House
Debuting Thomas Newson’s “Bad Girls” + Bruno Be & ÜHÜ’s “Silence” On CONTROVERSIA
Alok’s CONTROVERSIA imprint has been on fire this summer, and they just dropped not one but two new singles hot off the press. First up is the Dutch producer Thomas Newson, who makes his stellar debut on the label with “Bad Girls.” The single is an upbeat vocal House gem that goes heavy on the groove, perfect for kicking off a fun night out. Following are two talented producers from Alok’s native Brazil, Bruno Be, and ÜHÜ, both of whom have released on CONTROVERSIA this year. Their collaboration “Silence” takes a deeper sonic approach with moody melodies and a rolling bassline. The dynamic and differing styles of these two releases are a testament to CONTROVERSIA’s forward-thinking approach to curating music and developing artists, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store next.
Thomas Newson first burst into the scene back in 2013 with a stream of big room releases on Revealed Recordings, Musical Freedom, Armada Music, Spinnin’ Records, and more. Recently his style has evolved to include more rhythmic House influences, and “Bad Girls” on CONTROVERSIA fits the bill perfectly. In the last year, his notable releases include “Skin” and “Ocean Deep” on Nicky Romero’s Protocol Recordings, as well as “Raining On” with Marc Volt on Armada Music. Newson is the son of veteran DJ and producer Marco V, with whom he has collaborated multiple times. He has lit up the stage at festivals across the world, including Tomorrowland, Creamfields, and Ultra Music Festival in Miami, to name only a few. His 2013’s single “Flute,” released with New World Sound, is now a global classic, having been viewed more than 130M times on YouTube alone.
With over 100M streams on Spotify, Bruno Be is one of the leading names in Brazilian electronic music, consolidating his position as one of the country’s great producers. His affiliation with Vintage Culture ensured several collaborations between these two DJs, including “Human (Remix),” which now has more than 45M streams on Spotify. Another notable track made by Bruno is his official remix for Martin Garrix, Macklemore, and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy’s “Summer Days,” also produced together with Vintage Culture. In his 18-year career, Bruno has already played countless shows throughout Brazil and toured Europe. In addition to all that, Bruno has already played at some of the biggest music festivals in Brazil, such as Rock In Rio and Lollapalooza. STMPD RCRDS, Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, Musical Freedom, CONTROVERSIA, and Universal Music are just a few of many record labels that have released Bruno Be’s music.
Gabriel Murilo Mello’s newest project for the post-pandemic era comes in the form of ÜHÜ, a bold brand with plenty of existing versatility and experience. Since 2010, Mello has been DJing and producing in his home country of Brazil, gracing the stages of festivals such as Tomorrowland Brasil, EDC Brasil, Green Valley, Dream Valley, PUMP, Rio Music Conference, and more. His music has been supported by David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Alok, Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Showtek, and many others. As a producer’s producer, co-producer, and composer, Gabriel Mello amassed over 1B streams across all digital platforms. With all this information, ÜHÜ is born: a startup but already experienced artist whose musical identity brings references from Deep House, Progressive, and Tech-House.
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House
Duke & Jones Release Eclectic, Minimalistic House Single “Program”

British duo Duke & Jones are back with another House release that speaks for itself in the form of “Program,” a minimal percussive track with multi-genre influences. Opening with a strong dose of kick drums and a chopped soul vocal riff that continues for its entire duration, the new single also brings in grungy basslines and tribal instrumental aspects. With a lot of groovy and rhythmic elements, “Program” places its focus solely on the house beats, making it feel like you’ve stepped into a dark, secret warehouse rave. Duke & Jones had a viral hit in the form of “Jiggle Jiggle” with Louis Theroux, but are now back to their first love in producing house music. Read on for their inspiration behind the new track.
