Summary: Country music has a new trend: Remixing. While mashing up popular songs with an electro beat is something that DJs have been doing with pop songs for years, country music is finding out just how popular and lucrative a club mix can be. The Washington Post's Emily Yahr noticed the trend and breaks it down for Soundcheck. Interview Highlights Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly, “Cruise” (Remix) That had already been a really big country hit. When they combined with Nelly, the song just exploded in a whole new level. It’s all over pop radio now. It went from being a huge country hit to a huge mainstream smash this summer. Sarah Darling, “Little Umbrellas” (DJ DU Remix) She’s been around for a few years and had some success with singles she’s put out. [This version] is a more electronica version. It’s just totally different. The song almost sounds completely separate from the first one. And it’s been getting a lot of attention [because] it is unusual in Nashville to see that. Jason Aldean ft. Ludacris, “Dirt Road Anthem” (Remix) Jason Aldean [has] broken a lot of different ground in country. He’s made his shows a lot more rock and roll, and he’s taken a lot of flack for that. I think he really likes to push the envelope as much as he can and try to start new things with his music. It was a little surprising when they decided to do this new version with Ludacris, just ‘cause the song didn’t really even need more success — it was already doing very well. I just think it was about him wanting to do something new and shake things up. Laura Bell Bundy ft. Colt Ford, “Two Step” This one was purely made just to be a country dance song. The two step is a traditional country dance. You can find it pretty much at any country music night club. This version is a really fast-paced almost-pop-song that brings up some country themes in it, but then also features a rap in the middle. I talked to [Laura Bell Bundy], and she said she hopes this is a direction that country can go.
