Bristol-based producer Sean McCabe has spent more than two decades developing a soulful approach to house music rooted in jazz, funk, gospel, and rich musicianship.
Photo credit: Sean McCabe – Official
Since his first releases in 2003, his work has appeared through labels including King Street Sounds, Local Talk, Strictly Rhythm, Vega Records, Tribe Records, and Quantize Recordings.
In 2016, he founded Good Vibrations Music as an outlet for his own work and a platform for like-minded artists. The label now marks its first decade with ‘Decade One’, a retrospective collection bringing together music from Frankie Feliciano, Lem Springsteen, Mr. V, Kaidi Tatham, McCabe, and other contributors who have helped shape its identity.
In this conversation with Electronic Groove, Sean McCabe reflects on ten years of Good Vibrations Music, the changing landscape of soulful house, the artists and releases that defined the label, and the creative freedom guiding its next chapter.
EG: Hi Sean, welcome to Electronic Groove. It’s a pleasure to have you with us. Congratulations on reaching the 10-year milestone with Good Vibrations Music. Looking back, how does it feel to reflect on a decade of building the label?
Sean McCabe: Thank you. Reaching 10 years is definitely something worth celebrating. When I started the label, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. It was simply an outlet for my own creative needs. Over time it’s become more than that, growing through collaborations and giving other artists a platform too. Looking back now, I’m proud of what we’ve built and grateful for everyone who’s been part of it.
EG: ‘Decade One’ serves as both a celebration and a retrospective of the label’s journey. What was the process of curating this collection, and what were you hoping to capture through it?
Sean McCabe: The project really began with the vinyl double pack. There were a number of tracks from the catalogue that I felt should exist as a physical release, so the 10 year anniversary seemed like a perfect opportunity. It probably started from wanting to press up Feliciano’s mix of ‘I Know Someone’. That’s been one of my favourite tracks on the label and I prefer it to my original mix. Then it naturally moved to others like ‘Grow’ and Kaidi’s mix of ‘Pause’. Once that was in place, the digital edition naturally expanded into a broader overview of the label. More than anything, I wanted it to reflect the different flavours we’ve explored over the years while introducing newer listeners to some of the music they may have missed.
EG: Good Vibrations Music has consistently championed soulful, deep, and emotionally rich dance music without ever being confined to a single niche. How would you describe the label’s identity today, ten years after its launch?
Sean McCabe: I’ve never felt the need to define the label by one particular sound. It can move between different influences whether it’s deeper, uplifting or jazzy, but is all rooted in soul, jazz, funk foundations. I think people know what to expect in terms of overall vibe of the label, and probably reflects my own personal taste, even if it takes slightly different directions.
EG: As both an artist and label owner, how has your vision for Good Vibrations evolved since those early days?
Sean McCabe: In the beginning it was mainly about creating a home for my own music. These days I probably spend more time helping other artists develop their projects, taking more of an executive producer role. That said, my approach is still very much the same. I don’t tend to plan too far ahead. I like projects to come together naturally through the people I’m working with.
“As long as I’m still learning, collaborating with inspiring people and releasing music that feels honest, I’m happy”
EG: The compilation features a varied roster including Frankie Feliciano, Lem Springsteen, Mr. V, Kaidi Tatham, and yourself, among others. What do these artists represent within the story of Good Vibrations Music?
Sean McCabe: For me, they’re the people who’ve helped shape what the label has become. I’ve been following their sound and playing their music for a very long time, so having them involved felt like a natural fit. They’ve also all heavily influenced my own sound, and gives me an opportunity to learn from them.
EG: Over the last decade, dance music has changed dramatically. What shifts have had the biggest impact on the soulful and deep house community from your perspective?
Sean McCabe: The biggest change has probably been the way people discover music. Streaming has made it much easier to reach a wider audience, rather than just DJs. It’s given our music much better exposure. For us, Bandcamp has become a really valuable platform because it connects DJs and collectors while allowing us to release music that isn’t solely aimed at the dancefloor. Traxsource remains just as important to reach the DJ’s. It’s also been great to see vinyl enjoying another resurgence.
EG: Looking back through the label’s history, are there any releases or moments that stand out as particularly defining or transformative?
Sean McCabe: Louie Vega‘s remix of ‘I Wonder’ was a real milestone because it brought the label to a much wider audience and became our first vinyl release. It felt like an important step forward. On a more personal level, the Harold Matthews Jr album will always stand out because of the friendships behind it and what that project came to represent. It brought together friends who’ve been part of my musical journey since the early days. Sadly, Harold passed away in 2025 and we also lost DJ Fill in 2022 (who produced 2 of the album tracks), but I’m incredibly thankful we were able to complete that album together.
EG: Your own productions have been a cornerstone of the label from the beginning. How has your sound developed over the past ten years, and what continues to inspire you creatively?
Sean McCabe: I think the way I structure tracks has stayed fairly consistent, but my musical tastes have gradually moved towards deeper, more eclectic sounds with richer chords and more organic textures. Working with outboard synths has influenced that, as I still enjoy playing parts in rather than programming everything. Inspiration still comes from the same places it always has. Classic soul, jazz, gospel, funk and house music. Collaborating with other musicians and vocalists also allows me to grow creatively.
EG: Beyond celebrating the past, does ‘Decade One’ also offer any clues about where Good Vibrations Music is headed next?
Sean McCabe: I think it shows that variety has always been central to the label, and that’ll continue. I want Good Vibrations Music to keep representing quality soulful music across a broad spectrum rather than becoming known for one particular style. We’ve already got some exciting collaborations coming, including our cover version of Kem’s ‘Heaven’ with Colonel Red and Groove Assassin, so there’s plenty to look forward to.
“I want Good Vibrations Music to keep representing quality soulful music across a broad spectrum rather than becoming known for one particular style”
EG: Finally, as you mark this important anniversary, what goals or ambitions do you still have for both the label and your own artistic journey?
Sean McCabe: I’ve never been someone who maps everything out years in advance. I prefer following the music and seeing where each project leads. As long as I’m still learning, collaborating with inspiring people and releasing music that feels honest, I’m happy. My hope is simply that Good Vibrations continues to champion soulful, deeper dance music while giving artists the freedom to create something meaningful.
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with ‘Decade One’, the continued success of Good Vibrations Music, and everything ahead. Take care!
Sean McCabe: Thank you so much for having me!
Sean McCabe’s ‘Decade One’ is now available via Good Vibrations Music. Stream and download your copy here.
Follow Sean McCabe: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
