Datsik & Zach the Lad Will Make You Feel Good

I'm guilty of this as much as the next blogger, but sub-genre labels in EDM are about as subjective as wine. Is there a right answer? Maybe, but in the end it doesn't matter. What matters is whether or not the music coming through the speakers moves you and I will proudly say that Feel Good accomplished that outcome.

Datsik and Zach the Lad found a way to make this beautiful dubstep, melodic trap creation that is example parts interesting and bangin'. It goes gas, break on the heavy bass and slow drops to the point where you're not exactly sure what's coming around the corner. It skips along, it womb womps, and it even pauses for slow melodic build ups. There's an air of unpredictability that makes the sound of the track really enticing. If you enjoy it as much as I do, check it out on Dtasik's upcoming Darkstar EP that will be out on March 25th...#FeelGood

Datsik & Zach the Lad - Feel Good

Spotted at TSIS

Majid Jordan & Drake's My Love Gets Chill Bass Treatment

Back in July 2015 I gushed about the original version of Majid Jordan and Drake's My Love. I loved it from the emotion it brought and how it put Drake back into R&B mode, which was a nice treat. As much as the original was all that and a bag of chips, the chill, slow bass rework they did on the track (below) is something special. The way they were able to tease in some electronics and come in strong with the bass for the hook made for a fun listen. Shoot, they even let Drizzy's verse keep the limelight toward the end when they chopped up the beat for emphasis. I sincerely wish more artists would take notes on what Majid and a lot of EDM acts are doing when they give a successfully song of theirs a new personality. Join me in collectively zoning out to the calming vocals and soothing bass...#MyLoveRemix

Majid Jordan feat Drake - My Love (Remix)

"I Won’t Let Go Now That I’ve Found You"

If there's one thing you can count on from Martin Garrix, it's a solid progressive house anthem every now and again. Luckily for us, Martin is finally through the drama with his record label and back to making great music again. Consider this the first release from his new STMPD RCRDS. Now That I've Found You features vocals from John & Michel, who offer plenty of catchy pop appeal. There's such a jubilant release on the drop that will play quite well come festival season. Head on over to iTunes or Spotify to give this one more permanent listenability...#NowThatIveFoundYou

Martin Garrix feat John & Michel - Now That I've Found You

"I Realized I Need You Here as Desperate as That Sounds"

Another week, another stellar acoustic version of a Jon Bellion track. This time he took to the studio to put together a magical, piano driven rendition of Woke the F*** Up. Although the profanity in the song title might catch your attention like a sexy advertisement, there's plenty of depth to the sorrowful lyrics. If there are any doubts as to whether or not Jon excels as a performer of live music, I think he's more than put those concerns to rest with his recent string of in-studio performances. Even though he's becoming known for ballads, All Time Low is still my favorite of his. So I'll ask the question again, when is the tour kicking off???...#WokeTheFUp

Videos of the Week March 11th

There are two clear cut favorites in this week's top five in my eyes. First, the live debut of Kygo's new single, Fragile, with Labrinth was more than a little awesome. What a cool ballad! I can't wait to hear the mastered version, which will probably be slightly more electronic. Second, Seal and Gallant's Weight in Gold duet in studio was worth a few looks. While Seal doesn't get near the credit he deserves, he more than held his own with Gallant on the mic. When they combined forces, the result was special.

Was it entertaining to watch Jonah Hill sing Drake's verse on Future's Jumpman? Yep, you bet it was. Glad they're getting more an more creative with the monologues on SNL. In other news, DJ Khaled is continuing his assault on pop culture through Snapchat. Now he's even landing on talk shows like Ellen to talk his motivational talk. Crazy how social media can be used as a tool to get so much notoriety. And last, but not least, Skrillex and Jauz released their new animated video for Squad Out with Fatman Scoop. Leave it to Adult Swim to put together something that trippy. Did I see Fatman Scoop with an elephant nose? Still trying to wrap my head around the plot of the video, but that's kinda of what Adult Swim does...#SquadOut
Kygo feat Labrinth - Fragile (Live)

Seal and Gallant Sing Weight in Gold as a Duet

Future feat Jonah Hill – Jumpman on SNL

More Getting to Know DJ Khaled on Ellen

Skrillex & Jauz - Squad Out (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Trash and Luv in One Big NGHTMRE

The more new music I hear from NGHTMRE, the more I appreciate his ability to create bouncy and melodic music. His latest remix shows off a more Future Bass-y sound, flipping Tommy Trash's recent single Luv U Giv. Before I get into the remix, you need to watch the video for the original version of the track. Let's just say, Barbies are involved...

