NEW BEATS ARE BANGIN' ON IN THE MIX WITH HK™

On November 10^th Taylor Swift unleashes her much anticipated 6^th album Reputation and Walk The Moon drops their new one What If Nothing. I CAN NOT WAIT to play with tracks from those albums this weekend! But that’s just getting the party started…Also on tap in this week’s In The Mix with HK™ are fresh out of the oven beats from Clean Bandit featuring Julia Michaels, Liam Payne, Selena Gomez & Marshmello, Nick Jonas and Fifth Harmony. My decks will be bangin' out exclusive HK remixes on your fave chart toppers…so call the posse and get ready to set it off!

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

CHRIS BLUE GETS IN THE MIX WITH HK™

After taking home the big win for season 12 of The Voice with coach, Alicia Keys, Chris Blue is anything but blue. With The Voice just kicking off its 13^th season this week, Chris calls in to talk about how his life has changed since his victory, what it’s like to be on a music reality show and what’s next for his career. 

I can’t wait to hear what is up with Chris but I know what’s next on In the Mix with HK™ and its sounding big, new, and loud! Your speakers will be flexin' with custom HK remixes on Niall Horan, Liam Payne, P!nk, Demi Lovato, the Biebs and Maroon 5. Plus new bangers from Camila Cabello, Sam Smith, Cardi B, Nick Jonas, Rudimental featuring James Arthur, Sabrina Carpenter and so much more! I’ve been in the studio all week working on some tasty new nuggets and you better be ready for a few sonic surprises!

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

TIS THE SEASON FOR UGLY SWEATERS, MUSIC & GIVING

Are you in need of a one-of-a-kind gift or an ugly Xmas sweater for a party? Do you LOVE music and are looking for an opportunity to give back this season? Some of your favorite big-name artists got you covered. DNCE, and Florida Georgia Line created specially designed ugly sweaters to benefit Musicians On Call (MOC). A nonprofit organization that brought music to the bedsides of half a million hospital patients around the county just this year. Musicians On Call is also auctioning off signed guitars and memorabilia from Ellie Goulding, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, Ed Sheeran, Lin- Manuel Miranda, Nick Jonas and The Weeknd. I’m all about the healing power of music so you know I’m checking out the MOC website. I’ve got my eye on one of those ugly party sweaters, so it looks like I won't have to stop by the thrift shop (sorry Macklemore and Ryan).

As I've been saying for weeks it is party season and that means the friends are down, amps are up, volume is set to shake the house and the jams are ready to tear the roof off the motha! I’ve got your party soundtrack locked and loaded with exclusive HK remixes on Rihanna, X Ambassadors, Alessia Cara, John Legend, Pitbull and Fifth Harmony. Plus new tracks from Daya, Flume, Anne-Marie and so much more! Go on and rock that ugly sweater and get ready for a party you don’t wanna miss.

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

NICK JONAS GOES HOLLYWOOD WITH A SIDE OF BACON

Nick Jonas may have just turned 24 but he has, what some would consider, a lifetime of accomplishments and a whole lot goin’ on. He’s recently wrapped up his acclaimed Future Now Tour with Demi Lovato in LA, performed his latest track Bacon on The VMA’s and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Just Monday Jonas attended the New York premier for the new James Franco-produced film Goat (opening this weekend), which he stars in and word is he gave an outstanding performance. What’s next for this singer/songwriter, guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, actor? He’s is off to Hawaii to start shooting Jumanji with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. Despite Nick’s love for acting he says that music is still his passion.

This week on In The Mix with HK™ I’m putting my passion to work by adding a little flavor to Jonas’s single, Bacon and that’s just the beginning to my musical buffet! Get ready for exclusive HK remixes on Rihanna, Calvin Harris, X Ambassadors and Lukas Graham. Plus new bangers from Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, Ariana Grande, Zara Larsson and so much more. It’s the first weekend of Fall and your favorite hits are gonna be fallen to a brand new beat! 

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

WHO IS ZARA LARSSON?

Zara Larsson is the 18 year old Swedish singer and songwriter with a voice described as somewhere between Rihanna and Lorde. Zara’s big break came at the age of 10 when she won the Swedish version of Got Talent. Since then she’s inked a record deal, had a triple –platinum single and several top 10 hits at home. But Ms. Larsson's song Never Forget You (featuring MNEK) is what really made noise for her in the US. She continues to bring the goods as a featured artist on Tinie Tempah’s hot new single Girls Like.

