Nadia Nair

Tal Meltzer and Phil Patterson, better known as the Los Angeles DJ/producer duo FIXYN, return from their early July success, a remix of Swedish indie-pop band Nonono’s “Pumpin Blood”. In just over 25 days the track has surpassed 80,000 plays on Soundcloud, an astounding figure bolsters the pair’s blossoming career, all which began through late night revelry in the USC fraternity scene. Through the subtle treatment of Stina Wappling’s vocals and from punctuated synth/bass lines that shine in the drop, we understand that the rework’s true strength comes from its finesse.

Whether by choice or by coincidence, the guys have remixed yet another Swedish track for today’s premiere, “Monika The Brave” by Nadia Nair. Like Meltzer and Patterson, Nair also began her foray into music at a young age, sacrificing her late teenage years in an unrewarding pursuit of vocal fame. However, her reemergence through the Bon Voyage EP shows a stunning resilience, majestically amplified in FIXYN’s capable hands. No defeat can be found in “Monika The Brave”, as angsty resolve underpins the emotive performance, both bolstered by FIXYN’s contrasting approach to the remix: in one phrase weighty, electro breaks and dubby syncopation hit listeners with the heavy, while the next phrase brings a bell-laden pause of soulful vocals reminiscent of “You’ve Got The Love”. With criticism of dance music at a high, FIXYN wipes away our cynicism, reminding us that the game must, and will always, continue to evolve.