Where the original takes on more of a funky, disco feel, the remix is a lot more bass heavy and chopped up. The remix has a lot steeper, exaggerated drops, and doesn't have the "old school" sounding synths. There's a clear electronic feel to the remix rather than the steady dance/pop sound of the original. Both are great in their won rites, it just depends on if you're in the mode to dance or vibe out to some slow bass...#LuvUGiv

Tommy Trash - Luv U Giv (NGHTMRE Remix)

A-Trak & Ookay Lead a Roller Coaster Ride of Rhythm

Call me boring, but I usually favor more melodic EDM than hard hitting, edge electronic music. That being said, it's a rare feat when an artist or artists can pull off both styles in one track. Enter A-Trak and Ookay who found a way to mix equal parts sharp, haunting synths with soothing slow bass. Until the 45 second mark, you could have convinced me that Only One was more of an Adventure Club type of slow dubstep. But then they mixed in the high-pitched, skittish synths over the snappy beat and soothing vocal samples. Needless to say, this one will take you on a journey, offering a wide range of tempos and vibes...#OnlyOne

A-Trak & Ookay - Only One

Disclosure Goes Womp Womp on Flume's Never Be Like You

To be honest, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the remix below. A little over a month ago I gushed over Flume's newest single, Never Be Like You. It was such a beautiful slow trap track that Kai's vocals shined all over. Given my affinity for the original, you can imagine how excited I was to see that Disclosure remixed the track.

Then, I pressed play and found myself transported to an after-hours lounge. Generally I like the Deep House vibe that Disclosure brings to tracks, but this one fell flat for me. Where Kai's vocals shined on the original, they were very subdued in the remix to a point of sounding monotonous. Speaking of monotonous, that's a good adjective for how the wobbly chords sounded after a few listens. A full six minutes of remix and I'm bummed to say that I wish the remix wasn't as long. Disclosure, I still love you guys, but this one wasn't my favorite track of your by a wide margin...#NeverBeLikeYou

Flume feat Kai - Never Be Like You (Disclosure Remix)

Yet Another Symphony of Electronics From deadmau5

I can't claim to say that I love everything deadmau5 puts out. He lives on the edge musically, which makes it hard for me to consistently vibe with music he puts out. All that being said, his ceiling for being a genius creator of music is as high as anyone making music right now. His ability to strip down, build up, rinse, repeat for minutes on end is something that he does better than everyone in EDM. It's the reason why I'll always get goosebumps when listening to Strobe.

Speaking of intricate classics, his newly minted track will remind you a lot Strobe. It's a full nine minutes of mellow, layered synths. There are build ups, but they're gentle enough to allow you to appreciate how something so simple sounding can be complex. It's the type of track that you immediately know is done by deadmau5 because of the crispness and attention to detail. I haven't heard a track that I like this much from Joel in a long time, so cheers to that good news on a Monday...#deadmau5

deadmau5 - 4ware 01

"I'm Just So Sick of Being Human"

Last week Jon Bellion was just another name in my world. Then, I saw his in-studio acoustic, acapella performance of All Time Low and was blown away. If you've heard the studio version of All Time Low, it doesn't even begin to compare with the in-studio version. Matter of fact, it's safe to say the "1 Take" versions of his songs being performed in studio do a much better job of showing his vast amounts of talent. Need another example? Look no further than his latest video for Human. Where All Time Low was more of a acapella, group effort, Human is just Jon and the piano. It's a more more somber, low-key ballad compared to his aforementioned release last week. After watching his latest performance, the only question that remains is when is the tour coming?...#JonBellion

Jon Bellion - Human (Acoustic)

"Hello, Friday, I've Been Waiting For You For a Long Time"

It seems a little weird posting a track called Hello Friday on a Saturday, but when two Hip Pop legends get together on a new single, date matters less. The track more of a mid-tempo sing along, but the snappy beat and vocals from Jason Derulo mesh well together. The track isn't even close to my favorite track from either Flo Rida or Jason Derulo, but as a novelty collaboration with some top 40 appeal, I can get on board with it. The single will eventually be a part of Flo's long awaited 5th studio album, The Perfect 10. Seeing that he's been opting to release mini-EPs rather than full albums while hyping the release of a length album for over two years, it sounds like there will be a whole lot of new music coming from the 305 this year. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on me liking his next single better than this one...#HelloFriday

Videos of the Week March 4th

Bit a down week for videos to kick off March, but that's to be expected with the ridiculous amount of award shows lately. That being said, there were so undeniably powerful videos this week, led by Lady Gaga's performance of 'Til It Happens to You. The fact that relatives of hers found out that she was a victim of sexual assault as a result of her performance speaks to how difficult it can be to open up about such traumatic events. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience as it hit everyone directly in the feels.

