Tag Archives: soundcloud

Midweek Music: Sorsari, ZHU, Lido, Campuskit, Enschway

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I am so glad I this track exists. It’s a superb remix of a melody that is near & dear to my heart. This theme from Chrono Trigger (from the Realm of Magic I believe) was an ethereal, lofty, tease that so many of us loved growing up. This chilled trap rework adds an atmospheric quality that could never have exist on the SNES. The source material is used honorably, going places I only dreamed about after playing the damn game for 8hrs at a time. Great for a Sunday morning or the last tune of the night.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony hung out with ZHU. I’m a little late on this tip but if you haven’t heard this, it’s crossover with the boys from Cleveland. They pull in Trombone Shorty for a surprisingly uptempo jazzy tune for the Bone Thugs. It works well and I’m happy to hear them out of retirement. If ZHU is bringing rappers back from the dead I think he needs to hang out with Biggie & Tupac’s holograms next.

Lido & Santell may have created the Mambo #5 of the 10’s. For anyone who doesn’t know who Louie Vega is and/or didn’t listen to pop radio in the late 90’s, this tune oozes sexy. To the point where it may make you or other people listening uncomfortable. Or possibly accelerate Netflix & Chill. Your mileage may vary. Use with caution.

Another release from the always excellent Stoney Roads Soundcloud, Campuskit is a fresh sound from down under. The synth powers are strong with this one, and he definitely earned my attention with this remix. It’s got a shimmering, almost chippy future bass tune. Great work, and it’s novel artists like this that keep me loving what I do.

Enschway  takes it away on this last remix. Another gem from Stoney Roads, this Future Trap anthem bursts with emotion and doesn’t let up. It’s got a Madeon, or dare I say even a Porter Robinson feel to it. The composition & production seems effortless and the soulful work put into the vocals makes the track pop in your ears. It’s a real feast for the senses and makes me excited for everything this kid from Sydney has in store for us. Honestly, this is so good, I’ve gotta share a bonus track. It’s a bit more recent, so put it and the previous one into your face!

Midweek Music: A-Trak, GRMM, Mt. Eden, Liem & Stephen

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You know the score, another week, another quintet of tunes. A nice mix of new hotness from a bunch of different places, so turn on, tune in and vibe out.

A-Trak is one of the last remaining DJ Jedi in this time of crisis. His Fool’s Gold label continues to be a bastion of quality and his Duck Sauce side project with Armand Van Helden brings funky joy to the world. This tune with Jamie Lidell fuses his impeccable timing with vintage funk and euphoric vocals. It gets better with each listen, you’ll see.
GRMM has consistently impressed me with his post-EDM sensibilities. He joins up with Father Dude, a featured vocalist I’m seeing around more and more each month. They come together to create a dope little Future track that perfectly captures what things can sound like when you really get out of the box. The rest of the Die Young EP, that this track is on, isn’t bad either, so don’t miss it.
This Spooky Black remix by Mt. Eden is a symphonic bout of melancholy we all have around this time of year. The Soulful Trap vibe that radiates from this track gives us all a wistful look at the changing of the seasons, thinking too much about things long past. It’s further proof that Mt. Eden continue to be a source for inspiration & inventive production work, years after their original remix EP swept the globe.
Liem came out of nowhere with this UK Garage tune that you could just put on and leave on. It’s a soothing club track that fits perfectly into a surprising amount of sets I’ve heard recently. I don’t know who this Liem is, but they sure can mix.

A vocalist known only as Stephen pushed out this interesting mix between euphoria & indietronica. There’s a chill in it to match the Fall air and a little bit of that “Lean On” feel that’s been infecting a number of tracks lately. Enjoy it and everything else you’ve heard today!

Midweek Music: DZZ, Mobil, Win & Woo, The Kairi Collective & Priscilla Sharp

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summer New week, more music! One classic, couple newbies, all quality & no bullshit. Wide variety this week, so let’s get into it!  DZZ came out of nowhere on this one. With a premiere on Nest HQ this week, DZZ is going places. This tune is at once chippy, future and melancholy. The production values are off the charts on this & the drippingly synthetic vocals are stupendous. This is my sleeper hit for the week, so get into the whole EP here.

