Anthony Whitlock's Podcast DJ Anthony Whitlock

Welcome to Pride Anthems volume 13. It must be June - the traditional Pride month around the world. This years Pride celebrations have come under attack, particularly in the USA from predominantly Christian conservative groups. These people don't like the idea of a section of the community carving out a living space for themselves and seem to be jealous of our innate ability to have a fabulous time while supporting each other against their prejudice. Our community is very diverse and very accepting of pretty much everyone. So in that spirit, I present to you the 2024 edition of Pride Anthems. Was there ever a more appropriately titled song than ABBA's "Dancing Queen"? The Jackers Revenge remix of it is awesome and kicks off the set. I wanted the track selection on this set to reflect empowerment and freedom of choice in life and love. These 21 songs do that I believe. Some are classic dance floor anthems such as "Touch Me", "Hot Stuff", "Believe" and "Searchin". Others have been purposefully written and recorded for the community such as "Fight On" and "Chosen Family". Included are hit songs from Whitney, Mariah, Rihanna, Taylor, and of course, Kylie. Remixes come from across the spectrum with standouts from Division 4, Moto Blanco and 7th Heaven. The wonderful Mark from Dirty Disco once again came to my rescue and generously forwarded me some advance mixes as well as a private one. I always seem to be thanking him in my comments but I truly mean it Mark. There is drive and energy in this set which is indicative of the LGBTQ+ community. Happy Pride month everyone. EnjoyAnthony1/ "DANCING QUEEN" (Jackers Revenge Remix) - ABBA2/ "FIGHT ON" (Original Club Mix) - CACTUSHEAD ft. EDDY QUEENS3/ "TOUCH ME" (eSQUIRE Remix) - SAMANTHA FOX4/ "CRAZY IN LOVE" (Division 4 Remix) - BEYONCE`5/ "THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR" (Barry Harris Club Mix) - RHIANNA ft. CALVIN HARRIS6/ "HOT STUFF" (Ghostbusterz Remix) - DONNA SUMMER7/ "BLEEDING LOVE" (Moto Blanco Full Vocal Club Mix) - LEONA LEWIS8/ "CHOSEN FAMILY" (Dirty Disco & Matt Consola Rainbow Remix) - SHAUNA JENSEN9/ "CALL ME MAYBE" (Almighty Club Mix) - CARLY RAE JEPSEN10/ "BELIEVE" (Dirty Disco 25th Anniversary Classic Club Rework) - CHER11/ "BAD BLOOD" (Dirty Disco Private Remix) - TAYLOR SWIFT12/ "FUNKYTOWN" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - LIPS INC.13/ "SHOW SOME LOVE" (Funky Junction & Priyon Joni Remix) - FIRST LADIES OF DISCO14/ "LIVE YOUR LIFE BE FREE" (Sagi Kariv Remix) - BELINDA CARLISLE15/ "GREATEST LOVE OF ALL" (HenriqMoraes Classic Club Mix) - WHITNEY HOUSTON16/ "AGAINST ALL ODDS" (TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOW) (HenriqMoraes Club Mix) - MARIAH CAREY17/ "SEARCHIN" (7th Heaven 40th Anniversary Club Mix) - HAZELL DEAN18/ "CALL ME" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - SPAGNA19/ "I BELIEVE IN YOU" (Wayne G. vs. Club Junkies Club Mix) - KYLIE MINOGUE20/ "I WILL FLY" (Wayne G. & Porl Young Atlantis Anthem Club Mix) - THE DISKO KATZ ft. INAYA DAY21/ "WE CAN GET THERE" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) - MARY GRIFFIN

Moving on with the 'Best Of' series, I present to you the Freemasons. This dynamic duo consists of producer/DJ's James Wiltshire and Russell Small. James has also produced under the pseudonym 'Jimmy Gomez' and Russell is one half of Phatts & Small. Both me hail from Great Britain and from what I can gather, hit notoriety with their remixes around 2005 or so. Their original song "Love On My Mind" was released at this time and had major chart success in the UK. That same year they had commercial success in the USA with their massive club mix of "Mesmerized" by Faith Evans. During the 2000's and 2010's they continued to release their own original tracks featuring artists such as Katherine Ellis, Amanda Wilson, Sylvia Mason-James, Siedah Garrett and Peyton as well as remix for international artists such as Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Whitney Houston, George Michael and Beyonce` to name a few. Similar to 7th Heaven, the Freemasons have an understanding of how to take a song and spin it into a dance floor anthem. Signature house rhythm's and funky beats underscore the journey that is a Freemason remix. There are no 3 minute 'extended' mixes with these guys. Taking you on a journey on the dance floor is their specialty and I am here for it. I had to filter a serious number of awesome mixes to come up with this compilation which features 34 songs clocking in at just over 4 hours. Feast your ears on the brilliance that is Freemason. EnjoyAnthony1/ "HOLIDAY" - MADONNA2/ "RAIN DOWN LOVE" - FREEMASONS ft. SIEDAH GARRETT3/ "ROCK WITH YOU" - MICHAEL JACKSON4/ "SEXUAL HEALING" - ALIBI vs. ROCKEFELLER5/ "PUT 'EM HIGH" - THERESE6/ "HEARTBREAK" (MAKE ME A DANCER) - SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR7/ "UNINVITED" - FREEMASONS ft. BAILEY TZUKE8/ "IF" - FREEMASONS ft. HAZEL FERNANDES9/ "TURN ME ON" - DIRTY OLD ANN10/ "SHINE" - LUTHER VANDROSS11/ "I WASN'T KIDDING" - ANGIE STONE12/ "MOST PRECIOUS LOVE" - BLAZE ft. BARBARA TUCKER13/ "MESMERIZED" - FAITH EVANS14/ "MILLION DOLLAR BILL" - WHITNEY HOUSTON15/ "BEAUTIFUL LIAR" - BEYONCE` & SHAKIRA16/ "I WANT YOUR SEX" - GEORGE MICHAEL17/ "NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE" - FREEMASONS ft. SYLVIA MASON JAMES18/ "TEARS" - FREEMASONS ft. KATHERINE ELLIS19/ "WATCHIN" - FREEMASONS ft. AMANDA WILSON20/ "ACAPELLA" - KELIS21/ "LIGHT UP THE WORLD" - YASMIN22/ "ROLLING IN THE DEEP" - ADELE23/ "HEAVEN" - EMELI SANDE24/ "SANDCASTLE DISCO - SOLANGE KNOWLES25/ "THE ONE" - KYLIE MINOGUE26/ "GOOD GIRL" - ALEXIS JORDAN27/ "HOLD ON" - MR DYF ft. SHENA28/ "KEEP THIS FIRE BURNING" - OUTSIDERS ft. AMANDA WILSON29/ "LOVIN' YOU MORE" - STEVE MAC & STEVE SMITH30/ "WHEN YOU TOUCH ME" - FREEMASONS ft. KATHERINE ELLIS31/ "RING THE ALARM" - BEYONCE`32/ "DISCO LIES" - MOBY33/ "ONLY GIRL" (IN THE WORLD) - RIHANNA34/ "PART OF ME" - KATY PERRY

This month's edition of UP! has loads of drive and energy. I've included mostly new tracks mixed in with a few classics from the past 15 years. The set kicks off with some great house tracks from Jamie Liddell and TK. Amuka is back with her new song "Bourgie Bourgie" and Division 4 has a brand new track "Shake That". Dirty Disco turns in three stellar remixes for Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Beyonce` & Miley Cyrus respectively. Book ending these three are a house classic from Dancin' DJ's and 22 Lockdown respectively. The back end of the set elevates with thumping remixes from Thiago Antony, Roberto Ferrari and Henriq Moraes. The May '24 edition of UP! is the perfect primer for next months Pride Anthems. EnjoyAnthony1/ "WE ALL FALL DOWN" (eSQUIRE Houselife Remix) - A-TRAK ft. JAMIE LIDDELL2/ "PAID MY DUES" (Original Club Mix) - TK3/ "BOURGIE BOURGIE" (Matt Consola Piano Tech Remix) - M IS FOR MUSIC ft. AMUKA4/ "LIVE YOUR LIFE" (Rafael M Peak Vibe Remix) - BB HAYES ft. JEMMA JONES5/ "SHAKE THAT" (Original Club Mix) - DIVISION 46/ "COLLIDE" (Wideboys Remix) - 5WEST7/ "WANNA BE LIKE A MAN" (eSQUIRE Club Remix) - DANCIN' DJ'S8/ "TRUE STORY" (Dirty Disco Pure Love House Remix) - ARIANA GRANDE9/ "II MOST WANTED" (Dirty Disco Pillow Biters Remix) - BEYONCE` & MILEY CYRUS10/ "FORTNIGHT" (Dirty Disco Pillow Biters Remix) - TAYLOR SWIFT ft. POST MALONE11/ "NEVER LET YOU GO" (Christian Davies Club Mix) - 22 LOCKDOWN12/ "DREAMING MATERIAL" (Sagi Kariv TLV Club Mix) - SAGI KARIV ft. DANIEL YAFE13/ "IS IT LOVE" (Thiago Antony Remix) - LOREEN14/ "ILLUSION" (Roberto Ferrari Club Remix) - DUA LIPA15/ "I DON'T WANNA WAIT" (HenriqMoraes Club Mix) - DAVID GUETTA AND ONE REPUBLIC

