Simon Doty Turned Detroit into His Playground

Progressive house prodigy Simon Doty made it clear that he’s shifting gears to club-ready tracks centered on rhythm and groove.

Simon Doty is becoming a household name in underground dance music. With notable progressive and melodic house releases such as “Lady Danger” and “Tuxedo Park,” he has built a reputation for his dreamy, soulful vibes and signature production techniques. But he made a strong statement in Detroit, showing that he is ready to transfer focus back to the heartbeat, rhythm, and groove of dance music.

Longtime fans (like this writer) remember Doty’s earliest success circa Summer 2013. His driving, trippy tech house releases landed on numerous charts and global mix series like Toolroom Radio. “Intellectual Funk,” “Your House,” and “Flip That” seemed to be in every respectable tech house DJ’s arsenal, played in underground nightclubs and rooftop patios alike. His bouncy basslines and snappy clap-snares were staples in the those days — back when tech house was really good.

As the years progressed, Doty’s style also became more progressive, quickly landing him on world-renowned labels like Anjunadeep and Knee Deep in Sound. His debut album, Universal Language, was a cohesive body of work, displaying an increasingly developed knowledge of sound design.

Doty’s atmospheric style shows his mastery in creating space, movement, and flow with very minimal musical elements, compared to similar releases in melodic genres. Yet productions like “Trance Tool,” “Rave Generator,” and the 2024 smash hit “More To Say” hinted not-so-subtly at his “club-ready” house sound, characterized by thick kicks, straightforward drums, and catchy, pitched-down vocal chops.

Waldo spotted enjoying Simon Doty at The Alley Deck in Detroit | Photo Credit: Gyll Carter

Simon Doty made his penultimate summer tour stop at The Alley Deck in Detroit, an intimate rooftop patio attached to Magic Stick, one of the city’s most popular nightclubs.

Upon entering The Alley Deck, you’d think it was a tiny space, with a full, bustling bar against the wall that stretches the length of the patio. LEDs covered the rooftop shade bars, with colorful effects springing between dancing bodies and the patio’s dark, wooden dancefloor. But past the dancefloor lies the rest of the patio—a wooden-fenced open air space with benches, stools and small tables.

Anywhere you stood at The Alley Deck gave you a great view of the DJ booth, especially as Doty towered over the black table covered with CDJs. He kicked the set off with the newest release on his RECESS imprint, the Jorhav remix of “No Sleep,” sparking a rumble in the crowd and drawing fans closer to the DJ booth. And that’s just about where they remained for the rest of the night.

Doty showed his set building prowess by intentionally selecting recognizable tracks between various genres. While this strategy can sometimes tire out a crowd, he delivered hit after hit without losing any of the room’s energy. For instance, Nadia Ali‘s sultry voice rendered a longstanding anthem as the crowd sang along to Dosem‘s edit of “Rapture” by iiO.

Simon Doty at The Alley Deck in Detroit | Photo Credit: Gyll Carter

Attendees were fully immersed in Doty’s offerings with each new track.

As the low frequencies from Max Styler‘s “Inferno” shook the subwoofers, feet stomped rhythmically against the trembling, wooden dancefloor. To keep the energy high, Philip George‘s remix of “Yosemite” from the collective of Interplanetary Criminal and Kettama, and “Surrender (To Your Love)” by Eljé & Murphy’s Law (UK) provided an upbeat palette cleanse of chunky house.

Though The Alley Deck event wasn’t sold out, the many fans that showed up were loyal, knowing what they came for was exactly what they’d get. Cheers and whistles shrieked in acknowledgement as Doty delivered “Am I The Only One” and crowd favorite “Tattoo” (3am in Dhërmi Mix) to close out the night.

As the track played out and feet shuffled towards the exits, Doty regrouped to take pictures with fans, many of whom seemed like longtime friends. This genuine interaction further highlighted the devoted and close-knit nature of his fan base.

Over the course of his career, Doty’s polished sound has always loomed confidently beneath the surface, with his most ardent supporters diving into the satisfying embrace of each release. But in our current era of dance music — littered with cookie-cutter sound design and copycat sample selection — it’s no better time for some of Simon Doty’s “credible club music” to have its day.

Simon Doty taking photos with fans at The Alley Deck in Detroit | Photo Credit: Gyll Carter

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