Gina Turner & Tony Quattro ft. Keeon “Top Cat”

New York’s Nervous Records has had a stronghold on the house scene since it first slid into the picture with a no-time-for-guff stance 24 years back. Not losing its edge in the slightest, the imprint has now tapped NYC natives Gina Turner and Tony Quattro to hand in a club-concerned two-tracker that will turn the heads of frequent flyers and fresh-faced partygoers alike.

A stun-and-run salute to the sounds subjugated by their stomping grounds, “Top Cat” sees Turner and Quattro breaking bread on a brass-led bomb. They call on Keeon to provide a muttering vocal crust to the offering, while garnishing it with samples of inner-city noise pollution to add character to the nail-biting rhythm and iterative trumpet phrases. They went full beast-mode on this one.

Available now via Nervous NYC.

Were you impulsive on this track, or did you have a sketch in mind first?
Tony Quattro: It definitely started as impulsive—the dub mix is the finished version of the initial sketch, and the original mix is the fuller, more realized version of the song.

If you were to describe this track as a scent, a signature fragrance as it were, what would it be called?
Gina Turner: Chicago Jack Spunk.

Did you discuss or exchange ideas with other producers while creating this track?
G: Yes, actually, we really had the sound of Chicago and Derrick Carter in mind while making it! And we def got a lot of great feedback from my husband, Laidback Luke!

What’s the best setting to hear this track?
T: A fancy cocktail party in NYC, preferably at a rooftop bar, right when people start to lose their inhibitions.

Who’s the ideal remixer?
T: Gramophonedzie. He really gets the fusion between jazz, funk and house.

G: Derrick Carter and Jimmy Edgar together!

Describe the vibe.
T: To me, “Top Cat” specifically captures this intangible Big Apple attitude and swagger. It’s that confidence that borders on cockiness, just enough to stay charming.

How does this production reflect your personality/ethos?
G: To me, dance music is about having fun, and when I hear this track, I feel like having fun!

Have you played the track out, and what’s the response been like?
G: I’ve had people dance in the rain during my DJ set in Austin, Texas, to “Top Cat”! It was a magical moment. Both tracks on the EP have had amazing success on the dancefloor for me—and at festivals like EDC New York. You can hear that set on my SoundCloud!

T: People seem to really dig this one. The best reaction I’ve gotten from it so far was when I played it in L.A. before Luke and Gina. I tried to spin it back right after the drop, and instead it produced that broken tape/cassette effect, which the crowd totally dug. One of those happy accidents! Gina played it later in the night, too, and gave me a shout-out on the mic, which also got the crowd going.