I didn't realize that it has been six weeks since I posted my last episode. A mistake I've remedied with the (slightly late) April 2024 edition of UP! This set starts off with a string of commercial vocal house hits and transitions into full on main room madness. Kicking off the set is Ryan Skyy's original song "Never Right" followed by Liza Jane's "Sacrifice". It's great to hear some new music from Chris Willis on his collaboration track "Eyes Wide Open". Until Dawn & Division 4 deliver some punchy remixes along with Tony Moran and Toy Armada. The amazing Dirty Disco turns out two stellar remixes for Dua Lipa and Beyonce` respectively and Roland Belmares delivers a floor stomping remix on Ariana Grande's "We Can't Be Friends". Continuing the main room sound are remixes from Henriq Moraes and Jace M. The set closes out with the killer duet track "Dance Alone" from Sia & Kylie Minogue. Grab a slice of this vocal house and club pie. There's plenty to go around. EnjoyAnthony1/ "NEVER RIGHT" (Original Remix) - RYAN SKYY2/ "SACRIFICE" (StoneBridge Remix) - LIZA JANE3/ "EYES WIDE OPEN" (Original Club Mix) - JAMES CHRIS ft. CHRIS WILLIS4/ "MY LOVE" (WORK HARDER) (Extended Remix) - SOULCHASER5/ "SUN WAKES UP" (AJ Moreno Remix) - JOE BERMUDEZ ft. AMANDA BRIGHAM6/ "LIMBO" (Until Dawn Remix) - CHARLI LARK7/ "GOOD DAYS" (Division 4 & KREAM Remix) - SZA8/ "I DON'T WANNA WAIT" (DJ Dark Remix) - DAVID GUETTA & ONE REPUBLIC9/ "I'M GONNA RUN" (Tony Moran Club Mix) - VICTORIA10/ "GO THE DISTANCE" (Original Club Mix) - TANNR + TOY ARMADA ft. INAYA DAY11/ "TRAINING SEASON" (Dirty Disco Mainroom Remix) - DUA LIPA12/ "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" (Dirty Disco Space City Remix) - BEYONCE`13/ "ALL MINE" (Guy Scheiman Club Mix) - ROMAN14/ "WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS" (Roland Belmares Circuit Club Mix) - ARIANA GRANDE15/ "DOCTOR" (WORK IT OUT) (HenriqMoraes Club Mix) - PHARRELL WILLIAMS & MILEY CYRUS16/ "WHERE YOU ARE" (Toy Armada & Jace M Remix) - JOHN SUMMIT ft. HAYLA17/ "DANCE ALONE" (HenriqMoraes Future Club Mix) - SIA & KYLIE MINOGUE

Let's talk about men for a while - specifically male vocal artists - and by men, I mean Mardi Gras men. It's time for the annual celebration of male vocalists in the 18th edition of Men, the Mardi Gras edition. I had planned to publish this on the actual weekend of Mardi Gras but I got caught UP! flip flopping on the track selection so instead, I'm publishing it on my actual birthday (March 5th). There are so many different artists and styles on this edition with new and classic remixes of their songs but the intensity and euphoria are constant. The start of the set has a heavy 80's and 90's feel with classic tracks from Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Rick Astley (I saw him in concert in Sydney in the early 90's - brilliant) and Haddaway. Moving through the set come monster tracks from The Weekend, Troye Sivan, Jason Derulo and boy bands Boyzone & One Direction. Adam Lambert is the featured performer at this years Mardi Gras so I had to put one of his amazing songs on this set. As the set moves into more big room territory hits appear from Coldplay, Alex Newell, Michael Jackson, Ed Sheeran and Jason Walker. Rounding out the set are two awesome tracks from Joey McIntyre and Wham!. Now Lets talk about the remixes. There are so many killer remixes ranging from Division 4, Jet Boot Jack, StoneBridge, JRMX, Cahill, Russ Rich, Wayne G. and Carlos Gallardo. 7th Heaven feature several awesome remixes here and as always, a huge thank you to Mark from Dirty Disco for his pre-release remixes for which I am eternally grateful. I hope you enjoy them all. