20 in 2020: Dance anthems from Asia that blew us away

Well, what can we say? 2020 will surely go down in history as one of the most challenging years the world has faced in living memory. The vast majority of the population has suffered greatly, and the dance community is no exception. Clubs are bars shut down indefinitely, DJs out of work and revellers forced to stay out home for months on end. It hasn't all been about doom and gloom though. The effervescent nature of dance culture has helped it to endure, the community has remained intact thanks to online streaming events and social media platforms, and – perhaps most importantly – our favourite Asian producers and labels have continued to bring the heat in the form of an abundance of classic tunes. So, while we're all ready to bid 2020 a timely farewell, let's look back on some of the slamming tracks that we've been blessed with this year. From radio-friendly pop-tinged summer jams to floor-filling EDM bangers, these are our choice of the biggest tracks in Asia's dance scene this year.

Title: Lathi
Artist: Weird Genius
Label: Astralwerks
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

What a year it's been for Weird Genius! The Indonesian trio began the year by dropping this gamelan-tinged viral smash, and they've barely looked back since. Breakout hit 'Lathi' led to a collaboration with Yellow Claw on summertime banger, 'Hush', before shortly afterwards serving to land the boys a coveted contract with US super-label, Astralwerks. They've managed to maintain a huge presence on streaming platforms, notably Tik Tok, which saw 'Lathi' used on over 500 million videos, and Spotify, where the tune earned second spot in the global viral chart among a host of other accolades. The Geniuses dropped 'All In' as part of the launch of popular game 'League of Legends – Wild Drift' earlier this month, showing there's plenty more in the tank from the talented trio.

Title: Don't Start Now (Yaeji remix)
Artist: Dua Lipa
Label: Warner
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

It's been virtually impossible to avoid listening to Dua Lipa in 2020. The pop diva has become one of the most celebrated singers on the planet, and whatever you think of her music, this killer remix from Korean-American artist Yaeji is an out and out club destroyer. The singer, producer and DJ dropped her excellent 'What We Drew우리가 그려왔던' album on XL Recordings back in April, and fortunately, she didn't keep us waiting too long before unleashing her remix of 'Don't Start Now'. Yaeji makes full use of the poppy vocal line while jettisoning the rest of the original music in favour of a stripped, dusty electronic bed. The jagged rhythm, vocal effects and melancholic Rhodes chords make this palatable to even the most militant of underground aficionados, while the residual space dust in the melodic elements of Lipa's song give it just enough commercial appeal to retain cross-over potential.

Title: Us (Selected mix)
Artist: Chace
Label: Selected
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Shanghai-based talent Chace hasn't released as much music as we would have liked this year, but the lack of quantity is more than made up for by the quality of his work. 'Us' dropped in the summer on renowned label Selected, closely followed by an extended 'Selected mix'. The yearning vocal, tight production and dreamy house flavours made this an instantly memorable hit, and we've been singing along to it ever since. We're happy to report fans of Chace who may be desperate to hear more of his music can also catch his stylings in the shape of a guest performance on Tchami's 'Heartless' cut which came out in October. And despite the relatively quiet release schedule, Chace has been a busy young man throughout the year. This month we saw Chace take the helm as music curator for the prestigious W Hotel group in China as part of their #WMUSICSERIES, where he opened the proceedings with a live show at W Chengdu. Anyone based in China right now can catch him at further shows at W Xi’an, W Suzhou, and W Shanghai – The Bund over the coming three months

Title: Down
Artist: Dipha Barus & CADE
Label: ULTRA
Release: Out Now, you can buy it here

This sing-along summertime hit managed to bring smiles to our faces in even the most trying of times, and that was exactly the intention of Indonesian sensation Dipha Barus and his US-based collaborator, CADE. 'Down' dropped via the ever-reliable ULTRA camp in August and has since reappeared in a pumped-up 'VIP Remix', bringing the undeniably catchy vocals to a whole new audience in the process. Recorded in LA before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the pop-house hybrid overflows with life-affirming zeal from the first bar to the last. Dipha has long been a star in his native country, but since signing to ULTRA his international appeal has risen dramatically. 'Down' was his second release on the imprint, following on from 2019's classic 'You Move Me' joint effort with Monica Karina, and he's managed to maintain momentum in fine style. We can't wait to hear what's next from Dipha.

