EDM.com's Best of 2020: Songs

Here are the top electronic dance music songs of 2020.

This year, the team at EDM.com is proud to publish four installments of "Best of 2020" coverage: Industry Leaders, Performances, Music Producers, and Songs.

When COVID-19 stomped on the sandcastles of the live music industry and its countless venues, the streaming world mushroomed due to a massive influx of new music. With nowhere to share their art but the blue light of our devices, producers turned to streaming platforms and released new music at a breakneck pace in 2020.

With so much new music offered by EDM's artist community, it would be unfair to its diverse range of creators to publish a nebulous blanket list of the year's top songs. So to highlight the best songs of the year, we've chosen ten of the most popular sub-genres of dance music and recognized five tracks from each.

Check out a playlist below, followed by a breakdown of each individual song from each genre.

House “Douha (Mali Mali)” - Disclosure & Fatoumata Diawara

Released alongside a colorful and uplifting music video, the bubbly “Douha (Mali Mali)” is an ode to Fatoumata Diawara’s native Mali. Beyond its production, Disclosure's ENERGY cut stood out by centering itself structurally around Diawara’s lyrics and soulful top-line, which breathes with genuine authenticity and inescapable groove.

“Both Of Us” - Jayda G

Jayda G’s imminent rise to superstardom begins here. “Both Of Us” is one of the brightest house gems to come out of the dance music zeitgeist this year, luring listeners in with it’s undeniably catchy chords and intoxicating beat. The track is a masterclass in dance music production, with an ingenious tempo switch towards its conclusion that brings it home with the joie de vivre of a seasoned music producer.

“Lost” - Holiday87

The debut single from Holiday87—the solo project of�Ben Ruttner of The Knocks—was one of aching melancholy, an ethos that was beautifully ensconced in a deep house backbone. Interpolating a sample from Los Yesterdays' "I Can't Feel,†Holiday87 delivered one of the best and most underrated house tracks of the year.

“HEART ATTACK (feat. lau.ra)" - BRONSON

Though fans didn’t quite know what was coming, expectations were sky-high for the debut of BRONSON, a supergroup composed of ODESZA and Golden Features. Fortunately, when the group’s lead single “HEART ATTACK†was released, fans immediately knew they were in for something special. Striking a particularly haunting chord, lau.ra’s vocals and the track’s ominous atmosphere have left a lasting impression.

“La Femme Fantastique (feat. Josh Caffe) - Honey Dijon

There may not be a more stylish house song released in 2020 than Honey Dijon's “La Femme Fantastique." The metallic synths, expertly programmed drums, and catchy vocals courtesy of Josh Caffe have the power to instill confidence in Dijon's listeners, posing in the mirror even if they just got out of bed.

Dubstep “Nuclear Bass Face (feat. Boogie T)†- NGHTMRE & Subtronics

“Nuclear Bass Face†breaks the mold by bringing together the distinct styles of NGHTMRE, Subtronics, and Boogie T into one comprehensive ode to the intersection of dubstep and riddim. The track succeeds with a grandiose, room-filling drop composed of robust bass, rippling chords, and a roaring soundscape of dub synths. It's set to be a crowd favorite once it hits the live show circuit.

“Glass Planet†- Aweminus

One of dubstep’s brightest young stars, Aweminus is strapped into a rocketship to superstardom. His February 2020 track “Glass Planet†is a standout in his mind-melting catalog. Released via Never Say Die: Black Label, the single is a testament to the Vegas producer’s ability to craft beautiful melodies while somehow remaining under a menacing dubstep umbrella.

"Instance" - Voltra

The highlight of the impressive Halcyon Sound, Vol. 1 showcase from Oolacile’s new imprint, Voltra’s "Instance" flaunts tight and intricate production that makes for not just a track, but a journey. This one can’t really be categorized as “future riddim†alone—it paints a picture of some of dubstep’s most tantalizing sounds in a cohesive, sonically shimmering package.

“Get Crazy†- Jantsen & Mersiv

While this track’s single titular lyric serves as a not-so-subtle hint at the mood Mersiv and Jantsen were going for with “Get Crazy,†even under a different name this May 2020 release would have the desired effect. A bona fide banger chock full of unrelenting, face-melting bass and heavily distorted trap synths, this song pushes the boundaries of dubstep with its ferocious energy and forward-thinking sound design.

"HYPER BLOXXD" - Ducky

Blurb: Blossoming bass music young gun Ducky made a splash back in May with "HYPER BLOXXD," a wonky dubstep bomb that is not for the faint of heart. The track's bubbly verses moonlight as a siren song that leads its listeners to something much more sinister, as they make way for a gritty bass bridge that eventually culminates in a screeching drop. Known for their aversion to genre standards and proclivities for old school rave music, the prodigious Los Angeles-based artist made a statement with this one. 

