Smoove & Turrell is a collaboration between beat-maker Smoove & soul singer… Read Full Bio ↴Smoove & Turrell is a collaboration between beat-maker Smoove & soul singer John Turrell.

“Antique Soul” is the sound of one of the finest beat producers in the UK hitting his stride. That man is Smoove and this is his second full album release – his first having been snapped up by the legendary Acid Jazz label.

Ask anyone on the funk or breaks scene who’s dropping a rocking beat and “A Man called Smoove” is the earnest reply. So far so good. A Nu-funk legend is dropping his latest album – should be good.

But it’s not just good, it’s career making good and the reason why is that in John Turrell, Smoove has found his vocal match.

Throwing down somewhere between Otis Redding and Animals frontman Eric Burdon, geordie Turrell is the epitome of blue-eyed soul. A working class family man with a voice that takes him and everyone who hears it to a place so far away from everyday life – it’s like a door to a different world is opened in your ear.

Known mostly for uptempo, northern soul influenced, funk and beats jams, on this album Smoove finds someone who can roll with him on those lofty highs but then provide the gravel voiced soul for the comedown. Songs like “Darker Dayz” and “Without You” mean that this is an album with depth from a soul that can be as twisted and dark as it is joyful.

Not that you’d know that from sitting in the pub with them. Then it’s two lads with warm accents and infectious laughter who light up a room and make everyone wonder who the hell it is that’s turning a drab local boozer into the funniest place in the world.

Their first collaboration was “I Can’t Give You Up” - a track that was never meant to go beyond a 500 edition run of a 7” on an obscure german label. When the last copies of that run reached the heady heights of £166 on ebay with Northern Soul and funk fanatics in a bidding frenzy the boys knew they had found something a bit special in each other.

The BBC’s funk afficionado and occasional hellraiser Craig Charles certainly thought so. He has heavily supported tracks from Smoove & Turrell on his radio show and has even put pen to paper to write the liner notes for Antique Soul.

Smoove – even his mum now calls him that - describes this album as having an “old dusty feel to its production mixed with fresh contemporary edges”.

“I wanted a retro feel while keeping hip-hop production values in my beats. It reflects the different styles I play in my DJ sets - soul, latin, funk, jazz, easy listening, northern soul and hip hop. I’m a real crate digger and only play vinyl in my DJ sets. I found an amazing track by 70’s songwriter Lynsey de Paul that we sampled for You Don’t Know. Normally samples take forever to clear but someone played it directly to Lynsey and she loved it. We got everything cleared the same day ”

The lyrics that Turrell brings to the game reflect his own life experiences, from his relationship with his wife and family to his binging habits over cigarettes and alcohol. But while he deals with everyday subjects, his lyrics are never mundane, finding beauty in the ordinary and elevating the everyday to poetry.

John Turrell is a singer and lyricist who defiantly wears his heart on his sleeve whether it involves belting out his angst on dance floor fillers like “I Can’t Give You Up” or bearing his soul on the deep and funky “Darker Dayz”. Brought up by family members on a diet of Steely Dan, Free, Joni Mitchell and Cream he takes influences from all of those but as he grew older it was the soulboy delivery of Bobby Brown, George Benson and After Seven that started to inform his musical education.

Coupled with a vintage crate digger like Smoove and that delivery is turned into a funk weapon of the highest order.

So with the album finished the next thing was to find a deal. A copy was sent to Jalapeno Records who made an offer within one hour of hearing it.

The lads have gone from strength to strength both on the UK scene and across Europe. Previous to there album being snapped up by Jalapeno they have released a limited 7” single “I can’t give you up” on German label “Club Tikka”. The single soon found itself in a bidding frenzy on Ebay with copies reaching a startling £166, surely not for a new 7” I hear you cry!

Craig Charles BBC 6 Funk & Soul Show put pen to paper to write the sleeve notes for the album “Antique Soul” and also invited the whole 7 piece band down to Manchester to perform a live session on his Radio show. It doesn’t just stop there the boys have also been called in for a live set on The Janice Long Show (BBC Radio 2) and on the legendary Clive Anderson “Loose Ends Show” (BBC Radio 4). To top it all off the boys also won single of the week on Marc Radcliff’s BBC 2 Show.

Smoove and Turrell have released some outstanding singles this year, working with some of the best remix artists in the country and beyond.

• “I Can’t Give You Up” includes club remixes from A Skillz and Lack of Afro.
• “You Don’t Know” was smashed for the dance floor with remixes from Kraak and Smaak and Featurecast.
• “Don’t Go” was a limited 7” of the 80s classic. Smoove and Turrell style…some serious funk.

And now Smoove and Turrell are gearing up for their next full single “Beggarman”. Not only will there be some heavy, heavy remixes from the likes of Crazy P and Basement Freaks. They have also been hard at work filming their first video to co-inside with the release, shot in their home town of Newcastle. To top it all off the video is already being played on rotation on Deluxe TV in Germany.

John Turrell has recently found him self collaborating with other high profile artists like Ashley Beadle, Omar, Kraak and Smaak and has also won the male lead vocalist in the “Fantasy Funk Band” on BBC 6 Music which is being recorded and performed live at the legendary Maida Vale Studios for its 70th Birthday Celebrations.

The boys are currently on tour in Europe and in the UK, having just rocked Kendal Calling Festival, Glastonbury and the Big Chill Festival over the summer. Things are looking extremely good for Smoove & Turrell and it’s not even the end of the year. Watch this space!

