Season 2 #8: Our Powers Combined

 Nothing better than when two megastars come together to create a truly unforgettable track.  I feel like I saw a pre-release alert for this a while ago, and then it totally slipped my mind.  Armin Van Buuren, no matter your take on his music, is one of the largest DJs in the world right now.  Rob Swire (of Knife Party) brings truly iconic vocals and production.  Combined?  AN ABSOLUTELY SONG OF THE YEAR CONTENDER!  High energy, great vibe that truly combines the best of both of their styles!

While not as globally known, but very respected within the EDM scene, Dabin and Grabbitz bring this very different track from the first one.  Soulful vocals, a slow and frankly haunting melody, makes for a truly emotional and beautiful song that showcases it doesn't have be big and in your face to be a successful electronic song.  I really liked this one and I hope you do too!

Armin van Buuren & Rob Swire - Sound of You

Dabin & Grabbitz - Nothing At All

S2 #7: Your Mom's Favorite Rapper

 I used to be into a little bit of rap, I feel like the music went hand in hand with athletics back in the high school times.  Eminem, Biggie, Xzibit, I feel like we all have that song that we can pull from that era that elicits nostalgic memories.  I always liked Will Smith as he had great wordplay but it wasn't filthy every second of the track (don't get me wrong, I love a dirty track as one of my favorite songs ever was posted in POST #0458).  Connor Price, who I actually discovered through his Spin the Globe series on Tik Tok, has quickly risen through the ranks and become one of my favorite modern rappers.  His wordplay, his flow, his energy is truly something that gets me out of my seat, has me dancing in the kitchen, and dancing like a fool in the car.  

My first favorite song of his was Violet (off the Spin the Globe album), which you can find below.  I've also included a truly killer friendship and partnership, as Connor and another rapper named Nic D have come out with EPs together that are truly incredible. I love their friendship, I love their music and I'm excited to share it with you!

Check the bottom for a bonus song! 

Connor Price feat Killa - Violet

Connor Price & Nic D - Dabble (Official Video)

BONUS SONG: Nic D & Connor Price - Swordfish

S2 #6: Getting Back in the Swing!

 I apologize for the delay everyone, working this into my schedule alongside the INSANE allergy attacks this season have let me slip off the wagon a little bit!  In an effort to try to streamline posts, they will come out Monday/Tuesday and Wednesday/Thursday!  Thank you for your understanding as we get back to the right vibe!

Pendulum was my introduction to EDM way back in High School.  I remember being in a friends basement and The Island Part 1 came on.  I was transported and honestly didn't even know that music like that existed.  From there it was Dada Life, Gryffin, Tiesto, but Pendulum always remained.  Let's start off with one of those original songs from that era, and one you likely already know.  We can't predict the impact that the guitars, synths, heavy bass, and instrumentation played in American Music Culture, but The Island Pt. 1 was revolutionary for young Newt!

Then, the breakup happened.  I was honestly saddened that right when I started getting into them, they disbanded for a number of years.  To be real thought, that just made the comeback that much greater nearly 10 years later.  Right in the heat of the pandemic, there was new music to be excited about.  Here is one of my favorite modern Pendulum songs, and I truly hope that you enjoy this personal hook into electronic music!

Pendulum - The Island Pt. 1

Pendulum - Nothing for Free

S2, #5:The Sun is Shining and Let's Move!

 After a FRIGID weekend ( I was in the water in 45 degree weather), I'm so thankful the sun is shining and we are able to move outside again!  Let's kick some things off this week with some songs that might be that motivation you need to get up and move!

Let's start with Run! by Betty Who! She's a rockstar Australian Pop artist who is truly one of my favorites ( I would also recommend High Society) and produces amazing song after amazing song!  This song, lovingly titled Run!, is high energy, full of fun, and the perfect song to kick off this short work week!

Getting excited and hyping things up is the role of the cheerleader, a role filled perfectly by Porter Robinson and his song that came out last year.  This is one of my favorites from last year and is perfectly presents and combines Porter's unique style and genres that work well together!  Give this one a look, get moving, and let it kick off your summer!

