Call of Duty: Warzone Hits 30 Million Players

Oliver Tryon
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Call of Duty: Warzone Hits 30 Million Players

Less than two weeks from launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s new battle royale game mode Warzone has hit 30 million players. The two major factors behind this success has to be attributed to it being free, as well as the virus situation; which has a lot of people currently at home and has shown a rise in gaming.

This makes it one of the fastest-growing free-to-play titles in the industry, putting it on par with BR competitor Apex Legends, which hit 25 million players after its first week back in February 2019.

Warzone is a welcomed addition to the latest COD title; Modern Warfare – which launched in October. After being leaked before the game was even released, Warzone is now here several months later. The reactions have been very positive and the game has handled very well, even with 30 million people playing.

Alternative to other BR titles, Warzone offers ‘Plunder’ another playing option that focuses on collecting money and doing tasks, with respawning enabled. They have also just recently added a solo option for BR, something that was all but eventual.

Call of Duty has not delve into the free to play business model on console yet, and after this successful launch – we hope we see more free to play games from the brand in the future. This model does not mean no revenue, it may actually work out to be a better financial decision than a standard price for the mode. Fortnite has been a tremendous financial success for Epic Games, with them relying on revenue avenues such as their in game store and battle pass. These two options will be the same for Call of Duty – as they will market the fruitful options in their stores to the free playing customers. With 30 million people playing, a small but significant number will be purchasing shop items and should make more money than a small amount of people buying the game outright.

Don Diablo Brings Zak Abel Onboard for ‘Bad’

Oliver Tryon
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Don Diablo Brings Zak Abel Onboard for ‘Bad’

Don Diablo is here with another fresh dance release. Teaming up with Zak Abel, the track is the perfect blend of electronic music and pop – allowing for a wide listenership.

The infectious indie house sound is stitched together with quality soaring vocals from Zak Abel. The track comes together to result in a record that will work both on the dance floor and the radio, at the moment it may just be the latter…

Released on his own label Hexagon, the track is also licensed to major label Universal, which will assist in casting a wide net of the world and getting the track the attention it deserves.

“Bad is a cheeky track about guilty pleasures, which we can all relate to in one way or another. Musically speaking I really wanted to explore different sounds and push my own sonic boundaries as well as a producer.” Don Diablo explains, “..Bad is co-written with the super talented Elderbrook and features the vocal talent of Zak Abel, both have been high on my collaboration wishlist for years. I literally had the best time recording the vocals in my studio in Amsterdam with Zak and I look forward to performing the song together live for the first time very soon.”

Live Streaming and Gaming Rise Globally Amongst COVID-19 Pandemic

Oliver Tryon
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Live Streaming and Gaming Rise Globally Amongst COVID-19 Pandemic

With the virus affecting almost everyone around the world, many are isolating themselves at home via their own will or with government regulations. This means more free time at home, gamers are of course taking this opportunity to guilt free game all day, as with others opting for Netflix or the like.

Data from Arsenal.gg in collaboration with streaming tools platform StreamElements found that global viewership has increased by 10% on Twitch and 15% on YouTube Gaming.

With music artists and generally any performance based profession moving online due to isolation, this brings in both new and more people to live streaming platforms.

“With more stay-at-home mandates being issued around the world and the entertainment industry finding new ways to migrate their offerings to live streaming platforms, we expect to see these numbers rise,” said StreamElements CEO Doron Nir in an email statement.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, US telecom firm Verizon found that online gaming has increased by 75% during peak hours in North America, while streaming is up 12%; overall web traffic is up nearly 20% but social media usage has remained flat.

“As we see more and more individuals work from home and students engage in online learning, it is a natural byproduct that we would see an increase in web traffic and access to VPN,” said Verizon CTO Kyle Malady.

“And as more entertainment options are cancelled in communities across the US, an increase in video traffic and online gaming is not surprising”

Doug Creutz, analyst for investment bank Cowen, said gaming sectors are expected to “fare far better than the market average” during this pandemic.

“As such, we think the sector is a (relatively) good place to weather market volatility,” he added.

Meanwhile in Italy, live streamed gaming content has increased by 66% in terms of hours watched, according to StreamElements. This follows a country-wide quarantine after Italy became the hardest-hit European country with over 2,500 deaths so far.

