Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love (Audio Assembly Remixes)

This was the title track from the late R&B powerhouses 1998 album. It was a big hit on all formats, most notably on the club charts with the fantastic remixes by Jonathan Peters and Thunderpuss. This song remains a favorite by many to this day and was the inspiration for last year's hit "I Got U" by Duke Dumont which included some lines from the song re-sung by a new vocalist. 

Just as the Lifetime network biopic featuring re-recorded songs by Deborah Cox is to premiere, remixing team Audio Assembly has released 3 newly remastered mixes of this classic. They retain the essence of what made the Jonathan Peters and Thunderpuss mixes so memorable but they put their own unique spin on it. The longer, extended version nearly clocking it at 15 minutes features a gorgeous drop into a downtempo piano section. All 3 mixes are excellent.

Download and stream all 3 mixes here:

Grade: A

Katy Perry - Unconditionally (Nu Collective Demo Mix)

This heartfelt ballad was the 2nd single from her PRISM album. It performed only moderately well after the massive hit "Roar" which preceded it, and then of course "Dark Horse" was huge afterwards. This is still one of many highlights on the album. The song had a number of remixes, however only a couple of them were really well done. The best remix of the song surfaced this week! It is the previously unreleased production by Nu Collective (the trio of Billy Waters, Floor One, and John Michael Di Spirito). Despite the title containing the word 'demo', the remix sounds completely polished and complete. It is a melodic, big room mix staying true to the original, maintaining the emotional element that made the original so special.

Listen to the remix here:

Katy Perry - Unconditionally (NU Collective Demo Mix) by Billy Waters Productions on Mixcloud

Grade: A

Wayne G feat Debby Holiday - Dive '13 (Part 2)

The 2nd set of remixes of the club classic is out now. Chris Cox, Club Junkies, Jerome Farley & Joel Dickinson, LFB, LuckyDeejay, Mark VDH, Matt Consola & LFB, and Nu Collective provide the new mixes.

Chris Cox delivers a slamming update to his earlier mix. The beats are not as hard, but the overall structure including the synths and main production elements are the same. The Club Junkies mix is very mainstream. Farley & Dickinson's dark, drummy mix is really good too. LFB's mix is also on the dark side, but it has the feel of late 90s Almighty 'definitive' mixes. This adds some much needed drama. LuckyDeejay's has lots of soaring synths. Mark VDH's tribal mix has a slight Rock edge. Matt Consola & LFB's is circuit-oriented, but it will work well on mainstream floors too. Last but not least is Nu Collective's circuity mix with a touch of 90s Handbag House is lovely. Nu Collective, Farley & Dickinson, LFB, and Matt Consola & LFB's mixes end up being the best of the bunch though all are great.

-Listen to clips and purchase here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Rihanna - Right Now (feat David Guetta)

This is the 4th single from her Unapologetic album. This had also been an early favorite and now it is a single. Produced by David Guetta, Stargate, Nicky Romero, and Tuinfort, the club-oriented song is typical of what one would expect from them. This one should easily top the charts.

There have been a bunch of uncommissioned remixes of this song making the rounds. The two best ones so far are by Eddie Baez and Nick Harvey with Billy Waters. Eddie's peak hour circuit mix makes this a floorfiller. Nick Harvey & Billy Waters' mix has a big room feel but this has a much more mainstream feel. This one improves upon the original considerably making the song so much more exciting.

Eddie Baez mix

Nick Harvey & Billy Waters mix


Grade: B (for the original)/A (for the remixes)

Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side (Billy Waters & Floor One Mix)

After the smash success of "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" comes "Dark Side." This Pop/Rock song is perfect as the followup. Lyrically, it is a bit of a departure from what some of us may be used to from Kelly, but this shows another dimension of her. Kelly's vocals are stunning as can be expected.

There is a wonderful dance remix of this by Billy Waters and Floor One. They have done an impeccable job of preserving the integrity of the original while making it danceable.

Listen to the Billy Waters & Floor One mixshow:

• Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Grade: A (for the original)/A+ (for the remix)

Adele - Rumor Has It (Joel Dickinson & Billy Waters Remix)

This is the 4th single off of her extraordinarily successful album 21. The sassy Motown-inflected song shows yet another side of the diva. Remixers Joel Dickinson and Billy Waters have reworked this song for the dancefloor. They give it a techy-tribal treatment with all the vocals taking center stage. The airy synth riff that calls to mind Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" is just so cute. This remix is fantastic, taking this song to another level.

