Byron Stingly and Ten City make a triumphant return with ‘The Next Generation’ LP on Nervous Records this September.
For over three decades, Ten City have been synonymous with the heart and soul of house music. Their 1989 debut Foundation remains a genre-defining record, one that blended gospel fire, soulful warmth and Chicago groove in a way that felt both timeless and of its moment. Now, in 2025, Byron Stingily returns with producer Emmaculate to deliver The Next Generation. The title feels less like a marketing slogan and more like a genuine mission statement.
Across its 13 tracks, The Next Generation is both a love letter to Ten City’s legacy and a bold step forward into fresh territory. Stingily’s unmistakable falsetto remains the spiritual anchor of the project, soaring across tracks like “House Again” and “Love Music” with the same devotional energy that made classics like “That’s The Way Love Is” so enduring. Emmaculate’s production ensures this is not a nostalgia act. His touch is sleek, modern and club-ready, fusing deep house textures with live instrumentation and rich layers of harmony.
Byron Stingly
What makes the album stand out is the collaborative spirit running through it. Rising vocalists like Mon’Aerie (shining on the introspective “Unique” and the liberating “Live My Life”), El Boogie & Ric Wilson (injecting hip hop soul into “Hands To The Sky”), and DRAMA (delivering an emotive turn on “My Paradise”) all bring new colours to Ten City’s palette. These features never feel tacked on. Instead, they expand the scope of the project while honouring the group’s roots in community and connection.
Songs like “Man Like Me” and “No Sleep Tonight” show the project’s versatility, one leaning into soulful balladry and the other designed for peak-time dancefloor euphoria. “Feel Good” with OVEOUS and “Release” featuring Uneq’ka carry the spiritual undertones that have always been Ten City’s lifeblood, their lyrics reaching for transcendence while the grooves keep feet firmly moving. The closing track, a cover of “He’s A Friend”, feels like both benediction and homage, a reminder of the gospel lineage embedded in house music since its inception.
At its core, The Next Generation is about continuity, staying true while incorporating the new, as Stingily himself says. It proves that Ten City’s music is not frozen in amber but alive, responsive and ready to inspire fresh audiences. For longtime fans, it is a triumphant return that stands proudly alongside their classics. For newcomers, it is a radiant entry point into one of Chicago’s most important musical legacies.
The Next Generation balances reverence and reinvention with grace. It is soulful, heartfelt, and unashamedly house. A testament to Ten City’s enduring power and proof that the spirit of Chicago still burns bright.
Ten City ‘The Next Generation’ will be released on vinyl September 5th / Digital release on September 19th 2025 on Nervous Records. Get it here.
