Building in hints of religion, modern life, and metaphors all in one go, the video for “Float,” made by josh pan, is a creative journey simply not to be skipped over. The video is the last edition of a 2 part video set from the artist, which brings a proper close to what is a inspiring storyline. All of the elements of filmmaking are given great consideration to help pull off a vibe that will last a lifetime, still delivering a meaningful impact years down the line.
Sonically, the tune is far from other cookie-cutter electronic songs out there, the approach from the basslines and percussion giving it a particularly differentiated feel. The vocal is catchy while the instrumental aspects are highly experimental, the two paired together make for an unforgettable end result.
Josh Pan wrapped up a Skrillex collaboration alongside many other releases in 2021, his hard work and dedication to the craft paying off and then some. Having experience with producing, songwriting, singing, DJing and knowing how to play other instruments as well, his skill set unequivocally allows him to rise above of many and stand out properly.
“Tequila,” the November 2021 release from solo artist Effayé pops off for all the right reasons. The singles starts off with a 4-chord bell melody and cut up vocals, moments later Effayé’s topline takes the limelight, exploding with energy and assertiveness all in one go.
The single exudes party-starting facets, yet at the same time a sense of sophistication. Perhaps its the in-control vocals, or the Latin-inspired beat; however it’s broken down, the well-woven production flows righteously and comes equipped with a catchy chorus sure to win folks over.
Effayé is far from her first release, singles like “Yatzy,” and “Chow Mein,” garnering some nice success as she continues to roll out strong music with a common sonic thread broadly connecting them.
If “Tequila,” is your jam, diving into her catalog on streaming platforms, you won’t be disappointed.
If you haven’t heard of Rick Wonder yet, it’s a matter of time until he reaches you end of the public stratosphere. “Feel Good,” is his November 2021 release which epically encapsulates his capabilities all in one club-ready spirit.
Utilizing production aspects like piano house, heart-warming synth-work, on-point percussion, and a squeaky production feel from tip to tail, Rick Wonder know what he’s doing in the studio to say the least. “Feel Good,” follows “Baby,” which is another sure fire winner which epitomized the style few can touch in a strong, enriching manner.
The single releases on WYN Records, a division of Deep Root Records. Here is what the label had to say about his release:
‘Rick wonder is currently one of the most in-demand artists in New York City. Rick is taking the next step in his career by releasing his first record with Deep Root Records, “Feel Good”. The record is a celebration of things going back to the new normal, people dancing again, socializing, and partying like never before. Rick has performed with The Chainsmokers, Acraze, R3HAB, Party Favor, SayMyName, Paul Oakenfold + more and this record is a testament to his amazing talent. This record is perfect for any club or lounge setting.’
Rick Wonder has had an exhilarating career that’s far from over, from playing alongside some of the biggest names in the industry and, at times, those events being located in some of the world’s best venues like Madison Square Garden, HQ2 in Atlantic City, Swan & Wall in Miami, the dude has been placed and continues to grow in all the right ways.
Louis Futon has been a well-recognized member of electronic culture for quite some time. Singles like “Wasted On You,” and “Rewind,” being well-known singles within the scene. His catalog is vast and his brand visionary. In 2021, he’s taken his vibe to the next level with Couch Surfing, an album that takes him out of his comfort zone and places the artist into a whole new territory sonically. Couchsurfing lets loose a whopping 18-tracks into the public stratosphere, all of the tracks having a broad sense of connection to them, but also each having it’s own individualized juice that allows them to stand on their own 2 feet.
Showcasing genres like funk, soul, hip-hop, and more, there’s an undeniable spirit that is destined to touch listeners in all the right ways from different walks of life.
You can never quite know what Louis Futon will whip up next. Listening back from his older releases on forward, his development and sense of experimentalism is one of his best qualities. He clearly goes for what he’s passionate about, rather than what may be perfectly marketable, and accepts the outcome candidly.
With over 500,000 monthly listeners and ten of millions of streams to his name, Louis Futon is the farthest thing from a one hit one hit wonder and keep his fans at bay with a fresh course of releases.
We caught up with Louis Futon to chat about the album, origins, the future, and more.
What is a key message you hope people take from ‘Couchsurfing’ LP?
