"I Got That Boom Boom Baby Bring the Bass"

Despite never seeing any of the Pitch Perfect movies, I'm a bit of a closet Anna Kendrick Stan. Mad respect for her talent as an actress, singer, and just about everything else she decides to do. In case you missed it, the third rendition of Pitch Perfect dropped this week. The reviews may not be living up to previous versions, but the good news is there are a few noteworthy tracks that found their way onto the soundtrack.

The most noteworthy of those new tracks is Iggy Azalea and Zedd's collabo. Boom Boom is as energetic and in-your-face as you'd expect for a song landing on a Pitch Perfect Soundtrack. Armed with plenty of sass from Iggy and a vibrant beat from Zedd, there's plenty to sink your teeth into. Sure it's as pop as can be, but the EDM twist implored me to give it a second listen. Check it and a whole lot of songs from the movie on iTunes or Spotify if you're as curious as I was...#PitchPerfect3



Iggy Azalea & Zedd - Boom Boom

" Go Dung, Go Dung, Go Dung, Go Dung, Go Dung"

Credit Major Lazer for being the first group to blend reggae/dancehall influences into one of the more exciting sounds in EDM today. Other than speaker rattling bass, you never really know what's going to be under the wrapping paper when you press play on a new track of theirs. Their new one below prominently features vocals from Trinadad and Tobago's own Kes. Feel good doesn't scratch the surface on the vibe of Go Dung. The upbeat, booty-shake inducing beat mixed with the smooth island-flavored vocals make for a fun track all-around. There's even a Major Lazer-esque repetitive, tribal hook to contrast against the smooth lively steel drum sprinkles mixed throughout. Despite not being available on Spotify or iTunes yet, feel free to stream this one to your heart's content on Soundcloud...#GoDung

Major Lazer feat Kes - Go Dung

Run the Jewels' Oh My Darling Gets Flossed

Combine the raw energy of Run the Jewels with the rowdy Trap vibe of Flosstradamus and what do you get? A dope, arena filling, headphone shattering symphony of bass with spicy ad libs. For a bit of context, check out RTJ's original, Oh My Darling (Don't Cry) before jumping into the remix...



Rather than a steady rumbling bass and machine gun raps, the remix) takes a more instrumental driven stance from the start. There aren't more than a few bars repeated and chopped from the original, but it's safe to say Flosstradamus picked the most incendiary samples. The mix of clangy percussion and bass reminds me lot of the type of stuff RL Grime and Baauer put out. Needless to say, it's a good look and a fresh take on a classic RTJ track...#OhMyDarling

Run the Jewels - Oh My Darling (Flosstradamus Remix)

Imagine Dragons & Khalid Up Their Game on Dope Medley

It's about time someone stepped up and took a swing at innovating on the remix. Normally remixes have either a new beat or new vocalist added to it, but what happens when two songs are blended together into a medley. Sure, it's been done before, but not like the Imagine Dragons and Khalid did below.

The track starts with about 45 sec of Khalid's early 2017 single Young, Dumb & Broke. Then the beat flips into Imagine Dragon's single from last Spring, Thunder. Then Khalid jumps back in momentarily around the two minute mark. From there it's one big back and forth chorus-fest, bouncing from one song to the other. I can't stress how impressive it was that they teamed up on a seamlessly mixed version of the two tracks together. Rarely do remixes deserve a standing ovation, so join me in getting off the couch to give this medley the love it deserves...#KhalidImagineDragons

As a bonus, check out the medley performed live from the AMAs back in late November...



Imagine Dragons, Khalid - Thunder / Young Dumb & Broke (Medley)

Timbo Returns to Spotlight on Grab the Wheel

There aren't many producers that can hang their hat on a distinct style that any self-respecting fan of music would recognize. Timbaland is an exception to that as his combination of deep bass snare kicks are as trademark as it gets. Like on his new one with Atlanta rapper 6lack, Grab the Wheel. Those stop-and-go kicks with steady tapping percussion is something I've been missing dearly in my life as Timbo's productions have slowed over the years. Better yet, if you fast forward to the 2:40 mark, he pulled a Justin Timberlake a la LoveStoned/I Think She Knows style beat switch as the track glides to an end. They may be small touches, but it underscores the creativity that's generally lacking in Hip Hop production these days.

