Compared to other styles, dance music is the genre most poorly represented by the full-length album format. Traditionally, it’s been distributed in the form of 12-inch vinyl singles to DJs who incorporate them into their sets. To address this gap, NOW music editor Benjamin Boles (formerly the resident club culture writer) teams up with Nav Sangha (Wrongbar owner, DJ and former partner at Play de Record) to compile the biggest dance-floor smashers in Toronto’s history.
1. Nick Holder
Summer Daze (1999)
Long before EDM superstars like Deadmau5 were playing gigs at Skydome (sorry, Roger’s Centre), Nick Holder was the DJ/producer repping Toronto to the world. This laid-back Pat Metheny Group-sampling deep house anthem still gets played all over the planet 13 years after its original release.
2. Azari & III
Manic (2011)
Straddling some trippy middle ground between Prince, acid house, punk funk and pop, Manic may not have been the song that broke these guys to the world, but it was the one that solidified their unique and special approach.
3. MSTRKRFT
Easy Love (2006)
Few Toronto songs capture the mood of the mid-00s electro-house explosion like this stomping disco-rock monster. The crunchy drums and distorted synths make your speakers pump as if something’s going to break any second.
4. Hatiras
Spaced Invader (2000)
Formerly one of the organizers behind the Liquid Adrenaline raves, George Hatiras had an enormous worldwide hit with this funky house anthem.
5. Blue Foundation
Eyes On Fire (Zeds Dead remix) (2009)
Yes, we know Blue Foundation aren’t from Toronto, but Zeds Dead most definitely are, and it’s their face-melting bootleg dubstep remix that’s currently approaching 38 million YouTube views.
6. P.J.
Happy Days (1996)
Filtered disco house was huge in Toronto in the late 90s, and this track was a surefire floor-filler, simple and stripped down yet highly effective.
7. deadmau5
Faxing Berlin (2006)
No matter what your feelings about the current wave of EDM, you can’t deny that Deadmau5’s extraordinary popular success is an impressive accomplishment. Considering how huge this track was, its subtlety is impressive.
8. A:xus/Abacus
When I Fall In Love (1997)
This gorgeous reimagining of the Nat King Cole classic produced one of the most enduring vocal house singles ever to come out of this city.
9. M.1
Feel The Drums (1991)
In 1991, most of the world was unaware that Toronto had an underground party scene, but this acid house-influenced banger helped change that.
10. Parachute Club
Rise Up (1983)
You could argue this was more a pop song than a club track, but anyone partying when this came out will vouch for its impact on the dance floor.
