LOS ANGELES, CA- French duo Parallelle have a new single out called “Searching For The Groove,” a collaboration with Amsterdam-based vocalist Sacks, and it’s one of those tracks that instantly locks you into its rhythm. Built on syncopated percussion and buoyed by falsetto vocals, the song slides into a sweet spot between house, disco, and electronic funk. At its core, it’s electronic music with steady synth layers, but there’s an undeniable groove running through it that feels tailor-made for a late-night dancefloor or a headphone session on the move.
The track opens with a pulsing rhythm that leans into 2-step patterns before expanding into something warmer and looser. Keys and saxophone touches give it a more organic texture, demonstrating that Parallelle’s production is rooted in live instrumentation as much as in studio wizardry. What sets “Searching For The Groove” apart is its balance between restraint and flow. It never overdoes the layering or rushes the build. Instead, it coasts with an easy confidence, inviting listeners to lean back and find their own rhythm inside its movement.
Vocally, Sacks carries a falsetto that, to my ears, recalls Jay Kay of Jamiroquai. That’s not a comparison I make lightly. Jamiroquai’s legacy sits in the blending of disco-funk energy with electronic polish… but the essence is here. The vocal phrasing and groove-centric arrangement definitely nod toward that lineage, even if the musicality isn’t quite as intricate or adventurous. Still, it scratches that same itch: a slick, soulful vocal riding over a rhythm that won’t let go.
Lyrically, the track circles around the idea of time, strength, and the endless pursuit of meaning; or, as Parallelle put it, “the endless search for the groove of life.” There’s something simple yet resonant in that message. Maybe the groove is love, maybe it’s freedom, maybe it’s just finding your flow in a chaotic world. The repetition in the lyrics becomes part of the rhythm itself, a mantra as much as a hook, which gives the song both an immediacy and a meditative quality.
What’s clear is that if “Searching For The Groove” is representative of the balance of Parallelle’s upcoming album, 11th Avenue, out October 29 on their Lisbon-based label FOLDER, the album is going to be an analogue-leaning, groove-heavy journey that straddles genres while staying rooted in feel-good energy. There is a suggestion in their press release that there are larger visions at play involving fashion collaborations, bespoke tour experiences, and a vinyl release lined up… but at the heart of it is the music, and “Searching For The Groove” is proof that Parallelle know how to keep people moving.
For a first impression, I’ll admit I didn’t know much about Parallelle before this release, but this track has me curious about what else is coming on 11th Avenue. If you’re into house and disco with a jazzy twist, or if you’ve ever found yourself searching for that elusive groove on a night out, this is a cut worth your time.
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