electronica – Page 157 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

It’s team #CanadianEDM with @DVBBS and vocalist @DanteLeon on “Angel”

DVBBS featuring DANTE LEON, “Angel”

Canadian brothers Alex and Chris, raised outside of Toronto in Orangeville, Ontario, aka DVBBS, continue to show that they are an international force to be reckoned with in the busy EDM world with sellout concerts and prolific releases. The boys continue to diversify and follow up their Top 10 club hit “Never Enough”. Like previous release “Gold Skies” with Sander van Doorn and Martin Garrix, DVBBS takes another side step into emotional dance songs with “Angel” in which they pair up with Toronto singer Dante Leon. Dante’s affecting hip hop-flavoured “Hotline Bling” styled vocal is attractively matched by DVBBS’ subtle layering of sounds which bounces along with a futuristic bass rhythm that suits the wonder in the theme of the song. DVBBS are so known for their partying and “Woozy Gang” antics but “Angel” is smart and impressive and should not be underestimated. Pick it up on iTunes.

US electronic performer @dnotive arrives with 80’s inspired “Second Chances”

d.notive, “Second Chances”

“Second Chances” is deliberately paced, progressive electronica by Minneapolis-based performer d.notive, currently on release with his album Sentinel. “Second Chances” is a compelling listen thanks to d.notive’s dark vocal style and inspiration that immediately conjure up your favourite songs by the likes of Depeche Mode, New Order, Nine Inch Nails or Sisters of Mercy. There is an ongoing hungry market in the pop world for revisiting the post new wave era of the 80’s, which has contributed to Pet Shop Boys’ ongoing success, and d.notive does this with his own flourishes. In his album Sentinel you’ll hear a number of fine instrumentals, such as the fast-paced “Back In The Saddle”, some with some definite R&B/funk influences, but other songs with his vocals like “One Way Trip” or “Martyr” really stand out. Check out “Second Chances” above and pick up Sentinel on iTunes.

New LA producer/DJ @Liminivisions pairs with singer @RozziCrane for bass-laden “Reach”

LIMINI featuring ROZZI CRANE, “Reach”

L.A. performers Limini and Rozzi Crane are off to a great start with their pairing on the bass-filled EDM song “Reach”. Singer Rozzi is fresh off of a tour with Owl City and release of an EP called Time, and her voice digs deep into the soulful elements of the song before a well-placed drop lures you in for good! “Reach” is one of those songs that will elicit cheers from the audience on the dance floor as the taut, richer production unfolds. If you want a surprise that will make your audience ask for me then be sure to download “Reach” at the link above.

Fresh and joyous EDM awaits with “Synchronize” by @Hellbergmusic featuring @_AaronRichards

HELLBERG featuring AARON RICHARDS, “Synchronize”

The younger generation of producers/remixers is upon us as initiated by Zedd and Martin Garrix back in 2012/13. Sweden’s Hellberg also started off around that time but is coming into his own now with the likes of his remixes such as club hit “Age Of Innocence” by Elephante which I’ve already written about. Pair him up with another youngin, NYC vocalist Aaron Richards, and the same magic that happened with “Spectrum” and “Animals” is here again. “Synchronize” is a touching and beautiful song for the Spring months as it’s all about igniting love between two people and feeling it soar. This kind of emotional bliss travels fast in the Dance/EDM world and I expect it to be a breakout for Hellberg and Aaron Richards. Hellberg also posted a candid announcement (up top) that makes this success all the more appealing. “Synchronize” is now on release, listen to it on the Soundcloud link above.

Enjoy @weInstantKarma’s lazy, romantic remix of @Florsounds’ “Unsaid”

FLOR, “Unsaid” (Instant Karma remix)

New electronic duo Instant Karma have made some interesting choices recent months, including a sunny remix of Brandyn Burnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)”. With Flor’s “Unsaid”, they keep their mix of this beautiful song by the up and coming British singer at a lazy pace which brings to mind some casual romance at the beach on a beautiful day. It has great flavour if you want to bring down the dance mix sloooowwwly but steady. It would fit nicely next to mixes of songs by Jessie Ware, Banks, and others on the alt.pop tip. Expect more lovely surprises from this pair again soon!

Get your future groove on for @iamtheElephante’s wild new EDM instrumental “Black Ivory”

ELEPHANTE, “Black Ivory” (free download)

While his current dance club play hits “Age Of Innocence” and his remix of Nathan Sykes’ “Over And Over Again”, as well as his remix of Mako’s “Smoke-Filled Room”, are still all abuzz, Elephante has dropped another original, an instrumental called “Black Ivory”. This is almost like his theme music, complete with a grand entrance that only prepares for the crazy melody and fun beat shifting and dropping that follows (listen for the elephant!). I think the ending trails off deliberately for DJ’s to easily mix in whatever might flow out naturally. “Black Ivory” maintains solid momentum to keep you swaying without even missing vocals. Innovative guys like Elephante help keep the future of music omnipresent. Download “Black Ivory” for free at the link above.