Streaming is a direct result of isolation, having the ability to either video call each other for personal or business reasons, as well as generally streaming to fans that are also isolated. With the virus only rising and more people set to isolute – the strain on the internet may soon become an issue.

Mephi Latest Single “Once Again” Is Made For The Dance Floor

Ben Beamish
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Mephi Latest Single “Once Again” Is Made For The Dance Floor

Fresh off teaming up with Fellsius on bass house banger “Kenja Taimu”, French-born and Tokyo-based DJ and producer Mephi unleashes yet another track made for the dance floor with “Once Again”. The energetic solo single marks one of the producer’s most impressive productions do date, filled with complex synth work and groovy house rhythms. Immediately getting into the action, “Once Again” makes use of funky chords and a catchy vocal sample, before building up anticipation for the much-needed drop, which is filled with a groovy bassline and a variety of chopped and expertly arranged samples. 

Mephi started his musical journey a few years ago, and has since managed to gain support from industry heavyweights such as Don Diablo, Wolfgang Gartner, Autoerotique, R3HAB, Blasterjaxx and many more. Having taken his music and DJ performances all over France, as well as some of the biggest nightclubs in Tokyo, the future is undoubtedly bright for this talented producer. 

Lubelski drops The Universal Groove, the Ultimate Dance Album

Brendan Hanson
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Lubelski drops The Universal Groove, the Ultimate Dance Album

Get ready to lose yourself in the most hypnotic house sounds around. Lubelski is here with his debut album, The Universal Groove. The 9-track album features some names that have been making noise amongst the underground house and tech house scene, as well as, beyond. Names that you may recognize are Kaleena Zanders, Wyatt Marshall (Dirtybird), RYBO (Desert Hearts), Durante (This Never Happened, Anjunadeep), and MOONZz.

The aptly named The Universal Groove is exactly that. It’s an unrelenting groove from start to end. The titular track and the first one to fill the eardrums sets in motion a grandiose exploration of sizzling underground dance sounds. It feels and sounds like something that came from the original era of house music that became the score to the marginalized groups across the globe. For those who know the ballroom scene or at least know what it is, “The Universal Groove” has a style and feeling that seems perfect for that world. In a way, it’s kind of like how Duke Dumont’s “Red Light Green Light”, which directly samples from the ballroom.

“Slippin'” and “Somebody Like You” get a little bassier and a little more synth-y, which creates a nervy, rambunctious atmosphere. It’s these variations that weave together a sonic tale fit to intrigue the mind from start to finish. In today’s streaming world, it’s become rarer to hear an album with depth and cohesion that goes beyond the same beat and pop-focused vocal.

Then comes “Can’t Rewind”, Lubelski’s collaboration with Wyatt Marshall, who has been making a name for himself with the Dirtybird crew. The modular-laced sound design is nothing short of extraordinary. The sound swells and bubbles with the intensity of a thousand suns or at least as much as underground club music can swell without turning into something completely different. It’s the perfect antidote for bored dancefloors and is my favorite track on the album.

From “Can’t Rewind”, Lubelski unveils collaborations with MOONZz, Durante, Rodney and Morpei, and Musashi to closeout the back half of The Universal Groove. Without giving too much away, each of these tracks gets a bit spacey with a delicious amount of thump from the bass, a shot of weirdness, and the masterful sound design that earmarks the entire album. It’s worth listening to these tracks without hearing my description or opinion, as they present a fresh, emphatic vibe and emotional connection that is often lost in today’s focus on singles.

To better understand the insatiable groove that is The Universal Groove, Lubelski provided us with the following insight:

The Universal Groove LP is sort of an embodiment of my love for dance music and its indifference back to me. I believe the title track speaks for the whole album, when Kaleena says “the beat doesn’t care about you, it doesn’t care about your issues, your problems. We all come here together to forget all of that, to lose ourselves to the rhythms of the universe. That’s why we call house, the universal groove.

Creatively, I wanted to keep the record underground but accessible. I was trying to make music that was modern, yet timeless. Most of the synth work was made with my modular rig, and over the last couple years has become a massive staple in my sound design in the studio.

