matoma

Top 50 Remixes of 2015 (25-1)

Here lies Banger City a.k.a. My Top 25 Remixes of 2015:

25. Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws (Kygo Remix)

 

24. Glass Animals – Gooey (Gilligan Moss Remix)

 

23. Zedd f. Jon Bellion – Beautiful Now (Grey Remix)

 

22. Borns – Electric Love (Oliver Remix)

 

21. Tinashe f. Dej Loaf, Neily Hype – All Hands On Deck (Remix)

 

20. Carly Rae Jepsen – Run Away With Me (Cyril Hahn Remix)

 

19. Echosmith – Bright (Lost Kings Remix)

 

18. Adele – Hello (Paul Damixie Remix)

 

17. M83 – Wait (Kygo Remix)

 

16. Snakehips f. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper – All My Friends (99 Souls Remix)

 

15. Charlie Puth f. Meaghan Trainor – Marvin Gaye (Styx Tropical House Remix)

 

14. Alessia Cara – Here (Lucian Remix)

 

13. Axwell & Ingrosso – Something New (Amtrac Remix)

 

12. Justin Bieber – Love Yourself (Brynny x Teddy Cream Bootleg)

 

11. Banks – Beggin’ For Thread (Gryffin & Hotel Garuda Remix)

 

10. Grizfolk – Hymnals (RAC Remix)

On repeat for much of the later half of 2015. So fresh, so clean.

 

9. Susanne Sundfor – Delerious (Richard X Remix)

Richard X was and remains a bad, bad man. This is a force majeure.

 

8. London Grammar – Strong (High Contrast Remix)

Another remix that isn’t strictly from 2015. But that’s when I discovered it, fell in love with it, and deemed it a necessity of life.

 

7. A-Ha – Take On Me (Kygo Remix)

Trop House knows no bounds! It’s attacking the 80’s! Run for your liiiiiiiiiiivvvvessss!

 

6. Notorious B.I.G. f. Ja Rule & Ralph Tresvant – Old Thing Back (Matoma Remix)

This remix might be a bit older than 2015, but 2015 is when I discovered it. Matter of fact, I’ll never forget how I discovered this song. A friend played it on my birthday on the way to the beach. A soundtrack to happiness is hard to forget. Oh yeah, and this a gigantic banger to boot.

 

5. Rihanna – Bitch Better Have My Money (Handbag House vs. Kat Krazy Bootleg Mix)

So, so, so much fun. A little nuts, but an enormous earworm all the same.

 

4. Ed Sheeran – Photograph (Felix Jaehn Remix)

Felix Jaehn wrapped up the remixer-of-the-year award with this one. I don’t think there is such an award, but if there is, it’s his. Ed Sheeran’s voice let’s a DJ shine if he/she knows what they’re doing. Jaehn knows. This is bliss.

 

3. Miguel – Leaves (Adam Foster’s Sweet California Remix)

Speaking of bliss. This remix evokes sadness, nostalgia, euphoria. It’s a deep breath on a sunny day in an Indian Summer. Life moves quickly. Thankfully music like this helps us live in the moment.

 

2. Glass Animals – Pools (Roosevelt Remix)

Roosevelt absolutely smashes this one out of the park. This is the most playful remix of the year. You can hear the original metamorphosing into a different state. “Pools” is itself, one of the songs of the year. It’s adventurous, animalistic, and ambidextrous. This remix is all of that, but it smothers peanut butter vibes over the melody and lets the track slither around unabated. If all the animals in the world had a giant pool party where humans were not invited, this would be on a delicious, fruity loop.

 

1. OMI – Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)

Duh. It was never going to be anything else. Bigger than massive. And for good reason. Distilled hookery.

 

Top 30 Songs of Summer 2015 (30-16)

I wrote this last year and feel it’s still a succinct and fitting introduction to this list: Music carries a special weight in the summer. It can whisper with the wind, lay and linger with the light, and kiss ears like the sun kisses skin.

For many, the warmth of summer brings a certain type of hope and happiness (especially to those of us living in a 4-season part of the world), and songs have a singular capacity — unlike any other art form — to soundtrack the season and the moments therein.

Here are my favourite 30 songs from the summer of 2015:

30. Yukon Blonde – Saturday Night

More dope with every listen.

 

29. Omarion f. Jhene Aiko & Chris Brown – Post To Be

Thanks for the heads up on this GD. 🙂

 

28. Ratatat – Nightclub Amnesia

The record version is awesome, the live version (linked below) is bonkers. I love Ratatat’s use of guitars in this track.

 

Bonus: Chet Faker – Talk Is Cheap

From last year, but I just got into it this summer. For me, the best song he played at Osheaga too.

 

27. Alessia Cara – Here

The tune by this Torontonian is sexy and sultry. So is Alessia Cara. She’s one to watch.

 

26. Silversun Pickups – Nightlight

So glad Brian and co. are back. 🙂

 

25. George Ezra – Blame It On Me

I think his performance of this at Osheaga shone a light on the track that had kept it hidden previously. I’m glad for that. Really fun to sing along to.

 

24. Robbie Williams f. Avicii – The Days

Because of Robbie’s vocals. Anything that Robbie touches, he becomes the star of.

 

23. Atlas Genius – Molecules

Banging lead single from their new album.

 

22. Switchfoot – Oh! Gravity

Why did I think this was a new song? I don’t have a good answer for that. I thought it was new, and that is what will matter for the purpose of this list.

 

21. Twenty One Pilots – Car Radio/Guns For Hands/Trees/Lovely

Hooks abound. I played a lllllllot of Twenty One Pilots this summer. These four tunes were constants. I really like all of them, but “Trees” is something special.

 

Bonus: Watermat – Bullit

Hard to resist.

 

20. DIIV – How Long Have You Known?

Again, I had no idea this was an older song. I discovered and listened to it a bunch this summer.

 

19. First Aid Kit – My Silver Lining/Stay Gold

Thanks again GD for the heads up on these. I really like these two tracks.

 

18. Small Black – Boys Life

Love this 80’s indebted dance track. So easy to get lost in. And so I did.

 

Bonus: Notorious B.I.G. f. Ja Rule – Old Thing Back (Matoma Remix)

I have to thank the Pilkman for this one. I’ll always remember taking a limo to Wasaga beach (winning at life) and having this scorcher blaring, getting all occupants turnt up. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard this remix before. It’s sensational. And don’t let the fact that Ja Rule is on the track fool you. Not only does he not make the tune worse, his verse is actually pretty cool. Rose-coloured glasses maybe, but such is the power of summer.

 

17. Ryn Weaver – Promises/The Fool

Two brilliant pop songs. Loved her set at Osheaga too.

 

16. The Decemberists – Make You Better

My favourite song from them in a looooong time.