#Mashup Monday – Week 81

Mashup Monday – we're back again with some of the freshest mashes to start your week off right. These are the mashes that are worth hearing, so stop your searching and instead settle down at your computer… turn up your speakers… and get ready for that sweet nectar that only EARMILK can give ya. Let's GO!

 Not going to lie, my search for mashups started off quite dismally. Opened up one email and was greeted with off-key Justin Bieber, opened up another email and cacophony of EDM instrumentals were just jumbled together…needless to say, things weren't sounding bright. But fast-forward a couple of hours, and here I am typing this out to you with a collection of 20 mashups that met the grade. And I have to thank a couple of artists for their efforts in keeping my ears from bleeding, and keeping me wanting to continue searching for tunes. First two tracks that started turning things around was DJ Topsider's "#TURNT" (it just seems weird not to have Bryce included in this weekly segment now…) and Doug Bogan. Both tracks bring something different to the table – Topsider's track is just high-energy from the very beginning with dubstep drops highlighting the climaxes, while Bogan's starts off smooth and innocent before delving into beautiful electronic synths once One Direction starts singing. I couldn't help but smile…I must be getting soft nowadays if I'm smiling to One Direction.

With Valentine's Day just recently passed, Bronze Whale gave out a mini pack for our listening pleasures that is definitely worth a download. That said, I still think it was important to throw up 2 out of the 3 tracks here to really make this segment bump. My favorite of the three is "Not Giving It Tender" which employs Kill Paris' "Tender Love" and Rudimental's ft. John Newman & Alex Clare "Not Giving In". The vocals complement Kill Paris' instrumental perfectly, and seems to really pop with Paris' electro funk. Speaking of funk, DeeM takes us back in time with a 70s Disco sounding mash with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" at the vocal forefront. Tunes like these aren't ones you will necessarily hear at present-day EDM music festivals, but it's always great to hear classics such as "Billie Jean". (Cough cough…take a listen to Voicedude's "I Stand For Jive" for another classic. Gives me chills.)

To end my weekly writing rambling, I'd recommend listening to eSenTRIK's "Still In This Bitch" if you're looking for a high-energy/fast-paced mash; Duncan Gerow's mash interpretation of Kendrick Lamar's and Drake's "Poetic Justice" with Djemba Djemba's "Get Slow" which creates an eerie yet peaceful vibe;The Early Mourning (making an appearance for a consecutive week) with their mashup merging Switchfoot and Netsky causing me to relive some of my high-school days; and definitely Isosine's "Home At Night" with Kid Cudi and vocal goddess Foxes. Perhaps the most controversial mashup in this week's list is DJ Schmolli's "Harlem Shake Gangnam Style". Yeah, it's exactly what you think when you read the song title. I'm divided as to whether the mashup is a joke mashup or a legit mashup employing last year's video viral sensation and this year's current video viral sensation. Hit me up in the comments below sounding in with your opinion, and as always…enjoy!