Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Wake All The Timber Up

Alright, I know. You're so sick of Timber and anything having to do with it but I can promise you this is the least annoying mashup involving that song you could possibly imagine because it's actually incredible. I will openly admit that I probably won't be over Timber for a little while because it's a great song to get drunk to and yes, you're going to dance to it at the bar whether you like it or not. Don't try to deny it, no matter how obnoxious you think Ke$ha is (not to mention how unnecessary the $ is as an S in her name). With that being said, you might just dance even more to this awesome mashup than to the original because oh yeah, it involves another overplayed but lovable nonetheless tune, Wake Me Up. You're most likely already rolling your eyes at this point, but I can PROMISE you this track is worth a listen.. and another and another.

Kap Slap - Wake All The Timber Up

Young Hearts Remixed // The Chainsmokers

Hey remember when I posted that song Young Hearts by Strange Talk a few weeks ago??? Well yeah it's back with a fantastic twist, with help from one of my favorite DJ duos, The Chainsmokers. The song, as I previously wrote, was pretty spectacular untouched, but this remixed just gives it a little more love with some dope drops that will undeniably make you want to dance.

Strange Talk - Young Hearts (The Chainsmokers Remix)



Also, here are some more of my favorites by The Chainsmokers, who add excellent elements to songs in each and every one of their remixes.

Bastille - Flaws (The Chainsmokers Remix)




Ellie Goulding - Goodness Gracious (The Chainsmokers Remix)




Tove Lo - Habits (The Chainsmokers Remix)




The Colourist - Fix This (The Chainsmokers Remix)




***THE BEST FOR LAST ... THIS ONE 

ASTR - Operate (The Chainsmokers Remix)

Tear You Down

Hooray! Rejoice for more original RAC material! With their signature contagiously bouncy beat, RAC drops another track from their upcoming album Strangers, this time featuring the vocals of the wonderful Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. His lyrics seem to trickle out magically and there seems to be more variation in the string instruments than ever before, suggesting how promising Strangers sounds to be. This is another track of theirs that remains undoubtedly upbeat and optimistic throughout.. which is why I love them so much.

RAC - Tear You Down (ft. Alex Ebert)

Gooey

Exactly as it's named, this tune is a sticky icky and ooey gooey blend of silky smooth perfection. Honestly, I haven't heard something this sexy AF in awhile. For some reason the paisley album artwork reminds me of some robe that Hugh Hefner would wear... ANYWAYS. Perfect for winding down, it's funky and fabulous in all the right ways without making a mess of itself and you should listen to it right now.

Glass Animals - Gooey

Gust of Wind

If you thought you've heard the end of Pharrell and Daft Punk, think again. The swaying tune of Gust of Wind brings as much funk as expected and leaves me anticipating the remainder of Pharrell's album G I R L, which I have yet to listen to but was released March 3. (I first heard the song before the album was released but was unable to find a link to share!) The brief guitar riffs brought to you by Daft Punk are fairly reminiscent of their previous work together and makes me wonder if we will ever get lucky (ha) to hear any more of their collaborations! Check out Gust of Wind below:

Pharrell - Gust of Wind (feat. Daft Punk)

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Midnight

So I just checked my email only to receive news that one of my favorite bands of all time, Coldplay, has released a new video.. ahem, aka a new single. Mylo Xyloto was released all the way back in 2011, so yeah, it's safe to say that I've been anticipating new work from them for awhile. This song takes on a more modern feeling Coldplay, with more electronic elements. Chris Martin's voice takes on a more whispery tone, resembling that of Bon Iver. The song itself feels almost like a dream sequence and it really makes me curious as to what else they are going to release. Based on their previous albums, I know that this is only one piece to a magnificent puzzle! Listen below with some trippy visuals:

Coldplay - Midnight
  

SOHN

I always think it's really cool to come across a new group that you can't precisely categorize. The unique sound that SOHN brings is full of calming vocals contrasted with awesome building electronic beats. Their three songs that I can't stop listening to--Artifice, Lessons, and Bloodflows--all evolve in a way that leaves you anticipating what to come and ultimately do not disappoint. I particularly love how Bloodflows seeps open at around 2:30 and just puts all the elements of the song on the table while at the same time crescendoing everything to bring the track to its peak. Artifice seems to come out with more of an almost tropical vibe with the drums of the backbeat, but the electronic fix on the vocals really contributes to the tranquility of the sound. The electronic beat of Lessons carries the song out through its climax, allowing a constant steadiness. Their calming vibes give a wonderful sense of release on any stress and really put you at ease. Take a listen:

SOHN - Bloodflows




SOHN - Artifice




SOHN - Lessons

Bixel Boys

Well this song is straight up hypnotic. Bixel Boys lightened up the original and capitalized on Dia Frampton's voice to really play up the lyrics with a more trance-like effect. Not overwhelming in the slightest, I feel like this song makes a great background for the day CUZ I'M OVER IT. But not over this song in the slightest... it'll be awhile before I am.

