The Happy New Year! Post

From WYLSS to everyone out there, we hope you had a happy new year, and if not, this post should definitely cheer you up. Every blog puts up some sort of end of year post where they recognise the top albums, songs, artists, athletes, achievements, cars, or whatever they blog about. In all honesty, this winter break has been quite hectic and since this blog has been up for less than a month now, its not really feasible to create a huge post with in depth research of these things. So instead I'm putting together a 'songs I've wanted to post but haven't gotten the chance to post before' tracklist. This list is definitely not exhaustive; its what I can remember, and none of it is really new, but enjoy anyway!
Wolfgang Gartner - Fire Power (Original Mix)

David Guetta & Estelle - One Love (Avicci Mix)

Avicii vs Beastie Boys - Time To Get Ill (Avicii Bootleg)

Hang With Me (Avicii's Exclusive Club Mix)

Bart B More - Brap (Original Mix)

Prodigy - Breathe (Eric Prydz Edit)

Arno Cost & Martin Solveig - Touch Me (2010 Remix)

Eric Prydz - Niton (Pryda 82 Mix)

Arno Cost & Arias - Magenta (Original Mix)

Klaas - Our Own Way (Extended Mix)

Axwell - Center Of The Universe (Original Mix)

Wolfgang Gartner - Undertaker (Original Mix)

David Guetta

Afrojack recently tackled Rihanna's 'Who's That Chick?', off of her new album, LOUD. Wouldn't you know it, the song features none other than Mr. House himself, David Guetta:
David Guetta feat. Rihanna - Whos That Chick (Afrojack Dub Remix)

aand here are another two expected to be on his next album. Just to let you know, the Akon track is the most annoying thing you'll see on this blog, but what the hell.
David Guetta - 50 Degrees (Original Mix)

Akon - Once Radio (feat. David Guetta)

It seems that for the time being David Guetta is content producing for other artists, including Rihanna, Akon, Kelly Rowland, etc, but there are rumors that the next album will be released next summer in time for the start of Ibiza-season. 

The Essential Christmas Mix!!

Pete Tong brought 2010 to a stunning finish with the final Essential Mix of the year on Christmas morning. On it he features tracks that have all been at one point or another 'Essential New Tunes', so expect some serious old-school nostalgia feeling. In addition, Axwell, Riva Starr, and man of the moment Afrojack all provide mini-mixes on the show. Check out the full tracklisting:

Byron Stingily – Get Up (Manifesto)
Leftfield – Open Up (Hard Hands)
Disco Evangelists – De Niro (Positiva)
David Guetta – Just A Little More (Virgin)
M Factor – Mother (Serious)
The Bucketheads – The Bomb (Positiva)
Lionrock – Packets Of Destruction (Deconstruction)
Trisco – Muzak (Vinyl Addiction)
Brother Brown – Under The Water (FFRR)
Adam F – Circles (F Jams)
Timo Maas & Brian Molko – Pictures (Warners)
Wink – Stay Out All Night (Ovum)
Beastie Boys – Intergalactic (Grand Royale)

Axwell Christmas Mix
Hard Rock Sofa & St. Brothers – Blow Up (Hook N Sling & Goodwill Remix) (Axtone)
2Axwell ft Errol Reid – Nothing But Love (Remode) (Axtone)
Aniki – Lesbian Bondage Fiasco (OMG! Recordings)
Wolfgang Gartner – Space Junk (Ultra)
Swedish House Mafia – One (EMI)
Boys Noize – Yeah (Boysnoize Records)
Adrian Lux – Teenage Crime (Axwell & Henrik B Remode) (Axtone)
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix) (Infectious)
Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah – Miami 2 Ibiza (EMI)
Wham! – Last Christmas (Sony)

Kelis – Milkshake (Startrak)
Avicii – Ryu (Cloud 9)

Riva Starr Mix
Jet Project – The Jam (Snatch!)
Shlomi Aber – The Majestic (Objectivity)
Adam Port – Symphony (Snatch!)
Leon – Cause I Love You (Cecille Numbers)
Starr Traxx – Loveboat (Snatch!)

The Avalanches – Stay Another Season (XL)
Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello & Laidback Luke – Get Dumb (Data)
Alter Ego – Rocker (Skint)

Afrojack Mix
The Black Eyed Peas – The Time (Dirty Bit) (Afrojack Remix) (Interscope)
David Guetta ft. Rihanna – Who’s That Chick (Afrojack Remix) (Mercury)
Afrojack – Replica (White Label)

CeCe Peniston – Finally (Virgin)

Stream and download the full Mix here; (right click > save as)