Title: Obsession
Artist: DJ SODA & RayRay
Label: Barong Family
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Boom! This is the one the world had been long waiting for. The masterful Barong Family team brought together two of Asian dance music's brightest stars (who also happen to be two of the most in-demand female artists in the global dance scene). 'Obsession' was a project ten years in the making, and my goodness, it was worth waiting for. Korean idol DJ SODA and Taiwanese producer and DJ RayRay have shared the stage on many occasion, but this was the first time the pair had joined forces in the studio. RayRay's association with the Barong crew stretches back to 2018 when label owners Yellow Claw caught her set at OMNI in Taipei and invited her into the fold. She's since released a string of epic tracks via the highly-respected imprint, but this release was only the second studio offering from SODA, so the excitement surrounding it was fully understandable. And, with its dreamy vocals huge beats and energetic snare rolls, the music didn't disappoint. A guaranteed main room destroyer, and a calling card to the world that these two mean business!

Title: Please Don't Go
Artist: BEAUZ
Label: Armada
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

California-based brothers Bernie and Johan Yang have had an extraordinarily good year. Better known as BEAUZ, the boys scored a viral hit across Chinese social media platforms with their Tik Tok destroying 'Count The Hours', as well as an impressive stream of chart-topping productions throughout the year. A collaboration with Cappa, JSY and BSY, 'Please Don't Go' dropped on Armada at the top of the year, and the vocal hook has been swirling around our minds ever since. Pop appeal, slick dance beats, and a gigantic bassline ensure that this track ticks a variety of boxes, and it's easy to see why it's one of their most popular releases on dance portal Beatport. With outstanding releases already presented via Atlantic, Interscope, Spinnin', and NCS, there's a strong feeling the BEAUZ stock will continue to rise, and we look forward to hearing what 2021 brings for the talented brothers.

Title: Passcode (BATE remix)
Artist: Jannine Weigel
Label: Red Records
Release: Out now

Now here's an earworm if ever there was one! Anyone who has flown on an Air Asia flight in recent months should be at least somewhat familiar with the original version of this song since the airline plays it on repeat before and after the flight. 20-year-old Thai-German starlet Jannine Weigel has recently signed to the airline's Red Records collaboration with Universal Music Group, and here the ultra-catchy 'Passcode' receives a no-nonsense club interpretation from Malaysian outfit, BATE. The duo have established themselves as ones-to-watch in Malaysia, with residencies at superclubs like Dragonfly and Zouk Genting Highlands. In March of 2018, they cut their production teeth when they released their debut single, ‘One I Love’ featuring Blake Rose and Radio3000. This collaboration seems like a good fit for both acts, introducing BATE to a more commercial audience while helping Jannine Wiegel to add underground aficionados to her impressive fan base – 3.3 million Facebook fans and counting!

Title: LIES
Artist: Steve Aoki & KREAM
Label: Big Beat
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Steve Aoki needs no introduction here, and his huge collaboration with KREAM was just one of a long list of excellent releases from him this year that could have made it into our list. An instant club classic from these EDM masters, in re-purposing Sunshine Anderson's neo-soul classic, 'Heard It All Before', the pair flip the tone to turn it into dance-floor dynamite. Immaculate production sees vocal chops, crisp drums and bouncing bass drive the groove. This one dropped on Big Beat Records back in August, and alongside the deliciously fun Pulp Fiction-inspired 'Tarantino', was one of the standout tunes from Aoki this year. Considering his prolific work rate, there's little doubt that there will be plenty more to come from the dance dynamo in 2021.

Title: Better (LIZZY remix)
Artist: Valentino Khan & Wuki ft. Roxanna
Release: NetEase Cloud Music exclusive

Shanghai-based DJ and producer LIZZY dropped her remix of Valentino Khan & Wuki's 'Better' in time for China's National Day holiday weekend, and it's been causing a stir ever since. The uniquely catchy original version had already proven to be a viral hit since first hitting stores via Diplo's Mad Decent label in 2019, and LIZZY's bass-heavy hardstyle version made absolutely sure the hype continued into 2020. LIZZY's remix is available exclusively through NetEase Cloud Music, so anyone who hasn't yet had a chance to hear it will need to head there to indulge. With nightlife more or less back to normal in parts of China, LIZZY has been able to bring her energetic sound to the road, meaning fans have once again been able to marvel at her sound, and hopefully her gig schedule will inspire many more big room anthems from her.

