The entire world has sung along to Duck Sauce’s international breakout hit “Barbra Streisand” released in the US on Fool’s Gold/Downtown Records. The song charted at #1 in over 12 countries and racked up 65 million YouTube views with arguably the biggest viral video of all time, a quirky, star-studded homage to New York’s downtown scene. “Barbra” landed placements in Glee, How to Make it in America and countless ad campaigns. Continuing its assault, it is now nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. A-Trak’s partner in Duck Sauce, the legendary Armand Van Helden, is no stranger to the Grammys himself, having been nominated for Remixer of the Year in 1998. The video for the duo’s current single “Big Bad Wolf” has already shaken up the internet, heralded across the board as the best video of 2012 and sitting at 6 million views after just a few weeks of release.

This year has seen DJ A-Trak conquer every festival from Coachella to Hard Summer in America, Sonar and Creamfields in Europe, Parklife in Australia and Ultra Brazil all while bridging the gap between hip hop and electronic music. His groundbreaking label Fool’s Gold has had its biggest year to date, opening their own flagship store in Brooklyn over the summer and online store last month. A-Trak is set to perform at Madison Square Garden with fellow Grammy nominees Swedish House Mafia on December 16th.

Duck Sauce is currently preparing the release of their first full-length album in 2012!!!

Afrojack (Nick van de Wall) is nominated as “Best Remixer” for his work on Leona Lewis’ song “Collide.” The remix, which was released last July on J Records, became an instant sensation and is still riding a wave of success in clubs and through radio airplay across the globe.

When given the news an elated Nick van de Wall had this to say:
“I can’t believe the news!!  To be nominated again is incredible!  This is a real honor…thank YOU!!!” –Afrojack

Afrojack was nominated (and subsequently won) his first Grammy in the same category this past February for his and David Guetta’s remix of Madonna’s “Revolver.” Afrojack also worked on several high profile songs this year that have been recognized by The Recording Academy with Grammy nominations.

Although not personally nominated for his work, he is proud to have had a hand in these significant records:

Chris Brown’s  “Look At Me Now” which is vying for “Best Rap Performace” and “Best Rap Song” respectively. (Afrojack is a co-producer on the song)
Nothing But The Beat by David Guetta, which is up for “Best Electronica Album” (Afrojack is a co-producer on the songs: “Titanium,” “Lunar,” “The Future” and “I Just Wanna”)

Check out the new “Heart Attack” (CSS Remix) MP3. An unforgettable anthem, its instantly memorable melody and caffeinated beat is guaranteed to command dance floors. The band’s new album Out of Frequency will be available January 31, 2012.

Listen/download: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – “Heart Attack” (CSS remix)

Cut Copy’s stellar Zonoscope has been nominated for the Best Dance/Electronica Album Grammy. This is the band’s first Grammy nomination and bookends a phenomenal year that saw the band play to rapturous audiences across the globe including a thundering Coachella set and headlining slot at Austin City Limits. The Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 12^th at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and will be televised on CBS that same day at 8 pm EST / 7 PM CST. Zonoscope is Cut Copy’s 3rd and most ambitious work yet. It was released by Modular Records this past February and was met with critical raves ranging from Rolling Stone to Pitchfork. Zonoscope is Cut Copy boiled down to their purest form, a suite of futuristic visions built upon primal rhythm tracks. It is at once their most immediate work to date but also their most sonically exquisite. “Take Me Over” perfectly encapsulates this, its chiming highlife guitars bouncing around tropical percussion reminiscent of an island holiday in a pop song. Recorded over a 6 month period in a warehouse space the band rented in Melbourne, Australia and mixed in Atlanta by Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley, Deerhunter), Zonoscope paints a mesmerizing picture, conjured by a band at the height of their powers.

