Back in the day, imagining what Nirvana would sound like as a dance music act was just a dream come true, but today producers Jonathan Hay, Cain McKnight and 41X have made the concept a reality.
Their joint album Nirvana Reimagined As House & Techno is not only a musical homage to Kurt Cobain's musical legacy, but also an homage to his social and cultural impact.
The inspiration for this seemingly eccentric idea is rooted in the artist's desire to highlight Cobain's passionate advocacy of LGBTQ + rights. Given the pivotal role the queer community played in the rise of dance music culture, producers felt that reinterpreting the musical world of Nirvana in an electronic music context would be an engaging way to highlight this seldom-treated element of Cobain's legacy.
Cobain has shown solidarity with the LGBTQ + community throughout his career, from spraying the phrase "God is gay" in his hometown of Aberdeen to using his platform to loudly defend himself against bigotry. His principles were unshakable.
"If you're sexist, racist, homophobic or basically an asshole, don't buy the CD," added Cobain in the liner notes of Nirvana's In Utero album.
As Hay pointed out in a statement to GRAMMY.com, Cobain was a vocal advocate for marginalized communities before a major social movement got behind their cause. "He was a supporter of LGBTQ + when it was politically incorrect," said Hay. “He's about love and positivity, which is what house music is about.
To further honor Cobain's activism, "Something in the Way (House Mix)," the lead single from Nirvana Reimagined As House & Techno, premiered on The Advocate, an LGBTQ + interest magazine founded in 1967.
On the album's debut music video for the track "Come As You Are (Techno Mix)", the record's producers worked with Chip E., who is considered the mentor of Frankie Knuckles, a legendary Chicago DJ known as "The Godfather of House" is known. "
In total, there is one track for every year of Cobain's lifetime – a total of 27 club-inspired remakes. All proceeds from Nirvana Reimagined As House & Techno are donated to charitable organizations including GLAAD and MusiCares to support the welfare of marginalized communities.
