It's that time of year when folks start their "Best Of" lists but some have already started so with the release of the big purple 'Best Of 2004' 12" tomorrow, it was a good time for a quick chat with head train drivers of The Disco Express, Tom Lilly (BL) and Tatiana (T).
When The Disco Express started in 2017, I don't suppose that their vision of original disco, house and soulful dance would include a record label and a series of events in London, Paris, Berlin, Mexico City and New York? Or was it?
BL: When I was first getting into dance music and disco I was massively inspired by the likes of Studio 54 and Paradise Garage for its flamboyance, exuberance and sense of inclusivity. My goal was the ignite the spirit of the 70’s NY club scene and bring it to Shoreditch Platform in East London on a monthly basis. The venue was a former train station in the 1940’s so the whole concept came together very naturally.
For my own DJ moniker Bustin’ Loose was in fact the name of my first party! It took place at Canavan’s Pool Club between 2015-2017. Since creating TDE I decided to adopt it as my own DJ / production alias. The name was originally inspired by Chuck Brown’s seminal funk anthem ‘Bustin’ Loose’.
The label has been described as like a young Razor-N-Tape!
T: That’s
an amazing compliment—Razor-N-Tape has really set the standard for
quality and creativity in the scene, so to be compared to them is a
huge honor. They’ve
definitely been an inspiration for us. When it comes to younger
labels, AOC Records in Paris is one to watch. They’ve
built a fantastic roster with artists like Bellaire, Georges, and
Contrecoeur, and it’s
been exciting to see how much they’ve
grown over the past few years. Their sound complements ours
beautifully, blending modern house with lots of jazz, funk, and disco
influences. They recently played a massive sold-out show at Koko,
which looked incredible—such a testament to how far they’ve
come.
BL: To
be mentioned in the same breath as Razor-N-Tape is pretty cool. Its a
label I’ve followed way before I started DJing and begun TDE so is
a real honour for me.
Talking of France, you've
been a big supporter of Art Of Tones - his
track 'The Magic
Count’ on Best of 2024 sounds to me like a timeless track that
could be on any Best of
2024 (+1 for the rest of time)
T: ”The
Magic Count" was a no-brainer for our Best Of 2024. Art Of Tones
has such a knack for creating music that connects with you on a deep
level—it’s
funky, soulful, and beautifully produced. It was an easy choice for
the compilation because it captures everything The Disco Express is
about. I wouldn’t
be surprised if people are still spinning it in years to come; it’s
one of those rare tracks that just gets better with time.
So 'The Magic Count' picked itself for Best of, how did you choose the other 6 tracks.
BL:
For
me, the real goal with 'Best of 2024' was to showcase the diversity and
expanse of music on the label. I wanted to share with our audience
the breadth of musical styles and wide variety of sounds we release.
That in mind, I’m stoked to say in this record you’ll find
anything from original Chicago House to Italo, Soul, Garage and Nu
Disco.
Being so varied, is this what we'd expect at The Disco
Express club night?
T: Our
catalogue is pretty varied! That’s
something we pride ourselves on because we want The Disco Express to
represent the full spectrum of disco and house. At one of our club
nights, you’d
absolutely hear that same variety—everything from soulful disco to
funky edits, uplifting house to deeper grooves. The goal is to create
a space where everyone can find their moment to connect with the
music. With Ron Carroll, it was an incredible collaboration. He’s
a legend in the scene, and “Everybody
Move” is
already a standout track. His vocals are infectious, and it’s
the kind of tune that instantly brings the crowd together. It’s
definitely becoming one of those big, end-of-the-night moments for
us.
Are you having a launch night?
BL:
We
celebrated in Paris at one of our favourite clubs called Sacré. On
the bill we had Magnolia and Sam Karlson, playing out their track
‘Everybody Move’ which of course set the dance floor alight.
What's in the future, plans for The Disco
Express 'Best of 2025'?
BL:
More worldwide residencies, particularly in Rome, Copenhagen,
Melbourne and São
Paulo! Lots
more exciting releases too! It’ll be our century of releases in
late 2025 so to keep your eyes peeled for that.
We’re gonna keep
firing on all cylinders, that’s for sure.
Many thanks to Sharon at Shine PR for organising this and that's not just big tunes for their 80th release. All aboard for The Disco Express!
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