The Crystal Method - Over It feat. Dia Frampton (Bixel Boys Remix)



Clearly these Bixel Boys have some idea what they're doing since they can pull off this incredible remix of a classic. Check it.

TLC - Waterfalls (Bixel Boys Remix)

Monday, February 24, 2014

Pony Remixed

This song is so classic and amazing by itself I know you are probably asking yourself how it could ever get any better. I mean, it's GINUWINE y'all. Well just listen to this slowed down version get nasty.

Ginuwine - Pony (eSenTRIK Remix)


and on that note, obviously Tom Haverford came to my head when discussing 90's r&b.

Streamers

I've been meaning to post this song for awhile, and now that a remix was released of it, I'm obviously past due. Don't be fooled by the bizarre Miami Vice looking album artwork, this song incorporates a ton of different electronic elements to produce a long-lasting euphoric effect (including tons of WHAT!'s from Lil Jon). Also Ryan Hemsworth's remix is pretty dope too so check that out below.

Wave Racer - Streamers



Wave Racer - Streamers (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)

20syl

Electronic producer/remixer/DJ 20syl continues to impress me with his latest remix of Schoolboy Q's The Purge. I don't think I could have ever envisioned this song to be any better than it is by 20syl. This guy just makes over tracks by adding his own astounding flair that, in my opinion, improves them tenfold. Honestly, these kind of remixes bring something entirely new to the table in terms of what "electronic" is by magnifying the effects but in a way that feels completely natural. Check out his latest below, in addition to some of my older favorites.

Schoolboy Q - The Purge / Rapfix Cypher (20syl Remix)




Kendrick Lamar - Sing that shit (20syl Juicy Remix)




Rihanna - Stay /// 20syl you can't be serious Remix




20syl - 10YRS (Hip OPsession 10th Anniversary Track)

Superfriends

After listening to this song countless times over the weekend, I figured it deserved a post. So this mysterious DJ has yet to release his identity but has gifted us an awesome track that mixes some funky beats with perfectly morphed gang-star lyrics. It's delicious, it's good for you, it's the perfect way to start the day.

Z - Superfriends

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

HyperParadise Remixed

If you haven't already heard the original of this song by Hermitude, shame on you. I'm only kidding, but really where have you been? Again, kidding. But seriously, I could listen to this song on loop for a good while. It's the kind of electronic beat that allows you to get lost in its many folds without being overwhelming or giving you too much to process. Anyways, a few days ago I came across a flip of the song by Ganz, which gives the already amazing track some added intensity. Check it out below!

Hermitude - HyperParadise (GANZ flip)




*Bonus: Here's a much older remix to the song by Flume (still amazing):

Hermitude - HyperParadise (Flume Remix)

Blood

Speaking of Local Natives, this new group O s c a from the UK has a very similar sound in their debut song Blood. For me the piano really brings out some wonderful aspects and the repeating chant-like vocals that play throughout the background give the song a comforting repetitiveness.

O s c a - Blood

Bowery Remixed

I love the sound that Local Natives have: acoustic with a touch of melancholy but nothing too demandingly depressing. (A personal favorite of mine is Airplanes). This remix of Bowery by Zebra Safari brings in some bass, slows down the beat of the original, and brilliantly overlaps some of the vocals. The song just seems to seep out in a new way that brings out the best in it. Close your eyes, sit back, and give it a listen.

Local Natives - Bowery (Zebra Safari Remix)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

My Love Remixed

As demonstrated by his most recent album release, Justin Timberlake clearly still has it going on. However, I still am not over some of his old songs, i.e. My Love. This remix feels a bit cheesy at first, but just give it some time.. it gets better as it builds.

Justin Timberlake - My Love (Playground Mob Remix)

High

The slow tempo of this song really allows the electronic backbeat to build in a calming and unaggressive way that is totally appealing to me. The drop brings a kind of blended smoothie of the quietly toned vocals and heavy bass that is quite pleasing to my ear. Love it, check it out:

Peking Duk - High (ft. Nicole Millar)

Sleep

This song is perfect for my current state of affairs and reiterates just how important it is to get out of bed and get the day going. The heavy electronic instrumentals provide a perfect contrast to the soft vocals and succeed in delivering a sense of urgency and meaning to the words. This is the kind of music to me that transcends pop because it feels completely original.

"Dreams become nightmares if you leave them on a shelf."