One thing we can all be grateful of is that Timbland kicked his painkiller addiction and he's back to making new music. Cheers to that and don't be bashful in copping the new one on iTunes or Spotify if you're as Timbo-starved as I am...#GrabTheWheel



Timbaland & 8lack - Grab the Wheel

"Hey Ms. Parker, Can I Shovel Your Snow?"

A Christmas mixtape from Chance the Rapper and Jeremih you say? Who woulda known? It's far from the unlikeliest of collabos, but a Christmas themed mixtape wouldn't have been the first guess. Unexpectedness aside, there's a real smooth, throwback element to their new one below that I really dig. The tranquil, repetitive, lullaby-esque guitar riff produces a dreamy canvas for the duo to take the listener on a dreamy, winter-themed journey.

Full disclosure, I haven't had a chance to dive in on the 19 track, double-disc mixtape yet, but Ms. Parker has me convinced that exploring the album is well-worth my time. Unfortunately, the mixtape isn't available yet on Spotify, but that shouldn't stop you from wearing it out on Soundcloud. Lord knows there's a huge void in modern Christmas music, so anything that can give poor Mariah's All I Want For Christmas a break is a welcome addition...#MerryChristmasLilMama

Chance the Rapper & Jeremih - Ms. Parker

"My Sins Need Holy Water, Feel It Washing Over Me"

It's been a relaxing two weeks off for the GWDJ crew, but we're back after it starting with the most eye opening collaboration in recent memory. I say that with hesitancy as Eminem's new album is chalked full of interesting, high octane efforts like the one below. The sheer novelty of hearing Ed Sheeran's quietly powerful vocals mixed with Em's forceful bars is hard to put into words. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the gruff tone Eminem showcases on his new album, but there's no questioning his vigor and energy on the mic is alive and well. There's a lot to comb through with Revival, including collabos with Alicia Keys, Skylar Grey, and Pink to name a few, but early reviews have been positive. You can bet that as we put together a few end of 2017 mixes, there will be plenty of Eminem sprinkled throughout...#Revival



Eminem feat Ed Sheeran - River

Ed Sheeran's Perfect Gets a Chill House Makeover

Over the past year Ed Sheeran's Divide album has continued to gain momentum with each new single. It started off with a bang as Shape of You skyrocketed to the top of the charts and has continued to gain speed with the most recent single Perfect. In my eyes, the book-end singles are the best of what the album has to offer and deserve to be in the classic conversation.

Further cementing that notion is Robin Schulz's remix of Perfect. It's what you'd hope for if someone said "what if someone did a chill house flip of Perfect." The vocals from the original play really well over a quietly rhythmic beat. Matter of fact, the more I listen to it, the more I'm inclined to throw it on the Trop House mix. Whatever the categorization, it's a smooth mix that I'll be zoning out to over the next week...#Perfect



Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Robin Schulz Remix)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

If you're like me, you're kickin' it with your fam today while taking part in whatever established Thanksgiving traditions. Part of those traditions in my fam is starting to look forward to Christmas...which is generally kicked off by a steady stream of Christmas music. If you're in that camp and are in desperate need of some god forsaken alternative to Mariah's "All I Want For Christmas is You", then give a listen to the first single off Kaskade's upcoming Christmas album. For the life of me, I can't recall a Christmas themed EDM album, so I'm going to give it every chance to succeed. I love the wobbly, deep house undertones mixed with familiar Christmas vocals on Deck the Halls (below). This along with a Skylar Grey cameo on Oh Come Emmanuel make the concept an interesting proposition. At the very least, stay on the look out for it during your Black Friday scouring of the internet tomorrow when it drops...#KaskadeChristmas



Kaskade feat Erika - Deck the Halls

"Lets Keep This Going All Niiiight"

Not usually known for smooth pop tracks, Steve Aoki is continuing to fight my attempt to put his style in a nice, tidy box. His new one, All Night, is the type of chill, vocal driven EDM that you'd expect from a Zedd or Martin Garrix. Lauren Jauregui (of 5th Harmony) did everything in her power on the track below to get on the GWDJ radar. Her calm, sultry vocals are exactly what the steady, rhythmic beat needed. Keep an ear out for this one on top 40 and join me in continuing to re-evaluate preconceived notions on the music Aoki is capable of making...#AllNight



Steve Aoki feat Lauren Jauregui - All Night

"A Place Where I Can Go, To Take This Off My Shoulders"

Over the years we've all grown accustomed to soundtracks being attached to marquee movies we go see in theaters. That model hasn't evolved much over the years, but in a few weeks we're going to see a twist to the time old model. On December 22nd a Netflix original movie Bright is going to be released for streaming. The movie stars Will Smith and it's a fantasy flick full of orcs and elves that have coexisted with humans for centuries.