Few have had a bigger 2011 than Skrillex. Replete with 2 EPs, the cover of SPIN Magazine, and over 300 performances on several sold-out world tours, Sonny Moore capstones an incredible year with five Grammy nominations, more than almost any other artist. The Atlantic/Big Beat artist has been exceptionally active throughout the last 12 months while simultaneously launching his own record label, OWSLA, as well. These are the 23 year-old’s first Grammy nominations, and honors  include Best New Artist (a first for an electronic musician!), Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronica Album for Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Best Remixed Recording for his remix of Benny Benassi’s “Cinema” and Best Music Video for “First of the Year (Equinox)” which has garnered over 20 million views on Youtube.

YACHT Tour Dates:

12/01/11 Miami, FL – Electric Pickle

12/02/11 Worcester, MA – Clark College

12/03/11 Purchase, NY – The Stood at SUNY Purchase

12/03/11 New York, NY – Santos Party House (9 PM Set Time)

12/04/11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church

12/05/11 Pittsburgh, PA – REX Theater

12/06/11 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

12/29/11 Lake Tahoe, CA – SnowGlobe Music Festival

After bestowing the videos for “Boots Electric Theme” and “Complexity” upon us, Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes is sharing a third track from his solo project, Boots Electric. The track finds Hughes showing a different side from his notorious winking, seductive persona that gets all the girls.  Instead, “I Love You All The Thyme” is a moment of genuine pining for someone he loves that seems to have their eye on someone else.  The song is on Honkey Kong (Dangerbird Records), Hughes’ debut album under the Boots Electric moniker.  The album was produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Depeche Mode, The Kooks) and co-written with legendary keyboardist Money Mark, best known for his many collaborations with the Beastie Boys.

After creating three albums of dirty and danceable garage rock anthems as the frontman of Eagles of Death Metal,  Hughes expands his sonic palette as Boots Electric while continuing to deliver the hooks that he’s known for.  The electronic drums that kick off opening track “Complexity” immediately signal the new direction.  The track is a mix of glam-pop, keyboard-heavy dance grooves, and Hughes’ signature brand of rock ‘n roll grit that drips with swagger.   Elsewhere, he tries on space-funk synths on the track “Boots Electric” and “Trippy Blob” has some of his most absurdist lyrics yet. Hughes continues to show his earnest side on tracks like “No Ffun” is an honest-to-goodness ballad and “Swallowed by the Night” is a soulful slice of honky tonk gold.  Honkey Kong reveals what many already knew – beneath the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and his charismatic strut, Hughes has always been a gifted pop songwriter at heart.  Boots Electric is coming out of the closet.

Listen/download: Boots Electric – “I Love You All The Thyme”

Related articles

• Boots Electric Says Amy Winehouse Was ‘Surrounded by Vipers and Sharks’ (spinner.com)
• Boots Electric: Honkey Kong (Review) (popmatters.com)

Germany’s electronic duo Digitalism is bringing their live show back to North America this week, kicking off a full tour sponsored by Jägermeister. The band has also announced the Circles EP, which will see a release on December 6th via V2/Cooperative Music/Downtown. The band premiered the Dillon Francis remix of “Circles” today via RCRD LBL.

Download: Digitalism – “Circles” (Dillon Francis Remix)

The band released their sophomore album, I Love You, Dude, this past summer, and hit the road with the HARD Festival Summer Tour in support. The album features 10 tracks, each of which has their own vibrant identity. With amazing tracks like “Forrest Gump,” co-written with Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, “Circles,” with its Who-ish keyboard and apparently existential lyrics and standout lead single “2 Hearts.”

Upcoming North American Tour Dates

• 11/28 – Chicago, IL – Metro
• 11/29 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
• 11/30 – Montreal, QC – SAT
• 12/1 – Boston, MA – Paradise
• 12/2 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
• 12/3 – Philadephia, PA – Trocadero
• 12/5 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
• 12/7 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel 12/9 – Austin, TX – Parish
• 12/10 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
• 12/12 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
• 12/13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box
• 12/14 – San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine