Relentless Beats’ Staff Picks: Artist to Watch in 2020
January 22, 2020
January 22, 2020
Say Hello to Leap96, the Collaborative Project from ALRT & Sam Silver
Anybody who listens to electronic music knows that strong emotions are often intertwined with the experience. More so, emotional themes like love (or lack of) are found across the many subgenres of EDM, connecting us through a universal experience.
Because the feelings that electronic music can evoke are rarely as obvious or direct as the lyrically and melodically driven messages of most pop music, it’s often left out of the “love song” discussion, but not anymore! Many could argue that through enthralling melodies, exhilarating build ups, and euphoric drops some of the best love songs are coming from the dance community.
Being Valentine’s Day, we decided to reflect on the EDM Love Songs that resonate with us for this months Staff Picks.
Heather Kupka, Chief Editor – Phoenix, AZ
“Sun & Moon” – Above & Beyond
This month’s Staff Pick really took me on a feels trip. Being a lover of the softer side of EDM, I had plenty of great tracks come to mind. Diving into the topic, I decided to highlight one of EDM’s greatest love songs and one of the first songs that I fell in love with when first getting involved in the scene. Released in 2011 as the first single from their Group Therapy album, “Sun & Moon” is quite possibly the track that put Above & Beyond on the international dance music map, and for good reason. With lyrics like “I’m sorry baby, you were the sun and moon to me. I’ll never get over you, you’ll never get over me,” and a magnificent synth beat, it has the power to both break and mend hearts. While I listen to far less trance these days than I once did, “Sun & Moon” will always hold a special place in my heart.
Amanda Milovich, Lead Writer – Scottsdale, AZ
“Something Something” – Kaskade & Zip Zip Through The Night vs. Moguai
It’s not your typical serenade to a past lover or a leap for attention towards a current one, Kaskade’s “Something Something” pulls different on the heart strings. Not to be confused with the original version which is incredible in it’s own right, Zip Zip Through The Night vs. Moguai redux hits different. It’s the song’s melodic way of submerging you in pure escapism that had me fall in love and it’s lyrics that always has me wishing the people I love are next to me. No matter where I am or who I am with, when I hear this I am feeling the love for the full 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
Courtney Longhurst, Lead Writer – Phoenix, AZ
“Brightest Lights” – Lane 8
When I first heard Lane 8’s “Brightest Lights,” the first single off his recently released album of the same name, I was in complete awe. Not only was I excited about the prospect of a new Lane 8 album, but the single was absolutely beautiful. Flash forward to today, the song is still my favorite track on the album and it’s succeeded in making me cry more than once. Why? Because of lyrics like this: “The feeling I’m feeling, I know it’s a reason, I want it the rest of our lives…. All the world’s just noise. We will drown it out. When you’re holding me, love will scream out loud.” This one hits hard in the feels and I relate, being in a relationship myself. I went with my heart on this month’s staff pick and I hope this one touches your heart as well.
Grace Fell, Lead Writer – Tucson, AZ
“Strangers” – Seven Lions
Seven Lions marries infectious melodies and uplifting chord progressions with crooning, robust feminine vocals that send hearts into a lovestruck delirium. The sweetness in the notes surges with an over-the-moon, head-over-heels euphoria, and the lyrics “You’re the air in my lungs, you’re the fields where I run, you’re the sky where I’m floating,” are both relatable and poetic. This is the one love song from Seven Lions where he quiets the sound so that the voices of his audience belting out the lyrics rises above the crowd.
Liz Small, Staff Writer – Tempe, AZ
“Clear” – No Mana (Rezz Remix)
Whenever “Clear” is played at a festival, I start to get pretty emotional. The original No Mana track was already perfect as is, but the Rezz remix truly blew me away the first time I heard it. “Clear” perfectly describes how falling in love feels (without being overly cliche) and the slow drop has that hypnotic Rezz-feel that will capture your soul.
