OMI DROPS "HULA HOOP" WHILE "CHEERLEADER" STILL REIGNS

Hanging at #1 for six weeks in a row, and currently at #2, OMI’s smash hit Cheerleader is a contender for song of the summer. The Jamaican-born singer/songwriter began work on Cheerleader in 2008 and had a hit with it in Jamaica in 2012 but it was the 2014 remix by Felix Jaehn (gotta love the remix) that has propelled the song to platinum status in nine countries. Lesson to all singer/songwriters - don’t give up! OMI said of Cheerleader: “Having this hit is a blessing, maybe even destiny, but I want people to look back and say Cheerleader was just the beginning.” So he’s been banging out beats preparing for his full length debut album Me 4 U with a release date of October 16th. Till then OMI’s teasing us with his fresh single Hula Hoop. It’s this week’s Pick To Hit™ on In The Mix with HK™ and I want to know what you think. Has OMI done it again? Hit me up on twitter @HowardHKKessler!
I can tell you what we’re definitely doing again, an In The Mix with HK™ holiday weekend mega party throw down show you don’t want to miss! Get ready for wicked hot HK custom remixes on Major Lazer, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, Selena Gomez and more! Plus smokin' hot holiday weekend exclusives on Kygo, The Weeknd, Jess Glynne, Adam Lambert, Icona Pop and countless others. 

Remember…If it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN GETS IN THE MIX WITH HK

It has been three years since Carly Rae Jepsen ruled the airwaves with her pop phenomenon single Call Me Maybe. Just thinking about that song insures that I will undoubtable be singing it in my head for the rest of the day. That track was Carly’s first foray into the music scene and what an amazing first release it was. Call Me Maybe sold over 18 million copies, went top ten in 29 countries and hit #1 in 19 countries! Now after much preparation and collaboration Carly has just released her much anticipated sophomore album Emotion to rave reviews. This week she will be joining me to talk about her new single and the different approach taken on this album vs. her first!

In addition to Carly’s new single Run Away With Me getting the HK touch, I’ll be hitting you up with EXCLUSIVE HK remixes on all your faves. Tune in to hear The Weeknd, OMI, Demi Lovato, R.City and Zedd like you've never heard them before. Plus brand new bangers from Hailee Steinfeld, Audien w/Lady Antebellum, Matthew Koma, Kygo, Icona Pop and more! 

Remember…If it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

WEDDINGS AND BABIES ARE THIS WEEK'S BIG NEWS

Love has been in the air for musical stars this week with an epic proposal, a scaled down wedding and those babies that are on the way, didn’t know were coming and here she is!  Kanye West elaborately proposed to his baby mama Kim Kardashian. Kelly Clarkson finally tied the knot with an intimate ceremony and has professed "I want babies, like right off the bat". Speaking of babies Gwen Stefani is in full mom-to-be mode, Pauly D’s a surprised daddy from a year ago Vegas fling (who knew?!?) and Zac Hanson welcomed a beautiful baby girl to his family. The stars have definitely been having a wild time mixing it up and so will I this weekend… on the 1’s and 2’s.

Tune into In The Mix with HK this weekend for custom remixes that will make you get a little bit “Closer” to Tegan & Sara, “Roar” with Katy Perry, fall in “True Love” with Pink, go “All Night” with Icona Pop and “Berzerk” with Eminem! The decks are gonna be red hot and mad HK remixes are comin at you like a Miley Cyrus - “Wrecking Ball”. Plus Lady Gaga – “Applause”, Ellie Goulding – “Burn”, Armin Van Buuren - “This is What It Feels Like” and more. So rest up and get hydrated cause In The Mix with HK is packin’ a blowout party this weekend that you don’t want to miss!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

I'M GONNA SHUT IT DOWN!

So let me get this right…the people who run our government don't have to go to work cause they can't agree on a spending bill. Yet, when all is said and done – after days and possibly weeks off they'll strike an agreement and pay themselves retroactively. Plus keep those amazing government health plans. Yeah that's right! And it's all paid for by you and me. Wouldn't it be great if you got paid to stay home when you couldn't agree with your co-workers! Wait…that's crazy…and exactly my point. Hmmm, PEOPLE – why do we continue to let this happen. Speak out and contact your politicians.

In protest I'm gonna shut it down this weekend. But don't worry, that's a good thing! I'm gonna "Roar" with my latest remix of Katy Perry. We're gonna feel like "Royals" with Lorde and we'll console each other about our "Summertime Sadness" and impending "Sweater Weather". I'm hoping to make us all feel a little bit "Closer" and "I Wish" I could keep it going "All Night". There will be a point in the evening where you'll say to yourself "What Now" HK. Don't worry you're not going "Berzerk". The "Demons" in Washington will get this resolved and once again all will be "Safe and Sound".

So tune in this weekend and find out what all the "Applause" is about.

