Contributing Writer
Claude VonStroke has released his new Halloween-inspired house track ‘The Creeps’ featuring Barry Drift, out now via Dirtybird Records. Alongside the single comes a pair of bonus remixes from flock favorites Steve Darko and Mike Kerrigan.
Embracing the evil spirits lurking this time of year, Claude VonStroke is celebrating Spooky Season with his weird and wonderful original ‘The Creeps’. Delightfully spine-chilling, ‘The Creeps’ is an eerie concoction of spellbinding melodies, shadowy rhythms, and Barry Drift’s ghoulish pitched vocals. A hair-raising tale of horrific hallucinations, ‘The Creeps’ is a blood-tingling house hit that will leave listeners with goosebumps.
“A good horror film is very difficult to make because it has to be scary enough to make your skin crawl but fun enough so you can enjoy grabbing your partner’s arm during a jump scare. I decided to go for it and make a track just for Halloween based on the concept that a guy takes drugs and cannot figure out if he is in reality or a horror film. It’s a precarious balance between cheesy and creepy, but that’s the entire fun of Halloween, isn’t it?” – Claude VonStroke
Alongside ‘The Creeps’, VonStroke has tapped two of Dirtybird’s rising stars to remix his Halloween house anthem. Steve Darko twists ‘The Creeps’ with his tech-heavy funk, undermining the original with slinky basslines and deep synth stabs. Mike Kerrigan takes a dark club-focused approach while incorporating gritty textures and dissonant tones to capture the haunting essence of VonStroke’s original.
Boston-based Steve Darko is a veteran champion in the underground house scene. His unique sound earned him the attention of Dirtybird boss Claude VonStroke, who signed several of Darko’s records and had him provide direct support on his 2018 World Tour. Since then, he has become a familiar face on club and festival lineups across the US. With a combination of viscous minimal techno and hearty bass-forward tech-house, Darko has proven he is a dangerous force to be reckoned with in the studio and on stage. Darko’s remix of ‘The Creeps’ marks his return to Dirtybird following last year’s Abyss EP.
San Francisco’s Mike Kerrigan has carved a unique lane in the dance space. One of the label’s most promising new talents, Mike Kerrigan has developed his talents in the studio and on tour with Claude VonStroke all year. Kerrigan first appeared on the label in 2020 leading the Dirtybird Couchout Compilation with his VonStroke-assisted ‘I Caught A Vibe’ and is now a frequent face on Dirtybird’s CampINN and Campout festival lineups. In 2022, Kerrigan returned to the label with n808 for ‘Penguin Hit Squad’, which would go on to receive an official remix from the label head himself. This year, Kerrigan has been a force on the label between his Liquid Dreams EP and recent appearance on the Dirtybird Players Compilation.
‘The Creeps’ serves as VonStroke’s first solo original of the year, following his ‘Penguin Hit Squad‘ remix and ‘Steel Thing’ collaboration with Shadow Child. Claude VonStroke invites fans to join him this Halloweekend at Audio in San Francisco, where he’ll be joined by DJ E-Clyps and Joanna Magik for a night of supernatural sounds and ghastly fun. Grab tickets here and stream ‘The Creeps’ out now.