In the world of actual music videos, Jack U released some adventurous footage of their travels across the world on Mind. We also got a nostalgic snack seeing old footage of 2pac in the studio recording MC Hammer a reference track. The world may not fully appreciate how great of a producer he was too. In the world of late night, Kimmel found a way to sneak into a Batman vs Superman scene, which was more than a little funny. And last, but definitely not least, the video that needs no introduction. If you were living under a rock and didn't see John Oliver's complete evisceration of Donald Trump then please set aside 20 minutes of your time to watch. We all fear what could happen when election time comes up next year, but I am proud that there are people out there who aren't afraid of being sued and will willingly do their best to expose him...#MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain
Lady Gaga Performs 'Til It Happens to You at the Oscars

Skrillex & Diplo feat Kai - Mind (Video)

2Pac in Studio Creating a Reference Track Called Too Tight for MC Hammer

Jimmy Kimmel's Deleted Scene From Batman vs Superman

Last Week Tonight's John Oliver Goes Postal on Drumpf Trump

Photo Credit: YouTube

"It's the Little Things in Life That I Feel"

There are few things I look forward to more than a new single from Big Gigantic. Sure, everyone points to the horns from Dominic Lalli as the differentiator, but the headphone thumping bass can't be ignored either. On his new single with Angela McCluskey, Gigantic showcases plenty of his signature saxophone with a whole lot of that aforementioned bass. The vocals and steady tempo produce a laid back vibe that's more boomy and deep than calming. Simply put, the duo from Boulder, Colorado have a formula of funk that is intoxicating when put on an electronic music backdrop. Stay on the look out for anything they have their name attached to and don't be shy about copping The Little Things...#BigGigantic

Big Gigantic feat Angela McCluskey - The Little Things

"I'm Shaking, I Need it Like Bourbon in My Coffee Cup"

With every new release I'm becoming a bigger fan of Gallant. There aren't many standout R&B vocalists breaking onto the scene anymore, which makes me appreciate his come up. At first, the ZHU co-sign helped, but he's done more than enough to carve out his own path with new music. If you listen close enough, you might even hear ZHU's signature low-end, slow vocal samples. Bourbon is a soulful, throwback slow jam that capitalizes on a memorable hook and soothing vocals throughout. The track will be surfacing on Gallant's upcoming debut album, Ology, which will be landing on April 6th. Until then, get like and go check him and ZHU out in concert since they'll undoubtedly be coming to a city near you soon...#Bourbon

Gallant - Bourbon

"I Know You, I Know You, Like the Back of My Hand"

I'm a simple man when it comes to EDM. If you can add in one novel element to a run of the mill chord progression, you've got a shot at catching my ear. In this case, Vicetone came correct with a post-drop strings arrangement that delivered the goods. With the help of vocals from Cosmos & Creature, Bright Side amounts to an easy-listening, Top 40 worthy hit. You might even go as far as calling it Pop rather than Progressive House, whatever the case, I'm a fan. If you're wanting more, Vicetone has you covered with a five song Aurora EP due out in early April. You can bet the Dutch duo will be making a few more cameos in this neighborhood between now and then...#BrightSide

Vicetone feat Cosmos & Creature - Bright Side

"Every Time I Skip Town They Get a Little Sentimental"

DJ Snake's Middle has gotten a lot of love in this hood over the past year. First there was the original. Then came the head turning "twerk freestyle" by Lexi Panterra, which wouldn't be the worst visuals to have attached to your hit single if given a choice...

Now, thanks to Sammy Adams, we have a Hip Hop version to hang our hat on. It features the same booty shake worthy beat to compliment a couple fresh out the oven 16s. It may not be my favorite Sammy track, but I will say he did his thing weaving in and out of verses while also doing his own hook. He's always been able to flow no matter what beat he's on. Consider this "Wizzyflip" some much needed hype that will build some momentum leading into his upcoming album (The Long Way), due out on March 24th...#TheLongWay

Sammy Adams - The Middle (WizzyFlip)

Jon Bellion At His Best on Acoustic Version of All Time Low

Even though EDM is the usual subject in this hood of the internet, there's always room for multi-talented artists who simply make great music. When I think of said multi-talented artists, I think of the Ryan Tedders and Bruno Mars of the world. Those artists who are known for being amazing vocalists, but can also write and produce with the best of them.