This weekend I like what I'm cueing up for your all-out party jam. Get ready cause your speakers will be boomin' with my exclusive HK remixes on, Alessia Cara, Justin Bieber, Fifth Harmony, Meghan Trainor and Coldplay. Plus new bangers from Nick Jonas, Mike Posner, X Ambassadors and so much more! 

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

TWENTY ONE PILOTS GET IN THE MIX WITH HK™

Hot off their album Blurryface going platinum, a 2016 MTV Video Music Awards nomination for Heathens and Billboard contributing writer Sean Ross (from Ross on Radio) naming Ride “The Song Of Summer”-Tyler and Josh of Twenty One Pilots join HK to discuss their album, and what it was like writing Heathens for the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack and more. Blurryface has propelled this little two man powerhouse into the mainstream with a fierce fan base. Rolling Stone calls them “the biggest group to break out in the past year, also one of the hardest-to-categorize hit acts in recent memory.” Oh yeah, they've also been selling out arenas all over the country including two sold-out nights next week at Madison Square Garden in New York. 

Tune in this weekend to check out my pimped out "Ride" when I put my spin on Twenty One Pilots hit track plus exclusive HK remixes on OneRepublic, Pink, Lukas Graham, Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas, Drake and more! My two turntables are gonna be "Just Like Fire" so lock it in! 

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

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN AND IN THE MIX WITH HK™

Justin Timberlake is set to join the cast of Kate Winslet and Jim Belushi for Woody Allen’s next flick. The film will be the first collab. between JT and director Allen. Shooting for the movie will begin in New York this Fall. In typical Allen fashion, the plot details and film’s title are being kept under wraps. What’s not under wraps is the custom remix of JT’s Can’t Stop The Feeling that I have just for you! It will be unleashed on this week’s In The Mix with HK™ along with exclusive remixes on Meghan Trainor, Zayn, Nick Jonas, Sia, Fifth Harmony, Twenty One Pilots and so much more! Plus new bangers from John Legend, Tiesto, David Guetta and that left of center, elusive new pop sensation Kiiara! It’s a summer party soundtrack you don’t wanna miss! 

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

POP STARS ARE SELLING MORE THAN MUSIC

Pop stars upped their multiple revenue streams years ago when record sales started to tank. Merch used to be a T-shirt. Now it’s jewelry, shoes, hats, hand bags, even nail polish. Today stars are more serious than ever with their non-music endeavors. Kanye West, J Lo and Selena Gomez (to name a few) have their own clothing lines. Beyoncé is pushing her active wear. Almost every artist has a perfume or cologne. P Diddy is peddling his Ciroc Vodka brand. For an A list artist the simple act of showing up at a fashion show can bring in big Benjamins. But, probably the most creative award goes to Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk. After their hit single, Get Lucky, they branded Get Lucky condoms... I didn’t see that coming. And now it has recently been announced that Taylor Swift has her own line of greeting cards with Papyrus. So you may not get Taylor to sing Happy Birthday to you but you might get one of her cards!

This weekend you’re gonna get all your favorite hits like you’ve never heard them before! Get ready for exclusive HK remixes on Mike Posner, The Chainsmokers feat. Daya, Pink, Nick Jonas, Flume and so many more! I’ll be featuring Shawn Mendes and OneRepublic’s new tracks and throwing in a few surprises 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™. 

A POWER HOUSE WEEK ON IN THE MIX WITH HK™

What a week it has been! Miley Cyrus has a new tat and her space knowledge may be in question. Beyoncé always one to surprise, dropped her sixth solo album paired with a one-hour visual accompaniment. I mean who does that??? Fans continue to pay tribute to the one and only Prince with two of his albums in the #1 and #2 position on The Billboard Top 200 most sold albums in the U.S.! Kesha and Zedd are making magic in the studio and so is Shawn Hook. You won't believe who Shawn is working with, but you're gonna find out in Part 2 of my exclusive interview. You'll also learn what’s going on in his love life?

This week on In The Mix with HK™ get ready to fall in love with your favorite hits like you’ve never heard them before! I’ve been in the lab stirring up exclusive HK remixes on Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, DNCE and Fifth Harmony. Plus new tracks from Nick Jonas, Jason Derulo and Melanie Martinez, Timeflies, Ellie Goulding and more! Call the crew cause the party is on! 

