Posted by Scott Willats

Fresh from his Grammy Awards hat trick, Skrillex is back with some new visuals. The video for “Bangarang” appeared late last week; it’s pretty cool, and seems likely to lend even greater popularity to one of Sonny Moore’s catchier songs. How long till this hits the number 1 spot on bpm:tv’s Hot 20 Dance Chart? The choice is yours.

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Posted by Scott Willats

It’s Friday! TGIF! This weekend feels like one made for the inner socialite in all of us. Since the single people of the world had to endure the shame of being alone on Valentine’s Day, you can expect the clubs to be packed with people redoubling their search for Mr. or Ms. Right. And if that’s true, then the DJs best come correct with tunes to help you bolster the courage. On the other hand, if you’d prefere to keep it low-key with a house party or a small gathering, we’ve got you completely covered with this week’s best tracks. Have at it!

SWEETS

No hesitation about jumping into the warm waters with this one. Bingo Players have a banger with help from Heather Bright.

Bingo Players featuring Heather Bright – Don’t Blame The Party (Mode) (Adria Vila Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

From here on in let it be known: any new Kill The Noise release will immediately be posted. That is all.

Nero – Must Be The Feeling (Kill The Noise Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

I am definitely not one to highlight an artist in the aftermath of his or her death. That has to be said. However, I am one to highlight anything that features Chromeo. Whitney had what may have been one of the best voices in the history of time — so we can hope that, among the truckload of remixes that will be doubtless appear over the coming weeks, we get more gems like this.

The Hood Internet – When The Night Knows (Whitney Houston x Chromeo): LISTEN TO IT HERE

When I chatted with Chris Lake last year, all he could talk about was Tommy Trash. Tommy this and Tommy that … apparently he knew something the rest of us didn’t, cuz Tommy is killing it right now.

PNAU – Unite Us (Tommy Trash Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

A little R&B twist on this one. Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a good break-up song. This beat is good — almost too good. Don’t go too far to the dark side, Diplo!

Diplo – Climax: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Enough of that soft and slow s**t — let’s get into the nitty-gritty. If you hear this song at the venue tonight, grab him / or her / or both and get to it. Your choice.

Dilemn – Always Continue: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Why is it that Paris always seems to be two steps ahead of everything else happening in EDM? Who knows? But if you can’t beat em, join ‘em

The Mekanism – Can’t Believe (Mario Basanov remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Last, our favourite dinos …

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Tapes & Money [SoundCloud Edit]: LISTEN TO IT HERE

VISUAL SWEETS

AC Slater is Mr. Bass, and Mr. Bass is a joker. Here’s a little clip about his preparations for a tour Down Under, for all you kangaroos.

Sometimes proper remixes need proper visuals — as for example, Gingy & Bordello‘s reworking of ZZT‘s “Work.”

I love my job! Have a good weekend, you maniacs………..xx

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Posted by Gosia Mrugala

The forthcoming single from Above & Beyond‘s studio album Group Therapy, this vocal trance track is the perfect, entrancing nepenthe. Group Therapy itself is a heart-stirring album perfectly summed up by its title. Listening to this LP, pegged by Mixmag as the artist album of 2011, is pretty much guaranteed to alleviate any form of negative emotion.

The newly released music video for “Love Is Not Enough” plays in reverse, taking the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster as it tells a story of deep love that was just not meant to be. The video, directed by Vicky Simmons and starring Emily Beecham and Liam Boyle, fits the track’s sad love story perfectly. Together, the track and the video play enticingly on the emotions.

We’re fortunate to be able to stay up to date with new tracks and new artists from Above & Beyond’s influential Anjunabeats label by tuning into their weekly show Trance Around The World. As they have proven yet again, their sound is sempiternal, and we can count ourselves lucky to have such an incredible trio on the EDM scene.

Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.

Posted by Scott Willats

A little more than fashionably late with this post — but better late than never, right? Right? Right!

Fresh from an incredible set thrown down at last week’s A-Trak show in Toronto, Meech is back with his brand new EP , I Want. A perfect title, and a probable subliminal marketing campaign, as this EP is exactly what we’ve been craving.

The taste of something different in this clusterf*** of similar sounds is exactly what the Toronto native delivers. Jumping into action the minute you press play, the title track is a must-have whether you’re a fan, a remixer or a DJ seeking out perfect focus tracks for your sets. The sample is quick and precise, and the blending of percs and proper kicks in perfect proportion give this song an immediately comfortable feel. Until the 2 minute mark, anyway, when the sh*t goes h.a.m.

