John Kunkel - Top Dance List for 2011

Dec28 2011 text

Top Dance List for 2011

I think a lot of people out there would say that 2011 was “the year of trance.” Indeed, there were a lot of incredible releases.

It seems as if the genre has changed a bit too in terms of production, and its blend with house music.

My “artist of the year” vote would have to go with Arty, the 22-year old Russian prodigy who came out of nowhere and happens to produce in FL Studio (the same sequencer I use for New Division!), proving once more to the world of producers that it’s not the DAW that matters, it’s the artist behind the program.

Mat Zo is another big name on the list, another 20-something year-old who’s collaborated quite a bit with Arty, and has really tested the limits of merging progressive house with trance. Both of these guys will tell you they don’t really “make trance,” but call whatever you want: it’s all the work of sheer brilliance.

If anything, 2011 should leave fans with some comfort in knowing that the future of dance music will no longer be filled with “Tiesto-like” anthems, all arranged in minor 5th chords. Rather, what the future seems to hold is a list of tracks that will encompass a variety of melodic tones that seem to blend the best of melodies that Coldplay has to offer, with the rhythmic genius of producers like Avicii.

——-xx——-

I’ve chosen here the songs that I felt stood out to me most. I can’t say they’re the best in some objective sense. Rather, this list reflects the tracks that I happened to play over, and over, and over, and……….

Here’s my countdown. Enjoy!

Top 20 Dance Tunes of 2011

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