Roland Leesker reworks Inner City’s 1992 House classic ‘Pennies From Heaven’ for Definitive Recordings
Originally released during a pivotal era for House music, ‘Pennies From Heaven’ remains one of the defining moments of Inner City’s catalogue, capturing the melodic, vocal-led style that helped bring Detroit-influenced sounds to a global audience. More than three decades on, it returns in a new form that connects its original spirit with a contemporary club approach.
Roland Leesker’s new remix strikingly reinterprets ‘Pennies From Heaven’ as a direct, club-focused House cut. Built around a steady TR-909-driven groove, the track develops through a layered arrangement that gradually introduces elements of the original. The breakdown brings the main vocal and theme into full focus before returning to a stripped, rolling groove aimed at the dancefloor.
Roland Leesker Comments: “Inner City’s 1992 album ‘Praise’ is one of my all-time favourites, and it’s a true honour to remix ‘Pennies From Heaven’. I’ve always had a strong connection to the record, and it was important to me to pay homage to it while remaining true to the spirit of the original throughout the process.”
Roland Leesker has been active in House music since the early 1990s, with roots in Frankfurt’s club scene and a journey that has since taken him through New York, Berlin, and the international electronic music circuit. Through his work with Definitive Recordings and Get Physical Music, he has remained an influential figure within electronic music culture, building a catalogue that includes tracks such as ‘My Warehouse,’ his remix of Roland Clark’s ‘I Get Deep,’ and his latest album, ‘Searching For Peace’.
Founded by Kevin Saunderson, one of the Belleville Three and a key figure in the history of Detroit Techno, Inner City became one of the most influential acts in electronic music through defining releases including ‘Big Fun’ and ‘Good Life’. With millions of records sold worldwide, their catalogue achieved international chart success and widespread club and radio rotation, cementing Inner City as one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential acts to emerge from Detroit’s opening wave of House and Techno.
The new remix of ‘Pennies From Heaven’ connects the original era of Inner City with a contemporary club approach, designed for modern House sets. Both the vinyl and digital releases also include an acapella tool, providing DJs with the original vocal elements for extended mixing, creative layering, and reinterpretation.
‘Pennies From Heaven (Roland Leesker Remix)’ is available to stream & purchase here from July 24th.