Monday Mashup: Major Lazer vs Usher (DJ Jamie C)
We're kicking the week off with this mashup of Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor " and Usher's "Yeah." DJ Jamie C combines old and new with these two major club anthems, blending together everything that's great about electronic and hip-hop for this HipTronik dance floor remix.
Drown in the Now – The Crystal Method ft. Matisyahu
Fusing music genres can be tricky, but The Crystal Method and Matisyahu do it seamlessly. “Drown in the Now” is a composite mix done right, with intricate nuances that keep you on your toes. The track is a natural by-product of the artists’ different musical perspectives: The Crystal Method has an electronic focus, while Matisyahu—a Hasidic Jewish musician—works with reggae and religion. "Drown in the Now" mirrors this dynamic between electronic and reggae effortlessly, creating a complex, musical harmony.
Rombo – The Bloody Beetroots ft. Congorock
Smoking pineapples and battered fruit might seem strange in a music video, but The Bloody Beetroots make it work. The group collaborates with Congorock for the trance-inducing, attention-grabbing song “Rombo,” which mixes peculiar sounds with a hypnotizing track. Bear in mind, this is not your run-of-the-mill dance video—the distorted images look more like something from a horror movie—but The Bloody Beetroots are known for shying away from the norm. “Rombo” may not be typical, but that’s why we like it.
Misery – Good Charlotte (Steve Aoki Remix)
We know what you’re thinking: how does Good Charlotte fit into the HipTronik mold? The answer is Steve Aoki. The pop-punk band’s song “Misery” morphs into a dance-worthy mix with his helping hands. The song is based on a hard electronic sound that starts slow and then gradually builds into a high-frequency dance track. Aoki has a way with tracks, and “Misery” is a great example.
She Loves Everybody – Chester French (Steve Aoki Remix)
"She Loves Everybody" is, by now, a classic viral hit by Chester French chronicling the tale of a young man and his out of control, flighty girlfriend. As if the original track wasn't already a musical masterpiece, with lines like "she craves affection so I use protection" and "always around to take control/ I never feel alone," the ever-ubiquitous Steve Aoki has worked his magic, pushing this song into a different dimension altogether. Capturing the eerie, almost defeatist sort of emotion of French, Aoki's electronic edge stops you in your tracks and dare we say, makes you really think. One YouTuber commented that this remix belongs in an art house. We'd have to agree.
Skin Dive – Duran Duran (Steve Aoki Remix)
Duran Duran is not a group you would typically find on our HipTronik radar—the ‘80s rock band is not exactly known for being danceable. But when Steve Aoki gets his hands on a track, it’s bound to get you moving in all the right ways, and “Skin Dive” is proof of this. Aoki breaths new life into an old school sound by infusing elements of electronic and hip hop into a rock song. “Skin Dive” is a striking blend that mixes traces of the familiar with modern, in true Aoki fashion.
Kiss n Tell – Ke$ha
You’ve probably heard Ke$ha’s hit song “TiK ToK” blasting on the radio recently (remember when we said you’d be hearing from her?). The song was #1 on the Billboard Charts, her new album Animal is already generating a lot of buzz. She even recently performed on the Lopez Tonight show. Now she’s coming out with her second single “Kiss n Tell”—adding another notch to her already illustrious belt. The song adds a little more pop into the mix, but still has that familiar electronic edge. Ke$ha shows that she’s no one-hit wonder; we’re excited to see what she has in store for us.
A Night With You – Electric Valentine
London's nightlife and electronic music scene sparked the imaginative fuel of Chris Qualls and Lauren Baird, the creative minds behind Electric Valentine. After the pair’s previous band—A Kiss Could Be Deadly—dissolved, the duo joined forces in a hotel room to compose and produce “A Night With You.” The next night, they performed the song in a small venue where it instantly became a hit, getting thousands of plays per day on Myspace. The song’s quick-paced, electronic beat sets the tone for the robotic vocals, making for an upbeat mix of fun dance music. Electric Valentine has jumped in popularity because of their diverse appeal and unique sound.