I'll admit, it was a tough sell for me too. Both the Netflix only release and reeling in Will Smith for a fantasy cop movie. What makes it even more interesting is the made-for-streaming movie is going to have a full soundtrack. Not just any soundtrack either, it's going to contain tracks like the one below featuring MGK, X Ambassadors, and Bebe Rexha. Home is everything you'd want in a movie anthem. It hits you in feels with a folk hook, stellar female vocals, and a vibrant sing-songy rap vibe. Basically picture your favorite X Ambassadors track with a few awesome Machine Gun Kellly verses and a Bebe Rexha vocal assist. There's a lot to wrap your head around with this one, but if the entire soundtrack is anywhere near as good as what we hear below then we'll all be in for a treat...#Home



Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha - Home

Troyboi & Ekali Let Loose a Tour Favorite

Some of the best music we all end up hearing is a direct result of artists deciding to go on tour together. Case in point Ekali and Troyboi's latest creation Truth. If you've seen Troyboi on tour lately, this track is probably old news to you, but for many this is going to be an introduction.

The collabo hits on all the highlights of what you'd look for for the dynamic duo. You've got the melodic tones from Ekali mixing with the oriental, clangy bounce of Troyboi. It's a fresh instrumental, through and through. It skews more toward the smooth and refined front rather than a bass heavy party starter that both artists are capable of making. Not sure whether this is awesome or frustrating, but this is the type of unreleased track that may never get an official Spotify release. Still, you can't complain about a free download, so let's just say the options to consume are limitless...#Truth

Troyboi x Ekali - Truth

"Love Life, Baby Give Me Love Like"

You may have missed it, but recently Major Lazer released a documentary called Give Me Future. The doc is centered around their performance in Havana, Cuba from Spring 2015 when a half a million people ended up showing up at their show. From there, it takes a deep dive into Cuban youth culture, unearthing the impact of improving US/Cuba relations. When watching, you may even be surprised at the hoops Major Lazer needed to jump through to make a Cuban show a reality.

But I digress, the track below is from the soundtrack to the documentary. Love Life is bouncy Reggaeton at its best. Marked by vibrant vocals from Azaryah, the vibe of the track is infectious. Good luck trying to keep your hips from swaying back and forth to the beat too. It's one of many great tracks off the Soundtrack that is worth a dedicated listen on further review...#LoveLife



Major Lazer feat Azaryah - Love Life

"Cause I'm in Love With the Restless Sea"

I've posted so many behind-the-scenes, viral beat-making sessions by Louis Futon that you are hopefully more than a little familiar with his name by now. Side note, his latest Stranger Things inspired effort was particularly dope IMO. Beat-making sessions aside, in between opening for Louis the Child and Odesza, he's been cooking up some new material.

Yesterday he dropped Restless Sea featuring vocals from Opia. Blown away doesn't really explain how pleasantly surprised I was by the track. Everything from the slow burning, emotion dripped drops to the pleading vocals of Opia came together for a really dope track. The whiny guitar riffs and synths post-drop really compliment the head-nod worthy, steady-thumping beat. I foresee myself both rocking out to the beat and singing along, which underscores the likeability of the track. Don't waste anymore time reading these words, join me over at Soundcloud, Spotify, or iTunes where I'll be running laps all around this one this weekend...#RestlessSea



Louis Futon feat Opia - Restless Sea

VIdeos of the Week November 17th

It was definitely a performance-centric top five this week. Led by Travis Scott's memorable performance at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards, the week got off to a noteworthy start. Not sure about y'all, but I would be pretty hesitant to be jumping around while performing when I'm standing on top of a giant floating bird about 30 ft about the crowd. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Butterfly Effect and the performance was lit, but join me in hoping he never falls off that big, menacing bird.