Title: Where Do We Go From Here
Artist: MYRNE & Manila Killa
Label: ULTRA
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

MYRNE is another artist who has kept himself busy this year. After signing to ULTRA in 2019, the Singaporean artist kept up the momentum into the new year thanks to a string of high-grade releases. His first effort in 2020 was 'Where Do We Go From Here', a collaboration with Manila Killa which sits proudly as his top-ranking track on Beatport to date. Fans of MYRNE will recognise his distinctively bitter-sweet vocals, gift for emotive melody and well-constructed arrangement on this instant classic. The music is an expert blend of dream pop and club-inspired bump – the yearning chorus makes our hair stand on end, and when the heavy beat drops the track has enough energy to move the dance floor. Over the course of the year, MYRNE went on to release a further four EPs on ULTRA, including 'Sleeping On My Own', 'Splinter', and – in what was a subtle departure from his electronic sound palette – the organically-themed 'Wandering'. All of his music is of the highest quality, and this is an artist who's truly deserving of the limelight

Title: Kryptonite
Artist: King Chain
Label: Billboard Asia
Release: Out now, you can stream it here

Master shape-shifter King Chain continued his relentless evolution into 2020, with 'Kryptonite' representing yet another feather in his ever-expanding producer cap. Along with many of those in this list, KING CHAIN has himself found reason to celebrate in 2020, and this release came hot on the heels of news that he'd been signed a deal to be co-managed by theLOOP in Taipei alongside SHFT Asia. This is an artist who is almost defined by having an ability to morph through sounds and styles, and now back in Taipei following stints in California and Shanghai, it's clear that he finds himself in a good place creatively right now. Released in November, 'Kryptonite' is something of a departure from his ghetto techno style. The music revolves around an earworm Spy theme riff, presenting as an exploration of dubstep's darker undertones, while the vocal chops of singer Sam Creighton complete the sonic tapestry

Title: New World
Artist: Hoaprox ft ROGUE
Label: Monstercat
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

The 'Golden Boy' of Vietnamese EDM, Hoaprox launched himself onto the international stage thanks to this huge effort on benchmark label, Monstercat. The 23-year-old producer and DJ is one of the brightest prospects in his home country, but signing to a European label of this quality was quite an achievement. The music is a futuristic blend of bass genres and saw Hoaprox join forces with Mostercat regular Rogue in stunning style. Unmistakably built for the club, the beats are tight, the synths are fierce, and the bass is low and fat. November saw Hoaprox drop his second club weapon of the year, this time a rave-inspired collaboration with Aligee to remix the latter's joint jam with Lulleaux, 'Legends'. Flying the dance flag for Vietnam, Hoaprox is on fire.

Title: Selfish
Artist: Sogumm, Jason Lee, Nitti Gritti & Kaku
Label: Connectd
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Taiwanese club hero Kaku joined forces with respected dance heavyweight Nitti Gritti, South Korean vocal sensation Sogumm and newcomer Jason Lee on this exceptional release. Blissful pads, otherworldly chord progressions, emotional sax solos and a sultry bilingual vocal performance give this track a striking edge. Refreshingly hard to pigeon hole, it's hard to label this track with a genre. The pop sensibilities are there for all to hear, but there's a distinctly menacing undertone to the music, and the raw beats have a dirty r 'n' b quality that contrasts brilliantly with the dreamy music. The low slung tempo make this one perfect for home listening, post-club chill session, and there's a good chance that the seductive nature of the music will see this one will make it onto more than a few 'make-out' mixes.

Title: Ghost Father
Artist: Dustee & Get Looze
Label: Dusted
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Legend of Vietnam's vibrant scene, Dustee continued his quest to highlight the best local artists by joining forces with rising star Get Looze on this sinister club bomb. Heavy beats, dirty bass and unnerving vocals made this killer groove an absolute essential for DJs who like their music dark and dubby. One has to admire Dustee for his commitment to give back to his local scene, in the process shining a light on its many talents and offering a platform from which their careers can flourish. For turntablist, DJ and producer Get Looze, this release represented a departure from his previous bootlegs and edits and was his first fully-formed production output. He went on to drop 'Got Milk' earlier this month, suggesting his studio journey may have only just begun. Yet more fire from the Vietnam massive, proving their nation is well and truly represented on the club map of the world.

Title: Come and Go (Halogenix remix)
Artist: TOKiMONSTA ft. Vanjess
Label: TOKiMONSTA Music
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Another outstanding year from grammy award-nominated TOKiMONSTA. The Korean-American maintained her impressive production form with 2020's 'Oasis Nocturno' release, an album which saw her collaborate with a wealth of artistic talent, and which once again defied genres. The LP gave birth to a far-reaching remix project, which saw recognised artists called upon alongside lesser-known producers to rework favourite titles from the collection. One of the standouts from the album was 'Come and Go', thanks in no small measure to Vanjess' stunning vocal performance. Here, Halogenix retains the vocal and elements of the instrumentation, adding a driving drum 'n' bass rhythm to catapult the track into new territory. A floor-filling interpretation of an already excellent track, this was one of the highlights from a formidable remix project.

