If you’ve been craving that proper old-school house feeling lately—the kind that hits you right in the chest with a deep bassline and soaring vocals—then Connor Walker and Midnight McBride just cooked up something special. Their new track “Connor’s Groove (Original Mix)” is out now on Muscle Funk, and it’s pure Manchester heat.
This one is a vocal-led house cut built around a deep rolling bassline, crisp techy rhythms, and a soaring vocal performance that absolutely soars. It mixes underground energy with a strong melodic edge, building towards a huge dramatic breakdown before slamming back in with maximum impact. You can feel the classic house DNA running through every bar, but it still sounds fresh and ready for the floor right now.
The collaboration pairs Muscle Funk founder Midnight McBride with rising Manchester DJ and producer Connor Walker. Connor’s journey from live bands into electronic music has already seen him lock down residencies across Greater Manchester, launch his own Infectious events brand, and play spots like Es Paradis and Plastik in Ibiza. Midnight McBride, the Manchester DJ, producer and broadcaster behind the label, created Muscle Funk as a home for artists who want creative freedom and genre-fluid electronic music without the usual constraints. Since launching, the label has built a solid reputation through quality releases, events, and an artist-first approach.
Also on the release is a remix from Manchester house veteran Nick Hussey. He takes the track deeper, adding a darker atmosphere and driving groove before delivering a huge old-school piano payoff that tips the hat to the classic records that shaped his career. Hussey’s been a long-standing figure in the city’s club scene with releases on Defected, CR2 and King Street, plus gigs across Europe, the Middle East and North America. That piano moment alone is worth the price of admission if you love proper old-school house.
The timing couldn’t be better. This drop arrives ahead of a busy summer for Muscle Funk, with a label party at Nelipots in Chorley on 4 July and two Café del Mar Ibiza takeovers on 14 and 16 August. The label is clearly pushing hard both in the UK and internationally, and tracks like “Connor’s Groove” show exactly why.
What makes this one stand out is how it balances that raw underground energy with big, emotional melodies. The original mix keeps things rolling and vocal-driven, while the Hussey remix leans into the deeper, piano-heavy side that classic house heads live for. It’s the kind of record that works just as well in a sweaty basement as it does under the Ibiza sunset.
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Manchester’s house scene has always had that special something, and Connor Walker & Midnight McBride are keeping the torch burning bright with “Connor’s Groove.” Proper old-school vibes with modern punch. Give it a spin and tell me what you think—does that dramatic breakdown hit you as hard as it hit me? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
