Brand new album from Wolfgang Lohr

Wolfgang Lohr has long been a staple in Berlin’s electronic music scene, blending the old with the new in a way that hints at nostalgia while offering something new and exciting. A producer, composer, remixer, artist and DJ, his career has been built on relentless creativity and passion for sound. Originally from Bad Segeberg and raised in Lübeck by the Baltic Sea, he first made his name as a trumpeter, singer and songwriter for the ska band Das Kartell before moving to Berlin in 2007.

Immersing himself in the city’s electro scene, he became a mainstay, working across multiple projects, including the disco-house duo DINKS and the tech-house outfit Dorade. Along the way, he’s crafted remixes for some of the biggest names in the game, including Felix Jaehn, Parov Stelar and Alle Farben.

While Lohr’s work spans various electronic subgenres, it’s his contributions to electro swing that have truly made him a celebrated figure. His cover of Ray Charles’ classic “Hit the Road Jack” has racked up over 60 million spins, making him one of the most sought-after artists in the genre. His catalogue now boasts around 150 original tracks and remixes, and his influence extends beyond his own music; he’s also the founder of FDF, a music blog turned house label, as well as Electro Swing Thing, a label dedicated to elevating the crossover genre and its artists.

Now, Lohr is unveiling his latest and most ambitious project yet, his aptly titled full-length record The Lohring 20s, a twenty-track extravanganza that pays tribute to the Roaring Twenties through the lens of modern electronic music. Unlike many electro swing releases, this album, released via his Electro Swing Thing imprint, is entirely original with no remixes or covers, just fresh compositions written by Lohr himself, with lyrics crafted by a selection of talented collaborators from around the world.

The album takes listeners on a journey through electro swing’s many shades, from the high-energy grooves of swing house and disco swing to the rhythmic flow of swing hop and neo swing. Kicked off with opening track “Disco Swing,” the album jumps into the uptempo bounce of grooving rhythms capped by smooth vocal leads spinning instantly catchy hooks, setting up the release with an uplifting and danceable jam that pulls a retro vibe into the modern age.

Next up, “Don’t Drink & Jive” featuring Glenn Gatsby serves up a lively jam of fluttering piano leads and processed vocals to deliver a dance-focused outing brimming with infectious energy and vibrant instrumental leads. With “Boring 20s,” Wolfgang links up with Tamela D’Amico and Ashley Slater to lay down a playful outing cut with rhythmic vocal performance and punching beats, offering a playful and instantly memorable listening experience.

Other highlights on the record include tracks like “Someone New” which presents a jazz-inflected take on swing, peppering the grooving rhythmic arrangement with bright brass dashes and the fiercely catchy vocal leads of Sonia Elisheva. On “Losing,” a mesmeric groove of shuffling drums and hazy instrumentation underpin the dazzling voice of Sanna Hartfield to cast a spellbinding soundscape that blurs vintage aesthetic with cutting edge production.

“Upside Down” sees Alanna Lyes stitch compelling melodic leads into a shifting arrangement of staccato brass pips and steady percussive pulse before the closing track “Welcome to the Wolf Den” leans into a hip hop-focused sound where UK-based rapper Offbeat’s razor-sharp flow floats above the mellow rhythmic groove, offering a superb conclusion to Wolfgang Lohr’s sensational new record. From start to finish, on The Lohring 20s, Wolfgang Lohr delivers an enthralling listening experience that reframes vintage musical styles in thrilling new ways, offering an incredible release that sees him continue to operate at the very top of his game.

Listen to The Lohring 20s below