This album has a little bit of everything. Every single song is vastly different from one another. I hope people can really go on this journey and appreciate all of the different styles of music I love to make.
Do you have a favorite song from the album?
Ahh it’s so hard to choose a favorite…they’re all my children. BUT I’d have to say “This Beautiful World” because i sampled a voicemail that my Grandmom sent me and it makes me cry everytime.
Where did the name Louis Futon come from?
Drinking some beers in my parents basement. I didn’t really take music that seriously so I was just trying to think of funny puns and “Louis Futon” seemed to have stuck.
How would you describe how your sound has developed since the first year starting your Louis Futon alias?
My music has matured to a point where I almost can’t even recognize my early works. My mantra from day 1 has been “fuck genres”, so every time I’ve hit the studio I’m trying to push my own creative boundaries and make something fresh and original. 8+ years of that mindset and work ethic has molded my music to what you hear today.
Do you have a favorite festival you like to play?
Maybe I’m biased because it’s the most recent festival I’ve played, but High Ground festival in Denver was one of the most fun festivals I’ve played. Denver always brings immaculate vibes.
What tips would you give to young producers that you wish you knew when you were starting out?
Join my discord! One of the things I wish I had coming up as a producer was discord/twitch production communities. Everyone is super friendly and always willing to help and answer any questions.
What are you most excited about going into 2022?
More music and hopefully more shows!! This Album is just the beginning of what’s to come.
The one and only DJ Sliink has injected his signature sound into the hard-hitting mood “Arriba,” a track originally by Shotta Spence. The first version is a winner of a track on it’s own with a more serious feel to it, but Sliink has a way of taking the experience to the next level, which is exactly what has happened in this epic flip thanks to the DJ/producer.
This new edit of “Arriba,” blends the style of Shotta Spence impeccably with infectious Jersey Club style of Sliink, the track boasting that special sense of magic music can deliver that sweeps you up in an instant and almost involuntarily drives you to smash that like button. In all, the world is a better place for having this sound immortalized, Sliink virtually turning everything he takes on to gold with his one-of-a-kind talent. A vibe that continues to be in demand.
From working with Fetty Wap on “Text Ur Number,”, to playing major festivals around the world, to landing in some of biggest publications out there – DJ Sliink has a career thousands are envious of. With multiple millions of plays to his name and a sense of style no one can touch, Sliink and Shoota Spence’s alignment on “Arriba,” won’t be soon forgotten.
“Crystal Ball,” is far from Lila Drew first release, considering all the clever production and writing aspects found within, this becomes more obvious as each bar passes within this song. Lila Drew has delivered on an energetic, yet moving single. The background of the emotional instrumentation and indie-driven toplines completing an illustration of a song that is hard to forget. The single keeps you on your toes, the ominous mood and tempo dissipates into the ether playing a role in making the highlightable aspects come to life.
“Crystal Ball,” follows up her previous single “2023,” which takes a much more upbeat, poppier direction as the former. On that note, checking out her entire Spotify catalog displays serious dynamism from an artist who is clearly underrated.
Lila Drew shares more about the track below:
“There’s a lot of frustration in it – I remember going to the studio with Jordan Reyes, who produced this song, and wanting to yell into the mic. That was something I’d never done before. All of the vocals I’d ever recorded had been so soft, for the sake of hiding my own fears underneath reverb and delay… The background vocals in Crystal Ball are all first takes of me just screaming the song from across the room, the mic picking up only the loudest frequencies. It’s maybe as sincere as I get. It’s a special sort of feeling.”
Dig in below to find some of the best new dance music out this week!
Manila Killa & San Holo feat. Nick Lopez – Mean It [bitbird/Moving Castle]
Manila Killa, San Holo and Nick Lopaz blend their overflowing talent to create the terrific ‘Mean It’. With a emotive vocal and vibrant instrumental, this is another wonderful offering from all involved.
Lane 8 feat. Arctic Lake – What Have You Done To Me? [This Never Happened]
Continuing the roll out of his upcoming album, Lane 8 drops his newest. ‘What Have You Done To Me?’ features the incredible vocals and melodies that you’ve come to expect from Lane 8, this time around the record hits hard and a refreshing vibe.