My Face- Starrset ft. Fangs
You may not have heard of Starrset just yet, but that's going to change fast. Fronted by brothers Devon True and Maverick McFly, Starrset is taking the Hiptronik genre down a rabbit hole of their very own. Already gaining recognition, the pair are currently writing and producing on Lady Gaga's sophomore album and have managed to snag Kanye to help produce a track of their own. As if that weren't enough, they've scored a hat deal with New Era and are preparing to embark on an international tour come February. Check out "My Face," Starrset's latest single featuring Fangs. A dancefloor banger in its own right, the brothers' flow matches up perfectly with Fangs's, resulting in a dizzying electronic frenzy. Also, be sure to listen to "Druks," another great track by the ace duo.
Keep Up – Hyper Crush
Here’s the latest single from LA-based electronic trio Hyper Crush. Vocalists Donny Fontaine and Holly Valentine, along with keytarist Preston Meronie, independently released their debut album “The Arcade” before signing with Universal Motown in 2008. Since then, they've steadily gained popularity with tracks like "The Arcade," "Robotech," and "Sex and Drugs." Known for their quirky sound--a throwback to the 80's or what they have coined "Electro/Doo-hop"--Hyper Crush has recently finished several tours, opening for artists like Kevin Rudolf and Lady Gaga. Released today, “Keep Up” is their infectious new HipTronik dance track that will really move your feet.
Killin Dem – Jovi Rockwell
Major Lazer's new album, "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do," has brought much attention to its two producers, Diplo and Switch--but don't overlook Jovi Rockwell. This singer/songwriter/rapper from Kingston, Jamaica, is featured on Major Lazer's track "Can't Stop Now" (alongside fellow reggae artist Mr. Vegas). She further showcases her own style of rap, reggae, and electronic fusion with her new track "Killin Dem," off her mixtape "Psycho Therapy." It's not difficult to see why Rockwell's sound invites comparisons to other leading ladies like M.I.A. and Santigold, but she lends a truly genuine feel to an already popularized reggae-influenced sound.
Lapdance (Bingo Players Bootleg) – N.E.R.D.
Hip hop and dance music fans alike are reminded of the unique funk/rock/hip hop sound that put N.E.R.D. on the map back in 2001, as this Bingo Players' edit of "Lapdance" (check out the original) makes its rounds in the current dance festival circuit. Always known as innovators of their craft, N.E.R.D. and The Neptunes garnered respect for their digital production techniques and should be considered pioneers in today's Hiptronik movement. It's no surprise that they've even headlined HARD New Year's Eve and HARD Summer, two of the biggest electronic music festivals on the West coast. Meanwhile, the Bingo Players are another Dutch duo that have risen amongst the ranks in the electro house scene in the past year, and Diplo's remix of "Get Up" remains one of the most recognizable tracks of 2008.
Who’s the Man – Daichi Miura
Wait a second--is that Michael Jackson? Well, not quite, but Daichi Miura just might be Japan's answer to the pop legend. "Who's The Man" is the first single off Miura's new album of the same name, which he released in Japan just a few weeks ago through Avex. With handsome looks and dance steps to match, Miura oozes seductive RnB vocals over an electric-stimulated track. The entire album follows the same format and makes us wonder: Is Japan beginning to catch on to the Hiptronik wave crashing over the rest of the East?
Awesome – The Bloody Beetroots ft. The Cool Kids
Synthy fidgety beats meet alternative hip hop in "Awesome," fresh off of The Bloody Beetroots' highly-anticipated album released this summer. The venom-masked duo from Italy made their mark in the electronic dance music scene with their monster hit, "Warp 1.9," featuring Steve Aoki, and remains one of the most recognizable sounds of the recent fidget house movement this past season. Both The Cool Kids (from Chicago and Detroit) and The Bloody Beetroots are making names for themselves with their own unique styles, appropriately showcased in this "Awesome" track.
She Wolf (Villains Remix) – Shakira
This is a great testimony to the rise of Hiptronik as Shakira's brand new single "She Wolf" has already been presented by Villains as a reinterpreted masterpiece. While Shakira dances as only she can, this is a great track drawing awareness to a new movement of electronic-inspired dance tracks.
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