MANCHESTER electronic music producer Youngr went viral with his one-take videos of dance-floor-friendly bootlegs.
The multi-instrumentalists’ take on The Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition hit more than 15 million views in less than two weeks.
After releasing music on huge record labels, Youngr decided to take the power back and now operates under his own Blue Llama imprint, on which he has just released his new album Let The Music Guide Us.
The first single from the album, Tried So Hard takes a Linkin Park classic on an immersive house trip.
As he tours the UK, we caught up with him and he’s compiled a playlist of music that inspires him.
Simply Red – Fairground
This track basically inspires every song I write. Simply Red are one of my biggest inspirations of all time. I remember it was around 1996, I was in the car with my mum driving to the shops and Fairground came on and I was like “what’s this!” At that time the only way I could get my hands on the record was going to the local library, luckily I found it on cassette, ran home, recorded it onto another cassette and played that track on repeat.
RÜFÜS DU SOL – On my knees
This production on this song is just outrageous. RÜFÜS DU SOL are masters at evoking deep emotion through their sound. I already had a lot of admiration for this track, but seeing RÜFÜS DU SOL live and experiencing this track live, cemented ‘On My Knees’ as one of the sickest dance tracks of all time for me.
Calvin Harris – Flashback
I don’t know if the old school Calvin Harris sound gets the full credit it deserves, but that era where performed his own vocals and with a full band was truly epic. The whole Ready for the Weekend album is incredible, but Flashback will always be a stand out track for. It was the first track that I remixed, and it essentially spurred me on to create the idea of Youngr!
Delirium – Silence
What a tune! The definition of a classic and an absolute masterclass in the power of a strong vocal hook. That 90s trance still goes off even two decades later.
Faithless – Become One
Another group who has had a big influence on my sound is Faithless. Maxi Jazz’s vocals on Become One are pure perfection, that synth is just godly and the whole composition is amazing. It’s an all-time favourite of mine for sure.
Chemical Brothers – Goodbye
I’m not alone in saying the Chemical Brothers are a constant source of inspiration for fellow musicians and humans everywhere! What a track Goodbye is, I mean that synth line is just insane. What a band and what a catalogue of music.
Booka Shade – In White Rooms
I first heard this tune whilst I was out in a club in Berlin, I must have been around 18 years old at the time and it melted my brain. It’s a simple track but the arrangement is design to get completely lost in and I’ve certainly tried to channel that hypnotic feeling into some of my own productions over the years.
Deadmau5, Kaskade – I Remember
I’ve always loved this tune. The warmth of the production is like a big friendly hug, and paired with the ethereal delivery of the vocals, it’s a superb combo and a real summer anthem.
The Streets – Weak Become Heroes
I’m not kidding when I say this whole album changed my childhood. It opened my ears to different styles of production and showed me there are no limits on creativity. That line in the 2nd verse “as the piano loops over, arms wave, eyes roll back and jaws fall open, I see in soft focus…” it’s just one of those lines that I’ll remember forever.
Stardust – Music Sounds Better
This tune is just an absolute feel-good belter. The groove, the bass, the electro twang, just the whole feel of the song speaks to my soul. It’s always a feeling I try to achieve with my own music, and I hope people feel that.
