A song so nice they remixed it twice. Well, many times actually. Remember one of 2013’s biggest dance tracks “Bigger Than Prince” by Green Velvet? You might know it as made popular by Hot Since 82 with his infectious remix. Or, to a less popular but possibly more addicting extent, by the Martinez Brothers. Either way, “Bigger Than Prince” was one of our favorite songs of 2013 and especially the Hot Since 82 version, as it helped us name him a breakout artist of the same year.
I had a little “wait, what?” moment the other day when I was listening to Mark Knight’s podcast. During this particular podcast he played an extended Hot Mix, which is a bunch of new Techno and Tech-House tracks all mixed seamlessly together. All of a sudden I heard the familiar vocals of “Bigger Than Prince” coming through my headphones but they were over a beat I had never heard before. In doing some research I saw the version Knight played was a Jay Lumen remix, due out June 23rd on Circus Recordings (run by Yousef and the same label that released the original version of “Bigger Than Prince” as well as the Hot Since 82 and Martinez Brothers Remixes). Looking even further I saw the Jay Lumen remix was part of a four-track remix package that included reworks by Yousef, Darius Syrossian, and Coyu. Based on that lineup alone I could tell it was a collection I couldn’t wait to get my hands on: four heavy-hitting underground artists had their chance to put their touches on the stellar track. And you know what’s great? For all those people out there who say underground dance music all sounds the same – whether it’s Techno, Tech-House, or Deep House – these four songs are all unique in their own right. Coyu and Jay Lumen lead the charge with probably the most driving Techno and Tech-House versions of “Bigger Than Prince” (I can see why Mark Knight chose Jay Lumen’s for the Hot Mix). Yousef’s “Circus Rework” is probably the grooviest of the tracks on the EP and may be my favorite. Darius Syrossian just gets real off the grid with some acid elements and even some Indian samples that remind me of Punjab MC’s “Beware”.
This collection is fantastic. Anyone looking for some fresh takes on the amazing “Bigger Than Prince” should head to Beatport immediately to grab these tracks.