SONG OF THE DAY: Sylvane ft Sweet Melissa – Light Me Up

Living in Nashville is both a curse and a blessing for people making dance music. The curse is, of course, the overwhelming focus on country music and the traditions associated with it. The blessing is a plethora of singers and songwriters looking for a break and willing to experiment. Nashville is a songwriting town, so if you are a producer who makes a great track, finding a singer to write a topline is just an ad on a bulletin board away. Sylvane is the more upfront/aggressive pseudonym of Lenny B, who is better known for making commercial remixes. On “Light Me Up,” he flips the focus of progressive house. Whereas tracks by Zedd and Avicii are normally passive, meaning they that play in the background with a mellow energy, this track uses a lot of the familiar stadium/progressive sounds but transforms them into something energetic and aggressive with electro, but not a standard soundalike festival banger track. While you can hear a hint of country in Sweet Melissa’s strong vocals (especially in the last syllable of each line), the lyrics take the track from club to radio-friendly pop. Both remixes are similar to the original but manage to focus on a different flavor (or influence of another producer). If you are wondering what an Arty remix would sound like, check out Dennis Pederson’s mix, and if you are a fan of Walden, then Jus Jack & Oza’s will be your mix of choice.

Image Courtesy of Cloudland Music.

SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): Ace Wilder – Busy Doin Nothin

If the Dutch are viewed as the best in the EDM world, the leaders in the dance-pop kingdom are clearly the Swedes.? From Abba to Ace of Base to Robyn, is there really any competition? Stepping up to the stage is Alice Kristina Ingrid Gernandt, better known as Ace Wilder, who topped the Swedish pop chart with “Busy Doin’ Nothin’,” which she had performed in the Annual Melodifestivalen. Not to say the song is reductive, but clearly she was listening to Avicii’s album and thought “let’s make this into eurodance pop for teens.”?The chorus chant “Don’t Wanna Work” is so infections that the verses don’t even need to be there.? Her song could easily be the slacker anthem for millenials.?? Swedish producer EsQuille channel ’80s/’90s Hi-NRG for just about girliest “hands-in-the-air” twirl since the heyday of Stock Aitken Waterman.? Yes, it sounds modern and current, but something in the bassline might make you smell poppers in the air.

Image courtesy of Warner.

Terri B Interview (2014)

One of the many amazing things about going to Winter Music Conference is that you never know who you are going to run into. Enjoying a set by HiiO on a hotel rooftop, I saw Terri B walk in and started chatting her up.?Aside from Jes, it’s hard to think of anyone else who is such a quadruple threat ? singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ.? Then when you see her perform you will know why there is an exclamation mark instead of a period after the B!??Take a listen to this Spotify playlist, you will probably recognize a lot of her music.???Terri B! is a force to be reckoned with so watch out for her sets and new releases.?

DJ Ron Slomowicz: Terri B, you are a singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ, what can?t you do?
Terri B:?I can?t ski and I am not a great swimmer!

RS: I heard that you have been remixed over 1,000 times and you have a relationship with Avicii through that.

Terri B: Avicii?s first major remix was ?Bang That Box,? which was my collaboration with Roger Sanchez.??It was also remixed by Laidback Luke, and he also remixed ?You Used to Hold Me? which was a big track with D.O.N.S. ft. Terri B. I have opened a few times for David Guetta and also opened for Tiesto, so my diversity has been very clear. I started in trance by doing vocals for Future Breeze and went on from there to do a lot of major Global Deejays remixes.
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