Disco music hasn’t been popular since the late ‘70s, but that’s not stopping Iconique from releasing the kind of music that inspires them. The Los Angeles-based trio’s self-titled song “Iconique” is a classic disco jam, and its accompanying video, premiering below, pays homage to the kings of the disco scene who paved the way groups like Iconique.
“I wanted the video to pay tribute to the visual kingmakers who crafted the aesthetic of celebrity in the late 1970s through 80s,” frontman Leo Paparella told Billboard. “I’d like to think of the video as a frothy blend of Richard Bernstein, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and Herb Ritts.”
Paparella said that he knows disco music is out of style, but that’s precisely why he wanted to make music that speaks to the power of the old genre. “I have no interest in sounding like every other band in Los Angeles,” the singer said. “Disco at its best is opulent, polished, groove-oriented, and lively. Honestly off that description, why isn’t everyone making it?”
Even the fact that the song itself is named after the group is a reference. Paparella said that the song is directly inspired by the 1970’s disco group Chic, who famously repeated their own name in the song “Chic Cheer,” kicking off their hit album C’est Chic.
“We wanted something fun and a bit cheeky, so we constructed the song backwards around the idea of a chant that repeats our band name,” he said.
Check out the full video for “Iconique” below: