Magnetic Mix: How KOOKOO Records is Redefining Dance Heritage
There is a particular confidence to the way KOOKOO Records approaches dance music’s past. The Montreal label has built its catalogue around records that understand the lasting pull of disco, soul, and early club music without treating them as museum pieces, reshaping familiar textures into something that feels direct, functional, and very current.
Across releases from artists including Evan McVicar, George Smeddles, and Manuel Falardeau, the label has gradually carved out a sound that balances warmth, weight, and restraint, pulling as much from Montreal’s overlooked club history as it does from contemporary dancefloors. For this latest Magnetic Magazine mix and interview, KOOKOO founder Francis Cucuzzella reflects on the label’s roots, the evolution of its sampling-led approach, and why preserving the feeling inside older records matters more than chasing nostalgia.
The Montreal Influence
For Cucuzzella, the label’s identity is inseparable from its geography. Montreal has long been a hub for disco and early club culture, a legacy that remains embedded in the city’s DNA. Rather than chasing global trends, KOOKOO draws from this local independence. “Montreal shaped everything,” Cucuzzella explains. “It’s not a city that chases trends; it absorbs them, reshapes them, and moves differently from the rest of the industry.”
This perspective allows the label to treat historical records not as archival artifacts, but as functional tools. By accessing deep catalogues like Unidisc, the label finds ways to unlock the energy of the past for modern sound systems.
Evolution of the Sampling Approach
Sampling sits at the core of the KOOKOO catalogue. While early efforts were driven by instinct, the process has become increasingly deliberate. Cucuzzella emphasizes that the goal is to create a dialogue between eras. “It’s not just about what you sample, but how you treat it,” he notes. “The goal isn’t to overpower the source material, but to build around it in a way that adds something meaningful.”
Looking Toward the Future
As the label moves toward Amsterdam Dance Event, the sound is shifting into darker, more refined territory. The latest mix, featuring a significant amount of unreleased material, serves as a snapshot of this evolution. For Cucuzzella, the focus remains on building a cohesive sound rather than fitting into a specific genre box.
“We’re not chasing genres, we’re building a sound,” he says. With plans to expand their event brand and integrate visual storytelling into their releases, KOOKOO is positioning itself as a platform that treats music as a broader, immersive experience. As they continue to bridge the gap between analogue warmth and modern precision, the label remains a vital voice in the contemporary dance landscape.
