Tony Quattro Collabed with a Homeless Guy Named Showtime Willy

NYC-born, London-raised producer Tony Quattro, known for his work on now-defunct, but forever-influential underground label Trouble & Bass, found inspiration in the most unique of places for his tune "My House," released August 14 Plates compilation on Main Course.

"I was on the A-train heading home from work, and a homeless man walked on my car and started doing stand-up," Tony begins the story. "His routine was super funny. I remember he had this bit that was like, 'This isn't a train, this is a 10 car condominium, mobile home on wheels!' He had an infectious voice, style, and delivery that made you feel instantly familiar and connected to him."

Quattro was struck by a creative notion: "I kept thinking to myself, 'Damn, he would sound so dope on a house track!' So before he walked off the car, I shoved through the crowd of sweaty commuters, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, 'Don't get off yet. I'll give you $20 bucks to come up to Harlem and record some vocals with me.' "

"So we rode uptown, and got acquainted," Quattro continues. "The 59 year old man, who goes by Showtime Willy, has been living on the subway cars of NYC for over 30 years. He works around a calculated schedule to ensure that he's performing to ideal audiences, the floods of commuters at rush hour, the tipsy 2AM crowd, etc."

Luckily, Quattro's roommates were out, so the duo got straight to work. "I felt like the beat on 'My House' would work because it kinda makes me feel like I'm riding the train with him 'cause of the perpetual sub groove and clanky, chugging percussion," says Quattro. "The whole session took about 45 minutes, and when it was time for him to go he was super cool and polite. I sent him home with a bit more money, a 40, and a couple of loosies, and the rest was history."

The tune itself is a propulsive, club-ready house heater in which the bouncy bassline and busy percussive elements create an immersive field atop which Willy adds vocals lines like "My name is Showtime Willy. This is my house, New York, man!" The tune, and Willy's vocals in particular, bring an old-school soul to proceedings –– and the whole thing is a distinctly New York story.

"My House" will be available for free download on Tony's SoundCloud.

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