Format : Vinyl 12" (Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Feel it much?
A2 Backyard galaxy
B1 Rhythm baby
B2 What you give

Release Info:

Dam Swindle's new 'Backyard Galaxy' EP is an ode to house music and the classic Swindle sound.

It's only been a few months since Dam Swindle released their highly acclaimed album "Open" and already the boys are back on Heist with a new release that takes you right back to the dancefloor. Where they've spent the better part of the last 3 years writing their album with all its sonic explorations and collabs, this new EP sees the duo return to their roots of club-ready house music. The 'Backyard Galaxy' EP comes with 4 high-energy house tracks made in their Amsterdam studio that have been road-tested all summer.

EP opener "Feel it much?" has all the ingredients of a classic Swindle heater, with warm pads, rich organic percussion and tons of soul. There's a simple and effective vocal running throughout the track that blends nicely with the classic house elements and electronic textures that are layered throughout the track. There's an effortless flow to this track and it comes as no surprise that it has been a highlight in their sets this summer.

The EP title track 'Backyard Galaxy' is an up-tempo Latin-themed jam with a hint of old school techno. The synth stabs hit you just right and the modulated vocal chops are a lovely boost for the build ups and add a touch of swing to a track that already has a tight groove. Add to that a huge breakdown and drum roll and you've got yourself a track that'll light up any dancefloor.

On the flip, we're moving into garage territory with the shuffling vibes of 'Rhythm Baby'. The current popularity of the genre is not missed on Dam Swindle, but when you look closely, you'll see this track is full of elements that the duo have built their legacy on. The vocal chops, transposed key samples and swing are all on point and work just as well below, as above 130 bpm if speed is your thing.

The EP closes with the NY-style house cut 'What you give', which reminds us of Dam Swindle's remix of Cinthie's Heist hit 'Won't U take me' with its lush organs and moody keys. It's perhaps the most classic house track they've made in a long time and you can hear they had a great time recording this. It's playful, vibey and catchy. Just the way we like it.

Dam Swindle might have delivered one of the standout cross-over albums of 2025, but on this EP the message is clear: Once a househead, always a househead.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Much love,
Heist HQ


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: 2LP (180 gr., Bio Vinyl, Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1. Home
A2. Not enough feat. Haile Supreme
A3. The present is always perfect
A4. Girl feat. Faye Meana
B1. Run, run, run
B2. Only ever now
B3. Open feat. Samson
C1. I need you
C2. Bloom feat. Joep Beving
C3. Some day feat. Ric Wilson
C4. Kiki feat. LYMA
D1. Is this love?
D2. It's okay, I can wait
D3. Closer

Release Info:
Amsterdam natives Maarten Smeets and Lars Dales, aka Dam Swindle, unveil their third long-player with the release of a new track, the first to be shared from the upcoming album, ‘Open’ - out on 30 May 2025 via Heist Recordings.

The new album sees the acclaimed duo dive far beyond the deep sonic waters they’re most known for, exploring lower tempos, synthwave, hip-house, and ambient across fourteen tracks. With a gestation period that traces back several years, ‘Open’ is their most intimate and personal body of work thus far, birthed during a time of self-reflection away from touring and personal transformation as individuals.

“We felt the need to tell a very personal story through our music as a translation of our personal development in the past years. We also wanted to make music without a specific goal in mind; We simply wanted to create. By taking away the grid of dance music and any expectations of what a Dam Swindle song should sound like, the creativity started to flow naturally with songs in many different styles and tempos. The result is an album that feels refreshing and uplifting and still very much true to the heart and soul of our sound.” - Dam Swindle, January 2025.

While the trademark Dam Swindle four-to-the-floor beats are still ever-present on tracks like ‘The Present Is Always Perfect’, ‘I Need You’, and ‘Is This Love?’, it’s the gentle waves of synths on opener ‘Home’, the contemplative piano chords of ‘Bloom’ featuring Joep Beving, and the lo-fi ambience of ‘It’s Okay, I Can Wait’ that showcase a melancholic, ethereal sensibility previously uncharted by the duo. Collaborations with vocalists such as NYC’s Haile Supreme on ‘Not Enough’ and Neo-soul singer Faye Meana on ‘Girl’ expertly find room in between the dancefloor and home listening sessions, and a clear standout on the LP is the title cut where message-heavy rapped vocals from UK artist Samson ebb and flow amongst iridescent grooves.

Under the helm of Maarten and Lars’ adept A&R, their Heist imprint has become a beloved home for house heads of both schools old and new, platforming some of dance music’s biggest names from Cinthie to DJ Sneak as well as the musical dawnings of artists such as Kassian and Makèz. The Dam Swindle alias has achieved house music royalty-like status across a storied 15-year career that includes two critically lauded full-lengths, collaborations with the likes of Tom Misch and Kerri Chandler, and a globetrotting touring schedule. This album stands as their most profoundly personal work of art to date, and they can’t wait to share it with you.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Track list:
A1. The Last Time
A2. Come Back
B1. The Last Time (K-LONE 2-Step Mix)
B2. Come Back (Chloe´ Robinson & DJ ADHD Remix)

Dutch duo Dam Swindle appear on Aus Music's 200 series and two new house originals come with remixes from K-Lone and Chloe Robinson & DJ ADHD
Dam Swindle have been helping to define the underground house sound for a decade, not least with their Heist label. The pair deal in timeless, fad-free sounds that are rich with dance floor dynamics and hint at a love of everything from disco to tech and plenty in between. They are notorious crate diggers who have played the world's most cultured clubs, their recent track Allright (Just A Tribute) on Phonica’s 20 year celebration has received widespread love by DJ’s this summer on the festival circuit and now they offer up two more of their studio gems for their 3rd full release on Aus.
This EP is the second in a series of four releases from different artists to mark the 200th outing of Will Saul's influential Aus Music. It is an era-defining label that has platformed some of the scene's brightest stars way before they broke out. Since launching in 2006, the label has remained dedicated to releasing club-ready music with a cultured edge from deep and melodic house to the earliest bass- driven post-dubstep fusions.
This EP kicks off with 'The Last Time', a blissed-out deep house sound with impassioned vocal cries tugging at the heartstrings. Mellifluous synth daubs percolate through the mix to a captivating, feel- good effect. Next is 'Come Back,' an infectious house bubbler with gloopy synths and something of a garage shuffle in the kicks. It's fresh and packed with neon colour that brims with soul.
New school house and garage tastemaker and core Aus Music family member K-LONE steps up with a remix hot on the heels of his two-part EP series on the label. His version of 'The Last Time' is typically deft as soft focus chords swirl around prickly garage house beats. The distant vocal, the cavernous bass and the wistful feel all make it another classic.
Last but not least, Chloe´ Robinson & DJ ADHD are frequent collaborators on labels like Fabric Originals as well as Chloe´’s Pretty Weird imprint where they serve up potent, bass-heavy sounds. Their version of 'Come Back' is expertly stripped back. It teases and pleases with a blend of filthy low- end oscillations, slinky drums and tooting chord hooks that are effortlessly fun and effective.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Touch Me Again
A2 Hang On
B1 The Joy of Melancholy
B2 Forever and Ever

Release Info:

Dam Swindle return to Heist in excellent form with a 4-track EP in their signature style.

The iconic Amsterdam duo returned to the studio after their much-lauded ‘Minor Fools’ EP, where the lead track ‘That’s Right’ became one of the most heartwarming tracks 2023. Their recent contribution to the Phonica 20-year compilation -‘Allright (just a tribute)’- is turning into one of the biggest hits of this year with big plays on pretty much every festival around, whether it’s Glastonbury or Dekmantel. The guys are known for their ability to bend different styles into something very much their own and their newest addition to the Heist catalog is no different. The ‘Touch Me Again’ EP sees them go from sample-heavy house to classic 90’s piano-driven tracks with a touch of acid and it’s one you don’t want to miss.

The record starts with ‘Touch Me Again’, a house jam with chopped vocals, energetic synth stabs and a big breakdown. Add to that a touch of acid and you’ve got a follow-up to their Phonica hit of 2023.

‘Hang On’ takes you back into classic Swindle territory, with their signature sampling style and knack for finding those lush vocals. The synth chops and bassline give the track its upbeat energy and the distant filtered pads move in an ever so subtle way, that there’s always something new happening while keeping the attention on that catchy main hook.

On the flip, we see the guys take things a bit deeper with emotive vocals and introverted keys layered over a steady groove on their track ‘The Joy of Melancholy’. Fast-forward to the drop and all that energy comes free with a huge piano break, which propels the track into a blissful ‘hands-in-the-air’ dancefloor moment.

The EP closes with ‘Forever and Ever’, a gospel-inspired Deep house tune full of organ hits and off-kilter sample chops. This 4-track EP gives you jam upon jam upon jam and sees Dam Swindle solidify their position as the go-to artist in the house scene and keeps them at the forefront of electronic music.

Grab this record while you can and share the love,

Heist Recordings.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Dam Swindle - You
A2 - Dam Swindle - More love
B1 - Dam Swindle - The wrap around (2022 mix)
B2 - Dam Swindle - 64 Ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne (Nightmares On Wax remix)
B3 - Dam Swindle - The wrap around (DJ Bone’s doc ciroc remix)

Release Info:

We’ve come to the third and final installment of Dam Swindle’s ‘Keep on Swindling’ series and are proud to see them finishing off their 10-year anniversary with a bang. This final ep holds 2 new originals, remixes by Nightmares on Wax and DJ Bone and the long-awaited re-release of their seminal track from 2013: ‘The Wrap Around’.

‘Keep on Swindling part 3’ kicks off with ‘You’; a fast-paced slice of electronic funk that sees the boys dive into heady club territory. With this track, they show a new direction in their sound that combines their vintage sampled-based soulfulness with modern percussive and melodic elements. Whether it’s the moody arpeggio, the techno-ish stabs or the bell-driven percussion in ‘You’; it’s all coming together in a way that is both heartwarming and rush-inducing.

The A side also holds ‘More Love’; a track that takes you back to what has been the center of the Dam Swindle sound in the past 10 years. Conga loops, vocal chops, synth stabs and a simple string to keep the tension; it’s all in there. Add to that a simple funk bass loop and you’ve got yourself a modern-day Swindle classic.

On the flip, you’ll find a special song from the Dam Swindle catalog: ‘The wrap around’. When released on Huxley’s now defunct ‘Saints & Sonnets’ label back in 2013, the release made its way into many record bags and sold out quickly, never to be repressed again. Discogs prices went through the roof, while the title track became one of the biggest tracks for Dam Swindle in their early years. Now, it will be available on vinyl and digital again through Heist. It's had a few touch-ups in arrangement and mixing for the 2022 mix, but the boys worked hard to maintain the rough edges that made the original loved by so many fans.

The B2 is a collaboration with none other than Nightmares on Wax, who delivers a brilliantly creative version of ‘64 ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne’. N.O.W. completely flips the original, opting to use the spoken word intro in a mangled and chopped way on top of a nasty groove and soaring bassline. The main vocal comes in during the second part of the song and adds to the buildup with new Rhodes chords, cowbells, and electronic chops. It was already special when we got together and agreed on the remix, but the result really blew our mind and cemented the position of N.O.W. as a legendary producer even more.

