Interviews

BIG congratulations are in order for one of the UK’s leading new disco labels – The Disco Express. With their solid and consistent output of original music, and as they approach their 75th release, we talk to TDE kingpin Tom Lilly aka Bustin’ Loose about what it takes to keep going, and what it feels like to be still going strong after seventy five releases.

It really is quite something for a label to get to its 75th release. Congratulations. How does that feel?

Thanks so much! It certainly fills us with a lot of pride. It's a cool milestone for sure but we have so much more amazing music to come on The Disco Express.

When you first started out with the label, did you have any idea it was to go this far?

It began during lockdown in 2020. During that time, it was a passion project whilst nightclubs were closed. At that point, I did have a long term plan for it, but I honestly didn't think we'd get to 50 releases let alone 75. It feels very surreal.

When did the label begin exactly, and who was part of it at the start?

In Summer 2020, a group of us (Bustin' Loose, Soundsmith, S.D.S and Pete Maxey) released a charity EP on Fresh Take Records to raise money for the NHS. The EP made a fair bit of money, we were happy with the outcome and thankful to the Fresh Take guys for being so supportive of our idea.

After that initial experience, we decided to release our first various artists compilation on The Disco Express titled Disco Ride; a collection of Nu-Disco Edits inspired by 70's disco and contemporary house / garage.

When was the moment/ where were you when you decided you were going to kick things off with the imprint?

I had been toying with the idea long before 2020, but it was the free time over lockdown that really kick started the label. I was at home. I made a Bandcamp page, sought out the contacts for distribution and got some tracks mastered. The rest is history.

What were some of the challenges you had with the label in the beginning?

Finding the right distributor, marketing the releases and consistency. We wanted to maintain quality output and better our most recent release. Establishing our sound and what makes us 'us’ was also an important hurdle to jump.

Overall, running a label is a juggling act. Once everything is ticking and you get into that flow you just know what to do. In that sense, having a plan and strategy is important and keeping consistent is key.

Your output has been quite prolific. Do you have a plan to release every couple of months or is it just the way it happened?

Thank you! At the beginning we set out a strategy to create a conveyor belt of releases.. continuously bringing out good music on a regular basis (every two weeks). Now we have our routine, we can churn out release after release with great results. People know when to expect music and follow us on Bandcamp to keep up to speed with our London locomotive.

How do you go about sourcing new talent for the label?

At the beginning I was trawling through Soundcloud looking for new artists and burgeoning talent. Nowadays, we receive demos via email. We’ve had to create a new email address just to keep up with demand. It’s quite plentiful these days!

Now we’re four years in, we have our core artists. Our aim is to work more intensively with these artists (i.e. Magnolia, Golden Gate, The Wild Violets, Sparkling Attitude, Sam Karlson, Sean Den, Bustin’ Loose, Ethical Drift and more) and propel them alongside furthering our label’s sound.

What is the label’s ethos/ mission musically?

Inclusivity, diversity and equality. Born out of our love for Studio 54, Paradise Garage, David Mancuso’s The Loft and the New York club scene of the 1970’s, our mission is to bring high quality original house and disco to 21st century dance floors.

A large proportion of our releases have been recorded live in studio environments. The songs are written using live instruments, with singers and musicians and are non-reliant on samples. We do love a good sample, but! We find authenticity helps us stand out as, at the moment, there aren’t tons of totally original disco artists on the circuit. Our music boasts that organic uniqueness which’ll leave a legacy in years to come.

With regards to our art and branding we match vintage and textured aesthetics with a slick and modern finish. This way we’re paying homage to the past whilst envisioning the future.

Do you think there is any shortage of talent/ people making new music right now?

I don’t think there’s a shortage of people making new music, there’s a lot of talented producers and musicians out there. Potentially straight up original music though..

We’re lucky enough to live in a world where production software is easily downloadable, and anyone can become a producer if they put their mind to it. However, we do find in the music charts a lot of music is rehashed, oversampled or re-edited under new titles.

For us, it’s original music that really gets us going. We focus on ourselves, our artists and our community; original disco for 21st century dance floors. Naturally, artists and fellow disco lovers with a similar mindset, who want original new music, gravitate towards our label.

How have you managed - as a label – to remain buoyant through the challenges of the last five years?

It’s not hard to stay buoyant when you love what you do.

Where do you take most of your inspiration when you discover new music?

Youtube, Soundcloud and digging in record shops.

Tell us about this 75th Release Special?

For our 75th Release Special we decided to bring out the big guns by inviting four top class artists to breathe life into our back catalogue.

The Reflex, Dr Packer, Hot Toddy (Crazy P) and John Morales remixed four original tracks by Golden Gate, The Wild Violets, Bustin’ Loose and Magnolia. The 75th Release Special really is a thing of beauty; a proper statement release and something we’ve put a lot of care and thought into. It was pressed on turquoise blue vinyl too!

It’s a real milestone for us and one that we’re very proud of.

What is coming up next for The Disco Express?

Our NYC tour at the end of August, the start of our new London residency at Metropolis on 28th September and events around the world in Mexico City, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam to see out 2024. Maybe a Best of 2024 record too ;)

Do you see the label evolving at all or will you be forever disco?

We’re constantly evolving and growing. The title may have ‘disco’ in it but in fact we release lots of different genres.. Breakbeat, funk, electronic, soul, world and so on.

The Disco Express is mainly a platform for uplifting house and disco music, but ultimately a source of soul induced, eclectic sounds.

What is your top tip to other label owners for longevity?

Keep to a consistent release schedule and don’t drop the ball when it comes to output. Be organised but also be prepared to break the mould and do something different. Authenticity and originality is underrated.

What is your favourite disco record of all time?

Way too many to mention but if I had to say but a few they’d be:

Carol Douglas - I Got The Answer

Lenny Williams - Choosing You

Idris Muhammad - Dancing In The Land Of Lovely Ladies

Happy 75th release to you!

Check out the latest release from The Disco Express.