Just two days left to show your support for DJs across Canada by voting to pick the winner of the Bud Light DJ Battle. You can listen to tracks by the contenders and cast your vote at the Bud Light Sensation home page. When you vote, you’re entered for the chance to win tickets to Bud Light presents Sensation — plus you give your chosen DJ the chance to receive the ultimate VIP treatment at this massive international dance event, which touches down at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on June 1.
So who are the DJs vying for the crown? Just click on the names below to find out who’s who.
There’s still time to snap up tickets for Sensation, an epic-scale affair that will feature sets by Mr. White, 2000 and One, Otto Knows, Sunnery Jamesand Ryan Marciano, and Fedde Le Grand — plus a rare Canadian appearance by Eric Prydz. Dress in white and help LIGHT IT UP June 1 at the Rogers Centre!
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
A week ain’t a week unless it’s sweet. With the sun a-shining, the last thing you want to do is spend a couple of hours in front of your laptop searching for new tunez. That’s what I’m here for! (You’re welcome.) I got you covered: sit back, press play, and enjoy the soundz of summer. bpm:tv presents … your May Two-Four Sweets of the Week!
I admit it: Justin Bieber‘s “Boyfriend” is one of those songs I find myself humming in the shower or singing along with in the car. At this point, some readers of this blog have already closed their browsers and moved on. For those of you who decided to give me the benefit of a doubt and stick around: the Swedish duo Dada Life has taken the original and turned it on its head, making it over into something you can sing aloud freely with your windows wide open. Once you’ve heard this, the original becomes obsolete.
Heavy, Heavy, HEAVY! Sound Remedy is out of this world right now. This time they take on a personal favourite in Lisa Mitchell‘s “Neopolitan Dreams” and … ahhh, screw it: just press play!
When I went to Webster Hall in New York to see Annie Mac, Savoy was the opening act. Now, it can’t be easy to open for a DJ whose set features all the most in-demand tracks. It leaves you with the leftovers. Happily for Savoy (and for the audience that night), “leftovers” meant their own originals. Since then, whenever I hear the name Savoy I sit up and pay attention. This time around they link up with Heather Bright, throwing in a little dubby-wubby to get you scooting over to Beatport to cop this tune.
You know that moment when you walk into club in the middle of summer, and everyone is already screaming and sweating? That moment when your heart starts beating faster and a grin steals uncontrollably across your face? Usually in that moment it’s a DJ Dan track playing in the background. The legend is back, with a new tune that will put you right back in that moment.
AudioPorn Records gives us a preview of a new EP from Xilent. It’s heavily produced, but not overdone. If you like Kill the Noize, you’ll want to pick this up. Take a good listen to all four tracks.
Last, since next week is Pryda week, I’m assigning some homework: listen closely to these classic tracks from the master. Whether as Cirez D, Eric Prydz or Pryda, one fact remains consistent: this dude puts in the work. Enjoy some faves, and feel free to suggest your own in the comments below!
“With Me”
“Viro”
“Not Going Home (Remix)” – I kept the rip ’cause it just sounds alive. Gotta love Pete dropping a world exclusive.
“On Off”
And if you missed it his new one … “Allein”
VISUAL SWEET
Bassnectar fans will love this one. His new album which we reviewed a few weeks back, is causing a stir with a wide cross-section of “good music” fans across the world. From heavy metal fans to ravers to jungle junkies, the response is the same: This sh*t is crazy. Here, he takes the Prodigy-like “Ugly” and adds appropriate visuals.
Thought I would share today some spanking new tunez that just won’t wait until Friday today. All three have a big-room sound, but without the formulaic rhythms that so often typify the genre. that seems so mandatory on all our favorite tracks.
First up is a remix from Swedish giant Alesso. He takes Keane‘s lullaby-ish tune and flips it right on its head. One thing I’ve noticed about Alesso: he rarely takes on the kinds of tracks that are popular to remix. Which is to say, you’re not going to see him do a Britney Spears single just for the sake of it. (Big exception: his massive remix of Avicii‘s “Levels.”)
