Soul Central
A Defected single put words to Derrick May’s Strings of Life. Soul Central’s 2005 version, sung by Kathy Brown, reached No. 6 in the UK.
- British house production duo built around producer Paul Timothy.
- Best known for “Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)” featuring Kathy Brown, released by Defected in January 2005.
- The single reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Dance Chart.
Putting lyrics on “Strings of Life” sounds like a risky idea. Derrick May’s original is one of Detroit techno’s founding records, built on piano chords and no words at all. In 2005 Soul Central did it anyway — and took the result into the UK top ten.
An instrumental first
Soul Central’s first take was instrumental: their “Strings of Life” reached No. 86 on the UK chart in 2004. The original is by Derrick May as Rhythim Is Rhythim, released on Transmat. It grew out of a piano sequence by May’s friend Michael James, who had been working on a ballad called “Lightning Strikes Twice”. May produced it as Mayday with Mike Slade, and a 1989 remix by Juan Atkins, “Strings of Life ’89”, reached No. 74 in the UK.
Stronger on My Own
For the vocal version, Paul Timothy and Jaquie Williams wrote new lyrics, and Kathy Brown sang them. The South Carolina singer was the lead voice of Praxis, whose “Turn Me Out” first came out in 1994; its 1997 remix, “Turn Me Out (Turn to Sugar)”, topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Timothy produced the track with Andy Ward. Defected released “Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)” on 10 January 2005, with mixes including a Danny Krivit re-edit, a Funky Lowlives mix and a version by Martijn ten Velden and Mark Knight.
Not everyone was convinced. Reviewing it for Resident Advisor, Ben Hogwood wrote that he was “in two minds about this one”, while predicting another big commercial hit for Defected. The single reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Dance Chart, It also reached No. 10 in Scotland, No. 24 in Flanders, No. 39 in Ireland and the Netherlands, and No. 49 in Australia.
After the hit
Soul Central kept working on Defected’s side of the scene. “Need You Now” (2006), an instrumental, peaked at No. 109 in the UK. “In-Ten-City”, featuring Billie, came out on Soul Heaven/Defected in May 2006 with support from Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1. “Time After Time”, with Abigail Bailey, followed in August 2007 and entered the UK Indie Chart at No. 11. In 2008 the duo remixed Ayumi Hamasaki’s “Glitter”.
In the mix
The record works because the piano riff never leaves; the vocal sits on top of it rather than replacing it. For the Detroit roots, go back to “Big Fun” by Inner City. For the same mid-2000s moment of UK house in the charts, try “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters.
FAQ
Who sings Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)?
American house singer Kathy Brown, from South Carolina. The lyrics were written by Paul Timothy and Jaquie Williams.
Is Soul Central’s Strings of Life a cover?
It is a vocal version of “Strings of Life” by Derrick May, released as Rhythim Is Rhythim on Transmat. May and Michael James share the writing credit.
Who is in Soul Central?
British producer Paul Timothy is the constant. He made the 2005 hit with Andy Ward; the duo is now listed as Timothy and Matt McKillop.
