Giving life to new music and the rebirth of older tracks!
Posts by JMatt
Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams – Get Lucky
01 month ago
by JMatt
in The Music Phoenix
Daft Punk released their first single at midnight (just minutes ago) and Pharrell gets the lucky feature in, Get Lucky. This is quite possibly the most anticipated album release in the past decade. The ‘leak’ controversy is now behind us and this is finally the real thing; no questions about it, this is Daft Punk. You can identify it a mile a way, it has their style all over it and it only leaves you wanting to hear more! In addition to Pharrell, this new single features Nile Rodgers on guitar. That image is just epic and I can’t wait to see the music video that will be associated with this. But for now, let’s just sit back and enjoy this new release and watch as everyone all over the internet talks nonstop about the latest Daft Punk!
Purchase on iTunes: Daft Punk featuring Pharrell WIlliams & Nile Rodgers – Get Lucky
will.i.am ft. Miley Cyrus – Fall Down
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I have recently seen a lot of controversy around will.i.am and have been following it. The Huffington Post has a great article on the accusations. The claims are that will.i.am’s song with Chris Brown, Let’s Go, sound remarkably similar to House producers Mat Zo and Arty’s Rebound. His new album is due to come out on Tuesday, April 23rd and on iTunes, the song is question is not currently featured. Could it be related to all the controversy?
Good or bad, any publicity is good publicity and now I know that will.i.am has a new album coming out next week. I like a lot of the songs that he’s been putting out lately. He’s teamed up with Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Eva Simons; I’m curious to see who else ends up on the new album. Some say he should stay away from Electronic music, but really, this next generation seems to be gravitating towards EDM and it looks like will.i.am is embracing that fact. I always thought that the Black Eyed Peas were pretty cutting edge and stay ahead of the curve musically. Then Fergie broke off solo, followed by will.i.am and what’s this about him being a coach on the U.K.’s version of The Voice? Yeah, he’s all over the place these days.
Fall Down is his collaboration with Miley Cyrus, a new single released just days ago and I have to say, I’m hooked. It does seem a little weird to think of this song as the two singing to each other. Not quite the pairing I would have expected, for a love song especially. At first, I thought it was Fergie and found myself a little sad when I realized it wasn’t. It has a classical (almost dark) opening and extended ending. But very quickly, the intro shifts with the happy-go-lucky whistling. Simply put, it’s a fun and upbeat song.
Purchase on iTunes: will.i.am featuring Miley Cyrus – Fall Down
Titus Jones – Closer to Kissing Fun Girls
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I know I know, I featured Titus Jones at the start of last week with his mashup, Lick Yr Daughter, but it was more so the PanosT music video edit that got the feature (okay, it was both Titus Jones and PanosT). But now he’s out with a brand new one called, Closer to Kissing Fun Girls; which, without any further details, already sounds like one heck of a song! This features three samples: Tegan and Sara’s Closer, Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl, and fun.’s Some Nights. I love the use of Tegan and Sara on this mashup, it reminds me of when I saw them in concert a few months ago! Plus, if you’re not getting how epic the mash is with I Kissed A Girl, then you must not know much about Tegan and Sara – the lesbian twins. Yeah. That’s why Titus Jones earned the extra feature so close to his last one. I see what you did there, and I liked it!
Also, DJ MADA (it’s Adam backwards – cool eh?) has a new remix out there. In fact, he flaunts that not only does he have an eleven year-old student, but he threw this together while teaching his student an example of how remixes, edits and original productions are made. MADA, how did you get such a young student and what do I have to do to get you to teach me to DJ like you!? Looks like I missed my shot when I lived in Denver to have you as a mentor (granted, I’m not 11, far from it actually). If you get a chance to see DJ MADA live, do so. I saw him DJ for Na Palm and enjoyed it so much I sought him out on SoundCloud.
Titus Jones – Closer to Kissing Fun Girls (Tegan & Sara vs. Katy Perry vs. Fun.)
