How To EDM

The Top 10 Songs Of January 2014

10. Avicii - You Make Me (feat. Salem Al Fakir) [Diplo & Ookay Remix] [PRMD]

09. Cedric Gervais - The Look [Spinnin]

08. Excision & Downlink - Rock You [Destroid]

07. Disclosure - F For You (feat. Mary J. Blige) [PMA]

06. Max Vangeli & Danny Ray - Grim [Size]

05. Deniz Koyu - Ruby [Axtone]

04. Bastille - Pompeii (Audien Remix) [Virgin]

03. AN21 & Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman - Rebel [Size]

02. Zedd - Find You (feat. Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant) [Interscope]

In October of 2010, Eric Prydz released one of the biggest tracks he ever made under his Pryda guise. In early February of the year to follow, Prydz rereleased his masterpiece with vocals to further enhance the songs already spectacular musical dimensions. 

Songs like "Pjanoo" and "Call On Me" introduced dancers to the Swedish DJ and producer. However, "Niton (The Reason)" truly reveal the fluid creativity and melodic construct progressive house artists should have. It is the type of track that may not appeal to the crazy club scene. Rather, this song is a piece that one listens to thoroughly in a quiet setting to pick up all the alluring sounds and progressions as it plays out. 

If you have no idea what this song is, may I welcome you to listen to "Niton (The Reason)" or the instrumental version "Niton" by Eric Prydz / Pryda (respectively). 

Eric Prydz - Niton (The Reason)

Size Records has seen some of the biggest releases ever witnessed in the house music movement. From classics like Nari & Milani's "Atom", Qulinez's "Troll", to more recent ventures like Nicky Romero and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano's "S.O.T.U." and Moguai's "Champs", Size Records has left and continues to leave a major impact through all the artists they have attained on their marvelous roster. 

With 2014 still young, Size had to open up with a big song to assure fans that this year will be as amazing or more so than the last. To ensure just that, they enlisted the help of house mega-star Junior Sanchez with vocals by veteran CeCe Peniston and takes us forward by looking back at what house started off as. However, "Without You" is more than just an old school throwback. It is a masterfully composed track with drums lined up all over and to keep fans in the groove. Hearing songs like this, give me hope in the diversity and power that this new year will bring forth as we continue to party on. 

Check out a preview on Junior Sanchez soundcloud right now.

I personally believe many people have been awaiting this release since the instrumental version came out back in November last year. When word got out that power players R3hab, Ummet Ozcan, and the lovely NERVO twins were collaborating, the masses were excited. They released the instrumental and followed up with an interesting music video and it has led to this moment. Making the switch from festival floor killer to sing-a-long track of the year, "Revolution" lightens up from the intense hard hitter of its predecessor and makes way for beautiful vocal arrangements from Liv and Mim. Now the track has an extra full minute of electro house for fans to rage to. 

Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo has a holiday gift for fans. After the release last year of the sophomore album Hide, The Bloody Beetroots release a free downloadable song called "Til Death". It features vocal talent from Lisa Kekaula adding soul to this brilliant and genre-bending track. It has a little bit of trap and a little bit of something outside of the box we envision The Bloody Beetroots to hit. Grab it below from their soundcloud page and enjoy. 

Big room house seems to be affecting everybody on the touring and festival circuits. The youth of Anjunabeats and Zouk Recordings known as Audien has a track out today on Spinnin Records called Elysium. Unlike Audien's previous and more trance-like tracks like "Iris" or "Wayfarer", "Elysium" has that special drop for making crowds lose their collective shits. However, Audien's latest and greatest still maintains that signature sound he leaves in his melodies reminding us that it's him behind the track. Check out a preview of his newest creation on the soundcloud link below. 

In 2013, Nick van de Wall has come out with powerful pop tracks like "As Your Friend" and "The Spark" with vocal talents from Chris Brown and Spree Wilson respectively. He also released his It's A Matter Of... - EP with more dirty dutch influences that remind us where the name Afrojack came from. And now with the new year ringing, Afrojack put up a new track preview on his soundcloud page called "Musician" and it is fire. I heard it played by Dada Life when they came to Miami with their Dada Land festivities and made everyone rage. It is reminiscent of the old Afrojack many remember before his more pop-like tracks. No release date as of yet but we are hopeful for one soon. 

