Reel People
Reel People is the recording and DJ project of London producer Oli Lazarus, whose broken-beat and soulful house records became fixtures in UK underground DJ sets following the 2002 track Spiritual, which was remixed by Jon Cutler and Seiji of Bugz in the Attic and marked a turning point in Lazarus's career. That record became the debut release on his own label, which grew into Papa Records, a UK soulful house imprint that Lazarus has run for more than two decades, marking its fifteenth anniversary with the compilation Play It Like Papa in 2017. Reel People's catalog, including the compilation The Remixes featuring 24 tracks reworking the project's back catalog, has been assembled specifically for DJ use, with tracks built around vocal collaborations that found favor with London's underground DJ community. Lazarus's dual role as label head and recording artist has kept Reel People tied closely to DJ culture, with Papa Records serving as a platform for club-focused soulful house that Lazarus and affiliated DJs have played and championed across the UK scene for well over a decade.