Tag Archives: electronica

Sophisto-dance thriller: “Kiss Me Kill Me” by @SIRPAUL

SIRPAUL, “Kiss Me Kill Me”

Following up his recent Intimate Science album, full of the sexy and pulsating dance music that NYC’s SIRPAUL creates so well (including a cover of Madonna’s “Physical Attraction”), comes “Kiss Me Kill Me” from a film of the same name.  This is a bit of a change of pace for the singer, a perfectly thrilling dance track that exudes ‘movie theme’.  In the above video, SIRPAUL is the dapper secret agent-type who lets the story unfold interspersed with scenes from the film, and it helps bring back the sophistication missing in much of today’s beat-and-genre focused dance songs.  We’re the beneficiary of SIRPAUL’s rich contemporary dance music experience here and “Kiss Me Kill Me”, while sinfully good in its original version, would benefit from remixes that will help take that sophistication to other levels.  “Kiss Me Kill Me” should not be missed by dance clubs looking to dazzle their patrons.

“My Hands” by @AYERofficial gets a deep house workover by @TruthandLiesofc

AYER, “My Hands” (Truth x Lies remix)

NYC duo Truth x Lies take singer Ayer’s rising joyous, melodic pop/dance single “My Hands” to the centre of dance clubland with this official deep house remix.  It’s an increasingly big favourite of mine, now officially available on digital platforms everywhere as part of an EP package that includes other remixes by FrankMusik and Cazzette.  There aren’t any real surprises here as Truth x Lies create a classic bass-laden mix that changes the sway of the original into more of a bounce effected by well-placed drops.  This remix of “My Hands” will only make you want to get out and celebrate on the dance floor more.  For now, it’s also available as a free download at the above link.

Catch this ride: “Hitchhike” by L.A. duo @Kolajband

KOLAJ, “Hitchhike”

“Hitchhike” has a distinct and powerfully uplifting sound that’s becoming a trademark for L.A. duo KOLAJ (Teesa Houston and Mike McGarity) after a series of releases, most notably their pairing with K-Pop star Eric Nam for the equally appealing “Into You”.  “Hitchhike” will sweep you off your feet and onto the dance floor with Teesa’s soaring voice that will pour right through you.  It owes as much musically to dance and electronica as it does pop and alternative rock, and is the kind of song people like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry should be writing or looking for to sustain themselves over the next few years.  Fortunately, Gaga’s parent label Interscope has had the good taste to sign KOLAJ so this is a terrific start for that sweet deal, so maybe an opening gig is in their future, who knows?

Another journey into sound: “Bon Voyage” by @Droeloemusic

DROELOE, “Bon Voyage”

Dutch production duo Droeloe are definitely out to let you hear the many reasons why they might be considered one of the most diverse and adventurous EDM acts on the bubble.  From a futuristic remix of Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez’s “We Don’t Talk Anymore” through to the sonic delight of a strange instrumental that is “Shibuya”, we arrive at “Bon Voyage”, essentially another instrumental that at first doesn’t really seem to know where it begins.  However it more than makes up for a humble start by adding in some memorable voice clips and showing off the same sense for varied melody that we heard in “Shibuya”, with many similar percussive rhythms and Asian influences.  So we’ll be happy to take that trip around the world in an air balloon – with key stops at EDM venues 😛 – with Droeloe playing the soundtrack 🙂

Scorch: “Heat” by @TheKnocks featuring #SamNelsonHarris

THE KNOCKS featuring SAM NELSON HARRIS, “Heat”

Touring as the opener for Justin Bieber’s European tour seems to be a timely reason to drop a new tune after the success of many of their songs from their album 55, which is one of my personal favourites of this year.  The Knocks arrive with “Heat” to ensure that your Autumn and Winter are nice and toasty.  And it’s a touch different from the funky dance pop that you found in the 55 album, which continues to show growth for the duo of JPatt and BRoc.  There’s are dashes of tropical vibes and R&B to enhance the melody which carries a seamless and far-reaching vocal by Sam Nelson Harris, another diverse singer who could likely really sing anything and make it sound fabulous.  While “Heat” has radio-friendly pop sense, it still has some grittiness that you would find in most of The Knocks’ songs as well.  “Heat” is a fine introduction to what The Knocks have for us next!

