Electric Escapes
Welcome to our newest collection, Electric Escapes, which is all about moving, loving, and dancing, no matter what’s going on around you. These playlists are packed with upbeat, feel-good tracks that bring energy and optimism to every moment. Whether you’re dancing on a balcony before a big night out with friends, doubling down on that next big project with your team, or just vibing solo while the city hums all around you, this collection is your soundtrack for turning up the volume on life. Groovy basslines, shimmering synths, and soulful hooks—rhythm for days!—all the playlists in our Electric Escapes collection will remind you to keep pushing forward. It’s not about running away; it’s about embracing the moment with a beat that makes everything feel possible.
Optimist
When the noise of the world gets too loud, Optimist turns up the volume on hope, happiness, and aspiration. As the debut playlist for our new collection, Electric Escapes, it delivers an enthralling mix of funky basslines, uplifting melodies, and soulful rhythms. Carefully curated to inspire dancing, joy, and creativity, these tracks are a celebration of resilience and positivity—an antidote to the challenges of our times.
This playlist brings together a vibrant blend of genres, including disco-inspired electronica, modern funk, soulful house, and synth-driven pop. Each track has been chosen for its ability to uplift and energise, creating a soundscape that feels like a breath of fresh air. From the shimmering grooves of Cosmo’s Midnight's 'Walk with Me' to the tropical cocktail vibes of SACRE's 'Lemonade', every song is a reminder that music can be an escape—a place where creativity flourishes despite external chaos.
Starting at the end, I’ve included Franc Moody's 'Space Between Us', which blends funk-fuelled rhythms with psychedelic undertones to create a sense of exploration and freedom. Fred Falke’s 'Radio Days' adds a touch of French disco nostalgia with big pianos and glitzy melodies that evoke carefree moments on the dancefloor. Meanwhile, Moon Boots contributes soulful house gems like 'Gary’s House' and 'Tear My Heart', showcasing his knack for combining smooth vocals with infectious beats.
The playlist also features standout tracks from Kraak & Smaak, whose 'I’ll Be Loving You' is an upbeat boogie anthem infused with blazing funk and retro soul influences. Yuksek’s contributions, including 'Into the Light' and 'This Feeling', bring disco revival energy with shimmering synths and uplifting hooks that feel like rays of sunshine piercing through clouds.
Whether you're dancing in your living room or diving into your next creative project, Optimist is designed to be exactly what you need to recharge and reset. It’s more than just music—it’s a reminder that even in challenging times, there’s always room to dance, dream, and create.
For the Craft
Everybody has their favourite artists, and we're no different. This collection celebrates those artists that to us, are the craftspeople of music itself, who for their own, unique reasons, changed everything. Each short, but perfectly-formed playlist contains the very best of each artist, specially curated by one of our team who simply can't live without them.
Crazy P
Crazy P is one of the great British dance and electronic mucis acts of the modern age. With the passing of Danielle Moore, the frontwoman of the band for the longest time, we wanted to pay tribute to her, and them, with this sun-soaked, vocal masterclass, looking back at some of the best tracks from their early days, through to their later stuff too.
Ryan, our founder, curated this playlist in no time at all: I once met Danielle very, very briefly, and she was a delight in every sense of the word, but well before that, I'd seen Crazy P live both at Glastonbury and then again in Manchester around the time of the pandemic, and I have to say, there isn't a better tonic for those weird times than Crazy P.
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David Bowie
David Bowie needs no introduction. His oeuvre is vast, and his influence on music is immeasurable. And that''s before you even get to everything else that he defined: fashion, art, and culture. This playlist is a snapshot of his career, from his early folk days to his glam rock and disco phases, and beyond.
Ryan, our founder, curated this playlist in honour of his favourite artist of alltime: 'There isn't a day goes by when I don't miss him. I remember the day he died. I was getting ready to head to the studio, and I saw it announced in the news. I sat on the step in the kitchen for 40 minutes and sobbed. I had to take the day off. It broke me inside.'
'There is a fighting chance that his time in Berlin significantly influenced my decision to expand the business here.'
'He wasn't just a musician or an artist. He was the epitome of culture itself. He really made it possible for me to be me. I owe it to my mum for playing Rebel Rebel on repeat throughout my childhood. What a gift to bestow upon a child. I'll be forever grateful that I got to share this earth with him.'
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Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai, the British band fronted by the enigmatic, beautiful, talent that is Jay Kay, stormed to the height of their power in the 90s, creating their own blend of acid jazz, funk, and disco. Their music is a celebration of the dancefloor, and their videos are a feast for the eyes. This playlist is a snapshot of their career, from their early days to their most recent releases.
El, our Creative Director, curated this playlist as a tribute to his love of this 90s giant: 'Before joining Umlaut, I'd never even heard of Jamiroquai. The 90s are something that people talk about like it were the best time to be alive, and I missed it. But when Ryan introduced me to Virtual Insanity, I was hooked. I've been a fan ever since. I love their music, and I love their videos: just iconic. They're a band that's all about the music, and that's something I can get behind.'
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Sounds of the Summer
Started back in 2022, SOTS is our annual signature series capturing the very best beats from every summer season. Perfect for those long, balmy summer stints where anything seems possible. Or, those serendipitous moments when you're with friends on a balcony, with the sun on your face, and the entire night before you.
Sounds of the Summer 2024
In our third annual instalment of Sounds of the Summer, we wanted to recreate that serendipitous summer house party vibe. You know the one, where a mate suggests meeting up, you all um and ah for a while, and then, miraculously, you all end up on their balcony dancing the afternoon away, while the rays beat down, the laughter never ends, and there’s a feeling in the air that you wish would live with you forever.
