Contributing Writer
Mike and Danny Parton have had a superb 2024 with the launch of their label, Jolene Records. The imprint is where they showcase their love of artful sampling and passion for crafting celebratory sounds. They have been doing so for years while drawing on 90s House, French Touch, Disco and Funk across a series of classy outings on plenty of top European labels, and their upcoming record, ‘Jolene 02’, is another fresh modern take on all that history…
Danny & Mike, welcome to Music Is 4 Lovers! As we near the end of 2024, could you give us some personal highlights from the year?
Danny: Hello! Thanks for having us. I’d say that 2024 was a year full of emotions. Starting a label is a big challenge these days, but several people have placed their trust in us, which really moved me. For example, our distributors Yoyaku for vinyl and Kompakt for digital, and even Laurent Garnier, who found just the right words to keep us motivated.
Mike: He’s right, a few people advised against it, but that didn’t stop us from believing in our project and going all in! We really want to unite people through music, and creating this label felt completely natural to us; and yes, for me, the main highlight this year was having Garnier himself encourage us to launch the label!
You’ve recently launched your own imprint, Jolene Records; how are things going with the project so far and what are your plans for the imprint?
Danny: The label started from a simple idea: to party (which we really need right now!). Mike and I are super productive; with our experience (we’ve both been producing music for over 15 years), we know these moments are rare, so we’re making the most of it. We’re having a blast digging, sampling, and transforming all this incredibly inspiring material!
Mike: Exactly! What we want most is to see people dancing and smiling. That’s why we’re putting out these releases; we want to build a community where people come to Jolene because they know what we’re about.
This month, you’re teaming up once again for the latest EP ; what would you say are the main benefits of working as a duo to produce records?
Danny: Most of the time, we each produce separately, but some upcoming tracks and remixes were really crafted together in the studio. The concept of a “split” with Jolene is to offer two different vibes on each release.
Mike: It’s true that Danny and I each have our own unique style, and by releasing two tracks each on every EP, we’re able to offer two different grooves. That way, there’s something for everyone!
Your sound draws inspiration from the timeless era of 90s French House, as well as Disco/Funk; who stands out to each of you from this period as a main influence?
Danny: For me, I learned to mix vinyl on two old belt-driven turntables in my bedroom, and the first records I bought were from labels like Crydamour (Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Éric Chédeville) and Roulé (Thomas Bangalter). I also had all my dad’s old funk records, like Evelyn King’s Get Loose, which I played on repeat! I have a deep passion for synthesizer sounds too, which is so present in this music.
Mike: Of course artists such as Daft Punk, Alan Braxe, Phunky Data; the list goes on… The Temptations, Patti LaBelle, O.V. Wright are huge influences for me, plus a lot of artists I sampled back when I was producing hip-hop, and I keep digging them up for house!
Let’s talk about your lives outside of music! How did you both meet and what do you get up to outside of the studio?
Danny: We met through music, share a lot of passions, and have been working together for years. The one thing that unites us outside of music is pinball! We can spend entire days and nights playing. Our dream would be to go to Las Vegas, where one of the biggest pinball museums in the world is located!
Mike: I’ll add to that—someday, we’d love to have a pinball machine with Jolene’s logo on it. If any custom pinball makers are listening…!
Are there any tracks you’ve had on repeat recently?
Danny: There’s a track that always cracks me up and puts me in a good mood, Music For You (MF Mix) by Stacy Kidd. And there’s also a track an old friend reminded me of (thanks, Ashem): Shady Lady by Friendsheap.
Mike: I recently heard a track in a Swiss club (Les Archives in Bulle) that got me hyped right away, Salute – Heaven, which you can listen to anytime! And Venasque by Ian Pooley always lifts my spirits these days!
What do you both have planned for the year ahead ?
Danny: Lots of great things! We’re going to host regular events at places we really love, small-scale events where we can interact directly with people. We also have tons of releases planned! I think we’re a year ahead, actually! Haha!
Mike: And let’s not forget that we’re starting to receive some really high-quality demos! So, we’ll likely have releases from new artists coming soon!
Pre-Order the EP HERE
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