A fierce @PLSandTYbased remix of “Run The World” by @Cazzette will keep you on edge

CAZZETTE, “Run The World” (PLS&TY remix)

If his killer recent remix of SAINT WKND & MAX’s “Survive” didn’t tip you off, L.A. producer/remixer PLS&TY continues to take his craft to the next level.  Being a big fan of Sweden’s Cazzette I’m sure helped make his transformed remix of “Run The World” an easy sell.  Carried by a to-die-for vocal by Danish singer Nadia Gattas, PLS&TY keeps his layers of strings and synths rich and thick but still allowing the song and vocal to take shape underneath it all.  One of the worst things a remixer can do is smother a song into overkill but PLS&TY knows where to rein it in, allowing “Run The World” to elevate itself into battle cry from its subtler original deep house mix.  Club DJ’s will enjoy this remix to play at the most heightened part of a set before it drops back down to give club goers a breather.  You can check out the PLS&TY remix of Cazzette’s “Run The World” at the link above.

“Renegade” is a new deep house anthem from @Kastramusic featuring Lauren Mayhew @LCMayhew

KASTRA featuring LAUREN MAYHEW, “Renegade”

New Jersey’s Kastra scores big time with a deep house anthem that will have you cheering called “Renegade”.  That it is full of hooks galore is an understatement.  “Renegade” is one song that was to draw you in and keep you there, reveling in the lyrics about being young, restless and rebellious.  It’s carried beautifully with a vocal by Lauren Mayhew, who you actually know better as a lovely actress from her appearances in “American Pie” and “Dexter” among others.  It’s a bright and unlikely vocal for this kind of song but it totally works.  Check out “Renegade” at the link above.

“Kayos” by @SWACQmusic featuring @Jordizofficial is unpredictable fun

SWACQ featuring JORDIZ, “Kayos”

You probably know Dutch producer/DJ SWACQ from his recent appearances on Tiesto’s Clublife Volume 5 – China release.  Also appearing on Tiesto’s Musical Freedom label is SWACQ’s deep house collaboration with fellow Dutchman Jordiz with “Kayos”.  This is totally unpredictable, off-the-wall fun mixed in with some island flavour, and when the rhythm is flowing it’s pretty contagious.  When it stops, you’re entirely caught up in wondering where it goes next, leaving you wanting much more.  These guys do very well together and I think we’ll be hearing more of them.  Add “Kayos” to your Summer-in-Winter playlist using the Spotify link above.

NYC’s @ModernMachines remixes “New World” by EDM powerhouses @Krewella and @Yellowclaw featuring #TaylorBennett

KREWELLA & YELLOWCLAW featuring TAYLOR BENNETT, “New World” (Modern Machines remix) (free DL)

When a remix gets amped up to be even more ferocious than the original, then I’m usually all ears.  That Chicago duo Krewella have paired up with Dutch producers Yellowclaw for a song is entirely one great thing unto itself.  Adding Chance The Rapper’s brother, Taylor Bennett, for a slick rap to counter Krewella’s spot-on vocals is a huge plus, and NYC’s Modern Machines remix adds to the fire.  It’s slick and powerful and reminiscent of what Eminem and Dr. Dre were doing about ten years ago with songs like “Crack A Bottle”, but with an EDM twist or two.  “New World” is heavily hip hop driven but married quite happily with heavy synths and production that will have no trouble commanding your attention.  You can get Modern Machines’ remix for free at the link above.

 

With a warm welcome back, Canada’s band of brothers #TheMoffatts return with pure pop of “Secrets”

THE MOFFATTS, “Secrets”

It’s a very welcome return indeed for Scott, and triplets Dave, Bob and Clint Moffatt as they are back in the pop realm with “Secrets”.  You’ll recall that the lads were the toast of Canada in their mid-teens, initially with country-pop that brought them success in the US, and then ultimately craving a more mature sound, busted out with some punchy rock with huge Canadian hit “Bang Bang Boom” and the Submodalities album, even hosting the Juno Awards one year.  Perhaps it was all a bit too quick and soon before it all imploded, with the guys all following different musical paths over the next 15+ years.  They have always had a huge fan base in Malaysia and southern Asia which has never let go of them.  So fans are in for a treat with “Secrets”, a slice of radio-ready pop that shows the guys have always had their ears attuned to what’s contemporary.  Certainly spreading their stylistic wings over the last many years had tightened their sound as a group.  So it looks like being in your early 30’s and making a comeback can be very real beginning with the right song.  Listen for “Secrets” on Canadian radio and I urge fans of simply solid pop/rock songs to check this out by watching the lyric video above.