In that vane, it might be time to start giving some love to Jon Bellion. Jack of all trades is a colloquialism that gets thrown around too much, but it's fitting for what Jon brings to the table. Yes, he's also the guy who has writing credits for the likes of Eminem, Jason Derulo, Zedd, B.O.B. and Cee Lo. Last year, he released The Definition to rave reviews and this week he's promising an "avalanche of new content" on the horizon. His song, All Time Low, isn't new, but it's one of his more noteworthy tracks of the past year. Check the original for reference...

Jon Bellion - All Time Low


The original was cool and all, but his group acapella style acoustic version truly showcases the limitless potential he brings as an artist. Honestly, the original version of the track is now sounding pretty mundane compared to his new, live version below. It's a fun watch, especially if you appreciate groups like Straight No Chaser. Even though this is the starting point for Jon's presence on this blog, you can expect to see a lot more of him in the future...#AllTimeLow

Photo Credit: YouTube

"I'm Killin' Dem, No Murda"

Usually when I think of jungle dance music, Major Lazer or Jack U come to mind. Seeing that Skrillex makes up half of Jack U, it should come as no surprise that his new collaboration with Wiwek and Elliphant sounds like something taken out of a tribal rave. The gentle reggae build up will lure you into thinking it's a chill dance track, but that goes out the door post-drop when the bass comes in like a hammer. The mix of soft vocals from Elliphant contrasting with the sharp synths and jagged samples are what ultimately make the track memorable. Those of you looking for that hype new dance track may want add this one to the weekend Spotify playlist for tonight's party...#Killa

Wiwek & Skrillex feat Elliphant - Killa

Videos of the Week February 26th

Definitely a Hip Hop and R&B heavy week with a few unexpected quirks thrown in the mix. First and foremost, it would have been hard to not give love to Drake and Rihanna's new video for Work. Playing off their playful sexual chemistry, it makes for an interesting watch. In case you were wondering where Lauryn Hill went, she made an unexpected cameo with The Weeknd on Fallon. So great to see her back on stage doing what she does on the mic.

Speaking of Fallon, if you grew up in Big Ten country like me, you respond favorably to the familiar rat-a-tat-tat of the marching band's drum line. When you throw ?uestlove in the mix, it makes for a special minute of entertainment. In other news, if you've ever wondered what it took for DJ Khaled to become such a big deal on Snapchat, you'll find his interview on ABC's Nightline an interesting watch. So many catch phrases, I'm still in awe of how he became such a thing. At least he spits nothing but positivity, which the world could always use more of. And last but not least, Bart Simpson's Started From the Bottom montage was nothing short of epic. The whole slumlord, turning a dollar into baller status over the track was a thing of beauty...#StartedFromTheBottom
Rihanna feat Drake - Work (Video)

The Weeknd feat Lauryn Hill Performs Into the Night on Fallon

Questlove Plays With the USC Marching Band on Fallon (Video)
DJ Khaled Explains Snapchat Success on ABC's Nightline

Bart Simpsons Does Drake's Started From the Bottom

Photo Credit: YouTube

Zedd & Aloe Blacc's Candyman Remake Feels So Good

As much as I find it incredibly annoying that corporate America is now treating EDM like their new best friend all the sudden, I'm going to choose to spin it in a positive light. At least we get more new music, right? And not just new music, an awesome new collaboration between two artists at the top of their respective games. Before I get into the who and what, give a listen to Sammy Davis Jr's cover of the original M&M's theme song The Candy Man...

Suffice to say you probably remember Sammy's jingle above or the original from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What I can promise you is that Zedd and Aloe Blacc's new cover of Candyman sounds nothing like those versions. In fact, the Future Bass vibe of the new version is undeniably catchy. Aloe's vocals bring the soul necessary to do justice to Sammy's cover and the bright, bouncy post-drop release is a perfect example of how electronic music is becoming more accessible by the day. Despite the corporate ties, I can't but help get all caught up in the awesomeness of this new one...#Candyman

Zedd & Aloe Blacc - Candyman

"What if We Could Wake Up in a Dream?"