Trap “Detox†- Duke & Jones

Fast-rising UK duo Duke & Jones stomped their way through Zeds Dead’s Deadbeats imprint back in May with their thunderous Solace EP. The record’s opening track “Detox†is an undeniable standout, and a formidable display of bass music production. Frenetic stabs run roughshod throughout its drops, each of which are maelstroms that roar with maniacal sound design.

“You Should Run (feat. Pauline Herr)†- Moore Kismet

With a workhorse mentality and a renegade-like approach to genre standards, Moore Kismet emerged as one of the bass music scene’s brightest stars in 2020. It could be argued that “You Should Run,†one of their most forward-thinking tracks, couldn't be further from the artist's trap-minded origins. However, with its magnificently arranged second drop, Kismet cohesively linked "You Should Run" with their past work, effortlessly demonstrating their knack for reimagining trap music into their own unique production style.

“Blast Yo Head†- Dirty Audio & Flosstradamus

When Dirty Audio arrived on Yellow Claw’s Barong Family imprint with his Inferno EP, fans were treated to a song-cycle of thunderous bass music that yearned for the mainstages of pre-pandemic yesteryear. A standout track from the record is “Blast Yo Head,†a wild trap cut produced in collaboration with one of the genre’s pioneering artists, Flosstradamus. The song is downright nasty, a whipping 145 BPM centrifuge of thick 808s and vicious bass patches.

"Replicant (Hydraulix Remix)" - Delta Heavy & Kuuro

Delta Heavy’s Only In Dreams album was remixed by some truly impressive producers this year. Australian bass music kingpin Hydraulix’s hybrid trap take on “Replicant,†a collaboration with KUURO, was an emphatic standout that saw one-of-a-kind sound design and some serious bass firepower.

“Mother Africa†- TroyBoi

TroyBoi showed his unwavering appetite to shake the status quo with his late 2020 single “Mother Africa.†In a tribute to his Nigerian roots, he assembled one of the most unique jungle trap releases in recent memory, complete with tribal instrumentation and a hard, chant-driven drop that lets the 808s do the heavy lifting. It’s safe to say TroyBoi has become the gold standard in trap.

Future Bass “Nightlight (feat. Annika Wells)†- ILLENIUM

ILLENIUM and Annika Wells have proven to be a match made in heaven in the past, so it’s no surprise that their latest collaboration “Nightlight†is their best yet. Tugging on listeners' heartstrings once again, the duo's latest dance music triumph bursts at the seams with melancholic guitar riffs and euphoric synths.

“worthy†(Prblm Child Remix)" - San Holo

Prblm Child put a dreamy retro spin on future bass with his take on San Holo’s gorgeous track “worthy.†The remix's atmospheric pads and clever vocal processing made the original's top-line sound almost saxophonic, and subtle foley shots give this soulful twist an organic feeling that rendered it a natural fit on Holo's bitbird banner.

"Hope It Hurts (feat. Essenger)" - Dabin

Dabin and Essenger’s “Hope It Hurts†is a crushing, emotional release that cuts to the core. Dabin, who has skyrocketed to prominence on the back of a high-energy, rock-influence style of future bass, opted for a dramatic change in tone on this record. The poetic, contemplative vocals from Essenger left listeners hanging on his every word as the wave of emotions are amplified by Dabin’s sweeping sonic textures.

“Rain†- Papa Khan

From the moment it was teased online, Papa Khan’s breakthrough future riddim masterpiece, "Rain," became an instant favorite and one of the most anticipated bass music releases of the year. The final product and its addicting and chaotic melody delivered on all fronts, spicing up the future bass genre with a heavy, hybrid sound.

“I Had Just Woken Up From A Short Nap†- Louis The Child

Though it’s difficult to take any track off Louis the Child’s Candy 2 out of its mixtape context, “I Had Just Woken Up From A Short Nap†easily stands on its own with its classically future bass exuberance. Its 74-second length offers just a taste of the prodigious nature with which the duo produces their signature sound—especially as instrumental one-offs—and leaves listeners wanting much, much more.

Drum & Bass “Independent†- Halogenix

“Independent,†a standout track from Halogenix’s spring EP Dragonforce, saw the London producer flex his ability to bring raw emotion to the genre with almost no intelligible lyrics. Minimal yet precise production combined with soulful vocals makes “Independent'' one of those songs that—when you close your eyes—takes you back to an idyllic, carefree dancefloor in the city.

