Dance
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This week in dance music: The dance music community mourned ghetto house pioneer DJ Deeon, who passed away at age 56, Mayan Warrior organizers announced one final party for its recently burned down art car that happen this Halloween in Los Angeles, we spoke with Odetari, the Houston producer behind some of the biggest dance tracks of the year, the Chemical Brothers announced that their tenth studio album is coming this September, Steve Angello’s SIZE Records announced a partnership with Astralwerks and we shared exclusive Lightning In a Bottle 2023 sets from BLOND:ISH, Zhu, Moore Kismet, Wreckno and Liquid Stranger.
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Along with all that has, once again, come a flurry of new dance tracks. Here are the best of the week.
Gorgon City feat. Santino Le Saint “Gasoline”
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The Label: Astralwerks
The Spiel: Gorgon City are out with their fourth studio album, Salvation. Containing the already released singles “Voodoo,” and “Lost & Found” the album demonstrates that ten years in, this duo is deeply consistent, racking up a decade of sophisticated, very pretty and often quite cool music that builds up on the general aesthetic with each new release, but which never veers off too far from the core idea. The same remains true with “Gasoline,” which comes towards the clubbier end of the album and pulses with a dramatic piano intro, a rolling bass line, flecks of acid house, offbeat synth stabs and the same lushness and mystique that’s always been a key feature of the Gorgon City catalog. The breathy vocals here are from London singer Santino Le Saint, who delivers the titular sweet nothing “in the flames of desire, you’re the fuel to my fire, like gasoline.”
The Artist Says: “We really hope you guys love it as much as we do,” the pair wrote on Twitter. “It was an incredible experience writing it with all the amazing collaborators.”
The Vibe: Hot blooded.
CC:Disco!, Confidence Man, “Chez Moi (Waiting For You)”
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The Label: Phantasy Sound
The Spiel: Australian-born, Lisbon-based DJ/producer/label head, etc CC:DISCO! links with the fellow Aussies of Confidence Man for “Chez Moi.” French for “at my house,” the title is a clever one, with the cerebral, dreamy deep house anthem floating in like a cloud before getting tough in a really nice way.
The Artist Says: “Thank you so much to everyone who has been so supportive and [Phantasy Sound] for taking a chance on this record,” CC:DISCO! wrote on Instagram. “Now get into the sunshine and play this at full volume. I hope you like it!
The Vibe: Friday night at chez moi
Alesso feat. John Newman, “Call Your Name”
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The Label: Tomorrowland Music
The Spiel: A song several years in the making, “Call Your Name” is majorly anthemic stuff, with Alesso’s maximalist dance-pop production serving as a large-ass foundation for John Newman to sing to the rafters about wanting to call your name when you’re lost in the heat of the moment and whatnot. Both artists play the mainstage at Tomorrowland this weekend.
The Artist Says: “‘Call Your Name’ is a throwback to the dance era that we all know and love,” says Alesso. “John’s vocal really carries this nostalgic, powerful feeling and playing this one out recently has shown this track is made for the main stage!”
The Vibe: So excited at the mainstage that you’re legitimately barely keeping it together.
REZZ Feat. MKLA, “Haunted Eyes”
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The Label: HypnoVizion Records
The Spiel: REZZ’s output has always had heavy elements, so a new EP exploring her rock influences isn’t all that surprising. But It’s Not a Phase does demonstrate how well her longstanding aesthetic — pummeling beats, headbanging, a general sense of darknesss — translates to less overtly electronic music, with the seven-track project heavily incorporating guitars and vocalists, much like the bands that the producer born Isabelle Rezzezadeh grew up listening to. A standout is the pummeling “Haunted Eyes,” which features Toronto-based singer, whose breathy vocals juxtapose expertly with REZZ’s slabs of sound.
The Artist Says: “With this goth EP, I’ve really encapsulated some of my early inspiration musically before I even got into dance music,” REZZ says. “I grew up listening to bands exclusively, and over time developed an understanding of what it was about those songs that I loved. Lots of use of guitar, eerie melodies and distorted basses – this is a blend between sounds I’m known for while also expanding on my range with using new vocal styles and instruments.”
The Vibe: The incredible catharsis of aggressively riding the rail.
