DISCO JUICE – YAM WHO? – BEST OF 2024
Foreword by Le Visiteur
One thing I’m sure that we can all agree on in this most insane year is that the standard of music released from across the disco universe has been pretty spectacular with brilliant original releases, remixes and re-releases landing from all directions. It’s definitely been a golden year for Disco!
Now it’s time to round up some of the tracks of the year and our disco editor and Midnight Riot don, Yam Who?, has been hard at work (when is he not, he’s literally the hardest working man in music) and has been digging through the finest Disco releases of 2024 to compile a list of the stand-out releases of the year for us.
These are the tried and tested tracks that have been doing the damage on dancefloors across the globe as the Midnight Riot parties have been spreading their wings far and wide. Indeed it has been another absolutely stellar year for Midnight Riot, one where they have smashed the Traxsource charts time and again landing a mountain of tracks in their top 200 releases of the year over there. You can check out some of their hottest releases on the album ‘Finest’ HERE
Looking for some seriously hot disco to kick off your party? Look no further than the Midnight Radio Show on Street Sounds which is broadcast every Friday from 11pm – 1am HERE and you can check out past episodes via Le Visiteur HERE
Now it’s time to hand you over to Yam Who for the 12 hottest releases of the year, one from each month. If this selection starts your party, please make sure you give this feature a share on your socials and help us spread the disco love x
January
Lovebirds – Burn It Down
[Glitterbox]
The Berlin-based duo Lovebirds made a triumphant return to Glitterbox with their inaugural original track on the label, titled Burn It Down.
Their release, Burn It Down, solidified their distinctive aesthetic, featuring soulful vocals and including both the uplifting and radiant Club Mix and the more experimental Dub Mix.
The latter took listeners on a sonic journey from deep boogie to 90s filter house, providing a captivating snapshot that spanned disco’s past, present, and future.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Lovebirds Facebook
Lovebirds Instagram
Lovebirds Twitter/X
Glitterbox Facebook
Glitterbox Instagram
Glitterbox Twitter
February
Opolopo – Beats n Pieces EP
[Z Records]
Opolopo returned to ZR with a sensational 4-track EP. The opening track, ‘Bebeccie’s Theme,’ showcased Peter’s muso boogie expertise with discreet chords, sophisticated string turnarounds, and deft synth touches.
Dutch funkateers Fouk delivered an exclusive remix of ‘Stroke my Disco,’ emphasizing piano and clav workouts for peak-time dancefloors. ‘Looking For You’ brought gospel vibes with freestyle hi-hats, wah guitar-led mod-jazz loops, and a captivating vocal refrain from Darien, leading to a sizzling organ solo by Matt Cooper.
The EP concluded with ‘Chocolate Spiders,’ featuring gliding clav licks, spiky piano and synth riffs, and soaring string sections—a vintage Opolopo masterpiece.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Opolopo Facebook
Opolopo Instagram
Opolopo Twitter/X
Z Records Facebook
Z Records Instagram
March
Kapote – Electric Slide EP
[Toy Tonics]
Toy Tonics dropped a fresh EP by the label’s head honcho, featuring four tracks blending Italo Disco, New Wave Funk, and NYC 90s House vibes—perfect for the 2024 dancefloors’ Y2K resurgence.
Kapote’s releases have been a rare treat over the last few years. His scarce output stems from his busy schedule, jet-setting to DJ sets worldwide, from Berlin’s Panorama Bar to London’s Phonox, and festivals like Melt or Kala.
Kapote and his crew at Toy Tonics fused analog and live band energy with digital production, crafting a distinct sound influenced by European underground disco, American house, afro beats, new wave, and soulful electronica.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
April
Michael Gray – Fly Away
[Sultra Records]
Listeners were invited to dive into the enchanting world of ‘Fly Away,’ a timeless masterpiece shaped by the remarkable vocals of Kimberly Brown, known for her work with Sounds of Blackness.
