It’s just a day of videos I guess. Rusko’s new single, “Everyday”, got the video treatment, and this is what came out. Bright lights juxtaposed with washed out images of the desolate desert – what does it all mean? I’m in the dark, but it sure as hell looks good. I am always nervous about the sophomore slump, but I’m actually starting to get excited to see what he has up his sleeves. Until then, perhaps it’s time to revisit O.M.G.! and enjoy this interview.

So it’s that time of year again, the season of list-making. I said the same thing last year, but I still feel the same, so I am shamelessly copying and pasting. Though often overdone, and largely mediocre, a good remix can be a powerful thing. It can transform a great song into an even greater one, and a not that great one into an enjoyable listening experience. They allow music to transcend genres, and when done right, create a song that one thinks of as completely separate from the original. I’ve chosen to list these by remixer and not the original artist. Obviously I haven’t listened to everything, but these are the jams that have taken over my year.

10. Fare Soldi [ "Start" - LBCK ]

EDM has the tendency to be repetitive, and can come off as really stale when not done properly. “Start” by LBCK was a track that I wouldn’t expect myself to normally go for, but the minimalist execution was impeccable, and thus was in heavy rotation for me during the springtime. Luckily for me Fare Soldi brought “Start” back on my radar with this remix that is entirely reflective of and independent of the original, an amazing feat.

LBCK – Start (Fare Soldi Alla Frutta Remix)

9. Toro Y Moi [ "At A Glance" - Body Language ]

This was the first Body Language track I ever heard, and it lured me in like no other. This remix by Toro Y Moi is brilliantly subtle and perfectly complements the delicate original.

Body Language – At A Glance (Toro y Moi Remix)

8. Millionyoung [ "To the Lighthouse" - Memoryhouse ]

Spring was filled with dreamy, hazy electro, and for me, this remix is perfectly indicative of that period, and of the season. A little bit melancholy, but with hopeful hints of pop, Millionyoung has completely elevated the Memoryhouse original to such a level that I’m still content to jam to it 11 months after my first listen.

Memoryhouse – To the Lighthouse (MillionYoung Remix)

7. Memory Tapes [ "Real Life" - Tanlines ]

Memory Tapes made my list last year as well, for his remix of a Fool’s Gold track, and here he is again! Tanlines are completely awesome of their own accord, but two musical loves combined can be an even more beautiful thing. This remix is stunning and still hits hard.

Tanlines – Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix)

6. Sub Focus [ "Hold On" - Rusko ]

Rusko‘s debut, O.M.G.! took total dominance over the beginning of my summer this year. It was actually impossible to listen to anything else, and dubstep officially claimed me as a victim. I didn’t think it could get any better, until I heard this Sub Focus remix that goes even harder than the original. Not for the faint of heart, the full experience can only be achieved once you’ve played this as loud as your neighbors will allow. Wobble!

Rusko – Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) (Sub Focus Remix)

5. Javelin [ "In Heat" - HEALTH ]

I love Javelin like no other, and the nature of their original material almost guarantees that they will be excellent remixers. This remix rocks so hard that the only thing I can manage to say is Javelin + HEALTH = fuck yeah! Inarticulate, but spot on.

Health – In Heat (Javelin Remix)

4. Hey Champ [ "Beaches and Friends" - French Horn Rebellion ]

This is the ultimate summer song, period. The title is “Beaches and Friends”! It doesn’t get any more clear cut than that! I could listen to this song forever and ever, and still be content. In fact, I’m listening to it right now, it’s 28 degrees, and I’m still feeling all the warm beach vibes. Hey Champ took the French Horn Rebellion original and defined my entire summer. This song is perfection.

French Horn Rebellion – Beaches and Friends (Hey Champ Remix)

3. Rusko [ "Soldier On" - The Temper Trap ]

I don’t even like The Temper Trap (except for that one song), and I actually walked out of their DC show, but this Rusko remix is out of control. Out. Of. Control. I’m not actually sure that it’s possible to NOT like this song if you pledge any allegiance to dubstep.

The Temper Trap – Soldier On (Ruskos F’kin Seagull Remix)

2. Penguin Prison [ "Hurtful" - Erik Hassle ]

Frankly the original Erik Hassle track is terrible, but Penguin Prison has revamped it into a deeply soulful masterpiece. It’s remixes like this that truly justify the art form, and show that beauty can be found where you least expect it.

Erik Hassle – Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)

1. The Twelves [ "Something Good Can Work" - Two Door Cinema Club ]

The Twelves are master remixers, and this one of a Two Door Cinema Club original is my most listened to remix of the entire year. The catchiness of this track just can’t be denied, go on, try to play it in a room and have your friends not ask you about it. Won’t happen. The original is mediocre, the remix is out of this world.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves remix)

That’s it for this year, let me know what you think I missed!

In the world of music blogging, it can be easy to lose perspective on what music is actually popular to the mainstream. Obviously everyone knows who Kanye West is (especially today), but where do people like Rusko fall? The average person might not even know what dubstep is, but to EDM kids, Rusko is king. Having seen him once before, at Electric Zoo, I knew what to expect from his set: thundering bass and out of control dancing, the crowd however was what I (foolishly) didn’t expect. I showed up exhausted to UHall on Sunday night and fell straight into a rave. Now I would expect that scene from a club in a warehouse district, or Randall’s Island, but in the middle of DC, it was just kind of weird. Drop that into a pretty small venue, and insanity ensues. I could have really used a thesaurus, because “insane” was the only word I could come up with to describe that evening. Hundreds of people (myself included) were soaked in sweat dancing wildly, and unable to distinguish their own heartbeats from the ribcage-shaking bass. Now don’t get me wrong, I love me some Rusko, and most of my gripes come from the choice of venue, but there are complaints nonetheless. The space was way too small (or perhaps the show was oversold), the crowd was way too young (it’s a strange moment when you feel old at the ripe age of 23), and the show started way too late for a Sunday (I left at 2am and Rusko was still going). At the risk of some backlash, I’m also going to go out on a limb and say that I think that Rusko is a much greater producer than he is a live DJ. There were definitely some stumbles and rough transitions throughout the set that maybe I wouldn’t have noticed if I was on ecstasy, but I wasn’t. All of this sounds like a huge rant against ravers, and it’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy myself regardless, but I think that given an appropriately sized space, even grumpy old me could have had room to breathe. Bonus: A remix of The Temper Trap that will have made reading this far worth it.

Soldier On (RUSKOS F’kin Seagull Remix) by The Temper Trap

My first exposure to this incredible remix by Sub Focus of Rusko‘s already epic track came during the tail end of Diplo‘s phenomal set during Electric Zoo (more on that experience soon). This is the kind of track that you can’t drop lightly, once that hard-hitting bass kicks in, it’ll be tough to find anyone around that isn’t dancing. Sub Focus manages to put a new spin on a track that is easily one of my favorites of the year, and now there is only more to love.

Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) (Sub Focus Remix)