SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): DJ Samuel Kimko vs Adassa – Ole Ola

Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj get a lot of props for how they harness multiple personalities and characters in their music. To be able to both sing and rap is quite a unique combination of talents, so when you listen to “Ole Ola” by reggaeton princess Adassa and DJ Samuel Kimko, pay close attention. On the surface, it is a happy, singalong dance song that sounds like a surefire radio hit. The second verse slows down slightly when she starts to rap, but it is the third verse where it goes down to hip-hop tempo that you can really her exceptional lyrical flow. Then, when you add in the “sing and dance” and “ole ola” hooks, you realize that this is a brilliant summer pop song unlike anything else out there right now. Remixes by Andry J, D@niel Tek, Geo Da Silva e Jack Mazzoni, and Gil Sander, all add a bit of electro to the song and dub out the rap, keeping the sung vocals as the focus. This makes sense for clubs where everything needs to stay uptempo, but it also makes the original extended mix stand out as something really special (and great for a surprise reaction from dancers when the song unexpectedly changes tempo). Maybe one more mix is in the works with the downtempo part over a trap or dubstep break? Who knows. Either way, with the World Cup FIFA action in the air, “Ole Ola” makes a great dance-pop confection for the summer heatwave.

Image Courtesy of Kult Records.

SONG OF THE DAY: Adassa – Backfire

After enjoying a week of BANGERS at Winter Music Conference, it’s nice to return home and hear a great vocal record with an incredibly strong set of remixes. Let me introduce to you- Adassa. Fans of Latin music already know her as the “Reggaeton Princess” and she is entering the world of dance-pop with different singles aimed different countries. While other markets are getting records featuring Flo Rida, Pitbull, and Snoop Dogg, US DJs are getting “Backfire,” a record showcasing her strong vocals (think a Latina Leona Lewis) and songwriting skills (a deep, almost confessional record where she considers sabotaging a relationship to ensure a painless breakup). The darkness of the lyrical content fits in the realm of Zedd “Stay the Night,” making a great fit for radio. Of course, DJs are all about the beats, and there is a mix for everyone – Danny Mart (a modern fusion of electro and tribal), DJ Samuel Kimko & Don Candiana (a commercial take on progressive stadium house), JC (bouncy funky house a la Crazibiza), Lucas Reyes (subtitled as tech-house, but sounds more like nu-House to me), and Simec (trap pop). All that is missing is an over-the-top Mariah Carey-ish music video featuring her working hard to get noticed and loved by her unappreciative spouse and we’ve got a major hit contender for the spring.

Image Courtesy of Kult.

adassa backfire