DJ MADA – Lose Myself With or Without You (OneRepublic vs. U2)
Wolfgang Gartner – Shrunken Heads (Butch Clancy Retwerk)
01 month ago
So I decided it was about time we shook up your eardrums with some good ol’ fashioned Dubstep! It’s Wolfgang Gartner’s Shrunken Heads as remixed by Butch Clancy. If there’s one thing we know about Butch, is he certainly brings the bass. There are so many drops in this ‘retwerk’ as he puts it. Not only is it Dubstep, but it falls in the category of Trap music as well. I feel like this needs to be used in the new G.I. Joe movie as the villain’s theme song. Love the kick drum that comes in about halfway through the remix, followed by yet another droooop! This is what it sounds like when you go ‘Beast Mode.’
Another Dubstep track to take a listen to is Wick-It’s VIP version of Dotcom’s Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing Ta F’ Wit. First off, it’s Wu-Tang Clan, second, there is no second. Wu-Tang Clan that’s about it. Oh, well I guess the Dubstep makes it just that much more gangsta’. This one isn’t as obviously Trap as Butch Clancy’s in fact, I wouldn’t even consider it to have much of a Trap music influence, though it’s featured briefly. You do need to make sure that you check out the original mix by Dotcom when you get a chance, it is quite the song.
But as long as we’re talking about Dotcom, I would be doing him a disservice if I didn’t bring up his two month old remix of Will.i.Am’s (featuring Britney Spears) Scream and Shout. It takes about a minute for it to ramp up with the drop included, you know what it is… it’s Dubstep time! I love the cover art that is included with this remix too, the screaming face with the crowd that makes fills the face. It’s pretty impressive to look at and says Dubstep all over it.
Wolfgang Gartner – Shrunken Heads (Butch Clancy Retwerk)
Dotcom – Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing Ta F’ Wit (Wick-It VIP)
Will.i.Am featuring Britney Spears – Scream & Shout (Dotcom Remix)
DJ Tuto – Lights (Steve Angello vs. Krewella vs. Zedd)
01 month ago
Less than an hour ago, DJ Tuto dropped his latest mashup! It’s been about four months since his last release. DJ Tuto is of San Jose, Costa Rica and has been DJing since 2006. We’ve been following him for a while now and really enjoy his work. Lights uses samples from Steve Angello and Third Party (Lights), Krewella (Alive), and Zedd featuring Foxes (Clarity) as remixed by Walden. I don’t what I like more, the Krewella on this track or Foxes? It is certainly a party anthem of a song and puts me in one heck of an EDM mindset! So much for getting to sleep soon, I’ll be playing this one on repeat for the rest of the night.
Purchase Zedd’s “Clarity” on iTunes, click here to see his Tour schedule. I have no new news on Steve Angello now that the Swedish House Mafia is done touring together (as of Ultra Music Festival in Miami). But, I have good news as it comes to Krewella, they have quite the tour schedule right now. I’m most excited for their Madison, WI show on Thursday, May 2nd – I can’t wait to see them at the Orpheum Theater. Every time I hear a mashup with Krewella lately, it just reminds me that this show is getting closer and closer, May is just around the corner!
DJ Tuto – “Lights” (Steve Angello and Third Party vs. Krewella vs. Zedd ft. Foxes vs. Walden)
Euan Cross – Show Me Boom!
01 month ago
I know I’ve featured Euan Cross, but I can’t seem to find an old article on him (was from before we lost all our old articles when the website crashed). So, that means it’s been well over 6 months since his last feature and with his latest Progressive House tracks, it’s time to change that. Euan Cross is from Aberdeen, Britain and spends some time in Scotland as well. Show Me Boom! takes samples from Boom! by Ivan Gough vs. Stevie Mink and Steve Bleas; plus, Show Me Love by Steve Angello and Laidback Luke featuring Robin S. Once Robin S’s vocals enter into the mashup, it really gets me pumped (granted Boom! is bumping that bass and that also gets ya going) but I like the attempt to bring these two samples together.
