Disco Partisan is back and delivering a new single filled with venom. The artist, previously known as Uncle Djuzeppe and the Mob, continues to build his sonic bridge between gritty punky reggae and raw garage rock, carving out a sound that’s been honed by years of collaboration and a deep respect for the genres’ heavyweights. Today sees the release of his provocative new single, ‘Hey Danny’, a track that takes aim squarely at the music streaming industry, and one platform in particular.
As Rolling Stone previously noted, Disco Partisan is a "curious one-person project of eminently punk-rocker roots," with lessons "well learned from the Red Book of The Clash." They also spotted a postgraduate degree in vocalisation akin to Tim Armstrong of Rancid. While previous singles like ‘Drunk Little Bird’ have highlighted the artist's ability to intersperse garage distortion with a soul piano for a confessional lyric, 'Hey Danny' is a much more direct, furious statement.
Echoing the fierce punk spirit and seething anti-establishment energy that lingers in Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’ and Dead Kennedys’ ‘California Über Alles’, the new cut is a force to be reckoned with. Through it, Disco Partisan doesn’t hold back, shooting straight to the point and pulling no punches as they set their sights on the imbalance and injustice lurking behind Spotify.
The meaning behind the new track is simple, effective, and felt by musicians the world over. As he explained, it’s about Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, who “[gets] everything while other do all the work, plus all the algorithms and other shady tactics pissed me off." It’s an unashamedly provocative punk anthem railing against the paltry payments musicians receive from certain digital platforms. It’s born from a place of genuine frustration. "I wrote it because I’m a musician and I’m pissed about it," he states bluntly.
Beyond the streaming beef, Disco Partisan's music is driven by a wider vision of unity, calling for listeners to look past societal polarisation and engage with the true state of the world. With its familiar blend of frantic energy and island rhythms, ‘Hey Danny’ not only delivers a punchy sonic hit but also serves as a rallying cry, urging for fairer play and a unified front for those creating the music we love.
This is a track that embodies the heart of punk: raw, educational, and unafraid to call out the powers that be. Give it a spin; it’s the sound of a musician fighting for his keep.
You can stream the new single above, funnily enough, on Spotify. As Disco Partisan quipped, “yeah, that’s the whole point, to be like an annoying pimple, fight your enemy from within, Be like a real partisan, hiding in plain sight!”
For more information and to join Disco Partisan’s crusade, you can connect with him on Instagram.
