6th Annual Club World Awards - NOMINEES

Hey all,

Winter Music Conference is just around the corner, and with the usual spate of events come the announcement of The 6th Annual Club World Awards. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on March 26 at SET in Miami.

Because the awards are sponsored by Club World magazine, most of the categories are about the aesthetic or technical qualities of actual venues. But there are a few "artist" driven categories that might be of interest to you guys... especially since a few of those artists are some of our very own 2007 DIVAs and DIVOs from this site!



Here are a few of the categories and nominees:

Best Resident DJ

Boris, Pacha, New York
DJ Vice, LAX, Las Vegas
Kaskade, Smart Bar, Chicago
Louie Vega, Cielo, New York
Richie Santana, Deko Lounge, Sayreville, N.J.


Kaskade, "Resident DJ" nominee and October '07 DIVO.

Both Kaskade and Louie Vega are past 2007 DIVOs (October and June, respectively)... but I haven't been able to check out either of them at their actual residencies. Without seeing how they react to the home team advantage, I just don't feel comfortable choosing a personal winner here ;)



Club Banger Of The Year
(click to hear previews in iTunes)

Deadmau5, "Not Exactly" (mau5trap)
Dubfire, "Roadkill" (Toolroom U.K.)
Mark Knight & D Ramirez, "Colombian Soul" (Toolroom Trax U.K.)
Fedde Le Grand, "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" (Ultra)
Samim, "Heater" (Get Physical Germany)
Sander Van Doorn, "The Riff" (Ultra)

Dubfire may have been our May '07 DIVO of the month, but I can't give him my nod here. Toss Fedde Le Grand out the window, because any song that name-checks cities needs to go away. In mulling the other few, I'm torn between the unique, cross-cultural (and accordion!) appeal of Samim "Heater," and the passion of Deadmau5. In the end, I lean slightly toward the latter. But it's a close one!

Club Anthem Of The Year
(click to hear preview in iTunes)

Axwell feat. Charles Salter, "I Found U" (Remode mix) (Axtone/Vendetta/Ultra)
David Guetta feat. Chris Willis, "Love Is Gone" (Perfecto/Ultra)
Enur feat. Natasja, "Calabria 2007" (Ultra)
Justice, "D.A.N.C.E." (MSTRKRFT mix) (Ed Banger/Because/Downtown/Vice)
Ralph Falcon feat. Victoria Wilson James, "I Need Someone" (Nervous)
Samantha James, "Rise" (Eric Kupper mix) (OM)


Samantha James, "Anthem" nominee and October '07 DIVA.

Here come two (no, three!) more of our '07 artists: October's DIVA of the Month, Samantha James... and the double punch of David Guetta (November DIVO) with Chris Willis (August DIVO).

Now, not to brag, but are these nominations teaching you that we REALLY know how to pick 'em? ;)

Anyway, both "Love is Gone" and "Rise" would be my top picks even without any bias. I don't get the big deal with Falcon's hit (does not warrant "Anthem" to me!). And "I Found U", "D.A.N.C.E." and (especially) "Calabria" got overplayed into oblivion.

While I like "Love is Gone," it's not the strongest work we've seen from the Guetta/Willis combo. The follow-up single from Pop Life, "Baby When the Light," is way better.

So I give my nod to Samantha James. "Rise" has yet to get old!

Who are YOUR winners??
JOHNNY