NAUGHTY BY NATURE GETS IN THE MIX WITH HK™ (VIDEO)

Naughty By Nature, the legendary Platinum selling and Grammy award winning group that crossed over to mainstream audiences with anthems like Hip Hop Hooray and OPP are once again on the road and in the studio! They just dropped a fresh track with Queen Latifah and are getting busy on a new album. I was lucky enough to work closely with Naughty as A&R Director and Staff Producer at Tommy Boy Records. This week I catch up with them for an exclusive backstage interview in the middle of their 25^th Anniversary Tour.  Treach, Vin Rock and Kay Gee tell us about the Kickstarter campaign for their new album, the amazing stuff fans can get for participating and what creative direction the new album is taking. All that, plus some crazy stories about working together back in the day! Hear highlights from the PG rated version of the interview on this week’s show and check out the full R rated 19 minute video interview below.

My Jersey brothers are hotter than ever and so is this week’s show! The decks will be on fire with exclusive HK remixes on DNCE, Troy Sivan, Tori Kelly and Mike Posner. Plus a wicked mash up with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Adele and new tracks from Taylor Swift, Elle King, Jess Glynne! And that is just getting 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™.

GRAMMY® WEEKEND ON IN THE MIX WITH HK™

This Monday is music’s biggest night - The 58th Grammy® Awards!

Being a long time voting member of the Academy plus a previous Grammy® nominee I take the awards very seriously. Record of the Year is another tuff one this year. The nominees are: D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Really Love, Mark Roson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk, Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud,  Taylor Swift – Blank Space and The Weeknd – I Can’t Feel My Face. Not an easy decision to make but for me there was one standout. Who would you vote for? Seriously I want to know, hit me up at @HowardHKKessler on twitter with your thoughts.

The performance list for the show reads like a who’s who of the music industry with Adele, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Diplo, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato, Pitbull, Tori Kelly, John Legend, Meghan Trainor and many more! Plus a tribute to David Bowie and The Eagles & Jackson Brown doing a tribute to Glenn Frye. DAMN! I love Grammy night!

Even better than Grammy night is Grammy weekend! I'm kicking it off on In The Mix with HK™! We’ll be talking Grammy gossip, what to expect on music's biggest night and I’ll be throwin’ down brand spankin' new custom HK remixes on Twenty One Pilots, The Chainsmokers featuring Daya, One Direction, Selena Gomez, Tori Kelly and many more faves so don't miss a single second! 

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

SUPER BOWL - SUPER MUSIC!

We all love the game but don’t underestimate the entertainment for heating up the field! First, there’s the singing of the National Anthem. Six-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga will do the honors this year. The Star Spangled Banner is no easy song to belt out, but if Gaga nails it, like she did her tribute to The Sound of Music at last year’s Oscars, Levi’s Stadium will be blown away!

Of course Gaga is just getting the party started. Next up is the halftime show. A no holds barred musical extravaganza, not to mention a virtual album seller as well as pressure cooker for the artists invited to the party. Perform for one of the world’s biggest audiences for twelve minutes, all the while trying to make a killer definitive statement…no worries right? Who doesn’t love watching this stuff plus you never know if there will be another wardrobe malfunction! This year Coldplay and featured guest Beyoncé will take the midfield stage with about 115 million of us watching and ready to jam out! Oh yeah and there’s a football game too! You gotta love Super Bowl Sunday!

I’ll give you another reason to love Super Bowl weekend. I'll be making more moves on the decks than the Broncos and the Panthers on the field! So do the right thing and kick your Super Bowl weekend into epic party mode with my exclusive remixes on Coldplay, Rihanna & Drake, Justin Bieber, Adele, Tori Kelly and Charlie Puth. Plus brand new music from R.City, Borns, Mike Posner and even more surprises! 

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

DJ's RULE THE WORLD INCLUDING COACHELLA

Music festival season is just around the corner. The world’s highest grossing festival which is also known for being a premier music tastemaker is the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Last year it set records by grossing over $84 million in ticket sales. 2016 will mark another milestone for the festival as Calvin Harris becomes the first DJ to play Coachella as a premier headliner. Back in 2014 Harris made his Coachella debut and had one of the biggest crowds in the festival’s history. This year as a top billed act and with all his recent hits, Calvin’s numbers are certain to rise.