I'm not sure what it is, but this week is all about mellow House music. While Sam Feldt's new one with Dutch producer Dante Klein isn't quite as Tropical as I've come to expect from him, it's every bit as chill as I expected. Packed with soothing chords and enough cooled out synths to put your baby asleep, it's easy to understand why Sam Feldt's music is so easy on the ears. I'd be remiss if I didn't give credit to Milow's vocals that find a way to seamlessly get on board with the relaxed rhythms. Honestly I'm running out of ways to say this track is chill, but there are enough synonyms above to warrant a smh. Now that you've forgiven me, turn your attention to Sam's new Been A While EP that will be landing on e-tailers in about a week. It may only be six tracks, but I've already posted one third of the album, which should mean something...right?...#SamFeldt


Sam Feldt & Dante Klein feat Milow - Feels Like Home

"My Heartbeat Baby, Won't Let You Down"

The proliferation of EDM tracks into mainstream music has brought about a lot of cool cross-genre collaborations. We've gotten a taste of Country through Newgrass, some Hip Hop sprinkled in through Trap and even some exotic rhythms via Tropical House. If electronic music is missing anything, it's a dose of soul music like on Autograf's new track, Heartbeat.

What you can expect when you press play below is a mellow, mid-tempo jam with a distinctive soul sample. It's so mellow that you'd be hard pressed convincing me that it's electronic. It's more piano driven than synth driven, giving off an easy-going vibe. The song will be surfacing on Autograf's five song Future Soup EP that is due out on March 11th. At this point, I've posted the first two tracks from the EP and there's a better than average chance you'll see the next three tracks in this neighborhood of the internet in the coming weeks. What I'm trying to say is, I think Autograf makes really good music and you should too...#FutureSoup

Autograf - Heartbeat

DJ Snake's Propaganda Gets Remixed Ten Different Ways

Just over a month back, I posted a new, exciting Trap track from DJ Snake titled Propaganda. To this day, the tribal rattle and heavy bass on that track continue to stick with me. It's easily one of the most provocative and unapologetically in your face tracks that I've heard from DJ Snake.

Whats even more exciting than the original is a full Propaganda Remix EP to snack on. Featuring reworks from the likes of Dillon Francis, Habstrakt and Kill the Noise (below), there's plenty of variety to latch onto. My favorite of the bunch is bouncy, dub-heavy mix by Kill the Noise. It's not for the faint of heart because you'll probably need to turn it down or risk not blinking for an entire three plus minutes. You better believe it goes hard and succeeds in harnessing the tribal energy from the original while adding a boat load of edgy synths to the equation. All in all, I hope you enjoyed the original because having it re-worked ten more times is a fun play at novelty, but skirts the line of being overdone...#Propaganda

DJ Snake - Propaganda (Kill The Noise Remix)

"I'm Ridin' Round With My System Pumpin' LSD"

If you would have told someone did an acoustic cover an A$AP Rocky's track, it may have been difficult to hold back laughter. That being said, if the lyrics are interesting enough on any track and the artist covering it doesn't butcher the chords, it won't take a lot to transform anything into an acoustic cover. Before you rush to judgment, give a listen to the original version of A$AP's LSD...
Pretty trippy track and not as Hip Hop as you expected, right? Hence why Raury was able to get his foot in the door on the acoustic cover. If you haven't heard of Raury, he hails from the ATL and was on the highly acclaimed XXL Freshman class of 2015. Watching the live cover of the track will give you everything you need to understand why he's generating so much hype. He's got that Bobby Ray versatility and is very comfortable singing, rapping and rocking the guitar if you let him. At the ripe age of 19, there's no traffic on his highway to success...#Raury

Photo Credit: YouTube

Star Wars Embraces EDM on Headspace Album

It's a sign of the times that electronic music and nerdiness are becoming more and more intertwined by the day. Sure, you've got the whole part about how electronic music relies on a lot of digital manipulation, which requires a lot of skill and artistry with computers that nerds have been known to know how to use pretty well. But until recently when video games started knocking on a lot of EDM artists' doors, there hadn't been a lot of soundtracks that were predominantly EDM focused.

