The Biography

When you talk about a “tan“ in the English language, you automatically think of “a healthy skin colour due to the effect of the sun“.  Applied to  SOULTANS it can also mean a “hint“ or a “pinch“ of Soul - which becomes very obvious at the moment you first play their debut album “Love, Sweat & Tears“ on your CD player. Marvelous vocal harmonies combined with a rhythm that shoots straight into your blood stream - in fact, there’s a lot of soul in SOULTANS’ music. And it’s no accident!

The SOULTANS, namely Marvin Broadie, Femi Oladeji and Scott Bradley see themselves as followers in the tradition of the classic singer combo, such as The Temptations, The Impressions or Smokey & the Miracles. “Our music is Motown music in the style of the 1990s. The people should be able to relax, enjoy themselves and have some fun“, says Marvin. “Our music has extremely little to do with what today runs under the name of ‘Dancefloor’. “

Their name is synonymous with fine Soul pop, and their hits are still among the most-played songs on rotation. Who other than: Soultans! Femi, Johan and Danny are back with “Tribute To Soul“. The new album contains cover versions of the greatest Soul hits of all times such as: “Nightshift“, “Papa Was A Rolling Stone“, “Ain’t No Sunshine“, “Sexual Healing“, “Knock On Wood“, and many more. The Soultans have been successful with covering classics in recent history, such as “I Heard it Though The Grapevine“, “The First Cut Is The Deepest“, “Jive Talking“,  and “Get Ready“. Their own compositions such as, “Can’t Take My Hands Off You“ and “Every Little Move“ are becoming Soul classics themselves. The Soultans’ hits made it high up into the charts of Germany; Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, and into the Euro-Charts!

Soultans see themselves as followers of the tradition of vocal groups such as The Temptations, The Impressions or Smoky Robinson & The Miracles.
On their new album “Tribute To Soul“,  Soultans present what they do best; rediscover those great old Soul gems by giving them a new pop music feel.

“Tribute To Soul“ is an album equally suited for romantic evenings, parties and dancing!

“Music is entertainment“, say  Soultans, “and our songs create a very positive atmosphere. They are our chance to make a lot of people feel good.“

All three members of  Soultans had their own musical successes before they founded the band:

Femi Oladeji sang with Daryll Hall, Rozalla, the Pet Shop Boys, and Elton John. He also starred with Bruce Willis in “The Fifth Element“ where he played one of the emperors.

Johan van Rooy comes form the Netherlands. He has a lot of stage and TV experience: He performed in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris and Berlin, and sang and played in several TV shows and series.

Danny Campbell comes from London and has been working for the past seven years as a professional song writer, producer and session musician (Diana Ross, Edwyn Collins, Sasha). He has his own studio and loves R`n’B, Jazz, Rock and Dance: “Just as long as the song is good ...!“

Femi, Johan and Danny are Soultans: The perfect band with the perfect songs for a perfect evening!

The Musicians Talk About Themselves

FEMI, a true-blue Londoner, had already worked with Daryl Hall, Rozalla, The Pet Shop Boys and Elton John.  Recently he could be seen in Luc Besson's film "The Fifth Element".

"I can give you a brief summary of my career until now.  I started out as a background singer for Daryl Hall who is a wonderful vocalist.  This is when I found out that the entertainer's life was the life for me.  The next important person I call my "musical Mother" because of her patience, Rozalla, who became very well-known through her hit Everybody's Free.  After my time working with Rozalla, I didn't let go and began working in various parts of the entertainment industry, concentrating myself on training for the body and mind -- including everything from Wing Chun and Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts through Buddhist yoga practice.  Trees can only survive when they have a strong foundation, free your spirit and your body will follow suit!

I stuck with music and was quite happy, besides which I was fortunate to play a few acting roles on British television as well as in a number of successful films such as "Judge Dread", Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" and "The Fifth Element", where I played the role of one of the five Emperors.  I also worked on and performed in a great number of music video clips with such artists as Elton John, The Pet Shop Boys, Take That and Soul 2 Soul.  Sorry, I have to interrupt this now, but Soultans is hard at work on the second album and they're calling for me.  I've gotta go!"

"This is Femi -- one of the Soultans, peace is a good thing."

SCOTT is a multitalented artist whose work and experience as a singer, actor, dancer and songwriter led to his cooperation with Boy George and Take That.

"I grew up in London, and my goal has always been to dance and sing in a musical since I knew I could sing fairly well.  I concentrated on the dancing in order to take that all-important next step.

When I left London, I noticed that although I was a member of one of the very best dance companies, the opportunities for combining performance work as both a singer and dancer were rather limited.  What I was doing was simply moving to the music -- nothing more.  So I tried for a role in a musical and was invited to an audition.  I prepared myself for a time with a lot of hard work with a Gospel choir, to whom I owe any sense of discipline which I have, and then toured with the choir before teaming up with John Reed of the Nightcrawlers in Glasgow.  I got him to introduce me to someone from the music business, and from then on began work as a session singer with Mary Kiani, Take That and Bad Boys Inc.  Sony Music then offered me a contract as a solo artist.  First we released a cover version which made no. 16 on the British Dance charts and no. 60 on the British National charts.  When the contract with Sony was up, I began working with a variety of other producers.  And it was then that the opportunity to become part of Soultans came up.  I am getting more and more creative and professional experience and routine especially in the European sense.  And in the meantime, my vocal and dance training takes place in the form of our live performances.

My role models -- inasmuch as anyone can have role models -- are, first of all, Fred Astaire, the greatest of all dancers.  I admire Madonna and Michael Jackson because they are ultimate artists who do everything 'to perfection'.  They are geniuses, especially at marketing themselves.  I admire George Michael's gift as a songwriter.  And I wish I could do everything they do."

MARVIN is the lead vocal of the group and comes from North Carolina (in the US) where he displayed his vast talents as a member of many different Gospel choirs.  Following that period of his life, he decided to take vocal training and even sang in a number of commercials.  That work has continued, and this year his voice is part of a leading soft-drink company's Easter advertising campaign.

"For me, music is the most credible way in which I can express myself.  I'd rather not use a lot of words, prepare yourself for a surprise...

Soultans about their relations to each other

"We have a very intense relationship with one another, as with anyone develops through professional trust for his co-workers.  We get along very well and respect and admire each other for our individual qualities.  Respect is a very important aspect in the life of every band.  Sometimes we notice that we talk about music too much.  Sometimes it's really hard to escape from that subject in our conversations."