On a less dangerous note, both Daft Punk and RL Grime put out tour videos this week to give everyone a glimpse of what they're missing. Having recently seen RL live, it was cool to be reminded of how hype of a show he's capable of putting on. Switching to a more calming, intimate setting, Anime did his thing on NPR's Tiny Desk stage this week. He cycled through a few Good For You favorites like Caroline, Slide, and Wedding Crashers during the short set. And of course last, but always the most entertaining, Macklemore stole the show with his Corner Store performance on Fallon. Such an uplifting track and those horns man...such a solid track...#CornerStore

Travis Scott Rode His Huge Bird Performing at the EMA's

Daft Punk Alive Tour Video

RL Grime - Nova Tour Video Part 1

Anime Puts on a Tiny Desk Concert

Macklemore, Dave B & Travis Thompson Perform Corner Store on Fallon

Photo Credit: YouTube

"You Know I'm Neva Eva Givin' Up"

I've come to expect chopped up, heavy bangers from Troyboi, but they haven't always come loaded with a positive message. That changed on Never Give Up where a slowed vocal sample preaches a relentless pursuit of success. It's a slow banger with a calming ebb and flow of steady knocking bass. For those who can appreciate the beauty of simplicity, this one's for you. Steady stream this one on Soundcloud until the single drops on the official outlets...#NeverGiveUp

Troyboi - Never Give Up

"I Will Rise and Shine, Even in the Coldest Night"

Same characters, but entirely different story. If you're thinking you're going to get another Lean On, think again. Instead, Diplo and MØ took a Future Bass turn on Get It Right. Marked by a high pitched, wobbly vocal sample, there's a steady mix of Pop vocals and energetic bounce mixed throughout. It's destined to run a train on Top 40, but it may not have quite the ceiling of their previous collaboration. Saying that isn't a slight at all either, as the former was one of the tracks that will always be remembered from 2015. Needless to say, the Random White Dude has struck again and his new one below has some serious earworm potential...#GetItRight



Diplo feat MØ - Get It Right

Bassnectar's Music Can Transport You to Other Worlds

Wobbly, deep, ethereal, and vibrant are all adjectives I'd use to describe Bassnectar's new single Other Worlds. I feel like I've used all those words to describe Bassnectar at some point, but not all on the same track. That's a testament to him continuing to expand his reach stylistically while holding on to the Dubstep/Drum and Bass style that got him to where he is now.

Other Worlds and Slather are two teaser tracks that should get you excited for him new forthcoming Reflective EP Part 2 that's rumored to be dropping in December. In case you missed it, Reflective Part 1 was a six song EP that he dropped back in June. On the EP he had another collabo with Dorfex Bos that was equally as dope as the one below in Horizons. Maybe it's my current Stranger Things affliction, but there's something to these outer space sounding, eerie synth vibe tracks like the one below...#OtherWorlds



Bassnectar feat Dorfex Bos - Other Worlds

"Oh, You Take Me Higher Than I've Ever Been"

If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a huge fan of Conrad Sewell. Sure, it helps I heard about him on a Kygo collabo, but man does he have a stellar vocal range. On Cedric Gervais's new one he shows off the high end of said vocal range. Higher is a steady thumping electro-pop track that's as bubbly as it is feel-good. The vocals remind me of a 90s pop track, which isn't a bad thing to someone as nostalgic as me about that time period. My heart wants it to be seen as an energetic party-starter, but my mind is telling me the ebbs and flows of tempo will relegate it to Top 40 material. If you're as big of a Conrad fan as I am, this one will fit in nicely on your latest Spotify or Apple Music playlist...#Higher



Cedric Gervais feat. Conrad Sewell - Higher

Fly Through the Clouds With Kill Paris on Out of the Dark

Coming from a guy who went by the name Chill Harris, Out of the Dark fits in quite well with what you'd expect from Kill Paris. The somber vocal sample and steady ebb and flow of instrumentation creates a dream-like, ethereal feel on the track. It's one of those lifted, flying through the clouds in your dreams type of tracks. Having posted many Kill Paris tracks previously, I enjoy how his style has matured to a point where he's capable of telling a story without a strong vocal presence. There's plenty to latch onto if you're feeling down or just in need of a track to mellow you out. Check it out on iTunes or Spotify if you're in the mood for a more long-term chill fix...#OutOfTheDark

Kill Paris - Out of the Dark

"I Walk on Water, But I Ain't No Jesus"

After weeks of rumors circulating about a new Eminem album, we've finally got our first warning shot. Matter of fact, warning shot probably doesn't convey the epic-ness of the track below, it's more like a surprise scud missile. Featuring soulful vocals from Queen Bey herself, Walk on Water amounts to a candlelight therapy session for Eminem. It's as dramatic and introspective as I've ever heard from Em. The quiet intensity is palpable, but I appreciate his restraint in use of vulgarity. Sure there are a few f bombs, but they're intricately placed, rather than napalmed all over the track like he's been known to do.

