VELO - Woof (Remixes)

This Rap/Electropop single is the latest release from JRED Music. It is an ultra catchy song written by Sean B. Cormack and produced by DJ Pistol. The minimal production is sexy. There are some club remixes by Craig C, Jay Santos & Bret Law, and Toy Armada. Craig C's main mix is in a Deep House style while the other one is in a Trap style, in a similar direction as the original. Jay Santos & Bret Law's mix is in big room style. Last but not least is the Toy Armada mix which is a hard, peak hour circuit-oriented one. Overall, all 4 mixes are great as is the original, but the Toy Armada mix is the best of the bunch.

-Check out the music video featuring appearances by Manila Luzon, Pablo Hernandez, and Rhea Litre here
-the digital single can be purchased here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Danny G Italy feat Droze - Running (Out Of Time)

This is the latest release from Gonna Be Music. It is a Tropical House meets Big Room track in its original version with some male vocals. There are some additional mixes by Maraud3r, Thinking Of Us and Loop Soop. The Maraud3r mix is harder and has lots of fierce synths. The Thinking Of Us reinterpretation mix is in a Tech meets Deep House direction. Loop Soop's mix is in a minimal Deep House style. Overall, the Maraud3r mix is the best of the bunch.

-Purchase the single with remixes here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Sergey Lazarev - You Are The Only One

This is the official entry for Russia in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. It is in a similar style as Sergey's own Electro styled Dance/Pop material. It has the feel of a BWO or Alcazar song from the mid 2000s coupled with a contemporary swing beat. The song has been an early favorite to win the contest when it happens in a few weeks. The hook and the chorus coupled with the dramatic production make for a fun track.

-Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Tony Valor feat. Li Na - To The Top

Released earlier this year, this infectious R&B/Dance/Pop song has begun to get some attention. This is the teen singer's latest single. It is a collaboration with Chinese singer Li Na. The song is super catchy in its original version. The song truly shines via its remixes. Giuseppe D's remix with its chunky bassline is at a similar tempo as the original and takes some of Li Na's ad libs and backing vocals and turns them into an alternate hook. James Anthony's mix is more club-oriented.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Listen to Giuseppe D's mix here (YouTube)
-Listen to James Anthony's remix here (YouTube)
-Purchase the single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Alex Newell & DJ Cassidy - Kill The Lights (with Nile Rodgers)

This was created especially for the HBO show Vinyl. The Disco-drenched song sounds straight out of the late 70s. Everything about the song from the fabulous vocals and the lush orchestral production are divine. Alex's vocal performance evokes traces of Donna Summer and Sylvester. DJ Cassidy and Nile Rodgers deliver a perfect thumping, layered production.

There are some additional remixes for the club release by Audien, Chuckie, Dimitri From Paris, and Yolanda Be Cool. The Dimitri From Paris remix is the best of the bunch as it is done in the style of those extended 12" mixes of the late 70s with certain elements played up and the whole thing just hits harder. The other versions are all variations of Electro House. Jess Glynne provides additional vocals on these remixes which complement Alex's vocals.

-Purchase the single here (Amazon)
-Purchase the remixes here (Amazon)
-Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A+

Zedd & Kesha - True Colors

This is a rework of a song which appeared on Zedd's album of the same name. A different vocalist was on the album version. This brand new version was performed for the first time at Coachella. The Electro Pop song is in the style of a power ballad with the building production. Kesha's vocals have a haunting feel to them. The lyrics are really poignant in light of Kesha's ongoing legal proceedings. This new version is absolutely stunning and is shaping up to be a big hit.

-Listen to the song here (VEVO)
-Purchase the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Vernessa Mitchell - This Joy (2016 Remixes)

Originally released in 1998, this song went on to be a major club classic. The original version was produced by Junior Vasquez and Gomi and the main remix was by Razor N Guido. That remix went on to be the most well known version of the ferocious Gospel/House anthem. Rosabel revisited this track a short time back, however, the new mixes remained unreleased until now. Due to the sudden, unexpected passing of Guido from the duo of Razor N Guido, the new versions have been released as a tribute. Their main mix does contain some melodic elements from the Razor N Guido mix, particularly the signature riff. The mix is Rosabel's usual big room-oriented peak hour style which is effective here. Their dub centers around the riff and lots of well-timed buildups and breakdowns and just enough of the vocals. These new mixes are extremely well done.

Listen to the mixes here:


Purchase the single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Nick Jonas feat Tove Lo - Close

This is the lead single from the heartthrob's upcoming album Last Year Was Complicated. He teams up with Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo on this sensual, minimal R&B track. It calls to mind some of Miguel and The Weeknd's recent work. The song doesn't feel like a lead single as it doesn't grab ahold of you immediately, but it is quite the grower. Nick and Tove Lo's voices blend well and they just sound great together. This has all the makings of another hit for both of them.

