Deep house done so right: “Mad About You” by @officialKoni featuring @Danellemusic

KONI featuring DANELLE, “Mad About You”

After many top notch remixes and covers in 2016, German producer/guitarist Koni knocks it out of the park with an original for Big Top Records, “Mad About You”, featuring L.A. vocalist Danelle.  This isn’t even the kind of song I would like normally but ends up being top notch tropical flavoured light deep house with a really adorable vocal by Danelle.  “Mad About You” is a big-hearted song for laying back on a clear sunny day and letting everything around you drift away while you groove to the slinky beat.  Listen above and pick it up at your favourite digital store.

New progressive soul from the EP Feature Films is “Escape” by @BrandynBurnette

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/escape

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Escape”

Ultra-prolific L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette continues to engage and dazzle his fans, this time with a new burst of songs from his upcoming third EP Feature Films.  Having written and performed some of my favourite music of the last three years through his first two EP’s State I’m In and Made Of Dreams (eight songs of which ended up in my Top 86 Songs of 2016), it’s no surprise that “Escape” shines with a lot of understated, thought-provoking appeal.  The first 2/3 of the song echoes with pent up emotional narrative in a sparse, soulful arrangement.  The remainder of “Escape” advances with a catchy percussion break that starts the trippy journey into an electric guitar-fused finish that is deliberately kept open-ended.  Brandyn always makes his music for your mind and your soul, and “Escape” is a great introduction to Feature Films.  To me, this song is about finding and owning your own brand of escape.  Brandyn is also posting links to the behind-the-scenes creation of his new songs, so watch for them.  In the meantime you can listen to “Escape” above and pick it up on iTunes on Monday January 23.

Sweet pop-flavoured deep house “Thunder” in a @Snowmassbeats remix from @MilknCooks & @TWINNSofficial featuring @LyonHartmusic

https://soundcloud.com/snowmassmusic/milk-n-cooks-x-twinns-thunder-snowmass-remix

MILK N COOKS x TWINNS featuring LYON HART, “Thunder” (Snøwmass remix) (free DL)

“Thunder” by Chicago’s Milk N Cooks with Twinns featuring vocalist Lyon Hart (who you heard in Elephante’s compelling “Shake The Earth”) gets a slinky bass synth makeover from fellow Chicago producer Snøwmass.  But while that rhythm will definitely get you hooked on this one, this remix has tremendous pop flavour and crossover potential.  Lyon Hart’s prominent vocal is what really sends it home.  Snøwmass shows that he’s not always about crazy futuristic dirty remixing when he can accentuate the pop but also retain the solid deep house club vibes.  “Thunder” is a standout track for so many reasons which you can hear at the link above – and download for free.

“Weekend” is sexy but earnest chilled out R&B #EDM by NYC’s @Reigenmusic

REIGEN, “Weekend”

NYC singer Reigen continues to diversify his style with “Weekend”.  Like my favourite by him,  the ballad “Come Back To Me”, “Weekend” features a lush, soulful vocal that shows off a lighter, sometimes breathy style that totally suits this new song.  Reigen marries his love of R&B and dance music together with a chilled out backdrop that helps tell the story of a weekend encounter that happens to lead to something more.  With every release, and following some inspiring songs with a lot more force and drive (“Seize The Night”, “Real New Yorker”), Reigen offers a different side to his stories, enhanced by a rich grab bag of vocal talents that will take him far.  “Weekend” is a sexy and earnest introduction for those who don’t already know Reigen’s music.  Watch the video above and pick up the single on iTunes.

“Hideaway” is fresh for 2017 by @WRLDmusic & #Savoi

WRLD x SAVOI, “Hideaway” (free DL)

Yet another talented young Dutchman, WRLD, had a banner year in 2016 but was constantly switching it up, with originals like “Galaxies” with Father Dude and remixes like the 70’s disco retro “BB (Four Missed Texts)” by Kid Froopy.  So it should come as no surprise that freshness continues in 2017 with “Hideaway” for the Heroic label, in which he’s paired up with Australian EDM artist Savoi.  The flow of “Hideaway” totally works, it’s a great companion to The Chainsmokers’ more pop-oriented recent efforts, and it’s such a great pop song overall.  Savoi’s sometimes gritty raw-ish vocal initially seems out of place, but the production makes it fly.  WRLD continues to go to the next level with songs like “Hideaway”.  For now, you can download “Hideaway” for free at the link above.

