We leave the freezin' shores of US (North) East Coast for a chat with the (re)creators of 17 years old Derrick May instrumental anthem "Strings Of Life" now dubbed with a vocal performance. A true challenge indeed for UK jocks/producers Andy Ward and Paul 'Wikka Men' Timothy joined by US songstress Kathy Brown for the occasion… And an obvious 180° angle bent from a scene which has progressively reduced the vocal parts to their extreme limit for nearly 10 years now. Could this mark the resurrection of songwriting on the club music production ? Elements of response thereafter…

Hey Andy ! Looks like you may well go a few steps higher with this experience this time. How do you feel about it ?

Of course we are delighted.. As producers, our main goal is to provide our music to be heard by as many people as possible…

Correct me if I'm doing a mistake but this isn't your first experience with vocals. Tell us about your debut. How did you meet and when ?

No, this isn't, although it IS actually the first record we made together a few years ago (98/99). We met by moving in the same social circles, but primarily with Tim contacting me thru my radio show, to play me one of his productions that went onto Soundmen On Wax (The Wikkaman Project "Down on it"). We have had tracks out with Henry Street (The Mentalists) and also on Kenlou ("Song for Sharma/ MyVow" which was another instrumental track that we added a vocal to sometime after).

Who's doing what ?

If you mean within Soul Central, .Tim is totally playing instruments and working out the melodies, whilst I like to arrange and re-work the tracks into dubs and/or new mixes.

Your background ?

Club DJ for some 12+ years, playing all around the world. Soul Heaven resident for some 3 years and previously presented radio shows for Choice FM/Galaxy FM for over 7 years.

Has your experience as a radio broadcaster been in any help while starting your production work ?

Only as much as that I have made a lot of friends in the business, both DJ's and producers ; all of whom have been happy to return the favour in supporting our music. I have helped break many new artists and songs on the radio…

The reasons of your choice having Mrs Brown with you ?

Was there any one else who could deliver this the way Kathy has ? I doubt it !!!

Don't you feel any kind of pressure in front of such a potential success ?

Pressure ? No. It's great knowing that we have the opportunity to reach a lot of ears that were possible not ready to hear what we were doing before.

On the opposite side, don't you fear being considered as obsessed by the search of commercial success while "limiting"/"reducing?" yourselves to the sole addiction of some vocal parts to an already classic thing ?

For me, there is no fear, as I am very proud of what we have achieved with this track. The original has and most probably will always be my all time favourite record. And to know that Derrick May himself has given the project his blessing is all that matters.

What's supposed to be the next step for you ?

We will continue to create the sound Soul Central is known for, some tracks will be for the dancefloor, others won't.

How do you see yourselves idealy speaking within a 5 year period ?

DJing in many more countries I have yet to visit and working with some of my favourite singers..Robert Owens, Michael Watford and one day even India !!!

How do you see the current state of the club scene ?

It would be easy to be negative here as there are many sides of the likes to it, but the positive are greater. I see so much energy on the dancefloors nowadays, and a wider knowledge of music from the crowds... Every set for me nowadays is a challenge as the people need so much more to make them happy.

Isn't that that there's an obvious lack of maturity here and there ?

Of course, but that's not a club land issue, is it? That's the same in all walks of life !

How come most of the current club music is already being considered as old once it's released ?

Internet has to be the contributing factor here. But it isn't all so bad. The truly timeless music will remain that forever. And something that's old to some, may be a new clubber's anthem for years to come. It's all very much relative.

You haven't released that many pieces of music so far. Would it mean that you rather think about putting out an anthem per year than taking the risk of having M.O.R. things while having a tune every 2 months like many others do ?

We haven't released anything for the past twelve months or so, as I have recently relocated to Spain, making studio time a little scarce between us. I don't think we could produce a middle of the road track if we tried. hee hee.

What about next March in Miami ? Are you supposed to DJ over there ?

We will be there for sure, and I am sure there will be DJ sets for me somewhere.

Already thought about having some performance surrounded by live musicians ?

Yeah. Let's give Louie and his Elements something to worry about. That would probably be a dream come true for me.

Andy, you've covered the Miami Conference for many years. How do you see its evolution ?

I loved my early days of the Conference (97+). It was so fresh and exciting and even intimate within the "soulful house scene". Now there are too many people looking for free vinyl and trying to crash parties and VIP areas... The networking around the pool at the Fontainbleau is a thing of the past and stands for me as the highlight.

Same for me bro… What to expect from you this year ? From the scene itself as compared to 2004 ?

I expect a lot more piano tracks to surface, a lot more controversy and a Pina Colada with you Frederic when I see you with your camera in March. A bientôt mon ami…

SOUL CENTRAL featuring KATHY BROWN Strings Of Life (Stronger On My Own) 12" (Defected) Listen