POPOF, Le Youth, Walker & Royce, Mz Worthy, and Heard Right delivered house and techno heaters during the week of February 19!
Whether you’re settling down from a wild weekend at Skyline or preparing to get your groove on at CRSSD, fresh house and techno beats are exactly what you need. You can turn to labels like Defected who brought Moby and Anfisa Letyago together in addition to launching their new Afrocentric label, One People. Or you can stick with us and check out our favorite tracks to surface from across the industry.
But if it’s exclusive mixes you’re in the mood for, we got those too, from Angrybaby and ZUEZEU. While you’re listening, get caught up with the news including the lineups for Hotel EDC and EDC Week, as well as Seismic Spring. Heading to Art Of The Wild at XS? Check out the set times, and then read all about Experts Only heading back to The Caverns or elrow Island‘s Malta debut.
Now, back to the beats. This week’s IDchart features two techno treats from opposite sides of the spectrum, dreamed up by POPOF, Mauro Somm, and Heard Right. For the house heads, you’re going to love what Le Youth, Walker & Royce, James Patterson, and Mz Worthy cooked up: three distinct flavors of sound, to lift the spirit and move the body.
Read along for more information on five fresh tracks that dropped last week, and listen to more house and techno curations on EDM Identity’s Subterranean Sounds, House Heaters, Melodic Marvels, and Dancefloor Decadence Spotify playlists!
House and Techno IDchart 005 – February 19-25, 2024
POPOF, Mauro Somm – Welcome To The Future
Debut collab alert! Although Mauro Somm has a release history on POPOF’s Form imprint, the two had yet to join forces in the studio. But the stars have aligned, and with a little help from Insomniac‘s Factory 93, Welcome To The Future hast burst into the present.
The EP consists of four tracks: “Astral,” “Welcome To The Future” with a remix by Julian Jeweil, and “Connected To Yourself.” You can’t go wrong with any of those selections but there’s something simply special about track two.
First and foremost, the deep, rolling bassline of “Welcome To The Future” is to die for. It’s paired with repetitive lyrics that rise and descend while also morphing into something straight out of a nightmare or maybe another planet. We’ll let you be the judge.
Le Youth – Paradise ft. Oaks
That first one got us all riled up, so let’s dial it down a notch with the chill vibes of “Paradise” by Le Youth. This mainstage-worthy sing-along features soothing vocals from Oaks and found its home on Lane 8‘s This Never Happened. It’s the first to arrive off Le Youth’s ABOUT US [Deluxe] vinyl record available in March.
For us, its message is one of the main reasons “Paradise” made the cut. It’s all about self-love and inner strength after a failed relationship, a life lesson that most of us will have to walk through at some point. The fluttering melodies boost the mood to a level where the trauma of the past disintegrates.
Walker & Royce, James Patterson – Might Just
For those searching for something less emotional, we suggest wrapping your ears around Walker & Royce’s latest club weapon. “Might Just” joins a string of dance-provoking tracks in a multiple-part series leading up to the big one — No Big Deal.
The Grammy-nominated James Patterson joins Walker & Royce on the track, and together they’re inspiring booties to pop and twerk all over the planet. “Might Just” tops off the quirky sound palette that the Dirtybird regulars have been perfecting over the years. It’s sole purpose? To get people out of their heads for some unpretentious fun.
While we don’t have an official date yet, No Big Deal is promised this spring, so stay locked in with Walker & Royce and EDM Identity for all the updates.
Mz Worthy – You Can’t Label Me ft. Dominique Gomez
We’re going to stick with the house stylings for a moment and introduce you to the latest gem shining out of Mz Worthy’s studio. “You Can’t Label Me” comes with a beautiful backstory in addition to making a statement. It’s also the second track to arrive on Mz Worthy’s new label, Love & Forgive.
The track can be considered a celebration of Mz Worthy’s journey, not only in her career but in her personal life as well. She came out as transgender back in 2020 and for the past four years, we’ve watched her grow wings and fly. The sonic essence of “You Can’t Label Me” matches the confident spirit that Mz Worthy takes everywhere she goes.
Bay Area singer-songwriter Dominique Gomez lent festive vocals to the track. Together, they make listeners want to kick back beachside, not a care in the world, watching gulls glide under the kiss of the sun.
Heard Right – Hidden
We wrap up this week’s IDchart with the melodic techno stylings of Heard Right. What was once a solo project gained a new member last November, and the EP, Nova, is a testament to their creative harmony. It’s no wonder that Nora en Pure would nab it for Purified‘s catalog.
Of the two tracks, “Nova” got our heads to turn, but discovering “Hidden” caused a rush of serotonin. When trying to put the soundscape into words, I think the album art says it best. It promotes visions of jellyfish pulsing along on their mission to survive, hidden in the deep blue abyss.
