We've got a pretty eclectic group of music lovers working the controls here, so each week, we put together a batch of our favorite tunes for your listening enjoyment. We do this on the regular, so keep hitting up the Work & Playlist tag to see the latest sounds we love.
Alicia Keys x Kaskade “In Common”
For anyone who’s been listening along all this time, there have always been two sides to the Kaskade coin: the deeper-rooted house half, who comes out in his Redux sets, and the mainstage dominator. Each is its own beast, and each attracts a certain type of listener. It’s what’s kept Kaskade on his toes, with feet firmly planted across both spheres of the mainstream and underground electronic spectrums.
His latest track, an unofficial remix of Alicia Keys’ “In Common,” epitomizes this approach: a radio-friendly R&B number rinsed through the deep end. His edits are subtle throughout, allowing the Grammy Award–winning songstress to remain the focus—for good measure, too. While Kaskade’s touch is minimal, at best, here, the song gives a glimpse at what a possible mainstream guest vocalist collaboration would sound like, which remains his final leap toward major pop crossover appeal. —John Ochoa
Follow Kaskade on Facebook | Twitter
Askery ft. JAX “Castle”
This jaw-dropping collab on Armada between the Switzerland-based Askery and rising Stateside star known as JAX (fans of American Idol will remember her from Season 14) is one of those tunes that catches hold right from the start and doesn’t let go. A dark and melancholy guitar melody eases us in before the heart-wrenching vocals of JAX take center stage and drive the tune toward the pop-dance crossover heart of things proper. Built on a wicked little drum & bass-inspired breakbeat groove, the shuffling vibes, epic chords, and otherworldly vocals bring on the goosebumps and make this one an instant classic sure to bring on memories of cruising down the streets with the top down, hands in the air, and the whole world spinning by. If this isn’t on the radio yet, it will be, so look out! —Chris Muniz
Follow Askery on Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Follow JAX on Facebook | Twitter
Roberto Capuano “Drop”
This is by far my favorite track of 2016, with at least 50 listens in the past month. Roberto Capuano has released on almost every major techno label there is. His new Drop EP features three massive tracks, two of which are charting on the Beatport Top 100 Techno. Don’t sleep on this—it’s massive. —Shmitty
Follow Roberto Capuano on Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Palma “Your Love Is True”
I may have woken my sleeping child when I stumbled on this synthy piece of happy music by Helsinki’s Palma. Everything about this tune bounces. The anchoring rubberband bassline does that wonderful thing where it drops alone with the kick to create this expanding feeling, a simple idea that adds so much drama. And the call-and-response between the chopped vocals and the hook may or may not have had me trying to sing along while I enjoyed a three-minute dance party all by myself. —Alexander Dias
Follow Palma on Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Blaze “Lovelee Dae” (Bicep Remix)
It’s been a few months since I’ve seen anything by Bicep occupying my SoundCloud feed, which makes this one all the sweeter. Sweeter because “Lovelee Dae” by Blaze was one of the first deep house tunes to make a serious impact on me—I can’t even begin to count how many nights I’ve spent out getting lost on the dancefloor to this one. Almost 20 years old, there have been many producers who have tried their hand at remixing this seminal tune since it first dropped in 1997, and I must say that this Bicep rerub stands as tall as any of the previous outings. Lessening the keyboard riffs and organ chords of the original tune in favor of a more straightforward chugger, expect to hear this one being hammered all summer long on a dancefloor near you. Now go hit play, and have lovely day. —Boojie Baker
Follow Bicep on Facebook | Twitter
LTN & Arielle Maren “Lucky Star” (Vintage & Morelli Remix)
It’s funny how much a song can change the course of your day. A second ago, I was clenching my fists at the impatient drivers cluttering the intersection right outside my window (patience is a virtue, people). But then this proggy beaut by Vintage & Morelli came into the picture, and it instantly drowned out the itchy-hand honking that was quickly becoming the bane of my existence. None of that seems to matter anymore, because all I can concentrate on are the rich, lush layers V&M drags the vocal-led tune through to wind up with one of the most soothing bits to come my way in forever. It has all the right elements to enhance my mood—and in the process, bettering my view—with a stunning vocal delivery by Arielle, soaring and uplifting chord progressions, and a deep groove living in the intro/outro. Total bliss. I’m for sure tossing this one on the next time stress tries to get the best of me. —Sam Yu
Follow VIntage & Morelli on Facebook | Twitter