Collectives are so hot right now. The Kairi Collective dropped this release and I couldn’t be happier that they did. This chilled vibe is unmistakeable. The glitchy, dubsteppy sounds work perfectly with the classical violin, piano and shifting chords. Really looking forward to where Pensees, Quok & Jan Amit are going with this as this effort is tremendous.

 I’m so glad Tropical has turned into an element of music production, instead of a genre of music. Just like dubstep before it, people are realizing that steel drums & sexy sax do not a song make. You still need a hook and possibly some catchy lyrics. Win & Woo have a great little ditty here, and have a soaring mainstage career in front of them as long as they do the work.

This one takes a minute to get going, but you want to give it the time it deserves. Like a girl who knows what she wants, this track takes its time and really explores a sound that’s both future & 90’s vintage. I don’t know how to describe this, except maybe if Cyndi Lauper did some K & then took some allergy meds. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s like if The Eurythmics had a Macbook to produce on. Trust me, you want to hear this. Priscilla Sharp knows what she’s doing so don’t disappoint her.

Classic trance vibe right here, and it’s from 2013. This really doesn’t need any further introduction besides it being euphoric trance that needs to be played on high volume. Mobil does amazing work here, so show it some love. And if someone can clue me into where I can get more full-length mixes of this style of trance, hit up the comments.

Midweek Music: Seven Lions, Kasbo, REZZ, Wax Motif & Louis Futon

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summerAugust is almost done! Have you done all the brunch into day drinking & Sunday night partying you needed to get done before September arrives? Never try and put Seven Lions in a box again. After many blogs have tried to pigeonhole him as a dubstep or hard edged DJ, he pushes out shimmering sunshine melodic house for your patio drinking pleasure. Off Casablanca Records, this tune must have Vitamin C in it, with Lights lending her stellar vocal stylings to the track. Great little gem for your midweek slump.
Wax Motif has been making waves slowly, burbling up from the depths of Soundcloud & YouTube music channels. This is his debut release on Mad Decent, so you know that it’s going to be a massive banger. The R&B infused beats fuse with the Mad Decent party vibe really well on this, so I hope someone takes notice and starts booking this cinematic trap sound out into more festivals. I think it could do quite well with a greater audience, so let me know if you agree in the comments of course. (via This Song Is Sick)
KASBO is a name you should know by now, as I’ve mentioned him more than once around these parts.  The urgent progressive vibe combined with the future style we’ve grown to love from him works perfectly here. Out on Monstercat, the track shines & deserves your actual cash. (Via Stoney Roads) REZZ is back! The heir apparent to Gesaffelstein, there are very few doing techno the way she is, and I couldn’t be more proud of her earning a Nest HQ release. Getting a single on Skrillex’s label is big, and she should be very proud of herself. We certainly are! This techno is not your friend. Though REZZ might be, if you ask nicely.
I freaking love Louis Futon. I think he’s got the perfect vibe for this era. Like, his soothing, but anthemic future sound probably couldn’t have worked in 2010, or even 2013. But right now, it’s exactly what I need in my remix work. He’s killing it out there these days, and his skills are in full effect 3min in. This is my midweek jam right here, and it’ll be yours by the time the track is over.