Lubelski may not be an artist you’ve heard of before, but he’s definitely on the rise and one that will be at the forefront of the original house and underground sounds. The Universal Groove is proof of that and is one of the few albums that can be played from start to finish and serve as the backdrop of dance euphoria.

To stream The Universal Groove follow the link here or scroll down for the Spotify embed.

New Dance Sounds: FISHER, Jack Back, Matisse & Sadko + More

Oliver Tryon
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New Dance Sounds: FISHER, Jack Back, Matisse & Sadko + More

During a dark time where a very little amount of artists will be performing, we are still thankfully getting new music. Today sees plenty of fresh new releases including two epic house records from FISHER and Jack Back as well as a beautiful record from Matisse & Sadko – check them all out below. During this crisis, maybe opt to purchase a track or stream it even more than usual to support the artists!

FISHER – Freaks [Catch & Release]

Aussie funny man FISHER is back with another underground house hitter. Only his 6th release; ‘Freaks’ is half of an upcoming EP landing at the end of the month. FISHER opts for quality over quantity and that’s clearly evident with his newest.

Jack Back – Superstar DJ [Positiva]

David Guetta’s Jack Back alias is here with another stomping record. Sampling The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Here We Go’, Guetta brings a more energised and vibrant 2020 version perfect for dance music lovers.

Matisse & Sadko – Strings Again [STMPD]

Matisse & Sadko are back with another incredible release that will definitely induce goosebumps. With masterful melodies and a brilliant all round production, ‘Strings Again’ shows just how good the Russian brothers are with melodies.

Corey James x Stevie Krash – Somewhere In My Heart [SIZE]

SIZE is back with familiar face Corey James, he teams up with Stevie Krash for an exciting production called ‘Somewhere In My Heart’. With a uplifting instrumental, the vocals on top deliver a terrific return for both Corey James and SIZE!

Tigerlily & Jebu – Take U Back [Independent]

Australians Tigerlily and Jebu get together for ‘Take U Back’, a funky and hard hitting record. It’s not everyday we see Jebu release under his own name which makes this release that much better! Let’s hope we see more from the Melbourne talent in the future!

Manse & Rich Edwards – Quiet Sound [Revealed]

Manse once again brings us an incredible release, teaming up with fellow melodic master Rich Edwards – they combine their forces for ‘Quiet Sound’ and everything about the track is perfect. All melodic progressive house fans will be in love with this one.

Julian Jordan – Destination [STMPD]

Julian Jordan seems to bounce between his more pop friendly music and big room hitters – this time we’ve received the latter. ‘Destination’ brings his unique sounds and production to the masses. If only there were events where this could be played at…

Last Heroes feat. Monika Santucci – Underneath The Waves [Ophelia]

Last Heroes land on Seven Lions’ Ophelia for the second time this year with ‘Underneath’, a brilliant future bass release and a dope electronic release overall. Monika Santucci’s vocals are the perfect icing on the cake.

Farius & Rolo Green – Neon Landing [Enhanced]

Two kings of progressive trance come together for ‘Neon Landing’, with perfect melodies and a sweet progression – this is another gem from the two.

Besomorph x Coopex feat. EthanUno – Born To Die [CloudKid]

This dark melodic future bass and poppy musical fusion is one to look out for. Besomorph and Coopex recruit EthanUno to create a tremendous release that is another weapon in CloudKid’s arsenal.

Dante – You Love Me [Bourne]

Dante brings his newest to Will Sparks’ Bourne imprint. With fresh future house beats and a killer vocal, this is once again a super cool track from the label!

The Effect Of Corona Virus / COVID-19 on Music Streaming & Recorded Music

CULTR Staff
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The Effect Of Corona Virus / COVID-19 on Music Streaming & Recorded Music

The closing down and limiting of all live events and venues due to strict quarantines across the globe, has meant that artists and the live entertainment industry have been dealt a hard blow by the global spread of Corona Virus. Whilst difficult, it is necessary to help the world reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow for us to hopefully return to normalcy later in the year.

However so far little has been said of the impact of another primary revenue for artists – their recorded music which typically accounts for almost half of music revenues. While the profits of streaming now won’t come until later in the year, the income will help to support artists to make ends meet. So what has the Corona Virus meant for recorded music?

