Eskimo Recordings

Eskimo Recordings is a label based in Ghent, Belgium, and was founded in 2000. Eskimo has always approached the divide between electronic and indie music with a reckless abandon that suggests that there is no divide at all. A mix of Indie Dance / House / Cosmic & Balearic Disco / Nu Disco and more.

The label grew out of the eclectic parties that took place during the late nineties in the Eskimo Fabriek in Ghent. These underground parties got famous for mixing synthpop, new wave, acid house, funk and rock ‘n’ roll into a new and fresh sound, setting new standards for the Belgian club culture. International as well as local talented DJs such as Mo & Benoelie (later to be The Glimmers), TLP and The Flying Dewale Brothers (later to become 2 Many DJs) were usual guests at the turntables. As the Eskimo Fabriek needed refurbishment at the turn of the century, the Eskimo parties moved on to the Culture Club, and the temporary Belmondo concept at the S.M.A.K museum.

However, the vibe of these parties kept going through a new label that was founded in 2001 by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Dirk De Ruyck: Eskimo Recordings. From the very start, timeless quality and originality were the key values upon which the label was based. Old and new music were carefully combined into a fancy fresh sound, with the releases bringing a wide array of mix compilations by established selectors and original music signed to Eskimo. Since 2012, the label is run by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Nadiem Shah, aka Captain E. The very same year ‘Eskimonde’, a luxurious 5CD box set, was released to celebrate the first decade.

Over the years there have been landmark releases from Aeroplane, Ivan Smagghe, The Glimmers, Optimo, Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas, Freeform Five, Satin Jackets, NTEIBINT, Psychemagik, Transistorcake, Paresse, You Man, Aili, Antenna and many many more.

In 2013, Eskimo Recordings launched a new concept: The Colour Collections. These collections contain each a set of carefully selected songs that were all produced exclusively for this concept. So far The Pink, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Red, Purple and White Collections have been released.

Recent ‘crate diggers’ compilations were curated by musical authorities such as Prins Thomas, Psychemagik, Bill Brewster, Curses and Richard Norris. Eskimo has helped break many of the names that have gone on to become electronic music’s best regarded performers, and holds a unique stake within the indie dance world.