5 Must-Hear Tracks from Eelke Kleijn’s DAYS like NIGHTS Imprint
DAYS like NIGHTS is virtually synonymous with Eelke Kleijn’s momentous second chapter. It was only after taking an extended break from music to do some soul-searching that he launched the celebrated record label, after all.
But DAYS like NIGHTS is more than an artist imprint. Since starting it in 2017, Eelke has leveraged the brand to provide a platform for music from established artists and up-and-comers. In the process, the platform has garnered a reputation for an oft-organic, always melodic range of the house and techno spectrum. DAYS like NIGHTS also hosts events across the globe, most notably in Toronto, Buenos Aires, New York City, Amsterdam, and Melbourne.
If you have yet to explore the label’s discography, let Gray Area be your guide. The following dance music cuts offer a great starting point to discover what Eelke Kleijn’s DAYS like NIGHTS imprint has to offer.
1. Eelke Kleijn - Home
Eelke Kleijn inaugurated his imprint with the aptly titled “Home.” Dusty percussion ushers in a warm and inviting bass line before a euphoric vocal refrain soars high above the rest of the song’s elements. Perfectly suited for a sunrise set, it offered a picturesque glimpse of what was to come from the promising label.
2. Corren Cavini - A Crying Synthesizer
This exceptional cut from Corren Cavini represents the more somber side of DAYS like NIGHTS. Angelic chords tug at the heartstrings in “A Crying Synthesizer,” whose evolving lead undergoes a cerebral metamorphosis throughout the extended version’s seven-minute duration.
3. Dee Montero and Newman (I Love) - Shanti
Playful and effervescent, “Shanti” by Dee Montero and Newman (I Love) straddles the fine line between seemingly disparate approaches. Its subtle plucks introduce a memorable motif with slow-burning tension, rewarding the patient listener with emphatic synths that layer on in calculated measure. An honorable mention must also go to the crisp sound design of “Celeste,” the B side of “Shanti.”
4. Enamour - Center Cannot Hold (Overdrive Mix)
The “Overdrive Mix” of Enamour’s exhilarating “Center Cannot Hold” proves there’s a place for more driving fare on DAYS like NIGHTS. Spine-tingling sawtooth leads speak to something primal within, while sci-fi-reminiscent synth work resonates on the highest level. Even the “Deep Mix” of this cerebral offering by Enamour stands out as something of a departure for DAYS like NIGHTS.
1. Eelke Kleijn - Transmission (Joris Voorn Remix)
Eelke Kleijn’s fellow Dutchman Joris Voorn delivered a compelling remix of the former’s 2022 single “Transmission” the following year. He kept the source material’s vocoded vocals and contemplative melody largely intact, simply utilizing his expert ear as a music producer to reinforce each element.
Voorn’s rendition also comes with a music video. Rick Helmink of Zintuig Studio directed the retro-futuristic visual accompaniment, and it assigns surreal mental imagery to the single’s cleverly arranged tones.