Listen here:


Grade: A

Pet Shop Boys - The Pop Kids

This is the first proper single from the English duo's upcoming 13th album Super. This is the second song to be heard from the album after the mostly instrumental "Inner Sanctum" was released as a teaser for the new direction of the album. The song's lyrics tell a story of two friends who met at university and shared a friendship during that time through their mutual love of the club scene. The story is given a proper conclusion in longer The Full Story remix which has an additional verse. The song's production is in a 90s House style. It has the deep tribal beats and the characteristic pianos. Some parts of the piano hook recall the main riff in Bizarre Inc's rave classic "Playing With Knives". This element is played up to great effect in the PSB Deep Dub version. Marc Kinchen and Offer Nissim provide the remixes. MK's take is in a similar vein as the original but in his usual straightforward classic House style. Offer Nissim's mix is dark and dramatic just as the remix name indicates. It contains most of the vocals and they have been spread out a bit. Both are really well done.

Listen to the remixes here:


Grade: A

Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece (Idol Version)

This is the 3rd single from her album of the same name. The powerful song is autobiographical and is a big ballad in its original version. A remixed version was produced for the radio release which has an 80s synthpop feel. It could be thought of as a Dance mix. Kelly made an appearance on American Idol last week and performed this in a stripped arrangement. The performance received a lot of attention as Kelly got really emotional during it, as did much of the audience. Kelly has since gone into the studio to re-record the vocals and with that same arrangement. The result is absolutely stunning. This new version is easily the best version of the song. It was released today and will be appearing on a special remixed re-release of the album which is due for release on March 3.

Listen here and purchase on iTunes

Grade: A

Blind Colors feat. Melonie Daniels Walker - Found Love (Remixes)

This is a new release from the Def Mix record label which is owned by the legendary David Morales. The vocals are by Melonie Daniels Walker who is best known for her distinct background work on many of Mariah Carey's songs, and of course on those re-sung remixes by David Morales which featured radically different vocal arrangements. Melonie delivers an excellent vocal here. Her lead vocals are controlled and restrained, and then she really lets loose with the ad libs and backing vocals. The first two remixes are by David himself. The first one is in David's traditional classic House style whereas the second one has a stronger Disco flavor. The R&D mixes are in a Deep House style echoing the glory days of Masters At Work. Sami Dee's remix is softer than all of the others but it is still quite effective.

-Listen to clips and purchase the single here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Bit Error + Country Club Martini Crew feat. Inaya Day - Do What We Do

This is the first original track from DJ/producer/remixer Bit Error and Country Club Martini Crew. It features the vocals of Dance diva Inaya Day. The song has a distinct 80s flavor to it with the synths and beats, but it sounds contemporary. It is dancefloor and radio ready. The main versions are out now, but a full remix package will be released on March 4.

-Listen to clips and purchase the original mixes here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Sudad G feat. Tascha Johnson - Won't Give Up

Melodic House in the vein of stuff from the early 90s has made a huge comeback in the last year or so. This new release sounds like it could have been made back then, but it fits in nicely with all the current ones. "Won't Give Up" is a soulful song of positivity sung beautifully by Tascha Johnson. The main version has a deep bassline and a nice piano loop. The Nu Disco mix is exactly what the name indicates--it's a modern take on the sensibilities of the Disco era. Last but not least is the Yuichi Inoue remix which is a little lighter and more uplifting. All 3 versions are excellent.

Listen to clips and purchase the single here (TraxSource)

Grade: A

Jason DeRulo - Naked

This is the lead single from an upcoming re-release of his most recent album Everything Is 4. It marks a major change in musical direction for the mostly R&B and Pop singer. The production is spartse and sensual. Lyrically speaking, the lyrics are far more brazen and sexually explicit than those heard in any song he has released to date. They are very much in line with R. Kelly's recent output. The song has the feel of Future's recent work and The Weeknd's "Often" and "The Hills". Despite all that, the song is intriguing and sexy. The almost NSFW music video leaves almost nothing to the imagination as it shows Jason doing his best D'Angelo "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" impression for the camera, showing off his toned and buff body.

-Watch the music video here (YouTube) NSFW
-Purchase the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

Justin Bieber - Sorry (Barry Harris remix)

The song has already been a big success all over the world in its original version. Now it is all set to fill the dancefloors at the clubs with this fierce tribal remix by Barry Harris. He maintains the melodic structure of the original but makes it hard and driving. The Unapologetic Bitch version incorporates some apropos vocal samples from Madonna's "Sorry" and OneRepublic's "Apologize." The Mixshow version only uses the OneRepublic samples. Both are incredible.

Grade: A