Dexter’s Beat Laboratory Vol. 61
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory is a weekly collection of songs from DA managing editor Robyn Dexter. With a taste that can only be described as eclectic — to say nothing of a name that lends itself to punnery — DA is happy to present a selection of tracks personally curated by Dexter for your listening pleasure.
Listen in playlist format here.
One wouldn’t think Varien‘s darker style would mix well with a group like The Chainsmokers. But the Florida-based producer is here to flex his versatility with a brilliant rework of “This Feeling.” He flips the song’s major key into a minor key and gives it a more shadowy edge, going the synthwave route and giving the song a fresh, new tone. “I think my remix brings a new way of looking at the song,” he says. “I believe it’s a much more emotional and deeper vibe, compared to the upbeat and cheerful vibe of the original.”
At the end of August, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs debuted a groovy, bass-fueled original by the name of “Body Move.” A few months later, he’s unleashed a remix pack for the song, featuring the talents of Bag Raiders and Raito. Raito, who often manufactures intense techno and house tracks like his Virtual Self flips, takes a smooth route on his TEED remix. Gliding percussion elements deliver a more relaxed vibe than the original, as Raito levels out the songs roots for a techno-oriented, dreamy flip.
It’s been a minute since we’ve seen new material from Mt. Eden. The dynamic powerhouse producer revealed a brief mixtape in February and a “Lion King” remix in August, but has since been quiet. Turns out he’s been cooking up a fiery house tune called “Momentum.” Backed by his usual top-notch production and a sizable amount of bass, this dancefloor-ready tune shows Mt. Eden truly hasn’t lost any “momentum” and knows no genre limits.
Becko‘s impeccable combination of beats, bass, and alternative/emo-inspired vocals have become a favorite of mine. Drawing inspiration from “Stranger Things,” he’s labeled his latest “Mindflayer” and released it via The Arcadium. His powerful vocals shine in this dramatic track, weaving in and out between heavy synth melodies and climactic choruses. Originally released as part of his DIGITAL HEAVEN EP a few months ago, he showcases striking pieces that thrill with each listen.
Rameses B has been busy this year. He’s released not one, but two Spacewalk albums, each taking listeners to new heights with their astral-inspired serene productions. Rameses B returns after July’s Spacewalk II release with “Portal” featuring GLaDOS. Glitchy vocals tell a story of life and death over a psytrance backing. Bittersweet violin melodies swim in and out of the production, interspersed seamlessly with elements for a range of genres. The producer again demonstrates why he’s caught so much attention over the past seven years with a piece that’s as intriguing as it is relaxing.