'Sure to be one of the best albums of 2009 - This should be the future of Soul music in my book!' - DJ Andy Smith.

I Need A Change
Smoove & Turrell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need
I adore
Can't ignore
Never met a chick I need
Treat me like they seem
Mhm, uh
Never really met a bitch that I really need
Never seen you love me like the way you really seem

I don't think they ever going treat me like it seem
I won't keep on hiding I'm not trying be your screen
New shawty hitting knees
She so bad oh
She might marry me
Respectfully like she might get my seed
I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
Now she get along like a limousine
I don't wine and dine but I like good cuisine
Duck a ex hoe my girl she throat more
Baby how you touch me is
something I can't ignore
Baby suck me with that spit I adore
Went a couple rounds well baby I need more
Good back shots I love you all fours
Make me fall in love I'm yours I swore
Never really met a bitch that I really need
Never seen you love me like the way you make it seem
I don't think they ever going treat me how it seem
I won't keep on hiding I'm not trying be your screen
New shawty hitting knees
She so bad oh
She might marry me
Respectfully like she might get my seed
I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
Trying beat the coochie up and make it pee
Mhm
I'd be singing it to it like I'm pleasure P
Mhm
She can't take it lay me back and pleasure me
Why she eat the dick like granny recipe
Keep on talking like she want the best of me
See my demon heart and now you blessing me
Spent many nights waiting patiently
Need some dreka love I need that energy
Never really met a bitch that I really need
Never seen you love me like the way you really seem
I don't think they ever going treat me like it seem
I won't keep on hiding I'm not trying be your screen
New shawty hitting knees
She so bad oh
She might marry me
Respectfully like she might get my seed
I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea

I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Need A Change" by Smoove & Turrell seem to explore themes of longing for a meaningful and fulfilling relationship. The singer expresses their desire for a partner who truly understands and loves them, emphasizing that they haven't encountered someone like that before. The lyrics also mention the physical aspects of a relationship, with references to sexual intimacy and pleasure. There is a yearning for a deeper connection, someone who can meet their emotional and physical needs.

Throughout the song, the singer reflects on their experiences with different partners, highlighting the differences in how they were treated and how they felt. They express a desire to find someone who will love them unconditionally and treat them with respect. The metaphor of diving into the sea suggests a willingness to fully immerse themselves in a relationship, to explore the depths of love and connection.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing, searching, and the need for a change in relationships to find true love and fulfillment.

Line by Line Meaning

I need
I have a strong desire for something or someone

I adore
I deeply love and admire

Can't ignore
I can't neglect or overlook

Never met a chick I need
I haven't encountered a woman who fulfills my needs

Treat me like they seem
They behave towards me in a way that may not reflect their true intentions

Mhm, uh
Sounds of agreement or understanding

Never really met a bitch that I really need
I haven't truly come across a woman who is essential to my happiness

Never seen you love me like the way you really seem
I haven't witnessed someone loving me as deeply as you appear to

I don't think they ever going treat me like it seem
I doubt they will ever treat me in a way that matches their outward appearances

I won't keep on hiding I'm not trying be your screen
I won't continue to conceal my true self, as I'm not aiming to be a mere facade for you

New shawty hitting knees
A new woman is pleasing me orally

She so bad oh
She is incredibly attractive or stunning

She might marry me
There is a possibility that she wants to commit to a long-term relationship with me

Respectfully like she might get my seed
With respect, she could potentially bear my child

I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
I feel compelled to continue engaging in intimate acts with her

Now she get along like a limousine
She now moves smoothly and harmoniously, like a luxury car

I don't wine and dine but I like good cuisine
I don't engage in extravagant dates, but I appreciate high-quality food

Duck a ex hoe my girl she throat more
I avoid former lovers, as my current partner excels in oral sex

Baby how you touch me is something I can't ignore
The way you physically interact with me is irresistible and impossible to overlook

Baby suck me with that spit I adore
I deeply appreciate it when you perform oral sex with enthusiasm

Went a couple rounds well baby I need more
After engaging in sexual activity multiple times, I still desire more

Good back shots I love you all fours
I thoroughly enjoy having intercourse from behind while you are on all fours

Make me fall in love I'm yours I swore
If you can make me develop strong romantic feelings, I promise to be committed to you

Trying beat the coochie up and make it pee
I am attempting to have vigorous sex and stimulate female ejaculation

I'd be singing it to it like I'm pleasure P
I enthusiastically express my pleasure during sexual activity, similar to the singer Pleasure P

She can't take it lay me back and pleasure me
She isn't able to handle the intensity, so she prefers a more passive role while pleasuring me

Why she eat the dick like granny recipe
She performs fellatio skillfully, similar to how a grandmother follows a cherished recipe

Keep on talking like she want the best of me
She continues to express her desire for my finest qualities and efforts

See my demon heart and now you blessing me
Now that she understands my flawed nature, she sees it as an opportunity for personal growth and improvement

Spent many nights waiting patiently
I have waited patiently for numerous nights

Need some dreka love I need that energy
I require affection and love from my partner, Dreka, as it fuels my vitality

I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
I feel an irresistible urge to repeatedly engage in physical intimacy with her

I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
I am consistently compelled to explore her sexuality and engage in sexual activity

I'm like lord I keep diving in her sea
I continually immerse myself in her sexual experiences and pleasure

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Nathaniel Allen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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