SONG OF THE DAY: Polina – Fade to Love

A reader of the blog asked me why I never wrote up the song “Fade to Love,” since I am such of fan of Polina- having written up her collaborations with L.A. Riots (Kamikaze) and Mobin Master vs Tate Strauss (Dreams). The simple answer is that I didn’t know about it. Produced by Alex Gaudino, “Fade to Love” is a modern synth-pop track where Polina channels a Teri Nunn vibe with her dual personality vocal (stronger, almost spoken verse, with a pretty sung chorus). The vocal production is exceptional as the bridge features a male vocal mirroring hers- though it could possibly be her voice lowered an octave. On first listen, the chorus “Fade to Love” sounded so familiar that I thought this song was a cover. After a frantic Google search trying to source the lyrics, my good friend Jason pointed out that I was confusing it with Bryan Ferry’s “Slave to Love.” For club use, Russian duo Zeskullz toughen it up with a bit of electro, while Betablock3r smooths it out with a summery pop feel. The video will inspire you to get your car headlights rewired so you can have a disco lightshow backdrop, though hopefully you won’t be moved to destroy the vehicle afterwards. Kudos to Polina for her debut solo single as the sole artist (and not featured or versus). If this is what she sounds like on her own, here’s hoping that an album is in the works as well…

Image courtesy of Happy Music.

Notable Dance Podcast #060



Made To Move – Perfect Lady (Original mix)

NSFW – Jaywalker
Lupe Fuentes – So High
Chocolate Puma – Rubberband Lazer (Original Mix)
Plastik Funk ft Polina – One of These Days (Original Mix)
Royksopp and Robyn – Do It Again (Zoo Station Club Mix)
New World Sound & Timmy Trumpet – The Buzz
Dave Aude vs Luciana – You Only Talk in Hashtag (REALLY CLEAN)
Kryoman, Paul Anthony featuring Playboy playmate Paige Young – Losing All Control (Kryoman Edit)
John Dahlback & Benny Benassi – Blink Again (John Dahlback Remix)
Michael Woods – Flash Hands (Original)
Matteo Marini & Molly Bancroft – Feel Like Hope (Mona Lisa Club)
Porter Robinson – Sea Of Voices (Social Status Remix)

Picture of Lupe Fuentes take at Winter Music Conference 2014.

SONG OF THE DAY: LA Riots & Polina – Kamikaze

As a DJ/blogger who usually filters through 300 tracks a week, it is sometimes easy to miss a gem during a quick preview. Unfortunately, that was the case when I first heard “Kamikaze” a few weeks ago. Released on Tiesto’s Musical Freedom label, the collaboration between Daniel LeDisko (LA Riots) and chanteuse Polina starts off a bit restrained before the dropdown to vocals and the build to big room electro. When you quickly scan through the track, it doesn’t scream for attention. However, at the suggestion of a fellow DJ, I went back and listened to it from start to finish and it really blew me away. Polina is a singer/songwriter (or what industry people call a topline writer), but with her recent releases she is becoming more and more of an artist, or how I described her- a chanteuse, in the vein of a Sia, Lana del Rey, or Sian (of Kosheen). The strength of her lyrics and performance transcend what you hear on a normal club track. La Riot also steps up his game with a surprise bit of trap after the second break which is raw and a bit disturbing, yet perfectly suited to the vocal themes and yes, the title. DJs who might have missed this when it was released earlier this month should go to Beatport and buy the download. If you are a fan of dance records with darker themes and dramatic vocal performances, like say “Summertime Sadness” or “Titanium,” this “Kamizake” would be a great addition to your mp3 player.

Image Courtesy of Musical Freedom.

LA Riots & Polina – Kamikaze