Betty Who - Run!

Porter Robinson - Cheerleader

S2, #4: Living Rent Free in my Head

Every once in a while, a song comes along that truly gets stuck in your head like an earworm.  You find yourself humming it at home, you sing it without even realizing it, and it becomes a central piece of your musical catalogue for that week/month/year.  After Hours by Ellis has been that song for me for the last few weeks, as it's got a cool mix of funk, dance, and pop that truly brings a song that makes me want to move.

Also perpetually stuck in my head is this song off Gryffin's latest album, Last of Us featuring Rita Ora.  This one lives rent-free in my head and truly comes up about every 45 minutes.  When I load up DJ X on spotify to listen to some music without controlling, I swear this one comes up in the first 5 songs every single time without fail.  It's catchy and truly has that staying power that keeps me coming back for more!

Ellis - After Hours

Gryffin Feat. Rita Ora - Last of Us

S2, #3: Laugh So We Don't Cry

Memes are one of the best ways to express frustration and literally laugh so we don't cry.  There was one that took off this year that I feel like has truly expressed a lot of the frustration with the current cultural shift of the United States.  It was originally sung, and then put to some very dancy and fun music.  The contrast is pretty stark, it's truly a heavy and important topic, but I find myself singing this at random intervals because it is SO catchy.  

A little less directly political, let's shift over to a favorite Drum and Bass artist of mine, Fox Stevenson.  This one is called That Choice and truly is a bop and a half.  Fast paced but with a great message and truly a great song that evokes a sense of nostalgia and disillusion (Feeling that void everyday).  Would we all be alone if we sympathized?  I thought these songs would go well together!

Hostile Government Takeover (EDM Remix) - AGiftFromTodd, Vinny Marchi

Fox Stevenson - That Choice

S2 #2: There's so much more to Adam Young (Owl City) than Fireflies

 Let's change things up a little bit and give some music that might be a bit different from past postings!  While this was dedicated to electronic music before, I'm going to switch things up a little bit!  I'd rather talk about all music and showcase some unique styles!  One of my favorite guilty pleasure artists is Owl City.  His music style, his beautiful lyrics, his protection of his mental health, all of these make him so much bigger then just his hit song Fireflies.  

Ready to Fly is a beautiful mashup of Didrick's wonderful fantasy musical style and Adam's beautiful vocals.  This one does ramp up and take more of a breakdown style drop that I think fits the style really well!

I'm also going to throw in one of my favorite songs off Owl City's newest album, Cocoa Moon. Under the Circus Lights paints such a beautiful picture of childhood wonder and those first early infatuations (no matter if it is calling, mission, or person).  One of my favorites with gorgeous background sounds and great additions through little bites!  Enjoy!

Didrick (Feat. Adam Young) - Ready to Fly

Owl City - Under the Circus Lights

Season 2, Post #1: Off to a Hot Start

I can't believe we're back!

Just wanted to say how thankful I am for everyone that is still here, all these years later!  I'm excited to share some really great music with you all, and I would love to feature your music as well!  Submit songs through this google form and I would love to share your favorite songs as well! 

I was inspired by a game I've been playing with some friends called Music League.  Everyone submits a song for a category, everyone votes, and results are shown after all votes are in!  (IF anyone is interested in this, please let me know!) I posted this song for our last category, Songs You Love To Play Loudly, as it truly is one of my favorites.  A magical mix of funk and rap that is too hot to handle!  (This was my 6th most listened to song last year)

Keeping with the theme, song #2 is an absolute banger from JOYRYDE.  The mixture of steel drums and the vocal samples kept me coming back for more (This was my 23rd most listened song of last year).  Great big bass and just beautiful glitchy basslines!

Enjoy and welcome back!

My My, Would You Look At the Time!

Long Time No Talk everyone! 
It has truly been a long time but I am hoping to bring this blog back focused on songs that I have been really enjoying!  This blog, alongside the N64 Game Review and playthrough Blog, are coming back to help me practice my writing, focus my energy, and keep me accountable!  

