Eskimo Recordings

Eskimo Recordings is a label from Ghent, Belgium, established in 2000. It bridges the gap between electronic and indie music with a disregard for any divide between the two. The label features Indie Dance, House, Cosmic & Balearic Disco, Nu Disco, and more.

The label's roots go back to eclectic late nineties parties at the Eskimo Fabriek in Ghent. These underground events became known for blending genres like synthpop, new wave, acid house, funk, and rock ‘n’ roll into a fresh sound, setting new standards for Belgian club culture. International and local DJs including Mo & Benoelie (later The Glimmers), TLP, and The Flying Dewale Brothers (later 2 Many DJs) were regulars. When refurbishment was needed at Eskimo Fabriek around 2000, the parties moved to the Culture Club and the temporary Belmondo concept at the S.M.A.K museum.

The energy of these events persisted through a label instituted in 2000 by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Dirk De Ruyck: Eskimo Recordings. From its inception, timeless quality and originality were crucial to the label's identity. Old and new music were intertwined to create a vibrant sound, with releases featuring mix compilations by notable selectors and original Eskimo music. Since 2012, the label has been managed by Stefaan Vandenberghe and Nadiem Shah, aka Captain E. That same year, 'Eskimonde', a deluxe 5CD box set, was released to commemorate the first decade. Over time, the label has seen significant releases from Aeroplane, Ivan Smagghe, The Glimmers, Optimo, Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas, Freeform Five, Satin Jackets, NTEIBINT, Psychemagik, Transistorcake, among others.

In 2013, Eskimo Recordings introduced a new concept: The Colour Collections. Each collection is a curated set of songs exclusively produced for this series. Thus far, The Pink, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Red, Purple, and White Collections have been released. Recent 'diggers' compilations have been curated by musical experts like Prins Thomas, Psychemagik, Bill Brewster, and Curses. Eskimo has played a pivotal role in promoting artists who have risen to prominence in the electronic music scene, maintaining a distinctive position in the indie dance community.