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird - a beautiful young couple from Sydney who's lives were taken in a senseless act of violence leading up to the Mardi Gras party weekend. Rest in peace boys xxAnthony1/ "DON'T YOU" (FORGET ABOUT ME) (Jet Boot Jack Remix) - SIMPLE MINDS2/ "THE REFLEX" (Block & Crown Club Mix) - DURAN DURAN3/ "NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - RICK ASTLEY4/ "WHAT IS LOVE" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - HADDAWAY5/ "RUSH" (Dirty Disco Pillow Biters Remix) - TROYE SIVAN6/ "CAN'T FEEL MY FACE" (Division 4 Remix) - THE WEEKEND7/ "RIDIN' SOLO" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - JASON DERULO8/ "LOVE IS A HURRICANE" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - BOYZONE9/ "NIGHT CHANGES" (JRMX Club Mix) - ONE DIRECTION10/ "TONIGHT WE LIVE FOREVER" (Cahill Club Mix) - UNION J11/ "LOVE IN THIS CLUB" (StoneBridge Club Mix) - USHER12/ "NEVER CLOSE OUR EYES" (DigitalDog Club Mix) - ADAM LAMBERT13/ "TO THE MOON AND BACK" (Almighty Club Class Club Mix) - SAVAGE GARDEN14/ "ALL OVER THE WORLD" (Cahill Club Mix) - OLA15/ "FAMOUS" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - NATHAN SYKES16/ "A SKY FULL OF STARS" (Russ Rich & LFB Anthem Club Mix) - COLDPLAY17/ "BASICALLY OVER YOU" (B.O.Y.) (Carlos Gallardo Remix) - ALEX NEWELL18/ "SO HAPPY" (Sagi Kariv & Tommer Mizrahi Remix) - TONY MORAN ft. JASON WALKER19/ "BEAT IT" (HenriqMoraes Remix) - MICHAEL JACKSON20/ "IS THIS THE WORLD WE CREATED" (Original Club Mix) - GUY SCHEIMAN ft. RHIAN!21/ "BAD HABITS" (Dirty Disco Eagle Houston Remix) - ED SHEERAN22/ "I LIKE IT" (Cahill Club Mix) - ENRIQUE IGLESIAS ft. PITBULL23/ "STAY THE SAME" (Tony Moran Club Mix) - JOEY McINTYRE24/ "I'M YOUR MAN" (Wayne G. Fire Island Club Mix) - WHAM!

Crack open the champagne. Mardi Gras Anthems is celebrating it's 21st edition in March 2024 with 21 featured artists. The annual Sydney Mardi Gras party falls on the first weekend of March this year so in readiness for that, I'm releasing this milestone edition in advance. This set epitomizes the term "Anthems" with tracks from legendary divas such as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson,  Deborah Cox, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Madonna and the list goes on. There is even an appearance from legendary 80's dance floor divas Evelyn Thomas and Miquel Brown. There are mixes from remixers' across the club spectrum including Mike Rizzo, Block & Crown, Country Club Martini Crew and the always fantastic Wayne G, 7th Heaven and Russ Rich. Each year I badger two of my favourite remix artists - Division 4 and Dirty Disco for copies of their early release and private remixes and every year they very generously provide me with them. I know I sound a bit like a broken record when I say this, but their generosity in doing this for me is so greatly appreciated and changes the landscape of how I approach and assemble these Mardi Gras Anthems sets. I'll let the music speak (sing) for itself while you hit the dance floor for this year's Mardi Gras Anthems deep dive. EnjoyAnthony1/ "TOUCH MY BODY" (Division 4 Remix) - MARIAH CAREY2/ "HIGH ENERGY" (Block & Crown and Sean Finn Club Mix) - EVELYN THOMAS3/ "SINCE U BEEN GONE" (Division 4 Remix) - KELLY CLARKSON4/ "BAD ROMANCE" (Division 4 Club Mix) - LADY GAGA5/ "ALONE" (Matt Pop Club Mix) - HEART6/ "AIR IT ALL OUT" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - PAULINI7/ "BLANK SPACE" (Dirty Disco Mainroom Remix) - TAYLOR SWIFT8/ "HEART OF STONE" (Wayne G. & Porl Young Club Mix) - FRANCE JOLI & JOEL DICKINSON 9/ "PIANO IN THE DARK" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - SHANIE10/ "GIVE ME THE REASON" (Russ Rich & Leo Frappier Anthem Remix) - MIKE JOLLY ft. COCO STAR11/ "WORK BITCH!" (Division 4 Remix) - BRITNEY SPEARS12/ "WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - TINA TURNER13/ "WE FOUND LOVE" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - RIHANNA ft. CALVIN HARRIS14/ "LIVE TO TELL" (Cajjmere Wray Club Mix) - MADONNA15/ "SO MANY MEN" (SO LITTLE TIME) - (Almighty 12" Classic Club Mix) - MIQUEL BROWN16/ "DARK HORSE" (Country Club Martini Crew Club Mix) - KATY PERRY17/ "PLAY YOUR PART" (Mike Rizzo Leading Role Club Mix) - DEBORAH COX18/ "TRY IT ON MY OWN" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - WHITNEY HOUSTON19/ "DANCING ON MY OWN" (Dirty Disco Classic Club Rework) - ROBYN20/ "DISCO LIES" (Freemasons Club Mix) - MOBY21/ "MYSTERIOUS TIMES" (Spencer & Hill Remix) - SASH! ft. TINA COUSINS