Keeping all that in mind, today was a big day for electronic music. You don't get much bigger whales than Star Wars when it comes to hardcore fan bases. The fact that big names like Baauer, GTA, Kaskade, Galantis, and Troyboi were all featured on the new Star Wars Headspace album is nothing short of awesome. After giving the whole album a listen, I thought the album as a whole was a really solid mix of Star Wars samples and synths. It was not easy picking a favorite, but if you held a gun to my head, I'd go with Röyksopp's Bounty Hunters. If you close your eyes, you might think for a minute that you're listening to the Tron soundtrack, but around the 4:30 mark, the beat fully hits its stride. Really dope track overall, but by all means, give the full compilation a listen because Rick Rubin did an excellent job putting together a top notch collection of new music...#Headspace

Röyksopp - Bounty Hunters

Videos of the Week February 19th

You'd be hard pressed to find a more stacked week for videos. Truth be told, it was hard narrowing down the ten or so videos that were in the running for the top five. Between the Grammy performances and Kanye performing on SNL, there was a lot of content to pick from. In my opinion, the Kendrick Lamar and Justin Bieber/Jack U performances were the most memorable, but I'd give Lady Gaga's David Bowie tribute a solid honorable mention. And as far as Kanye goes, I don't really have word for Ultra Light Beams. It's dramatic, it's emotional and it's everything you'd expect in a Kanye performance.

In the land of non-live performances, Flume came through with some trippy and emotional visuals for his new single Never Be Like You. Love everything about the slow trap movement, which includes slow bangers like that one. And for some a humorous ending to the week, there's the third incarnation of musician Mean Tweets from the Kimmel Show. My favorite digs were on Ed Sheeran, Common and of course the creative Mumford jab in the end was worthy of mentioning...#MeanTweets
Kendrick Lamar Performs The Blacker the Berry and Alright at The Grammys

Jack U and Bieber Performance at The Grammys

Flume feat Kai - Never Be Like You (Video)

Kanye West Performs Ultra Light Beams With Chance the Rapper on SNL
Mean Tweets Music Edition #3 on Kimmel

Photo Credit: CBS

"No One Wants to Fall Out of Heaven"

Initially, it seemed like Kanye was hell bent on keeping his new album on ice Tidal. Now it looks like he's continuing with that plan, but with a revamped version of his new album. First came the new version of Wolves and now there are rumors of tracks becoming longer. Whatever the case, I'm blindly guessing that the new track below is a leftover and won't be on the final version of the final album that may finally come later this week. Fall Out of Heaven showcases plenty of autotune from both Kanye and The Dream and is packed with plenty narcissism. It has a low key synth aided, slow jam vibe to it that is tempting to attribute to Bon Iver's influence on the track. There's not a whole lot that's unpredictable about this one, but in case you wanted an update on the debacle that is becoming Kanye's latest album release, then I hope you feel caught up...#FallOutOfHeaven

Kanye West feat The Dream & Bon Iver - Fall Out of Heaven

Disclosure Takes Nocturnal to the V.I.P.

What's better than a Disclosure original? A V.I.P. mix with slightly more tempo than the original. If you didn't catch the original version of Nocturnal off their recent album Caracal, then catch up before you enter the V.I.P...
I'd call the original a fresh slice of funky house music that The Weeknd shines all over. The tempo is measured, to a point that it's almost difficult to dance to. And as you should know by now, Disclosure is all about the womp womp style Deep House that you'll find on their V.I.P. mix. The new version is much more their tempo, showcasing bouncy bass and a playful repetition. Basically if you liked the original, but just wished it had more tempo, they did you a solid on the new mix...#Noctural

"Could You Carry Me, On and On and On?"

So first off, let's get the bad news out of the way. Kygo's upcoming album, Cloud Nine, will be delayed a bit from it's planned February 12th release...

Hey guys, Im sorry to say the album is going to be a little delayed. Ive been working on this album for a year and a half, so I dont want to rush anything now in the end and I want it to be perfect when I release it! Its 99% done so its very close now! - Kygo (via Soundcloud)

To his credit, when he shared the news, he let us down softly by giving us a sneak peek into what is coming next. They're mostly minute long snippets, so keep your expectations in check before you get too excited...

