2022 has been the year of the return of festivals and clubs and back to the pre-pandemic normal of shutting down the dance floor at 6 a.m. With touring in full swing there were countless hit releases and it was definitely difficult for us to narrow down our list to the top 20. We get our writers and editors to look back through the year and pick the best of Year in Tunes – Top 10 Remixes, Breakout Artists, Best Albums and now the Top 20 tracks.
These 20 tracks are originals that have been getting the crowds grooving on the dance floors throughout the world.
20. Kevin de Vries – Dance with Me
Kevin de Vries returned to the Afterlife label this year with his spellbinding new track ‘Dance with me’. This track comprised of a monotone female vocal and punchy beats enchanting the realm of the dance floor. We knew this track would be creating huge waves when Adam Beyer was opening his sets with this dynamic track. Kevin de Vries is also on our list of breakout artists of 2022.
19. Charlotte de Witte – Satori
Not surprised that techno phenomenon Charlotte de Witte made it on our list with her song ‘Satori’. This track is part of her Universal Consciousness EP via her own record label. ‘Satori’ is a high-energy mode before introducing her acid filled synth work.
18. Reinier Zonneveld- Flying Octopus
Reiner Zonneveld’s ‘Flying Octopus‘ is his fifth collaboration with HI-LO. All their tracks bring a fresh take on techno while on a trip across the dance floors worldwide they are guided by the ‘Flying Octopus’.
17. Chris Lorenzo – Mami
Chris Lorenzo collaborated with Cobrah to give us the soul-piercing tune of ‘Mami’ to dance to. Lorenzo used the vocals of Cobrah to work with his beats and create a huge banger along with a music video which shows the pair serenading us from a foamy bath and dimly light bedroom. If you haven’t seen it already, watch the video here.
16. Agent of Time – The Mirage
The Italian duo that have a sterling reputation returned to the Afterlife label with their 2 track EP. ‘ The Mirage‘ showcases the duo’s blend of emotive melodies and transcendent rhythms with dance floor centered beats.
15. Seven Lions – Every Time
Seven Lions graced the world with Beyond the Veil, his first ever studio album. Every time features So Below’s haunting vocals along with Seven Lions’ signature bass sounds.
Beyond the Veil tour is definitely one we will be looking forward to in 2023.
14. Fred Again – Delilah
Fred Again just received the best live act award from DJ Mag and was also featured on our list of breakthrough artists of the year. Our group at EDM Tunes definitely enjoyed his album Actual Life 3 and our favourite tune being ‘Delilah’. We knew this single would be part of our list as soon as the song was teased on the his boiler room set.
13. HI LO – Wanna Go Bang
Our list has quite a few techno bangers this year and HI-LO’s ‘Wanna Go Bang’ has found a spot on here. This banger released on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode offers a few moments of organic percussion along with the raw metallic sounds characteristic of techno.
12. Odesza – The Last Goodbye
After a two year break, Odeza released their long anticipated fourth album this year. Their track ‘The Last Goodbye’ features the original 1965 vocals from ‘Let Me Down Easy’ by Bettye LaVette with the signature ODESZA sound.
11. Swedish House Mafia – Heaven Takes You Home
Swedish House Mafia showcase twice on our list today. ‘Heaven takes you home’ is an emotional track with Connie Constance’s voice that tells a story of those who never back down.
10. Lane 8 – Survive
With Lane 8’s Reviver being the #1 album of our best albums list we are not surprised with ‘Survive’ being in our top 20 list. ‘Survive’ is a testament to the tumultuous times we collectively survived during the shutdown and Channy Leaneagh cannels our inner strength through her comforting vocals.
9. Dom Dolla – Miracle Maker
‘Miracle Maker’ has definitely been a tune that has been steaming up the dance floors. Dom Dolla has used this track as an opener for some of the major festivals like Ultra Miami and his set at Brooklyn Mirage.
I decided I wanted to try my hand and write a timeless rave record that not only made listeners nostalgic for the past but excited about the celebrations we all have to come.
Dom Dolla
8. ANYMA – Consciousness
ANYMA being our biggest breakout star translates into our top songs list as well. ANYMA has bagged the spots #8, #7 and #5 on our list.
Consciousness came about as Chris and I’s musical interpolation to connect the real and virtual world. Our sonic bridge between web3 and web2. The future and the past
Anyma explains.
‘Consciousness’ follows ‘Angle 1’
7. ANYMA – Angel 1
‘Angle 1’ another hit by ANYMA combines sleek synths, robotic vocals with euphoric arpeggios. This is the first collaboration with Innella. This track is the fourth full installment in the project’s release rollout to date.
6. Tchami, Marten Hørger – The Calling
‘The Calling’ is the first collaboration between father of future house and Hørger. This was definitely the song of the summer as a warm embrace to festival circuit.
5. ANYMA, Camelphat – The Sign
Tale of Us and CamelPhat teased the crowds with ‘The Sign’ as the opening track of both their sets at Ultra. This release was definitely the most awaited by the crowds this year. ‘The Sign’ has visuals that are equally impressive as the euphoric buildup with enticing vocals. This melodic-house track deserves to sit in our top 5 best tracks.
4. Mau P – Drugs from Amsterdam
Dutch young artist Mau P secures the #4 spot on our list with his first ever single ‘Drugs from Amsterdam’. His debut track showcases the beginning of his exciting journey in electronic music. This viral track was in the Top 10 tracks immediately and gained huge traction with over 45 million streams on spotify.
3. Lane 8 – Grapevine
As we inch up to the #1 spot, Lane 8 and Elderbrook’s track ‘Grapevine’ secures the #3 track. This track embarks on a nostalgic trip which Daniel took from San Francisco to LA. This track was one of the many unreleased tracks from his Summer 2021 mixtape. The song reveals the beauty of the simplest moments of life.
2. Swedish House Mafia, Fred Again – Turn On The Lights
Swedish House Mafia and Fred Again both have had one of the biggest years of any dance music artist. ‘Turn on the lights’ was the result of an impromptu session in Sweden featuring the vocals of rapper Future. One of the most popular tracks on spotify right now, siting with over 58 million streams, ‘Turn on the lights’ has been one of the most danced tunes in 2022. We hope to see more collabs from SHM and Fred!
1. Kx5 – Escape
For the first time ever at EDMTunes we see a track taking the #1 spot on our Top 10 remixes and Top 20 tracks of the year. ‘Escape’ comes as the first single released under Kx5.
The track taps into the nostalgia of the early 2000s with a “throwback to that kind of minimalistic approach to that melodic sing-songy house.”
Deadmau5
Kaskade and Deadmau5 have only just embarked on an unforgettable journey with breaking the records of the biggest live performance at the Coliseum. This track has impressed everyone here at EDMTunes and we can’t wait to see what this dynamic duo has in store for us in 2023.