Diverse collective: @TastyTreatmusic x @KidLizardmusic featuring @Madimakesmusica and @_MalcolmAnthony with “U And Me”

TASTYTREAT x KID LIZARD featuring MADI and MALCOLM ANTHONY, “U And Me”

There’s hardly a more diverse song out there both vocally and musically than this easy-going EDM love song simply called “U And Me”.  It features a bevy of relatively recent talent too.  I’ve already written about L.A.-based duo TastyTreat this past summer with “Sideways” (featuring Marco Foster) as well as highly recognizable vocalist Madi from KSHMR and Felix Snow’s “Touch” (Brevis remix).  Newcomer Kid Lizard co-creates the soundscapes while hip hop vocalist Malcolm Anthony offers contrast and connection (I would prefer less autotune though).  So with a feast of sounds and voices to your ears, you have a romantic mid-tempo dance song that is quite prepared to leave summer behind in favour of autumn.  Be sure to give a listen at the link above.

Cool sounds and story in “Under The Covers” by @Wolfenchill featuring @Emma_Sameth

WOLFE featuring EMMA SAMETH, “Under The Covers”

If you like a balance of really cool futuristic trap sounds balanced by lyrics with a different perspective about relationships then “Under The Covers” is for you.  It’s brought to you by new producer/remixer Wolfe and sultry L.A. singer Emma Sameth.  Yes, there’s a guy using sex as a controlling weapon while cheating on her, and the singer is about to ditch him big time, then along comes all of these wild sounds to represent what’s new and amazing around the corner if she does.  “Under The Covers” is where the relationship ends – taut and interesting, and Wolfe’s fine production really transforms the song, until it comes to this weird unfinished stop.  No matter, there’s much hear to enjoy so be sure to listen at the above link.

Tricky futuristic thriller: “Wanchu Back” by @AeroChord

AERO CHORD, “Wanchu Back”

After revisiting “The 90’s” for us a little while back, Aero Chord continues with an even more diverse zinger called “Wanchu Back”.  While desperately wanting his special one back, Aero Chord turns what is essentially an instrumental into a dramatic and stylish reunion by the end.  Along the way though, what seems like it might be a brisk, futuristic bass-laden house track segues into dubstep and trap behind door #1 and then some really inspired and melodic pop moments behind door #2.  Aero Chord really delivers the goods with “Wanchu Back” which is sure to leave club denizens pumped and wanting more.  Check it out at the link above.

Surprise!! The @Stranger_Things theme receives a slick drum & bass remix from @Korbian1 #KyleDixon #MichaelStein

KYLE DIXON & MICHAEL STEIN, “Stranger Things” (Korbian remix) (free DL)

“Stranger Things” fans do not fear!  UK remixer Korbian has clearly taken the joy that he has for what turned out to be a favourite show for a lot of us this past summer, and channeled it into his own take on it for the dance floor.  While staying mainly reverent to the sinewy synth line that pervades the theme music, Korbian does break away into some unexpected drum and bass and dubsteppy rhythms that work quite well.  With the show set in 1983 and incorporating some great 80’s music into its soundtrack, Korbian has – knowingly or not – tapped into a lot of change that happened in music back then, particularly with influences that inspired the new wave genre of the time.  So making the “Stranger Things” theme club-worthy seems as right as when Tiësto transformed the “Pirates Of The Caribbean” theme into “He’s A Pirate” in the early 2000’s.  Download this fun remix at the link above.

Shake your groove thang: “Fixed On You” by @HotelGaruda featuring @VioletDaysband

HOTEL GARUDA featuring VIOLET DAYS, “Fixed On You”

Like the best songs this year that leave their groove all over the dance floor, rising duo Hotel Garuda are out to slay with “Fixed On You”.  Featuring a vocal by Violet Days that also leaves no prisoners, “Fixed On You” is all about that burbling bass synth undercurrent which will empower even the loftiest of dancers to strike a pose or two.  In some ways this one reminds me musically of Madonna’s “Into The Groove” – for inspiration 😛  It’s no wonder that Hotel Garuda – consisting of Manila Killa and Candleweather – are getting rave reviews from audiences and peers alike.  Listen above to “Fixed On You”, it’s a hard one to resist, so you best click that mouse on over to your favourite digital store to get it.

