A Detroit native with a deep passion for music, Soul Goodman has cultivated his unique style by blending the piano skills he honed during his youth with his adult love for underground house and techno. His musical journey reflects his diverse influences of his hometown and the broader Middle East region, reflecting his Lebanese roots.

In just a few short years, Soul Goodman expanded his musical footprint and gained recognition by performing at renowned music festivals such as Ultra Music Festival, Movement Music Festival, Untold Music Festival, and Charivari Detroit Music Festival.

His musical productions have also made waves, with releases consistently charting in the top 15 on Beatport. His most successful release, ‘Deep Dark Blue’, claimed the number one spot in the minimal/deep tech genre. Forthcoming in early 2024 is the premier of his new vinyl/digital label called On My Terms, with its first release titled “Soul Goodman: Exhibit A.” No matter where he plays, it is Soul’s mission to infuse the spirit of Detroit into every show.

Soul Goodman speaks to SIXAM on the cusp of "On My Terms" launch happening on Mar 7, 2024

Hi Soul Goodman, thanks for talking to SIXAM how are you doing?

I’m doing great, aside from this freezing weather in Detroit! Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me.

 

Your musical journey reflects a fusion of influences from your hometown of Detroit and your Lebanese roots. Could you elaborate on how these diverse cultural backgrounds have shaped your sound and artistic identity?

My parents are from Lebanon, and actually met while both living in Baghdad, Iraq. They moved to the United States in the early 1980s before I was born. Growing up as a first-generation Lebanese-American, I would always be listening to a combination of the Arabic music I would always hear my parents playing at home or in the car as a kid along with the soulful sounds of Motown and R&B such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Babyface, and Sade etc. that I was also drawn to growing up watching MTV. As a kid, I would want to hear the stuff on the radio more than listening to Arabic music, but now I find myself listening to more and more stuff by Middle Eastern legends like Oum Kalthoum (Egypt), Wael Kfoury (Lebanon), and Fairuz (Lebanon). 

I’ve also always been drawn to the Spanish language and continue to find artists that define the different areas and cultures all over the place. My travels around Spain, Central America, and South America have gotten me into listening to a lot of the late Puerto Rican legend Hector Lavoe as an example. I got into electronic music in my early 20’s and kind of found this new landscape with such a broad range of stuff that just continually kept my attention with mostly house, and deep house music. Being from Detroit, we all love our techno, but I particularly love the deeper and more soulful side of music that creates a certain vibe and atmosphere that can bring all kinds of people together on the dance floor. I would say that my desire to create that kind of atmosphere is what has shaped my sound and artistic identity as both a DJ and music producer.

 

You’re about to launch your new label “On My Terms”.  Given your success as an artist, what made you decide to transition into curating and cultivating talent through your own label? And how do you plan to support emerging artists within the Detroit scene through On My Terms?

The name and idea of the label kind of go together with me wanting to produce and release music my way. In my eyes, the best creators are those who do it their way. It is important to produce and release music that speaks to me, and not try to fit into some style or category that is not my own. That is the core of what my label ‘On My Terms’ means to me and what it will mean going forward. I’ve put out music with established labels such as Exploited (Germany) and Frequenza (Italy) and have sent my music to countless labels over the years. I wanted to have more input and decision-making than just making music and sending it off, hoping someone will listen and like it for their own label. I’ve had so many times where I get a response saying, ‘hey cool track, but this sound doesn’t fit our label.’ I have never been someone who tries to write to sound like a particular label or artist, I just produce music that I like and is what comes out naturally. As things go, I would look to work with artists who have a similar mindset and musical style; whether from Detroit or somewhere else completely.

 

Can you share with us the inspiration behind launching your label and what you hope to achieve with its establishment within the Detroit house music scene?

It really took a while to wrap my head around the idea of even having a label and what it would be about. Once I decided that I wanted to do it, I realized that it had to be more than just a place to put music out. Aside from releasing music under ‘On My Terms’, I also want to do more curating of events and bringing artists to Detroit that fit the vibe and style that my label will have. There are several great venues here to do events like this and I feel like I can add to the music scene by exposing these artists to Detroit and Detroit to them. It would be cool to see the label become a sort of community in a sense where people who share a similar taste of music and events come together.

 

Your upcoming EP, "Exhibit A," marks the inaugural release for On My Terms. Could you walk us through the creative process behind this project and how it sets the tone for what the label aims to represent?

