Dive into the vibrant heart of London’s disco scene with Bustin’ Loose, a.k.a. Tom Lilly, the mastermind behind The Disco Express parties and label. Since 2017, Tom has been rekindling the spirit of the legendary New York loft parties, bringing together iconic artists and fresh beats under one roof. In this exclusive track talk, Bustin’ Loose opens his record bag to reveal the top 10 tracks that have defined his journey from a passionate DJ to a pivotal figure in the disco and house music revival.
1. Sugarhill Gang – Rappers Delight (Ben Liebrand Remix ’89).
My first ever 12” record, and what a find! This vinyl single features a special remix version of Sugarhill Gang’s classic ‘Rappers Delight’. The 7-minute rap sits upon an outrageous mashup of disco classics by Ben Liebrand; copped from an Oxfam charity shop in 2009!
2. Chuck Brown and The Soulsearchers – Bustin’ Loose.
Back in 2015, Bustin’ Loose was the title of my first resident party series at Canavan’s Peckham Pool Club. A few years later in 2017, when I moved onto running events at Shoreditch Platform, it became my DJ and artist name. Chuck Brown’s funk anthem ‘Bustin’ Loose’ was the inspiration behind it all.
3. Crystal Waters – Gypsy Woman.
One of house music’s most recognizable titles. In 2016, I was lucky enough to find a very good copy of the original AM single at Deptford Market in a dusty record bin for 50p! I ran for the hills.
4. Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force?
March 2018 – I celebrated my birthday by performing on a truly ludicrous line up featuring Moodymann, Dave Lee, Jacques Renault, Donna Leake and Felix Dickinson. ‘Can You Feel The Force?’ was the final song of my set at a jubilant and packed E1 in London. One of my favourite memories as a DJ.
5. Bustin’ Loose – New York City.
My debut release in 2019 on Toy Tonics. A proud moment for me! The EP includes a mix of re-edits and originals. This one was inspired by the 70’s music scene of New York.
6. Bustin’ Loose – Home Way Phase.
2020 was a shit year but I was thrilled to have my music on vinyl. Home Way Phase is a chunky disco-house club track pressed on wax by the lovely folks at Whiskey Disco.
7. Bustin’ Loose – Swift Lippin’ (Hifi Sean Remix).
In 2022 I was lucky enough to have the great Hifi Sean remix my disco original ‘Swift Lippin’. The Glitterbox and Defected affiliate absolutely killed it with his remix and now it’s a staple track in all my DJ sets.
8. Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free.
2023 was slightly better as I was invited to play a cheeky Thursday night set at Glastonbury. Young Hearts Young Free was the final song of my set. Safe to say it went off.
9. Luke Delite & Michelle Weeks – Give Me Your Love.
As our label The Disco Express grows, so do the numbers and early in 2024 I was stoked that Give Me Your Love hit 100k streams. A milestone in our nascency as a record label. Congrats to Luke and Michelle for making such an awesome track.
10. Bustin’ Loose & Soundsmith – Party People.
Party People was a Chicago House influenced project made in-between London and Berlin with fellow label head Soundsmith. Magnolia laid down the sauce using the vibraphone and Georges worked his magic on the mixdown. One year later and it’s finally doing the rounds in the clubs. A proper beefy house track! Somewhat satisfied.
A few final words.
Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary musical voyage with Bustin’ Loose. From his first vinyl discovery to the latest club anthems shaking up dance floors, each track narrates a chapter of his journey in the pulsating world of disco and house music. As we continue to celebrate the legacy and future of The Disco Express, don’t miss out on our latest release, “The Link Up EP,” a testament to our ever-evolving sound and community. Dive into the beat, explore our collection, and keep the party going. Your support turns our musical dreams into reality, thank you for being a part of this journey.
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