We are back with another edition of Fresh Finds, Nexus Radio’s weekly round-up of the strongest and most exciting dance tracks of the previous week. Every week, I do my best to listen to as much new electronic music as possible before picking my favorites to share with you!
We’ve got lots of excellent music to get into, so without further ado, here’s a breakdown of my favorite new releases of the last week:
• ALBUM: Slayyyter – STARF*CKER
“I wanna die at the Chateau,” sings Slayyyter in “I Love Hollywood!”, the opening track from her sophomore album, STARF*CKER, released last week via FADER Label. It’s a fitting proclamation with which to begin this collection of tracks that inspect, satirize, and ultimately exonerate all the darkest parts of Hollywood glamour and pop stardom.
Fame has always been a source of inspiration for Slayyyter; her 2019 self-titled mixtape dealt with the subject from an outsider’s perspective, with songs like “Daddy AF” and “Celebrity” depicting aspirations to the LA lifestyle rather than lived experience. STARF*CKER sees Slayyyter embodying a femme fatal alter-ego—”Miss Belladonna”, one of the strongest tracks on the album—as she seductively pulls back the curtain on an opulent world she’s finally broken into and which she has no intentions of leaving.
While Slayyyter’s worshipping at the altar of all things glamorous and taboo—drug taking, sex, plastic surgery, reckless spending—is fun, the most exciting aspect of STARF*CKER is its sonic audacity. The album’s sound showcases Slayyyter at her most adventurous and focused, featuring wide disco- and 80s-inspired synth-pop arrangements, and songwriting that harkens back to Britney Spear’s Blackout or Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.
With STARF*CKER, Slayyyter has positioned herself as one of the strongest voices in today’s pop landscape.
• TRACK: Rudeejay, Ninkid – “Freed From The Whole”
Rudeejay and Ninkid’s “Freed From The Whole” is a pulsating techno track with disco influence that makes for the perfect addition to any club set or dance playlist. It’s fun and light, with builds and drops that showcase the two artists’ magic touch at creating instantly danceable tracks.
• TRACK: Patrick Holland – “Your Life”
I really enjoyed this new track from Patrick Holland—a.k.a. Project Pablo—a Canadian DJ and producer whose sound is relaxed and complex, often walking the line of ambient but with just the right amount of bite to keep you excited for what’s next to come. This latest track, “Your Life,” moves towards disco and groove, featuring an effortless-sounding production and very slick riffs.
• TRACK: Marten Høger – “Love All Night”
One of the leading forces in Germany’s house music scene, Marten Høger was recently voted Faze magazine’s National Breakthrough Act of the Year in 2023. The DJ, whose signature style combines techno and bass music, has worked with the likes of David Guetta and Tchami. “Love All Night” showcases the producer at peak form and is just the latest of several strong releases this year.
• TRACK: Rêve – “Contemporary Love”
A few weeks out from the release of her debut record Saturn Return, Rêve’s latest single “Contemporary Love” is a delicious combination of synthpop and neo-disco that centers this Juno-award winner’s incredible songwriting and vocal talents. It’s fun and perfect to dance to—the Paul Woolford Extended Mix of the track is especially groovy—but more than anything, it’s an exciting preview of everything to come with this Montreal native’s long-awaited debut.
That’s it for this week! To keep up to date with all things electronic music, including exclusive coverage of some of the genre’s biggest festivals and more editions of “Fresh Finds” (published weekly on Tuesdays), make sure to check back here at Nexus Radio.
And, as always, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @nexusradiodance.
