"Take Me to the Heaven I Know"

As I continue to try an figure out how my tastes in music have drifted so far away from Hip Hop toward EDM, it's songs like the one below that shed some light on why. EDM as a whole has introduced me to so many new vocalists that it's becoming an added incentive to stay up on new releases. I don't need to go into the laundry list of talented singers that The Chainsmokers have introduced me to over the past two years, but they're not the only ones who have opened the door to new talent.

Enter Nicky Romero who I associate with a mostly progressive house vibe, but this week decided to bring Colton Avery into the mix on Take Me. Here's a taste of Colton's music featuring Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan from The Script - The Weatherman. What's interesting about the song below is the Newgrass sound it takes on when you combine the guitar lead in and soulful vocals. There's a folk undertone that I really dig and it gets even more interesting when those vocals are layered over a melodic chord progression post drop. Definitely one of the more interesting contributions I've heard in a while, which is why it was quickly added to GWDJ Favorites...#TakeMe

Nicky Romero feat Colton Avery - Take Me (Written by The Script)

Nicky is Still the Same Man

The track below might require some patience with the mainstream audience, but believe me, it hits it's stride after the 2 minute mark. On first listen, it reminded me of @MiikeSnow's Animal the way the vocals are delivered. The track features two other up and coming Dutch DJ's (@DJJohnChristian and @NilsonMusic) and is currently sitting in the 15 on Beatport. It's about as progressive hous-y as I can tolerate, but that comes with knowing your EDM boundaries, which is always a good thing to be in touch with...#HouseMusic

Nicky Romero feat John Christian & Nilson - Still the Same Man

"I Could Be the One To Make You Feel That Way"

Almost a year ago I posted an unfinished version of @avicii and @nickyromero's then titled song ID (F*** School). It would appear they finally put some vocals over the instrumental and are going to release it as a single titled I Could Be the One. This week they released a strangely entertaining video for the track (below)...

Between the video above and Avicii's video for Levels, I'm starting to appreciate the down-to-earthness of the characters in his videos. Using completely average looking people to tell quirky stories is different, especially in a day and age of the "video girl." I won't ruin it completely, but the twist at the end of the I Could Be the One video was pretty entertaining.

This track should be on any and every New Years Eve playlist if the crowd is under 30 years old. The instrumental in on the level of Levels, which should allow it to find it's way onto Top 40 radio in the US. Both Nick and Tim are great on their own, but nobody can mess with #NickTim.

Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be the One (Radio Edit)

"You Make it Feel Like Home"

When a new electronic single jumps to the top of Beatport's top 100, you can bet that I'll be posting it. Such is the case for @nickyromero and @nervomusic's new hit Like Home. The combination of Nervo's soothing pre-drop vocals and Nicky's aggressive synths allow the track to play well on both radio and in the club. You better believe it's a prime time, end-the-set type of electric crowd pleaser.

Like most great house tracks, Like Home isn't on iTunes yet, so if you want to cop it, you'll have to venture to the European equivalent. The real question is, will European electric artists start pushing for their music to be on iTunes as much as they do with Beatport? In my eyes, it's heading that way, but there are probably a lot of good rea$on$ why it hasn't happened already...#TheMightyDollar

Nicky Romero & Nervo - Like Home (Beatport)

"Our Hearts Will Nev-er Be...the Same...Again"

The collaboration between @calvinharris and @nickyromero is about as disjointed as you'll get in EDM. I say that because there is a calming element to every one of Calvin Harris's tracks that is a stark contrast to most of the music Nicky Romero creates. Yes, they can meet in the middle on the synths, but Iron is a mix of calm lyrics and intense sythns. It's almost as if they embedded a quick piano oasis into a wild electronic track and pasted a Calvin Harris verse in the middle of it.

As disjointed as I'm making it out to be, it's still tolerable. May not be my favorite, but you'll have a few Jekyll and Hyde concoctions along the way when two electronic artists get together. Listen at your own risk or just get really drunk and wild out to this...#BothWork

Nicky Romero feat Calvin Harris - Iron (Original Mix)
|Beatport

Eva Simons & Nicky Romero Don't Like You

Had to mix in an obligatory EDM track in a week that has been dominated by new Hip Hop singles. The one below is a remix done by @nickyromero of @evasimons's track I Don't Like You. If you haven't heard the original version of I Don't Like You, which was produced by @Zedd, feel free to check it out below...

The original is more pop/EDM than the dance remix Nicky weaved together, so it's almost like saying which flavor of vanilla do you like better, French Vanilla or regular vanilla? Tonight I'm digging the more traditional ebb and flow of house music, so I'll pick the one below. Assist goes to Beatport's top 10, which again keeps outpacing iTunes when it comes to EDM...#CatchUpApple

Eva Simons - I Don't Like You (Nicky Romero Remix)

|Beatport

Nicky Romero and ZROQ Ask WTF!?

