Keeping It Fresh

Today I have some music for you by the DJ and artist known as The Magician. The Belgium DJ has been behind a number of different hits across the pond, but somehow, his name isn't as well known here in the States. One of the most unique and somewhat odd things about The Magician is that he legitimately does magic tricks while on stage. That concept blew my mind! I understand that a lot of artists enjoy putting on a performance along with a good show, but The Magician's idea of putting on a performance through magic tricks seems so odd but incredibly cool. And just like the magic he performs on stage, The Magician spins even more magic into his mixes. This song, in particular, is one of my favorite vibes. It is a cool, smooth, and catchy track. Unlike a lot of music we hear from festival DJs, this song airs on the lounge and chill side of electronic music. There are no throbbing bass nor thumping beats. Instead, The Magician favors more subtle sounds and less bombastic mixing....

Today I have some music for you that may be a throwback for some, and a wave of nostalgic sounds for others. Basshunter. What can I say about the guy? His popularity has been an interesting trajectory and course. But somehow, his older work persists as a club classic. And it really has been a while since I listened to him or talked about him. Since I got a random listen recently, I thought it might be nice to take a trip down memory lane. So Basshunter is a phenomenal DJ and is incredible at pretty much every aspect of producing music. Every note and lyric is written by him. One thing which always used to make me chuckle a bit, are the lyrics. It's not that Basshunter is shallow with his lyrics. It's just so entertaining to hear how simple they are! For example, one of his songs is literally about playing a video game. Straightforward and to the point I suppose! But then again, I guess the focus for him is more the production and electronic aspect of the song. For this track...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer that isn't very well known despite his wickedly good music. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out, and even now I still have the dancing bug. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked songs. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up i...

Today I have some music for you by an artist known as NYK. I hadn't really heard much about this artist until very recently, but I am a huge fan of his voice. His voice has won him some awards, including a Japanese singing show, so that is pretty darn awesome. NYK has a very smooth R&B style voice, one that I definitely dig. His voice doesn't necessarily stand out as a voice that is easily recognizable or anything, but it is one that suits the R&B style he is going for. I will say though, NYK has a deeper voice than other R&B artists, which makes him stand out in some sense. NYK can also really climb the scale, as evidence from the second verse shows. He very easily and gorgeously is able to climb up to the falsetto notes, something that I really look for in R&B artists. Part of the soulful and seductive element of R&B is being able to play between those lower pitched notes and the high falsettos, something that NYK is able to do very smoothly. So kudos to...

Today I have some new music for you by the London-based electronic group that is filling the music-scape with amazing tracks. Rudimental has made its way into the European music scene and is slowly making their way to the US. But before they make it big here, I am happy that I get to talk about them because of how much their music is very different. Rudimental has not made a song that sounds like another. Each and every song has a completely different melody, tone, mood, and genre. From tropical sounds to electronic club music, to even some melancholy and soothing jams, Rudimental is not afraid to try things out and really explore. What makes it even better, is that they do an incredible job of it. Rudimental is one of the few artists who has managed to master every genre they decide to tackle, and each song that expresses a different genre has been one that I really enjoy. Now I know I have done a little bit of writing about them in the past so some of this may not be new to you...

Today I have a song for you that resurfaced after over a year since last hearing it. Justice Crew isn't super well known as a music group, rather, they are much more popular for their role as a dance crew. But, believe it or not, this is a group that not only brings the moves but also knows how to create the music for it. It isn't often that you see a dance crew turn their eyes to the music world. That's the first thing that really intrigued me about Justice Crew. Their path to music is one that is uncommon and even a bit odd. But what I love, is that there is a great ability to dance to this song. I mean the energy is there, the consistent beat, and the dynamism is there, making this an awesome song to turn into a choreographed dance. Of course, that comes from the influence of Justice Crew being first and foremost, a dance group. And to top it off, they have a great routine to go along with their These guys are wicked talented in the dance department, and thankfully, we...

Today I have some music for you by a DJ who has really started to mix it up with what kind of music he produces. Calvin Harris became popular with his upbeat and energizing pop songs, only to then follow suit by going on a bit of a quiet streak. While the man was still playing a few shows here and there, his presence in the "new music" game was pretty limited and unnoticed. Until now! Calvin Harris has been very busy in the studio, and has given the world some very interesting and different R&B electronic music. The latest album by Calvin Harris marks a transition for the DJ and producer. He is switching from the pop oriented and stereotypical radio dance song, into something that is more of a summery serenade. We are starting to hear this evolution into something that is breezy and even a bit tropical. Somehow, the man still is able to maintain this ease in his sound. Nothing feels forced or engineered, rather, it feels organic and fluid. Something that Calvin Harris h...

