Uncategorized

Ah yes, that time of year again. When debates about the importance of a popularity contest ring without end on social media, and yet, the DJ Mag Top 100 soldiers on year after year, since the poll began in 1993, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

With live shows returning, the annual Top 100 could look a little different this year, but probably not that much. The Top 10 has gone largely unchanged for the past few years, though last year did have a bit of a shake up, while the rest of the list usually undergoes plenty of new entries and some astronomical rises and falls.

Voting for the DJ Mag Top 100 opens this Wednesday, July 21. You can cast your votes once open at vote.djmag.com.

The Top 100 DJs Virtual festival series also returns this year, taking place every Saturday and Sunday from July 24 — September 19. It will be broadcast across DJ Mag’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitch channels. Saturdays will be dedicated to Top 100 DJs, with Sundays celebrating the Alternative Top 100 DJs.

Confirmed Saturday DJs include reigning Top 100 DJs champion David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Mariana Bo, Timmy Trumpet, Lokyii, Carta, Casper Yu, Ummet Ozcan, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Nifra, ATB, Bassjackers, Vini Vici, Vize, Fedde Le Grand, KSHMR, Ayrue, and many more.

For a look back at last year’s Top 100, go here.

Photo via Rukes.com

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: DJ Mag Top 100 Voting Opens This Week, Virtual Festival Series Returns

Two years after his first Hype Or Die album, Riot Ten returns with an even more bombastic, more explosive sophomore effort: Homecoming.

Featuring a litany of supporting talent including STARX, Bok Nero, Dogma, and many more, Homecoming is an impressive conglomeration of Riot Ten’s newly discovered sounds in dubstep, riddim, trap, and house, making this album a rambunctious ride from start to finish.

“Bar none, this album is the best body of work that I’ve ever created. I wanted to keep the essence of my signature “hype or die” sound, while also stepping outside of the box, and I couldn’t be happier with how it came out. When I first started the process, the goal was never to create a full-length album. However, with so much downtime during the pandemic, the ideas kept flowing and the songs compiled. This album really sums up who I am as a producer in the bass music world and I’m beyond excited to finally put it out.” – Riot Ten

Listen below!

This fall Riot Ten will embark on his massive Hype Or Die 2021 Tour strapped with a diverse undercard featuring the likes of MUST DIE!, LAYZ, JEANIE, Lizzy Jane, and many others.

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Riot Ten Drops Anticipated Sophomore Album, “Hype Or Die: Homecoming”

Fresh off the heels of his latest single “One Night Away,” ARTY is back with another new release, “Fight For,” and it’s that sweet, sweet progressive house that his fans have been begging for. Featuring a soaring and anthemic vocal, emotive piano notes, and uplifting and melodic synths, “One Night Away” is sure to delight fans as we reconvene on the dancefloor.

The track opens up with some light piano notes and a distant synth melody in the background. The vocal track comes in and you immediately feel the hope and optimism of the song. After the first verse, there’s a vocal bridge and an acoustic guitar riff that takes us into the drop. The drop is classic ARTY, just beautiful progressive house melodies carrying you off into the sunset. The second verse follows the same formula, but with even more emotion coming from the piano and guitar sections. The buildup and drop following that is made for the mainstage. Here’s what ARTY had to say about “Fight For.”

“‘Fight For’ is one of the songs that takes you a day or two to make a version to test out in your live shows, but it takes forever to get it done and ready for the release. Since day one, I imagined this song as a tribute to the strong, fighting spirits that exist in all of us. Despite all the challenges life has assembled for us, even in the moments when we’re ready to give up, we somehow manage to find the deep inner strength that helps us to push through. And even if this isn’t enough, there will be someone’s hand we can grab and hold on to, because we’re not alone.”

Check out the latest from ARTY, “Fight For” out now on Armada.