Remember…If it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

LORDE RULES IN THE MIX WITH HK

Ella Yelich-O’Connor better known by her stage name Lorde is blowin’ up on the music scene. This sixteen year old singer-songwriter from New Zealand has already drawn comparisons to Lana Del Rey and Grimes. She also just took the #1 spot on Billboard's Digital chart with “Royals” and her debut album “Pure Heroine” is about to drop. There’s a whole lotta buzz about Lorde’s talent and potential staying power. Do you think this little Kiwi is going to be shaking things up for years to come? Hit me up with your thoughts.

I’ll be shakin’ things up with a custom HK remix of Lorde’s Royals along with a musical menagerie of your favorite hits In The Mix with HK this weekend. The needle will be droppin’ on new remixes on Avicii – “Wake Me Up”, Capital Cities – “Safe And Sound”, Krewella – “Live for The Night” and Selena Gomez – “Slow Down”. But there ain't no slowin’ down when I tear it up with Pink, Eminem, Katy Perry, Sara Bareilles, Icona Pop, Lady Gaga, Imagine Dragons and more!

It’s gonna be an all-out, full board, Royal party this weekend so check your local listings!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

ICONA POP IN THE MIX WITH HK "ALL NIGHT"

Through the years Sweden has provided the world with a lot of great pop dance music. In fact two of the countries current hottest exports are blazing a trail up the american music charts as we speak -  Avicii and Icona Pop.

Icona Pop is currently on tour in America and I had the pleasure of checking out their show as well as hanging with the girls (Caroline and Aino). After being dumped and heartbroken these gals found each other through a mutual friend and in just 24 hours over a bottle of wine and a laptop their first song was written. "I Love It" was one of this year's anthems and "All Night" is poised to follow in it's footsteps. Their live show is fantastic, get out and see them. In the meantime, make sure you're listening this weekend when I'll be talking with Icona Pop and featuring my latest reworking of their song.

In addition to the sweet duo from Sweden I'm bringing the boombastic beat of Eminem's new one "Berzerk". Plus killer new remixes on Katy Perry's - "Roar", Awolnation - "Sail", Lady Gaga - "Applause" and Tegan & Sara - "Closer". My sonic pleasure knows no bounds when I take the brand spankin' new Britney Spears single "Work Bitch" and work the s**t out of it. Plus Lorde, Miley, Avicii, Mack & Ryan, Krewella, Enrique Iglesias and more!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

OFF THE CHAIN!

Despite still feeling the wind knocked out of me from last week's Game of Thrones, I am so excited about all the music, production and remixes I have been working on!

How can I say this best? Oh yea…this weekends show is off the MOTHER ******* chain! No. Seriously! If the Red Wedding episode left you in pain and anguish – this edition of IN THE MIX WITH HK™ will leave you exhausted. I'm bringing re-imagined, re-produced, remixed versions of all your favorite hits. I'm talking a mad crazy version of Ke$ha - "Crazy Kids", my don't even think about stopping us version of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us" and "Same Love" and if you think you love Maroon 5 - "Love Somebody", then you're gonna have an HK eargasm when you hear what I'm gonna do to it. And that’s only some of what I've got planned for the first set. No matter where you are or what you're listening on do not miss this week's show. Imagine Bruno Mars - "Treasure", Jennifer Lopez - "Live It Up", Selena Gomez - "Come & Get It", Florida-Georgia Line - "Cruise" and Fall Out Boy - "My Songs Know What You Did" all pumped up, mixed together and commercial free. That's right people! COMMERCIAL FREE music sets. Robin Thicke, Daft Punk, Icona Pop, Anna Kendrick, Pink, Pitbull, Rihanna and Calvin Harris all going straight through your ear canal uninterrupted. Ahhh!!! Sonic bliss all weekend long!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

MUSICAL SPRING CLEANING!

Well it looks like American Idol is cleaning house. Even the "dawg" is getting the boot. With declining ratings and competition from The Voice – with it's better talent and friendlier judges (who actually love what they're doing and each other),  Idol producers have decided it's time for a reboot. As of now the only one standing is media mogul and host Ryan Seacrest. Has America lost love for its Idol? Over in the competition's camp Shakira is out at The Voice and Queen B Christina Aguilera will return next season!

Here at In The Mix with HK™ we've done some spring cleaning of our own. New gear, software updates and a bevy of new beats and remixes to help you get your spring swerve on! Oh yeah! I'm talking a sonic landscape filled with Icona Pop, Jason Derulo, Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake. I know what you're saying…"HK we want more of your seriously crazy good remixes on Demi Lovato, Zedd, Krewella, Little Mix and Imagine Dragons". Don't worry…I got all that plus new heaters from Jennifer Lopez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Selena Gomez, and Emblem3.