If this track has taught me anything, it's that Eminem's style is still evolving and he's even more complex than we thought. I'll have to listen to his new single many more times to fully wrap my head around the message, but I appreciate it's depth. If this doesn't get you amped for his upcoming Revival album, then nothing will...#Revival



Eminem feat Beyonce - Walk on Water

Videos of the Week November 10th

Plenty of ComplexCon related videos to dive into for this week's top five. Without a doubt the most interesting video of the past week was the Kobe Bryant and Kendrick Lamar co-interview. It's not everyday you get two superstars from two different types of entertainment in the same room reflecting on how they each rose to greatness. Speaking of greatness, it's refreshing to see N.E.R.D. back onstage pumping out new music. I don't need to sell you on Pharrell's stage presence, but how about that ensemble of dancers on stage? Let's just say whoever decides to see them in concert will be getting the price of admission.

In case you haven't gotten your weekly mix of Dillon Francis, here's your shot at seeing him candidly answer questions submitted from Twitter. There's a reason why he's been given reality shows, even the most simple question can elicit the most interesting responses. This interview did not disappoint and there are plenty of stories to latch onto during the interview hosted by Wired. In case you're itching for an actual music video, ZHU's new Exhale/Stardust video is a characteristically weird watch. Truth be told he's a weird, artistic dude and that shows through in his cinematography too. Rounding out this week's top five is deadmau5's entertaining Aftermovie for his Red Rocks show. In case you weren't in attendance at the show, he debuted a couple tracks and can now preview them via the video. There simply isn't a better venue to take in music and that after movie further cemented that...#RedRocksCO

Kendrick Lamar & Kobe Bryant Talk About Their Evolution to Greatness at ComplexCon 2017

N.E.R.D Perform at ComplexCon

Dillon Francis Answers Twitter Questions From Wired

ZHU - Exhale/Stardust (Video)

deadmau5 Red Rocks After Movie

Photo Credit: YouTube

"Who Want It? Put jewels On It, Who Want It?"

Statik Selektah STAND UP! Talk about providing EL-P and Killer Mike with a perfect playground to do lyrical gymnastics all over...give a listen to Put Jewels On It. Both lyricists from RTJ dropped stellar, machine-gun flow style verses over a forceful, grimy beat.

It's a beat DJ Premier would listen to and smile because of the cuts and samples seamlessly mixed throughout. I'll put it this way, anyone who has been listening to Hip Hop since the 1990s will appreciate this track. It's an homage to East Coast style, stream of consciousness style rap that seems to have vanished over the years. Luckily we have Wu-Tang and Nas to keep that alive, but it's a fact that you just don't hear this style of track much anymore. For those of you anxious for more, I'd encourage giving Statik's new 8 album a listen when it drops in early December. On the album you can look forward to cuts featuring Prodigy (RIP), Raekwon, No Malice, The Lox, and Juelz Santana...#PutJewelsOnIt



Statik Selektah feat Run the Jewels - Put Jewels On It

"Oh, Dear Parachute Parachute, Ya"

Yet another tip of the cap to Skrillex for continuing to produce great music and collaborate with really talented vocalists. This time NSTASIA dialed up Sonny for a steady knocking, tumbling Hip Hop beat on Parachute. Her angelic vocals play up really well with the steady dose of bass and dreamy samples she finds herself surrounded by. It's a pretty down-tempo track for what Skrillex usually puts out, but at this point, I'm beyond trying to put the type of music he's capable of making into a nicely packaged box. The truth is he's blown past the title of DJ and at this core, he's really just a talented music producer. If you're a fan of the one below I'd encourage you to give a listen to NSTASIA's upcoming New Religion album that will be hitting stores next Friday on November 17th...#Parachute

NSTASIA - Parachute (Produced by Skrillex)

"Come on Spend That Dirty Sexy Money on Me"

