(From left to right) Stalvart John, Nida, Farhan Rehman. Photos: Joven Roy, Sachin Soni, courtesy of Dynamite Disco Club
Over the last eight years, Dynamite Disco Club (DDC) have taken over clubs, churned out mixes and platformed rising DJ-producers in disco and house as a label. Based in Bengaluru, founder Stalwart John and his team have put together over 100 shows (mostly in India and Sri Lanka) and now mark 50 releases with their new EP, Dynamite Disco Cuts, Vol. 1.
In the years in action, John says his yardstick for success as a music community has been when they’ve seen more people buying tickets. To their credit, Dynamite Disco Club shows have had tickets “cheaper than a cup of coffee,” according to the founder. “Because we want to keep things inclusive and make disco and house music accessible to everyone. Still, people ask for guestlist spots, mostly because it gives them a sense of privilege. But if someone messages me saying they’re short on cash but really want to be there, I don’t ask questions, I just add them to the list,” he adds.
Dynamite Disco Cuts, Vol. 1 has nostalgic house courtesy of the label’s A&R and manager Farhan Rehman on “Strictly Rhythm” while John’s “Cradle of Life” has a bit of Afro vibes, guitars and euphoric disco elements. Mumbai DJ Nida’s “Where Were You?” has the seismic tech house foundation but also moves in and out of disco influences. The EP closes out with Bengaluru DJ SourFunk’s debut song, simply called “Dancin’,” which heaps on funk guitars, orchestral elements and classic disco. The goal for the EP (and all the DDC releases) has been clear-cut. “Club-friendly, well-produced, and full of groove and good vibes that’s’ inspired by disco sounds,” as John sums up.
The label and community may have originally started out leaning on disco, but they’ve spent years championing house music as well, something they call a natural evolution. John says, “I’ve always believed that if you’re not true to yourself, if you’re not authentic, it fades fast.” He’s clear that it’s not about chasing trends or following the market “just for the sake of it.” The DJ-producer adds, “What we do isn’t a traditional business; the numbers don’t follow the usual logic. We do this out of pure love. That’s the only reason it works.”
From a radio show to hosting events to mentoring and having a record label, the founder is confident that DDC will continue to grow with each release. Rehman adds, “It’s shaping up to be one of our most dynamic years yet.”
To that end, Dynamite Disco Club will double the frequency of their radio mixes to twice a month, now calling in guest DJs in addition to artists on their own roster. John promises “something special” for 2026. He calls it “an exciting new chapter that will launch the next phase of the DDC universe.”
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