Electron Phenomenon

Today's lifted thought is sponsored by Eric J. Heller, a Ph.D from Harvard, where he is now a member of the Physics and Chemistry faculties.  He creates art using computer simulations of naturally occurring physical phenomena.  His computer generations are dazzlingly complex, and in the artist's own words, "a key element of [the work] is an exploitation of Nature's almost narcissistic self-similarity, her repetition of pattern on vastly different scales and in radically different contexts." The art is a glimpse into the patterns and movement of individual electrons.  Eric's current research involves theoretical investigation of wave behavior, chaos and quantum mechanics, and collision theory.  

 While you contemplate the art, I invite you to listen to these dirty electro house tracks, some of which might be in my set for my upcoming festival Fall Into Imagination!

Zombie Nation - Squeek (Bart B More Mix)
A massive collab track from two iconic electro figures.  With a mad dirty bassline and intoxicating laser samples, this track brings the peak hour fire hard into your mind.


Richard Vission & Trash Yourself - Get Down (Lucky Date Remix)
Lucky Date is a Chicago-native and purveyor of epic Reason refills.  When he's not busy dedicating his time helping producers, Lucky Date bangs out some of the best electro tracks around.


Mom & Dad - Judas (Dem Slackers Remix)
Valley based talent Mom & Dad has been catapulting as of late, with his tracks receiving support from names like Tiesto.  The Dem Slackers remix of his heater Judas is so dirty it demands a comment list worthy of Youtube dubstep.


Die Azten Frauenarzt & Manny Marc - Disco Pogo (Extended Mix)
When I think of an proper electro bash, I can't help but think of the video from Disco Pogo, just one of this German duo's collection of party smashers.  These cats know how to freakin' party the way Frankie Knuckles intended.


D.I.M. - Lyposuct (Feat. Tai)
This track features another heavy (like H) bass that grates into your consciousness.  Timing this one properly can send any crowd over the edge.

Minimal Mayhem

After hearing some of my favorite instrumentals, I think that today we'll move the tempo back up to house music, although I'm staying with the instrumental vibe.  Today's taste of techno features some of the latest and greatest in tech-house and minimal.  Rollin' with the feel, the lifted thoughts of the day come from Berlin-based Evol, an outfit who transforms ordinary surfaces into miniature versions of grandiose buildings.  Incorporating natural defects like rust and wear makes these creations look almost real.

Avicii & Philgood - Record Breaker (Original Mix)
This minimal head-knocker from the massive Swedish DJ & producer Avicii is a perfect transition track between two mainstream heavy-hitters.  This one will be working its way into every headliner's set right quick. 


Format B - Dog Tag (Remix)
One of my favorite tech-house tracks from German duo Format B, this song is going to be the opening track on my upcoming minimal tape.  It has a longer intro, and it fits the track perfectly.  I think that creating an epic intro that flows can sometimes be harder than creating a melody, because of the fewer elements allowed.


Bart B More & Tommie Sunshine - Drop Acid
Bart B More is quickly becoming one of my favorite producers, with a seemingly endless flow of bangers, and his collab with Brooklyn-based Tommie Sunshine is the latest in this flood of tracks.  Drop Acid is a super-minimal track with a catchy melody that can easily envelop one if you allow it.  I'm a particular fan of the dutch crescendo synth about halfway through.


Benny Knox - Something Happened
Canadian DJ Benny Knox's mix between minimal & tech-house has a low-key wash sample that really gets inside your mind and takes you away.  It's the samples that you don't necessarily pay attention to that hit the hardest, and they are some of the hardest to create.

 
Koen Groeneveld - Rudder (Original Mix)
Koen is one of the biggest names in Techno, with his first single "Wake Turbulence" debuting at number one on Beatport.  Download his mixes for free over at his soundcloud.


Bonus:

Dance Nation vs Drake vs Birdman - Money To Divide (White Panda Mashup)
The original hip-hop version is way-overplayed as is A-Trak's well-known remix, but this White Panda mashup takes it away from hard-hitting electro-house and instead transforms the track into a chord-heavy remix worthy of Deadmau5.  I'll def be throwing this into the later half of my sets, it's one the crowd will always rock with.

Thoughtecture

Ayre here, and today I want to take a look at the frozen poetry that is Architecture.  Thomas Heatherwick, one of Flight School's graduate students founded Heatherwick Studios in 1994.  In 2006 Thomas Heatherwick became the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry, as well as being named a Honorary Fellow of the RIBA and a Senior Fellow at the Royal College of Art.

Heatherwick Studios' work is breathtaking in its ability to provoke thought, and has been heralded as "Thoughtecture."

Today's musical selection is also architecture, of a sort.  I want to highlight one of the more under-appreciated, but vital, elements of creating any mainstream track; the instrumental.  Producers like Kane Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, & Just Blaze have been gaining attention recently (finally), but they're still a long way from receiving the credit they deserve (Kanye West excluded, he gets enough attention as it is).  


