I’ve been told by fellow DJs on the soul scene, quite derisively sometimes, that the soul music that I spin is too *sweet.* Not Funky, nitty or gritty, I tend towards pretty melodies, andR…
I've been told by fellow DJs on the soul scene, quite derisively sometimes, that the soul music that I spin is too *sweet.* Not Funky, nitty or gritty, I tend towards pretty melodies & frankly, string sections. Violins? Cellos? Upright Bass? Why?!?! In the activity of Vinyl DJing and record collecting, it's fair to push back against the standards established by mostly white, heterosexual, men. There is a lack of history and understanding for many artists of color, having a record with gossamer strings in their discography was once a trading card in a world that only gave African - Americans some semblance of respectability politics on vinyl as a credit line to better nightclub gigs and recording contracts. I take you on a 90+ minute journey of soulful strings from artists like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Lenny Welch, The O'Jays, Barbara McNair, and The Royalettes. Some tracks blare the presence right away, some float in, some surprise you in the middle of the proceedings. I hope you find delight throughout.
