December 31st is the one night when even the year-long-non-partiers want to party. Millions all over the world take to the streets, decked out in their glitzy, glamorous styles that seem less than what’s needed to keep warm – unless you spent winter break in Miami like I did. But when the chill wind is running a race against itself through our clothes and against our skin, it makes existence more vibrant. We run out to the streets with the people we love, laughing, tripping, spinning, dancing, moving from place to place, and we celebrate that we have made it through another year.
This past New Year’s Eve I started to ponder on a thought. Why do we party hard only one night of the year? Who says it can’t be New Year’s any night? We’re alive, let’s get this party started! I’ve scoured the internet and my personal music library for a sampling of the greatest music for jammin’ in Electronic music – from the classic to the brand new. As I believe all tracks are created equal, you’ll hear elements of House, Dubstep, Drum and Bass, and even a little Trance. So, turn up the volume, get stoked, because I’m going to take you to the party!
Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff – Deadmau5 (ft. Rob Swire)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-EwykPTv8
I thought it best to start out with Deadmau5’s huge hit that was released back in 2008. This influential artist has been huge on the Electronic scene, working with big names like Wolfgang Gartner, Kaskade, and Sofi (featured in “Sofi’s Ladder” by Deadmau5). This version with the vocals of Rob Swire sounds to me like we’re on our way out to get wild. Deadmau5 knows how to get the party started; are you ready?
Levels is Delirious (Avicii vs David Guetta) – Pixel Cheese (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATFXygeKzWo
With 6,461 likes on Facebook, this Polish DJ is starting to make waves. I have mad love for this guy. Pixel Cheese has a great talent of mixing great songs by other artists while adding his own sound to energetic tracks. His first podcast, released January 25, is called “Pixel Cheese Superheroes,” and you can subscribe to it for free on iTunes!
Somebody to Love (Rusko) – Sigma (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF7wa3j57j0
I think Rusko’s “Woo Boost” was the first Dubstep song I ever heard, and suffice it to say, I have been hooked since. Sigma gives this tune a shoot-to-the-stars-cosmic mood that feels like you’re flying at top speed. I can’t stop dancing to this one! Released January 24, it’s already blowing up music blogs all over the internet showing 1051 “favorites” on hypem.com.
Bang This – Hirshee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMNtA1AmGiE
Hirshee is not a name you hear very often, and I had never heard of this guy until my roommate blew my mind with this tune. Categorized typically as Electro Dance, Hirshee knows how to intrigue, hook, suspend you, and then bring it out-right nasty. His beats take the elevator ride to the top and crash back down into record-scratching madness with a hopping bass.
Kyoto – Skrillex (ft. Sirah)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86khmc6y1yE&ob=av2e
I knew I had to add my favorite track off of Skrillex’s new EP “Bangarang,” which came out on December 27 – Happy Holidays to all us Dubstep lovers. I love how Skrillex stays true to his mechanical breakdown sounds while infusing some sexy swag to this intricate track. The hyped up bass leads up to some seriously hard drops – just like Sirah says. And Sirah’s rap? Girl, we know–especially from this track–you can kill it and hang with the boys! I can’t get enough of this.
Say My Name – Porter Robinson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_apoZ4eKk
Porter, I will always say your name with honor. I heard about this DJ through Skrillex, who signed 19-year-old Robinson to his label, OWSLA, and raved about his debut EP “Spitfire” on a Facebook status. Just after, I saw Robinson at Roxy in Orlando, and I became a true fan. He commands the crowd with the hottest energy and melds harder Dubstep sounds with Electro beats in his uniquely infectious music.
Antidote – Swedish House Mafia and Knife Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EepZVEQwijE
On December 16, 2011 I was glued to my computer screen as Fuse TV streamed Swedish House Mafia’s killer performance at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Swedish House Mafia are DJs Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Axwell, who never disappoint. They brilliantly collaborated with Knife Party (a side project of Pendulum) for this track that premiered at Madison Square Garden. The varying bass lines and higher tones mix perfectly into some crazy musical elixir, and the vocals form a surprising break in the beats. “Tear this mother up” with this song on your night out!
Pressure (Nadia Ali, Starkillers, and Alex Kenji) – Alesso (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ28K6mmkps
This track definitely makes my heart pound. Alesso is an amazing DJ that works with members of Swedish House Mafia quite often. He has produced this sexy track that has been huge on dance floors around the world. He masterfully uses track-skipping while layering melodic tones with pounding beats to enhance Nadia Ali’s vocals and Mediterranean flair. P.S. He’ll be at Roxy in Orlando on Febuary 6! You can get tickets through the Evolve Group. Check them out on Facebook!
