[Throwbacks:] Odessa – Caribou (featured in FIFA ’11)
This eclectic little number comes from an era twas rife with alternative electronic acts like Caribou. Released in 2010, a few years before, acts like MGMT and Empire of the Sun were transforming alternative rock and electronic music while channeling sounds of the 80s rock scene.
“Odessa” was featured in FIFA ’11, the worldwide hit soccer video game from EA Sports, well known for its varied soundtracks. Take some time and drift away to these entrancing sounds.
Swedish duo Galantis, delivers a fun, light-hearted affair with “Emoji.”
[Dance House:] Emoji – Galantis
Swedish EDM duo Galantis’ newest song “Emoji” is a very welcome affair to the EDM world. Beginning with very soft, yet sultry vocals reminiscent of ones oft used by fellow House DJ, Kaskade, the beat picks up into energetic, fun, light-hearted sound. A nice change of pace from the high energy drops so often the go to’s at modern EDM shows and festivals.
Oooohhhh weeee / Send me an emoji, lemme know how you feel croons the female vocalist. Accentuated by light piano chords and a light rhythm, the song certainly makes a perfect “wind-down” number for house DJs.
The music video, directed by Dano Cerny is a cute visualization of a member of the duo spending time alone at his house with an emoji/heart. The ending is really sweet and the video goes well with a fun little tune like this one.
Learn more about Galantis on their Facebook, and hear more music from them on Spotify.
[Commercial with Cool Music:] My Favorite Things (Urban Noize Edit) – Nora Khalif
Commercials have increasingly turned to EDM to be featured in their adverts. Car companies have probably been sampling the electronic genre’s gems for quite some time, since the rise of dubstep almost a decade ago. Volvo stepped up and featured a remix of a traditional song (along the lines of Toyota’s Bippity Boppity Boo EDM Remix).
In a rare twist however, a full version of the remix was also released and uploaded to Youtube. Often when EDM is used in commercials, the song will be a snippet produced only for the commercial and a full version is never released. Volvo made a smart move featuring Urban Noize’s remix of the song which also has a full version. Enjoy it above!
Louis the Child’s “Better Not” offers up futuristic synths alongside tropical, island beats.
[Downtempo Dance House:] Better Not (feat. Wafia) – Louis the Child.
Just in time for the summer is a cut with plenty of cool, tropical vibes. With a repeating reggae tin drum in the backbeat helping to create the dreamy, calm atmosphere of “Better Not” Wafia‘s vocals fit right in.
Louis the Child creates an interesting flow with this one, which initially resembles a contemporary pop song.
Though that may be true, by the first hook the track intrigues as the synths pick up. Then by the first “drop” you’ll find yourself humming and swaying to the beat and echoing the chorus of “You better not…” This is a great song for the season and not to be missed.
Check out these two great tracks I found thanks to Old Navy’s commercials. Great work by their marketing team!
[Electronic & Bass:]Â Men$a – Nothing Like This (feat. Love Lola Love)
You never seen nothing, like this………DEM NEVA SEEN NOTHING LIKE DIS
Today’s featured track is EDM producer and DJ Men$a’s “Nothing Like This.” The song is a high-energy dance number that features heavy bass over a fairly fast BPM. Reggae dancehall samples, “Dem neva seen nothing like dis,” mix very well with the British-accented Love Lola Love‘s vocals. Her style on this track is very reminiscent of Santigold or M.I.A. The synth-break/drop is not entirely unpredictable, however the track is funky and very different nonetheless. I had heard of Men$a before but never checked out his music, if this is an indicator of his tracks I will be listening to much more Men$a from now on 🙂
Men$a’s “Nothing Like This” featured in the latest Old Navy commerical (as of mid-August 2017)
The song, released 6 days ago is featured in a new Old Navy commercial that was released 3 days ago. This likely means the song was made in conjunction with the commercial (to be released/used by Old Navy very quickly) or was made for the commercial. Typically songs made just for commercials are not released to the public (ex: Arby’s “Triple Thick Trap Remix”, most of Scion’s commercial music, etc.) The only exception’s have been songs so popular in commercials the original artist ending up having to release it or extend it (that trap number that was in Mountain Dew’s “Puppy Monkey Baby” campaign with the dancing Asian guy, ended up actually being released.)
Old Navy had another commercial this summer with some banger music. Their “Hi-Light” commercial featuring a bunch of friends hopping out of their cars at a red light and dancing til the light turns green had some notable music. Sofi Tukker’s “Awoo” was featured in the ad and is quite the spicy latin-flavored pop number itself. Be sure to check it out.
I know, I did, not raise a wrist
I know, I did, not capture it
It came (it came), it went (it went), it conquered quick
I was there, and then, I quit…
Apparently it’s hot right now to remix Blu Cantrell’s “Breathe.” The 2003 single featured Sean Paul and enjoyed substantial airplay on hip-hop and R&B radio stations. Just in time for the wrapping of summer 2017 come two great house remixes of the original song.
Pearse Dunn’s remix channels slightly more aggressive dance-ready number, with a  funky BPM and grimey basslines coupled with synths ready to heat up the clubs, this remix definitely has energy. Calvin Buckley’s take is slightly more chill, like a mid-to-late night cut rounding out the night. Think turning up the crowd then gradually letting them mellow back out. Steadily building, echoing synths and snares culminate to a short break before the rhythm and melodies are broken down then built back up.
Be sure to check out my latest mix, a chill mix of potential club favorites, perfect for 2017’s summer vibes.
Starting off very chill with Phantom’s epic and haunting remix of ODESZA’s “Waited 4 U” the energy picks up as the song transitions to favorites by Tchami, Diplo, Zedd and more!
By far, this is one of the smoothest mixes I’ve done and needed the least post-editing. I am very proud to present this to you all on SoundCloud. Enjoy.
![[Throwback:] [Alternative Pop/Electronic:] Caribou – Odessa](https://illuminousmusic.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/d2acc5b99b69da66acbd57d44d6c5d6f.jpg?w=1200)
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