Paul-s

First Edition Book Release - INSTA(NT) SOUL - Paul Sadot ‘Why am I writing this? It’s a question that I asked myself many times, and after much reflection and soul searching, I returned to the answer that I must. My soul needs to set things straight... View full article

Looking forward to my copy landing!

I have written about this in my book which is out soon. We held up the printing to add an update about this AI product. I unpick Andy Rix interview with Colin Day (the programmer). Here is an extract: Perfectly crafted, with intuitive lyrics and gorgeous melodies, Riker have taken Fantasy Soul to a whole new level…” — Kev Roberts, DJ, promoter, and author of the bestselling book The Northern Soul Top 500. (Charly, 2025) I don’t really have to make an extended critique here, because, for anyone who collects 45’s, dances to Northern Soul music from the 60’s-80’s, is on the scene and recognises soulless AI generated music when they hear it, the interview with the creator Colin Day, tells it all. These extracts are taken from an interview conducted by Andy Rix (2025) where they discuss this tailormade disaster. So, I will let Day articulate his soulful process of generating music for this new fantasy world, a landscape that these purveyors of Northern Soul products see as the future of Northern Soul music. My comments run throughout: DAY - "Well, by the time the eighties roll around, my career was kinda tugging me away, and I had a lot less time. Wigan had closed and it felt like the last days of something.” Well, of course, he stopped when Wigan closed. Only someone who did that would dare to make this disconnected excuse for soul music. When we carried on underground, collecting music non-stop, dancing non-stop, traveling hundreds of miles, keeping the scene alive via a small, dedicated community of souls, throughout the 80s, 90s, 2000s, he gave up! Last days? For him, yes, he’s one of those individuals who thinks a Wigan-centric lens defines the scene. It doesn’t of course, and it is only applied by those who gave up, or never travelled beyond the Casino at that time. It is an ignorant assumption that the scene didn’t carry on without their part-time commitment, or post Wigan Casino. It is a myopic attitude and assumes that we didn’t carry on dancing to newly discovered old 45’s throughout the decades that followed. DAY - "As for the vocals, yeah, it still blows my mind that they come straight from the software. It’s amazing how lifelike and expressive they can be—spooky, really. All those subtle nuances— the mouth noises, the breaths, those little swoops up into the right note. I get tingles all the time—it’s so cool." It blows my mind that anyone who says they respect the incredible original artists would be narcissistic enough to believe this is acceptable. Spooky, but not with Sue (if you get it you get it!). I never thought I would read the words “the vocals(...) come straight from the software”! It makes me sad to see how quickly these corporate, profit-seeking, Northern Soul hijackers, sell their soul to AI. But it’s not surprising if you look at their track records (or is it algorithms!). Celebutantes (soulebutantes),World Championships, Top 500s: commodities, commodities, commodities. It all reflects a certain attitude to the music and the scene itself. In my opinion, it is a total disconnection from the source, the soul source, and a deliberate attempt to coral it all into neatly packaged PayPal-ready, shopping baskets. With this cynical attempt to replace the original artists with auto-tuned, computer-generated, passionless, simulacrum, they have totally exposed themselves as a collective of mercenary soul snatchers. I mean, if Mr Roberts thinks this is gorgeous and intuitive, need I say more? He exposes his soul right there in that statement. It will probably be in the next update of the Top 500! Number 1 - Hal 9000 and The Halitosis Band – Stinky Get Funky. It certainly leaves a bad smell in the air. To me, it doesn’t sound right. I can tell the difference, it’s a visceral reaction, it’s ingrained in my soul from decades of listening to the original artists on the original vinyl. Those beautiful 45’s with their flaws and crackles and the variety of circumstances that they were recorded and produced under. I love the lo-fi, slightly out of tune Tijuana brass that accompanies the slightly off-key voice of a very young Bernetia Miller. The story behind her making the 45 is just as incredible. I love the raw, soulful voice of a young Darrow Fletcher, who, despite his phenomenal talent, had to eventually give up his dreams of stardom. It’s my respect and love for the artists, those incredible musicians who often went through trials and tribulations to make the music that changed my life, that pushes me to speak out about this Northern Soul heist. As a fifteen-year-old, they rescued me from a place I was struggling with, and they never stopped doing that throughout my life. Hence, I find this computer-generated crap, made by capitalistic marketeers, totally insulting to the Northern Soul scene I know, and to the artists that gave the soul of their ‘living’ beings to making it. ©paulsadot 2025

