“The main thing I’m looking for with the curation is always the feeling, that “With Love” spirit. Does it move me? Does it have that soul? That heart shaking groove? That sense of timelessness? That is what makes a record worthy to me.”

We caught up with miche following the release of his third ‘With Love’ compilation on Mr Bongo to get an insight into the series and how he approaches compiling.

How did you first get into collecting records? What drew you to modern soul and beyond?

My introduction to soul music came when I was about 13, sitting in my dad’s car. A short-lived Bournemouth station called Deep Blue FM was on, and the DJ played "Don’t Let Love Get You Down" By Archie Bell & The Drells. It just hit me, the soulful feeling was immense! When i was about 14, the first record I ever bought was by a local Hardcore band Kerouac, from Southampton I used to go and see in small venues. But when it came to DJing when I was around 19, it was cheaper to buy a pair of turntables than CDJs or any fancy controller, so naturally we started buying house records instead. That was my first real step into the world of collecting.

What was the idea behind the With Love series?

I’ve always loved the idea of a compilation as a journey, a record that tells a story. Back in 2016 I bought Jeremy Underground’s Beauty compilation, and I still think it’s perfection as a product. A double LP, carefully chosen, soulful tracks from start to finish. It gave me the feeling that a compilation could be more than just a collection of rare tracks, it could be a journey and something deeply personal. I always wanted to emulate that with something of my own. When With Love began, it was about capturing that same feeling, a deep dive into "music with soul", music that feels timeless but also personal to me.

When it comes to compiling, what are you looking for in a record to make it worthy of including?

The main thing is always the feeling, that "With Love" spirit. Does it move me? does it have that soul? that heart shaking groove? that sense of timelessness? That is what makes a record worthy to me. But there is also an evolution happening across the series. The first two volumes leaned heavily into modern soul and Brazilian bits, and for Volume 3 I have let the edges stretch out a bit, some jazz-funk in there, two incredible Turkish tracks, alongside the expected soul gems I have always loved. It is still unmistakably "With Love", but it reflects how my own taste has evolved and expanded over time.

Are you thinking about narrative and flow when you're compiling? How does that affect running order?

Completely, the running order is almost as important as the tracks themselves. For me, each volume follows a certain flow you might have noticed. The A-side sets the tone with pure dancefloor fire, the B-side carries that energy but starts to open things out, then by the end of the first disc we are usually tipping into new territory, whether that is Brazil, or in this latest volume's case, Turkish music. The second disc always goes a little deeper, with what I call the "soulgliders", tracks that take you somewhere more reflective, before building back up to end on a bang. There is no better way to close a party than with Stevie, which is why Volume 2 finished on The Family Tree. I also changed things up a little this time, by slightly changing the track listing of the vinyl to the CD and the digital, I wanted the format to speak for itself and it's intended purpose.

Were there any good digging tales from this compilation?

One that really sticks with me is signing John Academia just two weeks after With Love Volume 2 came out. It was a lesson in patience, we had to wait to get it out and it was so worth it. John himself is such a kind, patient guy, and now his music is being shared again in a really special way. I also love stories like Mel Doby’s, he recorded as Le Cop while working for the NYPD. He made this record to share a positive message, which I have heard played on so many dancefloors. Finding out the man behind it, learning he has even got a street named after him in Queens, really brings into focus that every artist here has a story, and a face. That is what I love most, putting a face and a story to the music.

Are many of the original artists aware of the renewed interest in their recordings?

Yes, and that is something I have always made sure of. Every record across all three With Love compilations has been signed directly with the artists. That is an essential part of the series for me. These artists are the heart of the music, it is their work, their stories, their legacies. So for them to see people around the world listening, dancing, celebrating their music again, sometimes decades after it was released, that is incredibly powerful. It is not just about reissuing rare records, it is about giving artists their moment, and hopefully helping their music live on for generations to come. Mr Bongo has a lot to be proud of there also, giving these artists an amazing platform to share their music again.

Big thanks to miche for taking the time out to speak to us for this feature. Be sure to give him a follow to keep up-to-date with all his goings on.