The track below is another reminder of how woven into pop culture EDM has become. If you listen to the track below, you'd have to wait a full 45 seconds to have a clue that David Guetta or Afrojack produced the track. The soft keys to open the track and vocal lead in by Charli XCX would lead you to believe Dirty Sexy Money is a ballad. Unsurprisingly it's anything but that with a high energy drop and steadily increasing tempo throughout the track. Unfortunately there's a half minute of filler courtesy of French Montana around the two minute mark, but his presence doesn't entirely sink the potential of the track. It's still a fun track that has some Top 40 potential, so hopefully it leaves a more lasting taste in your mouth than Big League Chew...#DirtySexyMoney



David Guetta & Afrojack feat Charli XCX & French Montana - Dirty Sexy Money

"4 Million on Gold Chains 10 Million on Bottles"

Here's another one that admittedly slipped through the GWDJ cracks. Given the novelty of Steve Aoki, Ma$e, and Big Gigantic getting together on a track together, I have no idea how I missed it. Generally Steve's brand of EDM is hit or miss with my tastes, but this one kicks a whole lot of a$$. That sax breakdown post-drop from Big Gigantic alone is worth the price of admission. Beyond that, it was dope hearing some vintage M-A-$-E on the mic. His buttery smooth delivery hasn't changed a bit over the years and it's kind of crazy how well it works when layered on top of the craziness that Steve Aoki put together on $4,000,000. Chances are you've already seen this ebb and flow out of your playlists, but in case you're like me and missed it, don't let this one slip by any longer...#4000000



Steve Aoki & Bad Royale feat Ma$e & Big Gigantic - $4,000,000

"Let's Get Lonely Together, A Little Less Lonely Together"

For the life of me, I can't figure out why more EDM artists don't make acoustic covers of their music. They all collaborate with really talented vocalists that can at times get drowned out by the energy of the synths. A perfect illustration of the potential lies in the comparison below. Before we get into the acoustic version of Avicii's Lonely Together, check out the video for the original version of the track...



Pretty dope song where Rita Ora shines vocally, but at times takes a back seat to the fun, engaging drops crafted by Avicii. Now listen to the remix and appreciate how the star roles flip. Instead of competing with wobbly synths and energetic drops, Rita takes the lead from the start over gentle guitar riffs. It's the same music, just with different people stepping into the limelight. The upside is that it creates the feel of two different song that have the potential to appeal to two different audiences. Hoping more EDM artists take note and grasp the clear opportunity of stripping out the synths to make two versions of singles...#LonelyTogether

Avicii feat Rita Ora - Lonely Together (Acoustic)

"Bouncin' Around, Bouncin' Around, Bouncin'"

Those of you itching for a new Pharrell album may feel like a new album is long overdue. The good news is he, Shay Haley, and his main squeezes Chad Hugo just rolled out a bouncy new single with Rihanna, so there's a chance your itch may be scratched with Lemon. Between the speaker rattling bass, swaggy raps, and quirky samples, the track is pretty damn catchy. I can't say with complete confidence that this means a new album from N.E.R.D. is on the way, but the rumors are abound. The mysterious No_One Ever Really Dies posters is the strongest indication of an album name I can offer...

NO_ONE EVER REALLY DIES @NeRdArMy pic.twitter.com/5ic6b5Dy8G

— SHADEZ THE MISFIT (@shadeztm) October 29, 2017

Time will tell, but color me excited for more bangin' singles like the one below...#Lemon



N.E.R.D. feat Rihanna - Lemon

Videos of the Week Novmeber 3rd

Lots and lots of fun live performances in this week's top five. Leading the way in that category was Odesza who put together a stunning rendition of Line of Sight. Having recently seen them live, I appreciate how they adapted their amphitheater sound to a more intimate setting. Keeping with the late night vibe, Maroon 5 and SZA delivered a fun rendition of What Lovers Do on Fallon. I'll admit I haven't seen much of SZA, so to see her sing live gave me a better feel for massive ceiling as a vocalist. Rounding out the late night trio was Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) of Stranger Things spitting a fiery summary of season one. Having now plowed through the first two seasons, it was enlightening to see the more authentic, raw side of young Eleven.