The man behind the turntables of BBC Radio 1 and the pioneer for the electronic dance music festival radio station Evolution has a new milestone under his belt as the new year reigns in. The DJ and wonder known as Pete Tong received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services in music and broadcasting career for over 20 years. On his latest achievement, Pete Tong had this to say. 

"It's great to receive this honour for being a DJ. I'm proud that it acknowledges a profession that I care about a great deal, and one that's made a huge impact around the world. I'd like to thank BBC Radio 1 for its unerring commitment to dance and electronic music and for supporting and encouraging me for over two decades."

Jonathan Gooch and Soony Moore have been busy all of 2013 and surprise us with a new collaboration to spark fans into dubstep glory. Jonathan Gooch (a.k.a. Feed Me) displayed a brand new track between himself and Skrillex that just blows up the dancefloor. It is energetic and fierce, begging for a proper release soon. Without any further waiting, here's a video of the premier. 

This past year, the EDM community witnessed the rise of new artists, the strength of big room house surge, the surge of Hardwell as the world's number one DJ in the world, and the explosion of our scene in the mainstream. It also saw the loss of Bingo Player's Paul Baumer, the hiatus of TNGHT, will.i.am's copyright-infringing ways, twitter feuds, and the rise of fatalities from MDMA and other drug overdoses. But now as 2014 opens with new promises, let's look back at the top 10 everythings of the year 2013. (*NOTE* These are opinions, not law)

Top 10 Songs of 2013

1. Mord Fustang - Taito (Original Mix)

2. Kaskade - Atmosphere (Original Mix)

3. Sander van Doorn - Neon (Original Mix)

4. Dillon Francis - Without You (feat. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) [Original Mix]

5. Skrillex - The Reason (Original Mix)

6. Knife Party - EDM Death Machine (Original Mix)

7. Baauer - Harlem Shake (Original Mix)

8. Calvin Harris & Alesso - Under Control (Original Mix)

9. Mat Zo & Porter Robinson - Easy (Original Mix)

10. Daft Punk - Get Lucky

Top 10 Remixes of 2013

1. Fatboy Slim & Riva Starr - Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat (Calvin Harris Remix)

2. Empire Of The Sun - Alive (Zedd Remix)

3. Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)

4. Arty - Together We Are (feat. Chris James) [The M Machine Remix]

5. Avicii - Hey Brother (feat. Dan Tyminsk) [Syn Cole Remix]

6. Royksopp - Running To The Sea (feat. Susanne Sundfør) [Seven Lions Remix]

7. Martin Garrix - Animals (Victor Niglio & Martin Garrix Festival Trap Remix)

8. Dada Life - Boing Clash Boom (Bingo Players Remix)

9. Fall Out Boy - Alone Together (Krewella Remix)

10. Monsta - Messiah (Feed Me Remix)

Top 10 Artists of 2013

1. Hardwell

2. Mat Zo

3. Kaskade

4. Armin van Buuren

5. Zedd

6. deadmau5

7. Dillon Francis

8. Major Lazer

9. Calvin Harris

I've decided to revive HowToEDM.

It looks like this winter is going to be a kickass concert season for American, UK & Irish ravers.  

First off in the US, it appears that Waka Flocka Flame and Steve Aoki are going on their Winter Tour.  Specifics on the dates and locations have yet to be announced, but do not fret. If your city is chosen by chance, do not miss an opportunity to get caked and have all out fun.  I would love to see what Mr. Flame would bring to a show next to the Dim Mak master. Just like Steve's college campus invasion with Kendrick Lamar, the crowds will see the best of both worlds.  

Meanwhile, on another side of the world, Tiësto and Calvin Harris have decided to pair up for what they have dubbed as the Greater Than Tour. They will take on December 18-22 throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland hitting cities like Belfast, Dublin, London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Not going to lie, I wish I were going to vacation in the UK this Christmas season just to see that show. 

2012, what a time to be alive. Supergroups Knife Party and Dog Blood were emerging, Armin van Buuren regained his spot as the number 1 DJ in the world, Zedd released his hotter than hot album Clarity, and Madonna said something dumb on an Ultra mainstage when her only job was to introduce Avicii. In all the hypes of all these wonderful things that happen in the electronic dance music world, one can miss some of the things that do not make immediate headlines. One such example is a gem I had downloaded but never got around to downloading. Now this song is on non-stop repeat for me. 

