About Lost in the Rhythm
Lost in the Rhythm (LITR) is an underground music movement. We celebrate spirit, sound, and shared frequency within deep and soulful dance music culture.
Founded by UK DJ, promoter and broadcaster Rob Coley, the project traces its roots to the early 2000s. Inspired by visits to legendary NYC parties like Body & Soul, Shelter, and Deep Space, Rob immersed himself in a sound that felt spiritual, communal, and timeless. Record store pilgrimages to Dance Tracks, Vinyl Mania, and Vinyl Junkies (RIP) laid the foundation for what would eventually sow the seeds for the very first Lost in the Rhythm session.
The Origins: A Red Light and a Feeling
Lost in the Rhythm truly came to life during lockdown. In a world on pause, we turned inward. What emerged were late-night sessions streamed online — a red light, two hours of vinyl and MP3s, and deep musical intention. There was no mic, no hype, just soulful storytelling through sound.
The vibe was deeply rooted in the traditions of artists like Ron Trent, Trinidadian Deep, Antonio Ocasio, Lars Bartkuhn, DJ Spinna, Kai Alcé, Osunlade, and Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell. Every Sunday really did feel like a midnight ceremony, despite it being in an East London dining room.
From Private Sessions to a Global Signal
What started as solo broadcasts soon expanded into a monthly online gathering. Guest DJs from around the world shared their interpretation of the LITR ethos. Rob, then hosting a monthly deep house show with Wayout Radio, transitioned to Universal Rhythms, where the Lost in the Rhythm Radio Show officially began to take shape. Early guests like Juliet Mendoza, Mari Ella, Coflo, and Andrew Marriott brought the heat, while Rob continued to open each episode, setting the tone with warm-up sets steeped in soul, rhythm, and release.
Radio Syndication and Seasons
After Universal Rhythms closed, the show moved to Mixcloud and later YouTube, staying true to its video-first identity. Artists such as Portia, Philippe The Haitian, Roy Westfield, Mikekon, Mazin' Grace, KCIV and Cullen G carried the torch, and Lost in the Rhythm was soon syndicated on DanceGruv Radio (North Carolina), where it continues to air monthly, alongside the ever-present YouTube archive.
ADE 2023: Radio Meets Dancefloor
In October 2023, Lost in the Rhythm stepped out from behind the camera with its first international appearance at Amsterdam Dance Event. As part of the SNE × Conneqting.the.Dots showcase, we hosted a live radio broadcast from Feed Amsterdam featuring Moroccan DJ and producer Cee ElAssaad. Three days later, we hosted our first dancefloor showcase at Oceean, with sets from Frederick (Astral Arts), Harry De Courcy, and Oriabela. It was a defining moment: bridging our online energy with a real-world experience.
ADE 2024: Stepping Fully Into Tomorrow
One year later, we returned to ADE with a full-scale showcase at Feed Amsterdam, featuring Juliet Mendoza headlining, DJ Tracksuit, Pappafunk, and Rob, whose presence and selections remain the project's anchor.
Lost in the Rhythm Records
2024 also saw the launch of Lost in the Rhythm Records, a natural evolution of the platform's vision to bridge generations, preserve culture, and create space for the next wave of deep house storytellers.