers.

Jo Kelsey Headshot

You also make a vocal appearance yourself?

I do indeed, I’m the Hitchcock of Soul Music, I always like to crowbar myself in a guest appearance. I really felt that one myself and wanted to deliver it, plus it’s got some of the best lines on the album, so why not, it’s my treat for working hard. I actually like to approach album projects with a cinematic / film frame of mind, there are a lot of similarities.

What was the best and worst experience in putting together the album together?

The best experience was playing the whole album live in one day with the rhythm section and capturing a real happening vibe. If you can get it working that way, it’s then a treat to then add strings, brass etc, and when the lead singer comes in your going to get a strong performance as they bounce off the track. I put it together with Steve Honest at Hackney Rd Studios who has done a lot of albums with Trevor Horn, Culture Club, Grace Jones etc back in the 80s, he’s a real vintage gear magpie and he seriously knows his stuff. I told him I wanted to start off getting an early 70s Motown sound with the rhythm section and he knew exactly how they did it, what mics / set up to use. Worst experience? Wanting to make the next album straight away, but having to work on promotion and marketing this one!

You’re also releasing the vinyl of the album on Record Store Day and you’re an official partner, how important is Record Store Day and why?

I think it’s hugely important, it’s part of the whole vinyl and physical revival that is making fans fall in love with bands the way they should do. Digital is fine as a marketing tool, playlists etc,  but like everything else online, it’s not tangible, it’s not quite real. If you love a singer or a band you need to see them live and have something to hold unto, something to testify to, it’s part of your life, your story and your evolution. Falling in love with a band or a record is the same as falling in love with a person, you might find them online, but your going to want to step out explore each other in person.  Record Store Day is helping to promote the whole ethos of the independent record store and help them, bands and vinyl thrive.

Who are your current favourite Soul music artists?

I love Cody Chesnutt, absolutely beautiful voice and a great songwriter too. Jalapeno Records are unearthing some great singers currently, Izo Fitzroy is one to look out for, really touching, emotive Soul & Blues singer. Alice Russell is a British gem, wonderful gospel charged Soul singing force of nature. But dare I say, now Aretha sings very little, the Queen of Soul could well be our Kylie Auldist…

What’s your opinion of the current Brit-Soul scene?

There are some great singers out there who are coming through or have come through over the last few years, both from the majors and the independents, Adele’s success has been amazing and I think good for all of us, because it was just about the music, but she has almost become too successful, it’s like a one woman industry. I think there needs to be more great songwriters to match the singers, there’s too much emphasis on beats and production, we need stories, we need poets who are documenting the incredible historic times we are going through right now. Brit Soul singers should collaborate with indie band or folk songwriters and mix it up a bit more.

We come to your house and raid your record collection, which embarrassing record do you need to chuck out the window as we arrive?

I’m afraid you would be banging on the door for an hour as I sling half my records out into a waiting skip! I have a huge vinyl collection and it’s like a vintage cheese shop, I tend to inherit or be given peoples vinyl collections from family and friends, and I never say no, so there is literally all sorts in there from the 30s to the present, but its always about songs with me and thats the common thread. ‘The Last Waltz’ by Engelbert Humperdink on 45rpm ? I’ve ended many a party on the decks with that little baby.

What’s been your favourite Soulnaturals gig so far and where can we see you play in the near future?

Well, there’s been some real landmarks like The Jazz Cafe last year and The Secret Cinema festival in Jubilee Park was a true experience, it was like being on a film set every day. But one of my personal favourites was playing The Scotch of St. James, it was a legendary 60s club where The Beatles would hang out and Jimi Hendrix played one of his first gigs in London, it still has that sort of vibe. We’ve got some nice events coming up to promote the album including A Summer Soiree all dayer in Bermondsey Yard Cafe in SE1 with a cool DJ line up including Silas & Snare and were starting a regular friday slot at The Union St Cafe on Fri 28th April.

Finally what’s coming next from you?

We’re just gearing up to release the second track off the album, ‘I Got Sunshine (Enough for the World)’, it’s a real get down, funky party track featuring a fine bluesy sweet soul singer Jo Kelsey who’s now based in New Zealand. Its a great little package with Soulful House / Nu Funk remixes from Swedish Maestro Opolopo, Moscows’ prime funkster Valique and a French House dub style mix from Chicky Boom. It’s one for the summer dance floors, see you out there!

Soulnaturals ‘Love Says Yes!’ album will be released on April 22nd 2017 on British Soul Standard.

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