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

JENNIFER LOPEZ'S STAR STUDDED AMA's AFTER PARTY [PHOTOS]

After blowing us away on stage at the AMA’s, J Lo partied the night away with Sean Combs, Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama, Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, Nina Dobrev, Julianne Hough, Paula Abdul, Wiz Khalifa, and more.

IN THE MIX WITH HK TO THE MAX!

If you aren’t familiar with MAX you soon will be. Max Schneider, known professionally in music as MAX, is a talented pop-soul crooner, musician, songwriter, dancer and actor. Seriously is there anything this guy doesn’t do? MAX has been named MTV’s Artist to Watch, had a supporting role in this summer’s Brian Wilson bio pic, Love & Mercy and has over 1 million followers on YouTube. His new single, Gibberish featuring Hoodie Allen, with its groundbreaking music video scored over 4.5 million views in just one week and over 6 million plays on Spotify. This week I sit down with MAX to discuss his new single, it’s wicked music video and his upcoming album.

In addition to my live remix on Gibberish this weekend, I've got a Halloween party packed lineup of exclusive HK remixes on…Alessia Cara, Hailee Steinfeld, Drake, DNCE, Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas and more. Plus brand new floor stompers from Conrad Sewell, Romans, Ellie Goulding and other Tricks & Treats! And of course…my Pick To Hit™.

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

HK PARTICIPATES IN GRAMMY® ADVOCACY AND YOU SHOULD TOO!

The Recording Academy’s mission is to advance artistic and technical excellence, work to ensure a vital and free creative environment, and act as an advocate on behalf of music and its makers. As a voting member of the Recording Academy I visited Congressman Erik Paulsen's office as part of a nationwide campaign to advocate for the rights of songwriters, performers and studio professionals. We all love music and want songwriters and artists to be able to pay their bills, support  their families and continue to do the work they and we love. Too many cannot because they are being short changed by new and old technology companies. At this time music licensing is governed by a patchwork of laws that don’t reflect the evolving digital market place and results in creators receiving below-market compensation. It’s time to fix music licensing so that all music creators are paid fairly. Please go to https://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/advocacy/issues for more info.

In the meantime…I’ve got your fave beats lovingly, composed, recorded, mixed and mastered by my fellow artistes all locked & loaded for you this weekend! I’ll be laying down EXCLUSIVE HK remixes on Maroon 5, Nick Jonas, 5 Seconds of Summer, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato and more! Plus hot new jams from Bomba Estereo feat. Will Smith, One Direction,  Shaggy feat. Pitbull and a few more surprises.

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

BIG ALBUMS ABOUT TO DROP!

It’s my favorite time of the year or as I like to call it… Big Album Droppin’ Season! Yes, killer albums are about to drop. Selena Gomez's second solo album Revival is splashing down this Friday! Her ex, you know, that guy Justin Bieber. He has one presumably entitled Purpose (based on his latest tat) that drops the same day as One Direction’ s fifth album Made In The AM on November 13th. Not sure that having the same release date is such a good marketing idea. The Biebes sure doesn’t like it, saying the only reason that 1D chose that date was to bring them publicity. On November 20th Adele’s much anticipated sophomore album 25 will be on the shelves. Hopefully soon after, and most likely prior to the Christmas buying season, Rihanna will deliver her eighth studio album called Anti. The anticipation is too much!!! I suggest we shower ourselves with current hits till these babies are in our hands.

With that in mind tune in this weekend to hear my EXCLUSIVE remixes on Nick Jonas, 1D, Selena Gomez, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Audien and Demi Lovato. Plus brand new bangers from Skrillex-Diplo-AlunaGeorge, Rudimental & Ed Sheeran, Romans and DNCE. Trust me, there's even more to go around so let me be the soundtrack to your weekend party! 

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

HAILEE STEINFELD LOVES HERSELF AND WE LOVE HER!

Hailee Steinfeld is a proven actress with an Oscar nomination under her belt for her teen role in True Grit. She has several other movies coming out this year and nailed her vocals in Pitch Perfect 2, but what has my attention is her first original single Love Myself. Steinfeld said of her music career vs acting: ”Music is the most moving art form. It moves in such a personal way. There’s something about the control you have --- I love it”. Her new debut single has been described as a self –empowerment song that is a cross between Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive and Divinyls’ I Touch Myself. Hailee says “the song is about taking care of yourself, weather that means physically, emotionally or with material things. There’s a power in being able to provide for yourself. Being able to say, I love myself”. And I LOVE her track which apparently puts me with the masses as it is climbing up the charts! Look for her EP to drop later this year and check out her killer music video below.

