Tuesday, October 31, 2017

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)

Monday, October 30, 2017

"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

Sunday, October 29, 2017

"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

Saturday, October 28, 2017

"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...
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

Friday, October 27, 2017

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

Thursday, October 26, 2017

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)

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

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

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Tiesto Flips Pink's What About Us Into Chill House Gem


Full disclosure, when I first listened to Tiesto's AFTR:HRS remix of Pink's What About Us, I was convinced I was listening to his remix of John Legend's all of me. The background piano is strikingly similar, which isn't a bad thing at all. The common thread between the two remixes is a stellar vocal performance. And yes, Pink shined so bright that she deserves to be in the same conversation as John Legend.

Like Tiesto has been known to do, he channeled the emotion of the original and flipped it into another chill house anthem. The remix treads a rare line between mellow and powerful, which isn't an easy thing to do. In addition to the obvious Top 40 appeal, I could see it igniting a festival crowd too. Credit to Tiesto for taking the track up a level, but it couldn't have been done without the emotional tone that Pink created in the first place. Cop it on iTunes or Spotify if you dig it as much as I do...#WhatAboutUs



Pink - What About Us (Tiesto's AFTR:HRs Remix)

Monday, October 23, 2017

"Soon as My Eyes See the Sunshine"


Just what we all needed, some 70s funk baked into a fresh EDM track. Leave it to Pretty Lights to dig up a classic track from The Brothers Johnson and flip it into something more modern. Strawberry Letter 23 was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and released back in 1971, well before even I was born. Check the original below for reference...



Hard to hate on the quiet R&B vocals, twinkling synths, and funky guitar of the original. As far as Pretty Lights version is concerned, there's a screwed and chopped element to the slowed vocals that sucked me in from the start. The "soon as my eyes see the sunshine vocal sample is catchy af too. My guess is your parents will freak out when you play this for them because it'll immediately dust off a chapter of music that had long forgotten. Plenty of replay value on this dusted off antique, so iTunes or Spotify if you're as smitten with funkiness as I am...#RainbowsAndWaterfalls

BONUS: The video for the track just dropped!!

Pretty Lights - Rainbows & Waterfalls

Sunday, October 22, 2017

"Won't You Hold Me Close Tonight Like We're Kids in Love?"


Is it me or does it feel like Kygo continues to up the stakes with every new release? Looking at it from afar, the amount of styles he incorporates into his music is becoming impressive. Sure, it all starts with the piano for him, but he's gone from a Tropical House maestro to someone who has the ability to make wide range of pop anthems that will make you cry or rejoice with nostalgia.

Take for example his new one with The Night Game, Kids in Love. It has the feel of an emotional power ballad that has the ability to transport anyone listening back to high school when everything emotional was magnified. The pleading vocals of "we were kids in love and thunderous piano chords find a way to push the nostalgia to the max. It has that end of the night, close down the bar feel where everyone is trying to hit the high notes and sing along. For those of you wondering whether Kygo is getting complacent with his success, this should be the resounding NO you're looking for...#KidsInLove



Kygo feat The Night Game - Kids in Love

Saturday, October 21, 2017

"What Good Are Those Riches if You're 6 Feet Under?"


Take'em to church Big K.R.I.T.! For years he's been leading the charge for Southern Hip Hop and he showed exactly why on Keep The Devil Off. Between the gospel undertones, choir assist, and sermon-like message, it all fits together quite well. Shoot, don't sleep on that organ breakdown and funky guitar at the end too. It's five full minutes of music, not just rap verses and that's what makes K.R.I.T.'s music stand out.

As an added benefit, check the newly minted black and white video for the track below. No glitz and glamour about the visions, it's 💯 K.R.I.T. repping where he comes from. While you're scooping up this new one on iTunes or Spotify, check out his new 4 Eva is a Mighty Long Time album that'll be landing the upcoming Friday...#KeepTheDevilOff


Big K.R.I.T. - Keep The Devil Off (Take 1)

Friday, October 20, 2017

Videos of the Week October 20th


Bit of a slow week for videos, but that didn't stop the top five from rolling along. Rather than post the usual suspects, I went a little off script this week including the likes of Thundercat's Tiny Desk bass brilliance and a long form interview of Chance the Rapper's manager Pat Corcoran. There's a whole lot of soul baked into Thundercat's music and that fact was on full display with his stripped down performance at NPR. If you haven't read up on Chance's unique come up that has defied traditional super stardom in music, there's plenty to unpack in the hour long interview detailing how it all went down.

