Dance Music Intelligence

Michael Writes:

Top 4 Songs from Ivan & Why:

Healing – COMPUTER DATA

I knew straight away Ivan wasn’t about to play any games when it came to this playlist. His first selection and it had me vibing in the grocery superstore! Whoever saw me in the queue, this is the missing context you needed. I appreciate this piece even more because it sent me in a nose dive into underground house artists.

The Birds – Telefon Tel Aviv

I remember telling Ivan I was hooked by the glitchy synth sounds that slowly build up as the track progressed. You can just about hear the vocals getting overpowered by the synths throughout. I got the vibes of walking through the city on your lonesome with the subtle signs of human life muffled through the bright lights, thick glass and icy concrete.

Fold – Bonobo ft. Jacques Greene

This song gives me major beach party vibes. Those crisp drums and percussion got me hooked that I’d love to lose myself to the beat with this playing. I even remember telling Ivan off for picking such a song. It had me tapping away in the kitchen, train and shower!

Before – Scuba

Sometimes, less is more, and this song really gives so much through its minimalistic approach. I always get the vibes that were in a film and the opening credits are playing to introduce our slice of life. In this film, we’re not all good or all bad, there’s some nuances and this film is setting the tone.

A song you wanted to add to the playlist but didn’t get to?

I’m glad this section exists so I can add the ghosted 12th song from me into this playlist. It’s almost as if Michael had a hand in how these written sections manifested… but that’s blasphemy. We don’t blaspheme around here, others do – but we don’t. On a more serious note – KAYTRANADA’s “Leave Me Alone” was fighting for the penultimate spot. I remember discovering the snippet on soundcloud when I used to revise in the music room because I demanded to skip lessons in peace! How dare they interrupt those hard hitting drums and vibes because my biology teacher wants me back in class? The Nerve! Thank my stars and all that’s good that I can now listen to the song whenever I please, it’s no longer a gem to gate-keep.

A memory you were particularly nostalgic about while making this playlist?

My second year of university became a pivotal point in moulding my music taste. I had come from a background of soulful and melodic deep house that I found synonymous with relaxation and contentment. The fast paced techno I was exposed to felt like I was clearly above the speed limit. “Why am I going this fast?” I was loving it, mainly when it came to the house party we hosted with my housemates. That October Night had me entranced in some amazing music in a way that I knew would stay with me forever. There was a clearing of a mental forest, and I was in the moment dancing with the beats. I don’t think it was the first time I felt that, but it’s certainly an important time I felt that.

Ivan Writes:

Top 4 Songs from Michael & Why:

Getting It Done – Ross from Friends

From Michael’s opening track I already knew that we were going to set the stage for a long vibing journey. I couldn’t initially locate which tracks in my catalogue can fit a list of 11 nostalgic songs in electronic music. However, starting with Getting It Done and its synth-wave sounds set me to open myself to way more possibilities than I initially thought of.

Paso – SGVO ft. Oscar Mbo

Back to back after one of my all time favourites, Michael added probably my favourite from his pack.
I enjoyed the many layers of the song: the “world sound” twist and how it was capable of conveying a grooving and nostalgic mix from all those layers. I had it on repeat for a while and it took my hand on a journey to explore widely the next Artist I added. I had this on my to do list for some time.

I Am Me (Atjazz Remix Instrumental) – Natasha Watts ft. Atjazz & David Doyle

Bringing a funky and soulful addition to our mix was a great idea from Michael. Also coming halfway through the PL and with the lighter tones of the track allowed us to take a breath and contemplate what we added. The beats, piano and brass build up to this break so smoothly.

I Remember – deadmau5 ft.Kaskade

Michael bringing in the big guns. There is nothing to dislike in this great track from deadmau5. So well mixed and kind of a textbook of how a dance/techno track should be made without resulting neither too commercial nor too complex to be appreciated more widely. The perfect balance that only few artists can conceive and we can appreciate.

A song you wanted to add to the playlist but didn’t get to?

I think in the end I managed to squeeze in what I really wanted to. Of course, like in any collab playlist, I have my buffer of shortlisted tracks and looking back at it I pulled in 29 more tracks 🙂 .
That’s surely material for more PLs, but if I have to take one I almost put in, that would be “If You Were My Girl” from Supershy. I really feel the nostalgia in that track so, it can definitely belong to this section. Besides, I enjoyed that whole album pretty much and came back to it more often

A memory you were particularly nostalgic about while making this playlist?

In our conversation, I shared with Michael that a track I added (Mount Kimbie – Carbonated) reminds me a lot of my London period. I lived there almost 4 years before moving to Hungary. In my first office, a small creative digital agency, we always had someone with speakers on and some PL we collaborated on. Great period of my life!

Track Listing

• Gettin’ It Done – Ross from Friends
• Healing – COMPUTER DATA
• Take Me – DJ Planet Express
• runnersz – Joy Orbison
• Over U – Stwo
• The Birds – Telefon Tel Aviv
• Paso – SGVO
• Yam – Satori
• I Am Me – Atjazz Remix Instrumental – Natasha Watts
• Arcadia – Apparat
• Every Morning – iugou
• Crocodile – Underworld
• Leave With You – 2XM
• Earth – Lapalux
• I Remember – deadmau5
• Carbonated – Mount Kimbie
• U Hold Me Without Touch – DJ Seinfeld
• Fold – Bonobo
• Café de Flore – Charles Webster’s latin lovers mix – Doctor Rockit
• Lucky Star – Round
• Crave You – Hush Hush Bootleg – Flight Facilities
• Before – Scuba

Playlist image by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash