Disco Records That Shaped Dam Swindle’s Sound

Few acts capture the connection between disco’s rich musical heritage and modern house quite like Dam Swindle. Since emerging in 2011, Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets have earned a reputation for blending timeless grooves with contemporary club sensibilities, seamlessly linking forgotten crate-digging gems with forward-thinking productions.

That approach is clearly reflected in their latest remix—a deep, fluid rework of “Bustin’ Loose – Soulbound”, released as part of XPRESS Singles Vol.1 on The Disco Express. The project brings together a diverse, cross-continental mix of sounds, ranging from South London soul to French touch-inspired house, while Dam Swindle’s contribution adds a late-night intensity tailored for more discerning dancefloors.

To understand the roots of that sound, it’s worth tracing it back to its origins. Here, Dam Swindle shares a selection of disco records that have shaped their musical identity—records whose influence continues to resonate throughout their work today.

This has always been one of the classics for us. so much so that when we got asked by Salsoul to do 2 records with remixes and edits, we didn’t really dare to touch it. The sheer amount of remixes, dubs, edits and samples that have come from this track is insane, so to think there’d be a need for another remix felt like a bit of an overestimation of ourselves.. We’ve let that idea sit for a while, but ended up going for the challenge after listening to the original stems, really feeling those recordings, hearing the bleed of other instruments in the room. It felt so inspiring and it gave us a lot of ideas on how to give the track a Swindle spin, and we’re happy we did it.

and our remix:

This gem from 1974 has that repetitiveness in the bass and the badass disco hihats that we love so much. It’s also a track that reminds you that music can be so much fun and doesn’t always have to be serious and heady. Go figure, a disco banger about waterbeds. Gotta love it.

Another stone cold classic that has had a few reworks and sneaky edits (like this one ) that we’ve played so often, even in our live shows. I can only imagine what this one must have sounded like for the crowd at the Paradise Garage. Anthem!

This one might have the funkiest piano and guitar lick in the history of disco. There’s so much positive energy in this song that just wants to make you swing and dance till you drop. Instant vibe with the legendary George Duke on piano…

This is a record I fell in love with the moment I heard it at Rush Hour and I instantly rushed to the decks to ask what it was and get the record myself. Such an iconic and demanding bassline and there’s just something special about that island style chords, the sampled chants and the horn section.

This is one of those disco tracks that’s got such a tight pocket.. From the guitar lick to the groove on the drums, it’s so funky. I came across this one when People’s Potential did the reissue and was instantly hooked.

This one has been in our bags for so long as a closing track for those loveydovey endings after a sweaty party. It’s deep, sexy, sweet and still with plenty of funk to dance the night away. The Waxist extended version builds the tension really nicely!

This is Lars’ favourite disco record of all time. I came across a copy when digging, bought it for him and didn’t tell him I had it with me when we played a 6 hour sunrise set at Dutch festival Wildeburg. I played it just as the sun really started to beam and to this day it’s still one of the most emotional and joyful moments I've ever experienced as a DJ. Oh and Lars did a stage dive into the crowd, which was full of friends, family. This song is forever connected to that moment…

These records don’t just live in Dam Swindle’s collection, they live in their music. You can hear their DNA running through the grooves of their remix of ‘Soulbound’, the warmth, the bounce, the emotional pull, and the commitment to groove above all else.

As part of XPRESS Singles Vol.1, the release showcases multiple shades of house music, but Dam Swindle’s contribution stands out as a natural continuation of disco’s lineage, respectful of the past while firmly rooted in the present.

In a world of fast-moving trends, it’s this deep understanding of musical history that keeps their sound timeless.Buy XPRESS Singles Vol.1 HERE