“For as long as we’ve been producing, we’ve always loved to make super minimal, percussion-led drops. ‘Program’ takes this classic Duke & Jones aesthetic and spins it into a warehouse-flavored house tune, built around soul vocal chops and West African talking drum samples.” — Duke & Jones
Duke & Jones have always been destined to be the “producer’s producer,” having been friends their entire lives and producing since the young age of 12. Their philosophy has always been to let the music speak for itself; they don’t need record labels or huge co-signs to make an impact in the scene–in fact, they were the first musical act to release an EP on OnlyFans, where they received homepage placement and full social support for comic ASMR edits. The duo is adept at working social media to their advantage; their TikTok series has become a global sensation, and their Youtube channel is full of hilarious content. Last year, their viral hit “Jiggle Jiggle” with Louis Theroux, which started as yet another joke, earned them a number 49 spot on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart. The track also became an emote on Fortnite and was shared by Megan Thee Stallion, Shakira, Jimmy Fallon, ROSÉ (from Blackpink), Snoop Dogg, Anthony Hopkins, Rita Ora, Coldplay, and more. With an array of talent that goes beyond just producing music, Duke & Jones are certainly ones to watch.
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House
DeusExMaschine Returns To Serial Records With Second Release, “Better”
DeusExMaschine is back with yet another Disco House concoction in “Better,” an energetic and groovy floor filler that would have any party pumping!
DeusExMaschine shows his experience on this brand-new catchy vocal anthem by blending elements of Tech-House, Disco, and even synth-laden Big Room. This is the latest issue in a series of single releases on Serial Records, with the first release in 2022, “Better” is arguably the best of the bunch. The French maestro displays his signature French Touch, a unique sonic profile he acquired during his upbringing and early career in and around the French House boom. A bouncy drumline, bone-shaking bass drop, and catchy vocal track make ‘Better’ a true Disco House tune that lends influences from French House to more modern styles.
DeusExMaschine is a French DJ and producer who has enjoyed a steady and passionate relationship with music since his early twenties. Born in Lyon in 1975 to a musical family who enjoyed early electronic music, DeusExMaschine began soaking in all he could of electronic music and the scene that housed it in his local area and France. From his early work in the style of Daft Punk and Cassius as part of the French Touch movement, DeusExMaschine has always tried to remain faithful to his roots and incorporate the French Touch into everything he does music-wise, lending influence from alternative genres simultaneously. After a short break from music, the ‘Better’ producer returned under the stage name DeusExMaschine and has been consistently releasing since. His big break came in 2022 with the release of his hit ‘Only You’ which became immediately prevalent on the French club circuit and amassed 1 million streams on Spotify alone. DeusExMaschine aims to continue this success with “Better,” pushing his disco tech sound to the world!
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House
Apollo Xo Drops “Believe,” A Guaranteed Hit For The Dance Floor
Apollo Xo unleashes a new hard-hitting banger. The talented DJ and music producer joins forces with Maximo Quinones to bring “Believe” via Bang This.
The hectic and impressive release schedule of Apollo Xo marks another unmissable milestone with the release of “Believe.” Following the introduction of his latest production “Haunted” and the remarkable remixes of RÜFÜS DU SOL’s “On My Knees” and Frank Ocean’s hit “Pyramids,” the Chicago-based DJ is back with another powerful track.
This time, he collaborates with Maximo Quinones, whose signature sound and style that blends elements from Tech House and Deep House has surely caught the attention and praise of listeners all over the world, and has reached the top positions on major charts across major streaming platforms, matches Apollo Xo’s unbeatable sound to bring forward this surefire masterpiece.
On “Believe,” growling basslines, a groovy powerful beat, and a catchy vocal sample kick off this stellar track.
The song releases itself to a vibrant drop where the beat and the booming synthlines keep the party going. Playful vocal chops and electrifying sonic elements take the track to a higher ground, calling its listeners to reach the dance floor and enjoy themselves with the unparalleled immersive experience that is dancing to an Apollo Xo track.
An Apollo Xo production in full force this track also highlights the skills and impressive sound of Maximo Quinones. The groove and uplifting vibes of this production certainly keep proving why Apollo Xo’s name is one to keep a close eye on.
Don’t forget to follow Apollo Xo across all his social media as he continues to unveil powerful productions that keep pushing boundaries and hitting new milestones for this gifted artist.
‘Believe’ is out now via Bang This, and available in all major online stores and streaming platforms.