Sam Divine feat. Josh Barry, “Take My Hand”
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The Label: Defected Records
The Spiel: U.K. house veteran Sam Divine sounds fresh as ever on her latest, “Take My Hand.” The track shimmers with sophisticated flourishes, which all exist above a pulsing bassline that adds weight to the effervescent production. The track is completed by vocals from Josh Barry, whose previously sang on tracks by groups including Gorgon City and Rudimental, and who here adds warmth and soul to the pristinely produced track.
The Vibe: Take my hand, my heart, my bank account information, whatever — just don’t stop this song.
Keys N Krates & Rochelle Jordan, “What You Done”
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The Label: Defected Records
The Spiel: The always divine Rochelle Jordan links with the Keys N Krates guys for a very cool, very sexy, very simmering heater on which Jordan delivers gorgeously silky vocals over a smart, spare production that leans equally into straight percussion and waves of synth.
The Vibe: ’90s Mariah.
Lightning In a Bottle celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a characteristically loose party held at Buena Vista Lake near Bakersfield, Calif. this past Memorial Day Weekend.
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For those who’ve been going to LiB since its earlier days, the party was a reminder that the camping fest remains one of the most creative, comfortable, friendly and non-corporate on the circuit, with the community vibe that’s always defined the fest persisting today, even as LiB has grown from a gathering of friends to one of the West Coast’s premier festivals. (And in fact, one that attracts attendees from around the world, with the woman who checked us out at Target during a pre-fest supply run saying she’d also just checked out a group who’d just arrived from Spain for the event.)
This year, Lightning In a Bottle was characteristically whimsical, with installations including an enclosed dance area decorated like your best friend’s parents’ basement in 1999 (complete with Titanic playing on VHS), where a DJ played music from a wall of cassette tapes. Here, crowds danced to Billy Idol, Sophie B. Hawkins, INXS and many more until the early hours of the morning. Elsewhere, there was late night karaoke, an 11-year old busting out scorching sax solos during an afternoon jam session, yoga, meditation, tincture-making, booty shaking, swimming and loads of general fun and tomfoolery.
Driving it all, of course, was the music. The lineup has always balanced big names with underground and rising artists (typically leaning heavily into the house and bass realms), and this year was no different, with headliners including Purple Disco Machine, REZZ, SOFI TUKKER and Diplo and a flurry of rising acts playing across Lightning In a Bottle’s many stages.
Transport yourself back to the weekend with these exclusive Lightning In a Bottle 2023 sets from Liquid Stranger, Moore Kismet, Zhu, BLOND:ISH and Wreckno.
Liquid Stranger
Moore Kismet
Zhu
BLOND:ISH
Wreckno
SIZE matters for Astralwerks.
Today (July 20), the venerable dance label has announced a partnership with Steve Angello‘s SIZE Records. Under the terms of this deal, all future SIZE Records releases will be distributed by Astralwerks, with the agreement also encompassing SIZE’s back catalog.
Launched in 2003 by the Swedish House Mafia member, the SIZE catalog encompasses music by Angello, Laidback Luke, Eric Prydz, Afrojack, Don Diablo, AN21, Junior Sanchez and many other electronic stars and underground greats.
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The deal is also being punctuated by new music, with Angello releasing “What You Need” — a collaboration with masked duo Wh0 — tomorrow (July 21) via SIZE Records/Astralwerks and Wh0 Plays. The track marks the 250th release of the SIZE Records catalog.
“While I’m excited to honor the legacy of SIZE Records by re-launching the catalog, I’m every bit as thrilled by what the future holds,” Angello tells Billboard. “Teaming with Wh0 to make ‘What You Need’ the inaugural new release on the imprint feels like the perfect way to set the tone for everything we have planned. It’s a new era, new team, new SIZE, new collaborations, new music and lots of it! My gratitude to Astralwerks for taking this journey with us at SIZE!”
The deal marks a return for Angello and Astralwerks, with the label releasing Swedish House Mafia’s compilation albums, 2010’s Until One and 2012’s Until Now, which contained the trio’s all-time hits “One (Your Name)” and “Don’t You Worry Child.”
