This week we featured a trio of songs letting you know that the floodgates are officially open on the return of disco. You’ve heard the influences and sounds popping up on many new releases from Tank and the Bangas to Yola to a ton of artists coming out of the UK. And why not, it’s fun, and we could certainly use some fun right now.

German artist Roosevelt (who is coming to Eastside Bowl in June for a WNXP Presents show) teamed up with musical icon Nile Rodgers for “Passion” a song that fuses beat-driven indie pop with the signature sounds made famous by the king of 70’s disco-funk guitar. Roosevelt says he wrote the song “as an homage to the ecstatic and blissful late 70s disco tracks” that originally inspired him to start producing his own music. And says it was “surreal” and a “dream come true” to work with Rodgers, one of his biggest influences.

Benny Sings, one of the artists who helped usher in the wave of 70’s re-discovery, especially for the softer, yacht-rock side – through his own work and his time with Rex Orange County, is out with a new covers EP. It features “It Will Come In Time” a Billy Preston’s Benny says is “THE blueprint for the whole Benny Sings sound” as well as a pair of songs from Dutch pop band “Bløf” including “Santa Barbara,” with guest vocals by Nataly Dawn of Pomplamoose.

This week also saw the return of soul and disco queen Diana Ross who collaborated with Tame Impala for an original song from the latest Minions soundtrack. That record is primarily going to feature covers of disco-era classics from Phoebe Bridgers, H.E.R., St. Vincent, Thundercat, RZA, and Caroline Polachek. “Turn Up the Sunshine” was written by soundtrack producer Jack Antonoff along with Sam Dew, Patrik Berger and Tame Impala/Kevin Parker.

NME Playlist 052022

1. Harry Styles “Music for a Sushi Restaurant”
2. Santigold “High Priestess”
3. Kiwi Jr “Night Vision”
4. Spill Tab “Splinter”
5. Diana Ross feat. Tame Impala “Turn Up The Sunshine”
6. Benny Sings feat. Nataly Dawn “Santa Barbara”
7. Roosevelt feat. Nile Rodgers “Passion”
8. Sudan Archives “Selfish Soul”
9. Porridge Radio “Rotten”
10. Frances Baker “No Sympathy”
11. Kyshona “Out Loud”
12. Safari Room “IKWYT”
13. SOAK “Swear Jar”
14. Braxe + Falcon feat. Sunni Colon “Elevation”