Detriot Swindle

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

Detroit Swindle are one of those names that steadily feature in track listings, constantly impress with killer tunes and deliver music that catches the attention via their Heist Recordings label. An electronic house music duo Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets began their collaboration in 2011.

The Dutch duo put out most of their music through their own label Heist Recordings and rapidly got noticed with releases such as“The Wrap around”,and “The Break Up”. Their first album ‘High life’ (released in 2018) they showcased their love for electronic funk, upbeat house and electronics working with artists like Tom Misch, Seven Davis Jr., Jungle by Night and Lorenz Rhode. Detroit Swindle have remixed artists like Kerri Chandler, Mayer Hawthorne and Hercules & Love Affair.

The pair are keen record collectors of both old and new music, and their DJ style is as varied as their taste in music. Detroit Swindle will play just about anything. So whether it’s classic house, obscure disco, African funk, soulful techno or any other genre from across the globe: if it puts a smile on your face, they’ll play it.

Their house-focused label Heist Recordings began in 2013 and has featured music from artists such as Frits Wentink, Pépé Bradock, Nachtbraker, Matthew Herbert, Ge-Ology, Byron the Aquarius, Adryiano, Alma Negra, Nebraska, Max Graef, Fouk and many more. They carefully curate the label’s output as well as it’s look & feel, working closely with visual artist Bas Koopmans to match their personal aesthetics.

Heist Recordings also functions a playground for discovering and nurturing emerging artists. This year alone they will introduce as many as three new acts to Heist: Perdu, Demuir and Makèz. Another exciting project in 2019 is the remix package to ‘High life’, which includes remixes by Sterac Electronics (Steve Rachmad’s alias), Matt Karmil, Jura Soundsystem, Gari Romalis and Cinthie.