Cape Town-based trio, Matthew Field (vocals and guitar), Robin Brink (drums) and Ross Dorkin (bass) deliver a unique  sound that effortlessly owns mainstream South African pop. Moved by poetry and art, Matthew took inspiration from a sketch of the Swiss town of  Beatenberg, in a book of lectures by expressionist Paul Klee. Classically trained and locally inspired, they formed in 2008 with the express desire to introduce us all to something new.

On the release of their debut, The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg in 2014 the album became a showcase for the possibilities of pop music, exploring Kwaito, House and Mbaqanga. Beatenberg has broken radio chart records and won numerous awards as a result, including a sweep of the South African Music Awards including Album of the Year, Duo or Group of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Best Pop Album and four awards for the riveting single “Pluto (Remember You)”.

Now joining Island Records in the Spring of their international musical journey, they're set to release 12 Views of Beatenberg at the close of 2018. There’s every reason to believe that Field, Dorkin and Brink will be South Africa’s first global pop success – and that they will do this on the back of a sound that is rooted in their home country’s indigenous styles, unfailingly moving forward to the future.

Solace Nerwal is a singer, songwriter, music producer, & deejay hailing from Washington DC.

Solace has always had a passion for music.  As a young child he listened to pop music and created his own mixtapes using tape recorders.  He began remixing at the age of 14 using only his home computer.  After purchasing his first pair of turntables at the age of 15 and through encouragement from friends & family, Solace started deejaying at private events and local clubs.  He has released countless mixtapes under the alias ‘DJ Ace’.

At the age of 18, Solace started to produce original music and composed his first track.  Over the years Solace has honed his musical skills, learning to sing & write songs, play instruments such as keyboard, guitar, tumbi and algozey to name a few. 

Solace currently has 25+ original tracks under his belt, released with various artists and record labels around the world.  Some of his hits include 'Moor' and 'Hik Da Taweet', which were also featured on his self titled debut album 'Solace'

During his musical journey, Solace has also had the opportunity to gain experience as a mixing & mastering engineer, live sound engineer and also a recording engineer, by working at reputable studios and live venues around the Washington DC area.

It was in 2011 that Dutch pair Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets quickly broke through in the electronic music scene. Since then they have become known for their widescreen approach to making and playing club-ready grooves. From deep to disco, tech to soul, they join the dots between the past and the present with their own sense of storytelling and do so in clubs around the world, as well as in their studio. House might be the root of the Dam Swindle sound, but it takes nourishment from a much wider world of music. 

Still now, their breakthrough tunes such as ‘The Wrap Around’ and ‘The Break Up’ receive countless plays on dancefloors all over the world and the duo has made timeless music such as their 2023 disco-house bomb ‘ That’s right’ and 90’s throwback banger ‘Allright – just a tribute’ that became one of the hits of the 2024 festival summer. Dam Swindle has built a trademark sound, while still evolving and maturing their craft in various musical niches. Their landmark 2018 album High Life shows a broad musicality from the duo and this is even more so on their highly anticipated 2025 long player ‘Open’.  ‘Open’ features countless collaborations with high-profile artists such as Dutch pianist Joep Beving and New York-based Ethiopian vocalist Haile Supreme, and sees the duo flex their sound from ambient electronica to synthwave, hiphouse and more. 

Since 2013, the pair has also established their record label Heist Recordings as one of the key independent labels for underground dance music, while also releasing music on other underground mainstays such as Aus Music and Classic Music Company. Heist is more than just a label, though - it is a breeding ground for talents old and new; somewhere talent is nurtured and allowed to develop. Label showcases and special projects such as the yearly Roundup EP; where all artists from the past 12 months remix each other after a random selection process, furthers the family vibe and helps Heist stand out from crowd. Artists such as Cinthie, DJ Sneak, Crackazat, Tesfa Williams, Makèz, Pépé Bradock, Matthew Herbert, Ge-Ology, Byron the Aquarius and many more have all contributed, proving that it is a place for unrestrained creatives to be free with their own sonic visions. The label looks as good as it sounds, too, thanks to visual artist Bas Koopmans's standout artwork designs. 
 
Proof of Dam Swindle's widescreen approach to production is their long and talented list of collaborators, which includes the likes of acclaimed musician Tom Misch, US talent Seven Davis Jr., instrumental collective Jungle by Night, plus Marc de Clive-Lowe, Jitwam and Lorenz Rhode. Next to their own originals, a broad spectrum of artists have asked Dam Swindle for some of their special remix magic: on labels like Strut and Soundway they have reworked the legendary Pat Thomas, aka the ‘Golden voice of Africa,' and gave his single ‘Yamona’ a contemporary electronic edge, as well as The Mauskovic Dance Band’s track ‘Space Drum Machine’ and plenty more artists like Kerri Chandler, Mayer Hawthorne and Tom Misch. As their talent for bridging genres from all over the world continues to attract global attention, high-profile projects keep rolling in from all points on the musical globe. 

Dam Swindle are famously avid collectors of both old and new records, and it shows in their DJ sets, which keep you on your toes as they move freely through the broad world of house music with skillfully blended moods of soulful techno, acid, breaks, disco and more, all to create those special moments that crowds never forget. It is for that reason that their name has become a real stamp of authority and invention in the dance music world. Whatever they do, then, this pair do with irresistible charm.

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