By: James Kabat and Kris Kish

2012 was undoubtedly a huge year for EDM. From the radio and charts (where David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Avicii and Swedish House Mafia caused major havoc the world over), to commercials, the MTV Video Music Awards, Lollapalooza and countless other music festivals that popped up faster than one could blink, dance music was everywhere!

Although it’s rising popularity and overexposure brought us some unavoidable horrific outcomes (Pitbull pissing all over TJR’s “Funky Vodka”, Paris Hilton’s #failed attempt at DJing, and anything released by Nicki Minaj) the amount of excellent tracks and DJ/producer talent that resulted was nothing short of pleasantly overwhelming. To celebrate the end of this fantastic year – and being that we’re a Chicago-based blog – we’ve asked some of Chicago’s top veteran, up and coming and big name DJ/producer talents to share their Top 5 tracks of last year. So hit play below and check out the top 5 tracks of 2012 as picked by Chicago:

Midnight Conspiracy

1. Midnight Conspiracy – “The Eye” (Wuki Remix)

2. Cenob1te – “Onslaught”
3. Schoolboy – “Zombies Ate My Neighbors”
4. Millions Like Us – “Rise Of The Rebels”
5. Da Octopusss – “Krokodil”
 
Zebo

1. Major Lazer – “Original Don” (Flosstradamus Remix)

2. Shadow Child – “String Thing”
3. Klever – “Weak”
4. Hardwell – “Spaceman” (Carnage Festival Trap Remix)
5. SBTRKT – “Wildfire”
 
Na Palm

1. John Dahlback – “Embrace Me” (Dirty South remix) – “Beautiful song with perfect eerie vocals to blend into the triumphant buildup. Featured this on my Electonic Chronic #002 podcast.”

2. Foxes – “Youth” (Adventure Club remix)
“Goosebumps. Period. Pressed play and was hooked. So many perfect elements came together. Been performing my bootleg rap version live and kids are goin nuts for the verses.”
3. Calvin Harris ft. Example – “We’ll Be Coming Back” (Killsonik remix)
“Love the vocal and its probably my fav drop of any track ive heard all year. Ive implemented this in my live sets and it just thunders. Has a very sinister feel that I love. Mixed with the upbeat start and vocal, it a prime combo.”
4. Erik Prydz – “Allein”
“This song is just a masterpiece of a feel-good anthem production. Not overpowered by a hook, just feels huge and has the chants that are heavenly feeling.”
5. Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing” (Diplo and Grandtheft trap remix)
“Just press play. Lineup speaks enough. Im currently writing verses to this for a fire bootleg.”
 
Bill Basil (Billy The Kid)

1. Swedish House Mafia – “Greyhound”

2. Eric Prydz – “Every Day”
3. Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
4. Mark Knight – “Alright”
5. Above & Beyond – “Prelude” (Andrew Bayer & James Grant Remix)
 
DJ Kalendr

1. Chris Lake & Lazy Rich – “Stand Alone” (Original Mix)

2. Andy Caldwell, Morgan Page, Jonathan Mendelsohn – “Where Did You Go” (Tom Fall Mix)
3. Zedd – “Spectrum” (Original Mix)
4. Hoxton Whores, Mike Newman – “Jack” (Original Mix)
5. Chris Lake vs Nari & Milani, Topher Jones – “Build The Bro Atom” (Inphinity & Kalendr Bootleg)
 
Alex Peace

1. Zedd ft. Matthew Koma – “Spectrum”

2. Chris Lake & Lazy Rich – “Stand Alone”
3. Dada Life – “Rolling Stone T Shirt”
4. EDX feat Hadley – “Everything” (Cazzette Remix)
5. Gina Turner – “Giovanna” (Van Toth Remix)
* Icona Pop – “I Love It” ft. Charli XCX (Hot Mouth Remix)

* Honorable Mention
 
Mroz

1. Andy Caldwell & Michael Teixeira Ft. Lisa Donnelly – “Sing It Back”

2. Calvin Harris Feat. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
3. Morgan Page Feat. Angela McCluskey – “In The Air” (Mord Fustang)
4. DBN Feat. Jason Caesar – “Always Have Tonight”
5. AN21, Max Vangeli & Tiesto Ft. Lover Lover – “People of The Night”
 
Milk n’ Cookies

1. Tujamo and Plastik Funk- “WHO”

2. RL Grime – “Mercy Remix”
3. Deorro – “Me”
4. Knife Party – “Bonfire”
5. Tiesto and Allure – “Pair of Dice”
 
Inphinity

1. Tujamo & Plastik Funk – “Who”
2. Chris Lake & Lazy Rich – “Stand Alone”
3. Wolfgang Gartner – “Flexx”

4. Deniz Koyu – “Bong”
5. Hot Chip – “Flutes” (Sasha Remix)
 
DJ Tsunami

1. Madeon – “Icarus” (Original Mix)

2. Dusky – “What I Do” (Original Mix)
3. Deadmau5 Vs. Calvin Harris – “Let’s Fn Go Pig” (Tsunami Bootleg)
4. Tube & Berger, Juliet Sikora – “Jam Word Up” (Original Mix)
5. Morgan Page Ft. Tegan & Sara – “Body Work” (Lazy Rich Remix)
 
DangerWayne

1. Mat Zo – “The Sky”

2. TJR – “Funky Vodka”
3. Hot Chip – “Flutes” (Sasha Remix)
4. Florence & The Machine – “Spectrum” (Calvin Harris Remix)
5. Richard Grey – “Lady” (Federico Scavo Remix)
 
Augie De LaRosa

1. Paperclip – “Throw” (Slam’s RTM Remix)

2. Mark Knight – “Together” (Original Mix)
3. Marco Lys – “Not Really “(All My Mind Games) [Original Mix]
4. Deniz Koyu Vs. Depeche Mode – “Personal Bong” (Richard Young Bootleg)
5. Reza & Martin Wright – “Looper” (Original Mix)
 
DJ Sean Strange

1. Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl ft. Georgi Kay – “In My Mind” (Axwell remix)

2. Kanye West – “Mercy” (RL Grime Remix)
3. Dyro & Ansol – “Top of the World”
4. Major Lazer – “Original Don” (Luminox Remix)
5. Porter Robinson – “Language”
 
Dustin Sheridan

1. Yousef – “Beg” (Hot Since 82 Future Mix) [Defected Records]

2. Pirupa – “Party Non Stop” (Vocal) [Desolat]
3. Mark Fanciulli – “Sacrafice” [Saved Records]
4. Flashmob – “Hot” [Defected Records]
5. NiCe7 – “Bassline Soldiers” [Noir Music]
 
Jordan V

1. Shadow Child – “So High” (Hot Since 82 remix)

2. Edu Imbernon – “Mystery Inside” (Original Mix)
3. Audiojack – “No Equal Sides” (Original Mix)
4. Filterheadz – “Sunshine” (Filthy Rich’s Endless Summer Remix)
5. WAFF – “Jo Johnson” (Original Mix)
 
Xonic

1. Discopolis – “Committed to Sparkle Motion” (Dubvision remix)

2. Deadmau5 – “Fn Pig”
3. Porter Robinson – “Language”
4. Zedd – “Spectrum”
5. Eric Prydz – “Every Day”

46

Add to the story...