Pivoting off late night slightly with The Roots in a slightly different context than usual on Fallon. If you've ever seen them perform classroom style on Fallon, then you won't be surprised at how well they handled the space constraints on Tiny Desk. And last, but always the best is a second episode from Odesza's A Moment Apart Tour. I've said it many times, but if you're a fan of electronic music and wish there was more authentic instrumentation mixed with the synthesizers, then Odesza is your answer...#AMomentApart

Odesza Performs Line of Sight on Kimmel

Maroon 5 feat SZA - What Lovers Do Performance on Fallon

Millie Bobby Brown Raps Stranger Things Season 1 Recap on Fallon

The Roots Tiny Desk Concert

Odesza - A Moment Apart Tour Episode 2

Photo Credit: YouTube

"Take Her Place Tonight, I Need Somebody in the Morning"

Call me smitten with everything A R I Z O N A has put out of late. Maybe it's Zach Hannah's vocals or their bubbly, Indie-pop sound. Whatever the case, I'm bought in, hook, line, and sinker.

Prior to the track below with Don Diablo, I'd characterize their music as chill electro-pop. Take Her Place amps up the electro in electro-pop to new heights. Sure, there's the soothing vocals, but this time with a bit more tempo and even some synthesized vocals to boot. It's not entirely different, just different enough to plat up to the EDM audience. Give it a listen on iTunes or Spotify if you're like me and gobbling up all that A R I Z O N A is putting out of late...#TakeHerPlace

Don Diablo feat A R I Z O N A - Take Her Place

"We Looked For Stranger Things...That's Just Who We Are"

As Kygo's new album slowly leaks out one song at a time leading up to the album release on November 3rd. While it's been damn near impossible to keep up with his steady stream of releases, his collaboration with One Republic allows me to cross off a bucket list collaborations. Just the thought of Ryan Tedder and Kygo being in the same room together making music is mind numbing.

It seems merely coincidental, but releasing a song with the title of Stranger Things this weeks takes on a whole new meeting. Those expecting a spooky tropical vibe may be disappointed, but I'm in awe of the Coldplay-esque smoothness of the track. Maybe it skirts dangerously close to adult contemporary, but this is a mellow sandwich with extra chill sauce. The chopped up vocal samples sprinkled throughout make use of Tedder's all-around stellar vocals effort, accentuating the calming vibes on the beat. The releases so far haven't yet reached Cloud 9 hype, but there's plenty we haven't heard off Kids in Love yet, so I'll continue to roll through the tracks that have dripped out until Friday's release...#KidsInLove



Kygo feat One Republic - Stranger Things

Louis Futon Seeks Justice for Barb of Stranger Things

Now four episodes deep in the second season of Stranger Things, I'm convinced the theme song has staying power. When I say staying power, I mean it sounds like it was made in the 1980s, but it's still able to play well present day, thirty years later. With tonight being Halloween, you can bet one out of every five costumes will have something to do with the show and damn near every house is going to be rocking the Stranger Things 2 Soundtrack.

Then you've got this masterpiece of a remix that Louis Futon cooked up. Like he's been known to do, he dissected and documented his flip of the original...all while rocking a Barb outfit. If you don't understand the Barb reference, then you need to catch up on Season 1...



Hat tip to Louis for delivering a thumping remix of a modern day classic. Don't be bashful folks, there's plenty of bass and a rocking guitar riff to spice it up for you EDM heads. Oh and don't forget to peep the hashtag to jump on the conspiracy theory bandwagon...#justiceForBarb

Stranger Things (Louis Futon Flip)

"Almost 23, We're Almost 23 And I'm Still Your Everything"

About a year back, Lido released a track that got a lot of attention in Only One. The track features vocals from Jaden Smith and is as soulful as it is poetic. There are jazzy undertones sprinkled throughout and the stream of consciousness style vocals impart an authenticity that's hard to pull off. Check it out for a refresher...



Fast forward to five days ago when Goldlink chipped in a verse over the original beat. The level of storytelling got ratcheted up about ten levels with Goldlink on the mic. His back and forth, pitter-patter diction adds a level of intrigue that the original didn't have. It may only be two and a half minutes long, but it succeeded in resurrecting the soul of the original while delivering a modern-day lyrical poet effort from one of the best in the game right now...#OnlyOne

Lido feat Goldlink - Only One

"Meet Me at the Sunrise, at the Sunrise"