Midweek Music: Kasbo, Kasum, Le Dos-on, TroyBoi & Armand Van Helden

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summerI saw sweaters & darker colors at Uniqlo this week, which means only one thing. We’re hitting the back end of July & there aren’t many moist summer weekends left in NYC. Don’t let them go to waste folks, still lots of time to have experiences that you’ll remember forever. Here’s a soundtrack for while you’re having them, or even for while you’re just scheming/dreaming about em.
KASBO kicks us off with a sun drenched future bass delight that needs to be on your beach playlist. A vibe that can only be described as triumphant melancholy, a rooftop bar feel that melds with almost sad vocals, twisted & stretched into sonic taffy.  After this single, you’re going to definitely mob Kasum‘s social media. The soundtrack of high school for the older millennials & I has been reworked by Kasum into a scintillating, shimmering day club tune. The syncopated bassline fused with the perfect 3EB vocals has been repped by the original band & you really need to bomp this with the windows open. The only thing you can say to yourself is TUNE! This is the gem of the week, so make sure to tell Kasum how dope it is.  Switching gears entirely, I’m delighted to showcase a track that will be entirely too hard/fast for a great number of you. It’s from a genre called Freeform Trance. The hallmarks of this genre include exceptionally fast BPM, heavy low-end, trance-infused melodies, major chords and a throw back to happy hardcore, that goofy genre that exploded across the world during the Rave movement of the 90’s. This stuff is anything but dopey. This genre holds (in my opinion) the hardest & most powerful builds/breakdowns/drops. The build that crescendos at 2:50 and rises into the massive drop at 3:30 is indicative of a genre & scene that would blow past most of the brolectro & even the hardcore dubstep out there. This stuff is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re into it, there’s nothing else like it. Le Dos-On is what he goes by, but you may have also heard of him by the name of Hyphen. Freeform Trance from Japan Tell your friends you listen to it and they’ll think you gained a level in EDM hipster points 😉  TroyBoi is a shining star. The Future R&B wunderkind blends garage, global bass, chill & some distinctly UK sensibilities. Nefera provides stellar vocals that Troyboi drizzles perfect chords and bass over. This track is less than a week old & it’s already racked 127,000 hits. You may not have heard of TroyBoi, but you will. This dude is skyrocketing to the top of the production pyramid, as these precious 4 minutes demonstrate. Rounding out the pack this week is the always on time Armand Van Helden. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve got years of music to listen to. Helden essentially created the pop remix for everyone not playing the home game. He brings in a deep, but surprisingly round & technical feel to one of the new singles off Disclosure’s album CARACAL. It’s a fluid, signature 90’s flow with an impressive dual drop structure. This is one for the warehouses, the club, the tech house music dens all over the world. A DJ track start to finish, so EDM kids, you’re gonna be mad. Or you’re going to love it. Hit up the comments and tell me which.

Midweek Music: Avicii, Ferry Corsten, Wyclef Jean, Delta Heavy & More!

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Between July 4th & Labor Day, people check blogs less, they vacation more & need tunes to move to. For the summer, instead of doing music at night, I’ve decided to try something different. I’m going to try and put together a weekly set of tracks, most new, but the occasional oldie/goodie, for you, my faithful readers. Let me know if it’s a good idea.  Ferry Corsten remains one of my most favorite DJs, though he rarely gets to spin the music I love him for. Even though when he headlines mainstages, he does a lot of electro house & progressive, in my mind, he will always be a pure trance DJ. With this release and his recent new Gouryella track, it’s as if he has been reading my mind. The break at 3:19 is one of the best in the world and has been for years. This is a staple in his sets across Europe, but I’ve definitely been privileged enough to hear it on our shores on more than one occasion.  Mixmag premiered one of the better remixes of Giorgio Moroder’s new track “74 is the new 24.” Yes, that’s actually the name of the track, he’s really getting down and funky at 74. The tune has some interesting little guitars and some “I clearly listen to Daft Punk” vocoding effects which are totally welcome. It’s got a vintage, funky feel, while keeping the energy up in a 90’s dance kind of way. Kris Menace & Lifelike have grabbed my attention with this track, so y’all should keep an eye on them with me.
 Avicii is back, and he brought Wyclef Jean & Matisyahu with him. It’s a strange departure for Avicii and I wonder who wanted this deal to come together most out of the trio. Matisyahu & Wyclef Jean drop perfectly capable/dope rhymes, and the reggae vibes on this are strong. Avicii brings in the bluegrass & country influences from his previous work, as you can hear in the builds and lead up to the chorus. This is definitely a step in a new direction so definitely let me know if it’s something you’re feeling.   Bringing the energy down entirely is Glo. This downtempo/chill artist has studied at the School of Burial and we’re all better for it. I cannot get enough of this kind of sound. Do not play this for people on drugs, but if you’re sad, you just got dumped, or if you’re just walking in the rain, this is your jam. I know it’s mine, and if you want more, check out glo’s album saknad here. The list of tracks is fantastic, and it will get you through.  Last but certainly not least, Delta Heavy‘s got a new jam that’s out July 17th. This is no bullshit Drum & Bass. Classic, perfect Delta Heavy, like only he can be. Delta Heavy is able to use female rock vocals in a way I don’t think anyone else in the space besides Flux Pavilion can touch. And now I want to see a Delta Heavy/Flux Pavilion b2b set.

