Paul-s

Had his Copernicus in a twist I reckon....

It is indeed nobody's scene. But it does have an important working class history and past, and by trying to erase and co-opt that - have listen to producer Eve on BBC woman's hour claiming it as her scene and BNSC are the centre of it: a claim she knows is absurd and untrue - they are trying to make it a myopic vision and scene that they wish to dominate commercially. Two tracks spring to mind: The Snake & Backstabbers "they smile in your face"....... So, it definitely is a scene that does not need poisonous snakes and gentrifying 'influencers'

To me it looks like they jumped ship from Skateboarding and anti-capitalism to Northern Soul and capitalising on it through a capitalistic product based model: https://jfpierets.com/works/dinerodiy/ "Two female artists denounce capitalism in concrete sculptures. The remains of their abandoned skatepark/DIY art project, can be found in Spain (...) We are in the middle of the abandoned site of DineroDIY, a skate park annex art installation that had its heydays in 2018. "Lev Mclean and Eve Arslett, two British female artists, first saw the abandoned factory while in Cártama. Mother and daughter, both lovers of the prevailing skate culture in Spain, get out of their car and start clearing rubble. They are not deterred by the animal bones scattered here and there, and hours later the potential of the place they have cleaned shows itself. They decide to be on the lookout for a few days to see if they can realize their dream here" "However, the lipstick factory had closed its doors in 2007 and no one cared about the site.They decided to start building one obstacle, but soon they got the hang of it and wanted to do more. The first piece of art was a pile of euro notes and gold coins – dineros – and the name of the park was born." When I first wrote about them in 2014, I could clearly sense a Musical Performing Arts jazz hands, stage starlet vibe/model of self-promotion. Nothing wrong with that except when you apply it (like Sal from Sal & Pops) to sucking the soul out of the NS scene. "This is the third production that Levanna has been involved in having previously played parts in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Bristol Hippodrome and a part in Annie, at the Weston Theatre Playhouse.She has attended the Bristol School for performing arts on Saturdays for four years." Well, say no more: https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/1166700.levannas-all-set-for-stage-stardom/

Totally misguided and I will soon share some stuff that will open a few eyes to the game.. The "needs new blood" cliche and "it will die" (as Levine pronounced in the 80's) are ridiculous statements to allow the middle class co-optation of NS culture. From the PMs I have had in other forums, BNSC definitely don't support other clubs in Bristol. And i have plenty of PMs that share their bullying messages to anyone who critiques their club. Its disgusting behaviour. You can evidence that fact that they are narcissistic, and non inclusive, from the BBC Woman's hour stuff where Eve declares that Bristol had no NS before BNSC and her own magnificence. Also, the fact that she states she is taking it into the 21st century is a total insult to the scene, other promoters and young attendees. Its a business model and an opportunistic one at that. The pair were skateboard enthusiast s and the Pharrell thing presnted a business opportunity that they jumped at. It has absolutely no soul behind it. People judge yes, and never go precisely because of their entitled and arrogant attitude. Also, drinks on the dance floor, dodgy dance classes, silly business soul t-shirts, and dodgy vinyl. I've also heard from many that they are 'encouraged" to not attend other venues, and that many a bootleg is played, and in order to validate that they declare that those into original vinyl are elitist. The son Shaffaer is apparently a main culprit and is also being groomed into a ND Dj by the firm. As you can clearly see from the Charly bio...she declares herself a 'Celebutante'....I don't remember those types being a part of the scene, do you? I do remember musicians being celebrities when they played live though. You have obviously been influenced by the NS influencers and thats a choice and good luck with it. I started my soul journey same time as you and never stopped going out, around the country and abroad, through the decades of moving forward..including into the 21st century (no celebutantes required or needed) and I have never been so unimpressed by anything as this fakery and co-optation of the NS scene. Casting stones? Ive researched this outfit for 10 years, its evidenced critique, not criticism or throwing stones....

