Creators Remix Roundup: Top 10 Remixes Of The Year

Our Creators are a talented and prolific bunch, and our inbox is always overflowing with alerts of new remixes and mashups from the incredible DJs and producers in our line-up. We just couldn't keep these fresh new tunes to ourselves because, after all, filesharing is caring. To commemorate the one year anniversary of the Creators Remix Roundup (which happens to fall on the magical day of 11-11-11, no less) we decided to revisit our favorite tunes from the past year… which ones were your favorites?

Florence + the Machine: “You’ve Got The Love” (Jamie xx remix feat. The xx)

There seems to be a few different adaptations of Jamie xx‘s rework floating around the internet, but this 2-step version has to be our favorite. Last winter this track was in heavy, heavy rotation on our iPods and since just this morning we debuted our documentary on the enchanting Florence + the Machine, we thought it was the perfect time to bring it back. The original feels like a comforting, glamourous lullaby, but we like the added male vocals (from The xx’s Oliver Sim) and Jamie’s glitchy loops.

Missy Elliott: “Work It” (DJ Wordy remix)

Chinese hit-man DJ Wordy been “Work[ing] It” hard on a new album under the moniker WordySoulspeak, and we love this groovy remix of Missy Elliott‘s oft-remixed classic. Listen, download and see for yourself how well Wordy’s soulful horns match with Missy’s musical stylings.

Charlotte Gainsbourg: “Trick Pony” (Boys Noize remix)

We thought the original recording of French chanteuse Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “Trick Pony” off her 2009 Beck-produced album IRM, was pretty good to begin with. Sometimes messing with something already pretty perfect can be overkill, but Alex Ridha of Boys Noize has proved that this certainly isn’t the case. About 20 seconds in, he starts laying down the dirty bass, and giving some electro polish to the instrumentation—also a nice complement to Gainsbourg’s bewitching vocal arrangements. This is Charlotte like you’ve never heard her before.

Beastie Boys feat. Santigold: “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” (Major Lazer remix)

New York hip-hop legends, the Beastie Boys, finally released their much anticipated studio album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two on May 3rd, which was delayed in part because band member Adam “MCA” Yauch was diagnosed with cancer (he’s doing better now). Diplo and Switch, aka Major Lazer, give their second single the reggae-fab moombahton “treatment” with extra spice courtesy of Santigold.

Mark Ronson: “Record Collection” (Felix Bloxsom aka Plastic Plates remix)

The first minute of Sydney-based producer Felix Bloxsom aka Plastic Plates’ remix of “Record Collection” is almost unrecognizable, but then a series of MNDR‘s unmissable shrieks comes in, and the familiar electronic trickling of the original’s opening unfolds. After the two minute and 30 second break, the song goes exactly where you want it to… a familiar played-up rendition of the original (which was equally awesome). Not to spoil it for you, but Ronson’s voice is completely devoid from this version, which if you can recall, was the first time he had sung his own vocals.

Ellie Goulding: “Lights” (Bassnectar remix)

We wrote about English pop star Ellie Goulding‘s video for “Lights” back in March, but not because of the music. Creator Moritz Waldemeyer was asked to design the 3D visual effects, which were amazing before, but take on a whole new life after being remixed to dubstep artist Bassnectar’s remix. (That’s a lot of remixes.) See what they came up with above and check out the song’s interactive WebGL experience here.

Glasser: “Mirrorage” (Lindstrøm remix)

Lindstrøm, the Oslo-based DJ (who has remixed tracks for LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand), explains why he chose to take on this particular track: "When I was thinking about which Glasser song I wanted to remix, I quickly fell on “Mirrorage,” which is a fantastic song. Often when I do remixes I add and change a lot of elements, and often add a new beat. In this case, I felt the world deserved to hear an extended “Mirrorage” version, and that the core musical elements, and the production, was so strong on its own that I didn’t feel for adding too many new musical elements, but rather emphasize the claustrophobic mood of the song."

G-Dragon and T.O.P.: “Knock Out” (prod. Diplo)

Korean popstars G-Dragon and T.O.P., both members of the popular “boy band” Big Bang, met Diplo when he was in town last year and decided to collaborate on a track. The uber-styled video features the “rapper rappers” with “crazy flow” (according to Diplo) in tight suits, tons of bling and doing stuff like popping bubble rap, riding segways and lounging with a Coco Chanel-disguised Lego person on an army tank. We love how, stylistically, anything goes in Korea… and how both artists can pull off the flamboyantly masculine persona.

Kreayshawn vs. Gang Gang Dance: “Gucci Goth”

The release of “Gucci Gucci” earlier this year put feisty chick rapper Kreayshawn on the map. The fellas from The Hood Internet (ABX and STV SLV) created this amazing mashup, weaving together Kreayshawn’s straightforward prophecy with Gang Gang Dance‘s synth-heavy, witchhouse aura. While some might think this is an unlikely pairing, we have a sneaking suspicion that the tastemakers from GGD would totally agree with Kreayshawn’s exactitude: “basic bitches wear that shit, so I don’t even bother.”

Radiohead: “Everything In Its Right Place” (James Lavelle remix)

Radiohead‘s lead singer Thom Yorke felt “Everything In Its Right Place” was the perfect airy opener to their fourth studio album Kid A, released in 2000. The song’s composition, written entirely on a piano and computer, makes it a natural selection for fellow introspective musician, James Lavelle, to make his own. Lavelle’s version adds sporadic 8-bit tones, and is texturized with fast-paced drum programming, ambient synths and vocal scrambling. While definitely amping the impact, the remix certainly doesn’t lose its majestic qualities.