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: ARTY Drops Gorgeous New Progressive House Single “Fight For”

Steve Aoki is no stranger to experimenting with global sounds. After all, he’s a global icon himself, and one of the most prominent Asian-American entertainers around. Now, for his latest single, “Siliwa Hay” he’s going for a truly global production, enlisting Brazilian production duo Chemical Surf, Israeli producer Zafrir, and Ghanaian vocalist Max-Africana for an Afro-beat inspired track, that still has that unique Steve Aoki flair.

The track opens with a snare building up in the background alongside an African chant. After the buildup churns through, there’s a vocal chant/refrain. The drop is pretty much a four-four beat, with some tech-y synths in the background. However, it’s the vocal chant that differentiates the track from anything else. According to Zafrir, the vocal hook is a Ghanaian chant. Siliwa apparently translates to “flow and all the good things will be with you.” Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. The track continues with its incessant groove and worldly flair. Here’s what Steve had to say about “Siliwa Hay.”

“‘Siliwa Hay’ is my first collaboration with Chemical Surf and Zafrir, and it’s truly a global one. With Chemical Surf being from Brazil, Zafrir from Israel, and the track featuring vocals from Max-Africana, we were able to all come together to create this dance floor anthem that brings together each of our electronic sounds with a global rhythm that I can’t wait for you all to dance to.”

Check out the latest from Steve Aoki, Chemical Surf and Zafrir, “Siliwa Hay” featuring Max-Africana out now on Dim Mak.

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Steve Aoki Drops Afro-Beat Banger “Siliwa Hay” with Chemical Surf, Zafrir and Max-Africana

Melbourne born/bred artist WILL K started his musical journey at the tender age of 12, and last year he his collaborative track “Flip Reset” with Kaskade was released via Monstercat and synched to Fortnite and Rocket League before totaling over 20m+ streams. It just goes to show that hard work can truly pay off in big ways.

His latest release “Wide Awake” is a house music gem filled with dynamic, bouncy percussion elements, over uplifting piano keys and a deep bassline. It’s also the debut and title track to his EP coming out later this year.

Check it out below, out now via Thrive Music.

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: WILL K Drops Debut EP Track “Wide Awake” with ANML KNGDM

NGHTMRE and Yung Pinch have teamed up for an irresistible hip hop leaned collaboration, “Scars.”

A departure from NGHTMRE’s typical heavy-hitting productions and lush future bass soundscapes, “Scars” plays off lovesick lyrics and an 808 heartbeat. The song is backed by a solid instrumental and unexpected, groovy elements that take hold later in the mix.

NGHTMRE shares of the release:

I’ve been making a good bit of hip-hop recently, but nothing too melodic! I was excited to try my hand in some cool melodic hip-hop vibes. Yung Pinch did such a good job with the vocal, and I tried to keep the vibe going for the drop/hook. I hope everyone loves this as much as we do!! It’s already been stuck in my head for months.

Out now on Ultra Records! Listen here!

NGHTMRE – Scars ft. Yung Pinch

Stream/download: https://ffm.to/nm-scars

Photo via Rukes.com

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: NGHTMRE & Yung Pinch Tap Melodic Hip Hop Vibes for New Collab, “Scars” [LISTEN]

Just over a month ago, Calvin Harris put out his latest single, the bright summer-bop, “By Your Side” featuring Tom Grennan. It’s already proven to be a massive hit with over 45 million streams and counting. Now, Oliver Heldens has stepped in to give “By Your Side” the club-ready remix it deserves.

Oliver has always been one of Calvin’s go-to’s for official remixes. The Dutch superstar has previously remixed Harris’s hits “Outside” and “One Kiss.” Now, this re-work of “By Your Side” is sure to become a staple in Oliver’s (and maybe Calvin’s?) sets going forward.

The remix opens up with Tom Grennan’s bright and uplifting vocal hook. However, instead of a poppy summer anthem, we get a melodic progressive house track that is ready made for the dancefloor.  Featuring all of Oliver’s signature production techniques, this one is sure to delight fans. The marimbas in the drop are a nice touch that only Oliver Heldens could pull off. Save this one for the end of your pool party, once the sun starts setting.