Snazzy jazzy future bass rhythms carry “Halo” by @SMLEmusic featuring @HelenTessmusic

SMLE featuring HELEN TESS, “Halo”

“Halo” is a flirty, playful track that takes different sidesteps into hip hop-tinged jazzy future bass rhythms for an ear-catching experience.  It’s brought to you by new Miami duo SMLE, who like to ensure that you have a feast for your ears happening, and fellow Floridian Helen Tess provides a sometimes sassy pop vocal that totally suits the song.  This means that it’s easy to get wrapped up in “Halo” and the song flows by so quickly you’ll just want to hear it more than a few more times.  Check out “Halo” above and pick it up on any digital platform.

Another Canadian to watch: @Fambamusic nails classic house with a twist with “Right Here Right Now”

FAMBA, “Right Here Right Now” (extended version)

The folks at Armada have brought us some great new talent this year, and one is under my own Canadian doorstep, although in Halifax.  Famba’s extended version of “Right Here Right Now” is a real treat that club DJ’s should immediately embrace.  It’s definitely rooted in 90’s and early 2000’s house music but if any influence might be prominent it’s Armand Van Helden.  The groove in “Right Here” kicks in early but it’s got these cool spoken word passages that will really draw people in.  And not only this, but the extended version sustains its 7 minute + length, allowing DJ’s to watch the fun that unfolds in front of them.  Famba’s “Right Here Right Now” is one of those finds you’ll want to put on repeat as hear more from what the young producer/DJ has coming up.  Give a solid listen at the link above.

“Key To Life” is a unique floor-filler from L.A.’s @Kaufaudio

KAUF, “Key To Life”

L.A.’s Ronald Kaufman is definitely on the upward swing these days, having held a recent residency at an L.A. club which saw capacity crowds.  Shifting from more experimental cinematic sounds, Kauf’s latest is a dance-floor filler called “Key To Life”.  And that’s not to say that he’s leaving what he’s built behind for something simple.  On the contrary – “Key To Life” is beautifully complex electronica, full of percussive and slighter sounds along with a prominent bass undercurrent, drawing from influences like Björk and James Blake, but embracing a resilient groove that his audiences have appreciated in his live performances.  So here we have a vivid variation of progressive disco, continuing to be well-suited to his voice and yet more accessible at the same time.  That’s a hard place to find and be successful at it but Kauf has nailed it with this one.  “Key To Life” comes from Kauf’s forthcoming album Regrowth and I’m looking forward to hearing more.  Check it out at the link above.

On a roll: @theDiscoFries and @Shanahanmusic bring us “Is It Over” featuring #ShyMartin

THE DISCO FRIES & SHANAHAN featuring SHY MARTIN, “Is It Over”

Following up the effervescent and anthemic “Born Ready” and “Day By Day”, NYC duo The Disco Fries are back to offer up “Is It Over”.  The song is in partnership with US trio Shanahan and featuring vocalist Shy Martin, who is best known as the voice behind Mike Perry’s recent international hit “The Ocean”.  It perhaps is slighter overall lyrically from other Disco Fries songs, and goes by in a flash at only 3:16, but with their work with Shanahan they have found a more happy marriage to the pop/dance side of the electronic genre.  And as always the quality here is immense, with ear-catching and buoyant rhythms and a stellar vocal to make “Is It Over” well worth your while.  It’s The Disco Fries’ first for Tritonal’s new label Enhanced too, and you can check it out at the link above.

#TheVoice’s season 10 soul powerhouse @JoeMaye_ scores with inspired and emotional cover of “Complicated” by @AvrilLavigne

joemaye

JOE MAYE, “Complicated” (free DL)

Baltimore’s Joe Maye is one of the rare contestants on the US edition of “The Voice” who got a second chance.  In Season 9 his fine performance was, to the aghast of many viewers, dismissed by the coaches because he got too wrapped up in dancing which they said affected his singing.  But returning in Season 10, his performance was more refined and he ended up on Christina Aguilera’s excellent team – to me he would have finished in the Top 10 had her team not been so strong.  But in the aftermath, Joe has now made his cover of my fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne’s classic 2002 hit “Complicated” available for free download.  And it’s a fine introduction for those who did not see his performances on “The Voice”.  “Complicated” shows how Joe can take a song everyone knows, and then run with it in his own style.  Thus he removes the gritty, rebellious aspects of the original and replaces them with a convincing, emotional, soulful side completely unlike the original.  It’s a great choice to cover after 14 years and should continue to send Joe Maye on his way as someone with unique talents to offer.  Listen below and download it for free!