Everyone seems to be addicted to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ new album, and particularly his hit single, Thrift Shop. I like seeing mashup artists, like Euan Cross, play with this song in their bootlegs. It’s a fun song and promotes a different message than you’re used to hearing by essentially every Hip Hop artist out there. I Love Thrift Shoppin’ takes the obvious sample mentioned previously, plus I Love It as remixed by Sick Individuals – originally created by Icona Pop. Now that I’ve seen Icona Pop live in concert, I have a new appreciation for their music – even though their set was relatively brief. They rocked the house with I Love It!
Finally, the third mashup here is more than 2 weeks old, but the other two are still within 48 hours, so I can still consider this article ‘brand new’ (two-thirds brand new that is). A Night of Happiness has Steve Aoki’s remix of Kid Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness which makes for a great song no matter what, plus A Night In – the EDC Orlando 2012 Anthem by R3hab. I think three examples of Euan Cross will be enough to tide you over for a while. Follow him on Facebook so you can get updates from him on his latest releases.
Euan Cross – I Love Thrift Shoppin’ (Icona Pop ft. Charlie XCX vs. Sick Individuals vs. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz)
Euan Cross – A Night of Happiness (Steve Aoki vs. Kid Cudi vs. R3hab)
Bruneaux & 3LAU – Captivate The Light
01 month ago
There’s something about a whisper that makes even the loudest of audiences quiet down to hear what is being said. Well, Bruneaux and 3LAU have teamed up to do just that, make their collective fans take a break from their busy lives and just… listen. Captivate The Light is a very soothing and calm mashup that takes samples from Deadmau5′s Raise Your Weapon (piano version) and Mimi Page’s Black Valentine (acapella version). It’s so softly done that it actually pulls you in as if it’s telling you a story and the only way to understand it is to be fully engaged. I think I say this so often of Bruneaux’s work, but again, this is simply a beautiful mashup – what music is meant to be!
I figured a great transition would be DJ Topsider‘s Out To Sea (Aestas Prope Est) with samples from One Republic’s If I Lose Myself, which I’m starting to hear a lot more remixes of lately; plus Rundfunk’s A Dream (original mix). This mash has a soft build, which is great to listen to coming out of Captivate The Light. Then the bass kicks in but it’s not over the top, because let’s face it, the vocals are still One Republic and anything more wouldn’t be a good match. Just the right amount of upbeat tempo if you ask me.
Another mashup artist that I frequently talk about but haven’t featured in a few months would be the duo that refer to themselves as Bootleggers Music. In fact, I think I frequently reference them as my source for turning me on to new DJs. I think it’s about time I give them some more love for the work that they do. Their latest mashup is actually nameless as of right now, so I will name it for them: Dani Whistles Some Nights (Anything Could Happen). That’s the best I could come up with in a few minutes and I know it’s a little long for a title but you know it’s pretty good, especially without adding any words. But if you break it down, it includes four samples: Flo Rida, Ellie Goulding, Fun., and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Bruneaux & 3LAU – Captivate The Light (Deadmau5 vs. Mimi Page)
DJ Topsider – Out To Sea (Aestas Prope Est) (One Republic vs. Rundfunk)
Hermitude – HyperParadise (Flume Remix)
01 month ago
First off, I discovered Hermitude’s HyperParadise through the remix by Flume (of Sydney Australia). So it’s safe to say that I enjoy the remix to the original. I bring this up because as I watched the original on YouTube, I saw a lot of people debating which song is better (original or remix). I think this is quite the age-old debate, I think it’s often which one you discovered first and took a liking to. If you discovered the remix first, the original is going to sound different and may be less interesting. On the other hand, if the original is already a masterpiece then nothing you do to it could ever make it better. Instead, it’s another creative approach to something someone has already created.
After reading Flume’s bio about how he got started at the young age of 13, I realized that Australia supports music development in quite the extraordinary way, they put music software in cereal boxes as the prize instead of cheap plastic crap. Australia igniting young Harley Streten’s (Flume) passion by allowing him to express himself in a creative and musical fashion.