The EP closes off with another special track: DJ Bone’s Doc Ciroc remix of ‘The Wrap Around’. DJ Bone has been living in the Netherlands for a long time already and it was only a matter of time before the legendary Detroit producer and DJ would meet Dam Swindle. It was on one if his ‘Further’ events that we laid the foundation for this collab and it’s an honor to have DJ Bone add his raw soulful techno style to the Swindle’s original track. DJ Bone goes for pacey percussion with a classic Detroit Techno feel. His version is minimalistic and raw, chopping up the vocal and using the original Prophet pad as a base layer of warmth. The track gets even beefier when the bassline comes in: A dirty modded 101 lick with so much electronic funk that makes it impossible not that dance.

On ‘Keep on Swindling part 3’, Dam Swindle showcase a more electronic side of their sound and sees them connect with likeminded artists who have delivered amazing interpretations of some of the most loved DS tracks of the past years. With that, we’ve come to a banging conclusion to 10 years of Dam Swindle. There’s only thing that keeps us up right now: What will their next step be…?

Yours Sincerely,
Heist Recordings.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

2022 Repress

180g VINYL.Release: 24.06.2013 - UPC: 827170508361- Tracklist: A1. The break up B1. The make up
Vital sales points:
- First EP of the label by the label-bosses themselves; Dam Swindle
- Releases on Freerange, Dirt Crew, Saints & Sonnets and more
- Just back from their first US tour in May 2013
- Pressing on 180 grs black vinyl
Info: It's not often that silly, boyish dreams come true. But, if you take a closer look at our past 12 months, dreams seem to come true every other day. We've had a great year with releases on such great labels and had the opportunity to play our music all over the world and we've enjoyed every minute of this musical rollercoaster. And today, we've got another dream that's turning into reality: We're starting our own label. This is Heist Recordings, and you're looking at our very first release. We're extremely proud to share this two track EP of our own music with you and we hope you'll like it as much as we do. The break up is a track that checks all the boxes of the signature DS sound. An infectious set of airy chords, a bumpy bass-line and a lush female vocal give the track that feeling that bridges everything we love about the house from back in the days with the things that get everyone excited today. The make up is a deeper track, but still a genuine house tune, with some repetitive almost hypnotic vocals and stabs and of course, a pumping groove. You'll lose track of everything halfway through the break, but as soon as the beat kicks in, you know its business time. This is just the first step. Enjoy it, and be sure to keep an eye out for more of Heist in the near future.
Sincerely yours, Dam Swindle



Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Dam Swindle - Good woman
A2 - Gaoulé Mizik - A ka titine (Dam Swindle remix)
B1 - Dam Swindle - High Life feat. Lorenz Rhode (Ash Lauryn remix)
B2 - Dam Swindle - Yes, no, maybe feat. Tom Misch & Lorenz Rhode (Arp Frique remix)
B3 - Dam Swindle - Call of the wild feat. Jungle by night

Release Info:

After the chart-topping Keep on Swindling part 1, that included summer anthem ‘All I want’ and the live jazz rework of ‘The break up’ by Emma-Jean Thackray, Dam Swindle are now back with part 2 of their 10-year anniversary series. If you thought the first edition had the goods, you’re in for a treat with this one. Keep on Swindling part 2 includes a new afro-tinged DS original, alongside a never-released remix of an obscure Guadeloupean record and remixes by rising star of the Detroit music scene Ash Lauryn and Rush Hour favorite Arp Frique. To top things off, the boys release their afro-brass dancefloor burner ‘Call of the Wild’ feat. Jungle by Night for the first time on a single.

The EP kicks off with a new original production by DS: ‘Good woman.’ This track has Dam Swindle on their best dancefloor behavior: Powerful live drums with an electronic edge and a big smudge of soul through smart sampling. The track has the feel of a soulful drum workout, taking its warmth from the lovely organ hits played by the talented Tim Jules and lush vocals. It also has plenty of low end with its offbeat sub and heavy kick, which give this track all the beef it needs to make any dancefloor -big or small- move in ecstasy.

The next track is somewhat of a special project. Tipped in 2019 by close friend Vincent ‘Venz’ Reinders who now runs one of Amsterdam’s finest venues Radioradio, Lars and Maarten started working on a rework of the song ‘ A ka titine’ by Guadeloupean band ‘Gaoulé Mizik’. The original release was only distributed from private press in small amounts, and therefore did not reach that many people. Versions of this record are rare on Discogs and unfortunately change hands for large sums of money, which keeps the music in obscurity.

The Dam Swindle rework was first put out as a free download, but was taken offline quite soon after, when we started our path to locate the original rightsholders and get their approval. Fast forward 3 years and we’re here with an official remix of this amazing piece of music where the guys add an electronic twist to the original to bring that classic Gwo Ka music towards today’s clubs.

On the flip, we’ve got the amazing Ash Lauryn remixing the title track of Dam Swindle’s 2018 album: ‘High life’ co-written by Lorenz Rhode. Ash Lauryn has been moving from strength to strength and is proudly representing the city of Detroit and all its musical heritage with her DJ sets, productions, and the content she makes. We recently got the opportunity to meet in person and this woman is about as real as it gets. Her aura simply vibrates when she plays, and she oozes class behind the decks. This remix – co-produced with Stefan Ringer- takes a deep and grooving approach to the original, with new heady percussion to add that original Detroit flavor.

The next track is a remix by of our favorite and colorful Dutch artists: Arp Frique. Arp Frique is known for his multicultural take on music, combining Caribbean and Cabo Verdean styles with classic disco and funk. He decided to write a whole new song around the vocals of the Swindle, Rhode & Tom Misch hit ‘Yes, no, maybe.’ He takes a loose-limbed, tropical disco direction where the live, analog recording lays a perfect foundation for this breezy track. The vinyl release contains the vocal mix, while we also have the instrumental available for download.

The Ep closes with a Dam Swindle original for the 2018 album High Life that really needs no introduction: ‘Call of the wild feat. Jungle by Night.’ It’s a track that seems to keep the dancers happy wherever we play it and hasn’t lost any of its appeal in the past four years. Originally only released in album format, this track now makes its way on a single 12” to round off an exciting new release by the Swindles. Enjoy the music, play it loud and remember…

Keep on Swindling!

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Body control
A2 The break up (Emma-Jean Thackray remix)
B1 64 Ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne (2022 mix)
B2 All I want

Release Info:

Dam Swindle are back on Heist and coming in hot with a series of 3 releases in 2022 to celebrate a decade of Dam Swindle. The aptly titled ‘Keep on Swindling’ EP’s form a collection of classic DS tracks that have been re-engineered and remixed as well as new material from the Dutch duo. The first EP features two new originals, a stellar rework of ‘The Break Up’ by rising UK jazz star Emma-Jean Thackray and a 2022 mix of their 2014 hit: ‘64 Ways’ featuring Mayer Hawthorne.

The EP kicks off with ‘Body Control’: A fresh DS production that has all the elements in there to become their next club hit. A tight garage groove smothered in congas forms the basis for this track along with its deep repetitive bassline. It’s the musical elements that make this track really stand out though. There’s swinging offbeat synth hits, sample chops, lush pads and vibrant arpeggios building momentum for dancers to lose their sh*t (or their body control) to, every time this track is played.

‘The Break Up’ - originally part of the first release on Heist back in 2013 - has only been remixed once in that same year by Max Graef. The track now gets a full makeover courtesy of the amazingly talented Emma-Jean Thackray, who has been playing the original in her sets for since day one. Her version is loaded with newly recorded parts – vocals and horns included - and gives the original an amazing live jazz twist. This remix gave us some serious goosebumps when we first heard it. It’s in one word: essential!

On the flip, the duo offers a 2022 mix of their track ’64 Ways’ featuring Mayer Hawthorne. ‘64 Ways’ was originally released as part of their album Boxed Out in 2014 and was their first venture into vocal collaborations. None other than Mayer Hawthorne -a serious house-head himself- came over to Amsterdam to record the track and it was an instant hit. Now, with some new engineering done, the guys have dusted off their old project to great effect. The 2022 mix makes this track sound warm, powerful and well rounded, giving new life to this DS classic.

The final track of the EP is ‘All I want’; the second production on this record that sees Dam Swindle deliver a track that has ‘summer festival’ written all over it; synth stabs, diva vocals, acid lines and a huge breakdown included.

The ‘Keep on Swindling’ EP part 1 is the first outing of Dam Swindle in their anniversary year. A year that will be filled with curated events, headline shows, fan specials and most importantly, a lot of new music. As always, enjoy the music and we hope to see you on the dancefloor.

Keep on Swindling!

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list :
A1 Dam Swindle feat. Jitwam - Coffee in the morning
A2 Dam Swindle feat. Jitwam - Move out the way
B1 Dam Swindle feat. Jitwam - Coffee in the morning (Prins Thomas diskomiks)
B2 Dam Swindle feat. Jitwam - Coffee in the morning (dub mix)

Release Info:
Detroit Swindle follow up last year’s soulful highlight ‘The life behind things’ with some impeccable disco-funk on steroids: the Coffee in the
Morning EP featuring Jitwam. The ep features 2 originals, a dub mix and a stunning extended remix by Norwegian disco don Prins Thomas.
For Coffee in the morning, Detroit Swindle team up with India-via-London-to-NYC vocalist Jitwam, whose recent album Honeycomb on Tartelet
and his live collaboration with Kamaal Williams have shown the world just how talented he really is.
Coffee in the morning is more than anything a funk fueled disco bomb. The energy is set by a rolling bassline with a live touch (thanks to Xander
Vrienten) and percussion courtesy of their go-to-percussion-guy: Mauskovic Dance Band member Chris Bruining. The track bursts into action once
Jitwam’s vocals come in. His purple colored vocals push through with a full-on slapback delay, which adds nicely to the vintage vibe of the track.
The lyrics are fun in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way and deal with life’s more pressing matters like all the things you can have alongside your
coffee. You could argue that this track is not really about coffee, but something far more perverse, but that’s up to you decide. Back on topic: The
track takes a sharp jazzy turn once the saxophone is introduced (played by UK bred, Amsterdam based jazz dude Finn Peters), which moves
nicely between catchy riffs and completely berserk jazz-isms. Its the full on original that works best for us, but if you’re not really into coffee –or
vocals for that matter- there’s a more straightforward dub mix as well that steers away from all the breakfast related insinuations.
The a-side also holds the second collaboration, which moves into NY garage territory. Shuffling 909 percussion, live shakers and snares set the
vibe along with Jitwam’s vocals directing you to ‘Move out the way!’. The track is bumping, the bassline is thumping and the crowd could very well
be … (yes, it rhymes). The energy pitches up a notch once the synth hits come in and it flows up and down nicely into a section where strings,
Rhodes and cowbells take over into the breakdown. That’s where you get a moment to catch your breath, just before the full track comes back into
action again. If it weren’t for Corona, we’d see this funky house tune played at beach parties, rooftops, intimate clubs and house-head-gatherings
across the world for sure.
On the B-side, its Prins Thomas who takes you on a 10 minute long Scandi-disco trip with live drums and Thomas himself funkin’ on the bass. He
makes perfect use of the dreamy elements of Coffee in the morning, making his version an intimate and provocative dubby disco burner. If the
energy of the original is too much, this version might just be perfect for you.
This is a special piece of music for us that we’ve worked on for a long time and we’re really happy to finally share it with you. Let’s hope we all get
a chance to play the music out loud to more people than just your neighbors and your cat.
Yours Sincerely,
Lars & Maarten

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list :
A1 Dam Swindle – The life behind things
A2 Dam Swindle – Music for Clubs (Feat. Lorenz Rhode)
B Dam Swindle – The life behind things (Isoul8 remix)

Release Info:

After releasing the ‘High Life' remixes just before summer and their more electronic EP on Aus Music, it’s time to get label heads Dam Swindle back on Heist. They come in with full force, delivering a set of Swindle styled house tracks, accompanied by a jazzy remix by Volcov in his Isoul8 moniker with guest appearances by Kaidi Tatham on keys and Nigel Bennett on vocals.

