Linking up with Tyler Blake, one half of electronic outfit Classixx, the Straight is surprised to learn that the group’s unique brand of feel-good nu-disco stems from Paul Simon, T-Pain, and—most bizarrely of all—the Smiths.

“There’s no one direct reference,” Blake says with a laugh. “But they’re all in the mix somewhere.”

Spending their childhoods playing together in various groups, Blake and bandmate Michael David grew up analyzing popular songs from past decades. As they hit their early 20s, however, the duo gravitated toward the world of production.

Teaming up to form Classixx in 2007, Blake and David were quick to realize that their strengths lay in creating quirky, summery beats based on their eclectic influences.

“Our sound was pretty different from the music that was big at that point,” Blake says, on the line from a tour stop in Burlington, Vermont. “Around the time we were breaking out, there were really popular groups like Justice and MSTRKRFT who wrote tracks that were much more aggressive than ours.

“We actually tried pretty hard to copy them, but we discovered that we weren’t good at it. It’s difficult trying to emulate genres that aren’t natural to you. There’s metal that I like, for example, but if I actually tried to write that stuff, it would sound weak as fuck.

“Rather than deliberately marketing ourselves as the answer to electro-bangers, I think we realized that we were just better at making more subtle music.”

Subtlety, as it turned out, was exactly what the big clubs were looking for. Working their way up to remixing tracks for artists like Major Lazer, Groove Armada, and Ladyhawke, Classixx quickly had a number of songs on rotation in mainstream DJ sets.

Not to be restricted to reworking others’ music, however, the group soon capitalized on its success by launching a full-length album in 2013, following up its debut with the acclaimed sophomore LP Faraway Reach in June. Classixx’s masterful blend of disco, funk, house, and indie gives a nod to the group’s multiple inspirations.

“A full-length album allows you that freedom to adopt different styles,” says Blake. “There are totally songs on the new record where if we were only putting out singles, it just wouldn’t make sense.

“Faraway Reach is a very upbeat and funky record for the most part, but the last track is essentially a ballad—and that would be a strange thing to put out as a stand-alone song in a dance-music landscape.

“Our band has always been a slow progression,” the producer continues. “We’ve never had a breakout hit where we became famous overnight. We’re getting better and better, and as we continue to grow, I think we’ll be comfortable with taking on collaborations with more famous artists to develop our songs.

“For now, we’re happy making the sounds that we love to make. There are a lot of genres yet to explore.”

Classixx plays the Imperial on Friday (November 4).