Week 33 - December 20, 2024
EPISODE 33 of Z-GR! Radio
Z-GR! Radio overview right from your Host:
- My name is Scot Apathy – I’m the lead singer for Zero-G Racetrack, and I curate the ‘Floating Around the Racetrack’ Spotify/YouTube playlist. It’s not a pay for play list; I personally choose what’s on it based on what I hear. True story.
- For Z-GR! Radio, I pull from tracks/artists on the playlist (current and archived) and include newer finds that might not be on the list yet (but likely will be).
- The artists included come from myriad genres, geographical locations and stage of growth. I stay away from mainstream established artists, but I will play artists that I’ve followed as they grow. I love it when emerging artists gain traction, and I like to celebrate it.
- I include a cover song each week, and highly recommend checking out MetroVeteran’s (Ruel Smith) ‘Synthwave Covers’ Spotify playlist. There are 900+ great tracks on that list.
- I post a page like this each week to help you find out more about the artists you heard on this week’s show and to make it easy to do so.
- I’m working with NEWHD on a Featured Artist program, and I’ll note those artists as they appear.
Have fun with the list below, enjoy the artists/music and…
PLEASE share the page out on your Socials!
BB Hayes & Producer Bill Williams
Perhaps the greatest collection of EDM Holiday tracks out there, ‘Deck The House’ could easily become your favorite XMAS album. BB Hayes and Producer Bill Williams (the better half of Zero-G Racetrack) really hit this one out of the park.
The album is not available through most steaming services, but you can et it through Apple Music or purchase it via iTunes.
Episode Thirty Three - On Demand
Z-GR! Radio Episode Thirty Three Lineup
In Isolation / Matt Pop - I Believe in Father Christmas (Matt Pop Mix)
Nottingham’s In Isolation worked with outstanding Producer Matt Pop, who has appeared multiple times on Z-GR! Radio, to create a modern dance version of Greg Lake’s 1975 holiday track ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ and the result is epic. It’s the perfect opener to this week’s show, no lie.
In Isolation
Spotify | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Matt Pop
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | TwitterX | Facebook
Miss L Toe - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Producer Addy Van der Zwan’s version of ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ is fantastic – it’s off of a Holiday compilation called ‘Christmas Dance Party 2023’
Thought Beings - Silver Bells
Aztec Records’ Thought Beings are described as a collective of anonymous artists formed by the songwriting duo Lemon and Orion. I’ve had an ear on them for a while now, so when I came across their excellent 2020 take on the classic Christmas tune ‘Silver Bells’ it was an almost automatic addition to the show.
Spotify | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | TwitterX | Facebook
Aisle 9 - Christmas '84
Z-GR! Radio favorite Aisle 9 was our featured instrumentalist on episode 14 and was back on episode 25 with a fantastic remix of Ralphy Grey’s ‘I’m A Rebel’. ‘Christmas ‘84 ‘ is a fantastic modern Holiday track, with multiple Pop Culture references to what truly was an awesome time to be alive.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | Bluesky | TwitterX | Facebook
Danger Twins - Deck The Halls
Nashville Danger Twins are fronted by Amy Stroup, who delivers a really cool rendition of the classic ‘Deck the Halls’. The track is off of their 2020 ‘Holiday Break’ 6 track EP – The band has built a really great library that has generated millions of streams across multiple streaming platforms, so be sure to check their stuff out.
CBO - Feliz Navidad - Dance Mix
This is an outstanding take on Jose Feliciano’s ‘Feliz Navidad’.
Pentatonix - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Nouveau Riche - It's Christmas Night
Nouveau Riche is/was a Swedish pop dance project, by Ulrich Bermsjö & Camilla Brinck. They had a run of really great releases back in 2008, and ‘It’s Christmas Night’ was featured on the ‘Super Dance Christmas Party’ compilation.
Blaze U - White Christmas
Prizm - Silent Night (Noel)
Fort Worth, Texas synth pop duo Prizm, made up of Kris and Danni James (no relation) and Producer Geoff Rockwell released their excellent version of ‘Silent Night’ in 2023. Prizm is all about ‘80’s synth-based pop, and they’re definitely worth checking out.
Spotify | Linktree | Bandcamp | Instagram | TwitterX | Facebook
Lindsay Stirling / Sabrina Carpenter - You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
There is no way we’d do a Christmas show without including the Grinch, and after listening to multiple versions of the Dr. Seuss favorite, I’ve gone with the Lindsay Stirling / Sabrina Carpenter take – Lindsay is known for her electronic violin prowess and has seen the top of the Billboard Dance/Electronic albums chart while Sabrina hit #1 on the Bilboard Hot 100.
Lindsay Stirling
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Sabrina Carpenter
Shecky &the Pimp Monkeys - Snow Miser / Heat Miser
Shecky &the Pimp Monkeys really nailed the Rankin Bass Christmas favorite from the stop motion ‘Year Without Santa Claus’ Special. The band is led by Mark Yurkovich and is made up of members borrowed from other bands. Their library is full of cool tracks, and they’ve held down opening slots for notables such as Dave Matthews and the Spin Doctors.
Double You and Friends (William Naraine) - Do They Know It's Christmas (Radio Mix)
Double You, AKA Brazil’s William Naraine turns in a really, really great cover of Band Aid’s seminal Christmas anthem. Band Aid has released several re-imagining modernizations of the song, but truth to tell, this is the only version i came across that captures the spirit of the original.
Producer Bill Williams / BB Hayes / Sleigh Ride (Radio Edit)
In 2014, Producer Bill Willaims sat down with San Francisco Bay Area DJ BB Hayes to create perhaps the best EDM instrumental take on Christmas standards I’ve heard – over the years, I’ve turned multiple people on to the album and they all seem to feel the same way. Currently, the album can be found on Apple music, and I’ll link it on the wrap up page so you can get it in your Holiday playlists. I want to thank both Producer Bill Williams and BB Hayes for the music beds for this, the first Z-GR! Christmas Episode and I’m closing the show with ‘Sleigh Ride’.
Producer Bill Williams
BB Hayes
Sophia's Mission-newhd
Sophia’s Mission, in collaboration with NEWHD Media, spearheads initiatives to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through dynamic digital campaigns, community outreach events, and strategic media partnerships, they provide vital resources and foster open conversations. Their joint efforts aim to destigmatize mental illness, empower individuals to seek help, and advocate for policy changes. Visit Sophia’s Mission and NEWHD Media to learn more about their impactful work in saving lives and promoting mental wellness through innovative approaches in media and community engagement.