Not according to the interview with Andy Rix: DAY- Yeah, so obviously, the song has always come first—I’ve got worked that out on guitar… lyrics can take me an age… chords, melody. As for the prompting and programming, you’ve really got an infinity of choices. Where do you start? Production style, vocal arrangement, tempo and key, the phrasing and the changes—but it’s a dark and unpredictable art. The software is a beast, and it doesn’t always behave. Plus, it’s got no taste. It’s full of data, but it’s never been on a date—you know? DAY - As for the vocals, yeah, it still blows my mind that they come straight from the software. It’s amazing how lifelike and expressive they can be—spooky, really. All those subtle nuances— the mouth noises, the breaths, those little swoops up into the right note. I get tingles all the time—it’s so cool. RIX - So, does it work like a library? I mean, can you just order in someone who sounds like David Ruffin, Levi Stubbs, Valerie Simpson, or even Bessie Smith? Or is it a bit potluck? DAY - Well, the software will give you endless options and yeah, you can clone just about any voice, but I won’t. If something sounds close to an established artist, I move on. It’s about respect—plus, what’s the point anyway? I only want to do something original. It's difficult to comment on something so disconnected from the reasons I love Northern Soul. Auto-tuned, lifeless, loveless, spiritless, cynically profit driven attempt to totally disconnect the scene and the music it was built upon from its roots. Only my humble opinion of course.

Bandwagon...jump on comes to mind. Don't give a F--k if it makes a quick buck! Soulless, synthetic and lacking any depth and connection to life. ....sits alongside Chat GPT in terms of the neatly packaged (lack of) depth of socio-cultural expression we seem to be faced with: devoid of rough edges, supermarket ready, disposable, amorphous, blandness. simulacrum /sĭm′′yə-lā′krəm, -lăk′rəm/ noun That which is formed in the likeness of any object; an image. A shadowy or unreal likeness of anything; a phantom; a vague, unreal representation. A formal sign; a sign which represents a thing by resembling it, but does not indicate it, or stand for the actual presence of the thing.

Fantastic work Tommy. Well done.

Hi All, A new book is at the press with the expected launch in November. The initial run is limited, so anyone interested in reading it can join the mailing list to keep up to date. The book delves into the curated online world of Soul Celebutantes, World Championships, World Champions, the BBC (Auntie) and Soultrepreneurs amongst other things: It also includes the thoughts of various Soulsource members. You can find more details here: https://www.paulsadot.com/instant-soul Thanks for looking Paul-S

Wow! that is utter Shi-e!!

Im still bemused by 'the basic step'? Its a myth...

Thanks a lot Sebastian. Much appreciated. I am giving the club a shout out and Helena: unfortunately, people seem to forget the young female DJ collectors who contributed to the scene. I hope you are well. Best Paul

Hi all, I am writing about this club and its young promoters, collector DJs in a section of my book that addresses the spurious claims that the scene needs reviving, as if it died, implying that young people have never been present since Wigan. Of course to me this is total rubbish, because I saw them and listened to them throughout the decades and it is quality rather than quantity that informs my opinions. Anyway, can someone please tell me the dates that Club Function ran from and to please. Much appreciated Paul

Yes, the JJ Callier is madly overpriced!

Im not sure nowadays that Richard plays any new stuff out that I need information on really. It can all become a bit Wheeltappers & Shunters.....

