Joakim – This Is My Life
Caleb: There have been soooo many good songs this year, but few actually stuck with me like “This Is My Life.†It’s weird, goofy, and epic, but at the same time it’s personal, beautiful and easy to dance to. It really feels like the pinnacle of Joakim’s sound, breaking out of the frenzied DFA-esque analog blips into a gorgeous synth break. 10/10 all the way.
Honorable Mentions: Tensnake – Feel of Love; Tommy Vercetti – Good Feelings; TEED & Anna Lunoe – Feels Like
Redlight – 9TS
Zach: Slam. Dunk. As a 90’s baby, everything about this song spoke to me on another level and, as a DJ, I knew this song was going to crush the dancefloor whenever it played out. This song is the epitome of a track released at exactly the right time: the production is so in the moment that one can’t help but feel like the current movement in dance culture was made specifically for this song. The jacking bassline. The G-house inspired vocals. This is magic in the form of a certified banger.
Honorable Mentions: “Bullit” Watermät, “Rhymes” Hannah Wants & Chris Lorenzo, “Breathless” Will Eastman & Caleb L’Etoile
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Duke Dumont ft. Jax Jones – I Got U
This man not only broke in to the mainstream this year, but he started off 2014 with a bang with this amazing co-production with fellow Blasé Boy, Jax Jones. This was a tough decision for many reasons, but “I Got You†had the kind of crossover appeal that allowed dance music to transcend typical pop music barriers. An awesome production that can reach almost any audience, this track was made for the dance floor: hard bassline, soul vocals and one catchy refrain. Well done, Duke Dumont!
Honorable Mentions: “Faded†Zhu; “No Relief†Tensnake; “Feel Your Love†Le Youth
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Jonas Rathsman – Hope I’m Wrong
Philco: Hands down, not only one of my favorite tracks of 2014, but in general. Both a technical and artistic masterpiece, Jonas Rathsman knocks this one out of the park. It’s a House track with a unique vibe where all the elements fit perfectly. With a bass voice that could rip a phone book in half, it’s as soulful as it is edgy. The noticeable, but not overwhelming string elements hover hauntingly in the background. The variant percussion is placed in a way that carries the track and also extenuates its transitions. And best of all, the vocal samples (from a Dru Hill song, no less) are full of emotion and sit perfectly on top of the musical elements of the track. This song breathes distinctiveness and is a dance floor killer anytime it’s played.
Honorable mentions: As I Am “Saving Grace,†Breach ft. Andreya Triana “Everything You Never Had,†Secondcity “I Wanna Feelâ€
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