The EP kicks off with ‘The life behind things’; a life affirming soulful house tune that’s cleverly built around a set of switching organ stabs. The energy in this track keeps on building with the filter slowly opening up while live percussion oozes its way through the track (courtesy of Mauskovic Dance Band member Chris Bruining). After a well working surprise acid break, the track breaks down into a jazzy organ solo by Byron the Aquarius, building up momentum till the full track comes back in for a ecstatic delivery of feel-good dancefloor emotions.

The second original of this ep is Detroit Swindle’s view on what a party-starting piano house track should sound like with ‘Music for clubs’. This track is all about rolling drums, lush piano stabs and possibly the funkiest baseline in four-to-the-floor house music. The latter two are made possible by the quick finger work of their live show collaborator and close friend Lorenz Rhode.

The full B side goes to Volcov’s remix of “The life behind things”. He takes his inspiration from the energy of the original and chooses to set a steady groove where the lush key work of Kaidi Tatham shines both on the chords and a muscle-flexing organ solo. The vocal sample from the original is accompanied by some great ad-libs by Nigel Bennett. With these elements working together in perfect harmony, you can practically feel the good vibes these 3 friends had when recording the remix.

It’s been on our to-do list for a while to record a full-on house record, and we hope this one does the trick for you as much as it does for us.

If you’d happen to be around town during ADE this year, you can get this record a week ahead of its worldwide release exclusively at our Pop up shop on Elandsgracht 55. Apart from the record, we’ll have a limited edition collaboration collection available with Amsterdam-based streetwear brand Baskèts, loads of DJ’s playing sets and you could also just come by for a drink or two.


Yours Sincerely, Maarten & Lars.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12" (Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Feel it much?
A2 Backyard galaxy
B1 Rhythm baby
B2 What you give

Release Info:

Dam Swindle's new 'Backyard Galaxy' EP is an ode to house music and the classic Swindle sound.

It's only been a few months since Dam Swindle released their highly acclaimed album "Open" and already the boys are back on Heist with a new release that takes you right back to the dancefloor. Where they've spent the better part of the last 3 years writing their album with all its sonic explorations and collabs, this new EP sees the duo return to their roots of club-ready house music. The 'Backyard Galaxy' EP comes with 4 high-energy house tracks made in their Amsterdam studio that have been road-tested all summer.

EP opener "Feel it much?" has all the ingredients of a classic Swindle heater, with warm pads, rich organic percussion and tons of soul. There's a simple and effective vocal running throughout the track that blends nicely with the classic house elements and electronic textures that are layered throughout the track. There's an effortless flow to this track and it comes as no surprise that it has been a highlight in their sets this summer.

The EP title track 'Backyard Galaxy' is an up-tempo Latin-themed jam with a hint of old school techno. The synth stabs hit you just right and the modulated vocal chops are a lovely boost for the build ups and add a touch of swing to a track that already has a tight groove. Add to that a huge breakdown and drum roll and you've got yourself a track that'll light up any dancefloor.

On the flip, we're moving into garage territory with the shuffling vibes of 'Rhythm Baby'. The current popularity of the genre is not missed on Dam Swindle, but when you look closely, you'll see this track is full of elements that the duo have built their legacy on. The vocal chops, transposed key samples and swing are all on point and work just as well below, as above 130 bpm if speed is your thing.

The EP closes with the NY-style house cut 'What you give', which reminds us of Dam Swindle's remix of Cinthie's Heist hit 'Won't U take me' with its lush organs and moody keys. It's perhaps the most classic house track they've made in a long time and you can hear they had a great time recording this. It's playful, vibey and catchy. Just the way we like it.

Dam Swindle might have delivered one of the standout cross-over albums of 2025, but on this EP the message is clear: Once a househead, always a househead.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Much love,
Heist HQ


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Yes I am
A2 Move over Feat. ELY
A3 Time selection
B1 One thing
B2 Everything from the Organ

Release Info:

D Stone debuts on Heist Recordings with a record that shows us why he's one of the hottest talents in house music right now

Chloe Caillet is in on it. Cinthie is in on it. SG lewis and Demi Riquísimo are in on it too. So are Folamour, Barry Can't Swim and, of course, Dam Swindle. In on what exactly?

In on the fact that D Stone might be the most exciting young producer and DJ you will find in the house scene right now. Oh, and he's also a great guy who says Heist was his dream label to release on. When we found out we were fans of on each other, it was only logical that we signed his 'Time Selection' EP; A 5-track record that shows us how cool and catchy underground house music can be if it's done well.

D Stone, born Daan Steenhuizen has had a meteoric rise in the scene in the past years and has only just finished his study at the Conservatory, where Lars was one of his mentors. His vinyl debut was on Cecille in 2023 with that absolute anthem 'Total unison'. He then released on Cinthie's 803 Crystal Grooves in 2024 and has a busy 2025 with releases on Chloe Caillet's label Smiile, Semi Delicious, a release planned for Barry Can't Swim's fresh label 'Earth's only paradise' and now, Heist. He's been touring relentlessly in between, already playing legendary places like Ibiza's Pikes, Amsterdam's Shelter and with big shows planned at Warehouse project and in Australia, you can just feel all the right things happening for him.

The 'Time Selection' EP kicks off with 'Yes I Am', an upbeat house track with plenty of hints of the old school, playful vocal chops and above all, some lovely piano work. It's stripped back, but full of energy, with driving 909 percussion, retro flutes and a rolling bass line. It's as much a pallet cleanser in a set as it is a teasing mid-set highlight.

'Move Over' features the vocals of ELY and sees D Stone dive deeper into vintage house territory, with a classic bassline and percussion that stays true to the core of the classic drum machines, hinting as much towards the electro-pop sound of New Order and the futurism of early Mr. Fingers releases. The vocal is daring and cute at the same time, and does a great job tapping into the nostalgia of the pop-house cross-over songs of the early 90s.

'Time Selection' is arguably the heaviest cut of the record, much in style of his breakthrough track 'Total Unison'. This track is built around a strong piano theme, supported by driving 909 drums, strings and cleverly placed disco bleeps to keep the track accessible and uplifting. Add to that a big breakdown, and you'll understand why we've been reaching for this track peak set for the past months.

On the flip, we've got 'One Thing', a subtle and introverted track built around a bumpy disco bassline with a hook that's silly on first listen but will end up being the one thing you'll keep humming for the rest of the day. In short, it's a banger in disguise.

The last track of the EP is 'Everything from the Organ', a track where D Stone is not afraid to show his love for throwback ravey elements. There's organ licks, horns and chopped vocals that propel you straight to the front-left of whichever dancefloor D Stone is reigning at that moment.

Don't sleep on the Heist debut of one of Amsterdam's biggest talents, cause this one will go like hot cakes! As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Yours, Maarten & Lars


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Ain’t no stoppin’
A2 New spirit
B1 No minions allowed
B2 Whatchu want is all I got
B3 New spirit (juzz beatz)

Release Info:

House music doesn’t get much funkier than Demuir’s ‘New spirit’ EP. Whether it’s the classic sampling on the title track – an homage to his mother-, or the rolling funk bass and vocal chops on ‘Ain’t no stoppin’ ‘, Demuir brings an unstoppable groove with his 2nd release on Heist.

The man behind so many great house records has kept himself rather busy with building his own fanbase, openly debating the role that big platforms play and the firm grip they have on talent. Rather than conforming to the standard route, Demuir chooses to navigate the winding road of building his own following through his production classes, engineering and music releases through artist-first channels like Patreon.

His recent move from Toronto to Chicago feels perfectly in line with the sound Demuir is bringing forward on his first record on Heist since his 2019 classic ‘Werq, feel, gruv, vogue’. Those 6 years were well worth the wait: The ‘New spirit’ EP is a perfectly-balanced mix of creativity, confidence and character. The Demuir sound is instantly audible throughout the release and he’s not afraid to make bold choices. Each track has its own identity, its own place on the record and it’s one of the things that make this record stand out in the best way possible. The forward-leaning grooves, the tight mixing and the classic use of soulful samples are a treat to listen and dance to. There’s hints of the 90s New York sound (New Spirit), soulful disco-tinged grooves his new home-town is known for (Ain’t no stoppin’), lean-back and summery melodic grooves (No minions allowed) and deep, bassheavy dubby grooves (Whatchu want is all I got) to remind everyone that Demuir is an absolute master of modern day house music.

We’ve been playing all these songs for a while and we’re happy to finally share these with you.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: 2LP (180 gr., Bio Vinyl, Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1. Home
A2. Not enough feat. Haile Supreme
A3. The present is always perfect
A4. Girl feat. Faye Meana
B1. Run, run, run
B2. Only ever now
B3. Open feat. Samson
C1. I need you
C2. Bloom feat. Joep Beving
C3. Some day feat. Ric Wilson
C4. Kiki feat. LYMA
D1. Is this love?
D2. It's okay, I can wait
D3. Closer

Release Info:
Amsterdam natives Maarten Smeets and Lars Dales, aka Dam Swindle, unveil their third long-player with the release of a new track, the first to be shared from the upcoming album, ‘Open’ - out on 30 May 2025 via Heist Recordings.

The new album sees the acclaimed duo dive far beyond the deep sonic waters they’re most known for, exploring lower tempos, synthwave, hip-house, and ambient across fourteen tracks. With a gestation period that traces back several years, ‘Open’ is their most intimate and personal body of work thus far, birthed during a time of self-reflection away from touring and personal transformation as individuals.

“We felt the need to tell a very personal story through our music as a translation of our personal development in the past years. We also wanted to make music without a specific goal in mind; We simply wanted to create. By taking away the grid of dance music and any expectations of what a Dam Swindle song should sound like, the creativity started to flow naturally with songs in many different styles and tempos. The result is an album that feels refreshing and uplifting and still very much true to the heart and soul of our sound.” - Dam Swindle, January 2025.

While the trademark Dam Swindle four-to-the-floor beats are still ever-present on tracks like ‘The Present Is Always Perfect’, ‘I Need You’, and ‘Is This Love?’, it’s the gentle waves of synths on opener ‘Home’, the contemplative piano chords of ‘Bloom’ featuring Joep Beving, and the lo-fi ambience of ‘It’s Okay, I Can Wait’ that showcase a melancholic, ethereal sensibility previously uncharted by the duo. Collaborations with vocalists such as NYC’s Haile Supreme on ‘Not Enough’ and Neo-soul singer Faye Meana on ‘Girl’ expertly find room in between the dancefloor and home listening sessions, and a clear standout on the LP is the title cut where message-heavy rapped vocals from UK artist Samson ebb and flow amongst iridescent grooves.

Under the helm of Maarten and Lars’ adept A&R, their Heist imprint has become a beloved home for house heads of both schools old and new, platforming some of dance music’s biggest names from Cinthie to DJ Sneak as well as the musical dawnings of artists such as Kassian and Makèz. The Dam Swindle alias has achieved house music royalty-like status across a storied 15-year career that includes two critically lauded full-lengths, collaborations with the likes of Tom Misch and Kerri Chandler, and a globetrotting touring schedule. This album stands as their most profoundly personal work of art to date, and they can’t wait to share it with you.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Deep inside love
A2 Higher
B1 Get up
B2 Higher (Demi Riquísimo remix)

Release Info:

Europe's first lady of House is back on Heist with a massive new EP and a Demi Riquísimo remix.