Another assist to Beatport for the recommendation on the track below. This was another dance floor heat rock that is comfortably sitting at #5 on Beatport's top 100 singles. I'll ask again, where you at iTunes? With more an more Beatport exclusives like the one below, I'm starting to wonder if EDM as a whole is just tired of not getting the return they want from the Apple mothership.

Prior to this song I had never heard of @zroq, but what I can tell you is that @nickyromero is slowly becoming one of my go to EDM sources. For starters, he's been rubbing shoulders with all the right people and serving up some high quality dance music of late. The biggest double edged sword in EDM is that artists mostly tour and make singles. For example, examining Nicky's discography, he's got damn near 30 singles/EPs, but no studio albums. Depending on how you look at that, it could be gift or a curse. I'm of the opinion that studio albums are usually watered down anyways, so why the hell not just release singles?

The world might just be a better place with all singles, but I guess that would take the fun out of finding diamonds in the rough if all the "best" tracks were spoon-fed. Interesting debate, but if most tracks can energize the club like WTF!? then I could go either way...#BothWorkForMe

Nicki Romero & ZROQ - WTF!?

|Beatport

DGuetta & Nicky Romero - Metropolis

If I were to take a trip this summer to the UK, I'd probably base my trip around the @nickyromero, @davidguetta and @NERVOMUSIC concert at Alexandra Palace on June 1st. If you're sitting there wondering why in the world someone would do that, feel free to press play below for the tip...just to see how it feels:

Yea, I'd say it's safe to say the calibur of EDM is a step higher over in Europe with the likes of the gentlemen below, plus @avicii, @djafrojack, and @calvinharris to name a few. I'll caution the casual listener about the track below, though. If you're not into repetitive synthesizers, then Metropolis probably isn't for you. On the flip side, if you're in the mood for some high energy dance music after a few adult drinks, then you may in fact wild out to this. Every genre is best consumed at a different temperament, the track below just happens to be tastiest while under the influence. Enjoy responsibly kids...#GoHam

David Guetta & Nicky Romero - Metropolis (Original Mix)

|Beatport

Avicii and Nicky Say No to School

The short story goes like this...@avicii and @nickyromero got together and made one hell of an electronic anthem together. The song does not have a title yet, but for fun it was temporarily named ID (F*** School) until it is officially released. Honestly, I don't care if the track is called Green Eggs and Ham with a soda on the side, this dance track is absolutely disgusting. It has active, upbeat synths that melt together flawlessly throughout the track's continual energy build ups and drops.

You may recognize the sample from the French electronic duo Justice's song D.A.N.C.E.. With over 10 million views of their video for the track, I'm betting you've heard it somewhere along the way, but press play below for a refresher.

Even though Avicii will get the lions share of the credit on this one because he is the Jeremy Lin of dance music right now, don't discount the talented contribution Nicky Romero provided the track. Just over two weeks ago I posted his spot on remix of Kelly Clarkson's newest hit Stronger, which has continued to get added to any and every dance playlist I've made this month. My guess is, we'll look back at this track in about a year and go daaaaammmnnn that was a special collaboration that we should have appreciated more when it first dropped.

Call this post a big ass spoonful of appreciation before the fact...#Enjoy

Avicii & Nicky Romero feat Justice - ID (F*** School)

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger...and Dance More

When doing a quick audit of my site today, I noticed on the right sidebar via the iTunes widget that @kelly_clarkson's new track Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) is sitting pretty at that number one spot for the week. As a quick aside, I like having that iTunes information available as sort of pop music temperature indicator. It's sorta like checking the weather for me every now and then before I post to get a feel for what the public as a whole is indulging in of late.

As far as the track itself, I can't say I'm surprised as all at the success of the original song given the inspirational feel it gives damn near every woman who listens. One thing you can never claim about Kelly is that she'd ever short change you on the vocals, girl has got some pipes! Since I'm more of the off the beaten path type music enthusiast, I'm more concerned about what a young Dutchman by the name of @nickyromero decided to do with the track. Evidently he was somewhat inspired by the track because he flipped it into a pretty sick house remix. It's not tough to make an energetic track when Kelly Clarkson pours her heart out vocally, but Nicky did an admirable job of infusing addictively repetitive electronic rhythms while blending his own subtle background touches throughout the track. 

You're going to want a Redbull if someone puts this one on in the background and you're not already intoxicated. Y'all know what I mean, the track below is #SoberPersonProof...

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (Nicky Romero Remix)
|iTunes