Review: Declan McDermott - Why Don't You Believe Me? EP (inc. I:Cube & DJ Nature Remixes) (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I'd normally say, "In typical Delusions Of Grandeur style", but when it comes to the Jimpster team and Declan McDermott's, they excell themselves as not only do they believe in 'Why Don't You Believe Me?', they've gone and got a couple of remix big guns on the case, again! 

We know from Declan McDermott's Delusions Of Granduer debut EP, 'Doin' It All For U' (see review HERE) that not only is he a super talent in the deep house jazzy department that's got a thing for Ritchie Rome, but big names like Tom Trago and lovetempo are happy to step up to the plate on the remix.

The time you've got Versatile Records' veteran  I:Cube from France and NYC-based DJ Nature.  But once you'be heard 'Why Don't You Belive Me?' with some sexy Sparky/Rome interplay with female vocals in French and English on a Fender Rhodes bed - you may ask yourself, "Pourquoi?"

I:Cube speeds it up and has a choppy approach to the vocals and it kicks some with a tape loop switch!  

I've always liked what DJ Nature does, from his earliest Golf Channel days and Tim Sweeny Beats In Space appearances as he got the perfect blend of Theo Parrish meets jazz not jazz house.  And he hits that brief in buckets on this remix with mod/Blackpool organ undercurrents on the pourquoi to the why!  

Australian Declan McDermott is now based in Berlin but this four tracker ends on something 'global' as a tribute to his homeland.  ‘Yara-Kimba (Lindeman Island)’ is "named after Yara-Kimba, the Indigenous name for Lindeman Island in the Ngaro Nation/Whitsundays region of Australia, given by the Ngaro people, the traditional custodians of the land meaning ‘place of the snapper fish’."  As popular as snapper is down under, there's echoes of everyone's favourite Ron Trent’s spacious, spiritual deep house that permeates the arrangement, with gentle percussion, tropical tones, and a calm-breathing groove. As Declan says “This track is a tribute to Yara-Kimba, inspired by childhood memories, the island’s natural soundscape, and my vision of a distinctly Australian / Oceanic house sound.”

So if I said, this EP is essential and unbelievable, would Declan say, "Why Don't You Believe Me?"

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Why Don't You Belive? EP | Declan McDermott

Artists: Declan McDermott 

Release: Why Don't You Believe Me? EP (inc. I:Cube & DJ Nature Remixes

Release Date: 24th April, 2026

Label: Delusions Of Grandeur

Cat. No. DOC111

Format: Vinyl 12" (SOLD OUT) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Declan McDermott - Doin' It All 4 U (inc Tom Trago & Lovetempo Remixes) (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I'd normally say, "In typical Delusions Of Grandeur style", but the Jimpster et al team have excelled themselves with Declan McDermott's debut by getting a couple of remix big guns on the case, after all, they're 'Doin' It All 4 U'! 

It's strange to think that there's a couple of recent releases that got us thinking of about Gilles Peterson's "St. Germain" period and along comes Declan McDermott's track 'Dani' with some deep house jazz featuring Luxonous (aka Omri Abramov) on soprano sax and EWI (that's electronic wind instrumet to you) that does echo some français about it with its waterfall of the seine wading with the sax in the wind.

Now, you'd say that was enough to get you excited about one EP, but wait, what is this all about?  Whilst there's no obvious link to Peterson with 'Doin' It All 4 U', (apart from his Level 42 obsession) I bet you can guess that where lovetempo comes in (see review HERE) you immediately fall in love(tempo) with it as it's as if Jaco does a Ritchie Rome in the house.

Not only that, there's a remix by Holland's Tom Trago, the DJ/Producer (most associated with the Rush Hour label for the best part of 20 years) and our favourite bass player/singer/band member, lovetempo (with both vocal and instrumental versions); an amazing agile twist into electro/disco/boogie of New York origins both re-works stand out like a night at Studio 54! 

Australian Declan McDermott is now based in Berlin and his energence as a musician and producer, with this debut EP for Delusions Of Grandeur, is much like the impact of lovetempo and his emergence from The Rapture a couple of years ago.  What with other soul-funk-house-boogie monsters, this is the groove for party season 2025. .

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Doin' It All For You | Declan McDermott

Artists: Declan McDermott 

Release: Doin' It All 4 U 

Release Date: 5th December, 2025

Label: Delusions Of Grandeur

Cat. No. DOC105

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp