French duo @KLYMVX put a unique stamp on @TheChainsmokers’ “Inside Out” (featuring @Charleenotes)

THE CHAINSMOKERS featuring CHARLEE, “Inside Out” (KLYMVX remix)

Rarely do I write about the same song twice.  I never actually got to write about the original, and then shortly after release the excellent, inventive Not Your Dope x Spirix remix came along.  A little while later, and French duo KLYMVX has put their unique stamp all over their official remix of The Chainsmokers’ “Inside Out”.  While I’m waiting for this to become the official follow up hit to “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Roses”, the KLYMVX remix of “Inside Out” is full of subtleties which you won’t find in other remixes.  This one goes up and down a bit, alternately with busy effects and classical-inspired moments, but from one extreme to another this remix sustains itself by being totally captivating.  The last 40 seconds or so are worthy of applause.  Download it for free at the link above.

@Kaufaudio’s progressive electronic pop song “A Ruin” gets a @truBluHawaii makeover

KAUF, “A Ruin” (Blue Hawaii remix)

L.A.’s Ron Kaufman has been garnering attention these last four years or so with his remixes and a unique approach to progressive electronic pop music that incorporates elements of 90’s Björk through to James Blake.  “A Ruin” is mainly a multi-layered instrumental that incorporates Ron’s dreamy, well-suited vocals to excellent effect.  The song is given added textures of power from noted remix duo Blue Hawaii that help make it memorable.  I was fortunate to see Kauf in concert in Toronto last night and while it requires your focused attention, his music and the direction he’s headed in is wildly creative and has so much potential.  Sometimes danceable, sometimes not, watch for more original music coming from Kauf very soon.  In the mean time you can hear “A Ruin” above and pick it up, in original or remix form, on iTunes.

80’s Motown-flavoured funk comes full circle with “Let Me Be Me” by @NiteFunk

NITE FUNK, “Let Me Be Me”

Get your 80’s Motown-flavoured funk on with “Let Me Be Me” by L.A.-based duo Nite Funk, consisting of instrumentalist DāM-FЦПK and vocalist Nite Jewel.  “Let Me Be Me” is like reliving the Teena Marie/Rick James experience all over again, albeit with some refinements and perhaps with some elegance replacing aggression.  This allows it to tread into Patrice Rushen/Sheila E/Rene & Angela territory and the instrumentation throughout just shimmers.  This is warm and inviting R&B/dance with so many retro graces on a contemporary tip.  Note in the credit that the mastering is done by François Kevorkian, whose name will be well-recognized by  70’s and 80’s remix fans.  Simply very well done!  Get it on iTunes.

Slick as thieves: Smooth chilled-out house by @LoudLuxury x @Shoffymusic “Villains”

LOUD LUXURY x SHOFFY, “Villains”

Hot off the presses today, promising Toronto duo Loud Luxury (Joe and Andrew) team up with intriguing vocalist Shoffy (who has already got the attention of Spinnin’ Records) for “Villains”.  If there’s such a thing as smooth chilled-out house music, then these guys have it down in spades.  There’s an R&B flair in Shoffy’s voice that recalls the best of the 90’s (the style of Brian McKnight comes to mind) and it’s matched with a genuinely interesting mix of tropical-infused house music.  This kind of dance music goes down really easy and the song conspicuously perks your ears up along the way.  Download “Villains” for free at the link above.

Go on, figure it out: “It’s The Night Of The Long Knives, Charlie Brown” by @Spraypopmusic

SPRAY, “It’s The Night Of The Long Knives, Charlie Brown”

Or maybe, just don’t!  The 80’s-soaked recent album by British europop duo Spray called Enforced Fun is full of lovable, downright eccentric songs that somehow all tie together, but for that explanation you’d have to ask creators Ricardo Autobahn and Jenny McLaren and their collaborators (you’ll also find some Charlie Mason songs present and even Jane Badler!).  So like many an 80’s musical act (think China Crisis, for example), what the songs are all about are secondary to the rhythms, melodies, and the whimsical approach that Spray take in their concept-styled album.  “It’s The Night Of The Long Knives, Charlie Brown” (including that comma in the song title) is worth the price of admission for the title alone, but Jenny’s  knowing vocal tells the tale of something that should be ominous and dangerous, but ends up in legend.  So that’s my take on it folks, you can enjoy all of Enforced Fun by picking it up on most platforms, and watch the lyric video above.