Spaceman – Hardwell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lETmskoqh30
Hardwell just came out with this great track on January 23. I love the laser-like sounds above the swaying bass that’ll ensure you never stop dancing. “Spaceman” is the follow-up to earlier hit “Cobra,” which is still slithering around clubs all over the world. If you’re thinking of space travel but are having trouble finding your spacesuit, jamming to this track is a great alternative. Step up to the launch pad, strap yourself in, and get ready to shoot off with the metallic beats from Hardwell.
Tokyo – Gareth Emery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9b7ejPu5vc
Here’s another tune for you named after a bustling Japanese city. This song definitely reflects images of fast trains, city lights, and towering buildings with people milling in and out. I love the oriental vibe and deep bass supporting the mechanical tones. Some discussions on garudanation.com (a site devoted to Emery) supposed that the lyrics were “one beat is my fear.” In a Q & A on UStream, Emery said that he isn’t sure. It’s a combination of different samples, so it could be interpreted personally by the listener.
Till Sunshine (Avicii and David Guetta vs Laidback Luke) – Pixel Cheese (Bootleg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDwkZTb59rg
There is just something about Avicii. This talented DJ throws one crazy party as a show and shoots only the best vibes from his speakers. David Guetta wasn’t named number one DJ in the world for nothing; he knows how to bring it out and has created impressive tracks while collaborating with a huge range of artists, and Laidback Luke puts out great grooves. This is Pixel Cheese at it again, combining amazing tunes together into one burst of feel-good jam. This song has a great beat to party to. Listen to this even just on a bad day, and I promise, you’ll be able to make it Till Sunshine.
Imagine – Armin van Buuren (with Eller van Buuren)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3_3JlA8huI&ob=av2e
I couldn’t complete this list without a track from one of the masters of Trance, Armin van Buuren. The link listed is from the “Armin Only Imagine 2008” DVD. Music seems to run in the family; the tones just glide through the air like laser lights, and it sounds almost ethereal as his brother, Eller van Buuren, comes out picking some piercing lead riffs over the electronic sound, grounding you down to the dance floor.
Shave It (Zedd) – Kaskade (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXl2dt8bcVY
Please, turn this one up and get ready. Kaskade loves to tease and will make you wonder what’s going to happen to Zedd’s original mix. This deep drop will make you fall so far you won’t be sure if you’re on the Earth’s surface or deep in the core with his ripping bass sounds and torn up record-scratching. Raging in the intensity of the Earth’s core? Sounds good to me. One of the best ways to find new music (besides reading articles and blog posts by us obsessive music lovers) is to “like” artist pages on Facebook. Musicians (especially those in the Electronic world) often promote other artists’ new tracks through statuses.
Epic – Sandro Silva and Quintino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQKsLOPK_ls
If you don’t listen to Tiesto’s Club Life podcast and you wish you could be clubbing all the time, you should subscribe to it for free on iTunes. Tiesto has been busting out beats for years, and he knows his stuff. On his last podcast of 2011, Tiesto named “Epic” as number ten in his countdown of the best tracks of the year. This track really is epic. Starting out with an intriguing House groove is a great start with rising tones telling you you’re in for it. Then Silva and Quintino slow it down with some powerful orchestra string chords until radio frequency sounds signal this drop into tribal drum beats that will bring out the primal animal in you.
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall (Coldplay) – Swedish House Mafia (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdwydslZlOI
Most everyone has a soft spot for Coldplay, and I personally love hearing Chris Martin’s voice paired with Electronic music. Angello, Ingrosso, and Axwell really enhance Coldplay’s vibe. The music conveys this message of hope that brings out the lyrics. Sadness is overwhelming and sometimes you just have to “shut the world outside until the lights come up.” But then you still have to keep going after “turning the music up” and get out there.
I love Swedish House Mafia’s darker-toned sound that, I think, reflects the visuals of a club. There’s the mystery in the darkness with the bright feelings of colorful lights piercing through it, which I feel when I hear the bass beats paired with the higher tones and melodies.
I think Electronic music is sensory. It’s about the experience you feel when you hear it. I guess that’s why we all party to it. It was a challenge to cut down this list with so much great music being produced now. The industry is changing and breaking out of its underground status. Whether it’s now mainstream or not, it’s irrelevant. Music is about sharing and communicating with other human beings. Art is meant to enhance your life in a beautiful way. So, get out there and enjoy it. You don’t have to celebrate life one day out of the year. Do it any night because, really, we’re lucky for every day we have.