Prepare yourself for at least 2 songs a week to start and then hopefully ramping up in the future! 

0693 - How Ambient Do You Like It?`

Today we are going to cover some very beautiful and simplistic tracks that I basically use as the background noise of my everyday life.  Let's start with the Eleve remix of Toby Hedges' track Miria.  This one is so beautiful and well produced, that it actually put me to sleep with its peacefullness the other night!  Second up today is the Blood Groove and Kikis remix of Stendahl's song Synthetic Love and this one had me feeling so much real love.  The piano is so beautifully interwoven into the tonality of this progressive masterpiece.  Enjoy guys and I will see you back here again soon!

Toby Hedges - Miria (Eleve Remix)

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Stendahl - Synthetic Love (Blood Groove & Kikis Remix)

0692 - Never be Alone

Cosmic gate have been on my radar for quite some time, so seeing an Andrew Rayel remix of Alone got me really excited!  This song has such beautiful vocals from Kristina Antuna, mixed in with a really killer tonal drop.  I couldn't resist holding onto this one during the hiatus and am so excited to share it with you now!

Cosmic Gate - Alone (Andrew Rayel Remix)

0692 - Artist Feature: RUNAGROUND

I have heard some wonderful music lately from an artist who goes by the name Runaground.  Most of the music I have found has been absolutely wonderful, and one of my favorites by far is the track Chase You Down.  This one is so chill and driving, combined together in a beautiful fashion.  The guitar mixes perfectly with the moving bass, and the vocal samples really take this one to a whole new level in my book.

He also did a really great track with Dmitry KO that has a really deep house vibe to it called Rest of Me.  This one has a really soulful feel to it mixed with a house sequence, and it really is just the perfect mix of each in order to get the groove going and keep you moving.

RUNAGROUND - Chase You Down

RUNAGROUND & Dmitry KO - Rest of Me

0691 - What Happens Next?

Meraki by Cormak is a roller coaster of a song, that took me though so many different expectations in such a short amount of time.  The beginning of the track is beautiful and tonal, and then it gets beautifully melodic as it starts to build.  The build feels like it may drop into something big and unexpected, but it moves to a tonal guitar funk drop.  I sure as hell didn't see it coming, but I love the feeling of "What Will Happen Next" that this one inspires!
Another track that gave me this feeling was a remix of Arcade from Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike, and W&W by Magic Wand.  Hearing the start of this one and then the movement into the build, I sure as hell did not expect the funky and groove-worthy drop that followed.  It caught me off guard, and I loved every second of it!

Cormak - Meraki

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. W&W - Arcade (Magic Wand Remix)

0690 - Don't Lose the Beauty

Pierce Fulton continue to make stellar with his track Losing You.  With great use of horns and other instruments, this one feels like it was recorded live and has that jazzy-house vibe that I have really come to love.  I feel the vocals are a bit much, but overall they do add something special to the track.  Enjoy this one!
Second up on this Monday is a track that I feel the title really captures the nature of the song.  Everything is Beautiful by Disfunktion and Husman features beautiful vocals, great and catchy tonality through the entire track, and the drop is heavy enough to be danced to while still feeling relaxed and beautiful.  This one is just really well done, and I enjoyed the simplicity and wonder that it inspired.

Pierce Fulton - Losing You

Disfunktion & Husman - Everything is Beautiful

0689 - Gareth Emery Album Feature

I know Friday is usually for Funk, but I wanted to share some really great tracks from a new album that you all should check out if you haven't already (there will be a bonus funk post this weekend).  Gareth Emery has had me hooked since Sanctuary and Concrete Angel years ago, so seeing a new album had me excited, and let me tell you that it does not disappoint in the slightest.  I'll highlight some of my favorites off the album here.
The first track that caught my attention was Lost featuring Janet Devlin, this is a really beautiful track with vocals that are far better than most you hear these days.  The synergy between Emery and Devlin is stellar, and makes for one of the best tracks I have heard all year.
Another of my favorites off the album is Sansa, named for his daughter.  This one is so beautifully melodic and got in my soul so quickly, that I couldn't not put it on this list!  For sure a beautiful track and worth your time without a doubt!
The Story So Far has the best melodic and tonal sequences of any song on this album, and really any song I have heard in some time.  The whole album is killer but this one really got in my head and in my head.  The sequences are so well done and feel so fluid and natural, not to mention the ambiance noise that really gives it a feel of intensity!
Really though, the entire album is amazing and worth a listen and you can check it out here: 100 Reasons to Live