We start with cool melodic beach vibes, to start things off chill and sophisticated, and then, by way of one of the best remixes of any Jamiroquai track ever, as well as the transcendental beats of Incognito, JKRIV, and Crazy P, we ramp it up with lush disco melodies, sumptuous floor fillers, and a selection of both old, and bang-up-to-date modern classics, that will have you dancing until your feet are sore.
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Sounds of the Summer 2023
The Summer of 2023 was Umlaut's Berlin Showdown. We threw open the windows of our Berlin studio and cranked up the beats. It was one of those long summers that was gone in a flash. When that happens, you know it was a winner. This playlist is a tribute to that summer. Influenced by the city’s disco renaissance, this playlist is full of anthemic tracks that fill your soul, make you want to move, and inspire a gazillion ideas. Absolutely perfect for when you need to sweat the detail or kick off something new. And, of course, also stunning for those hazy weekends in Kreuzberg, dancing in the afternoon sun and through to the earlies. We'll see you there.
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Sounds of the Summer 2022
Disco, nudisco, electronic, acid jazz, and house, perfect for those long hours working in the summer months. Some oldies and some newies, but all goodies. When you can sling Jungle, Jamiroquai, and Horse Meat Disco into the same playlist, you know it ain't gonna be half bad.
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Specials
A series of unique, one-off, playlists for creative sessions where only something special will do.
The French Touch
French Touch emerged in the 1990s, characterised by its unique blend of house music, disco, and funk. You'll know the sound when you hear it: it's simply unforgettable.
And yet, since the 90s, new acts have emerged that have taken the genre to whole new heights, incorporating more modern twists on this classic sound.
We start with one such artist, Bolivard, who evokes the spirit of French Touch but with a whole new lease of life. Cheeky lyrics, unexpected cadences, and a whole load of rhythm make his tracks a must-listen.
And of course, there's a few of the names you'll know. We needn't even discuss them here, they're gonna make you smile the moment you hear them.
The French Touch is not just about nostalgia; it's a celebration of creativity and innovation in electronic music. As summer comes into view, this playlist is the perfect companion as we get out more and start to breathe one again.
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Double Diamond
You always know when you’re in the company of a fantastic dj. When they truly know their craft, it can feel like they’re a conductor, and you, and the floor full of beautiful people around you, are the orchestra.
And like an orchestra, great djs don’t just play one note. In fact, throughout a set, they’re completely in tune with how the crowd reacts. They know when to build to a crescendo, and they know when to break it all down, pause, and then do it all again.
“Double Diamond” is a playlist celebrating the talents of incredible djs, djs that the team here at Umlaut has had the good fortune to listen to across the dance floors of Berlin.
So, we start with an absolute classic: Moloko’s “The Time Is Now”. This is a little meta, as when they were making this track, they wanted to create an orchestral version of a dance track—it’s one of our favourite songs of all time.
From there, the intensity builds gradually until we reach the midpoint of the playlist. The gorgeous “How Ya’ Doin’” by YolaDisko swings and swirls into your life. “Where The Music Is Hot” by Ken@Work takes classic disco and makes it new again—watch out for the chorus; it’s infectious.
After that, we get a little heavier. Ost & Kjex’s “Cajun Lunch” has a rhythmic pound and a hell of a lyric that builds and builds and builds until we reach the breakdown, which is, well, let’s say the hairs just stood up on my arms writing this. And if that wasn’t enough, we reach our crescendo with the Greg Wilson edit of “Don’t Turn It Off” by 40 Thieves. This song defines “Chef’s Kiss”—the perfect blend of Berghain thump and disco lyrics. As Qzen sings: “You’re quite tasty, ain’t you baby.” Ain’t it just.
And just like that, we reach the breakdown. It’s time for a pause with “You’re The One” by Kaytranda and “Got To Be” by Brian Power. Take a breath with these, lean in for a second, ‘cos it’s gonna kick off again right after.
We start the second buildup with the indescribable Franc Moody’s “You Got Some Nerve”. We then go by Jungle’s “Heavy, California”. Finally, we work up to the finale via Blonde’s “All Cried Out,” which honestly is about as good as modern electronic music gets. Divine.
The second crescendo is a bit of a curve ball. We’re returning to the 90s with a homage to speed garage by way of Danny J Lewis and Brett Taylor’s “In Your Eyes”. Don’t be scared off by the intro because, by the time you get midway through this, you’re gonna be smiling like you never did before.
Oh, and like any good dj, right at the end, when you’ve danced until you can’t dance no more, we’ve thrown in a final track, to keep you humming all the way home. You’re going to love it.
And you may have noticed the title of the playlist. If not, then let us explain. The ‘double diamond’ is a visual representation of the design and innovation process, and has been used for donkeys by designers the world over to describe the steps taken in any design project.
You start by identifying a problem, then those ideas fan out, and you gather as much inspiration as possible before bringing it all back together by filtering those ideas into a single concept and then building out that concept again before reaching a solution. If you draw the process out, it looks like two diamonds, one after the other. And, coincidentally, or maybe not, that’s precisely how this playlist is crafted: it starts small, builds, breaks down, and builds again—music and creativity at one with one another.
It’s almost like we thought about it…
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Neue Perspektiven
Moving into the new year the right way, with this surly, burly selection of deep grooves and beats. Perfect for disappearing in the cold winter nights, just you, your desk cans, the beat, and the work. Lush.
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