10/16/2025
In this thirty third installment of the Producer Spotlight Series we’re highlighting French producer and DJ, Olivier Portal known as Playin’ 4 The City. Created in 1996, Playin' 4 the City is the brainchild of the multi instrumentalist and producer Olivier Portal, a true Deep House lover. Very versatile in the beginning, he has nurtured his productions while doing club residencies in Paris and Chicago, making his music all the more dancing and developing a very original touch drawing near to the sounds of Chi -Town and New Jersey. By the end of the 90’s, he collaborated with many DJ’s and producers such as DJ Deep, Julien Jabre and Franck Roger among others, thus gaining a real credibility and much respect from the underground Parisian house scene and the world at large. This is a special Tribute Mix/Producer Spotlight in loving memory of the late Olivier Portal, Playin’ 4 The City, Rest in Peace 1960-2025
Born in Paris, Portal began making music in the mid-'90s, becoming a key part of a new wave of talented French house artists that included DJ Deep, Julien Jabre, Frank Roger and more. Portal is responsible for dozens of acclaimed house tracks, most notably: "Atmosfear's Vibe," "I'm Ready," "Music And The Rhythm" and "From Chicago To Paris." Most of his music came out through Straight Up Recordings, a label he ran with Bétino Errera. As a DJ, he performed at some of France's most recognizable clubs, including La Machine Du Moulin Rouge, Djoon, I-Boat and Le Petit Salon, and held a residency at Chicago's Mad Bar.
The Music & The Rhythm 1997-2003 brings back to the forefront some of the most anthemic tracks reflecting a very creative period in which Olivier Portal hooked up with great vocalists and players to produce his own style of deep house rich in soulful vocals, jazzy harmonies, funky bass lines and his trademark keyboard layers. This triple LP brings back to light some of the most emblematic tracks reflecting a very creative period during which Olivier Portal teamed up with excellent vocalists and instrumentalists to produce This compilation, besides offering the best of the Straight Up era with some great classics like the smooth "Music and the Rhythm", the seminal "More Than Ever" and crucial tracks like "The Shore" and "Deep Inside", also entitles us to retrieve very in demand gems like "Atmosfear’s Vibe", "Spirits" and "My City Life" that now fetch hefty prices in the 12” market.
In a 2010 interview with fabric, fellow Parisian artist Brawther described Portal as "one of the French producers I respect and admire the most." Brawther paid tribute to Portal in the days following his death, labelling him "a true musical genius" in an Instagram post.
TRACKLISTING
00:00:00 1. Playin’ 4 The City - The Shore
00:06:50 2. Playin’ 4 The City - Moonlightin’
00:11:51 3. Playin’ 4 The City - Airy
00:16:10 4. Playin’ 4 The City - Atmosfear’s Vibe
00:23:13 5. Playin’ 4 The City - Music and Rhythm
00:29:02 6. Playin’ 4 The City - Chicago Nights
00:33:26 7. Playin’ 4 The City - More Than Ever
00:39:22 8. Playin’ 4 The City - Sh Blues
00:45:19 9. Playin’ 4 The City - My City Life (Playin’ 4 The City Meets the Deep)
00:48:55 10. Playin’ 4 The City - Backfire
00:54:36 11. Playin’ 4 The City - Don’t u Go (Original)
00:59:37 12. Playin’ 4 The City - From Chicago to Paris
01:05:46 13. Playin’ 4 The City - Medicated Skin Cream
01:10:38 14. Playin’ 4 The City - No Compromise
01:16:01 15. Playin’ 4 The City - Minor Track (Original Mix)
01:20:07 16. Playin’ 4 The City - One Last Bite
Producer Spotlight: Playin’ 4 The City In this thirty third installment of the Producer Spotlight Series we’re highlighting French producer and DJ, Olivier P...
