Swanky Tunes

Swanky Tunes

Swanky Tunes are a Russian electronic group from Smolensk, active since 1998. The lineup consists of Dmitriy Burykin, Vadim Shpak, Stanislav Zaytsev and Vadim Bagdasaryan. They are associated with electronic, house, electro and dance music, and release material on Effective Records.

Style and development

The group begins by experimenting with different electronic styles in search of a distinct sound. Their early work includes techno elements combined with vintage synthesizers. They later move towards a big-beat-influenced approach, and their sound also brings together French house, early Depeche Mode, electro-80s and contemporary electro-house.

Career highlights

Swanky Tunes gain wider recognition in Russia from both listeners and critics. They are named Best Musical Group of 2006 at the Russian Dance Music Awards and are invited to open the Fort Dance Festival in the same year. Their DJ sets also become a regular draw, and in 2007 they enter the Top 100 DJ list in Russia. They then perform regularly in clubs across the country.

Collaborations and releases

The group performs on the same stage as Jay Jay Johanson, Westbam, Mogwai, Jean-Philippe Papin, Cobra Killer, Digitalism, Rex The Dog and Hyper, among others. In Russia, their material appears on Uplifto Records, the label run by Sergey Pimenov of PPK. Internationally, their tracks and remixes are issued on Rising Trax, Scream And Shout, KULT and Avangardia, and they receive support from Kris Menace, Patrick Alavi, Delphine Queme, Ricky Ryan, Blendbrank, Mason and Joachim Garraud.