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.

The Difference
Smoove & Turrell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You make all the differences to have you near its all that I need
Time can build indifference but with you there's something new most every day
In all this time we've spent I've had my moments once or twice
As the dust it clears there's no one near
I know I got you in my life

All these things I have know
dedicate every single line I have to you

Everything I am and have
well its you that keeps me fighting on through

dadd on dadd on dadd on dadd on

Somethings are too precious now for words in a song to rightly say
Three gifts you have given me they spark the light that shines on through the day

All these things I have now
dedicate every single line I have to you
Everything I am and have
well its you that keeps me fighting on through

dadd on dadd on dadd on dadd on

Times it gets rough
sometimes more than other days
Always need some where to go
sometimes just to get away
You give me something else
something I've never had
These lines are sang to you and trust me no one else

You make all the differences to have you here its all that I need
Time can build indifference but with you there's something new most every day

All these things I have now
dedicate every single line I have to you
Everything I am and have
well its you that keeps me fighting on through

All these things I have now
All these things I have now
All these things I have now
All these things I have now

All these things I have now
All these things I have now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Smoove & Turrell's "The Difference" express a deep appreciation for a significant other who has made a profound impact on the artist's life. The song begins with the declaration that having this person near is all the singer needs to feel fulfilled, and that despite the passing of time, there is always something new to discover and appreciate about them. The artist acknowledges that there have been moments of doubt or confusion, but ultimately the presence of this person in their life is a source of comfort and reassurance.

The chorus emphasizes the artist's gratitude, dedicating every line of the song to this person who has had such a positive influence on their life. The repeated refrain of "dadd on dadd on" adds a rhythmic and emotional intensity to the lyrics, suggesting that the singer is pouring their heart and soul into each word.

The second half of the song shifts focus slightly, with the artist acknowledging that life can be tough at times and that having someone to rely on is crucial. The three gifts that this person has given the artist are unspecified, but they are described as bringing light to even the darkest days. The repetition of the chorus, with its emphasis on the artist's devotion to this person, drives home the message that their presence is what keeps the singer going, no matter what life throws their way.

Overall, "The Difference" is a heartfelt tribute to the power of love and loyalty, and the ways in which one person can make a profound difference in another's life.

Line by Line Meaning

You make all the differences to have you near its all that I need
Having you close to me is the most important thing, you make all the difference in my life.

Time can build indifference but with you there's something new most every day
Sometimes time can make us indifferent, but being with you always brings something new and special.

In all this time we've spent I've had my moments once or twice
We've been through a lot together, and there have been times when things weren't perfect.

As the dust it clears there's no one near
After everything we've been through, it's just the two of us standing strong.

I know I got you in my life
I am grateful and fortunate to have you in my life.

Somethings are too precious now for words in a song to rightly say
There are some things that are too precious to express in words, but I feel them deeply.

Three gifts you have given me they spark the light that shines on through the day
You have given me three gifts - love, hope, and happiness - and they brighten up my life every day.

Times it gets rough sometimes more than other days
Life can be tough sometimes, and some days are harder than others.

Always need some where to go sometimes just to get away
I need a place to escape sometimes, just to clear my head and find peace.

You give me something else something I've never had
Being with you gives me a feeling that I've never experienced before.

These lines are sang to you and trust me no one else
These words are dedicated to you, and no one else can ever replace you.

All these things I have now
I have many things in my life that I am grateful for.

dedicate every single line I have to you
This song is dedicated to you, and every word is meant for you.

Everything I am and have
You are the source of all the good things in my life.

well its you that keeps me fighting on through
You are my motivation and inspiration to keep going, no matter what challenges come my way.

dadd on dadd on dadd on dadd on
This phrase is likely just a repeated sound used for rhythm and style, without a specific meaning.

Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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