Sampling: the Debate along with some HUGE tracks

While we aim to keep this blog light, sometimes a serious issue comes to my attention that I think should be mentioned. The topic is sampling. California attorney Alan Korn, who specialises in IP, tackled the issue in this brief article. Sampling is illegal due to copyrights, and there are many cases where users have been prosecuted for sampling without the express approval of the owner. Fair Usage doesn't work as a defense because "legal experts agree that for a sample to qualify as fair use, it must be used for purposes such as parody, criticism, teaching, news reporting, research or some non-profit use. Using a sample merely because it sounds good is simply not enough to qualify for protection as fair use."
The issue of sampling is especially relevant when it comes into contact with the genre of electronic music today. So much music is remixed, that it is improbable that the legal permissions for every track are taken. Often, it is mutually accepted that tracks by artists within the genre of electronic music will be remixed by the artists' colleagues and vice versa. So for example, David Guetta releases a new track, and Laidback Luke remixes it, and then Laidback Luke releases a track and David Guetta remixes it. There's no issue, because each remix is distinctive and both artists mutually respect and acknowledge each other. Similarly, so many young producers and DJ's remix well-known tracks. There is a recognition that not so long ago, today's famous producers were in the same position, and so they have no right to try and stop new artists from doing the same.
[upcoming artists like Chris Gaspar of Cold Blank fame sample all the time, and you can especially see this in his new project Fifth Column V]
Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars-Billionaire (Fifth Column V Remix)

The problem arises when DJs start remixing tracks from artists outside the electric music sphere. While some artists opt for official remixes when releasing their singles, the wide majority isn't interested, and that leaves a huge margin for DJs to take their liberties and sample the music. If an artist does this with good enough effect, sometimes it will attract lots of attention and eventually sales, and then this raises the legal question of whether they are making money off of someone else's work. This issue was mentioned by Steve Angello when responding to criticism of the Knas sample he used for the song. The sample, which was from a bit of software and that he had every right to use, wasn't the issue, it was an issue of creativity and that eventually led to a debate about sampling. Angello mentioned that everyone samples, and that no-one cares until you start making money off of it. Then it becomes an issue. See the full article here.
[Knas was posted along with a few remixes in some past posts, but here is the song mixed vs Cream, by Glowtape!, and you can see the level of sampling that could potentially raise legal queries.]
Steve Angello VS Cream - Sunshine Of Knas (GlowTape! Mashup)

I think in some cases sampling actually works to some artists' benefit, and that why they shouldn't, or in fact don't, really mind. For example, only a few hip-hop artists and rappers, in the US especially, have really ventured (with the exception of auto-tune) into the world of electronic music. If their music is sampled and the result gains widespread attention, then listeners will become acquainted with artists they a) did not know, or b) had not previously been interested in. 
[Here are examples of how the XX introduce DMX to the indie music world, and Sidney Sampson brings the house world in touch with Dead Prez]
DMX vs The XX - The XX Gon Give It To Ya

Dead Prez - Its Bigger Than Hip-Hop (Sidney Samson Remix)

At the end of the day, I think sampling is fair. While I appreciate the complexities of the issue with regard to copyright law, I feel that the issue of sampling music allows for Fair Use. Once an artist take a track and does enough to it by way of remixing or restructuring, so that it becomes a separate track in its own right, I see no reason for the original artist to feel hard done by. If an artist just adds a few bits of bass and passes it off as his/her own work, that would be unfair. The problem then arises as to who would determine how much change needs to take place for a track to be distinct of the original. 
And here are a few more tracks that are pretty damn good. 
Black Eyed Peas-Rock That Body (Fifth Column V Remix)

Frank Sinatra vs. Flo-Rida feat. David Guetta - Fly Me To The Club (Envision Remix)

Diddy Dirty Money - Hello Good Morning (Erick Morillo & Eddie Thoneick Bootleg Mix)

Enjoy!

Arno Cost

Arno Cost is a 25 year old producer from France, and he's been gaining a lot of attention for the past several years. He has performed at such illustrious events like Swedish House Mafia's The Dark Forest and David Guetta's Fuck Me I'm Famous, both at Pacha Ibiza, and his summer hit Cyan was HUGE. I personally took a huge liking to his music when I heard his remix of The End.
Dirty South - The End (Arno Cost Remix)

Arno Cost - Cyan (Original Mix)

He is currently signed on to the same label as Norman Doray, Hoxton Whores, Muttonheads, and co. Norman Doray, often collaborates on his hits:
Arno Cost & Norman Doray - Apocalypse (Original Mix)

Kalle (Arno Cost & Norman Doray Remix)

aaand one for the upcoming weekend:
Michael Feiner - Saturday Night (Arno Cost Remix)

Enjoy.

Avicii vs Afrojack

When DJ Mag asked Tiesto who, in his opinion, was the breakout DJ/producer of 2010, he said Avicii (aka Tim Berg). Big praise from a one of the biggest fish in the pond, and it certainly seems justified considering Avicii's recent work. Avicii's Essential Mix was a front-runner for the Best Mix of 2010 award. A lot of people, including David Guetta, have been saying that another new to the scene DJ was the breakthrough, by the name of Afrojack. The two have different styles, with Afrojack being the heavier of the two, which a lot of people will like, but for some reason Avicii's tracks seem to have better quality production than Afrojack's. This was really the standout year for both of them. So who's your choice?