I'm raising the roof and volume this weekend when I drop the needle on exclusive HK remixes on…Demi Lovato, Tori Kelly, The Chainsmokers and Flo Rida. There's even more sonic exclusivity when I hit your inner ear with my reworkings of Adele, Twenty One Pilots, Shawn Mendes and others. Plus brand new joints from David Guetta & Sia, Justin Timberlake, Coldplay and JoJo.

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

IN THE MIX WITH HK™ = HOLIDAY STRESS RELIEF

The holiday season brings many a party and lots of joy. But anxiety can also creep in with finals, travel, buying gifts that burn a hole in the pocket and the much talked about and oh so special “Family Stress”. Don't worry though, cause In The Mix with HK™ is gonna kick that holiday stress to the curb. I mean, we are here for YOU! And the experts have our back.  Mayo Clinic says, in their “Tips To Tame Stress”, that “listening to music is a good stress reliever because it provides a mental distraction, reduces muscle tension and decreases stress hormones”. They go as far to say “Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music”.  Oh yeah …I’m gonna be crankin’ up the volume this weekend with an all-out sonic party jam you just can’t miss!

Look at what I'm putting under the tree for you. Brand new exclusive HK mixes on Gwen Stefani,  Charlie Puth, Flo Rida and Justin Beiber. I'm also filling my Santa sleigh with exclusive never before heard versions of hits from  Demi Lovato, DNCE, Adele, and Shawn Mendes! My bounty of musical presents is sure to excite when I unwrap the likes of  One Direction, Daya, Tori Kelly , 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™.

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS HAVE STARS HUMBLED, CRYING, SPEECHLESS!

The 2016 Grammy nominations were announced this week and the contenders reactions filled the Twittersphere! Here are a few of my faves: Meghan Trainor – “Crying all day. What an honor it is to be next to such incredible artists like @torikelly.”  James Bay – “THREE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS. THREE!!!”. Ed Sheeran – “I wasn't expecting the Grammy noms, thank you”. Cortney Barnett – “Paris > Abu Dhabi > Melbourne > turn on phone > nominated for Grammy!!!”. Charlie Puth – “I am honored and humbled. I'm also crying HAHAHAHAH”. Tori Kelly – “I'm nominated for a Grammy. my heart is heavy & i am just speechless”. Wiz Khalifa - “Woke up to some Grammy noms. I'll smoke to that”. The decks will definitely be smokin’ this weekend with Grammy worthy hits on In The Mix with HK™!

The nominees are partying and we are too! I’m getting’ ready to hit you up with exclusive HK remixes on Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, One Direction, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. And the beats just keep on bangin’ with new ones from Tori Kelly, Flo Rida and Twenty One Pilots. Plus part II of my interview with Chainsmokers and their latest hit Roses. It’s all happening right here this weekend! 

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

DJ TO DJ - KASKADE GETS IN THE MIX WITH HK

DJing, Producing and Remixing are my life and I’ve met and worked with a lot of DJs. This week I sit down with Kaskade who is not your typical DJ. He’s a DJ/Writer/Vocalist/Producer/Remixer who happens to be the No. 7 highest paid DJ in the world, raking in $18 million a year (yes I said “a year”) according to Forbes. That count was prior to the launch of his exclusive residency at Wynn’s Vegas Encore Beach Club (just in case you’d like to check him out his gig there runs through January 2017). Kaskade is also a Mormon who doesn’t participate in some of the typical nightclub or studio habits like drinking and smoking. He’s married with three beautiful daughters who he occasional takes on the road with him. Oh yeah… and this year he inked a two-album deal with Warner Bros. plus he’s been nominated for three Grammys. You’re already familiar with Kaskade’s remix of the Skrillex-Diiplo-Justin Beiber hit Where Are You Now. This very busy DJ is hoping that you’ll soon be familiar with his latest album Automatic. Check out my exclusive interview with him when we have little DJ to DJ chat this weekend on In The Mix with HK™!
 
And that’s not all that’s goin’ down. Turn up the volume and get ready for my sic weekend throwdown. I have exclusive HK remixes on Justin Bieber, Adele, Jess Glynne, Calvin Harris and many more! Plus brand new joints from David Guetta & Sia, Tori Kelly, and The Chainsmokers. Now you know that's only scratching the service, so tune in for all my sonic surprises. 

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

MARIAH CAREY CONTINUES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Over an astounding 25 year career Mimi has had her share of ups and downs. There’s been talk of diva behavior (no surprise there), vocal acrobatics gone wrong and being off key. But love her or hate her there’s no denying Mariah Carey is an icon with staying power. Her residency at Cesar’s Palace runs through February, this month she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and just this week she performed to an adoring crowd of thousands in Israel.