This weekend I've got killer exclusive remixes you can only hear on IN THE MIX WITH HK™. So tune in and turn it up when I reinvent tracks from R.City/Adam Levine, Audien feat. Lady Antebellum, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato and more! Plus my re-imagined takes on Nick Jonas, The Weeknd and Jess Glynne. I'm also featuring new music from Andy Grammer, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Elle King and others. 

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

SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE'S A DJ TODAY!

For me DJing is a sacred creative art form. I keep it pure and mix manually, not by software or computer assist. Don't get me wrong, I'm a tech head. In the studio I'll use whatever it takes to make a track sound the way I want it too. But when I’m spinning it’s all about my hands and ears and the thrill of holding a great beat mix manually without the aid of beat matching software. But that’s just me. DJ Software programs and advances in technology, combined with the popularity of DJing have made it more inviting for people to become DJs. Actors, super models and even sports figures have been drawn to the call of the 1s and 2s. Some are surprising, take “Hodor” for instance, that’s right the guy from Game of Thrones, he’s been out spinning with his “Rave Of Thrones” tour (you gotta love the name). And when Shaquille O’Neal hung up his kicks he picked up two turntables and a microphone and is now DJ Diesel. Shaq will be taking his talents to TomorrowWorld this year. Other celebrities who’ve taken a spin around the decks include: Paris Hilton (paaalease), Lindsay Lohan, Kate Moss, Elijah Wood and wait for it…. Prince Harry (WHAT???). I know some of the celeb DJ crop are seriously better at partying than mixing. But hey! The fakers make the real DJ’s look even better and the skilled bring attention to the craft.

I’m bringin' some serious attention to your fave hits this weekend with custom HK remixes on The Weeknd, Major Lazer, The Skrillex-Diplo-Bieber collab, OMI, Selena Gomez, MKTO, Zedd and Taylor Swift. Plus new jams from Nick Jonas, Jess Glynne, Kaya Stewart, Little Mix and more! 

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

EXCLUSIVE RACHEL PLATTEN INTERVIEW

The first thing that hit me about Rachel Platten is her contagious energy, wicked good humor and ability to make you feel like a lifelong friend in two minutes. You may have just been introduced to Rachel via her Columbia Records debut Fight Song but she has been writing songs and pounding the music biz pavement for ten years with a dream that she refused to give up on. From moving to NYC, finding bands on Craigslist to perform with, temping during the day, gigging until 4am and the daily lugging of an 80-pound keyboard to her 5th floor walk-up she’s certainly had her share of musical dues paying. Rachel said… “I felt crazy sometimes that I still believed in myself when there were no signs that I should”. Well the signs are glaring now and all that fighting is paying off. This week I talk with Rachel about comic radio run ins, the meaning behind her hit single and more!

I’ve also got more beats, more bangers and more of your fave hits like you've never heard them before! Get ready for custom HK remixes on Walk The Moon, Sia, Jason Derulo, Ellie Goulding, Nick Jonas, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Tove Lo, Adam Lambert, Fall Out Boy, Taylor Swift, OMI and that’s just gettin’ the party started.

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

SAMPLING THE HITS ARE MAKING HITS

So you want your song to be a hit? To give your record an edge over the crazy competition why not snag a hook, riff, or verse that is already a proven smash for your new groove. It’s been working for years and is still goin’ strong. Of course back when sampling started in the 80s artists didn’t think to give the original writer cred or cash for using their work. After a few BIG lawsuits and settlements that’s changed but the success of using the licks that we already love in new tracks is bigger than ever. Some of my fave hits that sampled hits are Nicki Minaj’s use of Baby Got Back in Anaconda. I mean what’s to go wrong there? I CAN NOT get enough of Fall Out Boys use of The Munsters theme in Uma Thurman. They pumped up the base and the jittery piano chords for a riff that puts their track over the top. What would Flo Rida’s Good Feeling be without Etta James killllllller vocal from Somethings Got A Hold On Me providing that ear-catching hook! Going way back you can’t help but move to The Jackson 5’s ABC melody in Naughty by Nature"s OPP. It goes on and on and so does the party this weekend when I drop the needle on a crate full of brand new EXCLUSIVE HK remixes.