Today I have some music for you by an electronic duo out of Egypt. When I first heard Aly & Fila I got really excited. Nowadays it is so hard to find some really good and solid trance music. However, these two deliver us some really good trance, and better yet, they top it off with some sick Arabic influences. This duo hails from Egypt, a fact that made me even more excited. It isn't often that we hear music like this in general, and even rarer to hear this style of music from the Middle East. So this little taste of Egyptian electronic music makes me quite excited! But Aly & Fila do an incredible job of capturing that trance style of music which was so popular in underground European music scenes during the early 00's. This song has everything we could ever really ask for in a good trance song. We have the ethereal vocals which kind of carry on throughout the song. We've got the longer buildup which brings us to this high paced and full energy kind of drop. But the...

Today I have some new music for you out of the world of EDM and electronic music. Today's first song is by Pierce Fulton. Honestly, I think he is an underrated artist. Pierce Fulton knows how to produce music that will rile up the crowd. There is always this insane amount of energy and sound that you can't help but jump and move and at least headbang some. This song is an explosion of sound and color. Now I know it is strange to think of a song as having a color, but when you hear a song and imagine, there is always a color that comes to mind. And with this song, there is this beautiful display of color from all ends of the spectrum. This song is just so lively and energetic and wild! I like that wildness because it is that of the world that is truly alive and truly living. Pierce Fulton does an amazing job of keeping the energy level at one that can be sustained and toned down when necessary. This song features vocals by the artist Polina. I didn't think she really ...

Today I have some remixed and mashed up music for you! So this song is pieced together by a DJ who goes by the name Dr. Srimix. Now I have to tell you, out of everything that has happened since becoming a dancer on the Bollywood fusion circuit, discovering Dr. Srimix and the cohort of Bollywood fusion DJs is the greatest part. Dr. Srimix has a knack for finding Western and Bollywood songs that fit so well together. Somehow, he makes the songs become puzzle pieces, and manipulates them into fitting exactly the way they need to. Of course, this is nothing short of admiration and a testament to the incredible skill that he has as a DJ. The Indian dance community in the US is quite large, and Dr. Srimix is one of the most well known and popular DJ among the dance network. And for absolutely great reason. He has created mixes with songs that I never even thought to listen to on a regular basis, let alone use for a remix. But then again, I guess that is one of the great things about being in...

Today I have some electronic music for you because it has been quite some time since we have had a nice dose of that. This first song is by Ferry Corsten. Now this song is a pretty sick mix between EDM trance and house. This song is absolutely wicked and extremely well produced. For starters, this song features an incredible vocalist, Nat Dunn. If there is one thing everyone can appreciate about electronic music, the DJ's and artists always pick vocalists who are not only low key, but are also talented beyond belief. I have yet to hear an electronic song that features a vocalist I have not been impressed by. Nat Dunn is a powerhouse, with a voice that is both rich and even a little bit sultry. Where you can really get blown away though is in the chorus when she belts out the two words that really make the song. It is just waves of power from her voice and there is this underlying rasp and rawness to the way she sings the chorus that really gives the song dynamism and character. The...

Today I have a fun and energetic song by the artist F4ST. Now I had not heard of these guys till today, and I was totally taken in by this song. It is definitely a catchy one and has so much liveliness to it. One of the things I really like about this song is that it kind of has a darker tropical sound. A lot of times tropical electronic music has a very bubbly and happy and beachy sound. But this song takes some of those tropical sounds and warps them to have a chillstep influence. I thought that was pretty cool! The Columbian electronic duo brings their own cultural flavor to this song. The entire second verse is sung in Spanish. It is not often that we get to hear something like that. I mean it is one thing to have a Spanish artist write a song that is produced as a more upbeat electronic song. But having a song that is specifically meant to be and EDM song meshed with English and Spanish? Well that is definitely something you do not hear everyday. And that is pretty cool! I like th...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer I hadn't heard of till very recent. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked song. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up into the strong powerhouse vocals of Mariah Carey while ...

