The act Full Flava may not be a household name, but this Birmingham-based production duo — Rob Derbyshire and the late Paul Solomon — has been one of the quiet constants of the UK soul scene. Formed in the late 1990s, the pair built their reputation on precision, warmth, and a reverence for the golden age of soul music. Their mission was simple but ambitious: to create modern records that carried the heart of 1970s soul into the 21st century.
Their sound combines smooth, sophisticated production with performances from some of soul’s most expressive voices. Across albums like Colour of My Soul (2003), Music Is Our Way of Life (2007), and Refreshed (2022), Derbyshire and Solomon turned their studio into a gathering place for talent. Carleen Anderson’s shimmering performance on “Stories” and CeCe Peniston’s confident turn on “You Are the Universe” illustrate the duo’s knack for pairing timeless songs with distinctive vocal stylists. Their reimagining of the classic “September,” featuring Hazel Fernandes, and the bittersweet groove of “Was That All It Was,” brought fresh life to familiar melodies — always polished, never sterile.
Much like the great producer collectives of soul’s past — from Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International to Jam & Lewis’s Minneapolis sound — Full Flava approached their work as curators of feeling. Their records rarely chased trends; instead, they stood as love letters to the genre’s enduring sophistication.
Though Paul Solomon’s passing in 2020 marked the end of an era, Derbyshire has continued to carry their shared vision forward, ensuring that the name Full Flava remains synonymous with craftsmanship, collaboration, and a deep, abiding respect for real soul music.