In the latest example of music, culture, and brands mixing, look no further than ZHU's collabo with Adidas. I will admit, as long as it results in new music, you can try and sell me anything you want to attach to it. If some real music videos is what you're after, I've got an EDM and Hip Hop favorite for the week. Afrojack and Hardwell need no introduction and their latest video shows how much fun they're capable of having on stage and on tour together. Man being a DJ sure seems like a fun occupation. Don't leave out Hip Hop, though, there are plenty of perks to being able to flow on the mic. I've been listening to Redman and Method Man for the greater part of two decades now and it's refreshing to know they haven't lost a step over the years. If Time is Money is about as dope as it gets from Red and Meth...#WuTang

Thundercat Performs at NPR's Tiny Desk

Chance the Rapper's Manager (Pat Corcoran) Speaks on Chance's Come Up

ZHU - Waters of Monaco (Adidas Campaign Video)

Afrojack & Hardwell feat MC Ambush - Hands Up (Video)

Wu-Tang - If Time is Money (Fly Navigation) (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Remember That Time Will Smith Went EDM?


Back in late August, video surfaced of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff debuting some new music at the Livewire Festival. It wasn't just any new music, though, it was a completely synth driven, hard hitting dance track. Check the video below for context if you missed it...



At the time I was skeptical the track would be released as a single, but two weeks ago, the song finally landed on Spotify. As much as I want to write it off and hate on it, I'll admit, I gave it a few listens. Sure, it comes off a bit forced with the quasi-Jamaican accents and repetitive beat, but it's a hype track. There's an undeniable kitschy-ness about it, but I can envision a world where this momentarily ignites a club on South Beach. I'd even go as far as saying I might like it even more if I didn't know the artists who responsible for Get Lit. Take that for what it's worth, but it's an intriguing foray into the unknown from a duo that were mainstays of my 90s playlists...#GetLit

Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff - Get Lit

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

"All I Need, Ooh-hey, is Your Arms Around Me"


Full disclosure on tonight's post - I'm about two months late chiming in on Hook N Sling's Arms Around Me. Let's just say, it slipped through the cracks, but thanks to their recent lyric video, I get second chance at sharing it with y'all. Follow along while pressing play below...



I've said it before and I'll say it again, lyric videos that amplify the emotion of a track may not be as flashy as a traditional music videos, but they're stellar at producing a mood for a track. Like in the video above, the theme of taking a road trip with the person you live is something that fits like a glove with the feel-good vibes of the track. Add in some playful, well-timed text and you're in business. If you're one to road trip often, this should definitely be on your open road playlist...#ArmsAroundMe

Hook N Sling feat Digital Farm Animal - Arms Around Me

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

"Oh, Please, I Don't Do the Nose Bleeds"


I think I can speak for all of us when I say I miss Swedish House Mafia. As a trio they made a ton of really awesome music and it's a shame that couldn't continue indefinitely. But, like all breakups, there's a silver lining that can yield things that never would have come to light had the group not made the decision to evolve. While Axwell and Ingrosso have been churning out hit after hit lately, it appeared Steve Angello had become the lost member of the trio. Until last week when he unleashed an absolute banger with Pusha T.

Freedom is something you'd expect from a group like the Chemical Brothers. With a driving, forceful chord progression, Steve Angello was clearly out to make a statement. Helping amplify the strength of that message was King Push who delivered some cold, calculated bars to fill in the space between balls-to-the-wall beat. Calling it an a party-starter isn't doing it justice, it's dope af. You know the drill, Spotify or iTunes to your heart's content...#Freedom

Steve Angello feat Pusha T - Freedom

Monday, October 16, 2017

"Do You Remember How it Feels to be Young?"


