Don Diablo releases Smalltown Boy, taking the listener back to 1984 through the familiar melody
Don Diablo, the Dutch electronic music producer, is back again with a major release. This time he has chosen Smalltown Boy as the theme, which also gives the track its name. Showing that it’s indeed correct that his latest release is a cover, but also elevates the original Bronski Beat track to new heights.
The main theme, Smalltown Boy, was published on a spring morning in 1984, on 25 May. The song was produced by Bronski Beat, a British synthpop/new wave trio. Interestingly, they formed in London almost a year before the landmark release. Over the years there have been many covers based on the basic melody, perhaps the best known being Tell Me Why by Supermode, released in 2006. The latter was also remixed by MEDUZA back in 2022, but Alok also did a cover of Tell Me Why. Now, Don Diablo has returned to the roots, giving his track the name Smalltown Boy and delivering another cover. The song is released by HEXAGON, the label run by Don Pepijn Schipper, the man behind the Dutch DJ/producer Don Diablo alias. The track dropped through this brand on Friday 10 May 2024.
The final release delivers an incredibly punchy new iteration of the original track. The cover is based on the Future House production style that is common for all Don Diablo releases. Utilizing the foundation developed by Bronski Beat, Diablo crafts an infectious new anthem that clocks in at just over three and a half minutes. Intertwining the vocals with the updated production, Smalltown Boy pays homage to the original while providing a modern track for the summer festival and club season.
Don Diablo will be busy on the road through 2024. Be sure to catch his sets where fans will surely be treated to Smalltown Boy everywhere he stops.
