Barry Can’t Swim

At first glance, the name Barry Can’t Swim doesn’t exactly scream groundbreaking dance producer, but Scottish artist Joshua Mainnie is used to explaining it. “It’s a joke that stuck, and now I’m just used to it. You never think at the start of your career that music will take over your whole life.” Yet it has - and the name suits his feel-good blend of afrobeat, house, and jazz perfectly. Mainnie’s musical journey began as a jazz pianist in Edinburgh’s clubs. An internship at dance label SOMA Records steered him toward electronic music, and that felt like coming home. His debut album, When Will We Land?(2023), made it onto nearly every year-end best-of list. It’s “honest jazzy stuff,” as he describes it. Live, his performances are elevated by the addition of guitar and drums, creating an infectious vibe.