Recorded Music Consumption Might Be Down

Given large portions of the world are stuck at home, it can be assumed that people are listening to more music. While we know it’s definitely true for video, as see by the European Union urging Netflix and other video streaming platforms to stop showing content in high definition to prevent the internet from breaking under the strain of unprecedented usage. However, when it comes to music streaming the impact might not be the same.

While the numbers are not all publicly available, a report by Quartz noted some significant statistics for the biggest artists, with the top 200 songs on Spotify dropping in streams in Italy by a whopping 23%. Meanwhile some managers in the biggest music manager Facebook group AMC, including Pop Music consultant Dani Olivia; have reported a 5% decline in the amount their artist’s music is being played on Spotify versus previous weeks and months before the virus hit.

Changing Routines & Habits

Why could this be? Well when we think about music consumption habits, lots of people like to listen to music while they work at the office, at the gym while working out and in stores – the majority are now closed. The other primary place people listen to music is while they travel, on public transport, long plane trips and waiting at the airport or driving. With reduced ability to travel and in some places zero travel, as seen in countries such as Italy, Malaysia and China. In short the listeners who ordinarily tune in are not currently doing so. However, as the quarantine continues we expect people will eventually find solace in music, inspiring hope and keeping them positive as the crisis continues.

Given the circumstances, we may see shifts in listening behaviour where listeners are choosing to listen to music that might support their emotions, meanwhile, those feeling like they need to calm down might choose to listen to more chilled songs, and for many dealing with sadness around the emotions of a virus is one cough away might choose to listen to sad and emotional songs. Ultimately though this leans towards older music which they already know rather than new hits, supporting the decline in Top 200 songs being streamed.

In addition, unsurprisingly, several playlists have popped up to help people with songs to jam out to while they are stuck at home including crafty names such as Quarantine Party, Ultimate Corona Playlist, Corona Virus & Chill, COVID-19 EDM Party, Corona Lockdown, Quarantine Beats and Cancel Everything. These playlists are often filled with tracks that feature some of the biggest songs using relevant titles and lyrics. Among the results of Corona virus under playlists, it was interesting to see that Spotify had also included it’s Chill Playlist.

Cancelled Subscriptions

Budget savy consumers who are expecting to take a hit to their income may reduce the revenue of streaming platforms. While many in the industry have high hopes that things will return to normal in a few months, even after it has been resolved with many countries heading for a recession, the economic consequences will likely linger in the industry for some time. With the sudden loss of income, additional expenses such as streaming services subscriptions which might not be seen as vital might be among the first to get cancelled. If this happens it may take some time before fans opt to sign up again. This is notable as higher-paying streams for artists come from these users, rather than free ad-supported users.

Less Social Media Attention, People Are Hungry For Virus Information

With less focus or care on social media around typical entertainment news and new releases, the discovery of new songs will likely be on the down. Another factor which might impact music streaming and break in the usual listening habits is the current hunger for information, as the virus continues to spread and people are increasingly worried about the virus. Understandably they want to learn more about how it’s transmitted, where it’s spreading and how the scientists are tackling the virus. As such, they are looking to traditional news sources and informative podcasts more than usual. Podcasts are clearly stepping in to meet the demand for information about the virus around the world, with already popular shows featuring episodes on how it affects sports, business and of course, people’s health.

More Music Is Being Made

Meanwhile on a more positive note, for artists, the lockdowns which require them to stay indoors give an opportunity to focus on the one thing they can do, write music. For those at the top levels, they might not have the resources they usually would and they won’t be able to work with their usual co-writers and sound engineers in person but they should be able to work on new ideas themselves. For some fast thinking artists, they have been releasing songs about the virus already. On Spotify there are more than 40 tracks which come up with the title COVID-19, including 2 albums under the virus name, as well as songs titled with other related names including ‘Quarantine & Chill’ and ‘Corona Virus’.

Physical Media

Understandably, Amazon has prioritized delivery in and out of essential good and services during the pandemic – meaning that they’ve halted incoming shipments of physical media such as CD’s and vinyl records. Being a major blow all labels that work with physical media via these major distribution platforms or even smaller outfits. Amazon has announced that its warehouses have “temporarily disabled shipment creation” for discretionary items through at least April 5.