Avicii - Ryu (Original Mix)

Jovicii feat Andy P - Don't Hold Back (John Dahlback & Avicii Original Mix)

Afrojack - Polkadots (Original Mix)

Afrojack - Radioman

aand if you can't choose between one or the other:

Afrojack vs Avicii & Sebastian Drums - My Feelings For Polkadots (Horse Edit)

Avicii takes it for me. Enjoy! (btw, the picture is completely unrelated, but what an amazing DJ dock!)

Midweek Round-Up #1

Midweek is such a challenging time. Its when you should be focusing on studying, but with the weekend being dangled in front of you like a carrot on a stick its so difficult to concentrate. Especially when its the last week of term and you don't have finals. Oh well. If I won't study, might as well blog. 
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

Some pop songs are so catchy they actually seem good. This might be one of them. But I'll take the remix thank you very much: Taio Cruz - Dynamite (Nicky Romero Bootleg)

Tim Berg, Norman Doray & Sebastien Drums - Tweet It (Original Mix)

David Guetta ft. Rihanna - Who's That Chick (Afrojack Dub)

Bad Boy Bill feat. Eric Jag - Got That Feeling (Laidback Luke Remix)

Daft Punk feat. N.E.R.D – Hypnotize U (Dirty South Remix)



Enjoy!

Its Saturday and the Sound is here!

Ahhh I wanted to do a weekend post but I was out last night so I didn't get the chance. Instead, I present TGIS.
 Metric - Gold Guns Girls (BetatraXx Remix) by BetatraXx 
 Rihanna - Rude boy ( Them Jeans Remix ) by Them Jeans 
 Wippenberg Vs Axwell - Watch The Pong Rise (DBN Remix) by Thelove314 
 Swedish House Mafia - Miami 2 Ibiza (Dany Ojeda Dutch Vocal Bootleg) by Dany Ojeda 
 Deborah Cox-Axwell-Leave The World Behing-(Dj Prime Mix) by DJPRIME1 
Miike Snow - Silvia (Felix Da Housecat Remix)

Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Beatwalker Remix) 

Kelly Rowland feat. David Guetta - Commander (Sidney Samson Remix)



Aaand a gift from WYLLS: DADA LIFE's exclusive 45 minute November Mix:



Enjoy your Saturday nights yo!

First Post.

Hi. There is no shortage of music blogs on the internet, and many of them are phenomenal. This blog aims to be one of them. It is meant to showcase music, most of it recent, that people might like. I guess a lot of that music will be house, because I love house. But it won't be an exclusively house blog. I'll post all sorts of electronic music, hip-hop, mash-ups, I'm not sure where this blog is going to go yet.

A lot of the music being pushed forward these days by the music industry is so below-par. Some of it is clearly meant to garner sales and not much else, while so much of it lacks any content of noticeable quality. One of the reasons I was first attracted to house is because it sounded so amazing. The beats would come together in ways that no other type of music could provide. Electronic dance music remains one the most important revelations of my life. The other reason I was so attracted to house is because it had no face. There was no over-arching stereotype of what a DJ should be like, how they should talk, dress, etc. Artists were anonymous behind the music. Anyone with working ear buds could tune into the sound.

The problem is, these days the sound is becoming more and more mainstream. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong about going mainstream. It allows for greater publicity, sales, and demand for more music, but one of the main problem with going mainstream is the over-commercialisation of electronic music.

Let me give you an example. David Guetta is one of today's foremost electronic music artists. Five years ago, DG was sensational. Not as famous as today, but still pretty damn famous. Up until after the release of Pop Life in 2007 DG was probably one of my favorite artists. Today, he has fallen a considerable way down that list.

David Guetta - Jack is Back [Fuck Me Im Famous Remix] 

DG is no longer making music like this. Sadly, It is confined to attempts to get on the Billboard 100 like this:

Shannel - Other Side [feat Lil Wayne & Ne-yo] [prod. by David Guetta]

This is just an example of how I feel about the industry at the moment. In a sense, electronic music is following in the same footsteps as hip-hop. At hip-hop's inception was musical movement intent on providing a sound that everyone could relate to, or at least everyone in the vicinities where hip-hop was being produced. As the decades rolled however, hip-hop became more and more commercial, at the expense of true musical quality.
Today, characters like Soulja Boy and Waka Flocka are selling millions worth of records, while forgotten artists like Binary Star are no longer on the radar. It is difficult not to agree with Chris Rock.



I certainly feel that house may be heading that way, but I am grateful for the fact that all music genres have a solid base to fall on. Electronic music's base is every kid who has ever gotten down to a beat, every kid who has ever tried to make a remix, and to those kids who are gonna grow up, and maybe not become famous, but will still carry on the glorious tradition of giving people some good sound. It is to those folks that I dedicate my very first post.