Nutritious opens up his record box to reveal 10 tracks he always returns to, sharing the stories, inspirations, and connections behind each selection and how they resonate with the moods and textures of his release, ‘The Soft Dark’.
Nutritious is an artist, creative visionary, and cultural alchemist whose work spans music, art, wellness, and community. His record box holds 10 tracks that he consistently returns to, each one shaping his sound and reflecting the energy he brings to his performances. With decades of experience as a DJ, producer, and curator, Nutritious treats music as a space for connection, movement, and creative exploration. From peak feel‑good deep disco to twilight‑infused electronic grooves, these essential tracks inform his sets and influence the sonic world of his latest release, ‘The Soft Dark’. With a career that includes a 2023 album on Paper Recordings, appearances at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Ultra Music Festival, and global DJ residencies, Nutritious approaches his record collection with the same care, precision, and imagination he brings to all his projects, creating experiences that are both meticulously curated and joyfully immersive.
1) 40 Thieves feat. Qzen & O-SHiN – Don’t Turn It Off (Session Victim Dub Mix) – Permanent Vacation
This is peak feel‑good deep disco: Session Victim strip 40 Thieves’ cult cover of Hot Chocolate’s “Don’t Turn It Off” into a chunky, bass‑led dub, originally out on Permanent Vacation and rooted in that West Coast cosmic lineage. I reach for it when I want instant vibe, loose joints, hands in the air, and warm smiles. It’s elegantly wonky and endlessly playable.
2) Groove Armada – The Girls Say (Greg Wilson Version) – Chopshop Music
Greg Wilson turns this Groove Armada cut into a mid‑tempo weapons‑grade party groove – 113 BPM, saturated low end, and his trademark tape‑edit dynamics. This is a proper secret‑weapon. It sits perfectly between nu‑disco, house, and boogie, and never fails to energise a room.
3) Cuz Electric feat. Megan Jones – Lullaby (Martin Wold Remix) – Paper Recordings
This one feels like home for me: Paper Recordings through and through–trippy and the absolute definition of a chugger, also just a bit left-field. Martin Wold stretches Megan Jones’ vocal into hypnosis over a low‑slung groove that works brilliantly in long, late sets. It’s modern cosmic funk with that signature Paper swagger: psychedelic enough for heads, but hooky enough that the whole floor sings along by the second breakdown.
4) Greg Paulus – Nightime (Crazy P Remix) – Wolf + Lamb.
Greg Paulus brings the jazz and songwriting chops, Crazy P bring the disco‑house wizardry. You can hear the Crew Love/Wolf + Lamb vibes all over it: warm live‑feel bass, classy chords, and soulful vocals that never tip into cliché. As a long‑time Crazy P fan–they had early heat on Paper too – this remix nails that bittersweet late‑night energy. It’s a track I use when I want dancers to stop scrolling in their heads and feel.
5) Lovebirds – The Path 2011 (Original Mix) – Winding Road Records
“The Path 2011” is Lovebirds in full auteur mode: a looping, velvety sample workout with live‑sounding drums, featherlight percussion, and a warm, tape‑saturated vibe. A lost 70s jazz‑funk jam reimagined for modern sound systems. I love it for transitions–it’s driving but unhurried, so you can either tease the floor up a notch or let everyone float in the groove for several minutes without ever getting bored.
6) Alex Flatner & Lopazz – Dinosaurs (Paul Woolford’s Mannheim Beatdown Remix) – Poker Flat Recordings
Pure dancefloor dynamite. Woolford’s Mannheim Beatdown version is all about that subbed out kick and toms in lieu of an actual bass line, the jacking snares, and the kind of percussive tension that makes people physically want to crawl inside the bassbins. The vocal works as sly social commentary on our relationship with tech–it’s timeless.
7) DJ Koze feat. Róisín Murphy – Illumination (Mano Le Tough Needs A Birra Light Remix) – Pampa Records
Koze and Róisín already give you peak psychedelia; Mano Le Tough takes “Illumination” and stretches it into something both heady and highly functional for the dance floor. Glittery leads, subtle trancey textures, and Róisín’s vocal floating in and out like a dream–it’s pure twilight energy. I reach for this when we’re fully immersed in dance floor deepness and the feet are firmly in motion. It’s perfect for unifying the vibe.
8) Gome – Teach You (Erobique Remix – Extended Version) – Toy Tonics
Toy Tonics at their best: freaky, musical, and perfectly playable any time. Erobique leans into live‑band energy–rubbery bass, warm Rhodes, and an evolving arrangement that keeps dancers smiling. “Teach You” is one of those records that just works every time: small rooms, big stages, early sets, late sets. It bridges nu‑disco, house, and funk in a way that feels current but still nods to classic German disco‑not‑disco weirdness.
9) Navid Izadi – Feelin’ Purple (Soul Clap Remix) – Wolf + Lamb Records
Navid Izadi was such a singular voice, and “Feelin’ Purple” might be his masterpiece–especially in this Soul Clap rework. It’s like a cosmic R&B hymn crossed with a house record: syrupy chords, woozy toplines, and that Crew Love sense of what makes music classic. Knowing Navid tragically passed in 2018 gives the track even more weight; when I play it, it’s both a tribute and a reminder that dance music can be tender, weird, and absolutely devastating in all the ways.
10) Lovebirds feat. Stee Downes – Want You In My Soul – Winding Road Records
This is one of the greatest modern house records, full stop—and the best part is it’s still a bit indie. Lovebirds and Stee Downes distill lots I love about soulful club music: super patient arrangement, beautiful songwriting, and a bassline that feels like a warm hug. I save it for moments when the floor is already connected and you want to tip them into full collective euphoria. Every time I play it, it makes me as happy as the dancers.
Nutritious treats his record box as a space for experimentation, connection, and shared experience. These 10 tracks exemplify the energy, emotion, and creativity that guide his performances and compositions, including ‘The Soft Dark’. Each selection provides a foundation for reading the room, shaping sets, and inspiring movement, whether in intimate venues, sunset slots, or festival stages. Beyond their musical impact, the tracks reflect the artistic vision, collaborative spirit, and cultural curiosity that define Nutritious’s career. From cosmic disco to modern house, each record is a tool for joy, connection, and storytelling on the dance floor. As Nutritious continues to produce, perform, and release music, his commitment remains clear: to curate and create experiences that celebrate creativity, community, and the transformative power of music in its most authentic form.
‘The Soft Dark’ by Nutritious is out now on Liquid Culture and is available to stream & purchase here.
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