Girl Power Indeed: @InstantKarma remix “Read My Lips” by @KingDeco

KING DECO, “Read My Lips” (Instant Karma remix)

Combining production duo Instant Karma with a song by Jordan-born, Brooklyn-based singer King Deco is like someone was secretly honing the idea of an EDM variation of The Go Go’s 😛  So Instant Karma’s bass-laden remix of King Deco’s “Read My Lips” has this wonderfully fun aggressively flirty approach that makes it shine next to the numerous non-descript EDM tracks that often fail to show off a strong female vocal.  Instant Karma have already done great wonders with songs by Chelsea Lankes and Flor which I’ve written about this year, and King Deco continues to make her recognizable voice an EDM presence after a number of diverse songs highlighted thus far by the punchy “Castaway”.  Golden pairings like this should happen more often 🙂  You can download “Read My Lips” for free at the link above.

DNCEtothis: “Sunny” by L.A.-based duo @itsPapaYa

PAPA YA, “Sunny” (free DL)

A year ago at this time I was all over DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean”, which even with Joe Jonas’ star power fronting the record could have died a simple death on the pop charts had it not been such a grower of an earworm.  In a mighty similar vein comes L.A.-based duo Papa Ya – nothing to do with papayas here unless they want to use it as their trademark 😛 – with “Sunny”.  The song simply gets better as it goes along and as some of us move into colder months we relish being transported to gorgeous L.A. beaches.  “Sunny” has a really dynamic hook, a playful tone, and a slick vocal to make it very much worth your while.  Like with that DNCE song – now one of 2016’s biggest and most memorable hits – do not let this sleeper “Sunny” by Papa Ya go unnoticed.  Start off by downloading it for free at the above link.

Next Level: “Why” by @weareSkylife in a remix by @TheDiscoFries featuring @iamSummerRayne

SKYLIFE featuring SUMMER RAYNE, “Why” (The Disco Fries remix)

They are busy guys, those Disco Fries guys, but they keep on rolling out some of the most ear-catching dance music of 2016.  In the mix now, instead of an original, is their take on “Why” by Skylife featuring new singer Summer Rayne, which sends the song into a completely different direction than the original.  Gone is the heavier pop influence that seemed particularly reliant on a lot of ‘la la la’s’ to carry the song.  The Disco Fries keep that infectious element, but in moderation, as a luscious mix of synths and guitars wash through the melody and support the solid vocal that makes the original.  And hey when did you hear a talkbox work in such a versatile mix?  Check it all out at the link above.

Start that fire: “Ignite” by @AashMehtamusic featuring @theJeanLucmusic

https://soundcloud.com/aash-mehta/ignite

AASH MEHTA featuring JEAN-LUC, “Ignite”

California-based Aash Mehta has released some beautifully consistent songs this year that emphasize a lot of quality along with some highly appealing voices to make the songs memorable.  After a bit of a break, Aash continues with the pop-tinged futuristic (but not too busy) sound of “Ignite”, which again is a gorgeous song lyrically about escaping the past for a true and powerful love.  Aash employs New York vocalist Jean-Luc to great effect, taking time for “Ignite” to build using his soaring range to perk up your ears while leaving some parts imperfectly rough-around-the-edges which gives the song a grounded feel at times.  All-in-all “Ignite” has so many positives that you should give it a listen above and then pick it up at your favourite digital store.

Germany’s @JPBofficial riddles “For You”full of emotion featuring @LukeCusatomusic

https://soundcloud.com/heroicrecordings/jpb-for-you-ft-luke-cusato

JPB featuring LUKE CUSATO, “For You” (free DL)

Young German producer JPB has a contender with the vibrantly emotional “For You”, the title song from his 3-song EP, which features a powerful vocal by British singer Luke Cusato.  Picture if you will a playful first date where you’re trying to impress and the music in your head moves from punchy to rhythmic with some Caribbean flourishes.  But ultimately the emotion overtakes you and you end up pouring your heart out, and that’s when it becomes less about you and more about your date…  There’s an infectious pop vibe about “For You” that would make it sound great on the radio despite a lot of deep dives into future bass trickery which will keep clubs happy.  Definitely one to watch!  Give it a listen at the link above and download it for free.