Remix Mix.1

The reason for compiling a “remix” playlist is, in some way, directly related to my “covers” (DUTC) installments that began in 2023. As most of the playlists that I have been posting since January of this year are rooted in the very broad category of “electronica,” I wanted to draw attention to the fact that this style of music is almost never “covered” per se, but rather it is “sampled,” “edited,” “mixed,” and “remixed”; oftentimes more than one of these can be in play. As far as “mixes” go there are several categories: Classic mix, underground mix, dubstrumental mix, orchestra mix, club mix, and vocal mix. Because of this, I wanted to feature a playlist made up entirely of remixes which, among other things, showcase how important “layering” is to the production of this type of music. I also felt that it would be helpful for this first post of remixes to include a second playlist with all the original versions of the remixed songs. I was able to find eight of the nine tracks for the second playlist, the last song was not available; however, I have included a YouTube video of that last original tune.

There are nine songs in this playlist by nine different artists/groups from across the globe, which is also true of the remixes of the originals. What follows are short “blurbs” on four of the remixers and the original artists. First up is Ben Rau and his remix of Roy Ayers’ “Holiday” featuring Terri Wells. Ben Rau originally fell in love with house and techno music in his late teens and began exploring his deep-seated passion for electronic music through self-expression – in other words, raving. Rau spent a great deal of time on dance floors in his native Berlin, and later in London, where he went to study, subsequently immersing himself in the highly influential east London party scene. This led to his decision to pursue and create his own dance music, and his remix of Ayers’ 2005 release, “Holiday,” is a perfect example of this. There are two different remixes of this song on the 2018 single release – the featured one an “Inkal” remix (a type of reorchestration), the other a “Meta” remix (essentially a remix about “remixing”).

Roy Ayers (1940) is an American vibraphonist, record producer and composer. He began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records, beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk. He is a key figure in the acid jazz movement and has been described as “The Godfather of Neo Soul.” The fact that he was still releasing albums in 2005 should tell you something. Ayers used a rotation of supporting artists for his albums, and the featured song here comes from the album, Virgin Ubiquity II, is one of thirteen previously unheard jams, many composed by those rotating musicians, and showcasing Ayers’ compositional brilliance.

Next up is DJ Seinfeld’s remix of Honey Dijon & Tim K’s “Why,” featuring Nomi Ruiz. Armand Darius Anders Jakobsson (1991), known professionally as DJ Seinfeld is a Swedish electronic music DJ and record producer. He started making music when he was studying in Edinburgh, experimenting with and exploring the possibilities of music on his laptop, and continued doing do after returning home after his studies. A move to Barcelona resulted in extended music sessions and lots of watching of the classic American sitcom, “Seinfeld.” Now you know! In his music, Seinfeld uses sounds from films or series, borrowing from acid house and deep house, as well as incorporating distortion effects.

Honey Redmond (Honey Dijon) is an American DJ, producer, and electronic musician. She was born in Chicago and is based in New York City and Berlin. She began performing as a DJ in the 1990s, and around 2000, she also became active as a producer. In a 2018 article in the online music magazine, Resident Adviser, it was said that she had popularized “a rambunctious DJ style that leans heavily on golden-era disco, techno and house,” while Dijon herself acknowledged that “a lot of people still associate me with swingy Chicago and classic house and disco, but I can rock dirty rhythmic techno as well.” Indeed! She often collaborates with other musicians and producers, as is the case for this remix. Timothy John Kvasnosky (Tim K) is an American record producer, musician, and film score producer. He has scored several movies, including 2016’s King Cobra, starring Christian Slater and James Franco. As a producer and sideman, he has worked with artists such as Sam Sparro, Ed Droste, Lisa Shaw, and Miguel Migs, just to name a few. As a remixer, he produced four Top 5 Billboard Club Play remixes, and he has also scored commercials for Nike, Target, Volkswagen and others. A busy guy.

The next remix and original are unique in that both were released in the same year, 1997, and by the original artist. The Lo Fidelity Allstars are an English electronic music group who began recording in the late 1990s. The original members are from various cities in Northern England and their earlier work is noted for genre-crossing stylings, distorted, morose, and, at times, alien lyrics, distinctive funk baselines, and extensive use of lo-fi recording practices. This work is best exemplified by their 1998 debut album, How To Operate With A Blown Mind. At the time of its release, the band members were known by their pseudonyms – Phil Ward “The Albino Priest” (vocals, keyboards, programming, production, decks), Andy Dickinson “A One Man Crowd Called Gentle” (vocals, bass), Martin Whiteman “Many Tentacles” (vocals, co-production, engineering, mixing), Johnny Machin “The Slammer” (drums), Dale Maloney “Pele” (keyboards), and former members Dave Randall “The Wrekked Train” (vocals – 1999), and John Stone “Sheriff” John Stone (Keyboards, programing – 1999. They would revert to using their real names after the release of this debut album. The featured remix, “Battle Flag” is, as mentioned above, on the original artist’s 1997 release, Pigeonhead’s, Flash Bulb Emergency Overflow Cavalcade of Remixes, an album title and then some.

Pigeonhed is an American electronic band from Seattle that combines elements of funk, soul, trip hop, and lo-fi. The band is a collaboration of Shawn Smith (vocals) and Steve Fisk (frontman, producer), and Kim Thayil (guitar). They reordered three albums between 1993 to 1997. They reconvened in 2010. They announced in 2015 that they were preparing to release their “last” album, but as of today there is no sign of another release, although they are still performing together at assorted venues.

Last up are Audiowhores. (Not saying a thing!)  They are the acclaimed and world- renowned UK house music duo of Graham Lord and Adam Unsworth. They have produced high quality original and remix work for labels such as Defected, Noir, Lapsus Music, as well as their own, Sublivid. All of this has positioned them at the forefront of UK’s house scene. Their DJ sets, which have been described as “technically brilliant,” incorporate everything from deep house and soulful sounds to tougher and “techier” beats, have won the duo fans worldwide. They started out in 2000 and, to this day, maintain a busy international DJ schedule spanning the world; Spain and the Spanish island of Ibiza, Georgia, Algeria, Austria, Estonia Latvia, Australia, China, USA, just to name a few! The featured “Sweet Kind of Life” is one of the many they have done over the years.

Cheryl Lynn (Lynda Cheryl Smith 1957) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is best known for her songs during the late 1970s and mid-1980s, including the 1978 R&B/disco song, “Got to Be Real” from her debut album, Chery Lynn.  Her singing career began with her church choir when she was a young girl. Her professional career began at 19 when she obtained a job as a backing vocalist for the national touring company of the musical drama, The Whiz. She recorded several albums between 1976-85 for Columbia Records, mostly in R&B/Soul mode. She resurfaced again in 2004 with the featured song as part of that year’s release of the movie Shark Tale, an animated feature film with an all-star cast performing the voices: Will Smith, Robert Di Niro, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black and Martin Scorsese, among others. The song was written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis, Cheryl Lynn, Bobby Ross Avila, and others. While Apple Music does have the album soundtrack available, that track cannot be downloaded, hence the YouTube version of it after the two playlists. Lynn resurfaced again with her 2012 re-release and expanded version of her fifth studio album, 1983’s Preppie with the hit R&B songs, “Encore,” and “This Time.”

Enjoy the remixes, enjoy the originals!

Cheryl Lynn. “Sweet Kind of Life.” Shark Tale 2004.

Los Angeles 2025