The next comes from Munich native Thomas Gold. He takes on “The Wave” from Swedish pop stars Miike Snow. It’s a song that’s been remixed more than a few times, but Gold’s version seems to be getting a lot of love around the globe. Thomas Gold reminds me a lot of fellow German DJ Kris Menace. Not so much in sound or style, but in terms of musical ability. You can hear it in this song — all the different ups and down, and the ever-shifting … formats, I guess, for lack of a better word. If you’re anything like me, you may find you don’t love this track straight out of the gate. But you definitely will grow to appreciate it.
OK, time to ‘fess up: the real reason for this post is to highlight this new release. For the last month, Eric Prydz has been leaking tracks from his new album, Eric Prydz Presents Pryda, which comes out next week. Let me state this as calmly and quietly as I can: BUY THIS F**KING ALBUM! Prydz is THE godfather when it comes to making house music. Ask any new producer … scratch that, any producer who has launched a career in the past 10 years: they’ll tell you Eric Prydz is the role model and inspiration who helping them develop their style. This track is the kind of Pryda production I love: full of energy and enthusiasm, great before the party … and during the party … and after.
Oh, and did I mention the album is THREE discs? Huge!
Kind of a calm-before-the-storm weekend. Not that much new stuff dropped — but what did definitely raise some eyebrows. First was a quick video teaser from Zeds Dead. You really have to appreciate what these guys are doing right now. Sure, the whole hip-hop/dubstep thing has been taking off everywhere, but DC and Hooks are doing it differently — and doing it better, some (OK, me) would say. Their video teasers and trailers, especially, are sheer genius, creating such a buzz around the songs that they seem larger than life. This video highlights their new track “The One.” Check it out — and be sure to cop the Victor EP while you’re at it.
I’m a huge fan of Ecotek, so when this dropped late last week it was an automatic download. With Paige on vocals, it sounds downright heavenly. Reminiscent of Deadmau5, it’s made for boats and beaches. Throw in remixes from Kevin Alves and Trajikk & Joman, and the whole EP is a must-grab.
Speaking of progressive house, I have a gem for fans of that genre. Whelan & Di Scala are two dudes out of Liverpool who have a track that’s climbing the Beatport charts. “The Fox” will put a smile on your face no matter where you are. This is an immediate buy.
A big shout-out to Pleasurekraft, who have been a personal fave of mine since their remix of “La La Land” a few years back. The boys were just in Toronto last week — check out the Provoke Web site HERE for a taste of what you missed. The double Ks, Kaveh and Kalle, know how to nail that perfect balance of carnival and progressive house to create sustained pleasure. Always a good show, and often an even better listen, this Swedish-American duo will be one of the hottest acts to catch this week in Miami. Keep an ear out for their new joint “Skeleton Key,” featuring Green Velvet on vocals. Should be a return to the glory of “La La Land” all over again.
Okay, maybe this weekend wasn’t a big one for shows in the Greater Toronto Area — but there was at least one event during the previous week that more than compensated. Washington, DC’s Sharam was the featured artist on the bill Wednesday at Cobra on King Street West, as Emergency and Provoke Media outdid themselves with a stellar show.
The crowd was primed, proper and packed, to say the least, and the location fit the occasion. All that was needed was for the Iranian-born DJ to deliver the goods. And no fear on that count: Sharam sensed what the crowd was in the mood to hear and scratched that itch with by serving up some of his classic hits.
His name may mean “modesty” in Persian, but a DJ of this calibre has no need to play it humble. The songs flowed seamlessly, and the vibe stayed dialed up to its highest setting throughout the night. Best of all was the choice of tracks. Sharam doesn’t stick religiously to his own stuff; just as in his acclaimed podcasts — or Wildcasts, as he calls them — he plays whatever he knows will get the party hype and keep it going to the small hours. Check out his latest Wildcast (below) and you’ll see exactly what Sharam aims to do whenever he’s behind the Pioneers.
While you’re at it, scope out the pics from the event HERE – and take a stroll around the Provoke Web Site: as you can see, they’re doing big things. With Pleasurekraft, Nic Fanculli, Stefano Noferini and, of course, The Martinez Brothers all on deck, Provoke and Extravaganza are burnishing their reputation for bringing the hottest EDM acts to the Toronto — and soon to the rest of Canada.
I’ll talk abut my Steve Aoki interview in tomorrow’s post. The living legend opened up about his new album Wonderland, the current state of EDM, and much more.
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