Back in early 2017, I posted a Cheat Codes remix of D.R.A.M.'s Broccoli. At the time I made the comparison to Timeflies because of the sing-songy rap style they delivered on the remix. Fast forward to this week where they hooked up with Fetty Wap and CVBZ on a triumphant new anthem appropriately titled Feels Great. What I like about their new one is the slightly electronic, upbeat post-drop chrord progression. If I'm being honest, this one definitely skews more Pop than EDM, but there's always room on my playlists for music that is uplifting. Feels Great accomplishes that goal both lyrically and tempo wise, giving it plenty of replay value for me personally.

Better yet, below is a fun, color heavy lyric video that does nothing but amplify the feel good vibes on the track. Check the iTunes or Spotify links if you're as big of a fan as I am of the new single...#FeelsGreat



Cheat Codes feat Fetty Wap & CVBZ - Feels Great

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Illenium Finds Peace in Violence With Marshmello


Pretty cut and dried with today's post centered around one artist I really like remixing another one of my favorites. Two months back I posted the original version of Marshmello's Silence with Khalid. It was an interesting foray into R&B flavored, Chill House for both collaborators.

Fast forward two months to this week where some big names stepped up to the plate and took a crack at the track. To their credit, SUMR CAMP, Slushii, Illenium, and Tiesto all flipped the track in their own unique way. While Tiesto's Big Room remix was fun and Slushii's mix was as playful and vibrant as usual, Illenium's version emerged as my favorite. His ethereal style fit like a glove with the vocals of the original. It's that whiny, love making drum-and-bass that gets me every time. There's a little bit for everyone on the four song remix EP, so don't be bashful about copping it on iTunes or Spotify...#Mellogang



Marshmello feat Khalid - Silence (Illenium Remix)

Saturday, October 14, 2017

"We Can Do Revenge, Revenge, Revenge, Together"


Nothing like a playful song about making someone feel the same type of pain they made you feel. Conjured up by two of the most fierce, emotional artists in music, Revenge straddles the fence between spiteful and funny. These three bars by Pink sum it up quite well, "Sue you, take your dog, take your house, Take your shoes, take your heart, And now here comes that singin' part."

As for Eminem's verse, he doesn't hold back on his favorite derogatory female descriptors, but his tone is far from serious. There's an interesting harmony in both Pink and Eminem's verses that encourage retaliation too. The back and forth comes off as more of a game, adding to the playfulness of the vibe. The song emerged as one of the 13 songs on Pink's new Beautiful Trauma album that dropped yesterday. I haven't given the album much of a listen yet, but you can bet it'll contain at least a few chart topping singles. One thing that stood out to me is the lack of features on the album. I guess when you get to be as big as Pink, there's less of a necessity to pull in other artists to make great music. More power to her, looking forward to picking a few favorites from the album...#Revenge

Pink feat Eminem - Revenge (prod by Shellback and Max Martin)

Friday, October 13, 2017

Videos of the Week October 13th


This week's top five starts and ends with Eminem's fierce lyrical attack on Donald Trump via his BET Awards Freestyle Cypher. The amount of energy it generated throughout music and politics speaks to the time we're currently living in. As more and more of pop culture, entertainment, and professional athletes draw lines in the sand with their stance on our president, it'll be interesting to see who ends up "winning" the social media war in the end.

Aside from super-caustic freestyles, Odesza and Leon Bridges jumped in to remind us that music is as soulful and pure as ever. There's such a warmth surrounding the vibe of Across the Room and the video did a good job of capturing that feel-goodness. Speaking of feel-goodness, nothing butters my bread like some good ol' instrumental experimentation. Hard to imagine someone being more equipped to do that than Mura Masa and we were lucky enough to have the curtain peeled back a bit to see his creative process. If you're in the need of some hype to finish out the week, look no further than Goldlink's performance of Crew at one of his recent shows. You can always tell if an artist is hype but how the crowd reacts to his music. Watch that performance and tell me he doesn't have a hardcore following. Rounding out the top five is some Country music. Not just any Country music though, it's Kendrick Lamar's hits being flipped into Country. Fyütch took a page out of South Park's book with this one, but it wasn't any less entertaining...#CountryKendrick

