Afro House
THE NEIGHBORS & SIMONE VITULLO PRESENT A REIMAGINED VERSION OF BACK TO BLACK (FEAT. CHLOE FLORENCE)

The Neighbors and Simone Vitullo have teamed up to release a powerful reimagining of ‘Back to Black’, featuring the exceptional vocals of Chloe Florence. Released on Go Deeva, this modern adaptation of the iconic Amy Winehouse track has resonated with audiences worldwide, achieving remarkable milestones across streaming platforms and charts.
A PROJECT INSPIRED BY LEGENDARY MUSIC
The idea for this project originated in the summer of 2022, when the announcement of the Back to Black biopic reignited a deep appreciation for Amy Winehouse’s legacy. Moved by her story and the raw emotion behind the original song, The Neighbors envisioned a contemporary interpretation that could thrive both in club environments and personal listening experiences.
Initially conceived as an unofficial club edit incorporating Winehouse’s original vocals, the project took a transformative turn upon meeting Chloe Florence, a gifted singer-songwriter. Enthusiastic about the concept, Florence brought a fresh yet deeply emotive perspective to the track. The creative process involved extensive studio sessions, where multiple versions were explored to find the perfect balance between authenticity and innovation. The defining moment came when Florence moved beyond emulation and fully embraced her own vocal identity, allowing the cover to take on a unique and personal dimension.
THE FINAL TOUCH: SIMONE VITULLO & GO DEEVA
While the track had undeniable energy as a club anthem, the team sought to refine it for a broader audience. Enter Simone Vitullo, a renowned producer and head of Go Deeva Records, who was immediately captivated by the project. With his expertise, the track underwent a final evolution—elevating the synth work, restructuring key elements, and fine-tuning the overall production to ensure both club and radio appeal.
The result is a compelling tribute to one of the most iconic songs of the 21st century, seamlessly blending electronic elements with soulful vocals while honoring the emotional depth of the original.
OUT NOW ON GO DEEVA
The Neighbors, Simone Vitullo, and Chloe Florence’s rendition of Back to Black is now available on all major streaming platforms via Go Deeva Records. With its strong chart performance and continued audience engagement, this release stands as a testament to the lasting influence of Amy Winehouse’s artistry.
Since its release, Back to Black has climbed to the Top 5 of Beatport’s Afro House Top 100 and continues to hold a strong position in the Top 50 months later. The track has been Shazamed over 10,000 times and has amassed more than 150,000 streams on Spotify, a testament to its widespread appeal and impact.
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The Neighbors
Simone Vitullo
Chloe Florence
Spotify
The Neighbors
Simone Vitullo
Chloe Florence
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Afro House
IXYALA Releases Fresh Afro-Electronic Single ‘Canvas’

Stepping back out with another Afro-Electronic production, IXYALA reveals ‘Canvas.’ Fresh from the release of his debut single, ‘AfroTech,’ a track that marked the first steps of his new project, the Producer and DJ aims to build momentum, seeking to establish a strong footing within the world of Electronic Music as he shares new music and starts to make a name for himself.
With influences that range from underground Dance culture to the musical landscape of his heritage, IXYALA has been working to carve an identity where African flavours converge with Electronic production. Bringing a modern, yet deeply rich sound, he is building a discography where each release delivers something that feels fresh; rooted in the sounds that have shaped his journey, his music reflects an Artist with a clear sense of direction and vision for the road ahead. Through ‘Canvas,’ IXYALA offers another track highlighting his signature style and genre-blurring approach, carving a soundscape marked by hypnotic rhythms and considered sound design.
From the steady beat to the pulsing, interlayered synths, the production evolves with intent; unfolding into an arrangement where melody and rhythm hold equal weight, the distinct sonic fusion that grounds IXYALA’s approach is on full display in ‘Canvas,’ delivering futuristic elements together with tribal infused details. As the spoken vocals layer on top of atmospheric pads, punchy low-end progressions, and percussive textures, the soundscape continues to develop its tapestry of sound, adding timbral richness with risers, industrial-sounding leads, and melodic motifs. A dynamic sonic journey that reveals new depths of IXYALA’s creativity, ‘Canvas’ arrives as a strong entry to his growing catalogue, seeing him maintaining his originality whilst still exploring the connection between his musical roots and the landscape of contemporary Electronic Music.
As he embarks on this next phase of his artistry, IXYALA continues to balance skill with a pursuit of innovation; remaining committed in his approach, he seeks to uphold originality and establish an identity that stands out both for its sound and energy.
So, with this single marking the newest glimpse into his creative vision, IXYALA invites listeners to discover his sound and listen now to his latest release, ‘Canvas,’ available to stream and download across platforms.
Follow IXYALA via social media to stay updated on his upcoming releases and news.
Stream and Buy ‘Canvas’ here:
IXYALA Online
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Afro House
HUGEL Teams Up With BRØDER And Spijker On ‘Las Avispas’

