The Phenomenal Handclap Band
Lush, analog-heavy disco and psychedelic soul that feels like a lost 1970s studio session. High-energy grooves for rooftop parties and late-night city drives.
Lush, analog-heavy disco and psychedelic soul that feels like a lost 1970s studio session. High-energy grooves for rooftop parties and late-night city drives.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band sounds like a fever dream of the 1970s underground, where the grit of New York City funk meets the expansive horizons of psychedelic rock. Their music is built on a foundation of deep, pocket-heavy basslines and intricate percussion that demands movement, but it is layered with shimmering synthesizers and orchestral flourishes that elevate it beyond simple dance music. It is warm, analog, and deeply human, avoiding the sterile precision of modern electronic music in favor of a rich, lived-in sound.
What truly sets them apart is their 'supergroup' DNA and DJ-centric perspective. Founded by crate-digging producers, the band functions as a collective, blending esoteric influences like Brazilian soul and vintage psych into a cohesive disco framework. The vocal arrangements are often communal and anthemic, featuring a rotating cast of luminaries that give each track a distinct personality while maintaining a signature 'handclap' energy. It is sophisticated music that never loses its sense of play.
Start with their self-titled debut for the quintessential introduction to their psych-soul fusion, particularly the hit '15 to 20.' If you want something more focused on the dancefloor, the 'PHB' album or their collaborations with Toy Tonics offer a sleeker, more modern take on their vintage-inspired groove. It is the perfect soundtrack for when the sun goes down and the energy in the room begins to shift.
The Phenomenal Handclap Band was formed in New York's East Village by producer Daniel Collás. Their first full-length record, the Phenomenal Handclap Band, featured such diverse talents as Aurelio Valle, Carol C, Jaleel Bunton, Jon Spencer, and Lady Tigra. In 2011, the Phenomenal Handclap Band toured the US and UK with Bryan Ferry. Their second full-length album, Form and Control, was released February 13, 2012. After a four-year hiatus, the band released the single “Traveler's Prayer” backed with “Stepped Into The Light” on their own Daptone Records imprint, Magnifreeq, in May 2017. Their next release, “Judge Not”, in the autumn of 2018, would be their first release on Toy Tonics. They released three more singles over the next two years until their third studio album, PHB in May 2020. In June 2020, the band wrote and performed the song “Sanctuary”, produced by Collás and Luke Solomon, for the Horsemeat Disco album Love and Dancing. In 2022, the Phenomenal Handclap Band was featured on the song “Try Again” from JKriv's EP of the same name, produced by Collás and JKriv. In 2023, they released their EP Burning Bridges on Brooklyn's Razor N Tape label. The band signed to New York's Nublu Records in late 2024 and released their first single on the label, "We Are Worlds Away" in July 2025.
Shares percussion, disco, funk, analog warmth (signature)
Shares androgynous, disco, funk, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares disco, funk, orchestral arrangement, dance-pop (subgenre)
Shares disco, funk, harmonized, vocal layering (subgenre)
Shares disco, funk, harmonized, joyful (subgenre)
Shares disco, funk, analog warmth, orchestral arrangement (subgenre)
Shares percussion, disco, funk, dance-pop (signature)
Shares disco, funk, joyful, percussion (subgenre)
Shares disco, funk, harmonized, analog warmth (subgenre)
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