Artist Remixed is back to bring you the milky manipulations of your favourite singles. From the increase in bedroom producers there has been an even bigger increase in remixes. Artists are now making entire EP’s and LP’s devoted purely to remixes, something unheard of just a decade ago. One search on Soundcloud for an original piece of work leaves you strolling through pages of unfinished productions and poorly structured remixes. Yet, out of all the mashups, edits, screw ups, and improvements there is still gold to be found. Artist Remixed is your guide to bring you straight to the cream, why search through pages and pages when Earmilk does all the hunting for you? This weekly feature will showcase old and new artists of all genres, yet never an original piece. Artist Remixed was created to show you bedroom producers of all genres to feed your hunger. This week Artist Remixed features Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. Enjoy.
OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP REMIXES
Relaxing, rolling, smoking and relaxing a little more; these remixes seem to fit that 4-step motto rather simultaneously. DJ Sleep’s remix is a fusion between jazz and hip hop, it mixes the original track with a smoother melody and a nice 4-beat groove. Crookam’s remix follows a similar pattern yet is more groovy with a gentle sax that rolls in and rolls out before you even realize you’ve already had four joints. Both tracks create the perfect aura for the rest of the list as they don’t veer too far off from the originals.
FUNKY REMIXES
From funk to disco, this section is for anything that gets your head slowly grooving before you even realize you’ve been hypnotized by these relaxing tunes. Mix Chopin’s remix includes more than just the original vocals from “The Next Episode”, which finishes the track with an excellent touch. With a slow intro, Mix Chopin works his magic by hitting hard using the vocals to emphasize the beat as they work flawlessly together in a perfect rhythm. SMYLE’s remix is filled with funky bass that kicks in almost instantly. He tweaks the original melody with just enough electronic saxophone to give it a catchy tune that glides along side the original lyrics.
CHILL OUT REMIXES
Lying on the beach, driving through the streets, still wishing it was July, these treats are just what you need to give you another rush of that summer mindset. ETHERA’s remix sounds almost like a dream, it strips away all similarities to the original leaving just the vocals with a slower, calmer melody. ETHERA’s remix is more of a lullaby than a beach track, it’s slow BPM and soft beat make it so soothing that even your mother could enjoy it. SSK’s remix is another ambient track that flows through you like a glass of cold milk. As usual, SSK keeps the vocals but edits the sound, changing the melody into a relaxed track. Shatterhor’s remix is arguably one of the most impressive remixes on this list, it completely changes the original tune and makes the original lyrics still work perfectly with it’s eerie melody that’s strikingly similar to Clams Casino. It starts slow, gives an unearthly feel, and finishes with a sheer whisper; absolutely beautiful.
DUBSTEP REMIXES
Whether it’s filthy, greasy or ambient bass this section will feature it all and expand into sub-genres depending on the artist remixed. Figure is no new name in the grime scene, his remix though is an older tune that takes on an even older tune by Dr. Dre. Figure’s remix starts off slow with Dr. Dre’s vocals yet turns into a violent nightmare as he rains down with a high bpm and a screeching structure. Wick-it keeps the soft melody of “Sensual Seduction” using the lyrics to build up to a complete change in sound, he turns the sexual single into an aggressive progression of timbres. Bullwack’s remix is a highlight all on it’s own as it doesn’t follow the typical scheme of dubstep tracks but takes on it’s own unique structure. Mixing a heavy bass with rewinds of the lyrics, he’s made this remix almost indistinguishable from the original tune. AFK’s remix is another massive sounding track that uses the lyrics to build up right to the drop where he has a 2 – bar stab at the chorus. Throughout the entire track he shreds the classic turning it into a hard hitting, head thrashing remix.
MASHUPS
Whether it’s two songs or a list of hits, these tracks combine artist’s signature sounds together to make a mix of noise. There were a few mashups this week that really stuck out, the first is Mikey Fresh’s mashup of Pretty Lights. Mikey Fresh manages to keep Pretty Lights darker side of hip hop and fuse it with the classic vocals of “The Next Episode”; easily the highlight of this track is the smooth use of Pretty Lights piano chord. OFFTAPIA’s collaboration of Flume’s “Ezra” and “Drop it like it’s hot” is one of my personal highlights in this post, the relaxing tune from Flume works perfectly with the gentle vocals from Snoop Dogg and Pharrell; both tracks come together to make a summer tune to be blasted anywhere.
OVERALL FAVOURITE REMIX
Danktra is a young producer who has been making tracks for years, his soundcloud is literally filled with remixes of classic rap singles, ranging from Jurassic 5, Dead Prez, Nas, and many more. Many of his tracks from years ago were satisfactory and needed work but he seems to have nailed his remix of “Still D.R.E” right on the head. Although this is technically a mashup using Gramatik’s “Lonely and Cold”, it still delivers shivers as it blends a vintage sound with the lyrics we all know so well. Danktra’s mix of both tracks works perfectly together as it gives “Still D.R.E” a whole new structure. Enjoy.