Check out the Oliver Heldens remix of Calvin Harris “By Your Side” featuring Tom Grennan, out now on Sony Music UK.

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Oliver Heldens Gives Calvin Harris’ “By Your Side” the Club Ready Remix it Deserves

After taking a year off in 2020, like 99% of other festivals due to the global pandemic, Lost Lands is coming back this September and they’re doing it BIG. Bringing back the dinosaurs to Legend Valley in Ohio, Excision’s namesake festival just dropped their lineup in the middle of their Reunion festival at the same venue, which was delayed earlier today due to inclement weather.

Plenty of familiar names make an appearance on this year’s lineup, and plenty of new names, as well, as part of the 162 total artists performing September 24-26.

There’s almost too many names to go over every single one, but some standouts include Dieselboy, Diesel. (aka Shaq), Dr Fresch, Svdden Death presents VOYD, Getter, a drum & bass set from Downlink, and more.

Check out your 2021 lineup below!!

Headbangers, the Lost Lands 2021 lineup! pic.twitter.com/q5Vq8hoJ1g

— Excision (@Excision) July 17, 2021

Photo via Jake West Photo

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Lost Lands Drops Massive Lineup For 2021 Return

Tiësto taps the immersive soundscape of VER:WEST in his latest production, “Elements Of A New Life.”

His techno-laced arrangement features melodic wonders and euphoric releases, with underlying driving energy present throughout. It’s a stark change up from what we’ve come to expect from Tiësto, yet just as deserving of a main stage.

Tiësto shares of the project:

I would describe VER:WEST as melodic house music. It’s a lot deeper and more chill and a very different energy than Tiësto. I got this opportunity from Tomorrowland to express a different side of me, which I’ve never done before. I know they are going to put amazing visuals around it and make it look really different and cool. Expect the unexpected, it’s going to look amazing!

“Elements Of A New Life” follows up Tiësto’s debut as VER:WEST, “5 Seconds Before Sunrise,” which released one year ago almost to the date.

Listen here!

VER:WEST – Elements Of A New Life

Photo via Rukes.com

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Tiësto Returns as VER:WEST with Techno-Laced Production “Elements Of A New Life” [LISTEN]

Sometimes we just need to know everything’s gonna “BE OK” — and the brand new, star-studded collab from Ookay, Flux Pavilion and Elohim embraces that sentiment in the best possible way.

“BE OK” is an instant mood-booster, showcasing the respective skillsets of each artist fused into a single, cohesive collaboration. This optimistic blend of bass and pop is led by Elohim’s vocal prowess, backed by happy, carefree synths and melodies that fuel the production.

Ookay shares exactly how the collaboration came together:

This song has gone on quite a journey. Flux Pavilion stopped by my place in Los Angeles back in 2019 and we just bonded and worked on some ideas while playing around with midi, guitars and talked about life on my roof. Fast forward a year and a half later and after about 10 different versions of the song, I sent it to the amazingly talented Elohim who sent back some awesome vocals then we started writing back and forth. The song is about just wanting to be ok, which is a feeling most people can relate to. In your darkest moments, you want to find your way towards a more positive reality and this song is a yearning for that.

Elohim adds:

It is difficult to feel ok while navigating this vast world. Being surrounded by friends and community is something that helps me get through challenging times. The experience of making this song with Ookay and Flux was exactly that and I hope the feeling of listening to the song will do the same for others

“BE OK” serves as the fourth single off Ookay’s forthcoming sophomore album, following up solo originals “Deep With Me,” “Weekends” and “Not Again.”

Listen here!

Ookay, Flux Pavilion & Elohim – BE OK

This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Ookay, Flux Pavilion & Elohim Drop Optimistic Collab “BE OK” [LISTEN]