“SIZE Records is a powerhouse label and home to some of my all-time favorite records,” adds Astralwerks President Toby Andrews. “Being able to work with them as they kick off their 20th anniversary celebrations whilst Astralwerks is celebrating its 30th year feels like the perfect match. In addition to that, the whole team is excited to bring more of Steve’s music to the world and work with him and all his team to elevate the future vision and catalog of the label.”
Steve Angello continues to be managed by Wassim Sal Slaiby and Dina Sahim at SALXCO.
The Chemical Brothers will release their 10th studio album, For That Beautiful Feeling, on Sept. 8. The LP is the Brothers’ first since 2019’s No Geography, which won the 2020 Grammy for best dance/electronic album, with its lead single “Eve Of Destruction” winning for best dance/electronic recording. The forthcoming 11-track collection includes the already released […]
This past February, Taha Othman Ahmad was substitute teaching at a high school in his native Houston. But instead of executing lesson plans, he was at his desk uploading the music that would, over the next few months, make him one of the most successful electronic producers of the year thus far.
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“The students were like, hitting their dab pens in class, secretly under their sleeves,” says Ahmad. “The teachers walked in and smelled it and were like, ‘You should have been supervising the class better.’”
Ahmad was fired from the job. That same week, his landlords threatened to sue him to get him out of the condo he’d been renting. “I literally had no idea what I was gonna do,” he says. “I had like, negative hundred dollars in my account.”
Then his songs started blowing up.
The first was March’s “I
As Little Monsters await Lady Gaga’s upcoming projects, including Joker: Folie à Deux, Mother Monster took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 18) to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Chromatica Ball — her 2022 world tour in support of Chromatica, her sixth studio album. “I’m truly celebrating one whole year since we launched The Chromatica […]
Burning Man’s famous Mayan Warrior art car was destroyed in a fire this past April, but that’s not stopping its creators from throwing one final party. On Tuesday (July 18), the Mayan Warrior announced its last ever show: a Halloween party in Los Angeles. The Oct. 28 event is being produced in partnership with Los […]
Chicago-based ghetto house pioneer DJ Deeon has died. An update posted to the artist’s Facebook page on Tuesday (July 18) by an administrator states that “I am sorry to announce the legendary Artist, Producer, DJ, Label owner, and my friend Deeon ‘DJ Deeon’ Boyd gained his wings today. The family thanks you for your support […]
This week in dance music: Disclosure announced a new album, out today (July 14), and a boatload of other new music also dropped alongside it. Let’s get into it.
Shouse feat. House Gospel Choir, “Your Love”
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The Label: Hell Beach
The Spiel: Yes, the Australia/New Zealand-born duo is indeed following up their massive hit 2017 “Love Tonight” — which was sent into ubiquity via David Guetta’s 2021 remix — and this year’s second Guetta collab “Live Without Love” with another ode to romance. Featuring the House Gospel Choir (who also figured in The Blessed Madonna’s recently released “Mercy”), the song takes a moody, sort of celestial house production and adds a sort auto-tuned alien voice and then a swarm of very human vocals, which are altogether likely to hit you in your similarly human feels.
The Vibe: What’s not to love?
Tycho, “Time To Run”
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The Label: Mom + Pop
The Spiel: The venerable Tycho drops his first track of the year via the chipper, punchy “Time To Run.” Taking influence from the producer born Scott Hansen’s real life love of running — and coming with a sweet and simple running-centric video — the song layers a looped guitar riff and drums with effervescent and quintessentially Tycho electronic elements, building to a quick clip with a smart, bright mood.
The Artist Says: “Music has always served as a kind of meditation for me, long before I started creating it,” says Hansen. “As a competitive runner throughout my early life, I would play back loops of songs in my head to cope with the stress of races, focusing on rhythmic elements to help pace myself and stay calm. There is a unique form of clarity that I have found through the meditative practice of running, it is a fundamentally human experience, and when I feel the deepest connection between the mind, body, and nature. ‘Time to Run’ is my attempt to translate these ideas into music. My goal was to approach the composition from a new angle and let the rhythmic elements take the lead. I cast the melodic elements that have come to define the Tycho sound in a new light by juxtaposing them against a new foundation that takes cues from funk music.”
The Vibe: Runner’s high.
