On the brink of his debut album and several Ultra Music Festival appearances, Afrojack has lightened up to enjoy studio time and the result is “Bangtrap,” a trap edit of his long-time introduction, “Bangduck.” This isn’t the first time Afrojack has shifted gears to move away from electro house, last summer he gave away his remix for Wonder Girls’ “The DJ Is Mine” — or what he calls, Afrodubstep. Reworking his own production this time, he introduces Afrotrap, another persona of the musically charismatic Nick van de Wall.
YouTube record-breaking sensation “Gangnam Style” has been transformed and the shouts of Psy have been put to good use with help from Afrojack and Diplo. Both heavyweight electronic artists take different approaches with their ‘remix styles’; Afrojack unloads his armory of bulky bleeps and adds a depth of animation to his trademark sound, while Diplo offers a a trap drop and rap verses from 2 Chainz and Tyga. Afrojack’s heavy-electro version has been tested and proven at live shows during months of anticipation, but Diplo‘s take comes as a surprise on the day of its release.
Psy – Gangnam Style (Afrojack Remix)
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Psy ft. 2 Chainz and Tyga – Gangnam Style (Diplo Remix)
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Purchase: iTunes
Want an easy way to make sure you are up to date on all the latest, best music? Dancing Astronaut takes a look at the top 10 tracks officially released in February and ranks them based on a combination of reader feedback, track quality, editorial preference & critical reception.
Dancing Astronaut wraps up February for you with another edition of our top 10 tracks of the month. February’s list features massive tracks from reader favorites Arty, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, and more. Not to be missed are also fantastic efforts from up-comers Pink is Punk, Disclosure, and The M Machine. Click past the break for our top 10 tracks of February!
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Afrojack fans caught official wind of the Dutch DJ’s newest track when he previewed it for Danny Howard’s Radio 1 guest mix in December. Now, just in time for Miami, it’s been announced that ”Air Guitar” will serve as one of the official anthems for the Ultra Music Festival‘s 15th annual celebration. This comes only hours after Nick unleashed the first single, a collaboration with Chris Brown, off his debut artist album. “Air Guitar” is a glitchy electro tour de force — destined to set off crowds at festivals all summer long.
Forget about “Gangnam Style.” Afrojack has finally unleashed the lead single off his debut album, featuring not Psy, but Chris Brown. While pop-savvy, “As Your Friend” reveals only one of many styles to expect from Nick’s full length release. Whether or not you choose to sing-a-long or bop your head to the big room-radio record, Afrojack’s edgier persona is on the horizon with tracks like “Rocker” already making way into sets and mixes around the globe. In the meantime, enjoy “As Your Friend” and keep it in rotation — this afro-gem is going to stick around through Miami Music Week and beyond.
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Purchase: iTunes
Once upon a time, there were no champagne facials. No Paris Hilton sightings, no inflatable raft crowd surfs, and still no “No Beef.” The year was 2010 — and there was, however, an Afroki. Afrojack and Steve Aoki had teamed up long before parading around Las Vegas for their “No Beef” spectacle. One year prior, the tag team hit the studio for “Show Me Your Hands,” a production for Steve Aoki’s I Love Techno 2010 compilation (the title was less shocking three years ago). Both forces brought their then-fresh, frenetic electro sounds together for a track you only dream about today.
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Insomniac Events has revealed the 2013 lineup for this year’s Beyond Wonderland, and it features an all encompassing lineup from the entire dance music spectrum. The festivals new location is set at San Manuel Amphitheater in Southern California and will host a multistage setup with some of the biggest names in dance music. Superstar acts like Afrojack and Steve Angello share the same bill with underground phenoms like Damian Lazarus, Maceo Plex, and Art Department. No matter your musical pallet, this festival has a DJ for everyone. Tickets are on sale, so get them while they last.
Purchase: Tickets
Full lineup after the break.
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While dance music continues to ascend into popular culture, there have been some very odd pairings that have taken the world by storm. On television alone we’ve seen gerbils dance to “In My Mind,” Avicii throw a Bud Lite Super Bowl party, and A-Trak eloquently serve up glasses of Grey Goose. Some of the most unexpected collaborations, however, have taken place within the music itself. Dancing Astronaut presents: 10 collaborations that shocked dance music.
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With his debut artist album on the way, Afrojack is pulling out all the stops on his climb to dance music superiority. Over the past few months he has landed productions on Pitbull’s latest album, revealed his Chris Brown collaboration, and has remixed the record-breaking “Gangnam Style.” Next to be scratched off the pop-bucket-list of Nick van de Wall are collaborations with Jennifer Lopez and Wiz Khalifa. Afrojack took to Twitter to break the news that he was in the studio with both Lopez and Khalifa, and mentioned that new music is on the way. Whether or not these productions will land on his highly-anticipated album is yet to be known.
Leading up to the main event in Miami, Ultra is throwing a two-night party in New Orleans. “Road to Ultra” will take place on February 1st and 2nd — better known as Super Bowl weekend — at The Metropolitan Nightclub and Ampersand, respectively. Steve Aoki and Afrojack are set to headline the evenings separately alongside supporting acts. With the Superbowl taking place the following day, New Orleans seems like a desirable place to be for party people everywhere. Tickets for the 21+ events will be available via the venues and start at $50 for Aoki and $75 for Afrojack.
Purchase Tickets: The Metropolitan Nightclub / Ampersand
