The 10 Best Ryan Hemsworth Remixes

In what seems like only a handful of months, Ryan Hemsworth has become one of production's hot commodities. His clean, modern aesthetic, knack for detail, and appreciation of big bass have made the young beat maker a go to for a number of indie emcees. While his original work rightly deserves attention, his remixes spurred his ascendence, providing a variety of eclectic canvasses for Hemsworth to flex his ability. 2013 should be a big year for Ryan, so take a minute and get familiar with 10 of his best remixes.

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2. Lianne La Havas - "Age (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

Inviting synthesizers and snapping snares--trademarks of Hemsworth's growing catalog. On "Age," he perches the sweet smoke of Lianne La Havas' voice atop big, clean beat, and walls of synths that seem to surround everything in mix without overwhelming. He brings out an energy atypical of the singer's sunny soul pop.

3. Black Atlass - "Castles (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

Singer Black Atlass' original "Castles" packs mood in spades. Hemsworth's rework keeps that murky aura intact, treats the vocals like instruments and set dressing, and adds his signature clean thump. It's a take that work's surprisingly well with Atlass' whispy performance.

4. Craig David - "Fill Me In (Ryan Hemsworth Refix)"

Laying his influences bare while also showcasing of the moment style, Ryan Hemsworth's remix of Craig David's "Fill Me In" is a welcome, funky surprise. Keeping the vocals entirely intact, Hemsworth gives "Fill Me In" a makeover heavy on bass, trap hi-hats, and a surprising edge. It keeps a foot in the early millennial sound that Hemsworth grew up with while showcasing his thoroughly modern pedigree (and a taste for the unexpected).

5. Kanye West - "All of the Lights (Ryan Hemsworth Mad As Hell Remix)"

Adding snares, glittering synth lines, and an increased sense of speed to one of Kanye's most triumphant records proves a winning formula. Hemsworth leaves "All of the Lights" largely intact. The horns get shine through the mix on occasion, more often buried under seemingly innumerable layers. It's chaotic, but it works because of its adherence to breakneck action.

6. Bruiser Brigade - "Errthang (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

With a flip of a classic drum break ("50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon), Hemsworth takes Bruiser Brigade's "Errthang" in an eerie direction, different from both the original and Hemsworth's usual synth-heavy formula. It's great victory is showcasing the producer's varied sonic palette, mixing more traditional percussion with a restrained melody that alternates between a vibrating synth and mimicking piano. It sounds like something that would fit perfectly on Danny Brown's XXX, capturing a different aspect of the Brigade's energy while completely eschewing the original's sci-fi atmospherics.

7. Three Six Mafia - "Late Night Tip (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

"Late Night Tip" flexes Hemsworth's imagination, taking a typically blunt Three 6 Mafia ode to no-frills sex and imbuing it with a blunted, jazzy atmosphere. The drums keep it thoroughly modern, and the end result sounds like a more sanitized, less satanic take on the Triple Six's early formula.

8. Future - "Turn On the Lights (Ryan Hemsworth Bootleg)"

Ryan Hemsworth knows a good thing when he hears it, so on his "Turn on the Lights" bootleg, he keeps Future's incessantly infectious original largely intact. Showcasing his taste and vision, Hemsworth expands on what makes "Turn on the Lights" compelling by bringing out a bit of darkness in the low end, slapping on some shimmery synths, and, perhaps most importantly, adding drums reminiscent of house music, Hemsworth illustrates how a bootleg can highlight the best features of the original while subtly pushing it to new places.

9. Grimes - "Genesis (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

In remixing Grimes' "Genesis," Hemsworth's great trick is turning the lauded vocalist/producer's 2012 single into a sample to be manipulated at will. Disfiguring the vocals, capturing the sound and aesthetic of the original, and mixing all the etheral energy atop a beat indebted thoroughly to southern hip-hop, Hemsworth transforms "Genesis" into a hazy, high energy anthem that would sound perfect as the backdrop for a T.I. and A$AP Rocky collaboration. It's a testament to to Hemsworth's imagination.

10. Waka Flocka - "Hard In The Paint (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)"

One of the great difficulties of remixing a signature song is matching the original energy while striking out in an original direction. By inserting a plodding, thumping rhythm, a wall of hazy synths and sounds, and not attempting to outdo the hellraising source material, Hemsworth imbues Waka Flocka's massive "Hard in the Paint" with a dark thump that honors Flocka's neo-crunk ode while taking it to an unexpectedly anthemic place.

11. Frank Ocean - "Thinkin About You (Ryan Hemsworth Bootleg)"

While Hemsworth's remix of Frank Ocean's "Thinkin About You" might seem an obvious choice for #1, its selection comes with good reason. A subtle reworking, "Thinkin About You" exposed Hemsworth to a wider audience, displaying his tasteful touch and ability to add warmth and depth without getting carried away. Sometimes a little restraint can go a long way.

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