By “Omne trium perfectum” translates as “everything that is three is perfect” – a statement that certainly applies to the new annual compilation album concept from British label Music To Die For Recordings.
Showcasing exciting future star talent discovered and new projects being developed by the imprint, each release in the series comes in three distinct parts to cater for today’s range of fans, music heads and tastemakers and their music consumption preferences – whether DJ-friendly club versions, tighter edits for fast-paced appreciation or innovative remixes ignited by unconstrained creative imagination.
Statement of Intent
The series kicked off with ‘Music To Die For Presents: Artists To Die For v1’ in September. A selection of 12 standout originals that traversed from lush, dreamy electronica and organic house, through melodic techno and tech-house to dancefloor destroying acid, it landed as a statement of intent, underscoring the eclectic, genre-defying attitude of the label and reinforcing its commitment to deliver only the best and most exciting new music that will stand the test of time.
Fuelling Creativity
Aimed at streaming and radio play, the ‘Edits’ version followed in late ’23 and now, completing the hat-trick, comes the final definitive version spanning three discs and titled ‘Expanded & Remixed’. Fuelling creativity within the Music To Die For family, this is where things get even more interesting. Adding a unique twist to the release, all the featured artists selected a label mate’s track from the album to remix for this special edition. A showcase of future-facing sounds and ideas, these new interpretations – the debut official remix outing for several of the artists – really mix things up, bringing a fresh sonic palette and perspective to the dynamic package.
Championing this collaborative approach and mindset is central to label boss Johnny Hudson’s vision to cultivate an authentic artist community at Music To Die For, where producers can really grow as artists, find the confidence to experiment and genuinely flourish. “This community approach provides a shared support network for our like-minded artists, promoting collaboration and encouraging the free flow of new creative ideas, and opening up fresh, new, innovative directions through the cross-pollination of sounds. It strengthens connection, growth and artistic evolution within the label family,” said Johnny.
Eyal F.
The Vision Comes to Life
And so to the music on ‘Artists To Die For Remixed & Expanded’, where this vision really comes to life. Bringing the same energy that’s made him a favourite across warehouse raves in London and basements in Berlin, GIVE LOVE opens with his remix; a deep, dreamy and acid-laced soundscape version of Fauxplay’s ‘Ascension’ that hits in all the right places. Eyal F. – the new alias for the LA-based artist formerly known as Descent – keeps the same loved-up mood going, layering pensive and twinkling keys into his widescreen trance-inducing take of Stuart King’s ‘Aloe Vera’. Eyal’s modern opus is already seeing support from the likes of Soundgarden legend Nick Warren and Warm Up boss Aiden Doherty.
magic.made.by.r
Raucous Workout
For more potent dancefloor dynamite, check the fizzing synths and cosmic breakbeats firing off in super-hot London duo Speakman’s re-rub of ‘Give You Love’ by GIVE LOVE for a youth-inflected raucous workout. Ukrainian artist magic.made.by.r goes unconventional with her adventurous and twisted dancefloor rework of Mallinder’s ‘Heavy Rotation’, which is melting brains and exciting DJs, just like the original that turned the heads of huge tastemakers including Laurent Garnier.
Heads Down Dancefloor Groove
Label boss Hudson steps up next and adds a serious heads down dancefloor groove and emotive club-ready synth keys to Speakman x French For Rabbits collaboration ‘High’, skillfully executing a clever edit and twist of the vocals. This one has recently premiered on Dave Seaman’s Selador radio show and is a standout for Eelke Kleijn, Joris Voorn, Joseph Capriati and many more topflight names.
Teen Talent
Nineteen-year-old DJ, producer and singer the.CHAIN (main pic) elevates Ukraine-based teen magic.made.by.r’s beautifully melancholic original of ‘Eternity’ – a favourite with John Digweed and James Zabiela – to new heights of euphoria, feeling moved to add his own vocals to this instrumental track and take it to an altogether different place, while Indie Elephant morphs Ryan Martyn’s ‘Awakening Skies’ into a melon-twisting slice of wonky progressive house already landing approvals from Dense & Pika.
Fauxplay Rocks The Boat
The drama continues to unfold as Fauxplay toughens up Eyal F’s ‘The Boat’ into a dark and menacing beast that’s evoking waves of praise from a huge selection of DJs like Tommie Sunshine, Diskjokke, Sister Bliss and Danny Tenaglia, before we slide into more rueful and melodic house depths via Stuart King’s remix of Hudson x Fauxplay’s ‘Smoke Rings’ and Gus F’s radiantly optimistic interpretation of organic house dreamer ‘He’s Peaking Sideways’ by the.CHAIN.
Taking it Home
In the homestretch, the sensuous delights of Mallinder’s subtly euphoric driving house take on Gus F’s ‘So Good’ builds to an indelible finale, before it falls to new producer on the scene Ryan Martyn to take it home. He pairs the ethereal vocals of Indie Elephant’s ‘Other Side’ with sublime Spanish guitar, transforming the driving original into a lush, percussive-licked electronic lullaby.
“The level of imagination, originality and creative thinking that all the artists display across the album is outstanding,” said Hudson. “They’re not afraid to rip up the rulebook and the result is forward-thinking music that’ll impact listening experiences and dancefloors worldwide. This sets the stage perfectly for what’s to come from these brilliant talents on the label soon.”
Breaking from Convention
With five Beatport Top 5 releases and eight Hype Chart No.1s in its young history to date, plus numerous EPs and artist albums in the pipeline for 2024, Music To Die For is nurturing the future stars of the electronic scene. Watch this space carefully as this is a label not afraid to break from convention to develop the electronic artists it so fervently believes the world needs to hear.
‘Music To Die For Presents: Artists To Die For Expanded & Remixed’ is out now on all major platforms. Give the full album a spin below and connect with the label on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp.
