DJ Kicks Dam Swindle

Description

At the heart of Dam Swindle has always been an unwavering passion for deep, soulful house. Despite a few forays into disco, soul and funk, they have never renounced their roots. In fact, that is why they started: to infuse soul and swing into Amsterdam’s then austere club scene. So when they were approached by !K7, becoming the first Dutch act in the DJ-Kicks series, their mission seemed simple: to honor their years of hard work with a mix of the finest, most infectious house tracks. Since their beginnings in 2011, the Amsterdam duo Dam Swindle, made up of Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets, has seen their partnership blossom into a brilliant career as DJs and producers, co-managing the club Radio Radio and the label Heist Recordings, which celebrated its 100th release this year. Their collaborative spirit shines through in their work, which explores a range of musical genres with an incredible roster of artists, including DJ Minx and Kerri Chandler, to name just a few. That atmosphere runs through the 23-track mix, recorded in their gear-packed studio beneath the Volkshotel. Between warm keys, bright synth lines and heartfelt vocals, American classics sit alongside local talents such as Makèz, ??D Stone and Nachtbraker, who composed the intro and outro to measure. These, among other things, incorporate sound excerpts from interviews with Dam Swindle, offering a captivating journey through the highlights of their creative career. And then there are the duo’s five original tracks, selected from around thirty unreleased demos and composed specifically for different sections. From more laid-back house to the most energetic cuts, they structure the mix. The resulting 74 minutes brilliantly capture the spirit of Dam Swindle in 2026. Fifteen years after their debut, they are now regarded as key figures in Amsterdam’s music scene and beyond. Many of their fans and peers have grown up with their music. After a quieter period on stage and in the studio following the pandemic, the duo is once again in top form, inspired to create, perform and share dance music with as much joy and passion as ever.