Gareth Emery - Lost feat. Janet Devlin

Gareth Emery - Sansa

Gareth Emery - The Story So Far

0688 - Come on back home

There are some songs that you never expect to hear a good remix of, and Coming Home by Skylar Grey was one of those songs for me.  That is why I had hesitation when clicking on this remix, but I am so glad that I did.  The song carries so much emotion and memory for me, that when I clicked on the remix, it brought it all back in wonderful fashion.  It's a beautiful remix that features glitched samples on the vocal chorus that really make for a unique tonal sequence.  Not to mention the drop is catchy and not so heavy that it throws off the vibe of the whole song, a great remix in my opinion.

Sylar Grey - Coming Home (Jason Risk Bootleg)

0687 - Just Beat 'Em Down

Wednesday is here, so lets gets things goin fast and furious with a new track from Stonebank called Be Alright with EMEL on vocals.  This hard dance song really got me moving, because it keeps the tonality that I really love out of house music and progressive house.  It moves quick, but it is so easy to jam out to!
Second up on this day of bangers, we have a new track from Destructo, Wax Motif, and Vanilla Ace called Beatdown.  This one is a bass heavy track that gives such an in your face vibe, with rap that honestly sounds like Snoop Dog.  This one is absolutely electric, and I love it and I hope that you do too!

Stonebank - Be Alright

Destructo & Wax Motif - Beatdown

0686 - Chill On Some Wings

Let's slow things down a little bit with a track from Sound Patrol and VDG called Paper Wings, and while this one is much more on the slow and sweet side, that doesn't take away from the atmosphere of the track.  You can really feel a lot while listening to this song, or at least I did, just from the beautiful vocals and the great tonality.  Enjoy!
Also up today is a new track from BUNT, the artist who brought Folk House to our ears, and has put out 2 great mixes (I'lll post the other one soon I promise) highlighting what the genre can do.  This one is called Coming Home and features Sons of the East.  This song is wonderful in melding the two genres, with a great folk section moving into a beautiful house drop with the continual tonality that helps me fall in love with songs like this so easily.

Sound Patrol & VDG - Paper Wings (Free Download)

BUNT. - Coming Home

0685 - Take Me Somewhere Else

Let's kick the week of with a big one from Tyron Hapi and Sarah Bodle called Oceans.  I've been on the lookout for a new track thats worthy of putting on here because Tyron Hapi usually puts out bounce music that seems pretty generic.  However, this one is really pretty, catchy, and I love it.  It is the perfect blend of dancey and chill.
Second up on this dreary Monday is a track from Define Light and Miles Dominic called Elsewhere.  This one is another great mix of beauty and great song design.  The downtime is goregous, with a smooth build that goes into a drop that has the perfect of groove to it.  Easily can be used as a chill relaxing song or a big party song, depending on your mood!

Tyron Hapi - Oceans

Define Light & Miles Dominic - Elsewhere (Free Download)

0683 - Chase the Summer

First up today is a song that I found from a TV show I watch.  It caught me immediately and I looked like a fool holding my phone with Shazam up to my computer screen.  I love this track from Jai Wolf called Indian Summer, it's absolutely gorgeous.  Chill, tonal, melodic, catchy as hell, and just beautiful all around.
Also up today is a bit more of a chill track from Runaground called Chase You Down.  Its got a very similar vibe to Indian Summer.  Very relaxing, great tonality, this one has better vocals though!  Enjoy both of these tracks!

Jai Wolf - Indian Summer

RUNAGROUND - Chase You Down