Episode 368: DISCO_NECT "Abandoning The Open Format Grind To Form a Disco House Collective"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @TheDisco_Nect (@DJWS, @PartyWithStrategy_, and @CautionItsHeavy) to share their journey and vision for disco’s revival. At (02:34), White Shadow recalls meeting Strategy and Heavy during a Will Ferrell event that bonded them through disco, leading to their takeover of @CelesteChicago. By (10:57), Crooked introduces the idea of the “working class DJ,” sparking candid talk about burnout, money struggles, and questioning whether DJing was worth it. The crew reflects on DJs struggling to see themselves as artists (11:20), the evolution of Chicago’s house scene, and how nightlife has shifted from ticket sales to social media clout. At (23:50), they debate whether open format is oversaturated, with White Shadow emphasizing musical identity and Crooked calling it “the most selfless job.” Strategy shares his moves between Chicago and Houston (32:30) before the trio break down curating disco nights, creating edits, and fully committing to Disco-Nect with four weekly residencies at Celeste (40:01). By (54:01), White Shadow explains why he asked his partners to quit other gigs, outlining the crew’s roles (1:06:10) and how Strategy has never been happier DJing (1:08:15). The episode closes with a discussion on staying relevant across genres (1:09:13) and a critique of bookers’ misplaced priorities (1:28:01), reinforcing Disco-Nect’s belief that the DJ remains the centerpiece of nightlife.

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