House mainstay Riva Starr joins forces with Australia’s jazz-electronic innovators Close Counters for ‘Push Your Luck’, a collaborative four-track EP landing on Dam Swindle‘s Heist Recordings on September 11. The title track enlists in-demand London vocalist Andre Espeut, pairing clipped drums and an elastic bassline with rich jazz harmony that leaves plenty of space for his soulful vocals to take centre stage. Warm, swinging and full of movement, it captures the EP’s effortless blend of house, jazz and soul. ‘Gearbox’ leans further into Close Counters’ jazz DNA, layering expressive keys and live percussion over a rolling groove that constantly shifts without ever losing its dancefloor pull.
Stream HERE
On the flip, Espeut returns for ‘Dizzy’, where shimmering synths, skipping percussion and crisp house rhythms frame another standout vocal performance. The closing Scat Dub of ‘Push Your Luck’ strips Espeut’s vocals back to pure rhythm, transforming his voice into another instrument as playful scat phrases weave tightly through the groove.
Italian producer, DJ and Snatch! Records founder Riva Starr has spent over two decades carving out one of house music’s most distinctive careers. Whether releasing on labels like Rekids, Cajual, and Crosstown Rebels or championing new talent through Snatch!, his genre-defying approach has taken him from the global success of ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’ with Fatboy Slim to curating Defected’s celebrated ‘House Masters’ series.
Following the success of their acclaimed ‘25 ARIA charting album ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’, Close Counters have become one of Australia’s most exciting jazz-electronic acts. Their globe-spanning tours have taken in performances at Glastonbury, Love Supreme and multiple sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s, while earning support from Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, and Jazz FM for their effortlessly soulful fusion of live jazz and electronic grooves.
Riva Starr & Close Counters’ ‘Push Your Luck’ EP drops via Heist Recordings on 11th September 2026, with the title cut arriving on August 21.
Tracklist:
A1. Push Your Luck feat. Andre Espeut
A2. Gearbox
B1. Dizzy feat. Andre Espeut
B2. Push Your Luck feat. Andre Espeut (Scat Dub)
Riva Starr: Instagram – Soundcloud – Faceb
Close Counters: Instagram – Soundcloud – Faceb
Heist Recordings: Instagram – Soundcloud – Faceb