Rock Goes Techno with Nirvana Cover Album for Charity

On October 1 electro collective TECHROW gave us a treat—not a trick—with Come as You Are: Nirvana Reimagined as House & Techno. The album holds 27 tracks created in remembrance of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death 27 years ago: a number spookily significant to him, as the musician tragically joined the 27 club. 

Co-producer of the project Jonathan Hay told GRAMMY.com, "When you dive into it, you can tell the band was so tight. You can feel the core values that he had. The more you dig deeper into Nirvana, you see their messages and beliefs and everything else. I think this will be cool to bring people into that awareness. There's more here than people know about."

To honor the late legend and gay rights advocate, they’ll also be donating a portion of the proceeds to LGBTQIA+ organizations. TECHROW has chosen GLAAD, who’s been a leader in shifting the stigma of HIV and AIDS since 1985, as well as Recording Academy’s MusiCares, which focuses on supporting the mental health of artists to donate to. 

Hay also said, "[Kurt Cobain] was a supporter of LGBTQ+ when it wasn't politically correct to be so. He's about love and positivity, which is what house music is all about. So, it just made sense for us."

Come as Are: Nirvana Reimagined is produced by Jonathan Hay and Cain McKnight but includes credits by names in the electronic music community The Knocks, JPatt, 41X, Sara Cooper, trumpeter Maurice Brown (who has worked with Anderson .Paak), and Chip E. who co-produced Frankie Knuckles’ first album.

You can listen to it for yourself here and appreciate the iconic 90s band’s tracks in a new light, as we honor the life of Kurt Cobain.