Hermitude also has an impressive story, the multi-instrumentalists, Luke Dubs (Luke Dubber) and Elgusto (Angus Stuart) started way back in 1994 when they were only 16 and 11 (respectively). In 2000, they formed the Australian Hip Hop group that they are today. The original, HyperParadise is a great listen and notably different from the remix (isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?).
Another song that I have been obsessed with lately is the brand new Hip Hop song by the Ancient Astronauts (of Cologne, Germany). Break My Heart In 2 is a love song, err, more of a break up song. But it’s certainly an interesting beat with subtle lyrics over the top of it. Ancient Astronauts consists of the production and DJ duo: Kabanjak and Dogu; and like Hermitude, they’ve been at it since 2000.
Puchase on iTunes: Hermitude – HyperParadise (Flume Remix)
The Early Mourning – Until The End (Rihanna vs…)
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More mashups to help with your Sunday! The Early Mourning is a newly discovered mashup artist out of the United States with GLDN Collective. The GLDN Collective also works with Ricky Cervantes (featured yesterday), RotBott, and various other artists. Until The End is a mashup that takes samples from Rihanna, Kill The Noise, and Dillon Francis. It’s a great bootleg all together, but it’s really the last minute that impresses me the most. It really builds up to a masterful Rihanna remix with the “ella” from Umbrella being sped up and then utter chaos ensues and I absolutely love it!
Guess who’s back? It’s GiObAT from Sicilia, Italy (previously featured about 7 months ago)! He has a brand new mashup out there that needs to be shared. It takes two samples to create it, the original mix Mammoth, by Dimitri Vegas, Moguai and Like Mike plus the acapella of Sofi Needs A Ladder by Deadmau5 featuring SOFI. What does GiObAT think to call it? GiObAT Needs A Mammoth. It’s quite the Progressive House bootleg with tons of EDM sprinkled throughout.
The Early Mourning – Until The End (Rihanna vs. Kill The Noise vs. Dillon Francis)
GiObAT – GiObAT Needs A Mammoth (Dimitri Vegas, Moguai and Like Mike vs. Deadmau5 ft. SOFI)
Ricky Cervantes – Better Days (Ellie Goulding vs. Outkast vs. Vanderway)
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You had me at Snoopy! I love the cover work first and foremost, even before I started listening to the mashup. You have ‘working Snoop’ thinking of better days when he sat on the doghouse looking up to the stars – where’s Woodstock? Then you hear this mashup of Ellie Goulding, Outkast, and Vanderway, entitled Better Days. Ricky Cervantes, you’ve done it again, I can only imagine what you might create with 2,000 likes! Also, who did your cover work? I think it’s safe to say that we’re all familiar with Ellie Goulding and Outkast, but I am new to this Vanderway character. I had to do a quick search, figured it wasn’t a reference to the PanAm character, Ted Vanderway. Then I found a SoundCloud account for L’ordre and it left me with more questions, but I found the track that is used in the mashup. The track is called, Early, and it is a rocking beat – well, more likely to put you in a drifting dream state. But it is the melody that opens in the first few seconds of Ricky Cervantes’ mashup.
So, Vanderway? Is that like DJ Whatt‘s DOSVEC? An alter-ego selected for specific side projects? Either way, we know that L’ordre is from Toulouse, France – so the answer could be buried somewhere in French. It also appears that he works with artists named Else and Jettune in addition to Vanderway. With all the craze around the recent reemergence of Daft Punk, I thought it was a great time to include Vanderway’s edit of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. Which has only put us in an even better mood as we anticipate the release of the new album, “Random Access Memories.”
