Roxy Tones teams up with INSCT to release an epic 19-track deep house album: “Higher On Live”
There’s a certain kind of album that doesn’t just play in the background—it becomes the background. The kind you put on as the sun melts into the horizon, or when the city lights start to blur through a car window at 2am. Higher On Live, the new collaborative project from INSCT and Roxy Tones, lives exactly in that space.
Spanning 19 tracks, this isn’t a quick hit of dopamine, it’s an epic slow-burn, mood-shifting journey through deep house, chill pop, and melodic electronica. It’s patient. It breathes. And more importantly, it understands the art of atmosphere.
From the opening moments of “Blind Love” featuring Scarlett Jackson, the tone is set: warm, emotive, and effortlessly immersive. There’s a softness to the production that feels intentional, like the edges have been rounded off just enough to let the melodies carry you instead of demanding your attention. “Tranquil Waters” follows with a wordless glide, leaning into instrumental storytelling before “Sweat” featuring Robbie Hutton pulls things back into vocal territory with a subtle pulse.
As the album unfolds, it becomes clear that Higher On Live isn’t about standout singles, but rather about continuity. Recurring vocalists like Scarlett Jackson and Robbie Hutton give the record a sense of familiarity, like revisiting the same place under different lighting. Tracks like “Sinking Deeper” and “Feel Your Love” don’t try to outshine, they deepen the emotional thread that runs quietly through the entire project.
The instrumental cuts are my favorite and where INSCT and Roxy Tones really stretch out. “Velvet Hangover,” “Whispers In The Breeze,” and the de facto title track “Higher On Life” drift into almost cinematic territory, balancing groove with introspection. These are the moments where the album feels less like a playlist and more like a world.
By the time Johnny Chicago enters the picture on “Like I Do” and “Cloud 9,” the album has already established its rhythm. It’s hard to deny that Johnny Chicago simply adds another layer to an already textured soundscape. The closing track, “Above and Beyond,” feels appropriately named: a gentle exhale after a long, immersive ride.
Higher On Live doesn’t chase trends or peak moments. Instead, it settles into something more lasting. It’s a collection of sounds designed for living inside, not just listening to. It’s not trying to be loud. It’s trying to be felt. And in that, it quietly succeeds.
