Tag Archives: electronica

Gimme more of that funky stuff: @Jenauxmusic meets @BrynChristopher for “I Want Your Love”

JENAUX featuring BRYN CHRISTOPHER, “I Want Your Love”

NYC producer/DJ Jenaux continues the wild ride he’s been on throughout 2016 with his funk-laced EDM with “I Want Your Love”.  It’s his debut release for none other than the Ministry of Sound label, and is a collaboration with UK singer/songwriter Bryn Christopher (otherwise known these days as a member of EDM group I See Monstas).  It’s a straight-forward but powerful record, bridging Jenaux’s US funk sound with British soul/house.  Like with his last original release “Get It On”, he uses a fierce chopped up high pitched vocal to excellent, easily recognizable effect.  After his recent collaboration with Tritonal for “Broken” (featuring Adam Lambert) and remixes for Gramatik, The Chainsmokers and a number of other A-list EDM talent this year, Jenaux will continue on roller skates touring and releasing new songs as the rest of the world discovers his genuinely appealing, stand out take on dance music.  Check out “I Want Your Love” at the link above.

“No More Love Songs” puts @BrandonSkeie’s versatile voice on display

https://soundcloud.com/brandonskeie/brandon-skeie-no-more-love-songs

BRANDON SKEIE, “No More Love Songs”

“No More Love Songs” is the follow-up single to Brandon Skeie’s brilliant “So Bad” from this past Spring, which is one of my most favourite songs of 2016.  “No More Love Songs” doesn’t resonate as quickly perhaps, though it is handsome textbook songwriting.  The star here is Brandon’s versatile, far-reaching voice, which we also heard in “Pulse”, a song that he and Eli Lieb recorded after the Orlando murders.  He can pretty much sing anything and will slide easily between pop and EDM/dance genres.  “No More Love Songs” swoops and swirls and is big or quiet in all the right places.  Check it out at the link above and pick it up on your favourite digital platform.

Sophisticated fun: @CallieReiff remixes @SofiTukker’s “Déjà Vu Affair”

SOFI TUKKER, “Déjà Vu Affair” (Callie Reiff remix)

I’m always happy to write about the talented duo Sofi Tukker, who have come a long way since that infectious Portuguese-language club hit “Drinkee” was released about a year ago.  Starting as protégés of The Knocks, they later released their EP Soft Animals via the Ultra label and have been touring steadily ever since.  NYC producer/DJ Callie Reiff lends her sophisticated layered backdrop to “Déjà Vu Affair”, a track from that EP, which is so instantly complimentary to the duo’s catchy vibe.  It’s an equally infectious spin that keeps the bounce of the original but more in the deep house vein.  So it’s all here for dance clubs to embrace… check it out above and download the remix for free.

 

Live forever: @runCryWolf shines with progressive, languid electronica “Quantum Immortality”

CRYWOLF, “Quantum Immortality”

“Quantum Immortality” is the kind of song title that belongs as part of a sci-fi movie, and actually this new single by L.A.-based performer Crywolf would totally suit that artistic environment.  Drawing from influences like Crystal Castles and Flume while stylistically falling into similar musical trappings as M83, James Blake, and Porter Robinson, Crywolf (aka Justin Phillips) packs a lot of content and flair into his songs that sustain them till they finish.  “Quantum Immortality” may not be for everyone, but its theme is universal and the melody moves along a lot like classical pieces at times.  But it wouldn’t be convincing without his far-reaching vocal, which I first heard earlier this year through Bronze Whale’s remix of the heartfelt “Slow Burn” (from his recent album Cataclasm).  Crywolf has been gaining more momentum over the past few years, currently wrapping up a recent multi-city tour, and I think his profile will continue to gleam with songs like this.  “Quantum Immortality” is for late nights when you want to ponder life sitting under the stars.  Check it out at the above link.

 

Get that party started: “The Thirst” by @EricSharp featuring @ZhaoKennyZhao

ERIC SHARP featuring ZHAO, “The Thirst”

If you want to put some punch into that deep house mix then “The Thirst” by producer/DJ Eric Sharp featuring Zhao, who both hail from L.A., is your party-starter.  From its first note “The Thirst” does not let up, recalling late 80’s house at the height of its infectious initial heyday.  It’s married with some late 90’s Daft Punk guitar riffing and a next-level vocal by Zhao that fuels the rhythm.  Kudos to The Disco Fries for believing in this one for release on their Liftoff label.  “The Thirst” will leave you wanting more.  It’s one of those unique records very deserving of a big push from club DJ’s.  Give it a listen at the link above and let the groove take over!