Acclaimed French DJ and producer HUGEL unveils his latest single, ‘Las Avispas’, on May 23rd, delivering a bold and electrifying reinterpretation of the legendary Juan Luis Guerra classic. Released via his own imprint, Make The Girls Dance Records, the track features powerhouse collaborators BRØDER and Spijker, uniting French, Dutch, and Afro House influences into a global sonic celebration.
A trailblazer in the Afro-Latin House movement, HUGEL has become one of the most influential names in electronic music. With over 4 billion streams, multiple multi-platinum certifications, and a string of #1 hits on Beatport, his sound dominates clubs and festivals around the world. His label, Make The Girls Dance Records, has become a hub for cutting-edge Afro-infused dance music.
‘Las Avispas’, originally penned by Dominican icon Juan Luis Guerra, is a joyful anthem of faith, resilience, and divine protection. Released in 2004 on the Grammy-winning album ‘Para Ti’, the original fused merengue with gospel elements and earned critical acclaim, including Latin Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Song and Best Christian Album, along with Billboard Latin Music Awards for Gospel-Pop and Tropical-Merengue Song of the Year.
In this 2025 reimagining, HUGEL injects the track with an energetic Afro House pulse while honoring its soulful essence. He is joined by BRØDER, the French electronic duo of brothers Thibault and Arnaud from Marseille, known for their cross-genre innovations, high-profile remixes, and over 60 million Spotify streams, and Spijker, a rising Dutch DJ and producer whose Afro-Tech fusion and global performances, from Burning Man to Brazil, have marked him as one to watch.
‘Las Avispas’ is more than a cover, it’s a tribute to a legendary artist, reinterpreted through a modern, global lens.
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Afro House
Interview with AVAION: Breaking Boundaries with ‘Wacuka’ and the 360° Experience

AVAION: Breaking Boundaries with ‘Wacuka’ and the 360° Experience
In the ever-evolving world of electronic music, few artists have managed to create such a distinctive fusion of sounds as AVAION. His track “Wacuka,” featuring Kenyan artist Sofiya Nzau, has become a global sensation, catching the attention of industry giants like Calvin Harris while bridging cultural influences with electronic beats.
In this exclusive interview, AVAION takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, discussing how the collaboration with Sofiya Nzau came together almost effortlessly, resulting in a sound that defies traditional genre classifications. He also reveals details about his ambitious “You Are Seen” tour featuring an innovative 360-degree setup that promises to deliver a more intimate and energetic experience for fans.

Your track “Wacuka” has become a massive success. What was the collaborative process like working with Sofiya Nzau and the Kenyan influence she brought to the track, and how did you maintain your signature sound while exploring these new rhythmic elements?
It was actually really easy. I was already familiar with her vocals from a previous song of hers. She had released some vocal packs online that many producers were using, and I had used them before because I’m a big fan of her voice and the Kenyan African vibe.
Her management reached out to us, saying she had some material available, and she sent me the vocal take of ‘Wacuka.’ It was perfectly recorded in one take, everything sounded good, and I immediately knew I could work with it. I think the song was finished after just two days—everything flowed naturally.
It’s a nice combination of her vocals and the emotions she puts into them, paired with the drop I created and the synthesizers that establish the overall vibe. It’s somewhere between Afro house and deep house, but also neither of those genres—it’s many styles combined. I think that’s what makes it something new and refreshing that people can connect with. You can feel melancholic listening to it, but you can also dance to it. And I appreciate the meaningful message of female empowerment that Sofiya brings to the track.”
Artists like Calvin Harris reaching out personally about “Wacuka” must have been validating. Who did you look to for inspiration when you were starting out, and how has their influence shaped your sound?
When I started out around 2012, one of my biggest influences was Tchami—he was like the godfather of deep house. He had these different sounds, and everything he did was unique—I just completely fell in love with it.

These days, I really love The Blaze, Ben Böhmer, and Elderbrook. They’re all amazing artists. I think connecting with many different people and taking small inspirations from here and there to create your own thing is the whole point of being an artist.
Your upcoming “You Are Seen” tour features a 360-degree live setup. What inspired this concept?
I wanted to take a step up from the last tour. We have bigger venues now and a different concept with me in the middle of the space. There’s a platform with lights underneath that can flash, creating more of a visual light show. In the previous tour, we only had the venue’s lighting, but this time we have a specific concept behind it. Having me in the middle with people around me makes it more intimate. It’s going to be insane—still a live show with live vocals and the same setup, but with more energy, more intimacy, and a bigger, better, sweatier experience.
You have a new track that just came out on Sony Music, ‘I Can’t Find You’. Can you share with us and the listeners the story behind the track?
It’s a collaboration with Oscar Matt, a Swedish producer. It started when he released a TikTok with a musical idea he created. People in the comments were tagging me, saying ‘AVAION could fit on this.’ After seeing my name tagged about ten times, I decided to check it out and thought, ‘That’s actually really good.’ So I messaged him to send me the stems so we could make it into a complete song. It’s really nice how it all came together—he was just a guy uploading stuff on TikTok, people thought I would be a good fit, and now we have a song coming out.
To check out the full interview head on over to the 10 Days in Dance podcast:
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