Here are 5 things I’m likin’ about Mimi:
1.    She can sing her A** off with that five octave range and has the ability to reach notes beyond the 7th octave.

2.    This lady knows how to make a hit record. Charting 18 #1’s (that’s right count them) and still putting music out there.

3.    She’s no quitter- After a devastating fail with her film Glitter she came back to deliver a “put yourself out there” award winning performance in Precious. I mean a Diva without makeup is like me without music. 

4.    During a recent press event she discussed her disdain for those reality stars who reach celebrity status without having a craft or an art that they’re famous for. You gotta love her for that.

5.    She’s hitting the small screen in Season 2 of Empire. As if there weren’t enough reasons to be glued to Empire already.
 
And you should be glued to your radio this weekend cause I'm dropping smokin’ hot HK EXCLUSIVE remixes on all your faves. Buckle up and keep your hands in the car, I’ll be taking over your ear canal with Fifth Harmony, Adam Lambert, OMI, Flo Rida, Demi Lovato, Tori Kelly, Little Mix and more! Plus new jams from Carly Rae Jepsen, Kygo, A Great Big World, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Jess Glynne.
 
Remember…If it's hot, if it's new and it makes you wanna move…you're In The Mix with HK™.

FOURTH OF JULY HK STYLE!

John Adams wrote that Independence Day … ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward and forever more. If President Adams were alive today I believe he would have added…and by jamming out to In The Mix with HK™ for a non-stop musical extravaganza in all American HK style! That’s right, John Adams would be getting his patriotic groove on this weekend.

In honor of our Nation’s Birthday Bash I have put together custom HK mixes and remixes on all your favorite hits. Get ready for sonic fireworks from Kelly Clarkson – Invincible, OMI – Cheerleader, Tori Kelly – Should’ve Been Us, Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance,  The Weekend – Can’t Feel My Face, the new track from Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky - Good For You 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™.

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™.

NEW ARTISTS AND NEW HITS ON IN THE MIX WITH HK™

There’s a crop of new artists that are dropin’ bodacious beats like a needle on a Technics SL1200mk2!  Walk The Moon, Life Of Dillion, Lunchmoney Lewis (you gotta love that name) and Tori Kelly are all about to detonate your speakers and are all featured in this weeks In The Mix with HK™!

The Cincinnati based Indie Rockers that make up Walk The Moon have been around since 2008. They made noise on the Alternative side but Shut Up And Dance is what pushed them into Pop status. And that track has no signs of stalling. From the other side of the pond, two brothers Robert and Joe Griffin with their friend and founder David Keiffer make up the trio Life Of Dillion. The London based group got their name from an interesting stranger named Dillon who they met while visiting Brazil. Does he get royalty checks? They’ve got their own serious vibe goin’ with Overload. Look for their first album to drop soon. Florida native Lunchmoney Lewis and his catchy comedic hit Bills is laughing its way up the charts. A musical family never hurts. Lewis’s father and Uncle helped found the group Inner Circle of Bad Boys fame. Just saying the title of that song will have it stuck (bad boys bad boys whatcha gonna do) in my head for hours. Then there’s songwriter, singer  and multi- instrumentalist Tori Kelly who has been at it for a while and didn’t give up. She was on Star Search at 10 and America’s Most Talented Kids. She tried out but never made the cut for American Idol. I bet Simon Cowell wishes he signed Tori now that her single Nobody Love is blowing up!

I'll be blowin’ up your system this weekend, so tune in and turn it up!

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

CELEBRATE SPRING BREAK…IN THE MIX WITH HK™

It is officially Spring Break season and that means PARRRRRRRRRRTY! And nothing says party more than jammin’ out to the biggest and best hits remixed, rearranged and reinvented custom HK style! Whether you're at the beach, throwin’ down a serious staycation or doin’ the European thang - In The Mix with HK™ is your spring break soundtrack!

This weekend I’m blowin’ up your woofers and promising multiple eargasms cause I spent every minute of the sub-zero temps locked away in my toasty warm studio. I'm droppin' brand new HK reworkings on Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, Tove Lo, Vance Joy, Natalie La Rose and more! Plus brand spankin' new joints from Lunchmoney Lewis, Cash Cash, Tori Kelly, Who Is Fancy, Walk The Moon and other surprises!

Make sure you tune in all weekend long to get your spring break swerve on!

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