Dean Turnley Is “Actin’ Tough”
Today, Melbourne DJ Dean Turnley releases one of the most in-demand club tracks of the year, “Actin’ Tough,” via CHAOS/Astralwerks/Intercord Germany in collaboration with HOME//GRXWN. Stream “Actin’ Tough”.
There’s already serious heat building around this one, and for good reason. “Actin’ Tough” is built for the club – euphoric and driving, with layered synths geared towards summer and festival season. A rolling, progressive-led beat anchors it, while a 90s-inspired spoken-word vocal cuts through, adding a nostalgic edge that’s hard to shake.
“Actin’ Tough” has been building steadily through word of mouth since the start of the year, first surfacing in DJ sets before quickly becoming a sought-after ID online. Early momentum was driven out of Melbourne’s tight-knit scene, with Turnley and close collaborators Not Without Friends – Jordan Brando, William Kiss and Luke Alessi- helping break the record in clubs and online. Support has since snowballed globally, fuelled by viral moments across DJ sets and social platforms, alongside early backing from Rossi., who has championed the track across Europe. The likes of Peggy Gou, Rossi., Interplanetary Criminal, KILIMANJARO, Chris Lake, MPH, salute, Special Request and Ewan McVicar have all played, requested or supported the track, which, despite being held tightly within a select circle of DJs, is now widely tipped as one of the most in-demand club records ahead of its official release.
“I made the track on 404 sampler back in December and it’s been crazy watching the responses as the track was getting its first spins. Excited for it to be out there” – Dean Turnley
Melbourne DJ & producer Dean Turnley has spent the past decade building a reputation as a respected underground selector, rooted in Detroit and Chicago house influences. A co-founder of Thailand’s Sundancer festival, he’s also built a growing international presence through both his events and DJ sets, with further festival appearances on the horizon.