Title: Jadi Buti
Artist: Major Lazer ft. Nucleya & Rashmeet Kau
Label: Mad Decent
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

This release represents something of a milestone for the Indian underground, as the subcontinent's bass king was invited to collaborate with true megastars of global dance music. ‘Jadi buti’ was one of the highlights of Major Lazer's recent album, ‘Music is the Weapon’, which came courtesy of Diplo's always reliable Mad Decent label. The impeccably produced track sees Nucleya do what he does best, dropping tongue and cheek hints of Bollywood nostalgia alongside a sure-fire bass rhythm, while the charming vocals of Rashmeet Kaur lift the track, giving it an unmistakably Indian signature. The track is not only an awesome blend of the traditional and the futurist, but also an infectious and adventurous hybrid of seemingly disparate musical cultures. Major Lazer are no strangers to India, the trio have pulled off two successful tours across the sub-continent, and also filmed the video for ‘Lean On’, their single which racked up over three billion views on YouTube. This was a dream come true for Nucleya, and by absolutely nailing his delivery he ensured that his music reached a whole new audience here.

Title: Take My Hand
Artist: Lastlings
Label: Astralwerks
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Australian brother and sister team Amy and Josh Dowdle continued their rise to become one of the countries most in-demand dance exports in 2020 thanks to a delectable selection of releases. The duo, based in Queensland, combine an extremely palatable and pop-tinged sound with dance sensibilities and can count labels including Astralwerks, Virgin and Rose Avenue as homes for their undeniably solid output. Originally released as a single back in March, 'Take My Hand' also featured in the duo's exceptionally good 'First Contact' album which dropped in November on Astralwerks. The LP was a seductive collection of slick productions, combining Josh's classical musical training with on-point aesthetics and a dreamy thread that helps make their sound instantly recognisable. This remains one of their standout releases to date, with Amy's melancholy vocal aiming straight for the heartstrings while the rousing backing track has more than enough dynamism to satisfy the club community.

Title: Wake Up
Artist: ThirstKid & Chris Azanza
Label: Know So
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Manilla-based DJ and producer ThirstKid impressed with this delightfully feel-good groove that came to us courtesy of his own Know So Records collaboration. The artist, real name Jacob Mendoza, takes his musicals cues from artists as diverse as FKJ, Bob Marley and Jack Johnson, and his sound is tangibly influenced by his nation's unbelievably picturesque and paradisical beaches. The down-tempo poolside house of 'Wake Up' features the vocal talents of Chris Azanza, and was produced during lockdown when Manoza's college semester was cut short, leaving him with plenty of time to hit the studio and refine his production. The song was composed as a reminder for all of us to live life at our own pace, that “life is not a race”, and that our troubles are just a tiny dot in the infinite universe. We'll drink to that, ThirstKid, make ours an Aperol Spritz served by the pool!

Title: Tonight (ft. Shimica)
Artist: LIZZY
Label: b2 Music
Release: May 15, 2020

The first track off Mixmag Asia's SELECTS series came by way of LIZZY and Shimica, and was a collaboration that was a long time coming. Constantly crossing paths, the pair hit it off from the get-go. LIZZY’s pop-driven style of dance music comes destined for dance floors, and SHIMICA's natural R'n'b tendencies lend the track a kind of soulfulness that's missing in a lot of the music played in clubs today. The melodic track went on to take a wild ride across charts and playlists in China before getting a Chinese version thanks to the bilingual skills of the multi-talented SHIMCA. It also became the vocal dance anthem of the summer for many music fans in Hong Kong and China.

Title: Show Me Love
Artist: Mister Rodrigo
Label: SaturdaySelects
Release: Out now, you can buy it here

Did someone say UKG? This cut from Kuala Lumpur-based Mister Rodrigo could easily have been produced in the '90s garage heyday and heard blaring from pirate radio stations over London's eclectic streets. The producer splits his time between KL and Orlando, but it's his Bristol roots that are on display here. Outside of London, Bristol probably has as much right as any other location to call itself garage's second city. It's a sound one might not normally associate with Asia, but there can be no denying that 'Show Me Love' exhibits all of the necessary qualities to be labelled a UK garage anthem. Swung two-step beats, fizzing hats and skippy snares all riding over powerful string stabs and a lively British-tinged MC vocal. The music came courtesy of Malaysian-based SaturdaySelects and is a refreshing dispatch from the more traditionally popular dance sounds emanating from the Asian underground.