Superslikuzi - Lonely Nights
Dallas based Super-Slik-Uzi of the Dream Team has made dozens of quality instrumentals, but has yet to hit it big.  Make no mistake though, this cat has passion for the art of producing, and it shows in each one of his beautifully layered tracks.  Be sure to check out his website and come up on the hottest beats around before they get swooped on.  Lonely Nights is probably my favorite instrumental of SSU, with an ambient-soundscape vibe.  Leaving Aston-Martins behind, this beat is Aerion music.  The Aerion, for those of you still hunting after archaic g6 jets, is the world's first $80,000,000 private Supersonic Jet.  The first unit was just purchased by Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai.


Tha Bizness - Every Girl
I can't think of anyone who hasn't heard Young Money's smash hit "Every Girl (In the World)."  Talk about exposure.  Tha Bizness, comprised of Henny & Dow Jones, makes tasteful beats that can only be described as Baroque, nearing on symphonic. Utilizing various instruments, the duo achieve a depth and emotional complexity rarely seen anymore in mainstream hip-hop.


Soundtrakk - Hip-Hop Saved My Life (W/Hook from Nikki Jean)
Lupe Fiasco's in-house producer Soundtrakk has composed hits like Superstar and Kick Push, and earned himself a few Grammy nominations in the process.  While this instrumental isn't your typical dance beat, it has so much heart that it moves the soul.  I'm including the hook on this instrumental, because Nikki Jean's beautiful voice completes the instrumental in a way that even the hardest cats can rock with.


Bonus:
Superslikuzi - Key to the City


Superslikuzi - The Martian

V-Necks & Electro-Hop

Ayre here, today I got a track sent in from one of the homies from Flight School, Von hisself. Von is a budding hip-hop artist just hittin' LA. To keep the vibe, today I'm including some fresh new hip-hop, including some of my own Intro-edits for the DJs out there. And of course, when playing rap, I gotta include a track from the Sultan of Smoke, Wiz Khalifa.

Von - V-Necks & Cigarettes
Up and coming artist from the City of Angels, track hits hard with an old school beat. Add this to your collection of Aston Martin music.


Rick Ross - Aston Martin Music (Remix Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele)
Speaking of Aston Martins, here's a remix Officer Ricky's silky banger featuring the best female vocals since Empire State of Mind. Chrisette Michele steals the show on this track, despite hard verses from Drake and Rick Ross. This is my favorite hip-hop instrumental right now (mad ups to beat giants J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)


Wiz Khalifa - Ink My Whole Body (DJ Ayre Intro)
Reppin' Pittsburgh hard, Wiz is one of the most under-appreciated artists of the moment. I've been following him since his breakout anthem Say Yeah (which is late I know, but I'm making it up now). Ink My Whole Body is one of the hardest tracks to rock with now, and just as catchy as Cee-Lo's most recent summer smash. The Taylor Gang's aptly titled mixtape "Everything Taylored" is fire, be sure to peep it on Khalifa's site.


Audio Push - Up & Down (DJ Ayre Intro)
Here's one of my personal intro edits to a grown and sexy track from Jerk All-stars Audio Push. It's got smooth vocals and a killer beat, this one is made for the radios and late night VIP-room.


Chiddy Bang - Breakfast (Issac Jordan Edit)
The East Coast's next big duo, and current Space Cadets up at Flight School, Chiddy Bang first caught our attention with Opposite of Adults, the huge track that samples MGMT's Kids. This is the latest of their funky electro-hop instrumentals, featuring some beautiful Alt-pop-esque female vocals from the U.K.'s Kate Nash. Keep an eye on these two fellahs, I suspect we'll be hearing a lot more from these stellar students.


Kanye West - Christian Dior Denim Flow (Feat. Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Lloyd Banks, & Ryan Leslie)
My personal favorite from a spree of new tracks from the King of Chi-town, this heater features some of the illest names in the game, and several illustrious alums from Flight School. Foremost is Pusha T with a doctorate in hustle, from the Clipse & The Re-up Gang. Pusha T kills it on the track, but graduated Space Cadets Kid Cudi & John Legend throw it down hard too.


Bassnectar - Bass Head (King Fantastic Remix)
King Fantastic has one of the most creative aliases I've heard in a while, and he delivers on the Fantastic. Rapping over one of the sicker beats from Flight School friend Bassnectar, the King kills it. A necessity for any forward-looking DJ.


Bonus:

Bassnectar - Bass Head (Sam Adams Remix)
Another rapper spittin' on Bassnectar's heater, Sam Adam lays it down well, but I gotta say, King Fantastic's rhymes blow it away. Enjoy both and decide for yourself.