Cinthie’s 2023 Piano Heaven EP on Heist was a big release for both her and the label, getting tons of airplay and support from the likes of Pete Tong, Danny Howard, Chloe Caillet and Blessed Madonna. The Dam Swindle remix of ‘Won’t u take me’ that followed on that year’s Round Up is still among her top tracks on any platform. Cinthie now returns to Heist with an EP full of dancefloor weapons that range from classic grooving house to quirky rave.

With her frequent plays at renowned clubs all over the world, as well as spots in her Berlin back yard like Panorama bar, Cinthie has the ideal testing grounds for new peak-time material. And that’s exactly what the A1 ‘Deep inside love’ is: an epic peaktime weapon. With a stomping beat and signature uplifting keys, she serves up themes of classic 80s and 90s house music with a modern aesthetic. With that, Deep inside love has all the ingredients to become an instant Heist classic.

The A2 shows us Cinthie’s rave side, where we see her inspiration from the current dancefloor high octane energy. Or maybe it’s just her early rave days that are finally back in the limelight after her well received ‘Rave Baby’ release on Aus Music. Either way, ‘Higher’ is a fun tune with an infectious beat, classic rave stabs and a female vocal telling us to take her higher. We’re sure that this won’t be a problem, cause this track is built for those clubby highs.

‘Get up’ is a lovely organ-led track with long ethereal strings and dubby vocal chops. The breakdown deepens the mood with some heavy chords tuned in true house style before a free-flowing drum roll (crashes and claps included) catapult you into back into the full groove.

We asked close friend Demi Riquísimo, a man not unfamiliar with dancefloor wizardry himself as head honcho of Semi Delicious records, for a remix on ‘Higher’. His version is exactly what you’d expect from a class producer like him: it’s a breezy, effortless, mildly throwbacky and most definitely fun remix to conclude an EP that navigates through all kinds of moods with one clear goal in mind: Make people dance.

Enjoy the music and as always, play it loud!

Lars & Maarten

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Moments Ahead
A2 Get It Together
B1 Brighter Life
B2 Futures

Release Info:
Tesfa Williams celebrates his personal ancestry and the diversity of black electronic music with a name change on his Heist Recordings debut.

First things first. T. Williams is now Tesfa Williams. And although the dot is gone after the T, by taking that away, the artist openend up a whole world of meaning, personal storytelling and recognition of his roots.

“Originally when I started "T.Williams" it felt like my African first name Tesfa wouldn't be welcomed in the scene. Something I've experienced in general from school, college, work etc….. I grew up in a Rastafarian family with Carribean heritage and my parents decided to give me and my siblings African names to connect us to our African ancestry. I now feel like I’m ready to embrace this part of me as an artist and share it with the world.”

Tesfa Williams is an artist with a long history in UK club music. Long before his critically acclaimed debut album in 2024 ‘Raves of future past’, he was knee-deep in the UK grime scene and throughout the years, he has built a strong reputation in UK funky, soulful house and Garage with remixes of Latch for Disclosure and Sam Smith (yes, that track), bumping originals on Strictly Rhythm, Local Action with Julio Bashmore, and much more. On his debut for Heist, we see the artist dig deep into his black roots and deliver an EP that celebrates his eclectic sound with 4 originals full of high notes.

The ’Beyond today’ EP kicks off with ‘Moments Ahead’, a classic filter-house jam with lovely soulful chops and the perfect amount of grit. It’s the type of funky, peak-time house track that will ignite any dancefloor with its irresistible groove. ‘Get it together’ sees the artists layer some classic R&B vocals over an infectious warehouse groove. It’s the kind of track that’ll grab anyone’s attention on a first listen. The breakbeat loop in the background gives the percussion its dry immediacy and the sparse melodic hits and irresistible vocal chops turn this track into an absolute dancefloor monster.

On the flip, the London producer merges his love for soulful house with contemporary electronics on ‘Brighter life’. There’s something deliciously breezy about this song, where the vocals, chord hits, sweeps, and hits deliver a groove that’s laidback and powerful at the same time. The electronic parts of this track are cleverly laid out to contrast the syrupy sweet vocal and underline the class of the artist’s ability to effortlessly blend genres.

The EP closes with ‘Futures’, a bottom-heavy late-night burner much in the style of Dam Swindle’s 2023 Heist outing ‘Soul’s lament’ or the percussive goodness of Alma Negra tracks such as ‘Conversation’. There’s a nice blend of trippy electronics and driving Rhodes hits, which makes this a track perfect for those moments you simply want to go deep, heads-down, and feel the music.

With ‘Beyond Today’, Tesfa Williams has written a piece of music that pays homage to so many of the genres that have influenced him as well as to his black roots. ‘Beyond Today’ is a contemporary club record that oozes positive energy just the way we like it and we can’t wait to play this one out to all of you.

Enjoy the music and get ready to dance!

Lars & Maarten


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A In the Sky
B1 Burnin’
B2 Dark

Release Info:

Crackazat seamlessly blends contemporary electronica with dancefloor euphoria on his new record “In the sky”

Crackazat has had quite the run of amazing releases on Heist since his first outing back in 2021. Alfa, 2022 follow up Demucha and his mini album ‘Senses’ released last year have shown that Heist is the perfect label for him to show off his keyboard wizardry and broad musical influences. Whether he’s doing his ‘Monday Jams’ from his home for his dedicated Bandcamp followers, or he’s on the road to South Africa where he has a huge following, Crackazat always brings something special with his music. ‘In the sky’ hits you right in the feels and sees the talented musician navigate from synth-happy dancefloor cuts to electronic & jazzy deep house.

What might stand out most on his new record is how Crackazat feels totally at ease with all these different styles and how he blends his voice seamlessly in the tracks to add depth, meaning, and energy. This might be most apparent on the title track, which is built around a syncopated ‘Alfa-esque’ key loop (Crackazat fans will know what we’re talking about here). There’s gorgeous vocal chops and warm arpeggiated synths in the background that give the track lots of texture, while the percussion shuffles along in perfect swing with the song’s energy. Add some lovely strings, leads, and a moody breakdown, and you’ve got yourself a fine piece of dancefloor magic.

On “Burnin’”, Crackazat channels his inner raver with 90s inspired percussion, a honky
piano loop, and some very catchy & quirky vocal chops. He freely sprinkles claps and snares around like it’s Christmas and the big breakdown has the kind of madness-inducing energy that gets every clubber going!

EP closer ‘Dark’ is Crackazat in his most contemplative mode; a vibe he always loves to explore on his Heist outings. The bass is deep, the kick heavy, and the synth licks are mellow but powerful. His voice and effects give this track a beautiful extra dimension that would even make Fred Again jealous. The stripped-back percussion has clear influences from contemporary African dance music, which adds yet another layer to Crackazat’s broad sonic landscape. All in all, Dark is a track that makes you want to close your eyes and just sway into oblivion.

Crackazat once again manages to take us on a deep trip into his sonic world and showcases a level of craftsmanship that most of us can only dream of. ‘In the sky’ is a lovely end to our 2024 releases and we hope you enjoy the music.

As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!

Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 I Can Tell You What You Want
A2 A Taste of the 90s
B1 Dirty Jazz
B2 You Know What I Mean?

Release Info:

DJ Sneak returns to his roots on his Synesthesia EP on Heist Recordings.

Last year, when DJ Sneak visited our studio during ADE, we spoke for a long time about his newly found joy in house music, producing music in the current landscape, and letting go of all the things that made him uneasy with the scene for a long time. At one point, he grabbed a bunch of his hard drives, fired up our Dave Smith & Pioneer Toraiz sampler (the one we used for our live shows and the workstation he swears by for producing and arranging all his music), and showed us what must be one of the most impressive collections of demos we’ve ever seen. He talked us through his ideas for a new record on Heist with the enthusiasm of a producer who had just bought his first MPC60 back in the 80s. His ‘Back to love’ EP was still due to release and we already knew the follow-up would be equally amazing.

Fast forward about a year and after amazing feedback on his Heist debut from platforms like XLR8R, DJ Mag, Faith fanzine and plenty of radio coverage, along with DJ support from the likes of Joy Anonymous, Louie Vega, Jamie Jones, Honey Dijon, TSHA, Dj Seinfeld, Jennifer Cardini, Carista, he drops a new record on Heist recordings; The Synesthesia EP is another showcase of the raw talent of DJ Sneak, skillfully working his gear and churning out massive tunes full of classic Chicago house references, 90’s euphoria, and chunky synths.

The EP kicks off with ‘I can tell what you want’, a deep and bubbly groover where DJ Sneak takes some naughty chopped up R’n’B vocals and adds a pinch of the ghetto sound that he adopted in his formative years in Chicago. Sneak manages to take that influence and deliver something altogether contemporary with this track, ticking all the right boxes of catchy vocals, moody chords, a nasty bassline, and clever sampling.

If the first track embodies his Chicago spirit, then ‘A taste of the 90s’ embodies DJ Sneak’s New York spirit. With funky guitar and key licks, loopy horns, shuffling percussion and plenty of changeovers in the arrangement, he masterfully shows us the joy of classic house music. There’s always another element that gets added or taken away to build anticipation or release the energy with its chunky low end. It’s a true party starter with the energy of a young DJ Sneak spinning his first records way back when.

On the flip, we’ve got ‘Dirty jazz’. This delicious piece of Deep House is built around off-kilter drums with a syncopated bass line and quirky sample cuts. It’s got enough beef to keep the energy going, and the right amount of weirdness to grab your attention whenever this is played.

The closing track ‘You know what I mean’ adds another layer of weird-sounding vocals that will stick with you until long after the song is over. This track – and the whole EP for that matter – oozes the playful energy of a producer who’s completely comfortable with his musicality. It’s fun and playful, delivered with the class that only a hero of the underground like Sneak can do.

On the Synesthesia EP, DJ Sneak takes you deep on a trip through his musical roots and keeps you on the edge of your seat with 4 tracks bursting with personality.

Grab this record while you can and share the love,
Heist Recordings.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Touch Me Again
A2 Hang On
B1 The Joy of Melancholy
B2 Forever and Ever

Release Info:

Dam Swindle return to Heist in excellent form with a 4-track EP in their signature style.

The iconic Amsterdam duo returned to the studio after their much-lauded ‘Minor Fools’ EP, where the lead track ‘That’s Right’ became one of the most heartwarming tracks 2023. Their recent contribution to the Phonica 20-year compilation -‘Allright (just a tribute)’- is turning into one of the biggest hits of this year with big plays on pretty much every festival around, whether it’s Glastonbury or Dekmantel. The guys are known for their ability to bend different styles into something very much their own and their newest addition to the Heist catalog is no different. The ‘Touch Me Again’ EP sees them go from sample-heavy house to classic 90’s piano-driven tracks with a touch of acid and it’s one you don’t want to miss.

The record starts with ‘Touch Me Again’, a house jam with chopped vocals, energetic synth stabs and a big breakdown. Add to that a touch of acid and you’ve got a follow-up to their Phonica hit of 2023.

‘Hang On’ takes you back into classic Swindle territory, with their signature sampling style and knack for finding those lush vocals. The synth chops and bassline give the track its upbeat energy and the distant filtered pads move in an ever so subtle way, that there’s always something new happening while keeping the attention on that catchy main hook.

