Fcukers, Ö

It’s a Fcukers summer: The dance duo draw inspiration from Atlanta’s sound and meld EDM styles to create a novel, invigorating dancefloor of their own on debut record Ö

Electronic music has continued to solidify its prominence in this new age of indie and alternative dominance. Influenced by years of technological advancements and a need to keep pushing the boundaries surrounding popular music, it only makes sense that dance and the presence of DJs is on the rise. Young Americans have taken to romanticizing European-esque club nights out more than ever and welcome these party vibes with open arms and shuffling feet. Fcukers, who formed out of New York a mere three years ago, have taken over the dance genre and are forging a fresh path of their own. In their new debut record Ö, the resident Lower East Siders create a wholly new sound in mixing the likes of UKG, house, drum and bass, and even drawing inspiration from Atlanta. It’s a groovy theme record that flows tastefully between BPMs and genres, making for the perfect party soundtrack.

Fcukers is a dance duo comprised of Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis. They got their unserious name from an old French Connection UK hoodie that Jackson owned, apt for their throwback Y2K sound. Both artists come from indie band backgrounds, which allowed them to sidestep into electronic music with no preconceived notions or expectations of what to create. In 2023, they started the group, released their debut single “Mothers”, and played a sold-out Baby’s All Right, kicking their career off with momentum. The release of their first EP Baggy$$, home to banging tracks like “Bon Bon”, “Homie Don’t Shake”, and “Tommy”, was a huge success as well. Taking that pressure into creating their debut album could make or break the project, but as expected, Shanny and Jackson coolly made and released one of the best records of the year in Ö.

Fcukers, Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis (Photo: Jeton Bakalli)

The album, which Shanny says is pronounced like “oooo”, starts off with the bouncy and groovy “Beatback”. It features heavy bass and a very catchy, moving synth, which makes you want to get up and dance, a very common theme on this project. Buttery smooth transitions are plentiful on the record, and in one of them, we go from the first track into “L.U.C.K.Y”. The mixing on this track is a standout as sounds hop from left to right outputs and back, forcing listeners to physically move to the beat. “L-U-C-K-Y I’m lucky / Y-O-U are mine ‘cause I’m lucky” are some lines repeated throughout the song and are criminally infectious. “Butterflies” follows, an R&B-ish track over a UKG beat with silky vocals and charming words. Shanny sings in the same sweet and mellow tone of voice she speaks in, adding a sincerity and serenity to the lyrics and sounds themselves.

Next up is “if you wanna party, come over to my house”, an acid house track that gets distorted and cranky in the best way as it progresses. The line “They don’t wanna party” poking fun at wallflowers and those who won’t really get down with the club scene and dance music. Track five “Play Me” was the first single from the project released back in July 2025, but hearing it in the landscape of this album adds so much oomph. Shanny and Jackson credit UK drum and bass duo Chase & Status for inspiring this track, and its trap breakdown halfway through is clean and creative. “I Like It Like That” released in October and brings an island-tinged dub house to the equation. Fcukers have seamlessly combined a number of EDM styles and other genres, not wanting each song to be just one thing. This exemplifies the gorgeous blend of artistry it takes to see the vision in the sound as well as the knowledge and appreciation of different eras in music.

Bubbly “Shake It Up” and dub-infused island “TTYGF” are two of the record's more downtempo tracks, but they work to break up the high energy and keep things alive but not overwhelming. Transitions are one of the album’s noticeably pristine elements, especially the one into “Lonely”. Jackson says this track is Atlanta-based, and you can just hear it in the popping beat and hi-hats. They said they listened to a lot of Andre 3000 when making the record, so it is clear Atlanta is a point of influence for the duo musically. It becomes more of a house track as it closes before another stellar transition into the proceeding track.

“Getaway” offers a futuristic take on trip-hop, and is one of those tracks you will find new sounds in each time you listen. The album was notably produced by Kenneth Blume, who formerly went by Kenny Beats. He has always had a pulse on what all genres have to offer, though his background is largely in hip-hop and modern trap. He has recently transitioned to working more with indie and alternative artists (recently produced Geese’s Getting Killed), and you can hear all his great influences on this Fcukers record. The final track “Feel The Real” closes out the party with a soft, dreamy finish. It has a lush reverberation to it that evokes a last call from the bar feeling before everything ends in a bittersweet finish. Though quick, high payoff tracks are mostly the name of the game on this record, slower, vibey tracks ground the sounds and energy, and both leave listeners wanting to emote the album’s name: “oooo”.

Fcukers definitely do not identify as indie sleaze, however adjacent to it they may seem. Though they sometimes draw comparisons to current electroclash duos like The Hellp and Snow Strippers, their sound is much more rooted in late 90s UK dance and favor more of a Basement Jaxx or Groove Armada. In the few years since their inception, they’ve gotten to open up for Dom Dolla, Tame Impala, LCD Soundsystem, and Disclosure, and will be opening for Harry Styles at his stadium tour dates in Brazil this summer. Their explosively fast come up speaks to how connective and invigorating their music is, and when you make music you like as Shanny and Jackson do, it’s only up from here. Happy Fcukers summer.

'Ö' was released March 27, 2026, via Ninja Tune