Justin Bieber - Sorry

This is the second single from his upcoming album Purpose. It follows the trend of 80s Synthpop inspired songs that began during the Spring. This is even stronger than the previous single "What Do You Mean" which is in the Tropical House style. It has the makings of another hit and could surpass the previous single success-wise. The new album is shaping up to be one of his best ones to date.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean (Barry Harris Remixes)

This is the #1 hit single from his upcoming Purpose album. It has been a mainstay at clubs and on radio throughout the last couple of months after a major social media campaign to hype it up. The song marked a change in sound from the singer as this is in the Tropical House style which has recently begun to gain favor in the mainstream. The song has a melancholy undertone to it. It is easily one of the strongest singles he has released to date.

Barry Harris, formerly of the legendary remix duo Thunderpuss has remixed this. He gives it some of that signature Thunderpuss drama while maintaining the lightness of the original. It's nicely balanced.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Listen to and download the Barry Harris remix here (HearThis)

Grade: A

Pino Firmani & Stefano Capasso Feat.Kyn Mahone II - Movin On (Remixes)

With the recent resurgence of Soulful House which stylistically bears a resemblance to its Disco beginnings, there have been many strong releases. This is one of the latest ones. If one were not told this was a new release, it could have easily come out during the heyday of Disco. Kyn Mahone II's vocals are unforgettable and the lyrics are so relatable. Coupled with the fantastic production, the result is fantastic. The majority of the remixes are in the same style. The Extended club mix has a deep bassline and rich orchestral elements. The Original mix has a harder drum track but is similar to the Extended version. The Classic Philly version has a softer, uplifting feel. The Seventy mix is funkier. The Corvino Traxx version is slightly techy. The Autodub mix is minimal but it is bassline-driven. The Peter De Girolamo remix has a harder beat with a techy undercurrent. Overall, the Extended club mix and Classic Philly versions are the best of the bunch though every one of these mixes is well produced.

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

Grade: A

Manika - I Might Go Lesbian (feat. Tyga)

This is the latest from the singer-songwriter. It is an Electro/Pop midtempo club banger about being tired of men. The lyrics are a little over the top and hilarious, but that's what makes the song memorable. Coupled with the DJ White Shadow-esque production, the song is super catchy. Tyga is a good accompaniment to Manika's rapid fire lyrics. There is a club remix by the Jump Smokers which plays up the Electro aspect of the song.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Listen to the Jump Smokers remix here (YouTube)

Grade: B+

Madonna - Vogue (Barry Harris Remix)

To mark the start of Madonna's new Rebel Heart tour, Barry Harris (formerly of duo Thunderpuss) has produced a brand new remix of the club classic which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The song has been a staple of Madonna's tours (it appears in the current tour in abbreviated form) and is routinely updated and reinvented. Barry got ahold of the original vocal stems and made a fresh production which is faithful to the melody of the original, but he changes it up for today's dancefloors. He thankfully has used all the vocals. The result is a booming dancefloor anthem which brings this song into the 21st century.

Listen to the mix and download it here:


Grade: A

Rita Ora feat Chris Brown - Body On Me (Remixes)

This is a new collaboration involving the two Pop and R&B singers. It is a sensual midtempo that contains one of Rita's strongest vocals to date and is one of Chris Brown's best features in a while. Their vocals complement one another perfectly. There are remixes by Dave Aude and Zac Samuel. Dave Aude has delivered a mix that is faster than the original, but isn't quite at a traditional House tempo. It's in the style of the Tropical House that has been popular. The vibe of the original translates extremely well with this remix. Zac Samuel's Disco-lite remix is at a higher tempo and also works well. Both remixes are exquisite.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Listen to Dave Aude's remix here (YouTube)
-Listen to Zac Samuel's remix here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Paris Hilton - High Off My Love (Remixes)

The reality star and socialite released an album in 2006 and had a string of moderate club hits with remixes of the singles. Her second album is due later this year. The lead single features rapper Birdman and is a hybrid of Eurodance and Dubstep. The song is fun and is perfect for the dancefloor. Paris' spoken-sung style of singing is effective here. Dany Cohiba, Dirty Pop, Division 4 & Matt Consola, Mike Rizzo, Mindskap, and Tracy Young have provided the first set of remixes. Dirty Pop's mix is in a similar direction as the original but harder and more Electro. Dany Cohiba delivers a softer Deep House mix. Division 4 & Matt Consola deliver a hard, anthemic treatment that is perfect for peak hour play. Mike Rizzo's mix is the most mainstream of the bunch, however, it would be great for peak hour too. Mindskap's mix is also in a Deep House direction but it is more chill. Last but not least is Tracy Young's hard, synthy big room mix. Overall, all of these mixes are really well-done, but the best of the bunch are Division 4 & Matt Consola, Mike Rizzo, and Tracy Young's.

Grade: A-

Nick Jonas - Levels

This is the new single from the heartthrob. There have been rumors that this is from a brand new album that will be released later on, however, there has also been talk of it being from a re-release of his last album. This is cut in the same style as the last album, however, this has a strong 80s Funk/Pop flavor fused with the Dance/Pop of today. It sounds like a lost Prince song. This has the potential to be a big hit for the singer with the right promotion. Nick will be performing this at the MTV VMAs pre-show this weekend.

