Playlist of the Week: SWIM
SWIM
I had a lot of fun putting together this playlist. With the release of my most recent album, Dear Friend, it was nice to go back through a selection of dance music that has inspired and informed my productions not only on the new record but over the years. I included some of my favourite dance tracks ever – some I’ve never had the chance to play out but would love to at some point. There’s upbeat stuff, more downtempo moments, and a few selections people might not expect. Let’s get into it!
An absolute classic. A great slow burner – you might notice a bit of a pattern in what I’m drawn to – but the way that vocal loops and lifts is stunning. Those plucky synths rising from underneath set up a breakdown that’s just unreal. When the beat finally lands, it’s game over.
It was hard to pick a favourite from this Lake Haze album – it’s such a special piece of work, with some of the best track titles ever. But this one always stands out. The harsh, detuned synth hits against those soft, glowing pads create a beautiful contrast. A real favourite of mine.
I can’t overstate how important this song is for me and how much it shaped my taste and production style. I revisited a lot of early Mount Kimbie this year, and it reminded me how heavily I listened to this as a teenager – it’s one of the reasons I make music in the first place. The way they chop the vocals in this feels like such an obvious inspiration now. It’s something I’ve definitely drawn from over the years, knowingly or not.
One of my favourite dance tracks ever. It slowly builds in the best possible way, and when that gliding, siren-like lead finally sweeps in, it hits every time. The whole track feels rich with emotion – a slow, glowing ascension that never stops rewarding you.
If you are tuning in from the UK, you can find the track here.
A new favourite and in true Burial fashion - it feels like three songs in one. The way he chops the R&B vocal is so crazy - sounds so familiar and nostalgic at the same time. I love how the vocal is completely recontextualised by turning it into a dance track – it just gives the whole thing a new emotional weight.
Very similar to the Mount Kimbie track, I honestly don’t think I’d be making music if I’d never heard this. It was so ahead of its time and still feels like some of the best production ever. When that vocal comes in… it’s just insane – one of those moments that rewired my brain.
One of the best tracks of all time. The way he flips that Toto vocal is just incredible – such a perfect sample. I’ve been closing my sets with this recently, and it never fails. It just has that timeless, hands-in-the-air energy that hits every single time.
This track completely changed how I thought about rhythm and synths. For something that’s largely drumless, it has some of the best groove and the most driving force behind it. I have no idea how he does it, but Barker is simply one of the best producers – this one proves it.
The use of garage drums, chopped vocals, and those distant, hazy synths makes this such a good one. He’s honestly such a slept-on producer coming out of Australia, and this track was a massive influence on me in the early days. It still hits just as hard now.
James is honestly a full savant-level genius – a melodic mastermind who hears chords in this Mozart-level way. This one is one of my favourites from him, equal parts emotional and dance. I feel lucky to call him a friend.
