Month: May 2015

[Video Game Music Origins:] [Geek Pop / J-Pop] Freezepop – Singles // [NONSTOP MEGAMIX] DJ Tiësto, Activision, Lady Gaga & Adamski


(Original production for PS2 game Harmonix’s FreQuency) Science Genius Girl

DJ Hero 2’s deadmau5 Megamix feat. Kaskade

Second Feature, DJ Tiesto’s Megamix in DJ Hero 2:

Freezepop’s popular music video for TENISU NO BOIFURENDO

As a gamer (when time permits) I can’t not highlight music inspired by, from and featured in video games. In fact, there are several games of days past that I can solely attribute to accentuating my love of EDM (electronic dance music) [for a list of good music video games check below].

 SSX 3 OST – Emerge (JUNKIE XL Remix) – Fischerspooner

SSX Tricky and more notably SSX 3 on GameCube featured a wide variety of artists including many British EDM acts as well as hip-hop. This game was the first to introduce me to artists such as, The X-Ecutioners, LCD SoundSystem, Audio Bullys and Jason Nevins’ remix of N.E.R.D.’s “Rockstar” with a soundtrack that featured a lot of electronic and UK house music.

Underground sleeper-favorite, blur, a racing game released by the makers of Geometry Wars on PS3 and Xbox 360, had an incredible EDM-filled soundtrack as well. The game sadly went under, probably due to a lack of a good marketing, but its concept was revolutionary, combining the weapon firing elements of Mario Kart with the sports-car inner-city racing thrills of Need For Speed Underground or Midnight Club, blur was way ahead of its time. Check out the blur soundtrack starting with Spank Rock’s “Bump (Best Fwends Remix)

[AMPLITUDE SOUNDTRACK]

Notables: Shades of Blue, Everyone Says Hi, Cherry Lips] For this feature I am highlighting a song out of the Playstation 2 series of music games, “FreQuency” and “Amplitude“. Revolutionary for their time, these games combined elements of rail shooters with music production, where the player would control tracks (such as bass, drums, vocals, FX, etc.) and by successfully tapping the notes the actual tracks would play and be added (or skip or get silenced if you mess up) as you successfully clear the stage. Someone playing S.C.G. by Freezepop in Rock Band

Freezepop was a well-known band through the games alone where they contributed some original music productions that could be called sci-fi techno, trance or just early EDM music. They also created another song called Super Sprode for Harmonix’s sequel to FreQuency, Amplitude, a fan/cult favorite music game that was way ahead of its time. With the song-creating elements of the first game and online interactivity Amplitude is known as one of the greatest music games of all time. There is currectly a KickStarter campain to create a sequel to Amplitude for PS4.

EDM giant deadmau5’s Megamix featuring House legend Kaskade

Next, from another popular, but also sadly defunct music game series, comes a stunningly-good megamix of songs by DJ Tiesto featured in the game DJ Hero 2, also produced by Activision. This game was very similar to their other music series, Guitar Hero but featured an actual turntable peripheral used to play the game, scratch and cut-up audio tracks. Though the game was immense fun, it’s very mainstream songlist, huge jump of difficulty from Hard to Expert (much harder than in GH) and lack of support for online play and DLC (though there was a lot of DLC upon first release) led to its eventual demise. DJ Hero by far however was not the first game to use a turntable peripheral, neither was Guitar Hero the first to use guitar add-ons. These medals below to Konami, Japanese video game publisher who’s BEMANI music video game series (started back in 1998) and the obsession of my life from about age 10-19 with their breakout series beatmania, it’s follower beatmania IIDX, and their most popular series to date, Dance Dance Revolution. Video Games with Popular or Prominent Soundtracks: The entire Dance Dance Revolution series Final Fantasy series (notably VII, IX, X, XI and XIII) Audition (Korean PC free-to-play music series) The entire beatmania IIDX series Guitar Hero (3, World Tour, 4) Pump It Up SSX Tricky, and SSX 3 Grand Theft Auto Series & Sleeping Dogs FIFA games and many other EA titles

[Future Trap / Prog. Dance:] Sevyn Streeter – Don’t Kill the Fun [ARULE Remix] / & / [Rap / Smooth Hip-Hop:] Young Thug – Flava (feat. Rich Homie Quan & Birdman)


Check out ARULE’s amazing remix of Sevyn Streeter’s “Don’t Kill the Fun” featuring Chris Brown. Combining elements of trap, future house and dance music this remix is club and dance ready and one of the more expertly polished remixes of Streeter’s single. You can download it for free on the Soundcloud page.

