Live shots by @wemadeyoulook @georgiajanegriffiths //

The world is yours…

Or so it must seem for Newy-based producer Soul Wun. Over the past year or so he’s performed sold-out shows in Europe, reached nearly half a milly monthly listeners on Spotify, and (nearly) fakie tre-flipped the stairs at South Newy skate park. Last month’s B2B with Loods for Steel City Dance Disk’s party might have been the crowning achievement for the year, with thousands of frothers turning out to see their set.

“Following our first B2B in Amsterdam late last year it was truly so special to get back in the booth with Elliot (Loods),” he says of the show. “We have a real connection up there. For every track he plays something comes to mind in response immediately which is so special. The vibes were incredibly high, Newcastle really showed up on Boxing Day. I’ve got so much love for the Dance Discs family – they’ve really given me so much in all this.”

His latest release, ‘Try Your Wings (To Fly’, sees him further establish the jazz-meets-UK underground feel of his debut 2024 LP Blue Light; the euphoria is ever-present, but it somehow feels more expansive than earlier works. Maybe it’s something to do with the bigger rooms and stages that he’s found himself performing on, or maybe there’s just something about Newy that nurtures creative energy.

“To be honest I think people are built and exist different(ly) here in a sense of isolated individuality and lifestyle. If you have any point of difference it’s quite noticeable in Newcastle. I think the city’s unusual scale in comparison to the majors results in people drawing inspiration from unconventional things that one might in Sydney or Melbourne. I feel as though it can be quite easy to slip into sounds, themes, ideas in a major city (or at least I felt living in Sydney anyway) and I just don’t think this really happens all that much here for the people that stand out.”

“To be inspired by a different pace, lifestyle and energy all the while in a considerably blue-collar hard yakka town represents this divide. The dichotomy of this place is the best and worst thing about it. You just have to visit to feel the division. I have to say big up Who Is Arcadia, Claire O’Brien, Loods, Dust — the crew are really holding it down for this city…”

He’s completely aware of the “big things coming” trope that you hear from the world’s biggest artists through to that busker who insists on making eye contact with you. So much so he made a joke about it on socials. But fuck, it’s pretty easy to believe when it comes from his mouth.

“I can’t share too much right this second about my forthcoming solo stuff but I’m ridiculously excited to get it out there. However I spent a lot of time in the studio in Amsterdam and London last year with Laurence Guy, O’Flynn, Jasper Tygner, Megra & Harry Hayes (big up de Australian House Mafia foreshadowing) Sam Alfred — the list is way too long but some of that will hopefully start to see the light in the coming months.”

In terms of what direction his music is headed, it seems like he’s found some solace in being malleable to what he’s feeling in the moment, as opposed to what’s expected of him.

“My diverse sound once haunted me in the sense that I felt as though operating outside of genre conventions scared away promoters. However I’m so happy I stuck to it as I now really love the fact that I can drop a slamming club record one week, and an ambient joint the next. All I can say is the music is all over the place and I can’t wait to share it…”

What more can we say? Go follow Soul Wun on socials here and StAy ToOnEd FoR bIg TiNgz.