Soul Motive is a Bristol based label dedicated to emotive, musical and innovative music. From club bangers to bedroom soothers and everything in between. Check them out...

When did Soul Motive begin and why was it set up?

Soul Motive had its first release in the summer of 2008. We started the label to try and push the music we were all feeling at the time. We were all surrounded by all the talent that Bristol has and were getting sent tunes that we loved but that weren't being released. We just wanted to help represent some styles that we felt weren't getting the attention they deserved.

Who is involved with running it?

Initially there were three of us, a guy called Adam, Neil Kymatik and Pete Forsaken. We were all good friends with very distinct different musical tastes, and all with different contacts. We'd have mad arguments about what tunes to push and the style and branding of the label. None of us would back down, which made for some proper heated A&R meetings, but it meant that when we agreed on things we knew they were really good.

In April this year, Neil Kymatik passed away suddenly. It hit us pretty hard and has really slowed our progress this year but so many friends and family have come out and really supported us keep everything together and move things forward. Neil will always be missed but now we just want to make Soul Motive everything we always talked about.

Recently a good friend of all of ours, Andy Basic has joined the team since finishing his duties promoting one of the finest club nights this city has seen, Byte. Andy has been such a good mate that it's like he was involved from the start but now he has more time he can really help us move things forward.

What other labels, new or old, have inspired you?

We all looked up to Warp, Planet Mu, Ninja Tunes and alike for our model. Those labels have consistently put out the highest quality cutting edge music, created massive followings and raised their artists profiles massively. We're still aiming for the heady heights these guys have reached and would love to take it further. Labels like Wild Bunch and XL have brought great underground acts to mainstream popularity and that's where we want to be. Gotta have ambition right?!

Can you tell us more about your key artists?

Every release thus far has had a Bristol artist on the release from the biggest names here to the relative unknowns: Joker, Coleco, Rossi B and Luca, Hyetal and Forsaken. We've got Headhunter and Peverelist coming up very soon as well.

But one of the things we set out to do was not just push Bristol as much as we could but also any artists we think are carving their own sound. We have had Sharmaji from New York, El-B from London, Geiom from Nottingham and towards the end of the year and next we're focusing on an eastern European lad called Eleven Tigers. The album that Eleven Tigers has made, Clouds Are Mountains is unbelievably deep, one of those albums that you'll have on loop for ages. A real listening experience.

Then after the CD album release we have further releases from our existing roster starting with Coleco and Hyetal next year. Both these guys have the ear, you'll never confuse their rhythms and melodies with anyone else and we're proud to have them on the label. We're also due to have a release early next year from another relative unknown Bristol resident who is getting some major play and just got signed with Dirty Bird and Fabric, Julio Bashmore.

What do you look for in potential artists?

By far and wide the most important factor is unique sound. We get sent so many generic angry wobblers, it makes you wonder if these people have actually listened to the releases. None of us are into that angry sound that seems so prevalent in dubstep nowadays. We don't restrict genres, whether it be grime, dubstep, funky, dnb, house or funk. We just want fresh sounds, good ideas and a little bit of bass.

How would you describe your label's sound?

Deep, different and intricate.

What's the ethos behind the label?

Put out the highest quality product we can, we do full artwork, photo shoots, we give away the MP3s with each vinyl bought and only sign the most individual and talented artists. Our ethos is to make every release special on every level.

What have been your biggest releases to date?

The biggest selling thus far has been the Joker - Snake Eater / TRG - Move Dis release. It put the label's name out there and we got great tunes from two top producers just as they were blowing up.

Since we have had another big seller with our garage centric El-B - Son di Cali / Rossi B & Luca - Jah No Dead release. And with a Headhunter & Invisible - Luvdup / Geiom - Luna release on the horizon I think we're going to have another big seller.

What do you have coming out soon?

Soul Motive 005 is out now, Hyetal doing a full release with Neon Speech / Gold Or Soul. It's fucking great.

Soul Motive 006 is due in November with Headhunter and Invisible - Luvdup backed with Geiom's irresistible rhythms on Luna.

Soul Motive 007 is the last release of the year giving Eleven Tigers his label debut with Stableface backed with a Peverelist remix. I can't wait for people to hear these tunes. Next level.

And finally to kick off the new year we have Eleven Tigers' album Clouds Are Mountains.

Anything else you want to tell us about?

We have a label showcase with two other leading labels, Modern Love and Numbers, on October 28th on Mary Anne Hobbs' Radio 1 show to coincide with our new website launch which will also be accompanied by a free MP3 release from some great artists.

• Soul Motive

Related Links:

• Free Ulterior Motive Mix
• Introducing: Brokenchord
• DJ TeeBee's Subtitles Returns
• Baobinga's Joint Ventures
• Dubstep Label Screwloose Launches

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