Ricky Cervantes – Better Days (Ellie Goulding vs. Outkast vs. Vanderway)
Phoenix vs. RL Grimes (Loo & Placido mashup)
01 month ago
Yesterday the common factor was Taylor Swift, thanks to The Catalina Rhyme Mixers. Today, we traveled over to Brussels, France and found a new trending mashup artist, they go by the name of Loo & Placido. The common denominator this time is Phoenix, used in three mashups released merely hours ago. Jeremy Johnson and Laurent Lupidi make up this dynamic duo and split their time between Paris and Brussels. This common element is the latest addition to their growing “Retro Future Love,” where they offer iPod friendly mashups. Normally, when I go for mashups, I want high energy and I’ll admit, I was looking for something along those lines earlier. But after listening to these three, I can’t help but feel immense relaxation. So I will order these by how tranquil they made me feel.
First up is Neat Girlfriend, which mashes RL Grimes with Phoenix and of the three I find myself to slip into a music coma most readily. I may have to listen to this one specifically this coming Sunday after the long week I’m looking to have! Next up is Phoenix versus Yume in Admire 1901, which only feels upbeat because of the Trap inclusion. I think this is actually the calmest I’ve ever heard Trap music – which is quite awesome, actually. Finally, just when you thought I was going to give you a momentum shift (if only today was April Fool’s…), we get a feature with (yes, Phoenix again) Madonna for Volute Is Everything. Now, this is borderline too slow for my liking, which probably why it’s number three on my list – but it fits in nicely with the rest of the vibe that Loo & Placido have set up. So, relax and enjoy today’s International Tuesday!
Loo & Placido – Neat Girlfriend (Phoenix vs. RL Grimes)
Loo & Placido – Admire 1901 (Phoenix vs. Yume)
Loo & Placido – Volute Is Everything (Phoenix vs. Surrender! ft. Madonna)
Titus Jones – Lick Yr Daughter
01 month ago
Titus Jones is also back! Another mashup artist that I haven’t really heard from in about 6 months; well, he has a good excuse, he last left us with a new album, “After Shock,” which was certainly enough to hold us over until now. Plus, to be fair, it’s also been a few months since Panos T released a new video – and he had a bunch out two months ago. Perhaps this is an indicator of another batch of videos to be released soon!
Lick Yr Daughter includes samples from Khia, Ke$ha (featuring 3oh!3 – which you’ll hear them later, and you’ll love it!), Missy Elliott (she’s baaack…), Teairra Mari, and Brite Futures (formerly “Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head”). As I watched the video, I initially thought it was Lil Mama, not Teirra Mari. Then I see Brite Future (new to me, maybe new to you too?) and read in the description that they were formerly “Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head” the concept of that sentence is intense, though I have to give this punk band credit for a creative band name, haha. I may be most excited to hear Missy Elliott samples in a mashup, it has been a while and I think she is great.
Finally, the last time I heard Khia, I was writing this review of DJ Paimon and was all excited about Richard Cheese’s cover of My Neck, My Back. That’s where my mind went when I heard Titus Jones’ new mashup (sorry, I couldn’t help it), it really needs to be shared until everyone has heard it (NSFW)!
Traylor Trash – Catalina Rhyme Mixers
01 month ago
I have definitely missed the creativity of The Catalina Rhyme Mixers! It has been 6 months since their last interaction with SoundCloud, it was a great one though – they dropped an entire album, “Mullet Mash.” Now they are back and have another creative collection of mashups entitled “Traylor Trash.” Get it? It’s a play on ‘trailer trash’ and ‘Taylor’ Swift. Yeah, I see what they did there too. This compilation has four mashups that are heavily influenced by Taylor Swift; Taylor’s Black Van, Twenty-Twerk-it; Spring Fling; and You Belong Right Above It. To me, I enjoy Twenty-Twerk-it the most, maybe it’s because it includes her 4th single that was released only a few weeks ago. I’m not tired of hearing it yet (and secretly, I enjoy more of her music than I probably should).