Image result for cd and vinyl

Playstation 5 Reveal Tech Specs & More Details With Live Stream

CULTR Staff
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Playstation 5 Reveal Tech Specs & More Details With Live Stream

It’s been 7 years since the Sony Playstation 4 dropped in 2013, and gamers have been waiting in anticipation for the new one which will releases later this year. While people around the globe are locked in their homes, Sony was foreced to cancel a confrence presentation because of the virus and as such announced a surprise live stream to give us a deeper insight into their next-generation console.

The PS5’s lead system architect Mark Cerny is going to be on the live stream to provide a “deep dive into PS5’s system architecture and how it will shape the future of games.” We’ll update here with the big updates, and new features set to power the next big thing in gaming technology.

Ultra Australia Celebrate Another Successful Double Show

Oliver Tryon
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Ultra Australia Celebrate Another Successful Double Show

Ultra Australia just concluded their 2020 campaign with a brilliant and thrilling show in both Sydney and Melbourne. Taking place March 7th and 8th, the acts played a back to back show in the states.

With COVID-19 cancelling basically all events around the world, Ultra Australia took place just in time and may be the last major festival to take place for the foreseeable future. This is also the case with the Ultra franchise – Ultra Abu Dhabi was cancelled just a week before and then the flagship event in Miami was official canned. Ultra Europe is coming up in July and there is no certainty that will go ahead.

As observable below, not just the music was amazing but the production and stage design was immaculate. The fireworks, the pyro, the fire – all created an incredible festival experience.

Tens of thousands turned up for acts such as DJ Snake, Eric Prydz, Dash Berlin, Afrojack, Zedd, Markus Schulz, GAMMER, Deborah De Luca, Eats Everything, CIREZ D and more across three stages.

It’s very hard to choose a highlight set throughout the day, each act was diverse enough from each over for a good spread of music. DJ Snake closed both days with massive tunes and an epic closing of the day.

We cannot wait for COVID-19 to pass and for events to get going again, including Ultra Australia 2021!

Remix Radar 040: Featuring Steve Aoki, i_o, and BLOND:ISH

Brendan Hanson
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Remix Radar 040: Featuring Steve Aoki, i_o, and BLOND:ISH

Welcome back to Remix Radar! I hope everyone is staying safe and doing their best to stay sane and pass the time as the global pandemic rages on. I do want to point out one thing.. those of you that have hoarded supplies and even marked up the prices and attempted to resell said supplies, you suck and you are a terrible person. Okay, now that that’s out of the way we can move on to the good. Plenty of people have generously donated money or supplies or even their services to help out those who have been affected by COVID-19. Those of you that this applies to, I thank you and wish you well.

Moving on to the wonderful remixes of this week. We feature Steve Aoki, i_o, and BLOND:ISH, plus many more great tunes to help distract us from the end of the world.

Armin van Buuren Vs. Tempo Guisto – Mr. Navigator (Steve Aoki’s I Am The Captain Now Remix)

We begin with the Steve Aoki “I Am The Captain Now Remix” of Armin’s “Mr. Navigator”. For those of you that have been weekly followers, you probably have noticed that I have ignored the long-string of remixes of “Mr. Navigator”. To be honest, I haven’t really felt the previous versions. Surprisingly, I really dig what Mr. Aoki did. It brings me back to the beginning days of the EDM explosion.

DJ Misjah & DJ Tim – Access (i_o Remix)

Has there been a producer that has had such a meteoric rise like i_o? He brings the sauce and douses “Access” with his techno, dungeon-inspired sounds to make this track his own. Play this on full blast with the lights off.

Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is (BLOND:ISH Sunrise Jungle Rework)

I’m not sure how BLONDISH obtained the clearance from Foreigner and their publisher, label, or whoever to make this remix happen. Either way, I am very happy that we get an unexpected clubby remix of Foreigner. Honestly, I never knew I needed this in my life.

Mind Enterprises – Mont Blanc (Purple Disco Machine Remix)

Purple Disco Machine does it again and unleashes a nu-disco, funk-tastic remix. This time he uses his talents to remix “Mont Blanc” from Mind Enterprises. If the artwork doesn’t get you jazzed, the music will definitely hit the right chord.

deadmau5 – COASTED (Jay Robinson Remix)

Everyone’s favorite mau5 dropped his newest remix pack. My favorite of the group is the Jay Robinson remix of “Coasted”. It builds and bubbles with a mystical swirling of vibrant sounds sending listeners barrelling along a prickly-synth journey.

