Nite Til Dawn – Circle of Funk, Mike City

Nite Til Dawn – Circle of Funk, Mike City

Circle of Funk continue to push the envelope with their innovative sounds that blend jazz, disco, electronica, funk, soul and house with a deep and soulful background. Their roots go back to the 90’s where Bristol based Lee and Paul formed a DJ Duo called Culture Shock. Andy joined the group in 2000 and the first ever Circle of Funk release came to fruition in 2006 – a track called Games with Mandy Senior. Never shy to try new sounds, the team have various projects on the go, and they continue to add to their catalogue of quality deep and soulful vibes featuring a variety of accomplished artists. Collaborations include Natasha Watts, Lifford, Mr V, Robert Owens, Dawn Tallman, Taliwa, Charlene Samms, and they have also been in great demand for their remixes. This is their second partnership with Mike City, following on from the release of Rain or Shine last year.

US based Mike City is a singer-songwriter and producer from Philadelphia. He has been active in the music industry for more than two decades and is one of the most prolific artists on the House Music scene. Mike has produced some huge releases including Sunshine Anderson’s Heard It All Before and Brandy’s Full Moon. He is equally at home providing vocals, and has worked with several names including DJ Able, Ezel, Booker T, Soulfunktion, Adam Rios, Sean McCabe, Ian Friday, Dwele, Carl Thomas, Usher, Dave Hollister and many more. Mike was the vocalist on Just 2 C U Smile with Booker T in 2013, and he continues to go from strength to strength as one of the most respected names in the music industry.
This release is on Circle of Funk’s Slapped Up Soul, a label that really invests in its artists and showcases them to the world. With more than 30 releases under the Slapped Up Soul banner, the label continues to bring quality to the dance music industry. Past releases include contributions from Lifford Shillingford, Robert Owens, Soulista, Tai Malone, Cleveland P Jones, Sterling Void, Dawn Tallman, Circle of Funk, Taliwa, Wipe The Needle, Gary Bardouille, True2Life, An-Tonic, Louise Golbey and Mr V.

Nite Til Dawn has a relatively straightforward message – the lyrics are about going out, having fun, relaxing and dancing. It epitomises everything that the dance crowd like to do and Mike City’s signature lyrics take the listener right to the middle of the dance floor, helping them to get lost in the rich and soulful vibe.

Circle of Funk’s production with a strong bassline and is reminiscent of the original COF feel, deep and ethereal with a subtle touch of 80’s style keys, a late-night club feel and a general carefree ambience. With Nite Til Dawn it doesn’t take long to become spellbound by its effortless charm. The audience will find it irresistible to move to the infectious beat, and the vibe will transport us all to the warm and joyful nightlife that we live and breathe – from night until dawn.

 SUS032 Nite Til Dawn – Circle of Funk, Mike City – released on Slapped Up Soul – June 2018

Turn It Up – Soulm8 Selection Volume 1 – BBE

TURN IT UP – THE SOULM8 SELECTION VOLUME 1 – Various Artists The BBE (Barely Breaking Even) Label marketed their first track in 2001 and have been prolific ever since. More than 300 releases later and in conjunction with Soulm8, they have given us this excellent compilation of feel-good tracks encompassing Soul, Funk, Disco, Soulful House, and Broken Beat which will bring a smile to faces on every dance floor. With every track hand selected by Dave Simpson of Soulm8 magazine, this album will provide an upbeat soundtrack to summer.

First up is the bouncing Luis Radio and Souldynamic Vocal Mix of Booker T and Mike City’s Just 2 C U Smile, a nice samba vibe to get everybody in the party mood, which is followed by a broken beat sector including AphroDisiax’ (Sy Sez and Gavin Peters) old skool funky composition Spaceship, and Circle of Funk’s sublime ethereal song Future which showcases the talents of up and coming vocalist Charlene Samms.

Next on the turntable is the soulful groove One of a Kind from Groove Association and Georgie B, followed by Phil Asher’s sexy and sultry ballad Off My Mind featuring vocals from London songstress Zansika Lachhani. Then Deborah Bell’s Close Your Eyes will take you right back to the eighties with its catchy RnB romantic lyrics.

Track 7 is Lifford Shillingford’s reassuring composition Alright telling the story of a parent’s unconditional love for their child and track 8 changes up the mood with an addicitive afro beat from N’Dinga Gaba and Natasha Watts called Good Love.

Stepping up the pace is Booker T’s 2013 classic If You Take My Love which will have the dance floor bumping, and then Diana Brown and Barrie K Sharpe bring a funky 70’s sound to the mix with The Masterplan.

Completing the album are two accomplished tracks, Booker T’s gorgeous bouncing jazzy keys remix of Mega Jawns composition Joy, and another quality contribution from Phil Asher and Zansika, a funky masterpiece called Taking Over Me.

This album has something for everybody, and spans the musical palette of genres from the 70’s right through to the present day, each song feeling familiar with warm and well loved accents of the old jazz-funk/soul era, yet enjoying the benefits of polished contemporary production techniques. The tracks will take you to a place where life is good, love is in abundance and everything is right with the world. Evoking sweet memories, this collection will compel you to sway and dance the night away – a sweet sound of summer to add sparkle to every party.

Turn It Up (Soulm8 Selection Volume 1) – out now on the BBE label on Traxsource Click Here for the Traxsource Link