A Rocktronic Illenium - Between 45 remixes, SadBois and NIO definitely impressed us with their “Other Side” remix
85%Overall Score
• Great blend of Melodic Dubstep and Rock
• Vera Blue’s vocals seamlessly integrated
• Lots of remixes, a great chance to stand out
We are back with Illenium again, who released a giant remix pack to complement his new album. In the past, I wasn’t into the American creative’s choice for releasing copious amounts of song edits, as there were multiple versions per track- a pain for any reviewer to examine. In this case, there is a grand total of 45 remixes. Earlier albums like “Ascend” had 23 and “Awake” had 15. Too much on the table, isn’t it?
A few years later, I started appreciating this concept: hosting a big opportunity for both upcoming and established talents to shine and remix one of the most popular names in the scene. We see it in the self-titled album as well, containing remixes from Tungevaag, KTN, and Paul van Dyk… alongside lesser-known talents.
Let’s shift our attention to SadBois & NIO. Hailing from NY, their “Rocktronic” style is perfect for remixing “Other Side”: a collaboration between Illenium, Said The Sky, and Vera Blue. The original is an intense Melodic Dubstep creation with heart-stirring vocals. Here, the said remix recasts the idea with rock influences, a touch of drum & bass with vivid synth leads allowing Vera Blue’s vocals to fuse with the output flawlessly.
There’s a lot of dynamics to experience on this version, even more than the original idea and perhaps other remixes, which are equally impressive with their concepts. But SadBois and NIO nailed that “rock” vibe suiting to the album, which features genre bigwigs such as Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker. This remix extends that theme in a natural way, progressing from a “classic” to a “punk” Illenium sound; that’s a definitive showcase of “Rocktronic”!