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Soul of Man chats to I Like Music

ILM: Especially because it was so early on in your career?

Justin: Yeah exactly. You dream of going to places like Australia. To get invited and then get that kind of experience and reception is just amazing.

ILM: What do you think are the ingredients of a top breaks night and a top breaks tune?

Justin: Hmm...two different things really. I think when we started that breakbeat was very much a bit of everything, which is what appealed. It stole bits of funk and hip hop, even through to drum n bass. It was very much an eclectic mix of music throughout the night, which is what was attractive after house music had become very genre specific. It felt like it was more of a freestyle thing. I think what inevitably happened was that breakbeat got quite niche as well. In answer to your question, I think that what makes a good breaks night is variety. Anything that isn't 4x4 straight forward house music. And even if it is, it shouldn't be seen as non breakbeat. It is more an attitude. It can get too purist. When it is just one sound with anything, then I think it can get too tedious. Variety is the spice. What is great about breaks is the attitude that nothing really matters. It is fun over image I suppose. Fancy dress is seeping in all over the place at the moment, so the fun is back! Ha! In terms of a tune it has to be funky in one shape or form. If it is too electronic then I think it lacks the reason to be a dance floor record really.

ILM: Can you describe the Soul Of Man process of making such fine music? Is it the beats that come first or the vibe, or sample, or melody or is it just random?

Justin: It's all of those really, although I suppose it is random. The way we set out to make a tune is normally without anything specific in mind in terms of how the end result is going to sound. It may start with a sample. We tend to do it in quite an old school way, starting with something, a sample loop or funk loop and then letting it evolve out of that. I suppose the roles are that Jem is more the Engineer and kind of Funk Master, whereas I am the Director with my house head on. We have different influences in our music but when we get on a roll, like with anything creative, hopefully the magic seeps in and it starts to make sense. It is difficult to answer specifically but generally it is a vibe that starts with a sample and then it is just random.

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Related links:

1. Chew The Fat - Troublestock
2. Merka chats to I Like Music