Welcome to this week’s edition of Fresh Music Friday! Prepare your ears for some incredible tunes because that’s what we have in store for you this week, freaks.
LA-based artist morgxn continues his stride into 2019 by announcing a 5 track EP “vital : blue (s t r i p p e d)” for release on 1.25. This includes stripped, string and piano-backed versions of his debut album vital, plus two brand new tracks — “harpoon” and “blue (ft. Nicholas Petricca)”.
This summer, John Martin & Michel Zitron who are visionary musicians, producers and songwriters started their new project VCATION — a free-zone where the duo plays with borderless genres and explosive sounds. Their new single is called “Whiskey & Cola”, a break-up anthem that came to life on a warm German summer’s day. The track builds itself up with Klei’s, Michel Zitron’s and John Martin’s vocals all mixed together, completed by a simple production that sounds effortlessly clean. With a focus on the acoustic guitars and the deep electronic foundation, the duo themselves describes it as a ‘pop track for the broken hearted’.
Opening with Danish/Egyptian DJ & singer Ashibah’s soulful vocals and delicate strings, ‘We Found Love’ blossoms into an uplifting melodic house creation, which serves as the perfect winter warmer. Making a solid impact in her recent live performances, “We Found Love” emanates a soft glow throughout, showcasing Nora En Pure’s capabilities as a classically trained musician and perfectly blends Ashibah’s stunning vocal piece with the track’s high-spirited instrumental arrangement. Read more about it here.
The empowering track, “Queen” – produced by Captain Cuts (Walk the Moon, Halsey, The Chainsmokers) – underscores the importance of knowing your worth in all the different types of relationships you have in life, including your relationship with yourself.
Multi-faceted producers Gorgon City have dropped their latest underground offering, “Lick Shot”, a slick new track launched on their REALM imprint, in partnership with Astralwerks. With its pounding bassline, “Lick Shot” is the perfect follow up to the duo’s previous releases on the label. Hear more about the song here.
Hex Cougar’s official remix of ILLENIUM’s “God Damnit” with Call Me Karizma is an explosive union of styles. Rising L.A. producer Hex Cougar heightened the dark melodies and hyper-charged bass of the tune, amplifying its energy all around.
GRAMMY Award-winning producer and artist Salvador Santana has teamed up with acclaimed DJ and producer Felix for their first collaborative offering, “Panic Mode.” This partnership and project is a seemingly meant-to-be alliance with Salvador Santana on the aptly-titled for our troubling times track “Panic Mode.” This Track was featured in this week’s Techno and House Tuesday article.
Discovering their styles work together in perfect harmony, Sander Van Doorn and Frontliner match real hardstyle with psytrance in this driving creation. Starting off with a classic hardstyle melody and build up, which leads into a psytrance influenced drop, “One Love” has all the hallmarks of a main stage festival hit. Featuring Koch’s anthemic vocal piece, “One Love” takes listeners on a euphoric journey across its near 4-minute duration.
Italian duo Jude & Frank kick-start the New Year with a collaboration alongside 1 World, as they step up to deliver a long-awaited re-work of Bob Marley’s “Sun Is Shining”. Continuing to exercise their flare for modern re-works, the duo enlists the talents of 1 World, following a series of writing sessions together in Los Angeles. Sampling Bob Marley’s iconic vocals, the trio stay faithful to the spirit of the original, injecting an undeniable dose of fresh energy and elevating the track to a club-ready status.
Above & Beyond are reunited with Sunderland-born singer and songwriter Marty Longstaff for “Flying By Candlelight”, the first in a new triptych of future club classics from the prolific trio.
KTRL is back on Circus Records having burst into frame with his tasty “Twisted” EP. Now teaming up with Joystick on their first single of 2019, the two acts combine for maximum bass bending action.
Paris-based, singer, songwriter and producer Broken Back unveils “Young Love” today, his first solo record since 2017, out now with Ultra Records. Coming off popular collaboration “Wonders” with fellow French producer Klingande, Broken Back combines indie pop aesthetics with a bold sensibility to create an instantly catchy record on “Young Love”. His hybridized sound is reminiscent of the whimsical vocal stylings of Alt-J and his visual approach one of Wes Anderson’s genius and mind with a 70’s twist.
Dutch production duo Vicetone – aka Ruben den Boer and Victor Pool – have unveiled their slick new anthem, “Fences”. The single is a powerful production led by the vocal talents of Matt Wertz, an acclaimed singer/songwriter who has previously toured with Jason Mraz. “Fences” is set for release on January 18th, the track precedes the drop of the duo’s forthcoming “Elements” EP, which is set for release on February 22nd.
Seven Lions teamed up with SLANDER and Dabin to release their blissful single “First Time,” on Seven Lions’ imprint Ophelia Records. Now, Dylan Matthew, the vocalist on the original track, has stepped into the spotlight for the magical “First Time (Acoustic)”; a re-interpretation of the track, which makes for a cathartic listening experience for fans. The acoustic version showcases his clear and vibrant vocals as it pairs perfectly with the light piano melody. Read the full article here.
Cat Dealers have joined forces with Bruno Martini and Joy Corporation, forming a trio of Brazil’s most promising dance music acts on new track “Gone Too Long”. Bursting with nostalgic flair, this one is another clear testament to the level of finesse demonstrated by all three budding producers. Opening with delicately strummed chord progressions and a rock inspired vocal line, the collaborators flaunt an aptitude for merging Pop and EDM as the track moves to a bass-boosted drop, proving its worth for the Mainstage.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Manatee Commune (Grant Eadie) has built a sound, vibe and presence in his music that oozes the surroundings he grew up with as a child. Inspired by his fondest lifelong memories, as well as the beautiful sights, sounds and smells of some of the most breathtaking landscapes America has to offer, Manatee Commune has released his first single of 2019, “My Dearest Friend”.
Sub sorcerer Franky Nuts is following up the electric “With You” with a new sub splitting masterpiece “Your Lies”featuring the ridiculous talent of Voicians. Few producers of Franky Nuts’ age have such a developed sense for what sounds get people on dancefloors. But ‘Your Lies feat. Voicians’ has all the hallmarks of a club banger, so prepare to get on your feet. This is undoubtedly the year of Franky.
Thank you for checking out this week’s freshest tunes. Check back next Friday for our next edition of Fresh Music Friday. Stay freaky!