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Soul Central are a British music production duo Consisting of Matt Mckillop and Paul Timothy. Originally founded by Andy Ward and Paul Timothy, the act has gone on to contribute countless club hits and perform worldwide for over 2 decades.
Incorporating a Grammy nomination and top-charting releases across multiple genres, from House, Melodic House, and Techno to Nu Disco, Funk, and Downtempo, the act continues to shape and influence the global electronic music scene today.
With exclusive vinyl-only editions and a steady stream of digital releases on some of the world’s leading imprints including Glitterbox Recordings, Defected, MN2S, Strictly Rhythm, Hacienda Records, Tru Thoughts, Vicious Recordings, Be Yourself Music, Quantize Recordings, Tropical Disco, and CENTRL Music, their output reflects both quality and consistency.
A re-interpretation of their highly successful “Strings of Life / Un Amore Supremo” quickly became one of their most enduring works to date, introducing an Ibiza-influenced approach that bridges timeless melody with modern dance floor energy. The track was notably featured by Jamie Jones as his closing selection at [UNVRS], the renowned Ibiza superclub that reopened in the summer of 2025. Formerly recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest nightclub in the world, the venue’s revival marked a defining moment for Ibiza’s new era, and the track’s inclusion in such a landmark set further cemented its place in contemporary dance music culture.
A Balearic version of the track made its debut on BBC Radio 1, revealing a lesser-known side of their sound and showcasing their versatile musicianship. Meanwhile, the performance of “The Destroyer” by a live orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall marked a pivotal moment in their artistic journey, highlighting their ability to bridge electronic innovation with classical grandeur.
Originally finding success in 2005 with "Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)" on the UK Singles Chart, [1] a cover of "Strings of Life" by Derrick May. It also reached number 1 on the UK Dance Chart. [2] The track featured vocals from house singer Kathy Brown and was produced by Andy Ward and Paul Timothy achieving a number 6 hitreleased through Defected Records. The Danny Krivitt re-edit also appeared on the Ministry of Sound compilation album, The Annual 2005 .
The follow-up single "Need You Now" was an instrumental, and failed to match the success of the previous single, peaking at number 109 in the UK. [3]
In May 2006, Soul Central released "In-Ten-City", a single promoted by Pete Tong on his BBC Radio 1 show. The track was released by the record company Soul Heaven/Defected and featured Billie on vocals. The song's title appeared to pay tribute to the Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house-music act "Ten City" (derived from intensity), that enjoyed a number of club hits and urban radio hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In August 2007, "Time After Time" (featuring Abigail Bailey) was released. It did not appear on the UK Singles Chart, but debuted at number 11 on the UK Indie Chart. [4]
In 2008, Soul Central remixed "Glitter", a number-one hit song by the Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. The remix appeared on her album Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold .
In 2019, Soul Central released "Un Amore Supremo", a balearic single that featured production and writing credits to Paul Timothy and Matt Mckillop, originally from the UK house act, Deep City Soul. Both appear in combined credits dating back many years for respected Soulful House releases.
In 2020, Soul Central officially announced new member Matt Mckillop with the replacement and move to ensure the act continued to evolve. Subsequent tracks released digitally and on vinyl include "The Destroyer", as featured by Graeme Park on the live stream Hacienda House Party 2, with Kevin Saunderson, Arthur Baker, and Louie Vega. "Pimp Life EP" was the duo's formative vinyl release for the newly launched Electric Shrine label, exclusive to Juno music. Digital originals followed with "Ice Queen" and "What Ya Gonna Do", complimenting their remix of Ken 45 - Your Body.
In the years that followed, the act delivered countless club anthems, including a live orchestral performance of “The Destroyer”, while continuing to appear at major festivals and global hotspots such as Café Del Mar and Pikes Ibiza for the iconic Back To Mine series, alongside other legendary artists. In 2023, Soul Central received a Grammy nomination for their release on DJ Spen’s Quantize Recordings, collaborating with Crystal Waters and Robin S on “Love One Another.” As the act continues to evolve, so too does their global audience and sound, expanding far beyond their original house roots to embrace a richer, more diverse musical identity.
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK [5] [3] | AUS [6] | ||
| "Strings of Life" | 2004 | 86 | — |
| "Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)" (featuring Kathy Brown) | 2005 | 6 | 49 |
| "Need You Now" | 2006 | 109 | — |
| "In-Ten-City" (featuring Billie) | — | — | |
| "Time After Time" (featuring Abigail Bailey) | 2007 | — | — |
| "Un Amore Supremo" | 2019 | — | — |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
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