D/troit

Warning! This is hot stuff. When you’re standing in front of the stage at D/troit, slowly letting your body move to the rhythm, it’s hard to believe that these well-dressed gentlemen aren’t actually from the legendary city their name refers to. Their sound is precisely that blend of ’60s R&B, funk, soul, and rock ’n’ roll that was always mixed best in Detroit.

D/troit are actually Danish, although bandleader and singer Toke Bo Nisted sounds as if he’d been hitting the clubs of Motor City back in the day. D/troit’s latest studio album is titled “Heavy” and opens with the song of the same name, which immediately draws you into this lively, history-rich soundscape. True to the title, the sound is dominated by a heavier, hip-hop-inspired vibe, served with a confident and light-footed twist of soul and funk on themes like hope, love, and the collective challenges we all face. It’s darker and sounds as classic as it does modern.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Bootsy Collins of Parliament Funkadelic and James Brown’s band describes the album with the words: “D/troit is tight, energetic, on steroids and Quaaludes. What a great feeling to be able to conjure up in people’s ears.”

So if you’re in the mood for a full dose of soul and maybe have albums of Curtis Harding, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The Bamboos, Alabama Shakes, The Teskey Brothers, Durand Jones & The Indications in your record collection at home—you’ve come to the right place.