Words by Bary Poppins

While RAC isn’t technically Nu Disco, he’s become the face of feel good Indie Dance music–and for good reason, because he remixes kick ass and Hollywood is one of the biggest songs of last year.

With the birth of the bedroom producer naturally came genre expansion. And one genre that has seen itself multiply in droves is Nu Disco. Now, I don’t really know who invented Nu Disco. I still don’t really know what exactly classifies a song as “Nu Disco” opposed to say, “Disco House.” But I do know this: Nu Disco feels good. And it has blown the fuck up.

Likewise, it’s become more and more difficult to classify songs in the genre. From a technical standpoint, house and dub step are in a certain BMP range: but Nu Disco, a genre that now samples anything from Marvin Gaye to Aaliyah to The Talking Heads–is not so limited and is likewise flush with hazy sub-genres. Thus, the overall genre of “Nu Disco” (including Tropical Disco, Deep Disco, and Funky Edits) should really just be viewed for what it is: feel good music that’s perfect for pool parties or late night parties. It’s music that’s dance friendly but not obligatory to dance to or take drugs to enjoy.

I’m sure you, like me, were introduced to the genre largely through blogs and Hed Kandi mixes (Joey Negro and Crazy P vibes). In the mid 00s (think 2004-2006), in the post-Daft Punk and pre-EDM bubble era, producers with a unique sound started emerging on the bloggosphere. I could be wrong, but the early names from those days that I remember falling in love with were Gigamesh, Treasure Fingers, Breakbot, Flight Facilities, Aeroplane, Discotexas, GLOVES, Lifelike, RAC, Fred Falke, Alan Braxe, and bands like Miami Horror, Bag Raiders, The Knocks and Penguin Prison (the list goes on). Granted, not all of these names are “stereotypical” Nu Disco–but they have a synonymous sound–one that relies more on grooves than drops. Some of these producers and bands have made the leap to stardom, while other names still remain relatively obscure.

In the past few years, and especially last year, the genre has seen a boon–for better and worse. In fact, the genre has actually evolved and seamlessly blended into many different directions: the 70s groove laden, the Balearic, the 90s R&B, and even some Hip Hop. There’s also been an influx of “Disco Edits” and an infusion of many talented newcomers–Goldroom, Satin Jackets, French Express, Poolside, and (early) Oliver come to mind. Many artists like these are getting the respect they deserve.

You know these big names, but there are plenty out there, both young and old, making downright classy, feel good music that you can feel free to call “Nu Disco” or, as I like to call it: Lush.

The amount of this feel good (Lush) material available has become insane, and even suffocating. But there are still treasures to be found that suggest the sound is still indeed thriving and maturing–not, as I’ve seen some producers say, dying.

Unfortunately, the same names continually climb the Hypem charts–sometimes thanks to recycled hooks and loyal fan bases–leaving the underground in the dust. Here are five of those producers that I’d associate with feel good dance music that relies more on melody, subtlety, and rhythm then bass and shock value.

My criteria:

-The artist makes dope music
-Hype is a motherfucker, and these guys aren’t getting enough of it
-Each artist has under 5K SoundCloud followers and well under 10K plays on most songs.
-Definitely Not Deep House

Rotkraft: You won’t find too many users on SoundCloud as prolific and consistent as Rotkraft, who hails from Tbilisi Georgia. If you’re looking for this year’s Satin Jackets, look no further. Rotkraft’s single “To Love You” has deservedly been making the mixtape rounds (Goldroom, Zimmer), but the tune “All Good” is another superb effort. Sampling the aforementioned Hip Hop genre, this one takes a silky De La Soul (featuring Chaka Khan) sample and blends it into a smoothie.

Falcon Punch: It doesn’t get more disco than Falcon Punch. Inspired by 70s grooves, afros, and disco balls, the now Denver-based producer digs deep for his samples, and then eloquently twists them into modernized funk fusions. He’s basically early Oliver meets MAM–or a younger version of Dmitri from Paris. If you’re looking for this year’s Zimmer, this is the obvious pick. When it comes to finding obscure disco cuts from the 70s and modernizing them, Falcon Punch is doing it with as much class as anyone out there. His recent single is a perfect amalgamation of the new and old that will leave you moving.

Acos CoolKas: The weather might be cold in Moscow, Russia, but the sounds emanating from Acos Coolkas are hot and steamy. For fans of bros like Todd Terje, Alan Braxe, and Psychemagik, Acos CoolKas is the guy (or guys?) to watch. He recently saw remix duties for Kris Menace, and his take on “Lonely Runner” takes top honors and is an under-valued and under-heard gem. What Acos CoolKas’ originals lack in vocals, they make up for with straight class, cleverly bridging the gap between the chill and the groovy.

Pharao Black Magic: It’s hard to understand how an act associated with Future Classic can glide under the radar, but that’s the case with Pharao Black magic. The duo, based in Basel, Switzerland, has seen some blog acclaim, but not nearly enough. Like Acoos CoolKas, they’re a little less disco and a little more Balearic–but they’ll also have your significant other’s panties on the floor in no time.

Appo: Aside from him being UK Based and an absolute edit machine, I know next to nothing about Appo. That, and his works are completely under-appreciated and criminally un-listened to. Say what you want about the edit phenomenon, but these aren’t your run of the mill add in bass, add in hi-hat, post to SoundCloud pieces. These are clearly the products of an accomplished and talented DJ with a keen eye for music. His latest piece tugs on the bells. Clearly a veteran…

Bonus…

Tim Fuchs: I couldn’t write a post for Stoney Roads and not mention an Aussie. Fuchs doesn’t have many productions to his name, but he saw recent work on Flight Facilities 1972-1982 mix, and made a very savvy edit. I have no doubt that Fuchs, who’s Beach Bar mixes show very credible DJ skill, is cooking up some kind of storm on the Sunshine Coast.

Follow all these guys on SoundCloud, and help them reach the ears they deserve. If all goes well, I’ll provide a (much shorter) update like this once a month, highlighting the best of the cloud. If you know of (or make) any music in these realms that resembles this quality or think my taste in music sucks, feel free to leave it in the comments, email me, or hit me up on Twitter @BaryPoppins