Another week, another new single from Kygo. This time he linked up with vocalist Jason Walker on a chill, rhythmic ballad. Sunrise gets back to the Trop House sound that Kygo used to win us all over. With every release I gain a deeper appreciation for how he's able to layer traditional piano chords with bubbly, synthesized house chords. There's a lot of craft in what he does, underscoring his unique talent. His new one has the feel of an island anthem with talk of "smoking weed and writing songs", matching the mellow vibe of the track. It's another reason to look forward to his upcoming Kids in Love album, due out next week on November 3rd. Feel free and stream the hell out of the tracks that have emerged from the album while you stay on the look out for the EP in it's entirety...#KidsInLove



Kygo feat Jason Walker - Sunrise

"I've Been Running with the Wolves, To Get to You"

About a week and a half ago, there was sizeable buzz surrounding Selena Gomez's upcoming new single. No, it wasn't another epic Kygo collaboration, but it was pretty damn close...

Selenators, meet the mellogang. pic.twitter.com/46Ed4x3Xg4

— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) October 19, 2017

Did not know she referred to her base as "Selenators", so learned something new with that post too. Getting to the music, it's in the ballpark of her other EDM crossovers with Zedd on I Want You to Know and Kygo on It Ain't Me. Wolves is soaked with emotional, angst-y lyrics and a soothing chord progression cooked up by the 'Mello man. It skews heavily toward Top 40 pop rather than something you'd listen to at a club, but as long as that's what you're expecting, it's all good. In other words rent or buy it while it's hot and you're not hearing it at every teenage clothing store in the mall...#Wolves



Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves

Videos of the Week October 27th

Fun mix of real videos, novelty, and a documentary in this week's top five. Led by Calvin Harris and Marshmello, there were some entertaining Hip Hop and EDM collabos. The visuals on Faking It were downright stunning with Lil Yachty and Kehlani literally iced out in a winter setting. Then Marshmello and Khalid turned to the streets to illustrate a higher message on Silence. It isn't a usual thing for EDM tracks to have deeper messages, so kudos to them for reaching higher.

In the world of novelty, Machlemore and Lin-Manuel Miranda stole the week. It seems apropos that Macklemore get his astrological chart read given his latest album is titled Gemini, but there's plenty of comedy gold buried in that one. Cool that he had it done in SF too. And if you're wondering whether Lin-Manuel could hold his own as a rapper, just listen to him freestyle off the cuff with ammo from Fallon's studio audience. Rounding out this week's top five is a documentary highlighting the good, bad, and the ugly of being a high profile DJ on tour nowadays. Sure it comes with a lot of fame, glamour, and wealth, but as Biggie Smalls put it, "mo' money, mo' problems." Despite the somewhat eye opening content, it's interesting to see someone pull back the curtain a bit to give a real feel for the mental and physical toll it can put on DJs...#DJSounds

Calvin Harris feat Kehlani & Lil Yachty - Faking It (Video)

Marshmello & Khalid - Silence (Video)

Macklemore Gets His Astrological Chart Read

Lin-Manuel Miranda Stops in to Freestyle with The Roots

Why We DJ - Slaves to the Rhythm (Documentary)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Stranger Things is Back With a Vengeance

Get pumped y'all, Stranger Things 2 will be landing on Netflix in t-minus two hours. Even if you're not a fan of the show, you have to love the creepy, throwback synths Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein resurrected from the 1980s. Similar to the first volume, there are over thirty full instrumental tracks on Volume 2. Most of the tracks are still less than two minutes long, but they're potent at delivering a mood.

Shoot, if you're hosting a Halloween party this weekend, just press play on the new soundtrack and you're good to go. And in case you don't share the same excitement for the premiere in less than two hours, check out the final trailer below to get the juices flowing...#StrangerThings



Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein - Stranger Things 2 (A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack)

Seven Lions & Kill the Noise Are Cold Hearted

What and interesting mix of different EDM styles. One on hand you've got the ethereal/melodic vibes from Seven Lions and on the other you've got Kill the Noise's heavy, speaker reverberating bass. Part of me feels like the two styles work against each other because it's a challenge to be mellow and rowdy at the same time. Still, somehow Cold Hearted finds a way to meet in the middle with a Dubstep undercurrent serving as the glue between the conflicting sounds. To enjoy a track like this you have to willing to tolerate both sides of the spectrum, but that's part of what makes it unique. Check it on iTunes or Spotify if you too can appreciate the beauty of the chaos below...#ColdHearted



Seven Lions & Kill the Noise - Cold Hearted