Second, we have Young Thug’s “Flava” featuring fellow rappers Rich Homie Quan & Birdman off the Rich Gang: The Tour Part I EP. This track has just the right amount of hip-hop sound combined with a pinch of futuristic, chilled-out spacey sounds alongside a smooth echoing piano chord. Check out the Official video above.

[REMIX FEATURE: Tinashe’s “2 On”] from DJ Irresistible, Luca x Lush, and DJ Q [Jersey House, Future House/Chillwave & Deep House]


DJ Irresistible Jersey House Remix:

LUCA LUSH Remix:

DJ Q Deep House Remix:

This Remix Feature is on one of my favorite singles from California-based R&B songstress and dancer, Tinashe. “2 On” featuring Schoolboy Q is considered by many to be her break-out single that put her into the mainstream. I highlighted the song when it was first released, Drake’s “remix”, and the [at the time] a few select listenable EDM remixes shortly after it’s release. Chiefly, Wax Motif’s floor-filling dance remix, and TOKiMONSTA’s classy, seductive remix, which some fans very expertly choreographed in the link below.

By far two of the best remixes of Tinashe’s top 40/radio debut are by Jersey house DJ and producer, DJ Irresistible (check out another nice Jersey House remix here from DJ Poppa Dubb). Of note also is the Future House and alternative remakes by LUCA LUSH and DJ Q respectively.

2 On TOKiMONSTA Remix Choreography by Rianna Lee
https://youtu.be/W5eYNvR4QSg

[NEW Future Trap / Future House:] Cash Fargo – Undo Your Love // [Future Chillwave / Progressive House:] Class X – Away (Original Mix)


We’ve got two new Future classics for you today from EDM artists, DJs and producer Cash Fargo along with Class-X.
Our first is Los Angeles producer, Fargo’s “Undo Your Love“, a transfixing smooth blend of house-y male vocals, much akin to Disclosure or Tchami, but with that indie, fresh, hipster feel (and I mean that in the best way possible). If songs like this are indicative of Cash Fargo’s work and overall sound, it’s safe to say we can expect him to be a rising name in the alternative EDM scene, slated to appear at alternative EDM venues and festivals (if he is not already).

If you’re looking for something a bit trappier Fargo’s remix of Future’s “Covered ‘N Money” is great as well (see below:)

Next up (link below) is the chillwave progressive-house mélange of sounds in Netherlands DJ, Class-X’s “Away“. With simply beautiful, relaxing piano arpeggios and a back-beat with elements grounded in house, but flirting between the lines of sounds more characteristic of Trance. Give the song a listen below and download it for free on Class-X’s Soundcloud.

[EDM Origins House & Alternative:] Kaskade – Steppin’ Out // Kosheen – Same Ground Again


Kaskade is probably one of the most popular and sought-after American producers of electronic and house music. Chances are, if you watch TV, play video games or went to the movies you’ve heard one of his songs. His music is featured in many different forms of media, much akin to fellow EDM producers and DJs, like BT and Paul Oakenfold.

Our feature is one of Kaskade’s signature songs from the early 2000s, the completely chilled-out, smooth house single “Steppin’ Out”

Kaskade is largely known for growing the house music scene in his hometown of Chicago in the early 2000s. Though Kaskade has varied in musical styles during his growth, as a whole, his music can be said to be fulfilling for the soul, or music to put you at ease. Much of his house music includes sultry female vocals alongside soft, harmonic melodies that become instantly recognizable, simply from their uniqueness. Take the song that introduced many, including myself to Kaskade, his absolutely astonishing remix of David Morales & Tamra Keenan’s “Here I Am” featured in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada.

Next up was a random song that my iPod shuffled to today. An EDM/progressive-house tune I bought and downloaded back when I was a senior in high school (2007). This one comes from Alternative Electronic band Kosheen, one of their bigger breakout singles, “Same Ground Again“. In fact, their whole 2007 EP, Damage is chock-full of good alternative-sounding electro music that still holds up today. Check it out above and see more from Kosheen at the links below:

[Origins EDM:] Araabmuzik “Golden Touch” and its original sample Whigfield’s “Right in the Night (Favretto & Batini Remix)”


Whigfield – Right In the Night (Favretto & Battini Remix) / Araabmuzik – Golden Touch

This origins post features the trance EDM song “Right in the Night” by Whigfield. The Favretto & Battini Remix serves as the base for popular hip-hop (and as of the last few years, electronic) producer, Araabmuzik’s instrumental track “Golden Touch” one of the better flips from Araab’s electronic-influenced music series Electronic Dream.