Listen to the remix here:


Grade: A

Audio Assembly feat. Paul Mahos & New Life Crisis

This is the latest original track from red hot production trio Audio Assembly (aka Joel Dickinson, John Michael DiSpirito, and Billy Waters) featuring the vocal talents of Paul Mahos of Rock band New Life Crisis. New Life Crisis is best known for their song "Daylight", which was remixed for the dancefloor by Tony Moran. On "Sway", Mahos delivers a rousing glam rock vocal that would make Freddie Mercury proud had he still been with us. There are remixes by Audio Assembly, Gomi, and Nick Harvey. Audio Assembly's mix is long and hard with dark synth stabs. Gomi's mix is trancey and hard. The production is so pretty with or without the vocals. Nick Harvey's mix has tons of blinding synths coupled with hard beats. All 3 have done a kickass job on their respective mixes. This is an excellent release.

Listen to clips and purchase the release here (Beatport)



 Grade: A+

Billy Waters - I Say

This is the debut release from remixer/DJ Billy Waters. Already known for having completed a number of remixes (as part of trio Audio Assembly and with other collaborators) during the last 2 years, it was only a matter of time before he would branch out into original productions. "I Say" is a dark, tribal peak hour track with a few manipulated male vocals sprinkled throughout it. This will fit well into circuit and afterhours sets. In addition to the main version and an instrumental, there are several DJ tools including beats, synthapella, and an acapella.

Listen to previews of all the versions:




Purchase the mixes in MP3 and WAV formats here (Juno)

Grade: A

Katy Perry - Firework (Remixes)

This is the third proper single from Teenage Dream. The anthemic "Firework" is catchy as it is empowering. The uptempo number has an underproduced electro/house sound to it.

There are plenty of remixes of this one by The Wideboys, Fred Falke, Jump Smokers, and Nick Harvey & Billy Waters. The Wideboys mix is in a similar vein as the original with a slightly funkier sound. Fred Falke's has an 80's synthpop sound to it. The Jump Smokers mix is a tad edgier than the others. Finally, there's the circuit mix by Nick Harvey & Billy Waters which truly turns this song into the anthem it was meant to be. This is the strongest mix of the package. Overall, all versions are good, but the last one is great.

-Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)
-Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Inaya Day and BetBoyz - Higher Place

This is a collaboration involving singer Inaya Day plus Randy Bettis and David Boyd. Inaya delivers the goods as only she can with a soulful, yet stirring performance. All versions of this song are circuit-oriented. There are remixes by Randy and David, DeMarko!, Peter Barona & Hull, JMBW & Joel Dickinson, and Almond Brown. The main version by Randy and David is hard and driving. DeMarko!'s is much harder and more big room-oriented. Peter Barona & Hull's mix is very synthy. JMBW & Joel Dickinson's mix is a bit darker. DJ JST's is both darker and harder. The Almond Brown mix is minimally produced with just a little bit of everything. Overall, every version of this song is very good!

Purchase the digital single here (Traxsource)

Grade: A+

Adam Lambert - If I Had You

There's another uncommissioned remix of Adam's third single, and it is by Trypsin & Billy Waters. For those wanting something a bit more circuit-oriented, this is it. They manage to maintain the fun vibe of the original while making it more club-friendly.This is really great.

Watch the remix video made by DJ DigiMark


Adam Lambert - If I Had You (Trypsin & Billy Waters Mix)(DJ DigiMark Remix Video) from DJ DigiMark on Vimeo.

Grade: A

Jesse B. Williams v. Brooke Wilkes - Last Day

This is the latest single from Brooke. Written by Jesse B. Williams, the lyrics are really good. The song's style and writing calls to mind such classics as "Don't Let This Moment End". Brooke's vocal performance is memorable and effective. The original version is dance/pop-oriented. It begins like a Donna Summer song with the slow part and then the uptempo production comes in. It has a short mixable intro before the slow part. There are remixes by Manny Lehman, JMBW & Joel Dickinson, and Taz. Manny's is his usual big room brilliance. JMBW & Joel's mix begins like many of their tribal anthems with a drama-filled buildup. The slow part from the original is maintained for the beginning of the first verse and is a nice touch. Taz's version is very synthy and seems to jump through multiple styles within one mix, including big room, electro house, and minimal house. It somehow works. Overall, this is a strong record with a strong remixer lineup.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat) and here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Junior Vasquez - Junior's Nervous Breakdown 2: Demented

After last year's successful Generation Next comes Junior's newest mixed CD. This is the second CD he has done for Nervous Records in this particular series. The last was released nearly a decade ago and was filled with many of this productions at the time. This one features only a single production with his name attached to it. The mix begins with some darker tribal songs but the light, soulful vocal-oriented cuts arrive very soon. There are several sections which alternate between the dark and the light. The flow between these sections is smooth. Junior is known for his multiple hour sets which span across multiple genres. Transferring that aesthetic into a 60 minute mix can be challenging, but it works perfectly here. All of the tracks bring something special to the set, however, some of the highlights include the Joe Salcedo track which is the namesake for this compilation, and the new Inaya Day track. All of the vocal-oriented cuts are beautiful. Overall, this is a great mixed CD. This will be released on August 17.

