Look what Ke$ha has wrought. Now young singers are able to get by with some spoken word verses and flashy beats. At least she writes her own raps and has a point of view. I don't know if the same can be said for DEV. Her debut album comes out in two weeks and I'm not expecting great things from her. For one thing, her song "Booty Bounce" (not linked to save your ears) is responsible for the beat to the awful Far East Movement song "Like a G6." She also identifies herself as Electro in 2011. That's not exactly the strongest dance genre in America right now. It's hanging on well enough in Europe, though newer dance movements have taken over.
Her producers, however, are pretty close to genius.
Her debut single "In the Dark" is produced within an inch of its life. I love everything except for her vocal. The synth melody behind her verses is a variation on Reel 2 Real's "I Like to Move It [Move It]." The saxophone on the hook is dangerously close to that amazing beat on Enur featuring Natasja's "Calabria 2007."
I don't even know where to begin breaking down the drum tracks. There are snaps, bells, woodblocks, synth kits, analog kits, snare drums, and rhythm sticks smacking together against or with they syncopated spoken word rhythms. Then there's the use of autotune and digital manipulation to reduce DEV to window dressing on her own single. A wise move. She melts into the production, masking her vocal behind the far more interesting and relevant backing track and mix.
I make ammends for that horrible vocal after the jump.
Have a little Bjork. She does dance music with a great vocal and style nowadays.
Or try out some Ke$ha for size. This also features another great near-spoken word dance act 3OH!3.
And the big guns. Have a little "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice.
Now all I remember about DEV's song is the production.