Eminem Goes IN on Donald Trump via BET Awards Freestyle

Odesza feat Leon Bridges - Across the Room (Video)

Rhythm Roulette with Mura Masa

Goldlink - Crew (Live)

Fyütchology Ep 12: Country Kendrick Lamar

Photo Credit: BET via YouTube

Thursday, October 12, 2017

RL Grime Kicks His Tour Off With Dope New Single, Era


Here he goes again with those loud, arena filling horns. RL Grime has always had a reputation for being able to turn up to a level that most DJs could only dream of reaching. Need some recent evidence? Look no further than his latest single, Era, where he shows off that ceiling yet again.

The track takes a full minute to rev up and take off. When it does, it unleashes a symphony of bass, whiny horns, and a steady click-clack of percussion. What's cool too is the complete tear down and start back up of the beat multiple times throughout the track. Sure, all DJs love to follow the formulaic build up and drop model, but nobody does it quite as thoroughly as RL Grime. If you listen real closely, you might hear Redman cameo in the mix too.

Simply put, words won't do justice to how pumped I am to see him in concert next weekend in SF at Bill Graham. As an FYI, his tour kicks off tonight in Vancouver and will go all the way through Thanksgiving. Someone in between his upcoming Nova album will presumably drop, which means there's plenty of RL on the horizon in this neighborhood of the internet...#Era


RL Grime - Era

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

"Say Hello There, It's Been So Long"


Well I'll be damned. Dillon Francis finally got on board with the island vibes of Tropical House. His new one, Hello There, features sing-songy vocals from Yung Pinch and feels like something you'd hear at an outdoor club on (fill in the blank) island. It's half summery, half-tropical, but make no mistake, it's as chill as it gets from Dillon Francis.

Song aside, I almost lost it after pressing play on the lyric video below. I've been a vocal advocate of artists ditching the high-budget "typical" music videos for more budget-friendly, creative lyric videos. And it doesn't get any more low budget than a dude lip syncing the vocals while being super-imposed within the cover art of the track. It's even more funny that the cover art features what looks like a dude posing for an online dating site profile picture, enjoying a pineapple slice by the pool. Whether or not it's a serious expansion of Dillon's musical style remains to be scene, but color me entertained by all of the above...#HelloThere


Dillon Francis feat Yung Pinch - Hello There

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

"If There's a Cure For This, I Don't Want It"


Saying Troyboi is on a roll doesn't really do justice to the momentum he's running downhill with right now. If you're like me, you're still knee deep in Left is Right, which makes this new Diana Ross sampled single all the more surprising and awesome. If your parents never subjected you to her classic, Love Hangover, then shame on them, but also here's your chance to catch up by pressing play below...



It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize the funk dripping off the original. Lucky for us, Troyboi was there to capture all that funkiness and reshape it into a form we're much more accustomed to. Leveraging the original vocals, Troyboi chopped, bounced, and clanged all over the original. The remix reeks of funk with plenty of bass to spare, managing to marry old and new in one three minute effort. For the time being, all I can offer is a Soundcloud link, but keep it locked for an official release...#DontWant

Troyboi - Don't Want

Monday, October 09, 2017

It's Always Sunny in Sam Feldt's World


I'm still trying to wrap my head around whether Sam Feldt is more of a remix wizard or an artist who walks the line between picking the right samples and over-sampling. For reference, a few of the sample heavy tracks include Be My Lover, Save Tonight, and Show Me Love. Don't get me wrong, those three are all favorites of mine from the 90s that he resurrected in his own unique, Trop House-y way.

But if we've learned anything from The Chainsmokers, it's that you can start a career with remixes and morph into a heavyweight, pop-defining artist. And if you can't tell from my comments above, Sam's samples are generally executed really well. While I'm add it, might as well add his collabo with Joshua Radin to the mix. In case you aren't a fan of Folk music, you might have missed the original version of High and Low (below)...



