This week in dance music: Lady Gaga performed her electro romp “Abracadabra” and new Gesaffelestein collab “Killah” on Saturday Night Live, John Summit announced that he recently completed his “first fully sober tour,” Barry Can’t Swim released his first new single of the year with “The Person You’d Like to Be,” we caught up with the gentlemen of Justice to discuss the hyper success of their Hyperdrama album, Chicago’s ARC Music festival announced a hefty 2025 lineup, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and electronic musician Mark Pritchard announced a forthcoming collaborative album, we got the first look of the newly designed Brooklyn Mirage and Everything But the Girl revealed that they’ll perform their first live shows in 25 years next month in London.
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And on top of all that, we offer these, the best new dance tracks of the week.
Calvin Harris, “Smoke the Pain Away”
Calvin Harris walks down the dirt road into country music with “Smoke the Pain Away,” an acoustic guitar and harmonica-heavy ode to trying to numb heartbreak with a hodgepodge of controlled substances. When the Scottish hitmaker teased the track earlier this month, it was unclear if or how any electronic elements would be incorporated, but while the song is still a departure for Harris, it does contain dance DNA with a flickery, high BPM beat that adds extra verve and bounce and helps the song ride the line between the two genres.
Featuring Harris’ own plaintive vocals, the song is another pretty undeniable earworm from one of dance’s foremost hitmakers. It also comes days after the announcement that Harris will play the first ever double residency at Ushuaïa in Ibiza, where he’ll perform on both Tuesdays and Fridays this summer. In keeping with the country theme. this mega-club is not too far from the sprawling farm Harris has on the island. “
Sub Focus & bbyclose, “On & On”
It’s a big week for Sub Focus fans, the with U.K. heavyweight releasing his first new single of the year with “On & On,” which extends his reputation as an essential master of drum and bass. The hypnotic song features a long mid-track bridge built largely around vocals from bbyclose, with the song altogether adding fuel to a run that’s included Sub Focus’ 2024 John Summit collab “Go Back.” Following his sold out show at London’s Alexandra Palace last week, he announced this week that he’s bringing this same Circular Sound setup — which features him playing from the center of a halo of lights — to New York and Los Angeles this fall.
Cassian, Script & Belladonna, “Where I’m From”
It’s not a surprising that Cassian got not one but two slots opening for Anyma’s Sphere residency, given that Australian producer and mixing engineer’s sound sound falls squarely into the grandly-sized melodic techno style preferred by Anyma and many of the artists surrounding him. “Where I’m From” is a prime specimen of the genre, with Cassian and his co-producers Script and Belladonna weaving together an urgent production, with stuttering vocals and ominous choral singing, into a straight-up banger that’s right out of an action movie.
Myd, “The Wizard”
French producer Myd returns with a pair of new tracks, “Song for You” and “The Wizard,” with the latter being a warm, propulsive and very soulful fusion of disco and tribal house that just feels good on the ears. Out via Ed Banger Records and Because Music, the singles follow Myd’s slot DJ-ing the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and also comes after a marathon week-long Twitch stream from the producer’s house in that same city, a segment of which you can see here.
DJ E-Clyps, “Gitit”
The always reliable DJ E-Clyps returns with his second single since January, “Gitit.” The track balances a cool, bouncy, nearly future house production with E-Clyps’ own vocals, a ode to being in the club and appreciating the kind of woman with “pretty super eyes and those super juicy thighs” — lyrics he delivers in a laid-back staccato. “Gitit” is out on Blacklight Factory, the label E-Clyps founded in partnership with Empire Dance and launched last month.
Catz ‘n Dogz & Nala, “Dance”
The Polish duo return with the noisy, kind of giddily abrasive electro-punk track “Dance” a call to arms for dancefloor self expression. “We wanted to create a track that could be played when you’re angry, or just if you need to release that pressure valve. Something with pure energy” says the duo’s Greg Demiañczuk. This one is just that, with its strident vocals courtesy of Miami-based artist Nala, a regular Catz & Dogs collaborator who’s also opening for John Summit tomorrow (March 15) at Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
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