Totally agree. Most often you cant understand a word they are saying because the sound system is crap. Back in the day, we used to record sets on a crap cassette player and take weeks to decipher what the tunes were announced. Also, i've been to venues where raffles are being called and other silly stuff that totally interrupts the dancing. If the DJ is just hammering the same tunes week in week out, or they have not listened to whats been played that night before their own spot, what else is there to say about the tune. It's probably been talked to death through repetitive plays. So, for me, if its a new or little know tune or good banter (like BUB used to do) its ok. But otherwise I can live without the repetitive mumbling.

🤣

I'm always confused by the idea of 'a basic step'? Can anyone elaborate on what it is supposed to be? Or is everyones basic step different?

I only just saw this and it comes as a real shock! As many have said, he was a top man, a lot of fun, generous, a great DJ and a lot more Got to know him during the Sheridan years and then of course when we did DDA in the back room... Terrible news....

I am in it on the far right. But, I cannot remember anyones name... I think its the Notts crew and may have been taken at the Brit?

Done. Thanks Mike.

https://www.dancelikeachamp.com/pricing-plans What a fantastic evolution from Kev Roberts ridiculously titled World Northern Soul Dance Championships - real name Blackpool Dance Competition. An individual who is actually convinced by the title. Oxy and Moron come to mind as she explains that Northern Soul dancing is not about choreography, whilst using choreography to teach.....an Oxymoron indeed. Before admin say something, this is a product review not a review of the person. Interested in your thoughts....perhaps the individuals who judge the dubious event, care to comment on her World status?

Great to see some souls in there. Ion and Keb looking mighty young and dashing!

No one with the true grit, honesty, tenacity and willingness to sacrifice time and lose a fortune left to step up to that mark i think

Indeed. John Hurt also starred in 1984 which kind of captures the dystopian state of Group Think, Double Think and News Speak that dominates the commercial spaces of Northern Soul dancing gurus: their products and productions. It doesn't work on the radio, but its a great space for these narcissists to showcase their sales propaganda and to sell and fabricate an imagined past....much like the Ministry of Truth in 1984. Spot on!

Yes, very good point! They never object to the misrepresentation, but rather, choose to exploit it for profit. Its disingenuous and comes across as delusional and narcissistic.....but, more often that not (if you dig deeper) they are all sole trader or limited company 'Northern Soul dance' businesses. The result is a plethora of hoppy, skippy, smiley, windmill armed, line dancers who have missed out the part that requires time, patience, observation, attendance, meeting people, absorbing the atmospheres (beyond the line dancing class venue), contribution to the scene, listening to the music and connecting with it all. The business(s) of Northern Soul dancing have watered it down to the simple equation that it is just steps to music....nothing more. No need for cultural connection, no need for historical connection, no need for a connection to the musicians. In some cases labels are even replacing images & biographies of the Afro-American musicians who have always represented the heart of the scene, with those of self promoting 'celebutantes' whose soul has been moulded via hashtags and relentless posting of the self online. It does have long-term implications due to its cynical erasure of memory, and the cultural amnesia that AI inspires and propagates. Much like the Wikipedia facade of self written history! It negates those who danced before us, collected, played, contributed, traveled far and wide, post - Wigan, to keep the scene going. And also those who perished in the pursuit. Imagine a lazy (they are all lazy) TV or Radio producer (BBC comes to mind) goes online and googles Northern Soul Dancer because they want to feature one, they will get this list of individuals. Apart from being below average dancers, who are not even on the scene as a whole, they are people who are solely business orientated and do not have the humility to recognise and admit that there is no such thing as 'a World Champion Northern Soul dancer, or a boy or girl or man or woman who represents the scene and its culture. It was/is a communal scene, a community, or nowadays a series of rival communities perhaps? Anyway, personally, I find it not to be "a bit of fun" but recognise it as a vacuous profit driven business model aimed at sucking the soul of the culture and the scene dry....and often attempting to gaslight us into thinking we are being negative if we question their motives and their products. Anyway, that is just my opinion and experience of course.