Pretty chill track that puts on full display his vocal prowess. Now add in a bubbly chord progression from Sam Feldt and it all comes together nicely. Adding a little tempo, some snaps, and a strong piano backbone did the original well. I love the fact that he kept the acoustic guitar in the remix too. Oh and don't sleep on those horns man! Dare I say it skates dangerously close to my favorite strain of EDM, Newgrass. It's another good look for Sam Feldt and his new Sunrise album is chalked full of goodness that you need to check out on iTunes or Spotify...#Sunrise

Sam Feldt feat Joshua Radin - High and Low

Sunday, October 08, 2017

"Everyone Prays in the End"


Despite being incredibly unassuming, if Sam Smith wanted to make a Gospel album, he'd have people lining up to buy the album. Many times before he's shown a deeply soulful side, but he took it to another level on Pray. With the backing of a church choir, he literally took everyone to church.

On the track he leverages the common theme of relying on religion in a time of need. On first listen there was something different about the track that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the seemingly out of place "huh? vocal sample throughout? Maybe it was the percussion heavy bridge? Whatever it was, it led me to dig deeper. Needless to say, I almost lost my sh*t when I found out Timbaland chipped in on the production. It's obviously a great move for Sam given the track record Timbo has with countless artists. It's the second single off Sam's upcoming The Thrill of It All album that will be dropping on November 3rd. Go ahead and pre-order/pre-save the album while checking out the list of tour dates for Summer 2018. Let's just say, it won't be a matter of if I'll be seeing Sam in concert, it'll be when and where...#TheThrillOfItAll



Sam Smith - Pray (prod by Jimmy Napes & Timbaland)

Saturday, October 07, 2017

Dillon Francis and Halsey Are Bad At Love


Rarely is a song ever so remix-worthy that it deserves it's own EP. Given the success of Halsey's latest album, it's no surprise Bad At Love was deemed worthy of five different remixes. From Autograf to Hook N Sling to Dillon Francis, there were a lot of big names in the mix.

Out of the pool of five, my favorite of the bunch was (unsurprisingly) Dillon's mix. The steady, back and forth knock on the beat and tribal undertones gives the track an added level of intrigue that Halsey's stellar vocals couldn't alone accomplish. It's hard to pull off, but Dillon's mix of rhythmic and chill hits a sweet spot for me. I've been listening to this one non-stop the past two days, so feel free and follow me on over to Spotify or iTunes if you're as big of a fan...#BadAtLove



Halsey - Bad At Love (Dillon Francis Remix)

Friday, October 06, 2017

Videos of the Week October 6th


It was an odd week for videos, which reflected a tumultuous week in the U.S. Words can't adequately communicate the amount of loss and despair we all felt when the details started to emerge surrounding the Las Vegas shooting. The fact that it was at a music festival was even more harrowing for those of us who frequently attend those large scale events. Personally, I've grown accustomed to turning to music when everything else in the world doesn't make sense, so hopefully this abbreviated list of videos somehow provide the escapism you're looking for if you feel the same week.

All that being said, it would be hard to find a more appropriate video than Miley Cyrus and Adam Sandler's performance of No Freedom shortly after news of the shooting broke. The tone of the track seemed to strike just the right chord for me and while I don't normally listen to country, I felt the need to be a little more open minded this week. If you came to this post looking for some actual music videos, both Fergie and Wu-Tang have you covered. Fergie's Love is Blind may not be the most appropriate video given this week's events, but the use of dolls carrying out the plot saved me from taking it too seriously. It's been a while since Wu-Tang got together and seeing them with Redman added even more nostalgia to their new video for People Say. If you need a bit of humor to get you back on the brighter side of life, the latest rendition of Celebrity Mean Tweets might do the trick. And if you're really looking for a mix of pop culture and great music, Jay Zv covered all those bases with his SNL performance. Donning a Kaepernick jersey, he started the latest season of SNL off with bang by performances of Bam and 4:44. Here's to hoping Colin finds his way into the NFL at some point this year...#FreeKaepernick

Miley Cyrus and Adam Sandler Perform "No Freedom" to Open the Fallon Show

Fergie - Love is Blind (Video)

Wu-Tang Clan feat Redman - People Say (Video)

Celebrities Read Mean Tweets on Kimmel

Jay Z Performs Bam on SNL
Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 05, 2017

"Let Me Carry You Home, Let Me Carry You Home"


Let me get this straight, Tiesto, Stargate, and Aloe Blacc went in on a track together? Star-studded (pardon the pun) doesn't scratch the surface on the ceiling of the talent on Carry You Home. Ignoring my impossibly high expectations for the track, it's a really chill track. Aloe Blacc's vocals always fall easy on the ears, especially when he's able to hit those high notes on the hook.

