Mixes

Taken by electronic music before he even knew what a turntable was, rocking 5th grade birthday parties with tracks like Orbital’s Halcyon On and On, Community Function brings you Detroit’s one and only Dru Allan. A teacher and a student in his own right, Dru embodies the spirit of dance music like no other, connecting people through his extensive music knowledge and astute track selection. Growing up in Flint, MI where electronic had a nonexistent scene, Dru dove deep to find the music he was so drawn to with the help of his older brother who  introduced him to the world of trance, progressive and electronic music at the turn of the millennium. Community Function is extremely proud to showcase one of our favorite selectors in the city, and excited to also share this Q&A with the man himself! Sit back and enjoy the mix, be sure to follow Dru to hear his latest tunes and see what his next moves might be.

https://soundcloud.com/druallan
https://www.instagram.com/community.function/

Guest Mix 002: Dru Allan

Dru Allan Live at Secret Sunrise Detroit

Behind the Mix

About a year ago, I was at Detroit Threads when I saw this effortlessly cool cat drop off a fresh stack of records. DJ Disc, who was resorting records for the shop, lit up the moment he laid eyes on this particular double LP. Curious, I asked him who that was, and without missing a beat, he told me: “That’s Norm Talley.”

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed a copy of the record—Straight Up No Chaser—and straight up chased Norm down the street just to introduce myself and ask for an autograph on his release with Delano Smith. That moment kicked off something bigger than I expected. I got on his record distro email list, and from there, a whole new chapter of digging began.

This mix is a direct result of that journey. It dives into the deep, minimal, hypnotic, beatdown—whatever-you-want-to-call-it—side of Detroit music. Much of it was discovered by virtually crate-digging through Norm’s emails, then following those trails into record shops, searching for sounds that carried the same emotional weight. And that weight? Grief, blues, perseverance, guilt, grit, hope, fear, the unknown. And coming back to music through the midst of it all. 

It’s funny—I’ve never really put into words the emotions these records evoke in me until now. But as I reflect, I realize they mirror where I’ve been for a minute. Maybe this mix was more personal— more “something for myself”—than I ever acknowledged before. Hope you dig it.

-Dru

Minimal Detroit Vinyl Mix - Dru Allan

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Digging Deep Detroit - Dru Allan - 20 Mar 2025

Co-founder of FOXGLOVE Detroit
FOXGLOVE Record Club
Former Resident Advisor
DJ
Crate Digger

Dru Allan

Pinned to spotlight

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