New York-based Mike Nasty has incorporated house, hip-hop, and R&B into his eclectic sound over the years, a boundary-pushing approach that has seen him share stages with the likes of Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Todd Edwards and more. The Nasty Tracks founder has had a busy start to 2026, with the release of To Life in March, following that up with a Soul Mix of the same track earlier this month.
For this week’s #MyRecordBag, Mike Nasty presents his top 90s house records, including tracks by Cevin Fisher, Inner City, Masters At Work, Jovonn and more. Over to you, Mike!
Jovonn – Be Free
“Jovonn is one of those names that doesn’t get enough credit outside real house circles. I got the chance to DJ alongside Jovonn back in 2022 at a venue in Brooklyn. Be Free feels like a philosophy as much as a track. This song is all about the meaning of music and how to get a party started. The message in the song is one of my mantras in life. Jovonn actually hit me up a month ago. It was his daughter’s birthday and he wanted me to put her on the guestlist for one of my RnB events.”
Cevin Fisher – Do You Wanna Fly?
“This is my idea of a classic house groove, but on the deeper side. This song has one of my favorite sub basslines in all of dance music. Even the flute instrument Cevin uses in the track has influenced tracks of my own, like Mind Made Up. It was a blessing to get actual promo feedback from Cevin a few years back, where he praised one of my releases.”
Inner City – Good Life
“This is a top 5 house music track for me. If I were a professor teaching a class on the history of the genre, I would immediately take a deep dive into this classic. Good Life taught me a lot about song structure and building a canvas for a vocalist to thrive on. This is a go-to for me on any given late night, and I will literally play the entire song. Kevin Saunderson is a genius. Even the subtle acid bass in the record was chef’s kiss. Every little detail you can hear clearly in this clean track mix. This is a MEGA record for me. I can’t rave about it enough.”
Dirty Harry – Stay Forever
“Stay Forever gives that deeper side of house music with classic organ stabs throughout. This track is a great example of ‘groove’ to me. Just the right amount of swing and shuffle. The type of swing cadence you get from the OG MPC machines. You can also hear a lot of grit in this track, which I love.”
Playin’ 4 The City – More Than Ever
“I think this song is a great example of early deep house. The kind of deep house I appreciate and have a love for. Subtle soul singer vocals and filtered piano chord stabs. This is that soulful, uplifting side of house that never goes out of style. The kind of record that feels like a transition point in a set – where people go from just dancing to actually feeling something. I’ve always loved how it builds without rushing. It’s patient, and that patience is what makes it hit.”
St. Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Masters At Work Dub)
“I randomly discovered this classic track in a Reddit forum years ago, and it’s been addictive to listen to ever since. This is one of the dopest remixes in dance music, in my opinion. It doesn’t get better than early Kenny and Louie. The analog warmth in the track is second to none.”
Shazz – El Camino Part 1
“As a piano student, El Camino Part 1 is what most of us aspire to sound like on a house track. Shazz is one of those early French pioneers in the genre to bring a high level of jazz and soul into his music. I can’t exactly pinpoint where I heard this track first, but it’s always one I circle back to.”
Workin’ Happily – Better Things (Workin’ Dub)
“I sometimes revisit this song to understand the feeling of that garage/lounge house sound. Simple vocal chops that echo throughout the song, along with that vintage Roland keyboard saxophone playing sweet melodies. This track can be a gateway for the average listener to venture into deeper tunes in the genre.”
NYC Live & Direct – Everything U Need (Original Mix)
“Everything U Need is so funky to me. It puts that ‘stank’ look on your face. Everything about this track cooks, from the sampling down to the bassline. This is a ‘kickass’ record. A lot of house records of today sound exactly like this classic, and that lets you know what type of standard was set with those early 90s releases.”
Jazz N Groove – One of These Days
“I didn’t find this record digging – I got put onto it the right way. I was at a late set with one of my DJ comrades, someone who really understands how to control a room without forcing it. This song comes on at 2am and the crowd gets lost in its groove. I tend to gravitate to songs with a clear message in them, and this one felt like a freedom fighters’ anthem. This hits home for someone like me who has southern roots back in my hometown, Memphis.”
Thanks to Mike Nasty for his selections. Keep up to date with his latest news, releases, and upcoming events here.
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