Paige & Nihil Young feat. saysaysay – Nightfall [Zerothree]
Paige and Nihil Young join forces again for another magical record. ‘Nightfall’ brings forward the talent of saysaysay as his first release. The melodic dream team smash it out of the park once again!
yanzo – Metamorphosis [CLUBWRK]
Fresh talent yanzo releases her first ever track. ‘Metamorphosis’ is a driving, aggressive techno anthem that holds nothing back. The energy filled production sets a strong precedent for future yanzo songs.
RobbieG & JYYE feat. Julia Temos – Something Called Love [Perfect Havoc]
RobbieG and JYYE come together to merge their house styles on ‘Something Called Love’. Together with Julia Temos’ wonderful vocal, the result is a track ready for summer.
Shapov & NERAK – Dark In The Light [Armada]
Shapov teams up with NERAK again, this time for ‘Dark In The Light’ – a main room heater packed to the brim with energy. With uplifting melodies and a big drop, this is another terrific one from Shapov and co.
Achilles & Dico – Spliced Out [CLUBWRK DEEP]
Achilles & Dico unite on ‘Stressed Out’. The deep, mesmerizing production showcases each artists’ varied talents. The simple, yet effective record is another great addition to Achilles and Dico’s discographies.
Zorth – Find My Way [Teamwrk]
Zorth brings his delicious new one ‘Find My Way’ to Teamwrk. The uplifting, bubbly single is a wonderful record. Together with the inviting vocals, this fresh anthem is sure to do well.
A rapper and a pop artist, both huge names in their own right within the industry, have made what some may say the impossible come true. Masked Wolf and Bebe Rexha conjoin two dynamically different styles in one go and crafted their efforts into a surefire soon-to-be-hit. “It’s You, Not Me (Sabotage),” is the result of their collaborative hard-work, boasting multiple moods and a smooth flow all in one go.
“It’s You, Not Me (Sabotage),” is a reenvision of Bebe Rexha’s song “Sabotage,” off of her Better Mistakes album, the new version has an upgrade in swagger and a prominent edge to it.
With Masked Wolf up for Artist of The Year via 2021 American Music Awards and Bebe Rexha being a 2x-Platinum certified artist who has been all over the Billboard Hot 100, it’s hard to imagine a better intersection of highly-demand talents to see what they cook up.
Masked Wolf and Bebe Rexha each explain a bit more behind the single.
“‘It’s You, Not Me (Sabotage)’ is about standing up for yourself in a relationship. Rather than waiting to hear the old cliché ‘it’s me, not you,’ this song is about confronting the situation and addressing it head-on by saying, ‘I know it’s you and I don’t want to be around this anymore.’ As soon as I heard Bebe’s original, the verses just started to pour out and I knew I had to be on it.” – Masked Wolf
“‘Sabotage’ is a song that really means a lot to me personally. I love the twist Masked Wolf put on it and the way he was able to transform the ballad into a completely new sound.” – Bebe Rexha
Alesso today drops his latest single ‘Somebody To Use’, the infectious vocal that has seen an inclusion on his recent sets now sees the light of day. Thankfully, the Toxic Mix is included in the package, which is a hard hitting progressive version that Alesso first debuted in 2019.
While there is nothing wrong with the original mix per say, it does not stand out in the saturated world of dance pop. The Toxic Mix however is sure to please fans across the whole dance music sphere, bringing a groovy main room heater that still highlights those terrific vocals.
Old school fans of the Swede have been craving that progressive sound from Alesso’s earlier years. With the release of ‘Somebody To Use’, Alesso gives the best of both worlds; a commercial pop record and something for the festivals, pleasing all fans.
Rezz’s newest body of work ahas arrived in the form of Spiral, the Canadian born artists’ fourth album. The hard hitting collection is made up of 11 fresh productions for fans to sink their teeth into.
Rezz has seen some terrific success as of late, with the album singles already having accumulated well over 20 million streams.
Rezz first teased the album in March of this year, confirming that it was finished and that she’d been working on so much new music that it was “actually overwhelming”.
The album features a range of collaborations including the likes of Dove Cameron, EDDIE and Metric. The ablum provides a mix of sounds, whilst all with that signature dark Rezz feel.