The mix of styles between Tiesto and Stargate proved to be an interesting mix. You've got a progressive house influence from Tiesto and a smooth pop vibe from Stargate. Simply put, Top 40 is going to have a hell of a time trying to ignore this one. Chalk it up as a rare, elite level collabo that actually didn't disappoint... #CarryYouHome



Tiesto feat Stargate & Aloe Blacc - Carry You Home

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

"Oh You Hung Me Out To Dry, I Only Meant To Love You"


I've posted a few JAUZ tracks throughout the years, but none have been as dance worthy as his new one with ROUXN. Meant to Love has a gentle lead in, but gets after it with a balls to the wall, wobbly bass heavy chord progression. ROUXN's vocals are fun and melodic, providing a perfect compliment to the playful energy of the track.

Before diving deep on the track below, you need to know there's a half minute of stalled tempo around the two and a half minute mark that may cause you to move on to the next song. If you have the attention span to listen to a whole five minute song, you'll be rewarded at the end for making it through the peaks and valleys of the track. JAUZ takes it up a few notches around the four minute mark, turning up the bass and laying into the chords even more. It's a hype track that will be getting a lot of love this week on GWDJ Favorites... #MeantToLove



JAUZ feat ROUXN - Meant To Love You

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Been Feeling Gryffin's Remix Since 1966, Now


Is Portugal. The Man's Feel It Still the most hype track out right now? It's a fair question given how much EDM has remixed the track over the past few weeks. To recap, about a month ago I posted ZHU's deep house remix of the track. Fast forward to late last week when Gryffin took a swing at his own melodic house version of the original. The subtly funky beat imparts a calmness to the original vocals, making for a chill start to the track. Then the vibrant chords come crashing in for a jubilant release on the drop. Call it the latest reason to go and check out Gryffin's Castle in the Sky Tour. I'm looking forward to seeing many of y'all at the Warfield on November 10th. For reference check the original video below and feel free to bang out the each of the two remixes if you so choose...#FeelItStill



Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (Gryffin Remix)

Monday, October 02, 2017

"Sippin' So Much Goose That You Could Call Me Geese"


You want to know what chilled to the max sounds like? Press play below and enter into a steel-drum led, calypso flavored, get drunk in paradise anthem. Credit to Louis The Child for choosing Ashe as the one to deliver vocals that are equal parts playful and mellow. There's a gentle ebb and flow of rhythm, but the lyrics will all but walk you to the liquor cabinet to mix a drink on your way to getting loose and making questionable decisions. It's as tasteful as you can get for being all about getting drunk and running a red light on the foreplay. Cop it via the usual Spotify or iTunes channels if you're as enamored with the chill as I am...#RightToIt



Louis The Child feat Ashe - Right To It

Sunday, October 01, 2017

Troyboi's Music Doesn't Just Bang, It Kinjabangs


It's taken a few listens to Troyboi's new Left is Right to finally land on a standout track, but the cream has finally risen to the top. To date, the track I've liked the most of Troyboi's have been heavy, choppy, and full of attention grabbing percussion. That formula holds true on Kinjabang, but with an interesting oriental flavor. Not sure what language the vocal sample is taken from, but it sounds Chinese and matches the guzheng sounding chord progression on the beat. The resulting sound is playful, but goes hard and the cuts and scratches give it the unrefined edge that generally accompanies anything Troyboi puts out. Don't get it twisted, it's Trap at it's core, but the instrumental creativity on this track is dope af. Moral of the story is that you should check out his new EP because there's plenty more gold buried the mound of 20 tracks...#Kinjabang



Troyboi - Kinjabang

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