On the flip, we see the guys take things a bit deeper with emotive vocals and introverted keys layered over a steady groove on their track ‘The Joy of Melancholy’. Fast-forward to the drop and all that energy comes free with a huge piano break, which propels the track into a blissful ‘hands-in-the-air’ dancefloor moment.

The EP closes with ‘Forever and Ever’, a gospel-inspired Deep house tune full of organ hits and off-kilter sample chops. This 4-track EP gives you jam upon jam upon jam and sees Dam Swindle solidify their position as the go-to artist in the house scene and keeps them at the forefront of electronic music.

Grab this record while you can and share the love,

Heist Recordings.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Mirage
A2 Coffee
B1 Tapioca
B2 Mirage (Elisa Bee Remix)
B3 Abalone

Release Info:

Label mainstays Fouk just dropped the perfect dancefloor Bomb with ‘Mirage’ paired with a high-octane Elisa Bee remix

We all know Dutch duo Fouk from their soulful, bouncy take on house music. They’re also responsible for some of Heist’s biggest tracks like Kill Frenzy or their Lil Louis inspired 2021 release ‘Blue Steel’. On their new EP, the talented duo shows us a fresh side of their sound: the main-room hands-in-the-air-going-wild side. To top things off, Italian producer Elisa Bee made time in her busy schedule of DJ’ing and releasing for artists like Ben Sims on his Hardgroove imprint and Unknown to the Unknown to deliver a killer remix of the title track.

Fouk’s return to Heist after 3 years is a welcome one and with ‘Mirage’, they might just have given us their biggest house track in their decade spanning career. The track is built around a stuttering synth loop and a seductive female vocal chanting ‘What made you wanna…” The real star here is the bassline, which propels the track into a seriously infectious groove. Add some lush strings and moody changeovers and you’ve got yourself a full-blown dancefloor weapon. Mirage has been a staple in Dam Swindle’s sets for the past months and has been one of their set highlights ever since.

“Coffee” is one for the classic Fouk fans. It’s got lovely Rhodes, a joyous combination of whoo’s, snare-rolls and synth hits grooving on top of an infectious orchestral background loop. “Tapioca” is a hybrid latin-electronic groove that builds on punchy synths, live percussion and drunk keys to balance the energy of the track.

Elisa Bee’s remix of ‘Mirage’ is an intense percussive workout that builds on a breakbeat loop and a rave-bassline. The tempo is turned up a notch or 2 and that stutter synth and vocal of the original make this remix a wild warehouse affair.

Closing track of the EP is ‘Abalone’; A lovely bleep-house affair that still has a bit of that warehouse vibe. It’s got the perfect amount of distortion the drums while keeping things dreamy with some face-melting pads throughout the track.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Closer (feat. AVA LAVÁ)
A2 Running from the Noise (feat. Life on Planets)
A3 Midnight Time (feat. AVA LAVÁ & Joey Hotwax)
B1 The Answer
B2 Gratitude

Release Info:

Makèz deliver the perfect follow up to their hit ‘Downstream’ with L.A. artist Life on Planets.

Dutch Duo Makèz had their big break when we released their first record on Heist in 2019, but it’s safe to say that ‘Downstream’ (on No Art records) has taken things to the next level for the talented Amsterdam duo. With support from pretty much the whole of Radio 1 (Pete Tong, Jaguar, Sarah Story, Danny Howard and more), and club DJ’s across the board ranging from ANOTR to Louie Vega, their fall 2023 release has really been a dream collab with vocalist and producer Life on Planets. It’s only fitting that the duo comes home to Heist with their follow up EP: ‘Midnight time’.

This new EP is a perfect blend of the intricate, soulful songs and punchy club tracks we’ve come to love from Makèz, On the A-side, we’ve got the jazz cut ‘Closer’ with AVA LAVÁ, who fans will remember from their Holy Sun EP on Heist. ‘Closer’ is equally laidback, full of textures and rich musical elements and a perfect mood-setter for the EP.

Next is ‘Running from the noise’ with Life on Planets on vocals. This is the follow up to Downstream that simply had to happen. It’s just as breezy and effortless as the duo’s biggest hit to date, but goes even deeper and minimalistic, taking you on a vibe that resembles the sound of that classic 100% Galcher mixtape/album from 2013. There’s definitely something in the air when these artists get together in the studio; The music is warm, fuzzy, and inviting, but most importantly, just about as sexy as can be.

‘Midnight time’ is another collaboration with AVA LAVÁ, and takes the EP into the club realm, while still keeping things jazzy. Lush Rhodes chords and a rolling live bass form the basis, while the young vocalist seems to freestyle her way through the track, much in a way an MC would do to get the crowd going. Everything about this track is infectious and you can just feel this go off in a club.

That club is exactly where we end up on the B-side, with ‘The Answer’ and ‘Gratitude’. Both have their own direction; ‘The Answer’ is a Chicago-inspired jam with acid licks, a powerful male vocal and clean 909 drums, where ‘Gratitude’ goes deeper with its haunting strings, clever vocal chops and loops and synths that somehow resemble static noise from an old radio. With their ‘Midnight Time’ EP, Makèz treat us to a gorgeous journey through their sonic world, a place we’re happy to hang out for a long, long time.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1 Love Can Make It Happen
A2 Going Back to It
B1 Full Cycle
B2 Pockets

Release Info:

House music legend DJ Sneak shows us why he’s a master of the groove on his ‘Back to love’ EP for Heist Recordings.

There’s only a handful of people that can really say they’ve seen House music since its earliest days. Puerto Rica-born, Chicago-bred, and LA-based artist DJ Sneak is definitely one of them. He has been the king of the groove ever since his big break back in ’94 through Cajmere’s label Cajual and was key in the development of that mid-nineties house sound with appearances on labels such as Strictly Rhythm, Henry St Music and 83 West. Sneak has worked with some of the biggest artists in the game including Daft Punk, (delivering lyrics for their track ‘Digital Love’), Armand Van Helden and many more.

After a break in the past few years where Sneak re-evaluated his relationship with the scene and his music, he’s now back doing the thing he loves most: Making killer tracks and slamming it on a record. We’ve always considered each other friends and Sneak has been a true supporter of our music and the label since day 1, so it’s humbling to realize that we’re now in a place where we can let his music shine on Heist. With that, we’re proud to present this future classic from the master himself.

The aptly titled “Back to love” EP starts off with one of Sneak’s most intimate productions to date: “Love can make it happen”. Built around an ever-evolving vocal loop, and dreamy strings this track is deeper than deep with the percussion matching that meditative energy, with the grunt only Sneak can bring.

“Going back to it” is Chicago house music in its core. Moody chords, some vocal chops, a badass bass line, and solid percussion is all you need. With ‘Full Cycle’ on the flip, we see Sneak take back his rightful place as the king of the groove. It’s a track that has us reminiscing the days of ‘Paperclip People’ where the bluntness of a live recorded ‘on/off’ arrangement really adds something special to a track.

The EP ends with “Pockets”, a house jam with classic 90s vocals and energetic snare drums to add that classic New York touch to this already amazing record and shows us that DJ Sneak has a great feel for bringing modern day house music with a vintage feel.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Maarten & Lars


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (Limited 180 gr. Blue Vinyl - Special Cut Out Sleeve - Printed Inner sleeve)

Track list:

A1 Crackazat - Alfa
A2 Andy Hart - Epsilon Girls
A3 Makèz - Different Planets
B1 Kassian - 8th Movement
B2 Nachtbraker - Hamdi

Release Info:

The Dam Swindle curated compilation Heist Classics Vol. 02 delivers even more of the label’s biggest hits in a beautiful limited-edition package.

It’s safe to say that in it’s 10 years of existence, Heist Recordings has given us plenty of amazing music and has cemented itself as one of the key labels in today’s house scene. The first 3 compilations of this year have had an amazing response with radio and club tastemakers (re)discovering some of the best music that has come out on Heist. With support from Paul Woolford, Luke Slater, Antal, James Zabiela, Nightmares on Wax, a 10/10 in Faze Mag and various radio plays on BBC R1 with Pete Tong, Annie Mac and more, it’s safe to say that everyone has been loving these releases. Now, Dam Swindle conclude their 10-year anniversary releases with Classics vol. 2: a limited-edition collection with hits from Crackazat, Andy Hart, Kassian, Makèz and Nachtbraker.

The release kicks off with ‘Alfa’: Crackazat’s biggest hit to date (and that’s saying something, coming from a producer that has delivered jam upon jam in his career). It’s a signature Crackazat song with an off-kilter live key loop, shuffling percussion and pumping low end.
Andy Hart’s ‘Epsilon Girls’ was originally released in 2014 and has helped cement the artist and label’s position in the house music landscape. A vintage Barbara St. Clair loop gives the track a lovely human touch, which is countered by layers upon layers of glimmering electronics.

Different Planets is the track that really kickstarted the career of the talented duo Makèz. Released in 2019, the track has everything we’ve come to love from their recognizable sound: lively drums, catchy hooks and warm & jazzy chords. UK duo Kassian are represented on this package with their track ‘8th Movement’. Their sound has progressed towards techno in recent years which has given them support from artists across the board such as Ben UFO, Special Request and many more. Their Heist classic ‘8th Movement’ - still housey in its core - already has hints of their newfound style in its sound design and rolling energy.

We end the record with what might be Nachtbraker’s biggest track of his career: ‘Hamdi’. You’ll find him currently at work with artists such as Shanti Celeste where he recently released his Capichone EP, but the sound he developed in the early part of his career had Heist written all over it. ‘Hamdi’ is a proper anthem, with African drums, an ecstatic vocal sample and a killer groove.

The vinyl release of Heist Classics Vol. 02 is printed on colored 180grams heavyweight vinyl and is limited to 1000 records with a special design by our Art Director Bas Koopmans (Wellness.)

Enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)


Track list:
A1. Everything alright feat. Aika Mal
A2. Everything alright feat. Aika Mal (Dam Swindle remix)
A3. Eleven eleven twenty two
B1. Crush
B2. Only breaks can love your heart

Release Info:
Amy Dabbs puts her heart and soul in the breaks anthem ‘Everything Alright feat. Aika Mal’ on her Heist debut EP.
Bonus: A tantalizing 140BPM Dam Swindle remix

Amy Dabbs might be one of the hardest working artists in the game right now. Making it in the current electronic music landscape is not an easy thing, which might be why this talented artist is so heavily invested in her musical output. With releases on Aus Music, Shall not Fade and her own Dabbs traxx, a monthly residency on Rinse FM and a tour schedule that seems to get busier by the minute, we’re happy to see her hard work is paying off. Add to that some support by artists such as Special Request, The Blessed Madonna, Jaguar and Cinthie and you know this Berlin-based artist is right where she belongs: in the spotlight.

With a love for all things high energy – including, but not limited to house music and breaks – Amy knows how to set fire to a dancefloor (or record for that matter). Her music has been described by Resident Advisor as “Elegant and soulful drum & bass, that’ll still catch the ears of house heads.” So here you go, house heads: Amy Dabbs on Heist. The ‘Only breaks can love your heart’ EP is packed with feelgood energy and comes with a Dam Swindle remix that has the duo laying down some pleasantly unexpected breakbeats on an altogether rush-inducing record.

