Dyro's made a name for himself as one of the most respected names in electro house, and the title track from his new EP sees him as deserving of such accolades as ever. On "Set Me Free," the DJ/producer even collaborated with fellow Dutchman Loopers to add a measure of wonk to the production.
Diplo's back on the decks for 2016's first edition of Diplo and Friends. The BBC Radio 1 series has become a platform by which artists as influential as Troyboi, Mija and Jauz have gained access to worldwide audiences, but the man himself took the latest edition as an opportunity to demonstrate why he remains such an influential tastemaker.
Olwik spent the better part of last year honing in on his signature sound, but now that he's gotten that much done he looks to be gunning full speed ahead in 2016. His first release of the year is titled "Finally" - and aptly so, because anybody who's observed the evolution of his style can attest that the track feels like a destination of sorts.
Spinnin' Records seems to be going through an identity crisis, and Curbi stands among the few artists signed to the label whose style fit its intended destination. The English producer has released a future/bass house hybrid titled "51" that accomplishes what so few of Spinnin's tenured producers seem to grasp.
Fedde Le Grand has struck an admirable balance as an electronic music artist. Nobody can dispute the mass appeal of his better-known material - and yet, he's also still managed to make time for projects that pay homage to his more obscure roots.
With the tides in electronic music gradually turning away from the main stage, it's refreshing to see outfits like Paris & Simo continue to bring fresh concepts to the ever-changing genre. Most recently, the Canadian duo have joined forces with NYC-based DJ/producer Misha K to deliver another challenging production in the form of "Lyra."
It's hard to hate on much of anything that ODESZA releases, even when it's not entirely their work. The Seattle-based ambient downtempo duo have released a remix EP for their 2015 release, "It's Only," and as could be expected they chose a handful of remixes that don't betray the elegant simplicity of the original.
As a general rule, if your remix of a track doesn't accomplish something better than or different from the original, it's probably not worth the effort. Stwo has released a remix of ZAYN's "Pillow Talk" that isn't poorly put together, but feels that way for how greatly it's overshadowed by its source material.
I suppose an album announcement doesn't count unless the artist makes it in English. Martin Garrix casually mentioned that he had a debut album in the works last month, but it wasn't until his most recent announcement that it truly registered with his entire fanbase.
Depending on where you're from, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival might be the gathering that marks the beginning of festival season - and before long an event at the same location could mark the end of festival season as well. In recent statements, Indio officials have revealed that a fall massive could take place sooner rather than later.
