As the world of electronic music ground to a halt during the pandemic, Ryan Murgatroyd has kept his momentum of writing and releasing some of the freshest and most interesting electronic music on the planet. 

Now, returning to a soon to be post Covid world, he continues through his finest form with ‘Methane’. His third release of the new year, this record is about going back to the simplicity of hard-hitting but fun, hands-in-the-air music that welcomes back those dance floor moments to eager audiences around the globe.

Not only has Murgatroyd become known for his genre-bending production but also for unearthing new, undiscovered vocal talents, and this release is no exception. 
Welcoming the sultry, swooning and truly unique vocals of Myburgh to the Swoon Stable, he lays down the hook of all hooks on this record and makes it a new anthem for dance floors the world over. 

Speaking of the release, Murgatroyd mentioned “Some tracks just come together effortlessly and this is one of them! Myburgh and I got together one late night during the peak of lockdown (on Zoom, of course) and set out to write one of those classic house tracks that would be chanted on dance floors across the globe when the pandemic was over.  The sonic palette of this song is effortless, dance-able, big basses, shuffling drums and all the dirty squelch you can imagine. On top of the forward marching percussion and gritty sound design, Myburgh has laid down one of the catchiest, most memorable and addictive vocals of the year.”

‘Methane’ is available everywhere on 4 June 2021 via Swoon Recordings

Methane

Ryan Murgatroyd ft. Myburgh - Methane (Extended Mix)

Welcoming the Parisian talents of Nicolas Sasson and Pauline Konrad, a perfect summer re-edit of their track together called ‘Woodh’. 
Konrad’s sultry vocals paired with Sasson’s shuffling bass lines, moving arpeggiators and progressive indie elements leave us with an exemplary record for the summer season.

@sassonparis @paulinekonrad

Various Artists 2

Woodh

Sasson (FR) ft. Konrad - Woodh (Summer 21 Mix)

Much anticipated and relatively new to the scene we are so excited to welcome Mahandana to our catalogue of insanely talented artists, with his debut release on Ambious Records, he is certainly an artist to keep your eye on. 
This record, ‘Ambiguous’ caught our attention from the very first second. Robust yet somewhat delicate, interesting percussions, a driving kick drum, and an overall afro yet melodic feel leaves us with this record on repeat.

@mahandana

Ambiguous

Mahandana - Ambigious

Celso Fabbri graces us once again with his monstrous production skills on ‘Mafia’, this young and upcoming talent from Port Elizabeth doesn’t hold back in showing us how he is able to manipulate sound. 
Driving kick drums, progressive synth leads and an undeniable groove creates a beautiful follow up to his record on our first Various Artist Compilation, ‘Monster’.

@celso-fabbri

Mafia

Celso Fabbri - Mafia

Kickstarting our second Various Artists compilation is South African born Jordan Arts, who is now pursuing his music career in Amsterdam. The young and extremely talented multi-instrumentalist created and recorded ‘Finding Truth’ for Swoon’s Live Improv Series, composed entirely himself using progressive loops, synthesisers and his guitar to create this emotive, almost nostalgic house record.

@jordanarts

Finding Truth

Jordan Arts - Finding Truth

We are so excited to welcome back Weston & Engine to our catalogue of talent, they bring a deep ethereal feel to Mark and Ryan’s original version. Their notable progressive tech is implied and felt throughout, and lends itself to daydreaming a hopeful beam of light at the end of the tunnel. 
“Bucket List”, “remixing Ryan and Mark was always one of our major goals in our career.” says Pablo Lundall and Sean Phillips (Weston & Engine)

Rebel Kids EP

Rebel Kids (Weston & Engine Remix)

Mark Valsecchi & Ryan Murgatroyd - Rebel Kids (Weston & Engine Remix)

The forgotten tale of a late night jam sesh at Mixroom Studios. Rebels Kids was inspired through a love for young, urban culture. The pretty chords and spacious arpeggios give way to a searing lead that pierces through the midnight air. A playful soundscape lends the record to an ultimate feel good vibe. Spoken word vocals drive home a narrative of knowing thyself and building a strong independent mindset. The main lead is repetitive and hypnotic, layered into a groovy bouncing bassline throughout. Cheeky percussion and somewhat emotive lyrics leave us captivated with this blissful record.

