Justin Bieber And Jack Ü’s ‘Where Are Ü Now’ Remixed By The Knocks, Ember Island, Kaskade
A game changer is the phrase I used to describe Justin Bieber and Jack U’s “Where Are Ü Now,” when it stealth-dropped in February on the Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü album.
Unquestionably, one of the biggest and best records of 2015 so far, it bestowed a musical grace note on the EDM titans’ riotous collection of fun, rave tunes. It also shifted mistaken perceptions of Bieber from a burnt out, here-for-the-numbers-only, former teen arena act, to a more human artist with something to say — and the talent to say it.
“Where Are Ü Now” sees Bieber floating atop Jack Ü’s addictive, tribal-esque soundscape with gorgeous vocals and bittersweet lyrics that pack a powerful, emotional charge.
It’s currently doing the business on radio while racking up huge streaming stats, and is one of the best examples of why out-of-the-box music collaborations can be so great.
Non-Beliebers and Beliebers alike have fallen in love with the song for one simple reason: It’s terrific. While the original will always be the original, sometimes remixes yield exciting and different perspectives.
In addition to the tons of unofficial interpretations already uploaded on various platforms, three new remixes have had a go at the dance slayer. First on the table for consideration, is Swedish electro indie-pop trio Ember Island’s chilled take on “Where Are Ü Now.”
Loving this @emberisland_? take on #JackÜ? and @justinbieber?’s ‘Where Are Ü Now’ –> https://t.co/S3RzeHsTvv pic.twitter.com/EUM5OzE8Pa
— OWSLA (@OWSLA) May 7, 2015
Ember Island’s version deservedly gets appreciation from Skrillex’s vanity record label.
The remix begins with a stacked female acapella, before sparse, haunting instrumentation kicks in. The rendition is over before it really gets going. But, all in all, it’s a very pretty way to spend 2:31 minutes.
Next up, The Knocks’ bootleg. In stark contrast to Ember Island, the NYC production team offer an optimistic, uptempo remix that’s ready made for the incoming summer.
Think beach bikini babes, guys with jawlines that won’t quit, and piña coladas on tap.
Lastly, we have producer, Kaskade’s official remix, which he recently premiered during a date at his residency with XS Nightclub in Las Vegas.
At the beginning of the clip (which is low quality), Kaskade tells the crowd that Skrillex and Diplo asked him to do the remix. Music Times notes there are likely more major name DJs’ reworkings on the way, to ramp up building buzz on the single and “put the track in DJ sets for festival season.”
What’s heard on the YouTube upload sounds less thunderous than Jack Ü’s original, but keeps the signature sounds while adding extra synths. Until a clearer upload surfaces, it’s not possible to judge it accurately.
Meanwhile, “Where Are Ü Now” continues its ascent on multiple charts, notably breaching the Top 30 of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart earlier this week.
Thoughts on which remix is your favorite? Let us know in comments below.
[Images via Larry Marano Getty Images]
