Budakid brings the dance floor together with this amazing selection of music

DUTCH DJ and producer Budakid aka Kevin Huizing’s music continues to captivate dancefloors around the world, with support for his cinematic tracks from the likes of Sasha, Pete Tong, Black Coffee, Kölsch and many more.

His Sweet Ease and Hybrid Society collaboration with Berlin Watergate Club resident DJ Matthias Meyer last year was a harbinger of great things to come, and Budakid is now back on Watergate Records – this time teaming up with Nordfold on United -EP. Also keep an eye out for his upcoming track, Coffee Cup on Permanent Vacation, out August 5th. For more information about Budakid see his Facebook site.

We caught up with Budakid this week for the release and he talked us through a selection of music including United from the new EP.

Budakid & Nordfold – United

“United” – one of my newest songs – carries not only a friendship but also the need and power to reunite with everyone around the world. A track that radiates a certain serenity and calm for me, but still has a euphoric feeling of freedom. Listening to this piece is like reading a few sentences from my diary, it brings back the last year and memories. I remember we started writing this track a moment when Amsterdam was in some kind of lockdown and after a certain time we couldn’t go outside anymore.

Acid Arab – Soulan (Laolu Remix)

I can still remember hearing this song for the first time last year. It got me so excited at home that I immediately got into the festival spirit. The way Laolu sampled some guitar licks from Acid Araba’s original melody combined with the new drum arrangement is spot on for me. Definitely one of my mood lifters of the last year.

Mind Against – Prophet

Mind Against never ceases to amaze me, especially with this track “Prophet”. A track full of groove, catchy harmonies with an unpredictable climax that made it one of my favorite songs of the last year. I’ve been following this powerful Italian duo for a while, but since their “Bloom” EP on Afterlife, I’ve become a huge fan.

Squarepusher – Midi Sans Frontières (Avec Battery)

I’ve always been a big fan of Squarepusher. But while doing some digital crate digging – searching the internet for new music – I discovered Avec Batteries’ remix of Squarepusher’s “Midi Sans Frontieres”. The original is strong on its own. A minimalist cut with a sort of AB song structure. Avec Batterie kept the original melodies and added some extra drums to the foundation to give the track more drive and energy. But in the end, what really gets me putting this track in this top list is the processing of those drums. Maybe I’m just a sucker for freaky drums, but I’m very drawn to this drum bending.

Budakid & El Zarate – Pizza Pizza

As the pandemic really got going, I picked up an old hobby of mine, cooking. Pizza was one of the main focuses back then. This track also has a special place in my diary. This track was baked on a dark night in the lonely forest of Germany’s Brandenburg. We had a dark moon and could see the night sky as clear as any Milky Way movie. After making pizza for ourselves and the community that lives there, we jammed at my friend’s (El Zárate) studio in his studio, which is in an old windmill hidden in the woods. While finishing the track in my studio in Berlin, we also decided to make pizza ourselves, which brought us straight to the track’s title ‘Pizza Pizza’.

Avnu (UK) – Proud that you are mine

I keep an eye on Maceo Plex’ record label Ellum. But one track with a disco touch really surprised me in a positive way. This track immediately makes me feel like I’m on permanent vacation. The track itself is well arranged and remains interesting despite having a loopy sample approach. The quirky vocal effects and the main synth line that kicks in after the drop makes the sun shine for me.

DJ Koze – Drone me up, Flashy feat. Sophia Kennedy (&ME Remix)

It was hard to decide which track by &ME is my actual favorite because everything he releases has been on fire lately. Minimalist, uplifting melodies and a few catchy piano chords characterize his style for me. &ME is no stranger to Pampa Recordings. But when I discovered he was remixing powerhouse DJ Koze, I didn’t even have to listen to the track and blindly bought it. This remix is ​​heavily driven by a hypnotic synthesizer that gives the track the power it needs. While DJ Koze’s original cut is more of an introverted and dreamy piece, &ME did a great job of bringing it to the dance floor.

Who Made Who – Silence & Secrets (Frank Wiedemann Version)

Who Made Who brings such a breath of fresh air into the industry, which I personally like very much. A combination of calibrated songs with a touch of static electronic dance music. Melancholic, exciting and versatile with strong catchy hooks and beautiful harmonies. I last saw her at Cityfox (Avant Gardner) in New York where we both played our live shows. Especially this track is one of my favorites which is a remix by Frank Wiedemann (known from the duo Âme). A track that really grabs my attention and shuts me out.

Max Cooper – Love Song

When I listen to Max Cooper, I am always fascinated by his craftsmanship. Beautiful melodies and great sound design. Drowned in different realms, woken up by modern sound glitches and interesting audio movements. This track has got me hooked for the last few years. For me, “Lovesong” is a perfect balance between atmospheric melodies and intelligent dance music. For me it’s state of the art. A track that I can repeat for years.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Rà-àkõ-st (Lindstrøm cover)

What happens when you bring two of your favorite musicians together? This! An amazing rendition of Lindstrøm’s “Rà-àkõ-st” by the Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Lindstrøm’s “Smalhans” LP is one of my favorite dance albums of all time. I think it’s a great piece of intellectual dance music. For me, Lindstrøm’s music stands out above all for its arrangement and its melodic phrases. Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a psychedelic rock band known for their innovative and authentic studio approach, produced with great depth and character. I was blown away by this cover he did for Lindstrøm, not only because they are both fantastic producers, but also because they represent a rare crossover in the music industry.