Soulfuric Records is an American soulful house label family founded in 1996 by producers Brian Tappert and Marc Pomeroy, the duo known as Jazz-N-Groove. Alongside Soulfuric Deep and Soulfuric Trax, it became one of the defining soulful house labels of the late 1990s and 2000s. Its founders also launched the download store Traxsource in 2004, and Defected took over the labels in 2017.
Soulfuric Records at a glance
- Founded: 1996
- Founders: Brian Tappert (from New Jersey) and Marc Pomeroy (from Florida), aka Jazz-N-Groove
- Labels: Soulfuric Recordings, Soulfuric Deep and Soulfuric Trax
- Sound: soulful, funky, vocal house
- Artists: Hardsoul, DJ Sneak, John Julius Knight, Off the Cuff, Sandy Turnbull and Groove Addix
- Owner today: Defected, which took over and relaunched the labels in 2017
How Soulfuric began
Brian Tappert and Marc Pomeroy met around 1992 at Hideaway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Florida, where Brian was recording and Marc was the studio engineer. Their first record together, Deliver Me, came out around 1994, and in 1996 they launched their own label family to release the soulful, funky house they loved.
Jazz-N-Groove, Soulsearcher and other projects
As producers, Tappert and Pomeroy worked under several names. As Jazz-N-Groove they became sought-after remixers, and as Soulsearcher they made I Can’t Get Enough, which became the very first release on Defected Records in 1999 and reached No.5 in the UK. They also recorded as Urban Blues Project, and Brian teamed up with long-time friend John Julius Knight as the Cleptomaniacs.
The Soulfuric sound
The label quickly gained a reputation for high-quality house music with a soulful, funky edge: big vocals, live-sounding grooves and plenty of warmth. Over the years the label released music from artists including Hardsoul, DJ Sneak and John Julius Knight. Its Deep and Trax sub-labels widened the sound, one for deeper, more atmospheric records and the other for stripped-back, DJ-friendly tracks.
From label to Traxsource
In 2004 Tappert and Pomeroy launched Traxsource, a specialist download store for house music DJs. It grew into one of the most important stores in the genre, and Brian Tappert remains co-founder and Managing Director. Brian also DJs internationally and is represented by Onit Bookings.
Soulfuric and Defected
In 2017 the labels were sold to Defected, which relaunched them and began re-releasing the catalogue in phases. A Jazz-N-Groove House Masters compilation followed on Defected, introducing their remixes to a new generation of DJs. It now sits within Defected’s family of labels alongside names like Glitterbox, Classic Music Company and Sub-Urban.
Where to start listening
- Soulsearcher, I Can’t Get Enough, the track that launched Defected in 1999
- The Jazz-N-Groove House Masters compilation on Defected, collecting their best remixes
- Records by Hardsoul and the Cleptomaniacs from the label’s golden era
- New reissues as Defected works through the back catalogue
Why Soulfuric matters
The label helped define what soulful house sounded like at the turn of the millennium, and its founders went on to build Traxsource, which still shapes how house DJs find music. For DJs digging into classic soulful house from the late 1990s and 2000s, its catalogue is essential listening, and many of its records still work on dancefloors today.
Frequently asked questions about Soulfuric
Who founded Soulfuric Records?
Soulfuric Records was founded in 1996 by Brian Tappert and Marc Pomeroy, who also produce together as Jazz-N-Groove.
Who owns Soulfuric now?
It was sold to Defected in 2017, which relaunched the labels and re-released the catalogue.
Are Soulfuric and Traxsource connected?
Yes. The label’s founders, Brian Tappert and Marc Pomeroy, launched the Traxsource download store in 2004.
What was Soulsearcher?
Soulsearcher was a project by Tappert and Pomeroy whose track I Can’t Get Enough was Defected Records’ first release in 1999 and reached No.5 in the UK.
Sources: Wikipedia and Electronic Groove interview with Jazz-N-Groove.
Keep listening
Steve Bell plays soulful, deep and vocal house across the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Catch his monthly DancersHip show and live sets, or see the media pack to book Steve for your event.
