10 Must Have Party Tracks of 2016

2016 was another great year for Electronic Dance Music, better known as ‘EDM’. Not only did it continue its influence in mainstream music but it also had a lot more variety brought to it with reggae, hip-hop, and deep house influences. No wonder EDM remained to be a huge crowd-puller and allowed several DJ-Producers to reign the charts.

As we approach a new year, it’s festive season all around. Time to get together with loved ones and get those party shoes out! May it be a bash at home, an office party or just to groove while driving, one can never have enough music on their playlist right now, can they? Assuming that you are familiar with all the popular fare by the likes of The Chainsmokers, Major Lazer etc., the below list comprises of 10 additional tracks which are sure to get any party started.

10. ‘No Money’ – Galantis (MOTI remix)

The Swedish dance-pop duo who go by the name Galantis broke into the Billboard Hot 100 chart with this track. With uncredited vocals by 12-year old Reece Bullimore who sings about standing up to a bully, the lyrics are reminiscent of the hugely popular Sia and David Guetta collaboration – ‘Titanium‘. This is a remix version of the track by the Dutch DJ-Producer MOTi. He brings a heightened tempo and more bass drops to the track making it an energetic dance number.

 

9. ‘By Your Side’ – Jonas Blue ft. RAYE

This is the third single by the British DJ-Producer Jonas Blue who first came to prominence with a remixed version of the Tracy Chapman hit ‘FastCar‘ in late 2015. Since then, he has been steadily making a name for himself across the European dance charts although he hasn’t quite made a splash in the global music scene yet. This upbeat electronic track may contain some familiar tropes but its catchy hook makes it a pleasant listen nonetheless.

 

8. ‘Give Me Your Love’ – Sigala ft. John Newman and Nile Rodgers

This is only his fourth single as a record producer and Sigala already managed to rope in legendary Musician-Producer Nile Rodgers and the face of modern soul John Newman for this peppy dance track. The beat will have you instantly hooked with its disco-inspired arrangement. Together with Newman’s powerful vocals and Rodgers distinct funk strings, this song is sure to get your foot tapping from the get go.

7. ‘The Girl Is Mine’ – 99 Souls ft. Destiny’s Child and Brandy

Of all the songs on this list, this track takes the top prize for innovation (or lack thereof – you be the judge!). It takes elements from the R&B hits – ‘Girl‘ by Destiny’s Child and Brandy’s ‘The Boy Is Mine‘ and overlays them with beats that are reminiscent of Eurodance productions of the 80s. 99 Souls are a British house band and are fairly new to the music scene. In fact, they are so new that this is their only release to date! After a steady climb since it’s debut late last year, this track took pole position on Billboard’s ‘Dance Club Songs’ by January and was even nominated for an MTV VMA in the ‘Best Electronic Video’ category. Not a bad start for a newbie!

 

6. ‘Daylight’ – Disciples

Active since 2013, what sets apart the Disciples from the rest is their distinct deep house undertone. This English trio tasted international success for their collaborative effort with Calvin Harris on the smash-hit ‘How Deep Is Your Love‘. However, they do not seem to have capitalized on that success and had only two major releases this year. This may be because deep house still struggles to attract an audience like electro-pop due to its complex and synth inspired arrangements. Nevertheless, the ambient vibe and soulful tone of this track make it an ideal choice for lounge parties.

5. ‘Take My Breath Away’ – Alesso

Probably the only prominent DJ to make it to this list, Alesso has several hits to his credit such as ‘Under Control‘ with Calvin Harris and ‘Heroes (We Could Be)‘ with Tove Lo. After the release of his first complete album titled ‘Forever‘ last year, he seems to have taken a backseat for a majority of 2016 with only two low-key singles. However, in this track, Alesso experiments with tempo variations, and deep house with fellow DJ/Producer Dillion Francis adding some hip-hop influences. The result is a distinct departure from his signature peppy dance-pop which makes this a refreshing listen. I wouldn’t be surprised if this track helps ‘hip-hop house’ become all the rage next year!

4. ‘Hundred Miles’ – Yall ft. Gabriela Richardson

Although released in 2015, this track slowly made its way into some European charts early this year after it was used in an advert for a clothing line. Produced by the relatively new Barcelona-based DJ collective Yall, the tropical and reggae vibes on this track are hard to miss. For those who are still craving for the next ‘Lean On‘, this should bring you some respite.

 

3. ‘The Mack’ – Nevada ft. Mark Morrison and Fetty Wap

This is Swedish Producer Nevada’s very first single and boy what an entrance he makes! His remix of the Mark Morrisson R&B classic ‘Return of the Mack‘ to commemorate the song’s 20th anniversary is an ideal choice for a debut on so many levels. Nevada brings a completely new spin to the original track by incorporating a reggae undertone throughout the song that blends effortlessly with Morrisson’s distinct vocal style. Here’s hoping we get to listen to more great work from Nevada next year.

2. ‘This Girl’ – Kungs vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners

If you feel you have heard the hook of this song somewhere before, you are not mistaken. This is a remix by the French DJ/Producer Kungs of the track by Cookin’ on 3 burners which originally released in 2009. One of the first dance tracks that released during early summer of 2016, it effortlessly topped several charts across Europe in no time and also made it to a cool #26 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

 

1. ‘No Lie’ – Sean Paul ft. Dua Lipa

Leave it to the original king of dancehall – Sean Paul to grab the top spot on this list! One of modern reggae’s most prolific artists, he has been instrumental in bringing this genre to the forefront during the early 2000s and always brings something fresh to the table with his every album. 2016 has been a great year for Paul with his successive features on smash-hits like Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills‘ and Clean Bandit’s ‘Roackabye‘. So it’s only natural that he close this year with a brand new single. He collaborates with upcoming English singer Dua Lipa on this track where his unmistakable delivery style shines and the beats bring in all the necessary elements that culminate to form an awesome party jam.

How do you like my list? Have you heard these songs? What is you favorite less-known party track of this year? Drop a comment.

Happy Holidays!