All that being said, the above news isn't what this post about. It's about a new track currently called Carry Me with the understanding that both the track's name and completion are a work in progress. It's inspirational, symphonic Tropical House tracks like this that landed my fandom squarely in his corner in the first place. The vocals are on point and the beat is mesmerizingly awesome thanks in large part to the keyboard wizardry that his notoriety is built on. If I'm being honest, the track below has me more excited than any of the snippets above, but that's probably biased because there were a few snips that didn't even really take off before moving on to the next one. Even though we're going to have to wait just a little bit longer for the full release, I'm cool with chewing on this one for a bit to bide the time...#CloudNine

Kygo - Carry Me

Marshmello & Slushii Wanted You 2 Have a Happy V-day

Sticking with the Valentines Day love for just one more day since there was so much love in the music world yesterday. It was near impossible topping Macklemore's stellar effort on Spoons, but since I'm partial to EDM, I feel the need to not entirely skip of Marshmello and Slushii's electronic slow jam version of WaNt U 2. If you're confused about the phrase electronic slow jam, that makes two of us because as I typed it I was thinking to myself "wtf is an electronic slow jam."

Well, I'll put it this way, I've never heard a slower, more exaggerated drop than what I witnessed below on the VIP edit. I haven't listened to much Slushii, but the high pitched sample and overall happy tone has Marshmello's style written all over it. It's the first time I've thought to myself, if a 90s slow jam were to made of entirely synths, this is what it would sound like. There's a nice, bouncy tempo leading up to the drop, but the drawn out, sappiness of the drop is somethin' special. It's a rare remix where I'm finding myself liking it more than the original version. In a an electronic world where it's becoming harder and harder to be different, this one sure threw more for a loop that I actually kind of like in a weird way...#WaNtU2

Marshmello x Slushii - WaNt U 2 (Valentines Day VIP Edit)

"I'm Spoonin' You, You're Spoonin' Me"

Man, there's something about offbeat humor that has made this Valentines Day weekend better than expected. First, it was the movie Deadpool. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to, but not with your kids or a even little cousin. It's about the funniest superhero movie you're ever going to see on the big screen and it covers all bases of humor from situational to ironic to circumstantial humor, it's got it all.

Now today, we've got a brand new modern ode to love from Macklemore. Featuring the vocals of Ryan Bedard on the hook and packed with plenty of sexual innuendo meant to make you nod and smile all at once. It's one of those, "man you gotta hear this sh*t type of tracks" that you need to hear to believe. It's so real and quirky that it ends up being incredibly endearing. Some people will brush it off as too corny, but for those of you grown folk out there who have experienced real, committed love, you'll get more than a few kicks out of it. That whole bit about the Netflix queue had me rollin', but there's so much content to latch onto that you'll hopefully find a way to make it fit into this revered day of love...#TwoSpoons

Macklemore feat Ryan Bedard - Spoons

"I Hit the Gym, All Chest No Legs"

As we all continue to wait with baited breath for Kanye's new album, The Life of Pablo, at least have a new track to chew on to pass the time. According to the latest news, the album is being mastered now and the track below will be song 14 on the official release...

The album is being mastered and will be out today… added on a couple of tracks… pic.twitter.com/6lBxcd83N2

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016

30 Hours is an accessible track that relies on Kanye's penchant for storytelling. There are plenty of one liners sprinkled throughout that will garner a chuckle or two, which in a way, shows Ye's endearing side. It's a smooth addition to the tracklist that is evidently still a work in progress if you're believing the company line that it's now Chance the Rapper's fault for the delay. Let's all collectively hope that super villain wannabe Martin Shkreli's $10 million offer to buy his new album has nothing to do with the yellow light we seem to perpetually be stuck in as we wait for that iTunes link...#LifeOfPablo

Kanye West - 30 Hours

Videos of the Week February 12th

Was it me or did all the news this week in music center around Beyonce and Kanye? While it was tempting to post snippets of Kanye's Madison Square Garden album launch fashion show, it was much better consumed live. Instead, let's pivot to Beyonce who is hilariously being threatened to be banned from Canada. Anyone who saw the Super Bowl performance was probably inspired by the aggressive and controlled demeanor of Queen B. The same description could be given to her real video for Formation where she steams ahead, proudly proclaiming Black Pride.

It's hard to follow that type of video, but if you haven't heard of Parson James, here's another example why he's going to be a household name soon enough. The dude is such a talented vocalist, there's no denying it. Word it has it Zoolander 2 comes out this weekend and it's receiving sub-part reviews. Along the same silly comedy lines, Peyton Manning and Magic Johnson played egg roulette on Fallon. Anytime you can see Hall of Fame athletes making a fool of themselves, it's going to be a good time. Speaking of making a fool of yourself, Kevin Hart is legitimately scared of reptiles. Not just little lizards, but also big snakes. In his words, "Snakes are racist!" Yea lots of laughs this week for sure...#Ophidiophobia