Right from the start, you know you’ve got an anthem on your hands with ‘Everything alright’. The gorgeous vocals by Aika Mal give you that right amount of emotive, ravey energy and come wrapped in a package of solid breaks and mesmerizing chords. With a hint of acid and a couple of meticulously crafted breakdowns you’ll be singing along with this track before you know it.

The Dam Swindle remix drops the tempo a little bit, but with its 140 bpm, warm broken beat and UK bass, the duo delivers a curveball of a track with a lot of crossover appeal. They went for a more stripped back approach that combines introverted percussion with bouncy keys that complement the vocals perfectly for an altogether irresistible remix.

‘Crush’ is a signature Amy Dabbs tracks, with driving 909 percussion, female vocal chops, ethereal pads and classic strings. It’s a warmhearted affair laced with Amy’s feelgood DNA. On the flip you’ll find ‘Eleven eleven twenty two’; a classic deep house track with subtle hints of UKG in its sampling and bass. The pads and leads are moody and the skippy percussion gives this track the kind of energy you’d welcome when pulling an all-nighter.

Rounding off the EP, we’ve got the ep title track ‘Only breaks can love your heart’; another showcase of Amy’s knack to make house aficionados dance to drum and bass. There’s a certain contrast in pace – raging drums versus dreamy chords that makes you feel at ease listening to a fast-paced track like this. The vocals are equally hazy with a subtle 90’s and 00’s RnB feel. Bassface guaranteed on this one!

We’re extremely happy we get to call Amy our friend and proud to share her music through Heist. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1. I need to know
A2. Do you think about me
A3. Freddie’s groove
B1. Phantom feat. The Potash Twins
B2. Endless life
B3. When we last met

Release Info:
Crackazat & Heist present: “Senses”. A stunning mini album that sees the artist deliver a heartwarming perspective on contemporary electronic
music
On “Senses”, we see the pure talent of Crackazat come to life like never before. We’ve all danced to “Alfa” or his most recent hit on Heist “Demucha” and
have heard his venture into the more poppy side of things with his 2022 album ‘Evergreen’ on Freerange. “Senses” however, is on another level. Crackazat
takes you on a sonic journey exploring his musical personality with live keys, vocals, bass and production all coming from his studio in Uppsala, Sweden. The
jazzy horns that are featured throughout are recorded by Adeev and Ezra Potash, better known as the Potash twins. The duo took a sidestep from their
recordings with John Legend, Robert Glasper and even Diplo to dive into this project with Crackazat and help him deliver arguably his best work to date.
The 6-track album starts off with the low-slung groove of ‘I need to know’. The whole atmosphere is warm, dreamy and seems to be written to lift your spirits,
no matter where you are in life. Plucked strings, arpeggios and long horn notes give this song its energy, which is subtly supported by lo-fi drums and sparse
bass licks.
“Do you think about me”, keeps the energy tight with a lovely drum groove and a sparse bass section. From the first note of the track, you get the feeling like
the energy could change any moment. Halfway through this is exactly what happens, when uplifting keys and a buzzing lead take control of the track. The
string arrangement is subtle enough to never overshadow the other instrumentation, but simply adds a beautiful layer to a track that’s already filled with
emotion. It’s all smiles when the energy of this track is set loose!
If “Do you think about me” is Crackazat in pop mode, “Freddie’s Groove” is Crackazat in full-on jazz mode. The nod to Freddie Hubbard is clear, and
Crackazat cleverly takes ideas from both the jazz legend and his legendary French sampler, Pepe Bradock for this track. The horns are deep and moody, the
groove is jazz-house at its best and Crackazat’s soft vocals have the perfect amount of fragility to fit the groove. The changeover into a stabby synth section
halfway through the track is a subtle reminder from the skilled producer that – even with all these musical elements – he can direct you to the front of the
dancefloor with the twist of a note.
“Phantom” sees Crackazat move into a shuffling Latin-dance vibe. Here, the song reaches its full potential through the horn section, so it’s only fitting that this
is the feature track for the Potash Twins. The Latin rhythms are lush, the key progression is on point and the energy on this track just keeps on going with
layers and layers of horns, powerful vocal chops, and subtle but effective percussion changeovers.
“Endless life” is a track that feels like it’s building up momentum with every repetition. Whether it’s the broken beat groove, the offbeat keys or the sparse
horn hits, chord hits or leads, there’s a certain energy in this track that takes a hold of you and simply doesn’t let go.
The outro “When we last met” is built around vibey drunk keys and a downtempo hip-hop groove. There’s a hint of old school D’angelo in this track and you
can clearly hear the artist feels at ease with the path he’s taking the listener on. It’s a perfect ending to a record that showcases the beautiful world that
Crackazat has crafted through his compositions and one thing is for sure: This is an album we will all keep coming back to for a long time to come.
Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 – Won’t u take me
A2 – Piano heaven
B1 – Masterplan
B2 – Piano heaven (St. David remix)

Release Info:

Cinthie joins the Heist fam with an EP full of lush, epic house music with 3 originals and a St. David remix.

Cinthie is the kind of artist who seems to be everywhere all at once. In the past years, we’ve seen her compile a lush DJ Kicks compilation, release numerous EP’s on labels such as Aus music, run one of Berlin’s finest record stores (Elevate Records), tour the world fiercely, and create an all-new live show. Her EP for Heist has been in the works for a long, long time and it’s an absolute pleasure to finally present the ‘Music for Discotheques’ EP. Spoiler alert: It’s a no holds-back, ‘all killers, no fillers’ record. Just the way we like it.

In classic Cinthie fashion, this EP has the Berlin-based artist explore various sides of house music, starting with the vocal cut ‘Won’t u take me’. Lush pads, shuffling snares and a dreamy female vocal work together to bring a warm and classy house track with a clear nod to 90’s US house, but with its feet firmly rooted in the present.

Piano heaven takes you on an Italo-meets-deephouse excursion straight into…Drum roll…: Piano heaven. A driving 909 groove and a deceptively simple bass form the foundation of the track, but it’s the keys (and strings) that bring this track to its full peak-time potential. The energy in this track is of the ‘hands-in-the-air / screaming-out-loud’ type and it has already become one of the biggest tracks in Cinthie’s live-show.

On the flip, Cinthie explores the pacier electronic side of the dance spectrum, with the footwork inspired jam ‘Masterplan’. Think classic 808’s, loopy synths and a cheeky spoken word piece that lifts the song to a level where it’s extremely danceable and quite simply put; really fun.

The final track of the EP is the expertly crafted remix by Italian house maestro St. David; an artist Cinthie has always been a big fan of. He’s made a dazzling rework of ‘Piano Heaven’: A deep and driving deephouse version that’s layered in sweeps, fx and bleeps for an altogether mesmerizing effect.

We’re thrilled that we can share Cinthie’s music on the label and have her join the family after having played so many shows together and having spoken about doing something together for such a long time. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: Vinyl 12” (Limited 180 gr. Cristal Clear Vinyl - Special Cut Out Sleeve - Printed Inner sleeve)

Track list:
A1 Dam Swindle – The break up
A2 Scan 7 – The best is yet to come
B1 Fouk – Kill Frenzy
B2 Demuir – Werq. feel. gruv. vogue.
B3 Adryiano – Me and you and her

Release Info:
Label bosses Dam Swindle dive into the label back catalog and compile 2 special edition releases of classics to celebrate 10 years of
Heist Recordings.
Founded in 2013, Heist Recordings has quickly become a go-to house label, giving rise to a vibrant scene of groove aficionados and all things
deep house. Now in the label’s 10th year, Dam Swindle take a moment to reflect on the great tracks that have come out over the years with 2
limited edition compilations of classics.
On this first compilation, the duo starts with the track that helped the label burst onto the scene: Their instant classic ‘The break up’. With its
vintage vocals, Rhodes chops and instantly recognizable bell loop, it’s easy to understand why so many people are still in love with this track. It’s
only fitting that this anniversary release for Heist goes back to where it all started.
The second track on the compilation is from the legendary Detroit outfit Scan 7: Their 2020 track ‘The Best is yet come’ from Heist’s 50th release.
The appearance of Scan 7 on the label turned quite some heads at the time, but in fact, it made total sense. The mutual love for house, key
grooves and that classic Detroit vibe brought Scan 7 and Dam Swindle together and the result was an amazing release full of Midwest electronic
funk.
On the flip, we’ve got Dutch duo Fouk with their first hit on the label ‘Kill Frenzy’, which kickstarted the rise of their signature sound back in 2014.
The release ends with 2 extremely catchy and strong house releases by Demuir and Adryiano. Demuir’s vocal cut ‘Werq. Feel. Gruv. Vogue’. is
one of the highlights in Demuir’s catalog and a showcase of the producer’s knack for sampling and writing a house groove. Adryiano’s piano
house track ‘Me and you and her’ is a perfect ending to this first compilation, showing us that great house music can be as simple as repeating
something over and over and over, until that groove is all you hear.
The vinyl release of Heist Classics vol. 01 is printed on clear 180 grams heavyweight vinyl and is limited to 1000 records with a special design by
our Art Director Bas Koopmans (Wellness.)
Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 – Orchid’s Wish
A2 – Make Me Feel Feat. Marina Trench
B1 – Blu Thang
B2 – Free Feat. Tour-Maubourg
B3 – Purple Corner Fig

Release Info:

Heist welcomes Belgian house maestro UC Beatz to the label with a 5 track EP featuring Marina Trench and Tour-Maubourg.

UC Beatz is a man who likes to do things his own way. You can hear it in his distinctive sound, but it also goes back to when he started producing and putting out records. If he would have asked us for advice back then, we would have definitely tried to talk him out of starting a record label without a good distribution deal. The hours of work to get the records made, printed and stamped is one thing, but going from shop to shop to sell your work, just because you believe in it? That’s just mad.

Thankfully, Belgian producer, DJ -and yes, label owner- UC Beatz didn’t ask our opinion when he started Entrepot Records in 2014 and we’re glad for it. It’s been a total success story for him and an inspiration for independent artists all around. His releases quickly gained momentum, all sold out in weeks and with that, helped him establish his name as stylish deep house producer with his own sound.

Fast forward to 2023, and we find UC Beatz on labels such as Classic Music Company, Razor ‘n Tape and now we’ve his debut on Heist for you. There’s no need for him to go from shop to shop this time, because we’re sure people will jump on this record the minute it hits the shelves.

UC Beatz delivers a stunning 5 track EP with guest appearances from Marina Trench and Tour-Maubourg. The EP sees the artist go from euphoric sample house (Orchid’s Wish) to his classic pad-driven sound on tracks like Purple Corner Fig and Blu Thang. The EP would be good without the collabs, but UC Beatz found a perfect match in style with fellow Heist artist Marina Trench on ‘Make me feel’. His co-production with Tour-Maubourg sees the duo dive deep into a classic Chicago deephouse vibe and deliver the most ethereal track of the EP.

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format Notes:

2025 first time vinyl release, 140g vinyl


Track List:


A1 It Couldn't Be You
A2 You Can't Hide Always
A3 We'll Make It Again

B1 Walk Straight Ahead
B2 Painting My Life Blue
B3 Just Two Lovers

Release Notes:


Wally Badarou is a synth pioneer and musical polymath. But rarely does he sing over his sumptuous tracks. The 6 songs that comprise new record Simple Things finally realise Wally's vision for select backing tracks from his beloved Colors Of Silence.

The tracks were originally developed back in 2001 for the release of the original CD; here, Wally has “simply" added overdubs and vocals to their mastered mixes with some discerning edits. Simply put, Simple Things is another slice of simply stunning Wally Badarou genius.