The great aspect of of this track is its versatility. You could just readily expect to hear it at a lounge, a main room or a festival stage. Honestly, I think it would sound best as an instrumental for a conscience rapper like Shad or Q-Tip to flow over. If we’re going to tear down genre limitations, Meech is the guy writing the handbook on how to do so.

Meech – I Want (Original Mix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Btw, every remix is special on this one, with some heavy French connections and an Aussie just to keep the Commonwealth strong, ya dig?

Meech – I Want (D.Fine Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Meech – I Want (Olibusta Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Meech – I Want (Raziek Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Meech – I Want (Square Mode Remix) – Snippet: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Sweets of the week tomorrrrow……

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So the JUNO Awards are happening April 1 in Ottawa, with Captain Kirk hosting. And voting is underway for the Fan Choice Award — the one prize whose winner is decided by actual music fans, as opposed to … um, whoever decides all the other awards.

In the Fan Choice category, Deadmau5 is carrying the banner for EDM. And we kinda sorta think he maybe possibly deserves to sort of, you know, win. Seriously, with all due respect to the likes of Justin Bieber, Nickelback, Michael Bublé and Hedley, no other nominee on that list had the distinction in 2011 of being the first Canadian artist ever to headline Toronto’s iconic Rogers Centre. Or had Las Vegas name a day in his honour. Or rocked the Grammys alongside the Foo Fighters. The last 12 months have been absolutely massive for North American electronic and dance music, and Deadmau5 — currently ranked number four on DJ Mag’s definitive top 100, ahead of any other U.S. or Canadian performer — has been leading this revolution.

So here’s our suggestion: head on over to the JUNO Fan Choice page, RIGHT HERE, and cast your vote for the man in the Mau5 head. It’s quick and painless. And you won’t just be respecting one of the most important and influential Canadian artists of the last … ever. You’ll be making a statement — that this moment, right here and now, belongs to the music we’ve loved all these years. This moment belongs to, well, us.

Democracy! It’s awesome, no?

Voting closes March 12. So what are you waiting for? Get your VOTE on!

Posted by Scott Willats

Last Friday I was lucky enough to catch Dennis Ferrer‘s show at Maison Mercer in Toronto. Dennis is an icon in the underground world — some might even say he is the underground world. Whatever your opinion may be, one thing is indisputable when it comes to Dennis Ferrer: you get your money’s worth. While most DJs are in an out in a two-hour set, Dennis plays tracks for a good four hours before even breaking a sweat. And his fans are similarly tireless. It doesn’t matter if the bar closed at 2 am, they aren’t leaving until Dennis leaves — which on this night was 4:30!

Here are some video highlights of the night, and a quick chat with Dennis about his favourite underground DJs. Enjoy!

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Posted by Scott Willats

Yesterday being Valentine’s Day, all my thoughts were focused on a very special someone. Oh Dillon Francis, I sighed. When, oh when, is this EP going to drop? Like Juliet on her balcony, I sat staring blankly at his Soundcloud, Facebook and Beatport pages, refreshing every 10 minutes or so minutes in the hope I’d be able to post in the afternoon. Oh Dillon, where art thou? Sadly, I was left spurned and heartbroken. And as you can see on you could see on his Facebook wall, a lot of other people were waiting impatiently too. Dillon’s EP with Cory Enemy had been such a success that it left us all salivating for the new one. But it seemed our hopes were to be dashed for another day …

… until around 7 pm when, in the midst of a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner, my BlackBerry informed me that the EP had finally dropped. And it was on like Donkey Kong.

I immediately asked permission to slip on my earphones give a listen. My date rolled her eyes, but graciously gave her blessing. And what I heard was exactly what I ‘d expected: high temp electro, with precisely timed build-ups, all at a relaxed yet amped pace. Dillon oh Dillon, you bless us.

However! Only three tracks, one of which had been previously released — it left me wanting … scratch that, craving more. There’s an ongoing debate out there about the death of the album, and as EDM fans I think we have to acknowledge that it’s our genre leading the massacre. Long gone are the Tuesdays when your favourite artist would drop off 14 tracks on a bright, shiny new CD. Now it’s all little bits and little nibbles throughout the year. Does that suit you better? Would you rather hear one or two new tracks every month, or get a lump sum of 14 new bangers all on one day, once a year?

It’s definitely something to be discussed. Dillon kinda gets a pass, because everything he seems to drop is, as Dylan would say, “hot fiiiire.” Check it out and send me your comments here or @SAWStruck.