Indulge in the pre-VDay soulful EDM/pop of @Mereshas with “My Love Has Come”

MERESHA, “My Love Has Come”

After releasing a number of singles over the past few years, culminating with some notable success for last year’s “New Revolution” and performing on the same bill recently as Adam Lambert, Florida native Meresha continues with some striking EDM/pop in “My Love Has Come”. In this song Meresha’s voice immediately reminded me of Florence Welch when she isn’t belting it out to the high heavens. And with such crisp control, there’s no doubt in my mind that Meresha probably has Florence’s kind of range under wraps. Plus it has an inner soulfulness that you can also hear in someone like Zendaya. “My Love Has Come” has a delightfully lilting melody that allows Meresha’s voice to flourish. The style is left of centre of recent successes like Tori Kelly or Elle King, which is probably a good thing. Expect to hear more fine music from Meresha in 2016. Watch the lyric video above and pick up the single on iTunes.

New cutting edge electronica from @JamesBlake with “Modern Soul”

JAMES BLAKE, “Modern Soul”

For some reason, this is the first time that I’ve written about 27 year old British electronica wizard James Blake, whose far-outside-the-box songs and melodies got enough attention to turn Grammy Awards nominators’ heads a few years back when he received a nom for Best New Artist. James’ new song “Modern Soul” has a very telling title – it is indeed soulful electronic music for the modern world. Like songs in his past releases, “Modern Soul” shifts gears melodically several times. This by no means jolts you, but instead it dazzles as you begin to take trip within trip inside James’ new sounds. His disembodied or distant vocal style is beginning to be a trademark and he writes his songs to suit that style. All in all this is fascinating new stuff which should do very well with in the alt.rock radio world and in dance clubs sophisticated enough to feed patrons’ heads as well as their feet. “Modern Soul” makes awaiting more James Blake songs a very exciting prospect.

True EDM/Dance Smashes on deck from @MiDisguise: “Years Ago” and “Be My Desire”

midisguise2

https://soundcloud.com/mi-disguise/years-ago

MI DISGUISE, “Years Ago” and “Be My Desire”

20 year-old L.A.-based EDM/dance performer, remixer, and producer Mi Disguise is no stranger to this blog post. Last year’s idiosyncratic and infectious “East Side Bay” got to #10 on my chart, and a previous collaboration with singer Adam Tyler called “Alive” reached #15. But the mysterious Mi Disguise (aka Louie Garcia) has got some of the most exciting EDM for the first quarter of 2016 in store for us with lead-ins to his upcoming release.

First up is the haunting earworm “Years Ago”. I’ve already been predisposed to this song and it’s so easy to put it on repeat. Mi Disguise’s vocals are pure California beach, anyone can relate to the wistful story line, the chorus is completely contagious, and just when you think all of his tricks are done, he adds in some hard rock guitar which fleshes out the atmosphere of the song. “Years Ago” is a unique, bonafide contender, don’t miss it.

Almost equally as good is “Be My Desire”, a song that you might think is about to become an emotional EDM dance track, and then shifts gears into a seductive, late night driving song that could be the unwritten theme for a movie or TV show. It’s a huge, versatile song that stands out.

So as you can tell, I can’t wait till Mi Disguise’s music is available for you to purchase. In the meantime give a close listen to “Years Ago” and “Be My Desire”. It’s cutting edge EDM/dance that does not disappoint.

@TwoFriendsmusic deep future pop remix of @Shaun_Frank & @KSHMRmusic’s “Heaven” feat. @iamDelaneyJane

SHAUN FRANK & KSHMR featuring DELANEY JANE, “Heaven” (Two Friends remix)

Dance music has a community where everyone pitches in to help each other out and some great collaborative efforts are made as a result. So here we have a bunch of rising dance/EDM stars, L.A. remixers Two Friends tackling my fellow Torontonian Shaun Frank’s pairing with L.A.’s KSHMR’s “Heaven”, featuring another Toronto native Delaney Jane on vocals, one of Spinnin’ Records’ latest and greatest. Two Friends trade in the buoyant house rhythms of the original for a pop-flavoured progressive deep future remix redolent with guitars which brings out the glorious nature of the song. It also accentuates every positive in Delaney Jane’s stunning vocal. This reminds me of where Zedd and Avicii were headed a few years ago. Good things can only come of this collaboration and I expect clubs to put it on free-flowing blast.