Among the recent additions to the Beyond The Pale festival lineup is Reach Up – Disco Wonderland, Nick Halkes and Andy Smith’s boogie, disco and disco house project that seeks to evoke the spirit of clubs such as Paradise Garage and Studio 54.
Nick Halkes, aka Nick Reach Up, is one of the UK electronic music industry’s leading executives, and the founder of XL Recordings (to which he signed The Prodigy) and Positiva, while Andy Smith was the resident scratchmaster for trip-hop pioneers Portishead. The pair have known each other since childhood – even running a mobile disco together), and a few years ago, they rekindled their shared love for classic tracks to form Reach Up – Disco Wonderland.
As well as live performances, the pair have released two compilations on BBE (with a third on the way), as well as a slew of remixes of the likes of Kylie, Mel C, Xpansions, De’Lacy and others, as well as original tracks, including the recent Dance the Night Away, which saw Nick team up with Dave Spoon and Final Cut.
909originals caught up with them.
The Beyond The Pale festival will see the debut appearance of Reach Up – Disco Wonderland in Ireland. What can we expect?
Nick: Amazingly, the philosophy that Andy and I share when we DJ together hasn’t really changed since we were kids, carting around two home hi-fis to play at classmates’ birthday parties. It’s just about bringing the positive energy and helping create good times!
We like to mesh the familiar with lesser known tracks, and for me these days it’s always fun to play a few bits that I’ve remixed or co-produced, too. Its ace to see a track you’ve worked on doing good things on the dancefloor.
Andy: We aim to bring the party with a cross section of original disco heat with up to date re-edits and nu-disco tracks. We have DJ-ed together so long that we seem to work together as one nowadays!
You’ve described the vibe of Reach Up – Disco Wonderland as seeking to ‘evoke the spirit’ of venues such as Paradise Garage and Studio 54 – re-imagining the energy of that first disco wave for a modern audience?
Nick: I was fortunate to witness Paradise Garage in person when I worked in New York for a summer many years ago. Quality music, a great soundsystem and an enthusiastic crowd who came to immerse themselves in the vibe was a very powerful combination then, and that remains the case in 2024. It’s a combination of elements that we aspire to.
Andy: Yes, these were iconic venues that represent an important time in club culture, and we try to bring some of that vibe to the here and now.
How did the Reach Up – Disco Wonderland project come together?
Nick: There was a point some years back, when Andy had a residency in London, where he’d play all night and I used to visit just to hang out. We started to develop a habit of me throwing a few tunes on just for fun, and I’d generally reach for the disco and housey tracks.
It was that phase that reminded me how much i enjoyed DJing, with Andy and the idea of what became Reach Up grew from there.
Andy: We realised that the music that excited us when we were kids – alongside the pop music of the day – was underground disco music, so we already had a deep knowledge of it! We decided to try to relive that excitement that we shared as kids.
Yourself and Andy have known each other since you were kids, but your music careers took you in different directions – with the Reach Up – Disco Wonderland project, what would you say you both bring to the table?
Nick: A love of life and a passion for ace tunes is something we both share. Musically, I’d say I bring some of the harder edged and more pumping selections. I, perhaps, bring more of the strategy stuff too – we played for Carl Cox for three seasons on the bounce in Ibiza, for example. I can remember thinking ‘oh that would be cool, if we could be part of that’. I’ll spot opportunities and see if I can help make them happen.
Andy: Although I play both original and new tracks, I’m probably more of the ‘digger’, who pulls out older, unknown tracks, and I like to pull in a bit of a hip hop sensibility at times too. Sometimes, we may even head off into early disco rap at some points during the set.
As well as live performances, Reach Up – Disco Wonderland has spawned a number of releases and remixes. What particular ones are you most proud of?
Nick: For me, I really enjoy playing my Xpansions and De’Lacy remixes, and I like the collabs that I’ve done with Full Intention, Birdee and Barbara Tucker. I have a soft spot for my track with Dave Spoon, and Irish artists Elaine Mai and MuRli too – I’m looking forward to seeing Elaine play at the festival, and Irish artist Essiray, too. It was kinda nice to be asked to remix Kylie and Mel C also!
Andy: I’ve done a couple of re-edits for the BBE Reach Up – Disco Wonderland comps like Will Sessions & Amp Fiddler, and Weekend Sun, that is due to come out on Vol. 3, that I’m happy with. I’m still playing my Melba Moore and Kleeer edits, which are still currently unreleased.
What is your guaranteed, go-to, Reach Up – Disco Wonderland floor filler?
Nick: Right now, Nick Reach Up & Dave Spoon ft. Final Cut – Dance The Night Away. An RTE 2fm tune of the week no less!
Andy: Let Me Clear My Funk by DJ LBR has been one of our secret weapons for many a year. And it’s not even expensive to get on a 12″!
What does the rest of the year have in store for you?
Nick: Summer is festival season, so we have more fun in the fields to come. Last summer we did Parklife, Wilderness, Shindig, Mucky Weekender and Beat Herder, so we’ll see how this summer compares. It’s shaping up to be similarly good, I think.
We have a monthly residency at Magic Garden in London, and several other gigs in the diary. I have a collab single with Steve Mac that may be the next new thing to come out, track-wise.
Andy: Plenty more DJ gigs for me – both with Nick for Reach Up and solo plays. Reach Up – Disco Wonderland Vol 3 should be out later this year, too, on BBE.
Thanks to Nick and Andy for talking to us. You can catch Reach Up – Disco Wonderland at Beyond The Pale, which takes place from 21 to 23 June at Glendalough Estate in Co. Wicklow. For more information, click here.
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