Simple Things has been decades in the making. Indeed, Wally struggled not only with the idea of singing these wonderful songs himself but singing them in English and writing his own lyrics, while wrestling with the sensational backing tracks, which themselves seemed to have taken on a life of their own.

As Wally explained to us: "In addition to the instrumental artist I have been known as, so far, there has always been a singer who simply was not sure he was, up until now. Even though “Back To Scales Tonight”, my very first album, was, indeed, a song album."

Opener "It Couldn't Be You" embellishes the uptempo groove of soca-funk gem "The Lights Of Kinshasa". As Wally explained to us, it's about “a simple love story somewhere, one rainy night, under the lights of Kinshasa. A woman, a man, online dating, quite usual in our times. Then they meet, almost missing each other." The guide vocal Wally had laid for Colors Of Silence - with an organ sound - seemed striving for words in Linguala, a Congolese language he could not speak. Therefore the decision to do it himself was not an easy one, for it had to be in English to fit his singing. We think it turned out pretty good!

"You Can't Hide Always" vocalises Wally's deep concerns set to the propulsive "Smiles By The Millions": "Populism, ostracism, radicalism, ethics and values all turned upside down worldwide, are they all inevitably exacerbated by our social networks? It could all melt down one day, like a house of cards in the ocean of fake news and false prophecies”. Wally wanted to keep the track as bare as possible but, inevitably, the backing vocals and the synth-brass arrive ultimately to present a welcome 70s flavour, with no snare-drum added.

The bright and breezy "We'll Make It Again" adds vocals to "Where Were We", a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands. Here's Waly: "Where were we when we last said: "I love you"? Simple words to express something quite common, but never quite simple to deal with. A simple song about the resilience of the broken hearts.” The reggae came from it being conceived when Wally was scoring for “Third World Cop”, a 1999 Jamaican action movie.

"Walk Straight Ahead" provides Wally's gorgeous, contemplative and idiosyncratic vocals to the deep serenity of Colors Of Silence highlight, "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. As Wally describes, "it started as just whispers, sweet amber whispers. Then the colour turned darker, as darker skies seemed to fall upon us while the whole world keeps on walking ahead, straight ahead, regardless of the blatant warnings, feeling much too comfortable in conformity. Initially, the verses were to be spoken only. I realised they could be sung all the while, without overshadowing the ethereal atmosphere." Amen.

The serene, celestial "Painting My Life Blue" presents the vocal version of "Days To Wonder". Says Wally, "how does it feel when your second half is gone after decades of riding life together? Past the temporary loss of your bearings, you come to realise you've been blind to the essential, and suddenly you can see...For this most intimate song of mine, I had tried to come up with a melody on top of the existing backing track, long before realising the melody was in the keyboard part already. It just needed to be properly mixed with it."

The profoundly emotional "Just Two Lovers" works up the formerly-too-brief and glorious "Crystal Falls" into a much fuller masterpiece and features acoustic guitar sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod percussion. Waly explains further: "Dear little green men, please tell me, what is it about us that makes you want to come and visit us so often (contrary to Fermi's assertion)? And here is the reply I believe I heard them sing: "You've got the key you've been searching for: Love”. I reverted to the initial backing track I had made around 1985, which already bore the melody, and which I added acoustic guitars to, before singing it." An astounding closer.

A synth specialist, there can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!

When we asked Wally about the significance of this collection's title, he explained: "These are "Simple things” that everyday’s life seems to build upon. The simplest are the harder to describe, but when satisfactorily described i.e. with simple words, they are the more genuine and authentic to express and share. I’ve immersed myself in other classic song lyrics, something I hardly did before, just to appreciate the genius behind the simple words they were made of, and had a great time studying how powerful they were in expressing complex ideas such as love."

Recording was twofold: first, most of the backing tracks were recorded in 2001, in Wally's studio in Normandy, mostly using hardware synths and Yamaha digital consoles. Then, he fine-tuned the melodies and wrote the lyrics in late 2023, then added some overdubs and sang them all during summer 2024. States Wally, "Digital Performer was and remains the DAW I’ve been using throughout, ever since the 80s."

Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Sometimes, the simple things are the most extraordinary.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

LP, 2022 REPRESS EDITION, ORIGINAL ART

played by:
Gregor Schwellenbach /Hauschka/ Daniel Brauer/ Paul Frick (both of Brandt Brauer Frick) Erol Sarp / Lukas Vogel (both of Grandbrothers) / John Kameel Farah

Tracklist:
1. Steve Reich "Six Pianos" 22:09 mins
2. Terry Riley "Study #1" 19:50 mins

Info:
After the widely noticed performance at the "Acht Brücken Festival 2016" at Cologne's Philharmonic Hall, Gregor Schwellenbach, Hauschka, Erol Sarp (of "Grandbrothers"), Daniel Brandt, Paul Frick (both of "Brandt Brauer Frick") and John Kameel Farah will be releasing their interpretation of Steve Reich's "Six Pianos" as a studio recording via FILM. The re-recording of this piece is an interpretation of Reich's composition but still far more than just that - it is a modern approach to his idea behind it.
The basic idea came up at the beginning of the 70s at "The Baldwin Piano & Organ Company" in New York. During a rehearsal phase Steve Reich spent in this very piano store, the idea emerged of writing a composition for all the grand pianos available to him at the company. By the time of the finished piece, the actual number of pianos had settled down to six, whereof "Six Pianos" developed in 1973.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, the six pianists declare their love to Steve Reich and his composition with this release. Shaped by electronic club music as well as their classical education, they form "Six Pianos" in dignified modernity and top it off with today's sound esthetics and technical recording possibilities.
What you will be hearing is not the recording from the "Kölner Philharmonie" (Cologne Philharmonics) but the ensemble play of six different grand pianos in six different locations, throughout Germany. Each pianist performed his part on his piano using his typical studio equipment and passed the recording over to the next one. Thus the six characteristic and individual timbres of the performers overlay to create the overall picture - "Six Pianos" the way it should be looked at in 2016.
"Pianists are soloists and lone warriors by nature", as Gregor Schwellenbach once said. But the initiator not only won over solo artists to the greatest possible extent such as Hauschka or John Kameel Farah but also musicians from "Brandt Brauer Frick" and "Grandbrothers" as well as their ensemble partners: Jan Brauer mixed "Six Pianos" in the studio while Lukas Vogel provided delays for the b-side.
"Keyboard Study #1" by Terry Riley is a worthy b-side opposed to Reich's composition. The piece is kind of a building set of ever lengthening, repetitive patterns played against each other with the right and left hand displaced. The composition proposes various possible combinations for the performer to choose from and repeat at will. And what the performers have chosen proves Gregor Schwellenbach's assumption: "Especially Terry Riley's and Steve Reich's music are open doors for pianists socialized by pop music and their audience."





Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Tracklist:
A1) Andras and Eden Burns – Wrangler (07:18 min)
A2) Mayurashka and Eden Burns – Obsession (05:39 min)
B1) Matisa and Eden Burns – Calvin Klein (06:43 min)

Short info:
Eden Burns & friends follow the Big Beats. For this volume of BBM, Eden invites
Andras, Matisa and Mayurashka to make some beats.
So much fun! „Beat moves feet, feet do dance, dance is joy, joy is life!“



Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Tracklist 12":
A1) Orlando Magic, A2) Cabrio Mango
B1) 1981, B2) She Keeps It Good

The Toy Tonics crew is known for being addicted to two things: vintage music machines and old vinyl. 100% music aficionados. On the Tonic Edit series the crew shares some of their favorite old tracks - in a reworked version.

This time COEO get back in time. They destroyed a couple of 1970ies disco jams. Recut & repasted them. And gave them their special COEO touch. Of course it's irresistible!
This release comes on vinyl only first. Later maybe could be out on selected Digital sellers.. not sure yet.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Yes I am
A2 Move over Feat. ELY
A3 Time selection
B1 One thing
B2 Everything from the Organ

Release Info:

D Stone debuts on Heist Recordings with a record that shows us why he's one of the hottest talents in house music right now

Chloe Caillet is in on it. Cinthie is in on it. SG lewis and Demi Riquísimo are in on it too. So are Folamour, Barry Can't Swim and, of course, Dam Swindle. In on what exactly?

In on the fact that D Stone might be the most exciting young producer and DJ you will find in the house scene right now. Oh, and he's also a great guy who says Heist was his dream label to release on. When we found out we were fans of on each other, it was only logical that we signed his 'Time Selection' EP; A 5-track record that shows us how cool and catchy underground house music can be if it's done well.

D Stone, born Daan Steenhuizen has had a meteoric rise in the scene in the past years and has only just finished his study at the Conservatory, where Lars was one of his mentors. His vinyl debut was on Cecille in 2023 with that absolute anthem 'Total unison'. He then released on Cinthie's 803 Crystal Grooves in 2024 and has a busy 2025 with releases on Chloe Caillet's label Smiile, Semi Delicious, a release planned for Barry Can't Swim's fresh label 'Earth's only paradise' and now, Heist. He's been touring relentlessly in between, already playing legendary places like Ibiza's Pikes, Amsterdam's Shelter and with big shows planned at Warehouse project and in Australia, you can just feel all the right things happening for him.

The 'Time Selection' EP kicks off with 'Yes I Am', an upbeat house track with plenty of hints of the old school, playful vocal chops and above all, some lovely piano work. It's stripped back, but full of energy, with driving 909 percussion, retro flutes and a rolling bass line. It's as much a pallet cleanser in a set as it is a teasing mid-set highlight.

'Move Over' features the vocals of ELY and sees D Stone dive deeper into vintage house territory, with a classic bassline and percussion that stays true to the core of the classic drum machines, hinting as much towards the electro-pop sound of New Order and the futurism of early Mr. Fingers releases. The vocal is daring and cute at the same time, and does a great job tapping into the nostalgia of the pop-house cross-over songs of the early 90s.

'Time Selection' is arguably the heaviest cut of the record, much in style of his breakthrough track 'Total Unison'. This track is built around a strong piano theme, supported by driving 909 drums, strings and cleverly placed disco bleeps to keep the track accessible and uplifting. Add to that a big breakdown, and you'll understand why we've been reaching for this track peak set for the past months.

On the flip, we've got 'One Thing', a subtle and introverted track built around a bumpy disco bassline with a hook that's silly on first listen but will end up being the one thing you'll keep humming for the rest of the day. In short, it's a banger in disguise.

The last track of the EP is 'Everything from the Organ', a track where D Stone is not afraid to show his love for throwback ravey elements. There's organ licks, horns and chopped vocals that propel you straight to the front-left of whichever dancefloor D Stone is reigning at that moment.

Don't sleep on the Heist debut of one of Amsterdam's biggest talents, cause this one will go like hot cakes! As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Yours, Maarten & Lars


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Tracklist:
(A1) Jonathan Kaspar – Invert Drift (DE-Q20-21-00003)
(A2) Jonathan Kaspar – Last Romance (DE-Q20-21-00004)
(B1) Jonathan Kaspar – Off The Shore (DE-Q20-21-00005)

Release Date:
Jonathan Kaspar has that rare, instinctive ability to germinate the seed of an idea and nurture it to its logical conclusion, both melodically and sonically. It’s why his stock has been rising so sharply in recent years with future classics already released on Kompakt and Objektivity to name but two, and he’s at it again on his debut EP for Cocoon Recordings with three distinctive tracks of sublime quality.

