Dance music legend Danny Tenaglia ushers in the arrival of his third (and final) compilation for the revered Global Underground mix series with some brilliant track selections for Beatport’s Playlist of the Week.
Thank you Beatport for inviting me to put together the Playlist of the Week! This past year, I’ve spent a lot of time working on my Global Underground Brooklyn mix, getting music of all different genres in eras. The GU mix was 2 CDs, just about two and a half hours, so obviously, there are so many amazing tracks that were left off, but that’s the way it goes with projects like this… I wish it could have been ten hours long!
Most of the playlist is made up of tracks I included in my Global Underground mix with short summaries of why I included them, but some of the tracks you will find below are ones that I’ve been playing out at my gigs but didn’t end up including in the final mix. As always, I included some of my own productions and pulled some tracks from various decades throughout my career that created special memories during my residencies at various clubs in New York City. A little bit of everything… I hope you enjoy!
Danny Tenaglia, Cevin Fisher – Move That Body [Nervous Records]
Well, I had to start with this track as it’s my latest release that I am truly fond of. I told Cevin Fisher that I haven’t felt this good about a track I’ve been involved in since the late ‘90s when I released “Music IS The Answer (feat, Celeda).” It’s a happy house feel-good track that flows smoothly with NY/UK/Chicago vibe.
Harry Romero – Liquid Samba [DFTD]
Harry is unstoppable! He produces and remixes so many awesome tracks that has helped me blow up dance floors globally. This one is a tribal explosion engineered to perfection.
Steve Robinson – No Space, No Time [Circus Recordings]
It was DJ/Producer Nick Muir (partner with John Digweed on too many to mention amazing productions) who shared Steve’s track with me just in time for me to request it for the GU45: Brooklyn compilation. It’s a tough and funky bouncing house track that can be played by any DJ, and on any stage.
Drunken Kong – It’s Then [Drumcode]
This duo from Japan has been knocking out so many harder-edged tracks over the past few years, and I’ve been getting such incredible reactions to this (and others by them) globally. They are to be watched for sure.
Radio Slave – Wait a Minute (feat. Nez) [Global Underground]
I’m so happy I was able to license this for the CD compilation because I have been a devoted fan of Matt’s (Radio Slave) for many years. This track combines house, techno, and a hip hop style with a vocal that’s part rapping and singing. This song will bring the element of ‘fun’ to any party and dance floor 100 percent.
Basement Jaxx – Express Yourself (Pig&Dan Eclectic Mix) [Atlantic Jaxx]
What can I say about The Jaxx that hasn’t been said before? Pig & Dan have also been on such an incredible roll as well, and their names combined with Basement Jaxx is a perfect recipe to success. I love the journey of this track as well.
Dino Lenny – Talk To Me (Dino Lenny and Damon Jee Mix) [Fine Human Recordings]
Dino is a master of melody. This song is modern, progressive, mysterious and makes me think of playing on the legendary open-air Space Terrace in Ibiza. This track is as cool as a summer breeze can get.
Star B – I’ve Got Joy [Rekids]
Riva Starr and Mark Broom delivering a female vocal gospel tech house energy track! Impossible to go wrong with this jam.
Celeda – Be Yourself (Danny Tenaglia Remix) [TWISTED]
Of the many songs I’ve either produced, remixed, and/or collaborated on, “Be Yourself” is so special to me. Celeda wrote the lyrics and sang it during the “Music is The Answer” sessions. It wasn’t until one year later that I laid down all new tracks to it, composing the concept without any other musicians involved. Between the meaningful words and theme of the song, somehow, I created a minimal vibe opposed to a piano hook-driven tracks, and by the grace of God, it turned out to be one of my most cherished productions.
Depeche Mode – I Feel Loved (Danny Tenaglia’s Labor Of Love Dub Edit) [Reprise]
Besides being such an incredible honour to remix a song by this iconic band, it truly was a labour of love project. It was so well received globally that not only did it earn me a Grammy nomination, it also earned the band a Grammy nomination for best dance single. I snuck in snippets of four other songs of theirs from the ‘80s, and it quickly became one of my top five favourite projects.
The third and final installment in Danny Tenaglia’s Global Underground Trilogy, GU45: Brooklyn, is out now. Buy it on Beatport.