Today I have music for you by a few music producers who are responsible for some really incredible music. This song is a collaboration between Robin Schulz, David Guetta, and Cheat Codes. Now these are three artists I am mad for! Each one of them has a distinct style that is very much their own to claim. Robin Schulz brings a lot of the eurodance kind of sound, employing the sounds of stringed instruments. David Guetta brings his infectious energy and catchy beats. Cheat Codes brings their tropical kind of sound and killer vocals. Together, the three of them have been able to find a nice middle ground where we get to hear all of their skills put to work. The instrumentals are led by an emotive string melody. This melody is backed by some strong house beats and bass line. And with just this much we already get to see where these artists are coming together. The beats and bass are too heavy to be normal of Robin Schulz but aren't heavy enough to be considered one of David Guetta'...

Today I have some music for you by one of the world's biggest DJs and an artist who has produced one of the biggest dance anthems of recent years. Steve Aoki is an artist who is all kinds of creative genius, with a little bit of madness thrown into the mix for extra flavor. Collaborating alongside Steve Aoki is Behm and the band Walk The Moon, a band who's biggest single is one of the most popular pop-rock anthems of recent years. This song is one that captures part of the electronic dance message and culture so well. This song is all about returning to something you love. It's about going home to someone you love, someone who means the world to you. And in a way, that is what EDM is all about. It is about feeling at home in a world of music that is wild and free. We get to hear that sense of freedom and excitement and vivacity in this song. This song is a splendid meeting of the minds, bringing together this dance-pop track. Steve Aoki provides us that upbeat and fun and e...

Today I have some music for you by a band that I just recently started listening to called Olympic Ayres. I feel like it has been such a long time I have posted music like this, so I am really excited to share this one with you all! This is a song that as such a great groove and vibe to it, one of those awesome feel good songs that you can't seem to get enough of. This is a duo that has such an incredile fusion of sounds, something that ranges from dance to indie to R&B. This electrifying blend of sounds leaves us with this awesome summery vibe, one that gets you on your feet. This song is full of such an infectious energy and a great beat. The melody is such a fun and exciting flow of sounds, and the the steady beat is a great way to give the song some wicked funk. This song has a really cool retro kind of sound to it, something that gets the disco of the 80s and the pop and electronica of the 90s. There is a solid indie rock sound to the song as well, and that is what makes t...

Today I have another remix for you, a song that is wildly popular which now has an electronic twist to it. Rihanna's music has become extremely popular in both her respected genre of music and mainstream. Now I have to say the first time I heard this song, I was completely annoyed. And the second time I turned it off pretty quickly into the song. I won't lie, the original version of this song doesn't really do it for me. I haven't been able to really get through the song as well as other music, which is totally okay! We can all have our own thoughts on music, and this is just my personal thought on the original. However, this remix by the Lost Kings is pretty darn awesome. Not only did they make this a song that is bearable for me, but they made it a song that I actually enjoy listening to. That is pretty impressive and I really appreciate that! I think what makes their remix something I can stomach, is that they make it sound different. The original song sounds nothing...

Today I have music for you by the band Bag Raiders. Now a lot of people may know this band because of their huge hit "Shooting Stars," however, there is so much more to this band than you can even fathom. Bag Raiders is one of those bands that has no boundaries to their music. Bag Raiders traverses all kinds of electronic scales and synthpop areas. On one hand you have songs like the one mentioned earlier. And then you have songs like this one. Songs that are so energetic and lively and completely addicting. This song is just so catchy and vivacious and exciting! There are a lot of different and incredible things happening with this song. Now this duo is out of Australia and with this song you can kind of hear that coastal and beach-like influence. However, we also get a more tribal and tropical beat which I would like to attribute to an Aboriginal tribute. I could be wrong, but I like how Bag Raiders incorporates different aspects of the Australian culture in this song, whet...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer I hadn't heard of till very recent. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked song. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up into the strong powerhouse vocals of Mariah Carey while getting thrown in...

Today I have some electronic music for you because it has been quite some time since we have had a nice dose of that. This first song is by Ferry Corsten. Now this song is a pretty sick mix between EDM trance and house. This song is absolutely wicked and extremely well produced. For starters, this song features an incredible vocalist, Nat Dunn. If there is one thing everyone can appreciate about electronic music, the DJ's and artists always pick vocalists who are not only low key, but are also talented beyond belief. I have yet to hear an electronic song that features a vocalist I have not been impressed by. Nat Dunn is a powerhouse, with a voice that is both rich and even a little bit sultry. Where you can really get blown away though is in the chorus when she belts out the two words that really make the song. It is just waves of power from her voice and there is this underlying rasp and rawness to the way she sings the chorus that really gives the song dynamism and character. The...