Tracklisting:
01. Male FX – Intro
02. FX – Siren
03. Nick Harvey – Junyork featuring Junior Vasquez
04. Junior Vasquez – X-tatic (JMBW & Joel Dickinson Saturday Mix)
05. Honey Dijon – Walls Down (Tom Stephan Remix)
06. Honey Dijon – Noise Violation feat Paul Alexander (Masi & Mello’s Beatz 2 Da Brain Remix)
07. Kid Massive – Doesn’t Matter feat Elliotte Williams N’Dure
08. Lisa Millet – Bring Me Down (ATFC remix)
09. Laidback Luke & Gregor Salto – Step By Step feat Mavis Acquah (Abel Ramos Remix)
10. Lisa Pure – Can’t Say No (Tommyboy Dub)
11. Oscar G – Your Love feat Tamara Wallace (Jaimy Remix)
12. Jonny Montana – I Don’t Want To Lose You feat Stephanie Cooke (The Str8jackets Mix)
13. Joe Salcedo – Demented (Joe’s Demented Drumm Loop Mix)
14. Alyson Calagna & Jose Spinnin – Ahora feat Micah and Ash Ruiz (Jason Chance Remix)
15. Tom Sawyer – Alone featuring Ana Herrero (Benny Royal Mix)
16. Inaya Day & Antoine Dessange – Joy (JMBW & Joel Dickinson’s Club Mix)
17. Dawn Tallman – Feel It (Todd’s House Is A Feeling Mix)
18. DJ Mike Cruz Presents Inaya Day and Chyna Ro – Movin’ Up (Jonny Montana Remix)
19. Kim English – Supernatural

Grade: A

Leah Driscoll - If This Is Love

This is her debut single. "If This Is Love" is a beautiful song with a classic feel which brilliantly showcases Leah's stellar vocals. It's a simple dance/pop track in it's original version. The song has some remixes by Soul Seekerz, Groove Police, and JMBW & Joel Dickinson. Soul Seekerz provide a pretty, uplifting mix. Very similar to what the Freemasons would do. Groove Police's has the uplifting quality but is a bit harder. The JMBW & Joel Dickinson mixes really turn the song into an anthem. The Marathon-esque production is really wonderful. Overall, every version is really great. An excellent first release from the newcomer.

Purchase the original and the Soul Seekerz and Groove Police mixes here (Amazon)
The JMBW & Joel Dickinson mixes are new and have yet to be released for purchase at this time. Listen to a clip here (SoundCloud)

Grade: A+

Kimberly Davis - Get Up

This is the first club-oriented single from Kimberly Davis. "Get Up" is a rousing club anthem that urges clubbers to get to the dancefloor. Kimberly's vocal performance is top-notch. The first package of mixes featured an outstanding big room mix by Oxford Hustlers. Bobby Rios, DJ Payback, and JMBW & Joel Dickinson provide the mixes on this part 2. Bobby Rios' has the feel of a eurodance/circuit track. DJ Payback's is a bass-driven mix with old school rave elements. JMBW & Joel Dickinson's are circuit/tribal-oriented. Their mixes are a little lighter than their usual, but they are still quite hard-hitting. Their Riff Dub has some fun old school references (Jonah's "Ssst...Be Quiet" and Ke's "Strange World" immediately come to mind). That can be thought of as an almost entirely new track. JMBW & Joel's mixes are the ones to play from this new package.

Both the part 1 and part 2 remix packages can be purchased at Masterbeat.

Grade: A

Barbara Sheree - Power To The People

Hot on the heels of "Together" which has finally introduced Barbara Sheree to clubland (and the world) comes her new single "Power To The People." Barbara's vocals are warm and uplifting on this song. The lyrics are very positive and empowering. There are plenty of remixes for both the European and U.S. dancefloors.

The European package contains mixes by Alex Petrov, Alex Volpi, Dan Walter, Gregg Morrish, Kannamix, Nwico, Phoenix, Romey Boy and Sebastien De Brito & Jordane G. The original club mix (by Jerome Farley & Floor One) is a slightly lower tempo house mix. Think of it as a modernized take on 90's hip house. Alex Petrov's is at a similar tempo as the aforementioned JFF1 mix, it has a nice 80's synthpop feel. Alex Volpi's is similar but a little modern. Dan Walter's is electro/tribal-oriented. Gregg Moorish delivers two mixes. One is a big room electro/funky house mix while the other mix is a little less gritty and more atmospheric. Kannamix's is 80's styled with a fun warped synth. Nwico's is very minimal and at a lower tempo. Phoenix's is really soulful and pretty. Romey Boy and Sebastien De Brito & Jordane G's mixes are both funky disco/house-ish. All are quite good. The main mix and the Phoenix ones are the standouts.

