A New Wave Of Dance Music

This week saw the release of Disclosure's debut album 'Settle', ironic as that is something I have struggled to do since I downloaded the album on Monday at approximately 00:02.

However, as we all rejoice to the sounds of what is sure to be album of the summer, I would like to highlight two other production duo's who I feel are destined for the same success that Howard and Guy Lawrence are currently enjoying.

The first duo is 'Toyboy and Robin'. When I tell you that their real names are Toyin Mustapha and Rob Drake, their stage name may sound more crafty then crazy. But do not be put off by the name, as this London based pair are producing dance music that bridges the gap between house music and the new generation of dance acts such as Disclosure.

The two met at university in Manchester, and whilst living together in the same campus, it soon became apparent to one another that their similar tastes and ideas in music were a recipe for success.

It is quite clear that 90's R&B and garage music were the main influences behind Toyboy and Robin. They broke onto the scene last summer with the three tracks 'Loving You', 'To The Top' and 'No More Sunshine', with all three effectively blending electronic rhythms with undeniably catchy R&B vocals. 'No More Sunshine' features vocal samples from 2001 R&B track 'Heard It All Before' by Sunshine Anderson, and 'Loving You' incorporates the lyrics from Strike's 90's club hit 'U Sure Do'.

More recently, Toyin and Rob have turned their hand to the reworking of pop tunes, with catchy dance adaptations of Ellie Goulding's 'Figure 8' and Lana Del Ray's 'Summertime Sadness'. However my personal favourite is their remix of Manchester based singer Bipolar Sunshine's track, 'Rivers'.

The latest release from Toyboy and Robin is sure to see the pair go from one of the rest to one of the best. The track is set to be a summer classic and definitely defines the pairs self proclaimed 'out of the box' dance music. The tracks itchy vocals and club infused dance vibes will make this one a favourite for those of you lucky enough to see them support Example at Ibiza Rocks this summer.

The second crafty named duo, is Snakehips. I would very much like to inform you with the ins and outs of the pair, but they are yet to conform to the realms of social fame and divulge any information on themselves, other than the fact that they are London based.

They were first brought to my attention a few months back with their impressive remix of Bondax's single 'Gold'. Bondax original version typically portrays their effective chilled out style; Snakehips' remix typically portrays their silky Hip-Hop/R&B style, something a bit more upbeat and summery.

On further investigation, I instantly fell for Snakehips breakbeat up-tempo charm. Their rework of American singer Willie Hale's vintage track 'Groove On' is a personal favourite, as is their first solo single 'Miss You Always', both of which have racked up over a million views each on YouTube and have been championed by various Radio 1 DJ's.

However, their newest track On & On is destined to be a summer classic. It too, has had superlatives thrown at it from all angles by Radio 1 DJ's such as Annie Mac and Zane Lowe, who labelled the track with his 'Next Hype' stamp.

The track, which has a rather cool retro video, features vocals from female Australian singer George Maple, who has been widely compared to Jessie Ware. Maple's performance certainly boosts the credentials of the song, but Snakehips trademark soulful hiss and electronic bursts make the track so infectious that you will struggle to shake it off this summer.

Without doubt 'Jaded' and 'On & On' will be big hits this summer, both home and abroad. The singles will no doubt induce the public to stand up and take note of the new wave of house music, that is increasingly nodding towards the 90's R&B/Garage scene. Disclosure have set a precedent for these acts, a high one at that. But as the David Guetta's and Swedish House Mafia's of this world begin to diminish, the pathway to popularity will become more of a common occurrence for acts like Toyboy and Robin, and Snakehips.


Toyboy and Robin - No More Sunshine   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9VWkdK1CC4

Toyboy and Robin - Loving You   https://soundcloud.com/toyboyrobin/loving-you-original-mix

Ellie Goulding - Figure 8 (Toyboy and Robin Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUHktdnPrp4

Bipolar Sunshine - Rivers (Toyboy and Robin Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iOCIYqkgsE

Toyboy and Robin - Jaded   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvyk2-H81-8

Bondax - Gold (Snakehips Remix)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFnqEo9367s

Snakehips - Miss You Always   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JypACA5H31k

Willie Hale - Groove On (Snakehips Edit)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Fv6u4S_9g

Snakehips - On & On   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtYCK4O4ZbE

Karma Kid - Destiny In His Own Hands

At the age of 18 the closest I got to making music was playing DJ Hero on my game console. Quite a contrast to Derbyshire's Sam Knowles. Some of you may be more familiar with Knowles' alias, Karma Kid. Those of you who are not, take note.

Knowles burst onto the scene last summer with the single 'It's Always'. The track uses the vocal samples of Ray J's 'One Wish' and was a huge hit with Radio 1 DJs such as Nick Grimshaw and Sarah Jane Crawford. The track highlights Karma Kid's ability to combine R&B, garage, house and funky into one. The yet unnamed genre, is proving to be the 'in-style' at the moment, most popularly demonstrated by Disclosure.

It was followed up by an unreleased track called 'Lust, Love'. The track features catchy vocal samples over the top of some heavy basslines, but yet still manages to portray a vintage soulful image. Knowles has since provided us with some satisfying remixes, none more so than his adaptation of Sweater Beats 'Mlln Dllr', but his ever increasing fan base has been kept waiting for fresh material from the 'Kid' from Matlock.

However, you may wait no more. Knowles latest single, 'In My Arms', has got dance music enthusiasts purring with delight. Annie Mac, amongst others, has labeled the song as a potential summer anthem and personally I think Annie has got it spot on. The song is also accompanied by a pretty cool video, which is definitely worth a watch.

Knowles, once again, applies a trademark R&B vocal to a beat that has house and garage written all over it. The thing that separates Karma Kid from the rest, is that he is creating this eclectic vibes with an arrogant class, demonstrated by the almost cocky laugh deployed throughout 'In My Arms'.

His latest release is a collaboration with Friend Within and Yasmin titled 'Feeling (So Special)' and has been released on the Monki and Friends EP, which is free to download. It features a sample from the 80's hit 'Saturday Love' by Cherrelle and Alexander O' Neal. The collaboration works tirelessly to provide a summer hit, particularly with Yasmin's vocals, which I will never get bored of listening to.

Knowles describes his entrance into the electronic music scene as 'curiosity fuelled', and one thing is for sure, he has left many people curious as to what the future holds for Karma Kid. This next year could possibly be a life changing year for the talented teenager.

Karma Kid - It's Always   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QdEOhTBTFc

Karma Kid - Lust, Love   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGNqd1TNbI8

Sweater Beats - Mlln Dllr (Karma Kid Remix)     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCgk_uH0oXA

Karma Kid - In My Arms  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NoZsL0HP7Y 

Karma Kid & Friend Within - Feeling (So Special) Ft. Yasmin   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GJKPpog86E