Disco – in the late ’70s vilified by the “Disco Sucks” movement, has repeatedly redefined and asserted itself with each generation. The “Disco Demolition Night” in 1979 at Comiskey Park in Chicago was a protest against the oversaturation of the music scene with soulless disco hits, which had increasingly drifted away from the genre’s original spirit and focused solely on the mainstream. During a baseball game, thousands of records were symbolically destroyed – an act that marked the end of the disco era. Originally born on the glittering dance floors of New York and Philadelphia, the genre has experienced cultural highs and lows over time – yet today it stands once again at the forefront of the dance music scene. This article takes a look at a label that played a key role in disco’s resurgence and shows how the genre continues to be reinterpreted and brought into the present.

Disco doesn’t suck anymore?!

The disco revival is undeniable: Established names like Jayda G, with her mix of soulful house and disco vibes; Folamour, with his uplifting French house touch; and Palmstrax, with his modern Italo sound, are now staples in the line-ups of many popular festivals. Through their sets, they keep the unshakable energy of the genre alive and continually bring it into new contexts. Major platforms like Soul in the Horn and the nightlife phenomenon Glitterbox show that disco has not only survived the digital age but also unites a global community. This ongoing relevance of disco is evident not just on contemporary dance floors but also in the way the genre has transformed over the years. With the end of the classic disco chapter, a phase opened up that laid the foundation for future developments.

The creative turning point: The post-disco movement

This transitional phase marked the beginning of the so-called post-disco movement, which formed in the early 1980s and significantly influenced the emergence of new genres like house, boogie, and Italo disco. Producers began moving away from classic disco elements such as orchestral arrangements and multi-layered vocals, experimenting instead with reduced, electronic sounds. These changes profoundly shaped the music landscape and gave the emerging house scene the necessary space to evolve. Numerous edits and reworks of disco classics show how disco transitioned into these new forms without losing its characteristic groove and relentless danceability. Post-disco is therefore not just a transitional phase but a decisive turning point in which disco’s structures opened up, making room for the creation of modern subgenres. It is precisely in this transitional phase, between the end of disco and the rise of house, that Dave Lee found his place as a key figure, preserving the essence of disco while paving the way for the genre’s future development.

Z Records – Dave Lee’s archival work for the dance floor

Dave Lee is one of the defining figures of the British disco and house scene. His musical journey began in the 1980s – not on big stages, but in London’s record shops. As a teenager, he immersed himself in the British rare groove scene, where funk, soul, and disco were brought back to the dance floor from second-hand crates. This early engagement with musical history became the foundation for his later work: Lee started as a collector, became a DJ, and eventually a producer with a keen sense for groove, structure, and sound aesthetics.

Early on, he worked behind the scenes at independent labels, cutting edits, experimenting with early remixes, and gradually developing his own style. Instead of following fleeting trends, Lee focused on musical continuity – disco with attitude, soul with depth, and house with a clear connection to its roots. His extensive record collection became an archive, a source of inspiration, and the starting point for his productions. In 1990, he founded the label Z Records to give this vision a home.

From the beginning, Z Records was not meant as a nostalgic project but as a platform to translate classic sounds into modern contexts. Under pseudonyms like Joey Negro, Jakatta, and The Sunburst Band, Lee released records balancing funk, soul, and electronic club sounds. Tracks like “Do What You Feel” (1991) and “American Dream” (2009) became milestones – especially because they incorporated disco samples into modern house tracks without losing the original vibe.

During this time, the label was shaped not only by Lee’s own productions but also by collaborations with artists who were crucial in defining the label’s sound. Names like Blaze, Sean McCabe, and Masters At Work exemplify the stylistic range that continues to define Z Records today – from Afro and Latin influences to soulful house and jazzy-funky elements. This diversity makes the label a place where musical history connects with the present.