With clubs closed across the country and Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart on hiatus, we’re asking reporting club DJs what they’ve been listening to lately, while at home, of course.
This week, we spoke with New York City-based DJs Boris and Dan De Leon and Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Bill Hallquist.
Boris
Boris (full name Boris Inzhin) has been enjoying Sonny Fodera and Dom Dolla’s “Moving Blind” (Gorgon City extended remix). “A combo of three of my favorite artists,” Boris tells Billboard. “You can’t go wrong with these guys.”
Boris, who would normally be touring nationwide for gigs, in addition to playing New York venues (and who was just able to perform, without a dancing crowd, for the first time in months at a restaurant, Darna, in Arlington, Virginia, this past weekend), also touts his own latest track, “The Mamba.” The DJ offers, “Well, it’s my own production. Need I say more?”
Additionally, Boris, who produces the weekly Transmissions Radio show, has been into Davie’s “Testify” (Mousse T.’s funky shizzle extended remix). “I generally love the sound of any Defected Records track and this holds up their legacy,” Boris says. “Nice assortment of remixes to choose from, which makes it playable at different times of my sets.”
Dan De Leon
Dan De Leon (real name Daniel Aeberhard), whose collab with Anthony Griego, “Hydrolove,” featuring Kris Kollins, hit No. 18 in 2018 on Dance Club Songs, has been enjoying Merk and Kremont’s “Gucci Fendi Prada.” “An absolute monster, this track was made for the masses in an EDM style,” De Leon tells Billboard. “I loved it so much that I made a big room edit for the gays and have been playing it incessantly ever since. Definitely an iconic gem that will last into next year.”
De Leon, who would typically be playing at such New York locales as Rebar for the roving RAM Party, as well as nationally at venues including The EndUP in San Francisco and BLACKOUT in Dallas, has also been liking Las Bibas From Vizcaya’s “Rise Up,” featuring Cdamore (Juan Trompis remix). The DJ raves, “A wonderful remake of the Funky Green Dogs classic, this remix is so good it fits perfectly at peak time, after hours, daytime or anytime. Loving this right now; classic, energetic, sexy, positive and everyone can relate to it and feel the vibe.”
Funky Green Dogs’ original “Rise Up” rose all the way to No. 1 on Dance Club Songs in March 2003.
Additionally, De Leon, whose “Money Success Fame Glamour,” featuring Nina Flowers (Edson Pride vs. Dan De Leon 2020 mix) was recently released, extols the virtues of Junior Senna’s “Funk Brazil.” “This big room stormer is one of those huge Brazilian beats tracks that gets the entire room bouncing with their hands in the air,” De Leon raves. “A must for peak-time madness and generally the kind of thing I love for climaxing a set.”
Bill Hallquist
Bill Hallquist has been grooving to Calvin Harris and The Weeknd’s “Over Now” (Dario Xavier remix). “It’s a powerhouse collaboration,” Hallquist tells Billboard. “What can I say, except to tell you how much I love this project. Great song, with the The Weeknd’s unmistakable vocal style. He just keeps getting better and better. And Dario gave me the mix I needed.”
The slower original debuted at its No. 38 high on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Sept. 12. It holds at its No. 25 peak to-date on the latest Pop Songs airplay chart.
Hallquist, who would normally be playing for partygoers at Wilton Manors, Florida’s The Pub (whose dance floor has turned into a dining room, with strict social distancing and no-dancing policies, during the pandemic), has also been enjoying David Guetta and Sia’s “Let’s Love.”
“How could you possibly go wrong with a collaboration like this, especially given their track record?” The DJ marvels. ” They are certainly back in a big way with the song and vocal performance. Definitely one of my very favorites right now.”
Additionally, Hallquist, who also misses playing at the currently shuttered Club Twist in Miami Beach, has been relishing Ava Max’s “Who’s Laughing Now” (Dario Xavier remix). “Cute pop song, with that catchy whistle hook, Ava’s able vocal delivery and a mix that works,” Hallquist says.
The original version of “Laughing” is from Max’s debut LP, Heaven & Hell, released Sept. 18. Current radio single “Kings & Queens” reaches the Pop Songs top 20 (22-18), after breakthrough hit “Sweet but Psycho” climbed to No. 3 in May 2019.