Joel Corry, Icona Pop & Rain Radio, “Desire”
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The Label: Atlantic Records
The Spiel: The eternally productive Joel Corry links with Swedish favs Icona Pop and Rain Radio — the secret-ish duo from Fred again.. and his brother Benjy — for a compact (just two minutes and 39 seconds!) but nonetheless full throttle ’90s style house anthem, with a singalong bridge and an earworm melody that’s sure to get lodged in your head, but which is good enough that you won’t actually be annoyed about it.
The Artist Says: “I’m so excited to finally release ‘Desire’ with Icona Pop and Rain Radio”, Corry says in a statement. “It’s been the most requested track ID in my sets for months and always goes off wherever I play it across the globe.”
The Vibe: When the only thing you really desire is to just be dancing hard with your eyes closed in a dark club in the middle of the night.
Baauer feat. Betsy, “Nothing’s Ever Real”
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The Label: LuckyMe
The Spiel: Baauer’s house era continues with the bright, piano-heavy “Nothing’s Ever Real.” The track features vocals from Welsh singer Betsy, who insists “’cause nothing’s ever real enough, takе what you want,” and comes with a video in which Baauer revives the sound recording guy character from the video for 2022’s “Let Me Love You” — extending both this persona and the facets of real world romance he captures.
The Vibe: Pretty real, actually.
Duke Dumont feat. Nathan Nicholson, “Losing Control”
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The Label: Astralwerks
The Spiel: Duke Dumont never misses and certainly isn’t starting today — with the release of another slice of the dark, transportive, larger-than-life club club fare that is his calling card. Featuring interestingly paced vocals from Nathan Nicholson of The Boxer Rebellion, “Losing Control” is urgent, sophisticated immersive and in possession of a deeply satisfying wind up and release that will surely help any given listener let go at least a little bit.
The Artist Says: “I made this record alongside Nathan Nicholson with my live show experience in mind,” Dumont says in a statement. “Strobe lights, iconic visual, anthemic synth leads, and a vocal hook that conjures paranoia or liberation, depending how you interpret the song. At the festivals I’ve been paying it’s been a big moment for the set.”
The Vibe: Liberation, for sure.
Troye Sivan has announced the release date for his upcoming third studio album, Something to Give Each Other. The collection described as a “celebration of sex, dance, sweat, community, queerness, love and friendship” will drop on Oct. 13.
The album was previewed on Thursday (July 13) with the ecstatic disco anthem “Rush,” which features the dizzying chorus, “You got my heartbeat racing/ My body blazing/ I feel the rush/ Addicted to your touch/ Oh, I feel the rush/ It’s so good, it’s so good/ I feel the rush/ Addicted to your touch/ Oh, I feel the rush/ It’s so good, it’s so good.”
In a statement about the song, The Idol co-star Sivan said, “‘Rush’ is the feeling of kissing a sweaty stranger on a dancefloor, a 2 hour date that turned into a weekend, a crush, a winter, a summer. Party after party, after party after after party. All of my experiences from a chapter where I feel confident, free and liberated. Independent, yet somehow the most connected to the music and community around me.”
The appropriately sensual, sweaty Gordon von Steiner-directed video for “Rush” is meant to evoke, “big groups of people feeling the joy of life and sex,” according to a release announcing the project. In the clip Sivan attends a hedonistic day party in which revelers pull off impressively choreographed dance routines in an abandoned warehouse, with Sivan getting in on the action by doing a keg stand and making out with a fellow party animal.
Sivan wrote the album with Oscar Görres (Taylor Swift, Sam Smith), Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa, Britney Spears), Leland (Selena Gomez, Ava Max) and Styalz Fuego (Khalid, Imagine Dragons). Something to Give Each Other is the follow-up to Sivan’s 2018 second full-length album, Bloom; he released the EP In a Dream in 2020.
The Australian-born singer/actor recently teased that he was prepping his first album in half a decade. “It’s not lost on me that some of you guys have been following along since i was the kid w the stye in my eye in that first video,” he captioned a series of videos posted to Instagram in June. “Btw — I didn’t mean to take 5 years to make this album.”
In addition to the album, Sivan is prepping the launch of Tsu Lange Yor, described as an “independent luxury lifestyle collection of fragrances and art-driven objects.”
Watch the “Rush” video below.
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