Spring Fling is very Pop oriented mashup with a plenty of Top 40 samples, most recognizably are the samples including Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown. You Belong Right Above It is not necessarily a favorite of mine, but I think it makes it so that you can come out of Lil Wayne and switch genres relatively smooth. Which, when you think about it, is not something you’d expect a DJ to be able to do – go from Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift. Back to the first of the four, Taylor’s Black Van, it has that 80′s vibe with the iconic Ferris Bueller (as subtle as it is) beat in the background (or maybe it’s just me, though hearing that and seeing the original music video by Yello may have prompted a new WTF video entry). Either way, it’s a very upbeat mash and has more of an EDM vibe than the other three.
Rudimental – Feel The Love (Kill Paris Remix)
01 month ago
Two months ago we gave Kill Paris a rebirth on a Throwback Friday; today we’re featuring one of his brand new remixes for Recovery Sunday. This time Kill Paris has remixed Rudimental’s Feel The Love, featuring the vocals of the soulful British musician, John Newman. The original, is a great unification of drum and bass with extraordinary soul (in fact, if you like horses – check out the original music video on YouTube – if you don’t like horses, it’s still worth a watch). But when comes to relaxing on a fine, Sunday afternoon (on Easter – if that’s what you’re into), there’s nothing like sitting back under the sun and enjoying the vocal perfection of John Newman.
But I digress, we’re here because Kill Paris has turned our attention to these British artists and remixed it even more than it already sounded. Corey Baker (Kill Paris) has really done it again, great build up with plenty of bass to follow, and the end just drifts off into nothingness (making the repeat play inevitable). The remix even has some fun drops! We’ve come to expect greatness from this DJ and he never fails to deliver. Many are writing rave reviews about his ‘happy’ feel and know that he’s on a whole different level. Agreed. Needless to say, Kill Paris, I can feel the love and I know you can feel it too!
Buy on Beatport: Rudimental featuring John Newman – Feel The Love (Kill Paris Remix)
DJ Paimon: Agent Orange (Hollywood)
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Last night I went out in Milwaukee and checked out the new(ish) club, The Library Club, that had replaced the Decibel Deep Bar last year (and it’s predecessor – Mantra Lounge). It had a cool atmosphere, with portraits of Will Ferrel, Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck; but the George Costanza portrait was the greatest. Anyways, last night, the guest DJ was DJ Paimon. Needless to say, I was impressed enough to seek him out online to share more of his work. He had one mix where he featured The Marvelettes’ Mr. Postman that immediately got me to hope for the Dubstep remix. Nope, no Dubstep, but he kept me engaged. Following it closely behind with a remix of Cedric Gervais’ Molly. Instead of an EDM remix, it was more of a Hip Hop remix, which was DJ Paimon’s preferred style – or at least based on last night’s set. Oh and the final song of the night was My Neck, My Crack, but not the version you’re used to hearing (at least not initially), I have now heard something that will forever alter my perception of this song… Richard Cheese’s crooner cover of the original.
His ability to cross promote multiple genres in his mixes is showcased in his Agent Orange Mini Mix Promo, available on his SoundCloud account. He makes listening to the ‘oldies’ fun and relevant again! While a lot of the music he plays is Hip Hop, he also seems to have a lot of popular trap song available. Such as his collaboration with Los Angeles’ veteran, DJ Tetris, and their Trap remix of Enur’s Calabria. The horns remix about halfway through is pretty impressive to hear as well. Finally, I wanted to share his production of Dolo’s Life and Times of Dolo. It’s from 2005 and was for the independent recording artist, Dolo. What really pulls me in is DJ Paimon’s manipulation of the Etta James sample, At Last.
If you get a chance to see DJ Paimon live in Hollywood (Thursday nights), or where ever else he’s spinning, you’ll be in for a great night. We were impressed with his scratching and transitions, something that I can’t say for a lot of DJs I’ve seen spinning in the clubs lately.
DJ Paimon – Agent Orange: Mini Mix Promo
Enur – Calabria (DJ Paimon & DJ Tetris Trap Remix)
Dolo – Life & Times of Dolo (produced by DJ Paimon)