Rebel Kids (Original Mix)

Mark Valsecchi & Ryan Murgatroyd - Rebel Kids (Original Mix)

Our love is deeply rooted for our main man, George, next up on remixing duties and otherwise known as Jelico. A naughty twist on Rebel Kids, we love the classic deep house basslines, sassy percussion and vibrant all-round groove. George speaks of the release, “it’s always an honour to get the chance to remix anything from Ryan and Mark, I knew this track was huge as soon as they sent it to me. The hook is so strong and was a lot of fun to play around to create some alternate melodic motifs for the remix.”

Rebel Kids (Jelico Remix)

Mark Valsecchi & Ryan Murgatroyd - Rebel Kids (Jelico Remix)

VIK, a South African born electronic artist refining his unique artistry without being too grandiloquent. VIK tends to steer clear of mainstream trends, he preserves the importance of delivering an authentic message with the urge to explore his instinct. His remix is eerie, progressive and we are absolutely in love. A unique play on the original chord progression leaves us with his version on repeat.

Rebel Kids (VIK Remix)

Mark Valsecchi & Ryan Murgatroyd - Rebel Kids (VIK Remix)

Welcoming Cape Town based Daniel Wulfsohn to the Swoon fam. 
Wulfsohn has been honing his craft since 2008. Having played major open-air festivals in both Cape Town & Joburg, he’s remained firmly immersed in the local electronic dance music scene.
His remix is an all-encompassing reflection of his international musical adventures which have broadened his imagination and oxygenated an already burning rhythmic flame inside him. The progressive arps, deep punchy bass lines and clean high end create a lovely illustration of Wulfsohn’s sound and his adaptation of the original from Mark and Ryan. “I had a lot of fun working on this remix. Ryan & Mark have both been my biggest sources of inspiration since day one. Honoured to have been chosen for this EP!” - Wulfsohn.

Rebel Kids (Wulfsohn Remix)

Mark Valsecchi & Ryan Murgatroyd - Rebel Kids (Wulfsohn Remix)

“I think there is a misconception that modular music is all about bleeps and blips, I get so excited to prove to folks that it's a real instrument, delicate and capable of really complex harmonic stuff. I wanted to stir a cauldron of afro and modular vibes together for this song and I'm in love with it”, Murgtatroyd speaks of his release.

Back with a vengeance, this record is main room melodic techno with a special twist brought in with the uplifting, twisted melodies cascading throughout. A true dance floor groover to hopefully inspire dance floors the world over.

Analogic EP

Analogic

Ryan Murgatroyd - Analogic

Light, Everywhere EP

Light, Everywhere (Mark Valsecchi & Evan Kotton Remix)

1MRN - Light, Everywhere (Mark Valsecchi & Evan Kotton Remix)

Light, Everywhere

1MRN - Light, Everywhere (Original Mix)

Revelation

1MRN - Revelation

With an impressive throng of critically acclaimed personal productions clocked on Swoon Recordings over the course of the last eighteen months, creative South African visionary and label boss Ryan Murgatroyd now turns his attention to A&R duties, as he collates the first VA compilation on Swoon since its inception back in 2019.

Due for worldwide release on December 18, Swoon Recordings’ Various Artists 1 sees Murgatroyd enlist a selection of the most exciting up-and-coming talents on the South African circuit as he delivers a delectably curated debut compilation on the flourishing Johnnesburg-based imprint.

Kickstarting the three-part package, Murgatroyd calls on burgeoning Afro house producer Atmos Blaq for his long-awaited label debut, as the Soweto-born maestro delivers the spellbinding Dyspepsia (Atmospheric Mix), replete with mesmerising down-tempo rhythms, undulating samples and a bassline that needs to be heard to be believed.

Hailing from Port Elizabeth in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, Celso Fabbri & Ed Ward deliver the second track of the package with Monster – a record brimming with mind-bending synthesisers, ominous piano refrains and shuffling percussion, all of which are underpinned by a slow and chugging four-to-the-floor beat.

Last but by no means least, and still flying high off the back of his debut album Outsiders back in 2019 (which included a nomination for ‘Best Underground Record Of The Year at the annual Dance Music Awards South Africa), undisputed man of the moment, Pierre Johnson, comes together with hotly-tipped electronic duo Weston & Engine for the stunning finale, North Nebula, as the three hugely talented artists converge in perfect accord to conclude a remarkable first compilation on Swoon Recordings.