Produced by Michael Gray, this eagerly awaited track was released on Sultra Records, with exclusive publishing clearance from the legendary Stevie Wonder.
This mesmerizing single offered a taste of the brilliance featured on Michael’s album, ‘Optimism,’ which was slated for release that summer. With soul-stirring melodies and uplifting lyrics, ‘Fly Away’ was accompanied by ‘Never Let You Down,’ another standout in House music excellence, featuring vocals by Anthony Poteat and LaMay.
Grab it HERE
May
Sonic Soul Orchestra – Dripping & Dropping (Jaegerossa Remix)
[Midnight Riot]
The ever-creative Sonic Soul Orchestra came this exceptional reconstruction of an “under the counter” 90s bootleg, blending the classic Frankie Knuckles’ ‘Tears’ with Intense’s ‘Let The Rain Come Down,’ which had been massive for New Jersey’s Movin Records.
Featuring the glorious gospel tones of Duriel Daley, ‘Dripping & Dropping’ was a sweaty mid-tempo club track that proved hard to resist.
The package included another classic Jaegerossa remix, complete with added keys, live strings, brass hooks, and an elastic bassline that brought undeniable funk to the mix.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Sonic Soul Orchestra Instagram
Jaegerossa Facebook
Jaegerossa Instagram
Midnight Riot Facebook
Midnight Riot Instagram
Midnight Riot Twitter
June
Young Pulse – Shake Your Body Down
[Funky French League]
Bonjour from Paris! Funky French League announced the release of “Shake Your Body Down.” back in June.
This hot single included two heavy versions. The ‘Disco Mix’ featured a strong 1982 boogie influence, a slight Afro feel, and a bouncy Prophet bass that drove the track. Meanwhile, the ‘Beat Street Mix’ paid tribute to the Electro-Funk era, crafted for dancers with vocoders, long synths with LFOs, and an 808 beat, embodying a true 1984 vibe.
Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by the talented Young Pulse, these mixes kept dance floors buzzing.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Young Pulse Facebook
Young Pulse Instagram
Young Pulse Twitter/X
Funky French League Facebook
Funky French League Instagram
July
Tom Noble – Times Are Changing
[Razor N Tape]
A surefire summer hit, this timeless track marked the beginning of what promised to be a classic album for Razor-N-Tape. Tom Noble, the legendary digger and owner of Superior Elevation Records, released his first single under the House Of Spirits moniker.
“Times Are Changing” set the stage for the album, encapsulating nearly 15 years of work. It delivered a gritty modern-retro soul sound, paying homage to the Mizell Brothers and Patrick Adams while pushing the genre forward. Recorded with live instrumentation and mixed for the dance floor, the limited 12” featured an extended original and instrumental on the A-side.
The flip side included a remix by Aussie synth wizard Harvey Sutherland, highlighting the rich instrumentation and catchy vocal hook.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Tom Noble Facebook
Tom Noble Instagram
Harvey Sutherland Facebook
Harvey Sutherland Instagram
Harvey Sutherland Twitter/X
Razor-N-Tape Facebook
Razor-N-Tape Instagram
Razor-N-Tape Twitter/X
August
Fouk feat. Debórah Bond – Loving At First Sight
[Reel People Music]
In 2024, Reel People Music released numerous soulful gems, but “Loving At First Sight,” a collaboration between Dutch duo Fouk and US R&B star Debórah Bond, stood out.
Fouk, consisting of Daniel Leseman and Junktion (Hans Peeman), blended house with disco and funk. Debórah Bond, influenced by Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, and Sade, combined R&B, funk, and British soul. Her acclaimed albums “DayAfter” and “AfterDay” showcased her as a genuine artist and captivating performer.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Debórah Bond Facebook
Debórah Bond Instagram
Fouk Facebook
Fouk Instagram
Fouk Twitter
Reel People Music Facebook
Reel People Music Instagram
Reel People Music Twitter/X
September
James Alexander Bright – Cool, Cool
[Athens Of The North]
“Cool Cool,” the standout title track from James Alexander Bright’s latest album, was a timeless soul gem. With its tender musicianship and stripped-back production, it highlighted James’ enchanting voice, reminiscent of Eddie Chacon, Beck, and Michael McDonald.
