Our Favorite EDM Songs From April 2015

As festival season ramped up over the last month, so did EDM releases. With dayclubs opening their doors for business and the number of DJ sets going at any given time seeing a substantial spike, the amount of music released by artists across the globe is on the rise as well. This April saw standout tracks from the likes of Nero, Jack Beats, FTampa and Kungs, among others, and they ranged from trance to dubstep and almost everything in between. Take a look at our 10 favorite songs from last month and let us know what you think in the comments section. Are there any that we missed, or do you agree with all of our picks? 1) NERO - Between II Worlds UK dubstep trio NERO have kept fans waiting for four long years for their second studio album, Between II Worlds. With a summer release date quickly approaching though, the group dropped the title track last month and it sufficiently captures the feeling of the effort. The halftime drum patterns of dubstep paired with synth work somehow contributes to the stagnant creative pool that the genre has become. It's another excellent piece of work from NERO and one that points to a very promising upcoming album. 2) Marc Houle - Business (M.A.N.D.Y. Remix) Marc Houle's December release of "Business" struck a chord with minimal techno enthusiasts the world over - not the least of whom M.A.N.D.Y., who gave the track their own tech house makeover. The Berlin-based duo co-founded Get Physical Records alongside house tastemakers Booka Shade and DJ T a decade ago, giving them sufficient credentials to give "Business" their own spin. If you're looking for more underground flavor in your day-to-day playlist, then cue this minimal groove up. 3) Autograf - Dream Tropical house has made for a particularly soothing subset of what's being called "the deep house movement." Autograf have made their own distinctive mark on the genre, and their newest track, "Dream," is no exception. The first of numerous upcoming releases, the track combines serene instrumentals with a calming vocal sample that makes us look forward to what the trio will put out in the months to follow. 4) What So Not - Gemini ft. George Maple Nobody was happy to hear that Flume would be leaving Australian outfit What So Not, but Emoh Instead appears to be dealing with his absence well. His latest release, "Gemini," makes for memorable midtempo, and vocals by George Maple tie all the elements together. In typical Flume/What So Not fashion, this song falls somewhat outside the confines of popular EDM genres while still retaining enough mass appeal to sneak into your Pandora stream. 5) Jack Beats - One Love British duo Jack Beats hit the nail on the head with this contemplative future house track. The rubbery organ synth and brooding vocals perfectly compliment the dark chord progression, which builds to a frenetic peak. While the OWSLA art in the background image may have ruffled a few feathers, the song itself will undoubtedly become a staple over the next several months as festival season goes full swing. 6) FTampa - That Drop Big room house isn't dead. At least not if Hardwell's record label, Revealed Recordings, has anything to say about it. Ftampa's latest track, "That Drop," proves that hard kicks and, of course, heavy bass drops still leave much to be explored. The producer's attention to detail makes the tune a fitting addition to the rest of Revealed Recordings' releases, and likely one that will see its fair share of inclusion into sets throughout the festival circuit. 7) Cheb Five - The Only Sao Paulo, Brazil artist Cheb Five has been climbing the electro house charts as of late. His newest number, "The Only," showcases his impressive production chops and has landed on the Beatport electro house chart's #53 spot. This track in particular demonstrates why electro house never falls off the charts: because innovators like Cheb Five keep on finding new avenues to explore within its confines. 8) Jauz - Feel The Volume Pt. II ft. Fatman Scoop (VIP Mix) Jauz captured the world's attention with last year's "Feel The Volume," and he further showcases the track's versatility with this new VIP mix. Vocal samples by Fatman Scoop and a brand-new dubstep breakdown definitely make us see the song in a new light and have pushed it right back onto our favorite playlists. We could have picked something newer than the VIP mix of a track that came out last year, but "Feel The Volume" had such a game-changing sound that it's worth it - if for no other reason than to expose the original song to an even wider audience. 9) Ferry Corsten - Exhale ft. Armin Van Buuren With trance heavyweights Ferry Corsten and Armin Van Buuren together on a track, you know it's gonna be a slam dunk - and the upbeat stylings of "Exhale" do not disappoint. Even though both artists have become synonymous with trance's more contemporary and mainstream-friendly sound, the higher tempo and sharper synth work here will no doubt resonate with those who took part in the genre's golden era. If you're a longtime fan of either Ferry or Armin, definitely check this one out. 10) Axwell /\ Ingrosso - On My Way (Kungs Remix) If the cookie-cutter progressive house style of "On My Way" didn't suit your fancy, you might want to give the Kungs remix a listen. The deep house version is almost impossible to identify, but retains much of the original's playability. Anyone who appreciates EDM's softer side will undoubtedly enjoy this version of "On My Way," even as memorable as the original track was in its own right.