The Shapeshifters

Strings, brass and house with a memory

A shimmer of strings, brass and soul vocals runs through the identity of The Shapeshifters, a key British house brand that has managed to unite club culture, disco sensibility and pop ambition without losing weight in the booth. The project was born in the London scene and was soon associated with a luminous, vocal and expansive form of house, built to sound both in clubs and at large festivals. In its first stage, it functioned as a duo between Simon Lee Marlin and Swedish producer Max Reich; since 2017, after Reich's departure, Marlin has continued the legacy as a solo act.

The impact of Lola's Theme

The turning point came with Lola's Theme, first as an instrumental promo in 2003 and later as a major release in 2004. Its mix of disco sample, brass line and euphoric vocals turned it into a global anthem, reaching number one on the UK singles chart in July 2004. From there, The Shapeshifters consolidated a period of great visibility with tracks like Back To Basics, Incredible and Sensitivity, as well as the 2006 album Sound Advice. During those years, they also reinforced their profile as remixers and DJs, with a presence in Ibiza, London and international circuits, and with a trajectory linked to labels such as Positiva, Ultra, Nocturnal Groove and Defected.

Glitterbox as a natural home

The second great life of the project is articulated around Defected and Glitterbox, a space where Marlin found an ideal framework to update the disco-house tradition with live arrangements, choirs, brass and an inclusive reading of the dancefloor. Singles like Life Is A Dancefloor, Finally Ready with Billy Porter, You Ain't Love with Teni Tinks or Bring On The Rain with Joss Stone expanded their language without breaking with the classic essence of The Shapeshifters. The album Let Loose, released in 2022 and later expanded in a deluxe edition, confirmed that stage with collaborations from Kimberly Davis, Adi Oasis, Obi Franky, Ramona Renea and Fiorious, among others.

An active classic in the new disco era

Currently, The Shapeshifters maintains a recognizable position within disco-rooted house: high-energy sessions, careful production and an aesthetic that looks to the golden age of dance music without sounding nostalgic. Their schedule remains linked to reference brands and spaces such as Glitterbox, Hï Ibiza, Pacha, Ministry Of Sound and major Defected events, while recent releases like Beautiful Day and new revisions of Lola's Theme sustain the connection between their foundational anthem and a contemporary audience.