MISUN - Sleep

Monday, February 17, 2014

Drunk In Love Remixed

I didn't really think it was possible for this fabulous song to get any better, but Kanye West's added verse to Beyoncé's Drunk In Love gives it something extra special. The instrumentals changed from the original into something more string-based and higher pitched, giving it some more tension in every good way. Noted: the Flashing Lights cameo is pretty awesome. Let's just say that if I don't achieve any of my academic goals by the end of this week I know I will at least have Kanye's verse down pat... I don't know the way you do it but you do it to me though.

Beyoncé - Drunk In Love (Remix) feat. Kanye West & Jay-Z



Diplo also released his rendition of the already amazing song this weekend. Obviously this is Diplo, so this one is more "trap" oriented and electronic reliant. I don't think I could ever dislike any version of the tune so check it out.

Diplo - drunk n luv (remix)



Also here is a lullaby-like remix by Hunt for the Breeze, which takes the song into a very light and airy vibe that I really enjoy.

Beyoncé - Drunk In Love (Hunt for the Breeze Edit)



And just to point out the obvious, here is a survival guide to girls who are not Beyoncé (aka me unfortunately):

by Wasted Rita


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Say You'll Be There

Oh man, how much I love a good cover... I cannot even begin to explain. MØ's mystic sound gives this Spice Girls' original an unexpected dark twist that I can't get enough of. The song really speaks for itself... so much love.

MØ - Say You'll Be There

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Young Hearts

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Strange Talk gives us feel-good tunes full of carefree vibes. Their most recent release, Young Hearts, keeps things simple without getting monotonous. Evoking a sense of nostalgia for past youth, the lyrics and instrumentals combine perfectly to be uplifting and vivacious with a perfect chorus: "We're young hearts, look at us go, all we really need is a stereo. We're young hearts, look at us go, there's no stopping us, we will carry on."

Strange Talk - Young Hearts

Lowdown

Speaking of fire... the Spinnin' Records Soundcloud just posted Vicetone's incredible song Lowdown. No words just pure beat and jam. Don't be intimidated or get overwhelmed, just take a listen for yourself and enjoy:

Vicetone - Lowdown


Right Here Right Now (Neon)

Sander van Doorn's most recent track Right Here Right Now (Neon) is fire... I don't know what else I really could say. I mean you gotta love house music these days for putting the cheesiest lyrics in with fabulous beats. It's always going to be undeniably good despite the overreaching attempt to achieve relevancy in early 20 somethings' lives (think CARPE DIEM). Whatever, I'm okay with it because it always seems to work in making me forget about real life problems.

Sander van Doorn - Right Here Right Now (Neon)

Repeating Motion

Every time RAC comes out with a new song or remix, I know it's pretty much guaranteed to be awesome. Their bright and bouncy instrumentals never cease to uplift any song. Their new song, Repeating Motion, is particularly fantastic, with lyrics relevant to anyone's life in fighting change... a constant battle for most. Listen closely to the words, take note, and enjoy.

RAC - Repeating Motion (ft. Karl Kling)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Odesza

When I first heard My Friends Never Die by Odesza last August, I loved the electronic funk that came with it. Music like this has the tendency to set one at ease without worrying about a thing... I like that. They are reminiscent of Star Slinger and Tourist, two of my favorite DJs who can turn a classic sampled song into a completely new sound. Their newest release, Sun Models, is the same kind of thing. For some reason, the high pitched voice has a perfect balance with the electronic trills and synth xylophone and I just can't stop listening. See more of my favorites by Odesza below!

Odesza - Sun Models ft. Madelyn Grant



Odesza - My Friends Never Die



Odesza - iPlayYouListen




Odesza - Without You



Pretty Lights - One Day They'll Know (Odesza Remix)

You Don't Know Remixed

I don't know what it is about Big Sean's voice (I think it's rather swarthy), but it always feels like it flows so smoothly over any track. I can't get Gazzo's remix of his song You Don't Know featuring Ellie Goulding out of my head. (Also for some reason I'm rather obsessed with the line "I know, I know, I know I'm the reason you get dressed up/ I know, I know, I know I'm the reason you get messed up"... don't ask.) At first the drop seemed too unexpected to me, but then I warmed up to it, especially as it slowed down. I think this remix is very well done and suggest you take a listen here:

Big Sean ft. Ellie Goulding - You Don't Know (Gazzo Remix)

The Hood Internet

For those of you who haven't heard of one of the first and best mashup groups, The Hood Internet, is at it again. They've been in the game since 2007 and I've been following all of their releases since the 11th grade. Mashups have always fascinated me because it seems like it would be so simple, but it actually requires so much more than putting two (or more) songs together to make it sound fabulous. A lot goes into making an excellent mashup, and The Hood Internet can do no wrong. Sometimes I find that they can take two original songs that I didn't even think I liked to create a masterpiece of a mashup. Their most recent work features a perfect blend of Pusha T + Kendrick Lamar's Nosetalgia and ASTR's R U With Me. I included some more of my older favorite songs by them but I would highly encourage a thorough exploration of their Soundcloud!

