Swimming Paul Turns Heartache Into Motion on 'Smiling Through the Pain 2'
Swimming Paul’s second album 'Smiling Through the Pain 2' blends heartbreak and euphoria across 15 seamless tracks – a dance floor diary of raw emotion and movement.
Cameron Holbrook

Swimming Paul’s long-awaited sophomore album Smiling Through the Pain 2 has arrived via Headroom Records, and it’s everything we hoped for – emotional, euphoric, and just a little bit devastating.
The French-born, London-based producer has a rare gift for turning feelings into movement, and across 15 tracks, he captures the chaos and beauty of a night that never really ends. One minute you’re lost in the lights, the next you’re staring at the ceiling, sinking into your sheets during a comedown... adrift in a sea of mixed emotions.
Across the album, bittersweet piano hooks and heavenly gated synths shine as defining elements. It’s a rich mix of triumph, vulnerability, and emotional depth – full of tender melodies, confessional spoken word, and aching lyricism from featured artists Junior Simba, Zayden, Liza Flume, Beaux Neptune, and Alecc Crisostomo. Together, they help showcase Swimming Paul’s signature balance of raw emotion and big-hearted groove – music that turns heartbreak into something hopeful.
With over 150 million streams and sold-out shows across Europe and North America, Swimming Paul continues to build a community rooted in connection and emotion. As he takes the album on tour, Smiling Through the Pain 2 stands as both diary and dance set – proof that sometimes the best way to heal is to move.
You might also like

Seismic Dance Event Announces After Parties: Charlotte de Witte, Lane 8, Four Tet, and More
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Sammy Virji's 'Same Day Cleaning' Arrives
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Chris Avantgarde Launches Hyperreal Label, Announces Debut Album
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Paul Kalkbrenner Leads First Album in Seven Years with "Ninety - Two"
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Eight Emerging Artists On Our Radar: July 2025
Editorial
Cameron Holbrook
5 min

Hedex Makes His Boldest Statement Yet on Debut LP 'MHITR: The Album'
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Hype Label of the Month: Utopia Worldwide
Editorial
Cameron Holbrook
1 min

Kölsch Shares Stunning Studio Album, 'KINEMA'
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Kaskade Announces First Traditional Studio Album in a Decade, 'undux'
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

KETTAMA's Debut Album 'Archangel' Has Arrived
Editorial
Cameron Holbrook
1 min

See Which DJs Ranked Among the Most-Booked Artists at Major U.S. Festivals Over the Past Decade
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Mathame, JONOS, and Son of Son Deliver Striking Single, "Meet Me"
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

The Top-Selling Tracks, Artists, and Labels of 2025 (Mid-Year Review)
Editorial
Cameron Holbrook
1 min

Freedom Through the Machine: Kölsch on His Modular Live Show and ‘KINEMA’ [Q&A]
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
5 min

Chris Lake's Debut Album, 'Chemistry,' Is Here
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min

Marshmello Dusts Off His Dance Roots on "Save My Love" with Ellie Goulding, AVAION
Editorial
Rachel Narozniak
1 min







