The Swap Meet 19 October 2025

This week on The Swap Meet, we’re joined by Leon D, probably the busiest DJ in town - maybe just the busiest person, period. His selections providing the perfect soundtrack to the first proper baking evening in Auckland town this seaon: from Theo Parrish’s lopsided rework of Jill Scott’s “Slowly Surely” (2002) through to the Charles Stepney classic  “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun” (1971/1997), Barry White’s original bedroom rocker, and on to Metro Area’s “Piña” (2002) and ESG’s “Moody” (1981). Tracing the thread between disco’s dustier corners, boogie, proto-house and that New York bassline swing - eclectic in all the right ways.

Before that, a small salute to D’Angelo, who left us this week. Rather than the obvious choices, a few deep pulls: the Questlove-leaked “Really Love” demo, RH Factor’s cover of “I’ll Stay” with that unmistakable falsetto, and Don-E’s “So Cold” slept on killer. Even an unreleased studio vamp on “Ex-Girl to Next Girl” that reminds you of the deep fertile wellspring of black music that D and crew were mining when assmbling "Voodoo".

Leon rounds out his second set with Moodymann, and a late blend of his own “Your Love” with (adopted Aotearoan) Recloose’s “Get There Tonight” - a fitting close for a night built on love and lost groove.