Kotiēr Places Kinetic Spin on Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy"

Who better to reimagine “Smalltown Boy” than a small-town boy? 

Kotiēr has amassed an impressive run of releases on leading dance/electronic labels in a short period of time, from Solomun’s Diynamic to RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue, but his rework of Bronski Beat's 1984 classic is among his most anticipated yet. 

The rising producer, who hails from a small town an hour outside New York City, takes the song’s famous synth progression and builds dusky drama around it, offering a rousing new perspective that’s been rinsed by tastemakers such as CamelPhat, John Summit, and Adriatique. The atmospheric rework now lands via the Swiss duo’s label, X Recordings, as the imprint’s first release from an external artist. Listen below.

There’s something autobiographical in “Smalltown Boy” for Kotiēr, adding a certain je ne sais quoi to his rendition that drives both its authenticity and its appeal.

“When I started DJing 13 years ago it wasn’t a cool thing to do – school events, parties for my dad’s friends. There was no dance music culture, and a pretty defined path of what you’re supposed to do. but I just kept making music and DJing,” he explained on Instagram.

“I graduated three years ago and went to Europe. My first real dance music event was Diynamic Off Week in Barcelona – watching Adriatique at the top of Montjuïc…It’s been surreal watching this track travel the world.”

Kotiēr’s angel-spun interpretation arrives in the midst of his time on the road supporting Aaron Hibell’s SYNCHRONICITY tour. The production further raises his profile, following a recent collaboration with CamelPhat (“Goddess”) and a remix of Kölsch's “Sad Makes Me Happy.”

 Check out Kotiēr’s highlight in the March 2026 edition of On Our Radar, and get “Smalltown Boy” on Beatport.