Slay your own dragon: “Balmung” by @Alexandrius_ and @DJMirkoB

https://soundcloud.com/vireggs/alexandrius-dj-mirko-b-balmung-out-07102016

ALEXANDRIUS & DJ MIRKO B, “Balmung”

“Balmung” is the stuff of Nordic legends, a sword used to kill a dragon.  So if you’re going to use imagery like this to be the face of your EDM instrumental, it had better be over-the-top.  And “Balmung” by Italian producers/DJs Alexandrius and DJ Mirko B is just that, it is out to slay you and make you react instantly on the dance floor.  It’s fist-pumping, floor stomping, battlefield-dirty electronica that can only be borne out of Europe.  It simply does not let up, a real crowd-pleaser among many solid instrumentals that have arrived in 2016.  While you can only preview “Balmung” at the link above, it’s well worth the trip to Beatport or your favourite digital store to pick it up.

“D E E P in NY” is an amazing hip hop EDM rework by @BobbyNourmand featuring #DOC and #Goodmorning

BOBBY NOURMAND featuring D.O.C. and Goodmorning, “D E E P in NY” (free DL)

There’s no doubt in my mind that L.A.-based producer/DJ Bobby Nourmand is one of EDM’s most inventive talents who should break more ground with tracks like “D E E P in NY”.  It’s based on his previous release “D E E P”, which I wrote about a while back, a fan favourite which now receives this amazing transformation into a compelling mix of hip hop and EDM, featuring vocalists D.O.C. and Goodmorning.  While it retains mid-80’s house elements of the original, which also skew some British house flavour, this redux is highly cutting edge and will draw in fans of Drake, Bryson Tiller, Anderson.Paak and more – this is often an entirely different and younger audience, and they’ll just love it.  And aside from clubs embracing it – which should be easy 🙂 – it could make for interesting late night radio fare too.  “D E E P in NY” is Bobby Nourmand at his creative best.  Download it for free above and you’ll be all smiles 😀

“Starboy” leaves the original @TheWeeknd #DaftPunk arrangement behind in fine cover by @officialKoni featuring @JohannesWebertv

KONI featuring JOHANNES WEBER, “Starboy” (free DL)

It takes a lot for me to write about a cover of a current favourite song of mine, I’m pretty selective, and solid variations of “Starboy” by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk are hard to come by.  As with a number of his recent remixes and covers, Koni (who is one half of the duo Saxity – the other being Stan Sax) opts to pretty much leave the original arrangement of “Starboy” behind in favour of his own.  While some of the edge and depth of the original is missing, what makes this one a winner is the vocal by Johannes Weber.  He doesn’t try at all to be The Weeknd, and creates his own connection to the song, retaining some of the grittiness with his phrasing.  The production adds its own atmosphere and successfully creates an alternate version of “Starboy” that stands up on its own, and with almost 500K listens on Soundcloud, it’s obvious that fans of both The Weeknd and EDM feel the same.  Download it for free above and surprise your friends 🙂

Zesty electronic pop zinger “So Good” by @BasicTape featuring @DannyShah

BASIC TAPE featuring DANNY SHAH, “So Good”

Danceable electronic pop can all sound so much the same, and then the odd song comes along that makes it refreshing all over again.  Such is the case with “So Good”, an energetic, zesty tune from French duo Basic Tape co-written with Glasgow-born singer Danny Shah.  “So Good” succeeds where other danceable pop songs don’t, and in quite obvious places throughout the song.  The melody concentrates on moving forward and matching the energy in the vocals instead of trying to overwhelm.  And at about the 1:30 mark Danny’s voice hits one of those key notes that make you stop and listen more.  As a result “So Good” is a top notch, playful tune, with almost a textbook 60’s or 70’s pop song structure at just 2:47.  Get to know “So Good” by starting with a solid listen at the link above.

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.