Barton Friedland Barton Friedland

DNA Magazine Feature: “Eurodisco Excites Me!”

Marc Andrews’ intimate conversation with Barton reveals an artist who understands that pointing people to disco is “probably one of the most important things I can do—it means freedom and a celebration of who I am.” Speaking from his Berlin base, Barton explains how The Afterlife emerged from a profound realisation during the pandemic: “I would be very regretful if I died tomorrow and hadn't done this.” His eclectic covers—from Grace Jones to Neil Young—demonstrate that sophisticated disco can transform any song when approached with authenticity rather than commercial calculation.

National Australian Publication Celebrates The Afterlife's Cultural Significance

Courtesy of DNA Magazine

Marc Andrews’ intimate conversation with Barton reveals an artist who understands that pointing people to disco is “probably one of the most important things I can do—it means freedom and a celebration of who I am.” Speaking from his Berlin base, Barton explains how The Afterlife emerged from a profound realisation during the pandemic: “I would be very regretful if I died tomorrow and hadn't done this.” His eclectic covers—from Grace Jones to Neil Young—demonstrate that sophisticated disco can transform any song when approached with authenticity rather than commercial calculation.

What emerges most powerfully is Barton’s shift from commercial ambition to artistic authenticity. “When I was younger I was much more concerned with being a pop star... that really got in the way,” he tells Marc. Surviving the AIDS crisis whilst watching friends disappear adds to the philosophical depth he brings to tracks like the reimagining of Warm Leatherette. “I'm more concerned with Giorgio Moroder than Yazoo,” he tells Marc, positioning his work within disco's original promise of liberation rather than house and techno music’s later evolution. The Afterlife isn't nostalgia—it’s someone who lived through disco's peak sophistication bringing that knowledge forward.

Featured in DNA Magazine Issue #306, July 2025. If you've ever wondered what disco might sound like if it had continued evolving instead of being interrupted, Barton's Self-Control and Warm Leatherette provide the answer. Available now on all streaming platforms.

Read More