We welcome Slxm Sol – producer, DJ, sound engineer, and co-founder of Soul Quest Records – to When We Dip as the label opens 2026 with his deeply felt new release, ‘Simple Love’ EP. Blending soulful house warmth with London-rooted broken beat and jazz-infused textures, the EP reflects both Slxm Sol’s emotional depth as a producer and the evolving musical vision of Soul Quest. Featuring standout vocal performances from Laville and BB James, alongside a timeless Kai Alcé NDATL Trumpet Dub, ‘Simple Love’ sets the tone for a big year ahead. We sat down with Slxm Sol to talk process, collaboration, label life, and the simple things that keep the music honest.
WWD: Your ‘Simple Love’ EP feels very emotionally grounded – what headspace were you in while making this project, and how did that shape the sound?
I was very much in a “go with the flow and see what happens” headspace while creating this project. For the lead track, I knew I wanted to find the right soulful voices to match the vibe, and BB James and Laville were the perfect candidates. They both really over-delivered with their performances.
WWD: The title track brings together Laville and BB James, whose voices complement each other beautifully. How did that collaboration come together, and what did each of them bring to the record?
I’ve known BB James and Laville for a while, and I also previously co-wrote the track “No Better Friend” with Laville and Piers Aggett for the House Gospel Choir’s album Love Is The Message. I played BB James the original instrumental idea and she really liked it, so we organised a session with Piers and Laville, and that’s where the track began. It was a really fun session, and I love working with those two incredible humans.
WWD: ‘Waiting 4 You’ and ‘Smiles’ lean more into broken beat and bruk territory. What draws you to those rhythms, and how important is that London influence in your music?
Yeah, I love broken beat grooves – they really take me back to my early garage and grime days, which is when I first started making music. I like being able to express that side of myself and represent my London roots whenever I can. For both of those tracks, I took a slightly different approach with the initial programming and experimented with Ableton’s Note app while travelling. I ended up coming up with some interesting drum grooves and patterns, which I then took into Ableton Live and expanded on until they became what they are now.
WWD: Jazz elements and soulful chords run throughout the EP. How conscious is that palette when you’re producing – is it instinctive, or something you deliberately build around?
It’s definitely a deliberate choice when I’m writing tracks. Jazz and soulful music are big influences for me, so I’ll usually start with some kind of jazzy, soulful chord progression and then build around that by adding drums and other elements.
WWD: Kai Alcé’s NDATL Trumpet Dub adds a real sense of timelessness to the project. What did it mean to have him involved, and how did you feel hearing his interpretation for the first time?
It was a real honour having Kai on board for the remix of ‘Simple Love.’ I’ve been a big fan for a long time, so hearing his dub interpretation for the first time was pretty surreal – especially having someone I hold in such high regard rework my track. Kai came through and absolutely nailed it. Those classic house drums, lush chords and soulful trumpet is definitely all a bit of me so I’m well happy.
WWD: This marks your second solo EP on Soul Quest. How do you balance releasing your own music while also running the label alongside Max Sinal and Leon Sweeney?
It definitely requires balance. It’s been two years since my debut EP on Soul Quest, and I tend to block out specific periods in my calendar for writing and creating. The rest of the time is focused on releases and other label-related work, which we all divide up to keep things running smoothly. It’s very much a team effort.
WWD: Soul Quest has become known for emotionally resonant, groove-led releases. How would you describe the label’s identity now compared to when you first started it?
I’d say the label’s identity is largely the same as when we first started. We’re very selective with what we release, which helps us maintain a consistent energy and sound across the catalogue.
WWD: Your earlier releases gained support from platforms like Mixmag and DJ Mag. Did that momentum change your confidence or approach in the studio?
Definitely. Receiving support from such established platforms gave me a real confidence boost. It made me realise I’m doing something right and pushed me to keep creating and releasing music that genuinely resonates with people.
WWD: You’ve worked with artists across electronic, soul, and live performance worlds. How do those different experiences feed back into your club-focused productions?
I’ve learned a lot from working across those different worlds, and I think that really comes through in my production and writing – especially the live elements. I like recording live percussion and instrumentation, blending soulful vocals with electronic sounds to create the sound I’m making today.
WWD: Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, what can we expect from you and Soul Quest – both musically and creatively?
The rest of 2026 is looking really exciting for the label. We’ve got some strong projects coming up, including releases from Sean Green, Max Sinàl, Sio, and a BB James solo EP that myself, Max, and Piers are co-producing. On a personal level, I’ve got a lot of music ready and several ongoing projects in the works. I’m also keen to release on a few other labels that I really admire. It’s shaping up to be a busy and exciting year for both myself and Soul Quest – so definitely stay tuned.
WWD: We can’t wait to listen! Thanks for the chat 🙂
The ‘Simple Love’ EP is available here