After a much needed hiatus to focus on other important matters, I am happy to announce that Unsung Heroes is back and better than ever as we begin our countdown towards issue #100, (where a VERY special surprise is in store). But for now, let’s dive headfirst into a piece that continues to tear down rules and boundaries until nothing is left but wild, untamed creativity and finesse. The Russian powerhouse that is Arty seems to be caught in a set of crossroads as of late. On one side, we have the Arty who pioneered the enigmatic Trance 2.0 movement and crafted hits such as The Wall, Rebound and Around The World. On the other side, we have the Progressive House Arty, whose singles such as Together We Are, Grand Finale and When I See You have rocked many Mainstages throughout the years. While the Prog House side has been dominant for years, his recent single of Flashback and remix of London Grammar‘s Hey Now begetted the other side that has been slumbering for years.Yet, his upcoming single of Up All Night and RIOT, (with Matisse & Sadko), still gravitates towards Progressive House.
Caught between two important crossroads, Arty has been looking in the past for inspiration, as his Flashback single included a complete, personal overview of his past discography, (with added commentary for fellow fans of his music). Even his own radio show, Together We Are, no longer focuses on one particular genre, but rather incorporates many, many different styles with various BPM’s. I’ve always held the personal mantra that most artists within a transitional field produce the best music in their careers and Arty is at that point where magic can happen. Regardless if he chooses a side or tries to balance the two, there seems to be a lot of similarities between his current dilemma and what happened in 2011 when his sound was rapidly changing into Progressive House. One of his greatest and riskiest tracks created was his remix to Moonbeam‘s Hate Is The Killer, which would eventually generate Around the World and his remix to Sander van Doorn‘s Daddyrock. Hate Is The Killer combined the softer, Trance-induced Arty sound with the aggressive force of Progressive House and other different styles that collided at once to form an entirely new and original work of art.
While Audien quickly established the current trend of Breaks integration in his remix to Bastille‘s Pompeii, Arty actually utilized this style into his mix, which was a very bold move to play at the time. Additionally, the chord progression rides on the old Mortal Combat bassline, where the Neapolitan 6th jump adds a sinister and tricky element towards chordal play. Throughout the piece, it’s almost surreal how many different emotions are coursing through its veins, as the combination of Breaks and chords leave a sense of uncertainty, suspense, fear and aggression. Yet, the vocals flow freely with a gliding sense of purpose and Arty‘s Trance synths bring a sense of warmth, depth and peace. Usually, the combination of these bizarre production elements would leave the orchestration a complete mess, but Arty manages to not only present a clear and confident arrangement direction, but also goes above and beyond many of his releases past and present. This concept is aurally apparent within the second drop of the piece, where the repeated glitches of Avis Vox is fused together with savage, storming synth stabs that repeat with relentless, computerized precision as the combined strength of Breaks, Trance and Progressive House melt away into music that is undefinable and free.
Arty‘s remix of Moonbeam‘s Hate Is The Killer is now available on Moonbeam Digital, so make sure you go grab this stellar remix today!
Keep the music alive. -Q
Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/track/hate-is-the-killer-arty-remix/1912323
Sources
http://www.1001tracklists.com/artist/5902_arty/index.html
Unsung Heroes is a weekly segment where we take a look back at an amazing production and bring it back into the light for older and newer fans alike. These tracks were often overlooked, overshadowed by a huge release or are just not that well known to the public here in America. Here, you can find all the hidden gems in many genres and find a new favorite track (or another tool/weapon for aspiring DJ’s).
Phenomenal track! Thanks for sharing!