These Werks is our new column covering the best footwork news and releases out of Chicago written by Josue Olivares.

Due to current events and an ongoing pandemic, many may feel that waking up every day and stepping outside may resemble a new dystopian universe rather than the home they knew. A city, once known for its lively nightlife and crowded dancefloors, now seems to be getting blown away into dust by the same wind that once swayed many outsiders through her doors in search of a new thrill. Musicians, artists, bloggers, and that really cool kid from high school we all thought we once were all have known about the influence on culture Chicago has had over the years.

Whether this is Ron Hardy assaulting the sound system at The Warehouse with a barrage of sine and saw waves carried in on a four-by-four kick drum chariot (which would later be known as Acid House), Kanye west chopping up another soul sample on his ASR resembling a surgeon over the operating table bringing new life to a record once left out for dead, or Young Chop and Chief Keef gracefully orchestrating a symphony of ominous chords, confident ad-libs, and erratic high hats imitating the chaos and violence surrounding the city’s South Side, Chicago has always been a place for innovation. One genre that encapsulates innovation and the Windy City’s forward-thinking approach like no other is footwork.

Characterized by rolling sci-fi-like synth lines, syncopated snare patterns, repeated battle chants, and it’s 160 bpm tempo, footwork continues to encapsulate Chicago’s heartbeat. Created as an art form that caters to the dancers, footwork producers resemble war generals more than musicians, taking command of their soldiers once they stand behind the decks. Early pioneers such as footwork’s godfather RP BOO and Dance Mania legend Traxman would help pave the way for a new wave of artists like the late DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn to take the genre through the matrix and around the world. Disciples of these legends such as DJ Manny, DJ Earl, and DJ Taye continue to push boundaries with the genre and remind the world that Chicago always adapts to conquer.

As the city and our venues seem to get closer and closer to impending doom, footwork reminds us that all great traditions never die. Just like footwork this city can, and will, stand the test of time. Trials and tribulations are inevitable for growth and our current challenges will undoubtedly bring our community closer together. New sergeants will rise from this situation and help carry the city to new glory. As difficult as things may be, one thing which can help keep us remain grounded is to sit back and appreciate our current struggle. In my opinion, there’s no better way of doing this than by rolling one up, putting on some headphones, and letting some footwork tracks guide me through our ever-changing landscape while knowing the other side of the matrix will inevitably have brighter days than the ones we are currently enduring. 

Below are some of our favorite recent releases from Chicago artists to familiarize yourselves with the sound of Chicago’s heartbeat as well as a special mix gifted to us by DJ Manny for all of you to enjoy:.

DJ Manny • TheseDayz (Manny Mix)

DJ Earl • Wrk Dat Body

New-school innovator DJ Earl continues to push new boundaries and redefine what dance music is. Releasing WRK DAT BODY as the first single from his upcoming album “Bass + Funk & Soul” Earl meshes elements from different dance music era’s. Whether it’s the elegant vocal sample that cruises through the track like a 1983 Caprice, the sci-fi-like synth that guides us to a dancefloor found within future nebulas, or the conversation taking place between hi-hats and snares associated with the modern sound of footwork, Earl shows us dance music has no limit.

Traxman • WAP Juked Out

Ghetto house legend Traxman remixes a modern anthem with class in a way only he can. If you thought the original version would destroy the club in a non-pandemic era this juked-out remix will certainly have enough asses shaking to beat the ‘rona out the club at 1am. 

Static • Complains

While making mad noise in the underground for a while, Pilsen based producer Static lets one-off for the international scene and releases his single “Complains” on the new Armada Sounds compilation curated by Mexican label BLDS. This track’s explosive bassline, bed-rocking percussion, and straight dirty sample arrangement reawake the feeling of being back in a South Side Chicago basement juke party twisted off one original Four Loko too many.

DJ Chad • Trippin 2020

Son of the late DJ Rashad, who many regard as footwork’s head innovator, DJ Chad has recently released a compilation of fresh tracks titled 2020 on SoundCloud. On his third track, “Trippin 2020,” the young producer greets us with a percussive loop that sounds more exotic than the pack I was smoking while exploring his tracks. Chad masterfully lays a web of arpeggios and synth-lines that entangle the listener inside the new world he is creating and provides our ears with fresh scenery.