Page 48 - We Rave You Magazine | December 2022

EDITORIAL > WE RAVE YOU STAFF PICKS: TRACK OF THE YEAR
NICOLE PEPE & RYAN FORD
KX5 - ESCAPE (FEAT. HAYLA)
“It’s been an unbelievable year for music and I believe 2022 has set the
stage for enormous releases to come in 2023. This was a tough choice
for me, but I’d have to say my favourite track this year is ‘Escape’ by Kx5
(Kaskade and deadmau5). ‘Escape’ reeks of nostalgia and picks right
back up where Kaskade and deadmau5 left off. Every sliver of sound in
that track can hold its own and is crafted effortlessly. Not to mention,
Hayla’s soul-stirring vocals which sit right at the forefront of Kx5’s
landscape. It’s one I’ve had on repeat for a while now and I don’t see that
changing anytime soon.” - Nicole
“Kx5 has been a breath of fresh air as deadmau5 and Kaskade have
combined to make innovative new music this year, ‘Escape’ by far the
stand-out for me having been on repeat throughout 2022. I simply
cannot get enough of the combination of piano and vocals in this
anthemic production; a meticulous product of the genius of both
producers. Beyond the original, I have frequented its remixes from the
likes of Spencer Brown and John Summit to make me love it even more.
I’m heading to Printworks to see them both next year, and I can’t wait to
hear it live.” - Ryan
SAMANTHA REIS
ELI BROWN - BELIEVE
“What material is the best track of the year made from? It should not only
make music lovers fall in love with the track, but it should also provoke
wow moments on the dancefloor. Doubts are diluted when other artists
want to remix the track and when sales take it to the top of the charts. Eli
Brown’s ‘Believe’ brings all these ingredients together and is therefore my
choice for track of the year 2022. Part of the three-track EP of the same
name, ‘Believe’ was the UK artist’s big debut on Reinier Zonneveld’s Filth
On Acid. Progressive and sensual, it resurrects the excitement of the 90s
rave scene, featuring the perfect balance between the energetic techno
melody and the robotic voice that serves as its vocals. It made and makes
any dancefloor go mad whether in its original form or the still unreleased
remix used by Tale Of Us a few times. This was one of the top twenty songs
played at Tomorrowland this year and is the fifth best performing track on
Beatport in the last 12 months according to Beatstats.”
GUSTAVO CRISTOBAL
HARDWELL - REBELS NEVER DIE
“My track of the year is ‘REBELS NEVER DIE’ by Hardwell! I first heard this
song when he played it at his comeback Ultra Miami set earlier this year
and have been obsessed with it ever since. It’s new, fresh, energetic and
really gets the crowd going whenever it’s played live. It’s also a great
example of how Hardwell redesigned his whole sound from what he was
previously playing.”
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JACK SPILSBURY
GABRY PONTE, LUM!X, DADDY DJ - WE COULD BE TOGETHER
“When thinking of my favourite song of the last 12 months, my mind
instantly goes to ‘We Could Be Together’ by Gabry Ponte, LUM!X and
Daddy DJ. Sampling the 2000s smash hit ‘Daddy DJ’, this track is the
nostalgic blast that I was begging for with bonus points since the orig-
inal was a contribution to what got me into the electronic dance music
scene. Production wise the song is strong, being a pure callback to the
europop sound of the early noughties featuring a timeless euphoric
melody that’s been brought into the modern times through all artists’
effortless production skills.”
CREIGHTON BRANCH
MARTIN GARRIX, DUBVISION AND SHAUN FARRUGIA -
STARLIGHT (KEEP ME AFLOAT)
“My favorite release of this year has to be, by far, ‘Starlight (Keep Me
Afloat)’ by Martin Garrix with Dubvision and Shaun Farrugia. I’ll never
forget the moment I first heard this live when Garrix premiered it at Ultra
Miami. I was left speechless and had goosebumps all over my body. All
these months later, it is still as impactful as it was that night in March.
Not only is Garrix a mastermind when it comes to creating euphoric
melodies and instrumentals, but Farrugia’s voice is so rich, pure and
vulnerable. It is unlike anything I have heard in quite some time, and I
can’t get enough of it. I love the story that this track portrays and think
many people can find it relatable. It is, all around, the perfect track in
my mind. It packs everything you could want in 3 and 1/2 minutes. If you
haven’t gotten a chance to experience this song, do it immediately.”
MIKE DAVIES
BICEP - MELI (II)
“The hotly anticipated and highly requested “sequel” to the ambient
work ‘Meli (I)’ from Bicep’s 2021 album Isles finally saw a full release
this summer. The “II” version of Meli sees the full beat added as used in
Bicep’s spectacular live show, not to mention ramping the choral vocals
up to 11 to create an emotional track which feels insulting to describe
with mere words. The last several years have seen Bicep go from
bloggers, to burgeoning producers and DJs, to one of the most in-de-
mand live dance music acts on the planet. Their massive appeal has
even seen their music used in mainstream avenues like car adverts, but
sheer talent and a knack for knocking out amazing productions and a
mind-blowing live show means they’re, quite rightly and deservedly, still
highly respected as a solid underground dance music act and a rare
example of an act that can have their tracks played on Radio 2 daytime
and also get 4000 ravers moving at 4am in a muddy field. In 40 years of
dance music there’s only been a handful of acts in that exclusive club,
and ‘Meli (II)’ is exactly why Bicep have earned the right to be there.”
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