Steve Aoki is known for many things: his head-banging live performances; his penchant for crowd-surfing; his iconic facial hair. But most fans forget that the Dim Mak exec has been in the business for 15 years. Aoki has had a hand in the careers of the Bloody Beetroots, MSTRKRFT and countless others, not to mention releasing his own singles and remixes along the way. It’s only natural, then, that his debut artist album Wonderland draws on a myriad of influences and experiences, from his hard-rock roots to his more recent collaborations with EDM titans like Tiesto and Laidback Luke.
My favorite track on the new album is Ladi Dadi ft. Wynter Gordon and I’ve had this entire album on repeat for about 3 days now (I switch between Skrillex’s Banarang and Tinie Tempah’s Happy Birthday Mixtape). Because Ladi Dadi is my favorite track here is a bunch of remix’s for you to enjoy and below is the full album review.
Listening to Wonderland as a whole feels like taking a meandering trip through Aoki’s creative mind: the electro-meets-techno “Steve Jobs,” with its video game synths, is followed by the hands-in-the-air radio pop hook of “Heartbreaker.” It may sound crazy but, just like everything Aoki does, it simply works. Wonderland‘s many musical styles don’t feel disjointed; rather, it’s the kind of album that caters to EDM fans of every strain, mixing the Top 40-ready with the down and dirty. Oh, and the best part? Aoki’s voice doesn’t appear on a single track. But his influence and vision are present in every note of this richly varied, high-energy LP.
1. Earthquakey People ft. Rivers Cuomo
At first listen, it’s hard to believe “Earthquakey People” was made by the same producer behind tracks like “No Beef” and “Turbulence.” However, where the Rivers Cuomo-assisted single lacks in volume and aggressive synths, it makes up in melody and extreme, unrelenting catchiness. The hook on the track – “I’ll still keep on dancing” – is too much fun to forget, and the song is a perfect start to Wonderland. Say what you will about this more radio-ready side of Aoki, but “Earthquakey People” still moves a crowd like the hardest of bangers.
The Harmony 