Mike James Kirkland

Souldies is a modern revival of classic lowrider “oldies” soul—slow, tender ballads rooted in 1960s and early-’70s sweet soul and doo‑wop aesthetics, reimagined by a new generation of largely Chicano/Latinx artists in Southern California. Characterized by warm, analog-leaning production, mellow backbeats, honeyed vocal harmonies, and heart‑on‑sleeve lyricism, the style favors mid‑slow tempos, tape‑like saturation, spring/plate reverb, and minimalist yet expressive arrangements. English and Spanish (or Spanglish) lyrics often explore love, longing, devotion, and cruising/lowrider culture. Souldies sits at the intersection of classic soul, rhythm & blues, northern soul selections, and Latin soul, offering a contemporary, community‑centered sound that feels both timeless and newly personal.

Rare groove is a DJ-driven crate‑digging culture centered on obscure, often out‑of‑print 1970s and early‑1980s soul, funk, jazz‑funk and disco records whose deep rhythms and rich arrangements worked beautifully on dancefloors. The term emerged in London to describe the rediscovery and club circulation of these hard‑to‑find sides, many of which later became staple break sources for hip‑hop producers and sample‑based genres. Although it names a scene and curatorial aesthetic more than a strict musical form, rare groove points to a recognizable sound: syncopated funk breaks, warm basslines, Rhodes and vibraphone textures, brass stabs, Latin and Afro‑Caribbean percussion, and emotive, often socially conscious vocals. Its emphasis on scarcity, collector culture, and historical recovery helped shape UK club taste and fed directly into acid jazz and other sample‑oriented movements.