“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.
Will You Be Mine
Smoove & Turrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I been waiting on this forever
For me and you to gone get together
Can you be mine
Baby Let's gone head and settle
We gone go stack up our cheddar
Can you be mine
I promise to treat you like a treasurer
Can you be mine
Whenever you cold I'm be your sweater
Baby I want this forever and ever
Can you be mine
I want to show you I'm different
And you don't got no competition
Can you be mine
I'm a man on a mission
Whenever you talk I'm listen
Can you be mine
I hope that you see same the vision
And won't think twice about your decision
Can you be mine
I think I find what I been missing
You are that star I been wishing
Can you be mine
I promise to treat you like a queen
And Never treat you like a peasant
Baby You are a blessing
I'm gone shoot my shot
I hope I land on seven
I'm give you my love
And you all my heart
Promise you won't rip it apart
You are my light when I cant see in the dark
Let's take a walk in the park
Let me show you what mean
Baby what you want to do
We can travel to Peru
Or go to the zoo
Baby I really don't care
I just want to be with you
Whenever we together
I'm make you feel special
For you yeah Im doing whatever
Don't listen these hoes
They just don't want to see us together
Tell them to get on our level
When I look at you I see a reflection on me
Look me in my eyes what do you see
Sometimes it be hard just for to go to sleep
Cause I wish you was laying with to me
Let's run up a milli
And go get a house on the hill
I promise I'm always gone keep it real
And always tell you how I feel
Baby Let's go to Brazil
Baby let's go to Brazil
Can you be mine
I been waiting on this forever
For me and you to gone get together
Can you be mine
Baby Let's gone head and settle
We gone go stack up our cheddar
Can you be mine
I promise to treat you like a treasurer
And when you down make you feel better
Can you be mine
Whenever you cold I'm be your sweater
Baby I want this forever and ever
Can you be mine
I want to show you I'm different
And you don't got no competition
Can you be mine
I'm a man on a mission
Whenever you talk I'm listen
Can you be mine
I hope that you see same the vision
And won't think twice about your decision
Can you be mine
I think I find what I been missing
You are that star I been wishing
Can you be mine
Baby I swear that you perfect
When I'm around you I get nervous
I won't hurt you on purpose
I swear I won't hurt you on purpose
Baby Ik that you worth it
We like bunny and Connie
Baby for you I'm ride
And Baby for you I'm die
I hate to see you cry
Let me wipe them tears from your eyes
I promise I won't leave your side
Can you be mine girl
Cause I really feeling this vibe
I don't want you to ever leave my side
Can you be mine girl
I promise I'm treat you better
For you I'm doing whatever
They gone hate when they see us together
Can you be mine
I been waiting on this forever
For me and you to gone get together
Can you be mine
Baby Let's gone head and settle
We gone go stack up our cheddar
Can you be mine
I promise to treat you like a treasurer
And when you down make you feel better
Can you be mine
Whenever you cold I'm be your sweater
Baby I want this forever and ever
Can you be mine
I want to show you I'm different
And you don't got no competition
Can you be mine
I'm a man on a mission
Whenever you talk I'm listen
Can you be mine
I hope that you see same the vision
And won't think twice about your decision
Can you be mine
I think I find what I been missing
You are that star I been wishing
Can you be mine
I really want to show better than I can tell you
My life has been amazing every since you can into it
It's only one thing I want to know
Can you be mine?
The lyrics to Smoove & Turrell's "Will You Be Mine" express a heartfelt plea for love and commitment. The singer has been waiting forever for the person they desire to reciprocate their feelings and agree to be together. They promise to be a faithful and caring partner, to treat their beloved like royalty and cherish them always. The hope is that the other person will see the same vision, recognize the connection they share and not think twice about being together. The singer imagines a future of happiness, adventure, and companionship, from traveling to Peru or going to the zoo to running up a million and getting a house on the hill. The lyrics are a sweet and honest declaration of love and commitment.
The song was released on Smoove & Turrell's sixth album, "Stratos Bleu," in 2020. The album features a blend of funk, soul, and electronic music, with "Will You Be Mine" fitting squarely in the soul category. The duo, composed of singer John Turrell and producer/keyboardist Mike Porter, hail from Northeast England and were formed in 2006. Their sound is rooted in the soulful music of the 1960s and 70s but updated with modern production techniques. Interestingly, the song's music video features vintage footage of couples dancing to soul music, effectively evoking the era they draw inspiration from. Additionally, "Will You Be Mine" has been remixed by several DJs and producers, including Crazy P, who gives it a dancier feel with disco-inspired beats.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you be mine
Asking if the person wants to be in a relationship with the singer
I been waiting on this forever
The singer has been wanting to be with the person for a long time
For me and you to gone get together
The singer desires a romantic relationship with the person
Baby Let's gone head and settle
The artist is eager to establish a committed relationship
We gone go stack up our cheddar
The artist and the person will build wealth together
I promise to treat you like a treasurer
The singer will highly value and cherish the person
And when you down make you feel better
The singer will comfort the person during tough times
Whenever you cold I'm be your sweater
The artist will provide warmth and comfort to the person
Baby I want this forever and ever
The artist desires a long-lasting relationship with the person
I want to show you I'm different
The artist feels they are unlike others and wants to prove it to the person
And you don't got no competition
The singer feels they are the best choice for the person and no one else can compare
I'm a man on a mission
The artist is determined and focused on being with the person
Whenever you talk I'm listen
The singer values and respects the person's thoughts and opinions
I hope that you see same the vision
The singer hopes the person shares their desires for a relationship
And won't think twice about your decision
The singer hopes the person will be confident in their decision to be with them
I think I find what I been missing
The artist believes the person is the missing piece to complete their life
You are that star I been wishing
The person is seen as a guiding light to the artist
Baby I swear that you perfect
The person is seen as flawless and special to the singer
When I'm around you I get nervous
The person has an effect on the singer's emotions
I won't hurt you on purpose
The artist promises not to intentionally harm the person
I hate to see you cry
The artist is concerned about the person's emotional wellbeing
Can you be mine girl
Repeating the initial question to emphasize the desire for a relationship
I really want to show better than I can tell you
The singer wants to prove their love instead of just saying it
My life has been amazing every since you can into it
The person has had a significant positive impact on the artist's life
It's only one thing I want to know
The singer has one important question for the person
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: javion hobbler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lorraine Malyan
Everything about this is fab. Including the fact you filmed in my city.
The DJ China
This tune is seriously amazing! :D :D :D
Nick Thorp
Great band, thanks for the tunes.
Tomken3
J'adore ! C'est juste excellent :D
ClickChase
AMAZING TUNE <3
Walkin O'Shea
Just excellent sound! Love it.
Cbo F
Really dig this joint man. Takes me back to the days of my favorite UK funk bands Brand New Heavies and Jamaroquai. #respect
Zoltán Illés
This is a fuckin' amazing song. Congrats Guys! You are extremely talented! :) Some of you may only need a right haircut... :) ;)
Radar Music Videos
Very nice. Very nice jacket too. Thanks for using Radar to commission :)
Shaun Molloy
Cannot wait Gateshead international Jazz festival!!!!! Charles Bradley, main !!