Speaking about the upcoming release, Ryan Murgatroyd commented:

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome all of these incredible artists for Swoon’s first VA compilation. My vision for the label has always been to champion the very best electronic music in South Africa and provide a strong platform for local artists to showcase their incredible talents within our sonic signature of cinematic, dancefloor-friendly melodic house and techno. None of these artists have ever released on Swoon until now so I’m super excited to share these three stunning and diverse records with the world.”

Swoon Recordings Various Artists 1 will be released on December 18 via Swoon Recordings.

Various Artists 1 

Monster

Celso Fabbri & Ed-Ward - Monster

Swoon reinforces their international presence in 2021 with an EP from American DJ and producer, Jeff Eveline. 
‘My Fandango’ explores dramatic yet smooth melodies with dark drum fills and enticing vocals. Jelico steps up for remix duties, emphasizing the thick bass lines and adding energy to the mid and hi range creating a fitting dance floor groover. 

The second track from Eveline, ‘Wandering Gas’ delivers a sultry yet mysterious follow up with indistinct vocals and grainy effects leaving the listener captivated. 
‘My Fandango EP’ will be available exclusively on Beatport & Spotify on 19 March 2021 via Swoon Recordings. And all stores on 2 April 2021.

My Fandango

Wandering Gas

Jeff Eveline - Wandering Gas (Original Mix)

Jeff Eveline - My Fandango (Original Mix)

Featuring the unearthed vocal talents of Amy Jones, Close To Me is a 117 BPM smooth groover, pulsating with an entirely new palette of modular sounds, mixed in with Murgatroyd signature pianos and rolling bass lines.
This soulful, thoughtful yet unbelievably groovy and uplifting piece of music is at home on the dance floor or in the lounge.

Close to Me

Ryan Murgatroyd ft. Amy Jones - Close To Me

Jeff Eveline - My Fandango (Jelico Remix)

On Friday, April 9th 2021, Mexican-based Salvador Rizo aka QT-HIGH and New York-based Francis Mercier aka Emvafaya are set to release their Afro-centric masterpiece, ‘Inner Center’, on leading African House music label, Swoon Recordings, including an upbeat remix from label head honcho, Ryan Murgatroyd. Fusing their love for ethnic percussive elements and their own interpretation of the sound of the desert, they match their unique energy with ease and encapsulate their passion for tribal sounds in this offering with excellence that these artists have been known to deliver. 

A powerful and memorable bassline leads the title track to the EP, ‘Inner Center’, forward with focus and energy, encapsulated by enigmatic percussion and haunting vocals. Tension building breakdowns and mesmerizing drops, filled with high fidelity soundscapes lead you through this sonic landscape that these two artists have so eloquently crafted, with a confident resolution that shows the true nature and talent of the combination of QT-HIGH and Emvafaya’s production prowess.

Up next, and closing off the EP with a true grace that he has developed continuously from release to release, Ryan Murgatroyd’s remix of the original guides us through a re-envisioning of, ‘Inner Center’, without losing it’s true essence and energy that QT-HIGH and Emvafaya naturally developed. Melancholic vocal edits and cinematic melodies layer the growling bassline and harmonious synth lines that Ryan Murgatroyd has become known for. Delivering another individual take on modern Afro-centric House music and lending yet another example of the quality emerging from the African continent.

Talking about the release, QT-HIGH said, ‘Inner Center speaks to my ethnic and tribal Mexican roots mixed with my love for African percussion’ and Emvafaya had this to say about the release, ‘QT-HIGH and I created ‘Inner Center’ based on our love for ethnic sounds and deep synthesis! We wanted to infuse our interpretation of the sound of the desert with raw synths and percussion.’
 
QT-HIGH and Emvafaya’s ‘Inner Center’ - is available everywhere - 23rd April 2021 via Swoon Recordings

Inner Center

QT-HIGH, Emvafaya - Inner Center

QT-HIGH, Emvafaya - Inner Center (Ryan Murgatroyd Remix)

Swoon Recordings, a record label founded by Ryan Murgatroyd, is focused on finding new sonic palettes and escaping the generic, transcending clichés of 4/4 music.

Demos: demos@swoonagency.com
Bookings: bookings@swoonagency.com 
Promo: promo@swoonagency.com
Info: info@swoonagency.com

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