themoffatts

“Won’t Be Found" is fine alt.rock storytelling from Sweden’s @SimonAlexmusic

SIMON ALEXANDER, “Won’t Be Found”

Lest you think that pop/dance and EDM are the only genres to find their way outside of Sweden, then Simon Alexander’s “Won’t Be Found” is a convincing alternative. This is fine storytelling alt.rock that draws upon a myriad of classic influences which has a compelling vocal and memorable hooks that will draw you into the intriguing lyrics as they unfold. The song, from Simon’s EP of the same name, also features a well shot and thought out video that will keep you scratching your head until the end. “Won’t Be Found” is deserving of attention for rock fans looking for something decidedly different. Watch the video at the link above.

#VDay in #Toronto means @Lauvsongs with an @iamInverness remix of “Paris In The Rain”

LAUV, “Paris In The Rain” (Inverness remix) (free DL)

It’s true! Singer/songwriter and our resident man in blue, Lauv,  brings “I Like Me Better” and other fine songs to a sold out show on Valentine’s Day in Toronto at The Mod Club.  And that’s perfect timing to revive interest in his follow up single “Paris In The Rain”, which may have been released prematurely in the wake of the phenomenal success of “I Like Me Better”.  NYC-based producer Inverness – who brought us a jaunty original last Spring with “Working On You” – casts a melodic spell of synthesizers around what is originally more of an indie singer/songwriter tune than was “I Like Me Better”.  Inverness’ remix is equally as charming and perhaps a tad more playful, and will sound positively refreshing in dance clubs.  Download it for free at the link above and check out Lauv’s video for the original of “Paris In The Rain” below.

 

“Fix You” marks a stellar return for renown Dutch producers @Vicetone

vicetone

VICETONE, “Fix You”

It’s a most welcome return indeed for Dutch duo Vicetone (aka Ruben and Victor), who brought us the top notch EP Aurora in 2016, with the highlight for me from it being “Bright Side”,  featuring Cosmos & Creature’s first appearance in the dance music world.  “Fix You” is equally as joyous and positive musically, but the vocal (uncredited, but shhh it’s American singer Kyd The Band) is soulful and committed and adds extra drive power to the song.  Some of the best dance music in the world with pop potential like “Fix You” continues to come from The Netherlands, and Vicetone – who took time out to create a soundtrack remix album for the video game “League Of Legends” no less – are poised to maintain their status as world-class producers along with those who inspired them such as Eric Prydz and Swedish House Mafia.  Add “Fix You” to your danceable love songs playlist at the Spotify link below.

“My Name” flips a Destiny’s Child smash into a dance floor rave up by @MaximSchunk, @RavenKreyn and @helloBishop

MAXIM SCHUNK x RAVEN & KREYN featuring BISHØP, “My Name”

If you’re even thinking of reimagining a Destiny’s Child song like “Say My Name”, you best be on your toes and plan to make it Gigantic.  And that’s exactly what the collaboration between Germany’s Maxim Schunk, French production duo Raven & Kreyn, and the return of US singer Bishøp (most memorably from Elephante’s 2016 winner “Closer”) has brought us!  “My Name” just screams for club DJ’s to spring it at the most critical time during an evening set and watch a crowd go to town on the dance floor.  The production is incredibly rich and makes the most of the song’s 3 minute length with drops in all of the places you would want them to be and a stylish vocal by Bishøp that never intends to compete against the Destiny’s Child original but instead makes you want to hear more from her.  Cover versions and transformations don’t often work for me but “My Name” is sly, slick, and very wicked.

Hard-hitting but smooth flowing “Soldier” arrives from @SCRVP featuring @RicoActmusic

SCRVP. featuring RICO ACT, “Soldier”

More and more the transparent walls between hip hop and hardcore dance music continue to disintegrate with songs like “Soldier” as prime examples by leaders of the electronic such as MMXVAC’s scrvp. and featuring Minneapolis’ own Rico Act.  All of the grimy industrial-fueled trap and dubstep anchors “Soldier” musically while Rico Act’s hard hitting verses keep it moving with a telling hook like “I don’t Milly Rock / Boy I do the head bang”.  “Soldier” is right in your face and out to stay stuck in your head too.  Add it to your new, bold and powerful trap/dubstep playlist using the Spotify link above.