-Listen to the song here (YouTube)

-Purchase the single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Groove Addix feat Chase Silva - Free To Be Me (Part 2)

The uplifting tune released in the Spring has received a second package of remixes by remixers Argonaut, Brian Cua, Darren Burgos, Dr. Brooks, Joel Dickinson, SLM, and Tim Letteer. The Argonaut mix has a deep bassline with some techy elements. Brian Cua delivers a mix in the new Future House style with a hint of EDM sensibilities. Darren Burgos delivers a delightful Deep House mix. The hard, drummy Dr. Brooks mixes are minimally produced but they pack a punch. Joel Dickinson's mix is hard and perfect for peak hour. Tim Letteer delivers a techy Tribal mix with a deep bassline. Overall, every one of these mixes on the second package well-produced.

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

Grade: A

Dirty Disco Feat Debby Holiday - Was That All It Was

Originally recorded by Jean Carn in 1980, the R&B/Disco song became a classic at the legendary Saint club. Kym Mazelle and Hannah Jones went on to cover it. The Hannah Jones recording was also quite successful. This new version is faithful to both the original and the Hannah Jones versions. Debby's vocals are powerful and soulful. The main version is a Garage meets Tribal House affair, resembling something that would have been produced by Peter Rauhofer in the 90s as part of his Club 69 project. It captures that sound nicely. There are additional mixes by Leo Frappier, Phil B, Ralphi Rosario, and Space City. Leo Frappier & Phil B deliver a darker Tribal mix which turns this into an anthem. Phil B's solo mix is in a Hi Nrg/Disco House style. Ralphi Rosario's mixes have a Tribal flavor but they are Disco-oriented. The dub brings all the drama. The Space City Dub is minimal and is great for later in the evening. Overall, this is a solid package. It's hard to choose a favorite as all of the mixes are so well-done.

Grade: A

David Morales feat Janice Robinson - There Must Be Love

Nearly several months in the making, this testament to the necessity of love in the world has finally been released. It is the latest collaboration of veteran producer/remixer/DJ David Morales and singer-songwriter Janice Robinson. They have worked together in the past for David's last album Changes and he remixed Janice's underground hit "Earthbeat" in the mid 90s. Janice's vocals are soulful and beautiful. The lyrics are well-thought out and powerful. The Disco Juice remixes are a fusion sound of the glory days of Disco and the melodic House of the 90s. The Piano Intro version starts off with a piano whereas the other one begins with the drums. The World mixes are deeper and a little darker. These recall the classic Red Zone mixes which would usually accompany the mainstream club mixes on a double pack. These are far more dramatic. Ralphi Rosario has also provided a remix which is tribal and darker, however, the vocal sections have some piano elements. Overall, this is an excellent song and every remix works well.

Listen to clips and purchase the release here:



Grade: A+

Faithless - Insomnia 2.0

The original is nearly 20 years old and has been remixed and revisited countless times, however, Avicii has done a new remix of this as part of an upcoming Faithless remix collection. The song was a huge hit all over the world. The Monster Mix version of the song based on the original is the most famous. Avicii's remix of it features vocals that have been pitched down and it does contain the famous riff, however this remix lacks the energy and drama that made the original so memorable. Additional remixes are supposed to be released in the next few weeks so hopefully some of the others will stay closer to the original.

Listen to the remix here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Chablis - I Love You Anyway

If you're looking for a positive and uplifting song for your Summer sets, look no further than this one. The original combines traditional piano Gospel music with Hi Nrg beats. The Sylvester-esque vocals are fantastic. The other remixes by Jared Jones are in a 90s Handbag House style. The happy pianos in the latter mixes are an excellent match for the vocals.

Purchase the single here (iTunes) and here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Disclosure feat Sam Smith - Omen

This is the latest single from Disclosure's forthcoming album Caracal. They have reunited with Sam Smith who previously performed vocals on their breakthrough "Latch." Despite the similar pairing, this song is significantly different from their prior collaboration. The song isn't as catchy as the prior outing, however, it appears that is by design and it will be quite the grower. This is far more introspective and a little less mainstream. The production is classic Disclosure, but it's at a lower tempo and has a slight 80s influence. Sam's falsetto-heavy vocals are gorgeous.

-Watch the club themed music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Nick Jonas - Teacher (Remixes)

The Jason Evigan-produced song is suggestive and groovy, and it is the next single from the heartthrob's current album. The song is super catchy and has multiple hooks, both lyrical and instrumental. There are remixes by Bassanova, Dave Aude, and Young Bombs. Bassanova's mix fuses Deep House and Dubstep to create an interesting mix. Dave Aude's mix keeps many of the melodic elements of the original and is Giorgio Moroder-esque. The Young Bombs mix is at a lower tempo and is in a Trap style. Overall, all 3 are well-done, though Dave Aude's is the best of the bunch.

Watch the lyric video here

Grade: A