This month’s playlist sees DJ James Ross revive old classics from Timbaland and Calvin Harris, and mix it in with new offerings from Kayne, Ed Sheeran and Selena Gomez. Collaborations are the flavour of the month with Skrillex and Diplo, Chris Brown and Tyga, and Big Sean and Drake just some of the artists blending their talents. Crank the volume and enjoy.
Artist: Skrillex and Diplo
Song: To U (Feat. AlunaGeorge)
Album: Skrillex and Diplo Present: Jack U EP (2015)
Festival legends Skrillex and Diplo have teamed up to form Jack U and they’ve finally released an EP following the success of their debut single Take U There with Kiesza. Working with AlunaGeorge on To U, this track takes influence from Australia’s Flume and Wave Racer with sun-drenched synths so renowned with ADM (Australian Dance Music) of late, coupled with the “turn up” that you would expect from these party experts, which allow for Aluna’s vocals to shine through.
Artist: Ed Sheeran and Rudimental
Song: Bloodstream
Album: X (2014)
Originally written by Sheeran, Snow Patrol and Rudimental with the legendary Rick Rubin on production duties, Rudimental have reworked Bloodstream into a drum and bass track in the same vein of their remix of Sheeran’s Drunk from his debut album +. This song was written following the singers experience taking ecstasy in Ibiza and kicks just as hard as the inevitable rush from taking E… apparently.
Artist: Zedd
Song: I Want You To Know (Feat. Selena Gomez)
Album: I Want You To Know EP (2015)
Selena Gomez has finally made her mark with I Want You To Know, a Zedd and One Republic’s Ryan Tedder production. The club track takes cues from Daft Punk but shies away from being a generic EDM track. Expect to hear this song in nightclubs everywhere and for Selena Gomez to venture further into dance music.
Artist: Chris Brown x Tyga
Song: Ayo
Album: Fan of a Fan: The Album (2015)
Chris Brown and Kylie Jenner’s supposed boyfriend Tyga have teamed up for a collaborative album in the vein of Jay Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Thrown. The first single from the project is Ayo and is produced by Nic Nac, who produced Brown’s Loyal, which Tyga also featured on and is produced in the same key, meaning that Ayo is essentially Loyal V2 and in no way is that a problem; it is seriously catchy R&B.
Artist: Eric Prydz Vs CHVRCHES
Song: Tether
Album: Tether EP (2015)
Originally one of Eric Prydz’s many private bootlegs, Tether was debuted at Ultra Music Festival in Miami last year and was one of the most talked about tracks of the festival. After CHVRCHES member Iain Cook watched a video of the performance at Ultra, the group reached out to Eric and started the process of making it an official release. Almost one year later, here it is!
Artist: Big Sean
Song: Blessings (Feat. Drake)
Album: Big Sky Paradise (2015)
Big Sean and Drake express their gratitude for their successes on Blessings, an album track off Sean’s new album. Drake’s verse is one of his best and doesn’t take anything for granted.
Artist: Raury
Song: God’s Whisper
Album: Indigo Child EP (2014)
Raury is moments away from blowing up if God’s Whisper is anything to go by. It’s somewhere between hip-hop and folk music. Ruary was one of the breakout acts of the 2015 Laneway Festival and his performance of this song was one of the highlights of the day.
Artist: Madeon
Song: Pay No Mind (Feat. Passion Pit)
Album: Adventure (2015)
Madeon’s debut album is out this month and Pay No Mind is the latest teaser that’s been dropped in anticipation of the release. With Passion Pit on vocal duties, this track is classic indie-dance akin to Miami Horror or The Ting Tings; destined to top the Hype Machine charts.
Artist: J Cole
Song: Nobody’s Perfect (Feat. Missy Elliot)
Album: Cole World The Sideline Story (2011)
Missy Elliot is back on everyone’s radar after performing at Super Bowl XLIX and has even jumped on the abovementioned Jack U’s track Take U There remix. I was thinking about tracks of hers I like and her feature on Nobody’s Perfect from J Cole’s debut album is fantastic. It is completely understated compared to tracks like Work It and Pass That Dutch. I daresay it is perfect.
Artist: Timbaland
Song: Miscommunication (Feat. Keri Hilson and Sebastian)
Album: Shock Value (2007)
And when you think about Missy Elliot, you inevitably think about Timbaland…Miscommunication was my favourite off the Shock Value album, which was not short of hits – The Way I Are, Give It To Me, Scream and the One Republic collaboration Apologise.
Artist: Phillip George
Song: Wish You Were Mine
Album: Wish You Were Mine EP (2014)
Sampling the legendary Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour, British producer Phillip George has reworked this soul classic into Wish You Were Mine; a chugging future house track. It’s seriously catchy.
Artist: Calvin Harris
Song: Colours
Album: I Created Disco (2007)
Long before Calvin Harris was the king of EDM and the face of Emporio Armani, he was producing indie-electro. Whilst he’s publicly distanced himself from his work pre Bounce with Kelis, I love his debut album and Colours is one of the standout tracks.
Artist: Kanye West
Song: All Day (Feat. Theophilus London and Allan Kingdom)
Album: So Help Me God (2015)
You’ll be listening to this All Day! Kanye West is back with his turn up best on this trap anthem. When ‘Ye posted wife Kim Kardashian’s infamous “Break The Internet” Paper Magazine cover to Twitter last November simply with the hashtag #AllDay, you wouldn’t know this was the result.
Artist: Major Lazer X DJ Snake
Song: Lean On (Feat. MO)
Album: Lean On EP (2015)
Major Lazer are back with the first single off their forthcoming new album due next month and this track is a far departure from the ratchet they’re best known for. Collaborating with Turn Down For What’s DJ Snake and featuring indie songstress MO, this track is chilled out moombahton with peak summer vibes highlighting the vocalist’s range.
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