MP3 SELECTS: Playlists & New Music from RÜFÜS DU SOL, Hayden James, John Summit x Kasade & More
In the modern era, distribution services push out over 60,000 new tracks every single day. How do you cut through all the noise, select what to listen to, and boost your playlist game? Introducing MP3 SELECTS, our weekly rundown of new music in the festival sphere. Shuffle through this week’s selections on our MP3 SELECTS playlist and read more about this week’s roundup below:
STAFF SELECTIONS
SELECTS by Mikala Lugen
RÜFÜS DU SOL — “Music Is Better”
If there’s anything we’ve learned up until this point, it’s that music is better when RÜFÜS DU SOL is involved. To celebrate the heat of summer and listening to good music, the Grammy-winning live electronic trio have unveiled their highly anticipated new single, “Music Is Better.” The group first premiered the song during their headlining DJ set at Coachella earlier this year, marking the trio’s first new music since their 2021 album, Surrender. The single captures the themes of hope, intimacy, and connection that have long defined the RÜFÜS universe, while showcasing a more expansive and ambitious sound than ever before.
If you want to experience the bliss of music with RÜFÜS DU SOL, catch them at their only live show this year, headlining Portola Festival in San Francisco on September 28th.
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Hayden James, SHELLS — “Deep Diving”
Mark your calendars: Hayden James has announced his forthcoming third studio album, We Could Be Love, is due out September 13th. Alongside the announcement, the Australian multi-platinum artist has released the new track “Deep Diving” with UK songstress SHELLS. As the catalyst for the forthcoming album, “Deep Diving” literally sees the producer diving into a short two-minute blend of pop sensibilities and dance floor motivations. Bursting full of thumping bass lines and deep kicks that bubble under SHELLS’ hazy vocals, it’s a sonic swirl of classic house and indie dance.
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NERO — “Too Many Questions”
Grammy-winning, Ivor Novello-nominated live electronic trio NERO have unveiled their latest single “Too Many Questions” off their highly-anticipated album Into The Unknown. An enticing parlay into the next phase of Into The Unknown, “Too Many Questions” is a sharp turn from the album’s preceding singles, “Blame You” and “Draw Energy.” The track sees the trio dipping into UK garage and house, furthering the anticipation of their forthcoming album that spans beyond any one genre.
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SELECTS by Connor Phillips
Sherm, Stund — “Activate”
Chicago’s renowned tech house artist Sherm makes a triumphant return alongside Canadian DJ-producer Stund on their latest EP, Activate Reality, released via Hood Politics. The opening track, “Activate,” showcases their studio prowess with a powerful, groove-laden composition featuring bold synth stabs and futuristic vocals.
It is joined by “Welcome To Reality,” which immerses listeners in a dystopian yet captivating sonic landscape, blending mesmerizing melodies, cinematic synths, and ethereal vocals. Together, Sherm and Stund deliver an EP that not only energizes but also transports listeners into a future-facing realm of house heaters.
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Jeremy Olander — “Gygax”
Swedish DJ and producer Jeremy Olander drops his long-awaited Megatron EP on Interstellar Records. This 4-track release features his distinctive style, highlighted by the atmospheric lead single “Megatron,” and “Holmen,” his debut anthem with Insomniac Music Group.
The EP also introduces fresh cuts “Fabric” and “Gygax,” cementing Olander’s status as a prominent force in melodic house and techno. Channeling trance-inducing soundscapes and a reality-bending celestial bassline, “Gygax” is clearly a standout among the bunch.
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John Summit, Kaskade, Julia Church — “Resonate”
John Summit continues to build momentum for his debut album with collaborative anthem “Resonate.” Kaskade is a perfect complement to the release, bringing airy synths and dreamy melodies into the mix. The instrumental of the track is a solid fusion with Julia Church’s breathtaking vocals, priming it for radio play and festival mainstages.
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Dr. KattyWompus — “Whip It”
Dr. KattyWhompus unveils his latest bass adventure with the release of “Whip It,” a track that seamlessly blends humor and intensity from start to finish. Created in collaboration with director Andrea Tseng, the single combines compelling visual narratives with bass music, featuring inventive cloud imagery and authentic whip crack foley effects.
Inspired by a desert party experience at Burning Man, the track captures the randomness and spectacle of the event, reflected in an epic project. Filming the accompanying music video – which is set to drop on August 11th – posed challenges but resulted in visually stunning scenes enhanced by smoke bombs and fog machines.
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Opiuo, Ashez — ‘Underground’ EP
New Zealand bass icons Opiuo and Ashez team up to inject fresh energy into the electronic scene with their distinctive and groovy EP, Underground. This four-track EP showcases the individual expressions of Opiuo and Ashez’s profound artistry in the bass realm of funkadelic groovy bass music.
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What So Not, Benson, Lucy Lucy — “Lights Go Out”
After two years of anticipation, ‘Lights Go Out‘ by What So Not, Benson, and Lucy Lucy is finally out! Recorded between Sydney and Melbourne, this track celebrates the decade-long friendship between What So Not and Benson. The track features intimate vocals from Lucy Lucy and What So Not, swift melodies, and dark atmospheres.
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SELECTS by Logan Sasser
Gorgon City, NORTH — “Breathe You In”
We’re just 25 days from Gorgon City’s fifth studio album, Reverie, which the duo says will focus on “pure club music.” If their latest single, “Breathe You In” is any indication of what that means, we’re in for a treat.
“Breathe You In” is a classic club house banger, through and through. The track is led by NORTH’s fantastic vocal performance, filled with shimmering toplines, vibrating vibrato, and impressive high notes that take up just the right amount of space without overshadowing the pulsing bass that drives the song to the finish line. The shuttering synth patches scattered throughout are also a great touch.
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Prospa — “Motions”
Prosopa’s influence on the bass house movement that’s taken the club scene by storm throughout the past five years is on full display on “Motions.”
The track explores narrative themes about toxic attachment to a one-sided relationship. But what makes the track exciting is the quaint grooves Prospa explores with subtle clarity. “Motions” isn’t trying to be a club banger, nor is it leaning too much into the disco aesthetic Prospa explored on their last release, “If You Want My Loving.” But “Motions” is every bit as exciting.
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