The Bellwether

“The only time you wear a Tuxedo is when it’s time to party.”

So said legendary West Coast player Snoop Dogg on the opening track of Tuxedo II. The blessing of the Doggfather was of special importance to Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, whose second album found them at forefront of the new wave of gangster boogie – one that owes as much to G- funk as Pfunk. This is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of Cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant funk that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking it.

Bonding over a shared love of Chic, Parliament and the other signs in the greater funk Zodiac, Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus) were early predictors of the sea changes that American music would undergo in 2016. Their first release in March of 2015 debuted at #1 on iTunes America’s RnB charts, christened as “Dance floor catnip” by the Boston Globe, and “Pure disco-funk hot fire” by Okayplayer. The sophomore album on Stones Throw Records was premiered with a special performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and dubbed as “Straight-up funk magic” by Noisey. Considering their individual successes (Mayer’s four solo albums, Jake’s production work for the likes of Drake, Future, The Weeknd and De La Soul) and eight GRAMMY nominations between the two of them, it’s no surprise that their powers combined have yet again yielded an absolute slapper, perfect for dance parties in 2019 and beyond. Tuxedo’s body of work, while wholly original, is an exercise in honoring its forebears, recalling the futurefunk wobble of Zapp, Gap, Jam/Lewis and Junie Morrison, while nodding lyrically to Mtume, Jodeci and Cameo. The crystallization of the song’s concept comes courtesy of its message of universal love; thanks to the signature combination of soul and pop sensibility that have come to define Tuxedo’s hooks.

“This is celebration music…” says Mayer in a recent interview with NPR, one of the many outlets to cover Tuxedo’s rise – see NPR’s Tiny Desk. After all – the transcendental ritual of the party and the rippling self-affirmation of the funk are of one spirit: the spirit of self-love…of self-expression. Tuxedo’s music is a modern testament to unity and positivity in trying times. It is a reminder that the dance floor will always be there to welcome you, whoever you are.

Do you Fux with the Tux?

A disco queen for the modern era, Gavin Turek makes dance music that trades escapism for alchemy, transforming heartbreak and hurt into moments of absolute glory. Since first breaking through with her 2017 EP Good Look For You (hailed by Stereogum as “Studio 54-core for the 21st century”), the L.A.-born artist has matched her magnetic presence and mesmerizing vocals with songwriting that speaks an unguarded truth about her inner life—all while dazzling audiences across the globe with her deeply communal and party-like live show. For the latest chapter in a vibrant career that’s included collaborating with such eclectic artists as TOKiMONSTA and Mayer Hawthorne, touring with the likes of Hayley Kiyoko, and earning lavish acclaim from leading outlets like Rolling Stone, Vogue, NPR, and Spin, Gavin is now gearing up for the release of Diva of the People, her highly anticipated sophomore album and most visionary work to date.

Raised on a melting pot of genres that still informs her sound today (classic soul and R&B, disco, ’70s funk, ’80s pop), Gavin grew up in a musical household and first started creating her own songs at age six. An accomplished dancer who incorporates plenty of free-flowing choreography into her live show (and who also DJs disco and house), Gavin lived abroad in India and Africa as part of her extensive dance training, but eventually returned to her lifelong passion for music. As she immersed herself in refining her vision, she put out Good Look For You via her own label Madame Gold Records, shared a series of one-off singles (including 2019’s “2AM” and its Lena Waithe-produced video), then made her full-length debut with the high-concept and boldly experimental Madame Gold (a critically lauded album produced by Childish Gambino collaborator Chris Hartz).

With its title taken from a nickname bestowed on Gavin by a friend, Diva of the People wholly reflects the force-of-nature personality and intense sensitivity of an artist who identifies as “sonically nostalgic but emotionally available.” All throughout the album, Gavin brings the pure simplicity of timeless pop and groove-driven sound of disco to songs examining everything from the madness of technology addiction to the frustrations of dating in a culture bent on perfectibility. The result: an emotionally raw but wildly radiant body of work that leans into disco’s legacy as a conduit for empowerment, ultimately delivering all the joyful catharsis we need right now.