Yes, Karen, I totally agree and i wont be silenced by the ridiculous and manipulative "your being negative" or "they are only having fun" response. I've been closely following the rise of this soulless co-optation of the NS culture and history for over a decade. They are easy to unpick and expose because their arrogance and sense of entitlement blinds them to reality. I was not that surprised when many (men leading the way) on the scene embraced the shiny new blonde haired girl(s) romping around to the top 500 (well top 30 really). It seems they were easily blinded by youth and ????? As, in the piece i wrote in 2014, i sensed a product with NSG (the clue is in the narcissistic name that negates all other females on the scene past and present). Now, of course, we have Kev R creating new parody, NS dancing, so called World Champions! That famous dancer Kev R. Its absurd and embarrassing. The 22 Chumpion, then went on to teach (leach) terrible 'Cod' NS dancing for money: using microphone, aunt Sally parody outfits, hopping about and all. She was a YouTube parody NS dancer along with Pops. Then she goes to Blackpool (she's not on the scene) and wins the Championship. It demonstrates the level of NS 'soul' at that event. It is all 'Historical Re-enactment' and nothing at all to do with the Northern Soul scene: like a Teddy Boy event or War of the Roses re-enactment society. They run Northern Soul 'Themed' nights, so lets start calling them that. The problem comes when they make claims of taking NS into the 21st century or they are the centre of soul. I remember 'Levine Must Go' T-shirts (and Ian, love him or hate, him, gave a lot to the scene musically)....we don't need to change many letters to accommodate this new pair of Soul Vampires.

There are some great young soulies out there and thats why this pair of self-promoting narcissistic 'theme night' promoters are disrespectful to them and the other clubs/nights that are organised by young souls. I just came across this piece of writing that I did in 2014 as part of a first draft for The Northern Soul Scene Book (2019). It didn't make the book. But I am revising it for my new one. It's full of grammatical mistakes but I think it was very astute. I immediately sensed a product and a producer when they first appeared. Universal tried what Charly are now doing: "Perhaps one of the most successful commercial ventures to co-opt the term ‘Northern Soul’, insinuating a ‘happy go-lucky, smiley culture’ of bouncy, homogenous dancers, is the nineteen-year-old YouTube sensation, Levanna McClean aka ‘Northern Soul Girl’ (NSG). The manufactured character of NSG, “dancing Wigan Casino-style” (Woodhall, 2013), perhaps exemplifies a cynical zenith in the commercialisation of Northern Soul. In one interview, where she demonstrates, through pictures and narrative, ‘how to dance’, we are told that “the basic Northern Soul step is quite easy, a moving from side to side. It's believed that lots of the nice footwork comes from early jazz dancing styles” (McClean, 2013). Whether she is referring to the Nicholas Brothers, or other jazz dance legends, is not clear, but any such lineage of influence is palpably not visible in NSG’s own dancing technique. Once again, we find the wholly erroneous assertion of a ‘side to side’ basic movement. The essential premise of the NSG videos is to find as many different backdrop locations as possible, whether they be leafy woodland, exotic wine bar, the mansion of a millionaire record dealer, and to repeat exactly the same dance movements, over and over again, highlighted before each colourful tapestry. The music is of no importance whatsoever when weighed against the brand-pull of NSG’s smile as she prances for the camera. The smile, and the brand-power, have, of course, garnered fruitful sponsorship, fashion and music shoots, not to mention an attempt by ‘Universal Music’ to corner the market commercially with a series of Northern Soul CD releases (favourite all time classics, apparently compiled by NSG personally, though she has only been ‘on the scene’ for a few years). By placing the emphasis on a poster girl, rather than the music, a major commercial power has finally found a way to market an underground scene that up until now had remained stubbornly elusive to mainstream market forces. In this case, the NSG brand has superseded the music itself. This is, perhaps, the critical point to note; a turning point has been rounded in the commercialisation of Northern Soul, a scene originally built on the worship of music, vinyl and musicians, rather than the relatively recent penchant for teenage, celebrity dancers. In an interview for the Daily Mail (2013), we are informed of ‘team Levanna’, headed by Levannas’s mother, Eve. Eve produces all Levannas’s videos and, we are told, as with ‘Shredded Wheat’ Dave and his son, introduced her to Northern Soul.[i] Here, the historically incorrect dance narrative is further, painstakingly, developed, as NSG asserts that it involves “a lot of acrobatic moves from 1980s hip hop” (McClean, 2013). It might be suggested by the cynic that the endgame in this case is one of financial gain through sponsorship, but whatever the aim of these productions, it becomes historically and culturally problematic when the media, and other investors, hail this manufactured image as the “fresh young face of Northern Soul” (Woodhall, 2013), thus once again co-opting the scene, or a moment in its history, for commercial advertising which might be more accurately described as the “fresh young face of Northern Soul-less”. " (Sadot, 2014).