It's all going down this weekend! And don't forget - it's all back to back and beat to beat commercial free music sets when you're In The Mix with HK™.

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

EMELI SANDE SURPASSES BEATLES - GETS REWORKED IN THE MIX WITH HK

An artist that is still relatively unknown in the United States just broke a major record in the U.K. Emeli Sande's album Our Version of Events, has been in the Top 10 of the official UK album chart for 63 consecutive weeks, breaking the 62 week record held by The Beatles. A chart record the Beatles have held for 50 years! Our Version of Events is the biggest selling album of 2012 in the U.K., and is currently the best selling album in 2013. I'd say move over Adele, but Emeli's first name is Adele as well.

This very talented Scottish singer-songwriter has also written songs for Cher Lloyd, Susan Boyle, Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Tinie Tempah and others!

You can check out my latest remix of her hit single "Next To Me" this weekend, along with brand new HK ear-gasims on "#thatpower" - Will.I.Am/Justin Bieber, "Come & Get It" - Selena Gomez, "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" - Carly Rae Jepsen and the number two banger from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton - "Can't Hold Us".

I'm also bringing some brand new heat with insane mixes on Imagine Dragons - "Radioactive", Demi Lovato - "Heart Attack" and Icona Pop/Charli XCX - "I Love It". And you're gonna love it, cause it's all commercial free music sets, back to back and beat to beat!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

PAYING HOMAGE TO THE STRENGTH AND RESOLVE OF AMERICANS

Sometimes bad things happen, and there are certainly bad people in the world who are looking to bring harm to us. However, one thing always proves true…Americans at their core will do anything to help their fellow man. Think about it…After 9/11, after a tornado, flood, hurricane, after the senseless slaughter of innocent children in Connecticut, the Oklahoma bombing, Columbine and more recently the Boston Marathon Bombing and fertilizer factory explosion in West, Texas – average people jumped in to help without hesitation. Every time there's a tragedy, Americans are there to pick–up the pieces, send money and even more importantly put themselves in danger and at risk of peril to save and assist a total stranger. I celebrate this spirit and pay homage to all those heroes who run to the problem and not away from it.

With that feeling deep inside me I dedicate this week's show to all of our American heroes. It's been a really ruff week, I know. I've spoken with so many people around the country and everyone's head is spinning with the events of the last several days. So, I've put some extra TLC into all the studio productions this week and I'm hoping to take your mind from a stressful place to a thumpin' good place. Be on the lookout for all new HK remixes on the Will.I.Am / Justin Beiber collab - "#thatpower", Bruno Mars - "When I Was Your Man", Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Cant Hold Us" and a totally insane reworking on One Republic - "If I Lose Myself". 

You'll also be bumpin to my exclusive takes on Of Monsters and Men - "Little Talks", Icona Pop - "I Love It", Fall Out Boy - "My Songs Know What You Did" and Justin Timberlake - "Mirrors". As always there will be plenty more surprises and bodacious beats. Check it out!!!

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

PINK ON TOUR AND IN THE MIX WITH HK (Photos)

I've had the pleasure of seeing more than my fair share of concerts. Consuming the quantity of music I do, as a fan and listener, as well as a passionate patron of the arts and professional in the biz, means I could even be jaded. So, when I go to a concert and get blown away, it's the thing I can't stop talking about all week and I want to tell everyone. This week I got to see Pink. Trying to describe this concert is like telling someone to imagine a burlesque show, Cirque Du Soleil, a pop diva rock concert and a ballet meets the gang from "Step Up" all rolled up into one nice package. The fact that Pink has so many hits (which many have forgotten) keeps this two hour extravaganza going at a frenetic clip. The whole time she's belting out these hits, one after another,  she's dancing and doing aerial stunt work that would make a professional gymnast and stunt woman proud. All without a net. I mean she's like 10 stories high swinging from a silk or cable and if something goes wrong it's lights out…dead!

Her voice was pitch perfect. Never shaky, out of breath or straining and considering all the stunt work she has to be in olympic type shape to pull this off. And unlike many other pop stars with highly choreographed tours who opt to lip sync, Pink appeared to be singing live the whole time – with the help of a great backup team.

In honor of her stamina and performance I'm gonna be bringing it this weekend. It's time to sweat people. Get ready for my mashup of Pink's -"Just Give Me A Reason" with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis -"Thrift Shop". I've got the new one from Little Mix -"Wings", Muse -"Madness" and a new HK remix on "Suit & Tie". Plus re-envisioned versions of Rihanna-"Stay", Pitbull/Xtina -"Feel This Moment", Imagine Dragons -"It's Time" and a sonic state of perfect bliss with Swedish House Mafia. What? Not enough for you? No problem! You know I can't tell you everything right here right now, but prepare to hear new music from Icona Pop, Afrojack, Justin Bieber, Krewella, Demi Lovato and more.

Remember…if it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.