In this episode of Start Here, Alexis Ffrench dives into the world of Disco with DJ, musician and historian Ana Matronic.
Together, they explore a genre that is far more than glitter and dancefloors. From its roots in rhythm and blues and underground club culture to its role in community, identity and liberation, disco emerges as one of the most powerful and influential musical movements of the 20th century.
They unpack disco’s musical DNA, from four-on-the-floor rhythms to orchestral production, and trace its journey from underground spaces to global phenomenon. The episode also explores the cultural and political forces that shaped disco, its pushback in the late 1970s, and its lasting influence on house, hip-hop and modern pop.
Featuring artists such as Donna Summer, Barry White and Chic, this is a rich and revealing introduction to a genre that continues to move people across generations.
Whether you know disco well or are discovering it for the first time, this is your starting point.