The U.S. package features mixes by JMBW & Joel Dickinson (JMBW is the duo of Billy Waters and John Michael). They deliver a hard, tribal, hands in the air anthem. It has a cute little reference to Black Box's club classic "Everybody Everybody" worked in. Also included are some dubs, beats, a synthapella, and a tribeapella.

Both packages are really great.

-Purchase European remix package here: Juno | iTunes
-Purchase the U.S. remix package here Juno | iTunes

Grade: A

Tim Letteer - U Gotta Luv

The original release of this happened a couple of years back. "U Gotta Luv" is a simple, positive track, with a hypnotic male vocal chanting "If you wanna make a difference, if you wanna change the world...you gotta love". This release features some new mixes by Michael Hades, David Ohana, Billy Waters & John Michael, and Jerome Farley & Floor One. Also included are the previously released Jamie J. Sanchez and original mixes. Michael Hades' mix is simple, minimal house with some deep synths. David Ohana takes things in a slightly darker direction. Billy Waters & John Michael stay true to the original versions with their Classic mixes. Think of theirs as a new freshened up version of the original. Jerome Farley & Floor One's mix is a bit synthier and electro-tinged. The Jamie J. Sanchez mix still sounds great. Nice and drummy. Tim's original mixes are still just as hard-hitting as they were when they were released. This is a very strong release with a little something for everyone.

Purchase the release here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A

Kevin Aviance - Gimme More

This song originally came out in 2007. There were hundreds of remixes of Britney's original and dozens of covers. Now this song gets an update by legendary performer Kevin Aviance. In the main version, Kevin stays true to the original but adds his own additional style and flare by altering just the right lyrics. There are some remixes by Nick Harvey and Billy Waters & John Michael vs. TWB. Nick provides his usual hard, driving tribal mix. With the warped synths and just the right amount of elements of the original, it's really fun. There are all sorts of things happening throughout the mix that keep it fresh from minute 1 to almost 11. The Dubstramental by Nick is great as well. The Billy Waters & John Michael vs. TWB Drama mix does indeed have plenty of 'drama'. Also hard and dark, this one has grittier, sleazier synths. This is equally good. Both mixes are really well done. An acapella is also included for your remixing pleasure.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A

Billy Waters, John Michael and TWB on Derek and Romaine

Note: Normally this blog is dedicated to just reviews and previews of what's coming up, but now this blog will also serve as a platform for up and singers, remixers, etc. in addition to the reviews.
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Rising stars Billy Waters, John Michael DiSpirito and Thee Werq'n B!tches have quickly made a name for themselves with their remixes during the past year. Thee Werq'n B!tches had already been doing remixes and DJing for several years. Billy had been DJing for a couple of years too. As a team, they have worked together to make produce some fantastic remixes for artists such as Karen Young, Eddie X presents Niki Haris, Zelma Davis, Whitney Houston, and many more. And that is all just in the last year! They have also completed a number of private mixes of some select club classics. Most notably, the legendary Junior Vasquez is a big fan of them and their work and has frequently featured their productions in his sets.

Last week, Billy, John Michael, and TWB made an appearance on the Sirius/XM Radio show The Derek & Romaine Show to discuss their background, how they came to work together, and of course, their productions. Clips of several previously released and upcoming remixes were played. 

Here's a recording of the segment. (Mediafire)

Nick Harvey - Wurkin

Already on a roll with a number of releases on his label, Nick Harvey's latest track "Wurkin" will also be quite huge. It is a dark, tribal mostly instrumental track, save for some select vocals. It would fit in well during slightly deeper, afterhours type sets in its main versions. Remixes by John Michael & Billy Waters, Michael Hades, Taz, and Streamweaver help this song to fit into other types of sets. John and Billy take the song in a dark, peakhour circuit direction. The synthwork calls to mind the NY club classic "Lift Up The Needle." Michael Hades also takes the song in a slightly more commercial peakhour direction. Taz's is a bit more minimal but it works really well. It calls to mind some of Armand Van Helden's really dark, dubby treatments of songs during the mid to late 90's. Streamweaver takes things in an epic, trancey direction. It's really great to see that much variety on a remix package.

Buy the digital single here (iTunes)
Grade: A