SONG OF THE DAY: Dash Berlin ft Kate Walsh – “When You Were Around”

Living in Nashville, Tennessee, I have to say that I am loving this new trend of international trance superstars filming their videos here. A few months ago, Paul van Dyk flew in to film the video for “I Don’t Deserve You” with Plumb. If you watch the video for “When You Were Around,” you can see several elements of the Nashville skyline, like the batman building and the pedestrian bridge across the river flowing through downtown. Totally digressing, I have a personal connection because as a college intern, my summer project was the offering package with the Department of Transportation to convert the bridge to a pedestrian way. Back to “When You Were Around” – British folk singer Kate Walsh is an inspired choice for vocalist on Dash Berlin’s energetic yet pretty trance anthem, one of the standout tracks from their #musicislife album released earlier this year (of course along with “Better Half Of Me,” “Casllisto” and “Apollo Road” – actually the album whole is pretty incredible). While both remixes are quite strong (Ferry Corsten goes trancey and Lange goes proggy), the original version is the one I am most likely to reach for in my club sets.

Image Courtesy of Aropa/Armada.

SONG OF THE DAY: Vassy – “We Are Young”

“We Are Young” might sound familiar, as it’s been recently used in several major ad campaigns – Chevrolet Orlando, Skechers, Google, and the Little League World Series. Australian singer/songwriter Vassy has a playful, yet husky and soulful, voice which is quite memorable as well, especially for those who heard her belt out the recent club hit “History.” In its original version, the uptempo dancehall reggae vibe of “We Are Young” is punctuated with an infectious hand-clap rhythm and an “oh oh oh” chant – the perfect background for Vassy’s dynamic voice (which channels a young Billie Holiday). For the clubs, remixes by Dave Aude, Ivan Gomez, Dirty Freqs, and Reidiculous are now making the rounds – each with a unique sound fitting just about every commercial club genre (electro, classic house, chainsaw, and stadium house). Equipped with a graphically edgy video, watch for “We Are Young” to heat up clubs all winter long.

Image Courtesy of Audacious.

SONG OF THE DAY: Otto Knows ? ?A Million Voices? (US Release)

Kudos to Universal for bringing one of the year’s biggest club records to the US. Yes, it’s “A Million Voices” by Otto Knows, you know, the “eh eh eh ah ah ah” song. The Swedish producer, best known for his remixes of Dada Life and Imogen Heap, constructed an epic-feeling track, similar in energy to the Dario G classic “Sunchyme,” using the simple and repetitive effected vocal loop of “eh eh eh, ah ah ah.” Sometimes something so simple is the most effective and the track has been massive all summer. You might also know the track from a cheeky bootleg version of it mashed with Afrojack’s “Can’t Stop.” Originally released on Ingrosso’s credible Refune label back in February, the track has been picked up by Universal for US release, so expect a massive commercial push as the club hit goes pop. I have a feeling that this track will end up on a bunch of commercials and movie soundtracks – or at least based on the new video, become a theme song for recycling and underground raves.


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