Category: Featured

SONG OF THE DAY: Benny Benassi – “Back to the Pump”

Benny Benassi is one of those wonderful DJs who is always fun to watch and dance to – if for the simple reason that every time you look up at him, he is smiling and having as much as you are.? Ten years ago, he released the classic “Satisfaction” and continues to release tracks that alternate between massive, aggressive electro workouts (“House Music,” “Who’s Your Daddy”) and prettier, progressive vocal songs (“Beautiful People,” “Dance the Pain Away”). “Back to the Pump” is one of the former, a straight-for-the-jugular energetic monster that you can’t help but to jump up and down to.? While there are lighter passages that could be extended to become a pretty, progressive track, the main focus is prime time banging electro beats.? The only question is if whether the “Pump” in the title is a reference to “fist-pumping” or to his label’s remix name “Pump-Kin.”

Image Courtesy of Ultra.

INTERVIEW: Dannic (ADE 2013)

Daan Romers, aka Dannic, started- like most DJs- making mashups before moving into original productions, and just as his mashups were played by all the big name DJs, his tracks quickly were as well.? From his contest-winning debut, remixing Funkerman?s ?Automatic,? to the solid string of club hits (?Doster,? ?Wop,? ?Pipeline,? ?Tombo?), his productions are highly regarded.? His partnership with Dyro yielded their first headlining party at the Amsterdam Dance Event 2013, which was a sold out success. With a packed release and tour schedule, you will definitely be hearing a lot more from Dannic.

DJ Ron Slomowicz: So how was your party last night?
Dannic: Really good and really hectic. I got surprised by Tiesto, Martin Garrix, W&W, and Hardwell all came to say hi. It was beyond what I expected.

RS: Was this your first time headlining a party by yourself with Dyro?
Dannic: Yes, it was my first time headlining at ADE with my own concept, Front Of House, and I was with Dyro who is one of my best friends.? It was really nice.
Continue reading INTERVIEW: Dannic (ADE 2013)

SONG OF THE DAY: Tai & Kay – “The Thrill”

It’s all about the collaboration. We featured Tai’s work with fellow producer Bot “Nuthin But Fire” last week, when the experimental and minimalist lo-fi electro track caught our eyes and ears. Kay sang one of my biggest club play records of the summer, “Back Off, Bitch,” with Static Revenger (it became so big that I even started playing her track with Tiesto “Work Hard Play Hard” again). Somehow the pairing of an edgy experimental producer with the tough-talking/singing vocalist created “The Thrill,” a pretty amazing full vocal EDM song that feels like glossy pop yet has all the edge you would expect. If you listen closely to the track, there is a bit of that lo-fi 8-bit glitch, dirty noises, reverbed and echoed background vocals that add a unique flavor to the big electro hook (not dissimilar to “Boneless”) and catchy sing-along vocal hooks. In anyone else’s hands, this would probably would have become a one line track; “Can’t Live Without Your Love” dropped sparingly over the drop of an 8-minute progressive stadium track. “The Thrill” brings out the best of Tai and Kay and makes us hope that there is more collabs come. Based on the video, we definitely see Kay becoming a fashion it girl for the way she is able to transform her image with such ease.


Image Courtesy of Dim Mak.