Reel People: The Soulful Architects of UK House Music

Reel People is a British music production collective and live band that has become a cornerstone of the UK's soulful house and broken beat scene. Founded by producer Oli Lazarus, the project is celebrated for its authentic, musician-led approach to dance music, blending live instrumentation with deep house grooves and soulful vocals.

Early career

The Reel People story began in London in the early 2000s, emerging from the fertile ground of the UK's underground club culture. Oli Lazarus founded the project as an outlet for a more organic, band-oriented sound within the house music framework, leading to the formation of the Peoples Front label in 2002.

Breakthrough

The collective's breakthrough arrived with their acclaimed debut album, 'Second Guess', released in 2003. This album, featuring the standout single 'The Light' with vocalist Ty, established their signature sound and garnered critical praise, solidifying their reputation as leaders in a new wave of soul-infused electronic music.

Key tracks

The Light — This seminal Ty collaboration from their debut album remains a defining anthem of the soulful house genre.

Butterflies — Featuring the vocals of Sharlene Hector, this track showcases their perfect fusion of live basslines, jazz chords, and uplifting house rhythms.

Can't Stop — A later single with vocalist Tony Momrelle that exemplifies their polished, radio-friendly yet deeply musical production style.

Anything You Want — This track, featuring the voice of Angela Johnson, highlights their consistent ability to craft timeless, emotive songwriting within a dancefloor context.

The project's evolution continued with subsequent albums like 'Seven Ways To Wonder' and 'Golden', each featuring a roster of talented vocalists including Mike Patto, Imaani, and Dyanna Fearon. Their work has seen releases on respected imprints like Papa Records and Foliage Records, alongside their own label, demonstrating enduring industry respect.

Fans of Reel People's rich, instrumental house sound also frequently enjoy the sophisticated grooves of Incognito. This legendary UK band shares a deep commitment to live jazz-funk instrumentation. The soulful house productions of Copyright offer a similar blend of vocal warmth and dancefloor sensibility. For the broken beat influence, explore the innovative work of 4hero, pioneers of the London sound that helped shape Reel People's early direction.

Reel People's sophisticated catalog is a staple on specialist radio, finding a natural home on soul and funk FM stations, dedicated deep house online streams, and eclectic independent music radio stations that champion musician-led electronic music.

You can hear the signature sound of Reel People on various radio stations featured on our website. Explore the soulful house genre and listen to this influential UK collective through the curated radio stations available on onairium.com.