The Hood Internet - R U Nosetalgic



The Hood Internet - Infinite Starts



The Hood Internet - Ignition (1901 Remix)



The Hood Internet - While I'm Different



The Hood Internet - Fuck With Mo' Money



The Hood Internet - Critical Captions (feat Class Actress & Cadence Weapon)




The Hood Internet - Just Wanna Dance Yrself Clean



Other favorites include: Deny Strings, Bewarijuana, Night Vista, and more....

Monday, February 10, 2014

The One

The only thing you can do on a Monday morning is try to start your week off with some positive vibes. The One, featuring Sneaky Sound System, by The Knocks has the perfect amount of funk to add a little extra pep in your step. Obviously the title of the song and lyrics ("Let's take things fast, what's there to lose?") are perfect for Valentine's Day this week (always a joke to me, but still a holiday nonetheless). Set the bar high for this week and try and carry out some positivity until Friday!

The Knocks - The One Ft. Sneaky Sound System

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

All These Roads Remixed

All These Roads by Sultan + Ned Shepard is doctored here by FIXYN, creating what I would like call, an enhancement, of the original. The tune is electronic and groovy enough on it's own but FIXYN adds the extra synth strings and beats that really bring it to life. Their flair gives the song a more upbeat feeling and takes the uncertainty of the lyrics away from the original in every good way possible, leading it in a more positive direction.

Sultan + Ned Shepard - All These Roads (FIXYN Remix)

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Coffee

Sylvan Esso, or the duo of Amelia Randall Meath and Nick Sanborn, brings us the wonderful Coffee (not literally, I wish...) with soothingly soft vocals and a mesmerizing beat. I will admit that I felt that the song was strange at first, but to me it felt like a bunch of things that weren't originally meant to be together but ended up creating perfection. Sometimes unexpected combinations have the mysterious capability of making things complete.

"I know my words will dry upon the skin just like a name I remember hearing."

Sylvan Esso - Coffee

Dark Horse Remixed

Alright so I know the original version this song has probably been overplayed at this point, but I'll be totally honest and say I'm still not entirely over it (especially Juicy J's verse). With that being said, here are two fabulous remixes of Katy Perry's Dark Horse from Goldhouse and Elephante. They both start slow and build, but then drop two totally different danceable beats, both equally enjoyable.



Broke For Free

Sometimes there is nothing more refreshing than a song without words. All you need is the right instrumentals to keep you anticipating what the beat could possibly bring. I am a huge fan of Ratatat, and I feel like this group, Broke For Free, somewhat stems off of that genre of lyric-less music. Although I feel like Broke For Free is more string/guitar based than electronic, there is definitely a pleasant and calming vibe to all of it. Check out some of my favorites below!

Broke For Free - XXV




Broke For Free - Juparo




Broke For Free - Budding



Broke For Free - The Gold Lining



**Bonus:

Ratatat - Cherry (Broke For Free Remix)

Monday, February 3, 2014

Stronger

If you're suffering from any case of the Monday blues, I've got an unexpected pick me up song. Sampling Corinne Bailey Rae's Put Your Records On, Wilfred Giroux frames some of my favorite lyrics of the song ("when are you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?") with an upbeat yet relaxing rhythm in a pleasurably hypnotic, repetitive way. Take a listen and give yourself a pat on the back for making it through another Monday.

Wilfred Giroux - Stronger

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Jai Paul

It's [Super Bowl] Sunday and I'm stuck studying for a test. Obviously the best way for me to wind down and get to memorizing is listening to some relaxing music. Jai Paul isn't exactly new, but I felt compelled to go back and re-listen to his two songs, Jasmine and BTSTU, after hearing Paper Diamond's remix of Jasmine that recently was released. I can't help but feel incredibly at ease when I hear these two completely original songs. The dreamlike and whispery vocals contrast amazingly with the funky instrumentals. Give these a listen if you feel the to just chill without a worry in the world. I've also included a phenomenal soft cover of BTSTU by Niia and the extra groovy Paper Diamond edit of Jasmine.


Jai Paul - Jasmine
 


Jai Paul - BTSTU




Niia - BTSTU (Jai Paul Cover)




Jai Paul - Jasmine (Paper Diamond Edit)