Labels We Love - Record Kicks
Our Labels We Love series shares the story of a record label we’re excited about. This month's edition highlights Record Kicks, a label founded on digging culture, deep soul traditions, and the belief that great music never goes out of style.
Few modern independent labels have done more to bridge past and present soul music than Record Kicks. Founded in Milan in 2003 by Nicolò Pozzoli (better known as Nick Recordkicks) the label has spent more than two decades proving that funk and soul aren’t relics of the past, but living, evolving forms with real cultural weight even today.
Nick’s relationship with music began the way many great ones do, as a listener and obsessive collector. In the early 1990s, a chance flea market find (a Betty Harris compilation) set something in motion. “I completely fell in love with soul music,” he says, and from there the digging began. Soul, funk, rare groove; vinyl first, always. That passion soon pulled him behind the decks, DJing and promoting club nights and concerts around Milan, where he helped introduce Italian audiences to artists like Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators, and DJs including Keb Darge and Ian Wright, long before many of them became widely known.
By the early 2000s, Nick felt a shift happening. A new wave of bands was emerging, artists inspired by classic soul, funk, jazz, and Afrobeat, but writing original music that felt alive in the present moment. “I didn’t want to focus on reissues or nostalgia projects,” he explains. “I wanted to release new music that carried the spirit and energy of classic records, but spoke with a contemporary voice.”
Already working in music distribution, starting a label felt like the natural next step. Record Kicks was born in Milan in 2003, with one of its earliest releases setting the tone immediately: SoulShaker, a compilation spotlighting the emerging “retro soul” scene, featuring artists like Lee Fields, Sharon Jones, and Speedometer. From the start, the label adopted a motto that still defines it today: “The Explosive Sound of Today’s Scene.” It wasn’t about recreating the past, but about carrying its fire forward.
Today, Record Kicks is run by a tight-knit three-person team. Nick handles A&R and oversees the label’s creative direction. Domenico manages distribution and licensing, while Francesca leads promotion and runs the label’s shop. Together, they’ve built a catalog that’s deeply rooted yet constantly evolving. At its core, the label moves through soul, funk, cinematic instrumental grooves, jazz, Afro-funk, and Afrobeat. But genres are secondary. What matters most is feel, musicianship, and authenticity. “I’m attracted to music that feels timeless,” Nick says. “Records that could sit next to a 1970s release, but still sound relevant today.”
Artist discovery follows no strict formula. Sometimes Nick finds music via demos. Sometimes live shows. Sometimes word-of-mouth from artists already in the Record Kicks family. Instinct plays a huge role. Nick looks for artists with a clear identity and something personal to say, not just polished production. Chemistry matters too. “Running an independent label means building long-term relationships,” he says. “Trust, shared values, and a real willingness to work together as a team are fundamental.”
Over the years, certain releases have helped define the label’s reach and visibility. In 2016, Late Nights and Heartbreak by Hannah Williams & The Affirmations (produced by Malcolm Catto of The Heliocentrics) became a watershed moment. When Jay-Z sampled the title track on 4:44, it brought global attention to both the artist and the label, eventually leading to a Grammy nomination. Earlier on, the SoulShaker compilation series (eight volumes in total) helped map the modern soul landscape, while releases from Italian cinematic funk outfit Calibro 35 and Afrobeat torchbearer Seun Kuti expanded Record Kicks’ audience far beyond Europe.
The label’s visual identity has always been tied to music culture itself. Inspired by northern soul, rare groove, jazz-funk scenes, and vinyl digging culture, Record Kicks treats design as an extension of the music, not an afterthought. Artwork, photography, and layout are part of the message, another layer of storytelling that connects past traditions with contemporary expression.
For Nick, running Record Kicks is more than a job, it’s a mission. In an industry increasingly shaped by algorithms and corporate consolidation, he sees independent labels, record stores, and venues as essential cultural infrastructure. “They keep culture diverse, human, and alive,” he says. Supporting them isn’t just about taste, it’s about preserving creativity and independent thinking.
Looking ahead, Record Kicks shows no signs of slowing down. Early 2026 will bring Soul Woman, a new album from Michelle David & The True-Tones, deepening their blend of soul, gospel, and classic R&B. Another major release on the horizon is Outsider by Tiwayo – raw, heavy soul with a modern edge, recorded in Austin and produced by Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas. There’s also more to come from Calibro 35, plus long-awaited vinyl reissues of Record Kicks classics that have been out of circulation for years.
More than twenty years in, Record Kicks remains guided by the same principles it started with: follow your taste, stay independent in your thinking, and put the music first.