Yves V & Ilkay Sencan Ft. Emie – Not So Bad (Zonderling Remix)

Featuring a cover sample of Dido’s “Thank You”, which was made famous years prior when it appeared in Eminem’s “Stan”, is now front and center in the Yves V and Ilkay Sencan collaboration, “Not So Bad”. The Zonderling remix brings a unique, oscillating synth to the drop that is absolutely brilliant. Once you listen to this, you’ll understand what I mean. It’s really cool what Zonderling does.

Kaskade & Dani Poppitt – Love Like That (BYNON Remix)

Kaskade and Dani Poppitt’s “Love Like That” is a nice, sexy dance track, but it gets transformed into something more mysterious by BYNON. The extra helping of brooding synths unlocks a hypnotic vibe that was lacking from the original. I have a feeling this will do very well in clubs.

Nocturnal Sunshine Ft. Peaches – Possessed (Nathan Micay’s Energy Therapy Remix)

Maya Jane Coles’s alter ego Nocturnal Sunshine dropped her album Full Circle at the beginning of last November. We are now getting the remix treatments. The first track to receive a reawakening is the collaboration with Peaches, yes, that Peaches. The standout remix is Nathan Micay’s “Energy Therapy Remix”. The Toronto-born artist constructs a searing sound design filled with enough sounds to keep the worst cases of ADD entertained.

Ben Böhmer – In Memoriam (Tim Green Remix)

I LOVE Ben Böhmer’s recently released album, Breathing. “In Memoriam” is track one on the album and is the first track to receive a remix. Ben brings forward Tim Green to provide the reimagining. Tim’s remix envelopes listeners in a cocoon of raw, poignant emotion that does not relent until the song clicks off. There’s even an 8-minute version for those who want to expand their spacy journey.

Gabriel & Dresden Ft. Centre – Remember (OCULA Remix)

OCULA crushes his remix of Gabriel & Dresden’s “Remember”. He’s able to develop such strong, heartwrenching emotions that I prefer his version to the original. If you’re in the need of some emotionally-charged music with soaring sounds, this remix is for you.

Paul Oakenfold Ft. Carla Werner – Southern Sun (Tilt Summer Of Love Remix)

I assume with the remix being titled “Summer Of Love Remix” that Tilt pays homage to the Summer of Love with this remix of Paul Oakenfold’s “Southern Sun”. There’s a captivating weaving of sparkling sounds that hit the eardrums and send listeners dancing until the sun rises.

Oliver Koletzki Ft. Lisa Who – Away (Bebetta Remix)

I love this remix from Bebetta. Everything about the sound design is perfect. It waves and flutters with the right amount of energy that when the builds break and “the drop” comes it sends listeners and dance floors into frenetic chaos of moving bodies.

Tittsworth & La Favi – Me Voy Me Voy (Tony Quattro Remix)

Tittsworth dropped the remix pack for his Big Blue EP. My favorite of the group is the Tony Quattro remix of “Me Voy Me Voy”. The moombahton original gets a tech-house reimaging that hits in all the right ways. This remix will get any club or pool party going with ravenous energy.

Tommie Sunshine & Breikthru – Brick By Brick (Vol2Cat Remix)

Tommie Sunshine and His Brooklyn Fire Records have been dropping some of the coolest house and club tracks. The Vol2Cat remix of “Brick By Brick” continues that trend. His remix is a party for the ears and will melt the ice around the coldest of hearts out there.

Guz Ft. Hannah Jane Lewis – Without You (Steve Darko Remix)

Guz’s “Without You” gets a “wubbed” out remix from Steve Darko. The Bostonian ushers listeners into a world filled with punchy and gooey low-ends and the right amount of sultriness that will sink its claws into those who get trapped in its soundwaves. In other words, it’s a banger.

ONE FROM THE VAULT

Eric Prydz – Opus (Four Tet Remix)

I felt it fitting to bring forth the most magical, the most incendiary, the most hauntingly beautiful remix from Four Tet to honor his release of Sixteen Oceans. The almost 10-minute track is the personification of ethereal-laced dance music and is nothing short of a masterpiece.

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