I forgot to post this video yesterday....I tried to conquer my fears!!! Shit didn't work, snakes can kiss my ... http://t.co/m3N0JzVRqc

— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) March 8, 2014

Beyonce - Formation (Video)

Parson James Performs Temple on Late Night With Seth Myers

Zoolander 2 (Extended Trailer)

Egg Russian Roulette With Peyton Manning and Magic Johnson on Fallon

Kevin Hart is Afraid of Snakes...Hilarity Ensues

Photo Credit: YouTube

"Oh, Ophelia, You Been on My Mind, Girl, Since the Flood"

Without hesitation, I'm taking a night off from the usual stream of Hip Hop and EDM to give you one of the better songs I've heard this year. The Lumineers? Folk music you say? You better believe it because their new single Ophelia is one of their better singles in recent memory. The quietly moving track showcases excellent vocals from lead singer Wesley Schultz, a mellow piano-led beat and an undeniably catchy hook. If you're not singing along to the "Oh, Ophelia..." at the beginning of the hook, then you're missing out. For those of you keeping score at home, this is the first of fifteen tracks that will be surfacing on their upcoming album Cleopatra that is scheduled to hit e-shelves on April 8th. We can only hope that the album is half as good as their lead single...#Ophelia

"Red Lips Always Lie"

Some remixes don't require much introduction or hype, they practically force you to press play on name recognition. File this one under that categorization as Dillon Francis and Skrillex went absolutely buckwild with GTA's Red Lips. You know how we do, we like comparing things in this hood of the internet, so check the original before imbibing in the "rebirth"...

Where the original is trappy and carried by some superb horns, the remix takes more on more of a skittish, tribal vibe. On one hand you've Dillon Francis covering the boomy Moombahton angle and Skrillex chipping in an speaker rattling, robotic samples. Definitely two very different sounds when comparing the original to the remix, but that's probably why they called it a rebirth. Can't complain about that free download via Soundcloud, though. Better get at that before the magical down arrow disappears....#RedLips

GTA - Red Lips (Dillon Francis X Skrillex Rebirth)

Haywyre Keeps It Rolling With Impulse

Now that I've had a minute to do a full swan dive into Haywyre's new Two Fold Pt. 2 EP, I think I've found a favorite track. Topping previous favorites like Do You Don't You and Endlessly was no small task, but Impulse proved to outlast them all. What I like most about it is the mix of slow, rhythmic bass and experimental samples sprinkled throughout. It takes about a minute or so to ramp up, but the beat that follows is worth the wait. When he brings in the middle eastern sounding horns around the 2:16 mark, I almost lost it. Just a cool all around track that is growing on me with each listen. Best part about, Haywyre is coming with Seven Lions to SF on Thursday. See y'all there?...#TwoFoldPt2

Haywyre - Impulse

"Let Me Hit You With That Pep Rally"

As tempting as it was to re-post Super Bowl commercials, the national anthem or even the halftime show, I'm going to operate under the assumption that you probably saw the majority of it. What I'm going to highlight tonight was a somewhat unique release of a new single via Super Bowl commercial. Can't say I've seen that before, but we can thank Amazon and Missy Elliot's partnership for breaking new ice...
As as side note, it's pretty cool that Amazon Echo is becoming a new platform to develop on. Not sure Uber would be one of the top ways I'd utilize it, but Spotify integration looks pretty cool.

As far as the new Missy single goes, it's just as turnt up as her previous release WTF (Where You From). It doesn't have quite the catchy lyrics, but the steady 808 thump is impossible to ignore. The marching band vibe adds to the dance worthiness too, giving Pep Rally plenty of party starter appeal. At the very least, it's great to hear an artist from my upbringing come back to the game like she never left. Hoping this streak of great music continues on the way toward a new album at some point...#PepRally

"Haven't Seen You Naked For a While"

With more people latching onto Tropical House through the Kygos and Thomas Jacks of the world, Sam Feldt is quietly making a name for himself as a player in the genre. I've posted a few of his tracks, but it's exciting to hear that he has a new five song EP coming out in early March. His new single, Been a While, should be more than enough to get people excited for what's to come in the next few weeks. Featuring plenty of flute, some easy-going whistling, and some horns from Q on the Trumpet, it has everything you'd want from a Trop House track. Not only that, if you're looking for a relaxing tune to combat the bumper to bumper Super Bowl traffic on your way home from the game tonight, this will hit the spot...#BeenAWhile

Sam Feldt - Been a While