DILLON FRANCIS – SOMETHING, SOMETHING, AWESOME: BUY ON BEATPORT

Download Dillon Francis Now Hear This (Original Mix)

Download Dillon Francis Falling Up (Original Mix)

Dillon Francis & Kill The Noise – Dill The Noise: LISTEN TO IT HERE

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Posted by Scott Willats

So what happened? Did Skrillex win a Grammy? No, please don’t answer that. The biggest sign of the EDM takeover isn’t the awards these artists are winning — it’s the sheer volume of buzz that gets uncorked when these awards go down. My Facebook and Twitter feeds were a veritable orgy of Skrillex and Deadmau5 praise on Sunday night, and that will always elicit a wry smile. But of course, congrats to Sonny for bagging three awards –and  to all the other winners, too.

Let’s jump back into it, shall we? On Friday I was bemoaning what a slow week it had been for new releases, and the production gods must’ve heard, because on the weekend I came across an abundance of new tracks — enough material to be talking about for days. But It’s only Tuesday. Let’s just check ‘em out and discuss later. Highlights include Jacques Lu Cont, who is worth the price of admission to Coachella alone!

Today is the eve of Dillon Francis Day, which we’ll be celebrating by checking out his brand new EP. In the meantime, Dillon has a nice fresh remix for us. So sick!

Clockwork – Hulk (Dillon Francis Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Felix Cartal is a beast — always has been, always will be. Whenever there’s anything new from him, it’s instantly news. Cop this on Beatport asap.

Felix Cartal – Domo: LISTEN TO IT HERE

After his huge night on Sunday, Skrillex served up a brand new joint with vocals. Seems about right. However this song is a litttttttle too emo for me.

Skrillex – My Good Bye: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Came across this thanks to Toddla T. It’s wibbly-wobbly-funky … catch-up?  Naw, ketchup! Very tasty!

Justice – Canon (Erol Alkan Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

… and I have plenty more. But you neeeeeed to really hear these two tracks. Here we go!

Anthem status!!!

Jacques Lu Cont – Church: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Miike Snow – Paddling Out (Jacques Lu Cont Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Jacques Lu Cont also put out a pretty crazy mini-mix on Annie Mac‘s show last Friday. CHECK IT OUT if you have a chance.

And a visual, mais bien sur.

Should have clips of my encounter with Dennis Ferrer up sometime this week.

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Happy Valentine’s Day, bpm Nation! Spend the day with someone you love — or at least try to love whoever you’re spending the day with. We’re celebrating this Hallmark holiday with a special “Love” edition of Xtendamix tonight at 8:30 pm ET — check out the track list below. Time to get your lovin’ on!

Posted by Gosia Mrugala

Skrillex arrived at the 54th GRAMMY Awards in his signature all-black look. His influence in bringing dubstep into the limelight over the past couple of years has been enormous — and nabbing three Grammys at last night’s show puts a whole new kind of spotlight on the EDM scene.

David Guetta did his thing on stage alongside Chris Brown — a good performance, nothing too spectacular. But seeing Deadmau5 rock out with Foo Fighters was quite extraordinary to witness: two great artist from such wildly different genres coming together to please the crowd. It goes to show that music, in the end, really is one large community that will always unite, no matter the genre.

Deadmau5 and Skrillex, both brilliant producers, share a streak of child-like immaturity. On the red carpet, where fashion is the priority, Deadmau5 took a low-cost approach to his choice of attire, sporting his famous mau5 head and a black t-shirt … inscribed with Skrillex’s personal cellphone number (626-319-1039) and the message “U Mad Bro?” Skrillex showed he has a sense of humour, tweeting: ”Haha @deadmau5 just wore my phone number on his fokin shirt on tv gotta retire this phone.”

Adele definitely stole the limelight, winning in every category she was nominated for and going home with 6 Grammys. Her performance was remarkable — which was nothing less than what was expected from this 23-year-old British phenom. Jennifer Hudson delivered a stunning tribute to Whitney Houston, delivering the singer’s classic ballad “I Will Always Love You” — a performance that brought goosebumps to the viewers at home, and earned the standing ovation it got at the Staples Center.

As for Nicki Minaj‘s choice of pontifical attire for the red carpet, and her bizarro let’s-piss-off-the-Catholics performance of “Roman Holiday” (with bonus exorcism!) … well, it was all just plain ridiculous. As entertaining as it can be to watch Nicki Minaj show off her MANY personalities, the spectacle is starting to get old.

This year GRAMMY Awards were definitely worth tuning in to watch. Many entertaining bits, some great performances — and, as always, plenty of laugh-worthy moments.

Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.