The flip side featured a beautifully psychedelic dub version by Athens of the North’s in-house band, East Coast Love Affair.
“Cool Cool” garnered global support, with Bright performing for Gilles Peterson, creating a Block Party mix for Huey Morgan, and receiving airplay on top stations like BBC 6 Music, FIP, Jazz FM, KCRW, and NTS.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
James Alexander Bright Facebook
James Alexander Bright Instagram
James Alexander Bright Twitter
AOTN Facebook
AOTN Instagram
AOTN Twitter/X
October
Tommy Glasses – Time
[Fools Paradise]
Acclaimed French producer and DJ Tommy Glasses continued to make waves in the NuDisco and House scene with his latest single, “Time,” released on Fool’s Paradise for their 20th release. Known for his irresistible dance floor grooves, Tommy blended funky basslines, chic strings, bubbling synths, and a catchy femme vocal, all with a nod to the 80s, adding a touch of glamour to the track.
Hailing from the south of France, Tommy began remixing tracks at 14 and signed his first track by 17. His unique blend of Soul, Funk, Disco, and House earned him releases on major labels like Midnight Riot and Nervous Records, with support from DJs and radio stations across Europe.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Tommy Glasses Facebook
Tommy Glasses Instagram
Fools Paradise Facebook
Fools Paradise Instagram
November
Diogo Strausz & Nic Hanson – Tropical Electrical (Art Of Tones Remix)
[Boogie Angst]
Diogo Strausz teamed up with Nic Hanson, a Philly-born artist known for blending soul, funk, salsa, and hip-hop.
Boogie Angst welcomed Art Of Tones, who delivered a fiery remix full of intricate guitar riffs and a pulsating bassline. Lush synths added warmth, while the chorus featured prominent brass arrangements, blazing horns, and rich percussion for an irresistible pop-disco vibe.
Art Of Tones transformed the original’s tropical essence into a vibrant dancefloor anthem, creating a high-octane groove that energized dance floors well beyond summer.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Diogo Strausz Instagram
Diogo Strausz Twitter/X
Nic Hanson Instagram
Art of Tones Facebook
Art of Tones Instagram
Art of Tones Twitter/X
Boogie Angst Facebook
Boogie Angst Instagram
Boogie Angst Twitter/X
December
Sonic Soul Orchestra – Dripping & Dropping (Jaegerossa Remix)
[Midnight Riot]
Chalking up a very well deserved second entry in this chart, one of the disco artists of the year Sonic Soul Orchestra teams up with legendary Midnight Riot producer Jaegerossa for an infectious, Latin-infused party anthem that’ll have you dreaming of those hot, steamy Mediterranean summer nights.
This track is already setting the vibe, sending everyone scrambling to book their summer 2025 getaways. With a full range of mixes and edits, it’s perfect for any Nu Disco dancefloor.
Grab it HERE
For more info please check:
Sonic Soul Orchestra Instagram
Jaegerossa Facebook
Jaegerossa Instagram
Midnight Riot Facebook
Midnight Riot Instagram
Midnight Riot Twitter
Yam Who?
Yam Who is a DJ, producer, label boss at Midnight Riot and ISM Records and one half of Glitterbox signed Qwestlife.
For more info on Yam Who? please check:
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Yam Who? Twitter
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Tags: art of tones, Athens of the North, Boogies Angst, Diogo Strausz, Fools Paradise, fouk, Funky French League, glitterbox, Jaegerossa, James Alexander Bright, Kapote, Lovebirds, michael Gray, Midnight Riot, opolopo, Razor-N-Tape, Reel People Music, Sonic Soul Orchestra, Sultra, Tom Noble, Tommy Glasses, toy tonics, Young Pulse, Z Records