“I Need You More (The More You Leave)” is joyous, uplifting pop by @AndyxSuzuki @andtheMethod’s

https://soundcloud.com/andthemethod/i-need-you-more-the-more-you-leave-1

ANDY SUZUKI & THE METHOD, “I Need You More (The More You Leave)”

Keeping it way more than interesting as we approach the release date of their second album The Glass Hour is NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method.  To coincide with the US election the group offered up “Fight”, an urgent personalized and rocking call-to-arms that’s all about choice and standing up for what you believe in.  “I Need You More” on the other hand is vibrant pop with a heavy, uplifting Gospel chorus that fuels the emotions of wanting someone even more after they are gone.  Andy Suzuki is in excellent vocal form and he and formidable percussionist pal Kozza show that they are destined never to be packaged in one stylistic box.  Feast your ears on the inspiring “I Need You More (The More You Leave)” at the link above.

“Candles” ablaze with @MorganPage paired with @SteveJames

MORGAN PAGE & STEVE JAMES, “Candles”

It’s probably the only current but unlikely single out there where you would find two Grammy nominees working together from different decades of dance music.  Of course twice-nominated Morgan Page has been well-respected for years with his Las Vegas residencies, and is likely best known for his acclaimed In The Air album, with the title song featuring Sultan + Ned Shepard and BT.  Steve James is not yet out of his teens – he would not have even been 10 when Morgan’s star was rising – and newly nominated, for co-writing and co-producing the title song from Justin Bieber’s Purpose album, no less.  So their collaboration of “Candles” is more of a tightly-woven pop/dance record than one I suspect would be geared for heavy club play, though remixes could help change that.  It’s got a knowing and earnest message with an urgent delivery by a fine but uncredited vocalist that goes a long way.  You can expect this one to fly out of dance radio stations with a thrust for pop radio as Proximity’s first (and very loaded) release.  Listen to “Candles” at the link above.

L.A.’s @Mahalomusic transforms and enhances “In The Morning” by @ZHUmusic

ZHU, “In The Morning” (Mahalo remix)

One of the most enigmatic songs to come out of 2014 and slay everything in sight was “Faded” by ZHU, a #1 dance hit which even copped a Grammy nomination.  “In The Morning” (the first single from the acclaimed GenerationWhy album) likely stands out most because of ZHU’s strangely seductive vocal, which is captured nicely for effect in this remix by L.A.’s Mahalo.  While set to a graceful late-nite deep house rhythm, it’s a perfect song to drive off into the night to arrive for the pleasures of the morning.  Mahalo has already got a great thing happening too with collaborations with vocalist Cat Lewis such as “Be My Love” with more to come in 2017.  You can download this highly recommended remix of “In The Morning” at the link above.

Rejoice in your own “Nostalgia” by Victor Perry @perksofbeingvic in a playful @RyanLee1993 remix

VICTOR PERRY, “Nostalgia” (Ryan Lee remix)

You never know what a solid set of songs on a shining EP might start!  Southern Georgia-based R&B/pop singer Victor Perry’s 4 A.M. Nostalgia begat the simply lovely “Rainbows” and a slew of intriguing remix interpretations.  Zewmob’s Ryan Lee has got the goods with “Nostalgia”, which gleams colourful 1990’s dance party but is also spiked with 80’s synth drum sounds and lots of high end to compliment Victor’s shining vocal (and wait for a glorious few moments before the 4 minute mark).  You can’t go wrong with this joyous, happy song 🙂 but be sure to pick up your copy using the “BUY” button at the link above (you may just be able to get it for free, too).

Check out the euphoric #EDM #pop bounce of “Love Me” by @TyAndelman & #GerardPeters

https://soundcloud.com/tyandelman/ty-andelman-gerard-peters-love-me

TY ANDELMAN & GERARD PETERS, “Love Me”

Ty Andelman is the L.A.-based singer/songwriter and erstwhile half of duo Lyonn who brought us their first foray into EDM pop last year with “The Symphony”.  This time Ty has partnered with Montreal producer Gerard Peters for “Love Me”.  It’s a sincere, euphoric kind of song about the right kind of infatuation, with Ty’s convincing vocal sending it home, and the duo give it a unique melodic bounce that makes it burst easily from a nice big set of speakers.  It might go on a touch too long even at 3:12 but check it out at the link above and share with your dance music loving friends 🙂