That’s it folks, leave a comment if you liked this format & want to see it again, or if I should get back to a track a day. I live to serve.

Midnight Music: Just A Gent – Pure Imagination [Future Bass]

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Just A Gent - Pure Imagination

Just A Gent – Pure Imagination

Just A Gent continues to blow me away. I am just going to expect every new remix & original track to be stupendous. He sits down at the piano and doesn’t get up until we’ve seen one of the best re-imaginings of Willy Wonka’s Pure Imagination (performed by Gene Wilder of course) since the film. The synth work at 50 sec rambles around in the sky and echoes through the rest of the track. A lovely fusion of sun-drenched vibe, piano and amazing future bass, this is an instant classic. I also bet you’ll get people who don’t like EDM that are really into it when they hear it. This is a great intro track for those leery friends who went to Governor’s Ball for Drake & Lana Del Ray but think deadmau5 is weird. Just A Gent is a gem that’s blossoming into one of the most exciting sounds in dance music. 

Midnight Music: Bon Iver – Perth (Mi Ka Remix)

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Bon Iver - Perth (Mi Ka Remix)

Bon Iver  – Perth (mi ka remix)

This remix of Bon Iver is (to  quote V/Man), too chill for words. There’s a magic to Bon Iver’s tracks originally, so watching this evolve into a golden tune is a quiet joy. mi ka, hailing from Stuttgart lays his spell on you as a listener. It’s got hammock & summer sunshine written all over it. Don’t spend too much time thinking about it, just relax and enjoy. The soothing, smooth bass blends into the bird chirps and soft guitars. If you can’t find a calming breath during this song, you may need to cut back on the Red Bull. As the weekend draws to a close, simmer down with mi ka & show him some love!

Midnight Music: Lyrx – Go For The Gold (Prod. Else) [Hip Hop]

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Lyrx - Go For The Gold

Lyrx – Go For The Gold

V/Man of Fresh New Tracks & the Popped app, continues to be a fountain of inspiration. New hotness for your Monday night. 32 seconds in, I’ve got the first fusion of nu disco & hip hop I’ve heard since Jurassic 5. Lyrx may have a totally new sound. Or, at least a sound that we haven’t heard since Donald Glover still had hope in his eyes. Flow is adult and intelligent, never getting too aggressive or staccato. There’s a smooth, West Coast vibe to the track & it doesn’t last too long. It’s not trying to get you to fuck bitches or get money. Though, it may remind you to go for the best. Who knows, you might just get it. Lyrx & Else are most certainly on my radar now, as the rest of the tracks on this Soundcloud are similarly fantastic.  

Earworm Of The Month: SubVibe – Lemons [Portal Dubstep]

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SubVibe - Lemons

SubVibe – Lemons

It’s been a tough month, so I needed something with a little more punch. In this post-dubstep era, the rare tunes that still effectively leverage the wubs earn my respect. This one came out over the weekend and it’s been on repeat. I am going to inflict this on everyone I know, so you might as well get it over with. This has a beginning that evokes the best of Portal. This is the greatest motivationalstep I’ve ever heard. I don’t think that’s a genre, but this anthemic massive vibe that the step & quotes bring forth is really potent. Even just the quote:

Do you know who I am?! I’m the man who’s gonna burn your house down!

With the Lemons.

There’s some great guitar work halfway through, showing that SubVibe aren’t resting on their laurels and keeps you engaged. This is critical with dubstep. It needs to change up or we stop paying attention. 3min in, when the quote comes back, the hardness is in full effect and it crosses into the realm of Seven Lions and the best of the best. This track totally blew me away, and I don’t say that about many things. The energy drops back down after more surprisingly good guitar work, leaving me hoping for more. Alright, I’m into it, let’s bring dubstep back just for Portal.