Beatportal Exclusive: Sultan + Shepard Strip It Back and Dial It In with Communicate

Stripped of vocals, sharpened for the dancefloor, and soaked in emotion, Communicate feels less like a release and more like a remembering—of where they came from, and why they fell in love with this music in the first place. There was no formal concept, no grand plan. They simply followed their instincts in the studio, and what emerged was a body of work rooted in club energy and personal expression.

From Underground Roots to Global Reach

Long before the streaming boom and social media era, Sultan + Shepard were immersed in a thriving global underground. Dance music was community-driven. There were no viral campaigns—just word-of-mouth, late nights, and crate-digging.

The duo remembers a time when every show felt intimate, and the scene was connected by passion rather than metrics. That spirit has always stayed with them. Communicate channels that ethos, drawing from the progressive house sound that defined their formative years—labels like Bedrock and Hooj Choons, and clubs like Sona in Montreal and Pacha in Buenos Aires.

Rather than replicate the past, the duo reinterprets it through a modern lens, crafting tracks that speak emotionally without needing lyrics. It’s music that’s built to move you—physically and emotionally.

Instrumentals That Speak Volumes

With Communicate, Sultan + Shepard wanted to explore how instrumental music can still carry profound emotional weight. Each track serves as a conversation—wordless, yet resonant. For them, this is a return to a time when a six-minute progressive cut could spark connection on a global scale.

The EP flows like a thoughtfully constructed DJ set, even though that wasn’t the intention from the outset. The sequencing came together naturally, in collaboration with Lane 8, to form a cohesive sonic journey.

The Power of Organic Partnerships

It’s no coincidence that Communicate found its home on Lane 8’s imprint, This Never Happened. The relationship began with an email—no management, no intermediaries. Just mutual respect and a shared love of deeply emotional dance music.

Lane 8’s support was more than professional—it was personal. He embraced their new material during a period when Sultan + Shepard felt overlooked by parts of the industry. That validation helped reignite their momentum.

The label has gone all-in on the project, dedicating its entire April release calendar to Sultan + Shepard. For the duo, it’s a reflection of the authenticity and creative trust they’ve built with the TNH family.

Collaborating with the Next Generation

One of the EP’s standout moments, Before The Storm, came together in a single day with Rinzen—a rising talent whose deep, considered approach mirrors their own. The collaboration was spontaneous and seamless, born out of mutual inspiration rather than industry strategy.

Rinzen’s blend of youthful energy and classic sensibilities reminded Sultan + Shepard of their own beginnings. It’s a dynamic they seek out—working with newer artists to keep their own creative process fresh and forward-thinking.

Balancing the Future

While Communicate is a clear return to club-focused energy, it doesn’t signal a permanent pivot. The duo plans to balance future releases between instrumental EPs and more expansive, melodic albums. They’re already laying the groundwork for a new full-length project while preparing for a major fall tour in 2025.

They intentionally avoid rigid planning. Creativity comes first. The music dictates the direction—not the other way around.

Where Home Really Is

Despite a global tour schedule and high-profile appearances, Sultan + Shepard still feel most at home in the kinds of spaces where their journey began. Whether it’s a small club with a perfect sound system or a mid-size festival stage that feels personal, the magic happens when there’s a real connection between DJ and crowd.

For them, it’s never been about scale. It’s always been about energy. And Communicate is a reflection of that core belief: that dance music, when created and shared authentically, can still bring people together in profound, wordless ways.