WHAT WE DANCE TO
Time travel through your ear-holes! The music that fuels our dance obsession first exploded onto the scene in the roaring 1920s, reaching its intoxicating peak during the 1940s “Golden Age” of swing. This isn’t just music—it’s a cultural revolution captured in sound, and there’s a universe of Swing Jazz waiting to sweep you off your feet.
The Legends Who Started It All: When you hear names like Chick Webb (the drummer who discovered Ella), Count Basie (whose band swung with unprecedented precision), Ella Fitzgerald (the First Lady of Song), Fats Waller (master of stride piano and infectious joy), and Duke Ellington (whose sophistication redefined American music)—you’re hearing about the architects who built the house of swing. Their innovations created the playground where Lindy Hop thrives.
The Tradition Lives On: This isn’t museum music—it’s a living, breathing art form! Today’s bands keep the flame burning bright, delivering both reverent tributes and fresh interpretations that prove swing never went out of style. Our dance floors regularly erupt to contemporary swing masters like Gordon Webster, Naomi and Her Handsome Devils, The Hot Sugar Band, The Rhythm Gamblers, and Jonathan Stout. These modern torchbearers understand exactly what makes dancers fly.
Want an instant education? Dive into our carefully curated Spotify playlist—your perfect introduction to the Lindy Hop soundtrack. It’s ideal for practice sessions, solo kitchen dancing, or simply infusing your daily commute with some authentic swing-era magic.
Warning: This music has been known to cause spontaneous finger-snapping, uncontrollable smiling, and the sudden urge to learn how to triple-step.
YOUR PERSONAL SWING DJ: CUSTOM PLAYLISTS ON DEMAND
Decision fatigue from scrolling through Spotify? We’ve discovered the digital equivalent of having a swing DJ in your pocket! This brilliant website creates automated Spotify playlists tailored precisely to your dancing mood and needs.
Customize your soundtrack with just a few clicks! Want slow, dreamy songs for practicing those intimate blues moves? Need high-energy bangers for a cardio lindy hop workout? Looking for the perfect mid-tempo grooves to nail those swing-outs? Simply select your dancing style, preferred tempo, and even DJ pacing—then watch as your personalized playlist materializes like magic.
Crowd-sourced swing wisdom at work! Since these playlists pull from user-curated collections, each one offers delightful surprises alongside tried-and-true classics. While results occasionally vary (just like actual DJs!), we’ve found this tool invaluable when we need quality dance music without the hours of curation.
Perfect for: Impromptu living room practice sessions, pre-loading your phone before dance retreats with spotty wifi, or discovering new artists that match exactly what your dancing feet are craving right now.