Get ready for some heart pounding drops on Jason Derulo, OMI, Nick Jonas, Natalie La Rose, Fall Out Boy, David Guetta, Carly Rae Jepsen, Adam Lambert and more!

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

FORGET TIME'S 100 - HK'S 3 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN POP…RIGHT NOW!

This Week TIME magazine released its list of 100 Most Influential People. It's a fun read you'll no doubt agree & disagree with. Which pushed me to make my own Top 3 list of the most influential creators dropping a bomb on Pop music.

My list includes 1) Taylor Swift- Writer, performer and marketing genius. 2) Max Martin – Producer and cowriter extraordinaire for Taylor Swift, Katie Perry and Pink. He has also worked with Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears and Jessie J. 3) Ryan Tedder - Flat out music mastermind. Also known as the lead singer of OneRepublic, the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and producer has written songs for the likes of Beyoncé, U2 and Adele, as well as writing Ella Henderson’s chart topping debut single, Ghost. He wrote 2007’s Apologize, which was performed by OneRepublic, and became the most played song on American radio of all time. That record was broken in May 2008 by Leona Lewis’s Bleeding Love – a song Tedder co–wrote and produced (nothing like breaking your own record and setting another). Tedder’s more recent songs/productions include Gwen Stefani, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Madonna, One Direction and Olly Murs.

Who do you think has recently blown up the pop music landscape? Hit me up at hk@hkonthedecks.com with your list.

This weekend I’m gonna be blowin’ up your speakers with EXCLUSIVE HK mixes on Ellie Goulding, Natalie La Rose, Ariana Grande, Flo Rida, Zedd, Nick Jonas,Tori Kelly, Lunchmoney Lewis and more!

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

LOVE AND HATE WITH EMPIRE

If you’re a music and TV junkie like me Fox's new hit show Empire is almost as much fun as two turntables and a microphone. What’s not to love? Original music from Timberland, a great cast, intriguing performances, killer guest appearances by Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Patti LaBelle, family tension, scores to settle, hip factor and of course sex. Sure I’d be happier if they threw an engineer in the recording studio (I mean who is laying down all those tracks???). Or, if they acted like artists had the extensive contracts that they do and just couldn't walk away whenever they felt like it. But hey! It’s the television equivalent of a modern day hip-hop Dynasty with a great mix for success!

I’ve got a bunch of hot mix sets planned for your party success this weekend on In The Mix with HK™! Buckle up and keep your hands in the car cause I’m hittin’ you up with custom HK remixes on Nick Jonas – Chains, One Direction – Night Changes, Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud, Taylor Swift – Blank Spaces, Kelly Clarkson – Heartbeat Song, Maroon 5 – Sugar and  Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk! Plus new music from Lunchmoney Lewis, Life of Dillon, Carly Rae Jepsen and Ryn Weaver!

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

BUSTING A GROOVE IS EPIC, BUSTING YOUR BOOTY…NOT SO MUCH!

In the history of concert performances many an artist has had a costume malfunction, missed a cue or didn’t make that high note but nothing is more un-star like than taking a header off the stage or busting you’re a** in front of thousands of fans. Just this week Madonna was pulled backwards down a flight of stairs and ended up on her booty. This made me wonder…how often do artists faceplant? In our great age of YouTube and cellphones it is easy to find out and watch every fascinating second as artists go from hot and sexy to full blown klutz .

Apparently  Iggy Azalea took a tumble off the stage while performing at a benefit concert for MTV. Pink ended a performance and was taken to the hospital for xrays after falling into a barricade due to an improperly secured harness. Ouch! Taylor Swift did a wipeout at a concert in Ottawa while running across the stage. Jennifer Lopez landed on something other than her feet after a jump at the American Music Awards. Rihanna’s high heels were not her friend as she lost her balance and did a slider at a UK concert. Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Prince, Drake, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez amazingly the list goes on and on. Thank goodness artist rarely get seriously busted up while preforming and simply go on with the show.

I’m getting’ ready to bust some beats and do some serious damage on the decks this weekend when I throw down custom HK remixes on Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Mark Ronson, Pitbull, Nick Jonas, Flo Rida, Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding and MORE!

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