That makes it even worse. So she should know better. She should know some context and history. I guess she didn't notice that 100 club, its DJ's and dancers were moving nicely through the decades and into the 21st century without the 'super coolness' of a tiny Bristol club with no dance-floor pronouncing itself as the centre of Northern Soul. You must be very grateful for her keeping the scene alive I guess....

I totally agree...

Interested in the 'technical reason' for listing the other compilations as 'Various Artists'? I don't want to suggest that Charly are seeking to celebrate the 'celebutante -disruptor' (their wording) over the music and musicians, but it does make one suspicious.

I have been trolled many times and the messages are disgusting. I've kept them for printing at a later date. One telling me to hang myself and to move over for the 'cool young people'. This came from one of Bristol Northern Soul Clubs fake accounts ( they have a few. Other people have received abuse too, if they question the Bristol narrative of taking NS into the 21st century. They don't hide their contempt for the roots of the scene. Here's a message shared between them. The arrogance is beyond belief, but not really...they have created their 'soul' online and its a total fabrication, a parody, a tribute act, a themed night....a shallow grave for Northern Soul. Well said.

Not that old chestnut. I cant be bothered explaining the difference here to you, it becomes exhausting. You either know your history or not. I do.

CHARLY RECORDS - List Levanna as the Artist, f--k the artists is the message: "Influencer, dancer, promoter and celebutante Levanna (aka “Northern Soul Girl”) lends here DJ skills and magnetic personality to a stunning new ‘rare soul’ series honed from the Charly vaults. Features 16 dance floor favourites from the home of the young souls of Britain and elevated by the country’s top Northern Soul disrupter. "The album name relays the good times and memories that are made when you are into Northern Soul. The feeling of being completely free" Levanna Album Promotion. Another exclusive from Charly Records." To me this is just totally narcissistic and an obvious display of a lack of respect for the musicians and the scene. Levanna (real name Abby) and her mum (EVE) gave up paid work to focus on this venture (capital) and they seem to be prepared to stomp all over the musicians, and working class roots and historical roots of the scene, in a desperate attempt to cash in at any cost. I certainly don't have a "they are just having fun' attitude towards it.

I'm not too bright, and should avoid pretentious words like that: a leftover from having one foot in academia: which is full of words that are not needed! A figure of speech referring to an old repeated phrase or image such as: "there just having fun" or "live and let live" etc. I used it to refer to something i often come across in NS discussions: a kind of non-care or disengagement via using such phrases. Paul Interested in the definition of success here? Money? or a soulful homage to the scene? Or....?

Not the "as long as there having fun trope again"

Another turn I didn't expect. At least its not all about narcissism and online curated soul. 'Pornthern Soul'

I met him in 83 when i was training at Breton Hall. He's one of those tourist attendees who went a few times in 70's. All his plays are formulaic and parody...over acted and quite superficial in content. So, will match the choreography i reckon, which is done by one of the YouTube NS parody duo Sal & Pops. Lots of acting out, gurnying (minus the drugs), flailing arms etc.

