Each week, Billboard is polling club DJs, with venues shuttered due to the coronavirus.
With clubs closed across the country and Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart on hiatus, we’re asking reporting club DJs what they’ve been listening to lately, while at home, of course.
This week, we spoke with San Diego DJ Victor Dinaire; Rhode Island’s Abby Duren; and Long Island, New York’s Fresh.
Victor Dinaire
Victor Dinaire has been digging British trance trio Above & Beyond’s “Surrender” presenting Tranquility Base (Genix extended mix). “It’s a beautifully hypnotic record with a commanding Genix remix,” Dinaire tells Billboard. “This alluring track takes me to so many special places; Above & Beyond playing its A-game.”
The original “Surrender” was released in 2004. The 4:29 remix appears on the Genix-mixed compilation Anjunabeats Worldwide 09 (which reached No. 11 on Dance/Electronic Album Sales in December) and the extended, 5:46-long mix arrived April 29 on Genix’s Free Love EP.
Dinaire, originally from New York City and who now heads up his own weekly trance event, Therapy Night, in San Diego, has also been enjoying Ferry Corsten’s “Tomorrow.” He shares, “Ferry is one of my favorite artists of all time. This one brings gorgeous summer vibes; makes me miss the summer outdoor party scene.”
Dinaire, also host of the Lost Episode weekly trance radio show since 2005, has additionally been digging Ciaran McAuley and Clare Stagg’s “All I Want” (Mark Sherry extended remix). The DJ, half of the Dinaire and Bissen remix team, calls the track “heartfelt vocal trance, with a powerful Mark Sherry remix. This tracks gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Emotional trance at its finest.”
Abby Duren
Abby Duren is into Brazilian DJ duo Felguk’s latest, “OK.” “This track is fun and minimal but still interesting,” the DJ tells Billboard, referencing Finnish act Darude’s techno/trance classic “Sandstorm,” which reached No. 5 on Dance Club Songs in 2000: “The lead synth is so ‘Sandstorm.’ It’s somewhat campy, in the best way.”
The Rhode Island-based Duren, who would normally be DJing at The Colosseum in Providence and Dockside in Newport, in addition to clubs in Boston and Connecticut, is also liking Dutch DJ Don Diablo’s “Inside My Head (Voices).” “This track just has a lot of energy, and I automatically love anything that has aspects which remind me of early Daft Punk,” Duren says. “The synths just have a lot of movement, which is always great.”
Duren, who plans to begin livestreaming soon, has also been enjoying the new Kloud remix of Justice’s “Genesis.” Duren muses, “I’ve loved this song since the original came out in 2007, so it’s nice to hear it remade into something that could be useable in the right environment. This track is edgy and just classic to me. The remix was released late last year, but I only just recently found it.”
Indeed, the original version of “Genesis” is the first track (fittingly) on French duo Justice’s debut album, Cross, which bowed at No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums in July 2007.
Fresh
Fresh (real name Albert Bourdon) has been listening to Martin Garrix’s “Higher Ground,” featuring John Martin (WINARTA remix). “This song has the energy that reminds me of being at a festival and enjoying the times with my closest friends,” Fresh tells Billboard. “Higher” debuted on the May 30-dated Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (No. 11) and Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (No. 6) charts.
The Long Island, New York-based Fresh, who would usually be behind the decks at such venues as Beach Bar in Hampton Bays and Southampton Social Club in Southampton, as well as at Harrah’s Resort Pool in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has also been into Marshmello and Halsey’s “Be Kind” (Kayze remix). “Putting these two artists on one record is just a guaranteed chart breaker,” Fresh says. “Halsey has such a power voice and any record she touches is gold.” The track hits new highs on the June 6-dated Pop Songs (20-18) and Dance/Mix Show Airplay (29-27) charts.
Additionally, Fresh, who has raised money for various charities (including Feeding America and Paws of War) while livestreaming during the pandemic, shares his love for Timmy Trumpet’s “Diamonds.” The DJ raves, “Timmy really brought all his fans together to create an amazing video that truly shows unity in the EDM culture.”