@Wrabel’s “11 Blocks” is a soaring pop tune for summer

WRABEL, “11 Blocks”

Most people probably became instantly familiar with Boston-born, L.A. based singer/songwriter Stephen Wrabel when he collaborated two years ago with Afrojack on “Ten Feet Tall”, which was heard during Super Bowl.  Since then, Wrabel has scored co-writes for Ellie Goulding and Adam Lambert among others, and released an EP called Sideways.  Switching labels now to Epic Records, Wrabel continues to impress with “11 Blocks”, an instantly singable song with a soaring melody and vocal that should last through the summer months.  If you like Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” or Coldplay’s latest, “11 Blocks” will be of extra delight to you.  Wrabel is a formidable talent to watch so it will be interesting to hear what’s next.  For now you can watch the lyric video above and then pick up “11 Blocks” in your favourite digital music store.

Get scorched by this fiery @iamtheElephante remix of “Crossfire” by Stephen (@ithinkimcrashin)

STEPHEN, “Crossfire” (Elephante remix)

L.A.-based Elephante continues to blaze his path through the EDM world with his potent progressive remix of fellow California denizen Stephen’s “Crossfire”.  It’s many steps away from Elephante’s current pop/dance smash “Closer”, drawing from the energy of Stephen’s passionate and earnest alt.rock original which will appeal to fans of the likes of Hozier or Brandyn Burnette.  Basically, in his remix Elephante kicks the impact of the song up to the ceiling.  He allows the song to build by relying on Stephen’s compelling introduction.  But then the big trap-like drops kick in and the blistering remix absolutely takes no prisoners.  It’s amazing to listen when an already great song is intensified and rewired by this kind of a remix.  Bravo Elephante and Stephen 🙂  Folks, this is your must-hear song this week.  Best of all – download it for free at the link above (and pick up Stephen’s original on iTunes while you’re at it)!

Slick progressive house from @Vicetone with “Nevada” (featuring @CoziZuehlsdorff)

VICETONE featuring COZI ZUEHLSDORFF, “Nevada”

After the more melodic efforts from their recent EP Aurora, such as “Bright Side” featuring Cosmos & Creature (Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore), Dutch producers Vicetone return slicker and heavier with “Nevada”.  Featuring an outstanding and gritty vocal from young Cozi Zuehlsdorff, “Nevada” motors right along with some thoughtful lyrics in an overall package that has the same European flavour that brought Alan Walker’s “Faded” to worldwide attention.  Vicetone continue to show their diversity with songs like this as well as why they continue to be much sought after in the dance music community.  Listen to “Nevada” above.  The Monstercat label has another winner with this one.

Not to be tamed: @NewImmunity remix of @MickyBlue’s “Wild Things”

MICKY BLUE, “Wild Things” (New Immunity remix)

The guys in New Immunity recently got their hands all over Molly Moore’s “Come Fly”, her cover of the classic Sinatra tune, and showed how that song could easily swing with EDM.  With Micky Blue’s “Wild Things”, they have a powerhouse indie original which is transformed from a cutting alt.rock ballad, and it’s given not only a big bouncing rhythm but also some scorching rock guitars, which make it impossible to miss in a set.  What I like best about this remix is its balance; you can zero in on Micky’s softer vocal parts just as easily as when some vocal effects go arm-in-arm with those guitars.  Club DJ’s would be wise to unleash “Wild Things” on a big crowd for one untamed evening ahead.  Download it for free at the above link.

Cool Summer Vibes in the @iamEauClaire remix of “Sink Like A Stone” by @NaomiPilgrim

NAOMI PILGRIM, “Sink Like A Stone” (Eau Claire remix)

Rising Washington, DC producer/remixer Eau Claire puts a summery spin on “Sink Like A Stone” by Bahamian-Swedish singer Naomi Pilgrim.  Her remix relies on a lot of high end instrumentation, which almost sounds Caribbean-meets-Asian at times, to make it memorable next to Naomi’s vocal, which sometimes recalls Santigold.  There’s an anthemic singalong chorus too, and the song will easily carry across loud speakers at outdoor events.  So be forewarned that Eau Claire’s remix of “Sink Like A Stone” will charm you and go down easy in these summer months.  Give it a listen above.