The first cut, Invert Drift, is also a phenomenal mixing tool. What starts off as an expectant minimal groove suddenly explodes with wild, cascading effects that hit you out of nowhere. Any DJ worth their salt will get tons of twisted pleasure orchestrating the crowd‘s synaptic meltdown with this one, but there‘s so much more going on behind the calculated mayhem. In true signature style Kaspar teases the listener, cranking up the pressure with a dark, brooding synth progression that lurks under the surface but never quite breaks free, leaving the morphing bass line, crunchy top loop and laser guided FX front and center. As it reaches its climax it’s like being caught in the crossfire of a Battlestar Galactia shoot out.

Last Romance is another master class in how to hypnotize the dance floor, this time by showering it in ecstasy. The patient, Latin-inflected build up accompanies a discordant metallic synth line that from hesitant beginnings slowly grows to dominate the track. It resonates beautifully almost creating its own language before deep, lush chords and a crystalline arp line flesh out the breakdown, making the hairs on your neck stand to attention.

Coming in at just over ten minutes, Off The Shore introduces a different aspect of Kaspar’s repertoire. With ambient, cinematic overtones and an otherworldly central motif that starts folding space in the extended breakdown, it’s a perfect early morning tonic that leads you off the beaten track, but still carries enough weight to keep the dance floor ticking over nicely.






Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Release Info:
Released for the first time in 2009, ‘utp_’ is the third installment of Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s V.I.R.U.S.'s series. It was commissioned for the 400th anniversary of Mannheim, Germany. The flowing 10-section multimedia work derives its shape from a rasterized structure of the southwestern city, founded in 1608. The recording documents the work’s debut performed by Ensemble Modern at the National Theatre in Mannheim. The music embraces the electronic, piano-based palettes, an expanded array of avant-garde chamber instrumentation and natural timbres. It combined the digital visual score created by Carsten Nicolai and Simon Mayer, and lighting design by Nigel Edwards.

Album art designed by Carsten Nicolai
Mastering by Bo @ Calyx


Tracklisting
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: A // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Attack/Transition
Playtime: 00:07:24
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719505
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Particle 1
Playtime: 00:06:40
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719507
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

---------------------------------------------------------
Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Medium: 1 // Side: A // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Grains
Playtime: 00:06:24
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719506
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Transition
Playtime: 00:03:31
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719508
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 3

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Broken Line 1
Playtime: 00:06:32
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719509
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Plateaux 1
Playtime: 00:08:07
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719510
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Medium: 2 // Side: D // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Broken Line 2
Playtime: 00:06:25
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719513
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Silence
Playtime: 00:06:50
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719511
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: D // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Plateaux 2/End
Playtime: 00:13:10
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719514
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 3

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Particle 2
Playtime: 00:07:00
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719512
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Long time sought after french post-punk/coldwave 7" finally get an official reissue with remastered sound and artwork. Available on 7" on May 17th. Released by Camisole Records.

Tracklist :

A Eyes
B Morning Rain

Short Info:

Long time sought after french post-punk/coldwave 7" finally get an official reissue with remastered sound and artwork. Available on 7" on May 17th. Released by Camisole Records.

We all have lost memories and dreams, shattered hopes we hide to people and try to live with. Like the feeling of missing someone you've cherished in the past but who doesn't need you anymore.
This obsessive melancholia infuses the two tracks of this now highly sought after record, while haunting lyrics and subtle production definitely set them apart from their contemporaries.

Coldreams was a french female fronted post-punk band hailing from Clermont-Ferrand. Instead of coldwave we prefer to named their music melancholic pop.

Reissue limited to 500 copies.



Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Territories: Worldwide no restrictions

Format Notes:
2024 first time double vinyl reissue with exclusive bonus track, 140g double vinyl, remastered audio with restored artwork


Track List:

A1 Intro 0:50
A2 WordPlay 3:17
A3 Spontaneity 4:08
A4 Rugged Ruff 3:08
A5 Interlude 0:29

B1 I Confess 4:06
B2 UKNOWHOWWEDU 3:35
B3 Interlude 1:09
B4 Total Wreck 3:26
B5 Innovation 3:23

C1 Da Jawn 5:19
C2 Interlude 1:05
C3 True Honey Buns (Dat Freak Sh*t) 3:41

D1 3 Tha Hard Way 4:12
D2 Biggest Part Of Me 4:51
D3 Path To Rhythm 3:24

Release Notes:

Bahamadia’s 1996 debut album Kollage is rightly regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of the 1990s. For the first time ever, Be With present the definitive double LP version of this eternal hip-hop classic, including the legendary "Path To Rhythm" which never appeared on the original LP or on vinyl, anywhere. An indelible VIBE from start-to-finish, Kollage presents Bahamadia's swirling rhymes delivered with an irresistibly butter flow and razor-sharp assuredness over a steady slew of smoothed-out, jazzed-up, blunted beats. Achingly cool and effortlessly funky throughout, it's an absolute must for true 90s hip-hop fanatics.

The entire Kollage project was recorded at D&D Studios and the ties to Gang Starr are keenly felt, with DJ Premier producing five tracks in addition to the killer songs Guru had already produced with her. Working with the cream of the mid-90s East Coast sound, Kollage is, accordingly, a record that demonstrates a varied musical taste with disparate influences, as Bahamadia has previously stated: “The title Kollage was a reflection of my state of mind. I first got interested in music from playing my parents’ and grandparents’ records, as well what I heard on the radio. I wanted Kollage to reflect that diversity both lyrically and sonically."

With intelligent, poetic lyricism and a laconic verbal style bursting with both warm texture and deceptive energy, Bahamadia’s flow was as inspired by Aretha and Nancy Wilson as it was Q-Tip, Schoolly D and Lady B. Swaggering out the gate, "WordPlay" finds Bahamadia confidently showcasing her considerable old-school battle-rhyme skills over a Guru beat that utilises an infectiously bouncy bassline with splashes of sultry jazz horns and a Jeru vocal snatch for the hook. Up next, the quietly shimmering and ruggedly beautiful "Spontaneity" is one of the most alluring on the record, Da Beatminerz crafting a brilliantly soulful and jazzy soundscape for Bahamadia's effortless vocals to float across. It's followed by "Rugged Ruff", where the rapper carefully constructs a swift off-beat flow over Premier's raw jazzy fire.

With smooth spacey synth vibes overseen by former Geto Boys producer N.O. Joe, "I Confess" is, without question, a fly love song and soothing (p)-funk groove. "UKNOWHOWWEDU" is an airy, chilled tribute to her hometown. Produced by Ski Beatz & DJ Redhanded, it rides a gloriously mellow break. It's a true Philly anthem, shouting out a who’s who of the entire city’s scene. Early banger "Total Wreck" follows, presenting a murky Guru instrumental elevated by jazzy horns. Bahamadia invokes the title's suggestion, firing her brilliant bars more aggressively than we’re accustomed to. More Beatminerz-brilliance comes in the way of "Innovation", an opportunity for the MC to invoke Freestyle Fellowship in her forward-thinking and literary verses. "Da Jawn" features hometown buddies The Roots, with Black Thought gliding into a back-and-forth with Bahamadia over ?uestlove’s warm, snapping percussion. With the strut club banger "True Honey Buns (Dat Freak Sh*t)", DJ Premier provides some laidback vibrant boom bap for Bahamadia to share a wild, cautionary tale about a night out with her girl, Kia.

Fan favourite "3 Tha Hard Way" is a hypnotically sinister cut, with Bahamadia, K-Swift and Mecca Star taking star turns to coast over DJ Premier’s raw beat whilst the tender "Biggest Part Of Me" is a heartfelt stunner dedicated to her son. Incredibly, only the European and Japanese CD versions of Kollage was released with the brilliantly breezy “Path To Rhythm”, featuring Ursula Rucker. Whilst ostensibly a "bonus track", it's anything but, to our ears. Very much in sonic conversation with KRS-One's stretched-out sleeper classic "Higher Level", it's absolutely essential so we had to include it, appearing on wax for the first time here, exclusively. Quite a coup.

Somewhat predictably, whilst Kollage was released to significant critical acclaim, it suffered from disappointing sales. In the intervening years - and for far too long - it was a criminally underrated record, an increasingly hidden gem. We hope this double LP reissue - which looks and sounds amazing - will go some way to correct this. This 2024 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Cicely Balston and pressed at Record Industry. It's too bold and beautiful to remain overlooked and underserved.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Format 12” (Vinyl Only)

Tracklist:

A1) Yo Yo Disco
B1) Yo Yo Disco (Extended)

Short info:

Text

ALARM. Wolfi & Josh take you to the Disco. ALARM




Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Artwork and Typography by Stefan Marx

Smallville Records welcomes Barcelona’s Lis Sarroca onto the imprint this November with her four-track ‘Untitled Thoughts’ EP.
Since 2018, Barcelona, Spain’s Lis Sarroca has been steadily unveiling her take on House, Techno, Disco and Electro via the likes of Shall Not Fade, Hot Haus and Chiwax among others as well maintain a steady presence across the globe as a heavily in demand DJ. Here, we see Sarocca making her debut on Smallville with her latest collection of works, again showcasing her widespread influences and mesmerising sonic aesthetic across four cuts.
Up first is ‘Atacote’, a hypnotic house cut with a Balearic feel courtesy of breathy vocals, cinematic strings, piano lines and hazy atmospherics, intertwined with organic percussion and bouncy sub bass tones. ‘Breaks Reminder’ follows and shifts gear into a broken rhythm section, squelchy acid lines and textural synths throughout.
Opening the flip-side is ‘Early Years’, diving back into deeper realms with a multitude of ethereal pads, dubby synth flutters, plucked bass hits and crisp drums. ‘Might Be’ then concludes the EP on a more chuggy Nu-Disco tip, employing gritty bass stabs, bubbling arpeggios, airy flute melodies and a saturated off-kilter drum groove.
Comes with a Full Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx

Tracklist:
A1 Atacote
A2 Breaks Reminder
B1 Early Years
B2 Might Be

All tracks written & produced by Lis Sarroca
Mastering and Vinyl cut by Helmut Erler at Lathesville

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

12“ (+download, + sticker)

Tracklist:
01. Devil In a Skirt
02. Affaire de Coeur
03. Hide & Sick
04. We Are the Party
05. In Your Bed
06. AI Lover

Release Info:
Prolific duo Years of Denial return to Veyl with another genre bending, dance floor ready EP titled Love Cuts.
Acting as a transit between 2023’s Suicide Disco 2 and the forthcoming Suicide Disco 3, Love Cuts explores the various angles of love - ranging from the digital to the forbidden, toxic to erotic and beyond. A blend of death rock, future goth, EBM and rave, we once again find the project’s poetic, powerful lyrics fusing with motorized beats and 4x4 rhythms.
Kicking things off is the shadowy, death rock inspired, "Devil In a Skirt", an infectious ballad about a temptress that may not be what she seems. Next up, "Affaire de Coeur" delivers body fuelled stabs which elegantly bleeds into "Hide & Sick", a more high energy cut, set to scorch the floor. "We Are The Party" keeps the pulse pounding with your next EBM anthem while "In Your Bed" shatters sonic boundaries and leaves things drenched in acid rave. "AI Lover" closes things out with more future goth rave energy which acts as both a warning and a desire for more.
Love Cuts builds on Years of Denial’s previous work while setting the stage for what’s to come. Commanding vocals and dominating beats transmit a powerful message of both the dystopian and euphoric. Remaining uncategorizable, the project continues to evolve their unique sound while burning a path toward the future.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More