“Turn The Lights Off†- Sub Focus & Wilkinson

Portals, a collaborative drum & bass album by Sub Focus and Wilkinson released in September, is comprised of an endless array of genre gems, but “Turn The Lights Off†takes the cake with its euphoric, pulsing chords and relentless pursuit of momentum. A smooth launch into its masterstroke of a break propels the track to an energetic finish, making it a model display of the power drum & bass has to move and shake any listener.

“Driver†- Pendulum

After a ten-year hiatus, Pendulum returned in 2020 with a vengeance, dropping two new tracks and proving they haven't lost a step. Making an emphatic return to the genre that helped catapult them to international stardom, the legendary group finally unveiled "Driver," a thunderous, cold-blooded drum & bass hit oozing with the ferocity of a classic Pendulum song.

“Saviour (feat. Sharlene Hector)†- Dimension

The highlight of an incredible year of releases for Dimension, “Saviour†is the perfect blend of energy and emotion. Sharlene Hector’s stentorian voice churns along with a mesmeric subcurrent atop the spellbinding production of Dimension, who pulled out all the stops with his beautifully nuanced drum & bass production. The track will appear on his highly anticipated Organ LP, which is due out in March 2021.

“I See The Future In Your Eyes†- Netsky

A decade after his debut album release on Hospital Records, Netsky announced he would be releasing Second Nature, an album that promised to be a return to the producer’s drum & bass roots. While the news gripped the attention of his earliest fans, it wasn’t until Netsky dropped the lead single “I See The Future In Your Eyes†that they had the confirmation they’d been hoping for. The track builds at a leisurely pace, layering in elegant melodic elements before a satisfying explosion of powerful drums and soaring synths take control of this surefire festival pleaser.

Synthwave “CRT Days†- Waveshaper

Video game and film composer Waveshaper lent a cinematic touch in â€œCRT Days,†conjuring up mental montages of late-night drives and flashing neon lights. Backed by a steadily progressing beat and intuitively-designed synths, the track’s rousing, transportive melody adds an artistic dimension beyond the novelty of its retro sonics.

“Deep Blue†- The Midnight

The heartbreaking lyrical content and darkened, retro synths of The Midnight's "Deep Blue" are powerful enough to leave those born in 2000 nostalgic about the 80s. Continuing to show why they are the leaders in the synthwave genre, they hit every target that makes up a great synthwave track, also including some of their fan-favorite saxophone work in infuse tinctures of soul.

“Feel It†- Power Glove

Named after the Nintendo Power Glove, Australian duo Power Glove is quickly rising in the ranks of the synthwave genre and EDM scene at large. Harnessing a sound that is ideal for video game soundtracks due its lush, cyberpunk-influenced sound design, they have become in-demand composers. In addition to producing the soundtrack to the popular video game Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, their track "Feel It" was recently featured on the Netflix docuseries High Score, which explores the early development of the most influential video games in history.

“The Return†- PYLOT

The elusive cyclist Pylot hasn’t hesitated to add some bite to his smooth synthwave singles, and there’s no better example highlighting the unique lane he’s carved for himself than “The Return.†The track incorporates grungy guitar riffs, punchy bass, and is capped off by a fierce guitar solo.

“Night Skies†- The Midnight

The Midnight have long championed synthwave in the mainstream, and they continued to do so in 2020 with their latest album Monsters. “Night Skies†perfectly embodies the album, with celestial synths and digitized vocals that are reminiscent of a retrowave Daft Punk.

Techno “Sgadi Li Mi†- Charlotte de Witte

With a hammering four-on-the-floor beat and throbbing percussive tones, Charlotte de Witte's “Sgadi Li Mi†rose above the pack in a year of massive releases for the Belgian techno maven. Its emotive use of rhythmic breaks and ethereal background vocals asserts dominance early on, crafting quietly stirring moments to give the song a sensitive potency that is a rarity for techno styles. de Witte, however, pulls off this unique twist with ease.

“Higher†- Amelie Lens

Amelie Lens' “Higher†comes out of the box hot with a pounding bassline and sporadic yet subtle synths. Following the track's release, the barnstorming dance music star crafted yet another dominant techno heater to add to her jaw-dropping arsenal of tracks.

“Phobos†- Space 92

Following its September release, Space 92’s “Phobos†quickly became a favorite in the electronic music world, garnering support from Andrew Rayel, Gabriel & Dresden, and Charles D, among myriad others. The French techno mastermind produced a gritty yet mesmerizing masterstroke that bursts at the seams with grimy acid house influences. And at a languid length of 7:26, the track lends itself to an atmosphere wherein time stands still.

source https://edm.com/features/best-of-2020-songs-playlist