‘Exhibit A’ is really a set of tracks that I have worked on for a long time, but never really felt like I was finished with them until they all somehow got completed within a couple of weeks. Once I finished them, I realized that they all really went well together as an EP and I decided that I wanted to release them all together on a physical vinyl record instead of just digitally. I feel like music in the past went through a longer and more expensive process to come out, and that’s why whatever music that did come out then was usually a higher quality than the endless downloadable music that is available today. These tracks are what set my mind that I wanted the label to be a vinyl first label, and in turn set how I plan to do things going forward. 

The idea to call it ‘Exhibit A’ came from a combination of not wanting to name the EP after any particular track and my background as a criminal defense attorney. There are a lot of double entendres in what I do if that isn’t apparent by now and I wanted to make a vinyl jacket cover that really stood out and was unique. The idea for an evidence bag legal exhibit really came together quickly and my designer Gary like literally took the idea out of my head and made it a reality. I’m really happy with the result and have gotten great feedback from people. 

 

With On My Terms, you emphasize the importance of artists expressing themselves on their own terms. How do you envision this philosophy shaping the label's approach to artist management, creative direction, and overall ethos?

I would say that the main thing is that I don’t want the music on my label to just fit into a very specific genre type or sound. To me, it is more about the vibe and feeling that the music creates. The tracks on ‘Exhibit A’ are all different, but create a similar type of feeling in my eyes. That is the general approach that I want to take with ‘On My Terms’ and how I hope to see it grow and evolve. 

 

The launch party for On My Terms and the release of "Exhibit A" are highly anticipated events. Can you provide insight into what attendees can expect from the event and how it encapsulates the essence of the label's vision and mission?

The launch party will be at one of my favorite Detroit venues, Spotlite. For those who don’t know, it is a combination-type of venue that throws all types of events, from music to art, has a record shop, a food truck outside, and even a coffee shop and wifi to hang out and get some work done during the day. Spotlite will carry ‘Exhibit A’ in the record shop and they will be available to pick up during the event. 

I enlisted three of my favorite Detroit DJs and people to be a part of this launch with me, Chuck Flask (Paxahau), Erno (Planet E Communications), and Mister Joshooa (TV Lounge/My Baby Records). I have worked with them individually and collectively throughout my years as a DJ and I’m honestly honored to have them as part of my label launch party. These guys are Detroit music veterans and you won’t find many who have more experience and range of music than them, simple as that. Regardless of what time you are there or who is playing, the music will be on point from beginning to end. 

 

Thanks so much for talking to us, is there anything else you’d like to add before we sign off?

Just thank you to 6AM for helping to continually push the underground music scene forward and expose artists to the masses. I’m really excited for this launch, and hope to talk to you guys again when I get ‘Exhibit B’ together and ready for release! 

Exhibit A can be picked up on the On My Terms Bandcamp page at onmyterms313.bandcamp.com

On My Terms Soundcloud Page: soundcloud.com/onmyterms

 

On My Terms, a new Detroit house music label, proudly announces its inaugural vinyl release, "Soul Goodman: Exhibit A" – a moody 4-track EP from the well-traveled Detroit artist, Soul Goodman. The EP is slated for launch on March 7, 2024, accompanied by a launch party at Spotlite in Detroit on the same night.

Soul Goodman, a seasoned artist in the realm of house music, brings his signature style and Detroit spirit to the forefront with "Exhibit A." This EP promises to be a journey through groovy beats, funky basslines, and the soulful vibe that defines the Motor City's music scene.

The launch party at Spotlite on March 7th is set to be where music enthusiasts can hear the EP come to life, get first access to the record, and celebrate the start of On My Terms – a label looking to leave its mark on the house music landscape.

Details for the Launch Party:

Date: March 7, 2024

Venue: Spotlite, Detroit MI

Time: 9p-2a

"On My Terms" invites music lovers, industry professionals, and fans alike to join in the celebration of the beginning of a new imprint in house music. This debut EP is just the beginning, as the label looks forward to pushing boundaries and shaping future sounds.

For press inquiries, please contact: onmytermsmusic@gmail.com

Follow on Bandcamp for purchase of all releases: onmyterms313.Bandcamp.com

 

About On My Terms:

On My Terms is a forward-thinking house music label dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sound and expression. Founded in the heart of Detroit, the label iscommitted to providing a platform for artists who want to do it on their terms.

Connect with SOUL GOODMAN: Instagram