Featuring vocals from Skin (the voice behind Mark Knight's single "Nothing Matters"), Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick collaborated to produce an absolute beauty. "If This Ain't Love" contains marvelous melodies and hard-hitting beats. I can't stop dancing to this song when I play it, even in public! The track was released on Subliminal Records and is a must have.  

Here's a Beatport link including a remix from Erick Morillo, Harry Romero, & Jose Nunez as Sympho Nympho.  Enjoy ^_^

http://www.beatport.com/release/if-this-aint-love/855603

British electronic producer and mastermind Matan Zohar (a.k.a. Mat Zo) is back with a brand new song.  It was originally revealed under his two hour, seventy plus track Essential Mix and fans have been patiently waiting for its release.  Released on Anjunabeats and Astralwerks, the latest piece from Mat Zo is truly a groovy sound blending electro with catchy vocals from Chuck D. that will get you to really want to rock that funky beat. 

Here's a Beatport link with the club mix in all its glory. 

http://www.beatport.com/release/pyramid-scheme/1133816

It's also available on iTunes, but I'm not going to put up that link.

The combination sensation known as Dog Blood between the acid-house prince Boys Noize and the mothership pilot Skrillex had been hard at work all summer long touring and producing tracks. Some which were premiered in live sets or Skrillex's Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 are apart of the new extended play. It's official release was pushed back for a later August date. 

However, due to a recent leak, the whole thing is up for grabs. It includes new tracks such as "Chella Ride", "Shred Sled (Kill Em With The Beat)", and "Middle Finger Pt. 2". It also has remixes, including one from The M Machine which is funky and dark altogether. All the tracks in this EP have a life of their own and need immediate attention from fans around the world. Check out the Middle Finger Pt. 2 - EP NOW

A few days ago, Australia's Tommy Trash and America's Wolfgang Gartner updated their facebook covers with images of yellow, animal eyes. Immediate reactions and speculations from most fans was that this was to be an upcoming collaboration to be released soon. Although that may happen in the future, it is currently not the case.  Moments later, the two announced a kick ass tour across the United States that they have dubbed as "The Hounds of Hell Tour".  Check out the mini promo video for the tour and get ready for the co-headlining madness thats to come at the end of September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqCqzu_MQw

Also here are some tour dates

Last week, I had a hard time keeping up with posting due to the fact that I was partying at Disney World for my best friend's birthday. But that doesn't mean I did not catch a glimpse of what was happening on the other half of the globe. Festival goers, painted ravers, and music lovers attended what is one of the greatest landmark festivals in EDM. Tomorrowland. But this festival probably falls directly under Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida as 2013's best music festival. Beating out all the Electric Daisy Carnivals, Electric Zoo, Hard Fest, and many more, Tomorrowland recreated the magical fantasy theme it so masterfully imagines. The sets exceeded expectations and brought surprises we never thought to see. But three major things happened in Tomorrowland that you should keep in mind as to why it is one of the greatest music festivals on the planet.

Starting from the bottom, at the number three is the closing out set to the faces of Tomorrowland, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. The two dropped their signature "Wakanda", Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Can't Stop", and Queen's "We Will Rock You". If you ask me, just those tracks being mixed together sounds like a sick set. The duo killed it at Tomorrowland as they always do.

At number two was the surprising amount of back-to-back-to-back sets at Boom, Belgium that weekend. Whether it was at the Super You & Me Stage with Superman, Batman, and Ironman (Laidback Luke, Sander Van Doorn, and Dimitri Vegas respectively) or on the main stage between Afrojack, David Guetta, and Nicky Romero, one has to keep in mind just how F@$#^%G AWESOME ALL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN IF YOU WEREN'T THERE TO SEE IT YOURSELF! I mean Ultra had Skrillex, Porter Robinson, & Alvin Risk in the Owsla tent, but this is something else man. 

And finally, the number one thing that happened at Tomorrowland is something that isn't necessarily music related at all. Coming straight from the hospital and onto the main stage of Tomorrowland, Armin van Buuren took to the decks and announced to the entire crowd and to the whole world that his wife had given birth to their son, Remy. He continued to play an incredible set dedicated to the latest van Buuren in the fold. Although his eyes watered, it did not stop him from playing that set and driving the crowd with him.

Anyone ready for next year?