Calvin Witmer Jr., Staff Writer – Mesa, AZ
“Fuck Your Money” – Elohim
This song approaches love in a different way than most tracks, and is just overall wholesome, uplifting, and romantic in its own way. The message is about being true to your heart and seeking out things that matter, like love, instead of material things that will ultimately fade away. It seems to explain that even if you don’t have money, love will prevail and no amount of cash can equal the passion and warmth of love. Elohim’s unique and beautiful voice accompany her special production style and make this track a standout. This Valentine’s Day season, focus on those who matter, and enjoy the little things that make life worth all the trials and tribulations.
Alexandra Myers, Staff Writer – Phoenix, AZ
“Take Me Home” – Delta Heavy
After sleeping through the final set of EDC, a Delta Heavy b2b DirtyPhonics set, and watching videos of what I had missed, I cried every day for the duo to come to Arizona. Delta Heavy’s music is always so powerfully stunning no matter what atmosphere I’m listening in, so when they did come to Arizona last Summer, I was speechless, and seeing them with my best friend/partner made me even more so. Their Drum N Bass is uniquely brilliant and the amount of gut wrenching tracks they produce teeter between hard core and feel-all-good-and-tingly-
Delainey Rab, Staff Writer – Phoenix, AZ
“Across The Room (feat. Leon Bridges)” – ODESZA
“Across The Room,” featuring dreamy vocals by Leon Bridges, is without a doubt one of Odesza’s most powerful tracks. This lovely track is definitely one of my favorite EDM love songs because it is full of emotion, warmth, chemistry, and pure bliss, from the melodies to the lyrics. Lines like, “The scent of your perfume has got me lost in a haze,” ooze with the feelings of passion and love for someone dear to you. Give it a listen and fall more in love through the music!
Monica Goob, Staff Writer – Glendale, AZ
“Runaway (U & I)” – Galantis
The best love song is definitely Runaway (U & I) by Galantis. For one, it is a festival mainstay. Two, it is about finding that blood rushing, exhilarating love with someone so much so that you want to run away together. “Think I can fly, think I can fly | When I’m with U” perfectly describes that thrilling feeling of finding love, leaving you reminiscing on all the good times in life. This song gives me butterflies every time I hear it, which is an amazing feat as it is nearly six years old!
Alex Novotny, Staff Writer – Milwaukee, WI
“How to Love (feat. Sofia Reyes)” – Cash Cash (Acoustic)
In “How to Love,” Cash Cash and Sofia Reyes create an emotional, compelling, and insightful anthem. While the original EDM version is excellent in its own right, I personally prefer its acoustic counterpart. In the acoustic version, there is much more emphasis on the elements that make this song so special. Among them, one will find a gorgeous orchestration, Sofia’s scintillating vocals, and phenomenal storytelling from start to finish. For all of these reasons, and many more, “How to Love (feat. Sofia Reyes) – Acoustic” by Cash Cash is my favorite EDM love song.
Matt Brezinski, Staff Writer – Tempe, AZ
“First Breath” – Kaivon
It’s hard to rival that pulse that spontaneously radiates through your body the moment you lock eyes with the one you love. Kaivon’s “First Breath” embodies that exact moment with a spacey sound that seamlessly matches the wavy motion of your ever-increasing heartbeat. As you and your love embrace each other, “First Breath” drops in hard just as you draw in closer for a passionate kiss.
Jacob Murphy, Staff Writer – Surprise, AZ
“Heavy With Hoping” – Madeon
Madeon is my personal favorite artist and love is one of the most dominant themes in his latest album Good Faith. However, one song in particular always hits me right in the feels and that is “Heavy With Hoping”. If you’ve ever had a breakup and wanted to patch things up, I’m sure you’ll relate to all the lyrics in the song. It touches on still being in love with someone you’ve not been the best to and hoping they still feel the same way about you. I’ve probably heard it a thousand times, but it still gives me goosebumps and makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs.