Oh dear..... I don't really care....its the wild soul-less west out there.....

Ive had many interviews too. I would disagree, and found that you can say what you need and not have words put into your mouth. For instance, you can acknowledge that you are not taking NS into the 21st century, that its a 'scene' and already existed very strongly in Bristol, that the new release is to celebrate the musicians who were not celebrated at the time etc. BUT, if you are selling something, its just a marketing exercise devoid of ethics and care. As this demonstrates.

I failed my geography CSE....

Just listened to entire thing and as you say it was Edwin at Hinkley. Guess 'up north' is a term used by anyone who lives south nowadays. More problematic for me was the (cod history) description of NS as just 'its from up north': Its being washed clean of its complexity: 'working class roots', its cultural politics, its reactionary beginnings, pharmaceutical liberation, the pioneering spirit of those who created it and basically its history. Its being cleaned up, like Brixton has been or soho. Eve started in the 80's as a mod she says (original 80's soul girl as Abby describes her), but seems to have left very little trace in terms of people who know her as a regular on the NS scene, particularly Stafford. She plugs a Stafford record as her favourite because they have "just brought it out on a single" The final part when they say "NS has left the North to make Bristol its home" is astonishing and totally ridiculous. Its gaslighting. Perhaps all the other clubs and actual all nighters may find that a shock. Wigan Young Souls, Rugby, 100 club, etc. Eve also says that they are taking NS into the 21st, as if the NS promoters have not done that through the decades. Or as if we have not done that through the decades of dedication and knowledge. 2000 was 23 years ago and this outfit have started 7 years ago and don't run all-nighters or go to many despite the quotes about "going out at weekends to dance all night" As for the 'their album'?! Its a compilation and obviously to us, as we know if we compile an album, its about celebrating the music and musicians: Not us! There is no mention of musicians in any of this interview. Charly Records and others are trying to attach themselves to the manufactured celebrity (soulless some argue) to do what many have failed to do over the decades, to market a person or figure to sell their merchandise.They could not do it previously as it was about the vinyl and the original musicians and the incredible music, not celebrity. Now, largely due to the ability to fabricate provenance and celebrity on social media, they are selling NS not as the music, but as a product endorsed by another product who has been created precisely for that purpose. I have a lot of information and interviews about this, and as Ive said, I am writing a book about this souless co-optation of a soulful scene. I'm hoping to publish this year, we shall see.

Yes, but its not 'up north'. If your from the North you will know. If i live in Margate and go into London, its not referred to as 'Up North'.

I believe she DJ'd as 'Jackie Brown', not Northern but, like Winstanley (before the Casino), a disc jockey (ette) type of thing playing a bit of everything. Levanna's name is Abby, so it seems to be an identity created at the time she began dancing for the Iphone online: in order to market/sell something or other. Definitely a production team (duo). Nowt wrong with that, but lets not pretend there is any Northern Soul history behind it, or any general participation in the Northern Soul scene. It's a kind of Northern Soul tribute act I think. Its all very neatly packaged middle class BBC (Proms, Woman's hour etc.).

That not 'Up North"?

Questions: I've been on the scene since 76 and have no recollection of Eve Arslett? Nor has anyone else when I have asked around. Northern Soul DJ? Where? The part about Bristol has never heard of northern soul demonstrates a severe lack of knowledge or an ignoring of.Ricky Brown organised Bristol nighters/dayers, Yate etc and can't recall her apparently? More interestingly, is the fact that she cannot recall him or other Bristol soulies. A random guy took her 'up north' to an all-nighter in a sports hall 40 years ago that held 1000 or more people? Name that 'sports hall? I don't know about you, but i remember the name of my first all-nighter and those i went with. It feels like a made up history to me... Is anyone fact-checking this stuff? The BBC are usually all about that

Spot on.