Just in time to celebrate pride and the historic progress made in living one’s authentic self, artists from all over the pop/dance spectrum have united on the latest benefit release to support and raise much-needed funds for HIV/AIDS. It’s RED HOT + FREE!
Let’s get loud! Summer is for circuit parties and music festivals celebrating the best in dance, electro-pop, and house music sounds, and with the global pandemic mostly in check, many of the dance floor’s most devoted are slowly inching the path back under the lights and sounds of the rhythm. The club scene and nightlife culture have taken a major hit over the last year and much inspiration is in the offering to reignite this significantly vital industry that thrives in the heart of major cities and brings us together for the undeniable ritual experience of the dance!
This year’s PRIDE season has certainly gotten off to a significantly more enthusiastic launch than last year. It even got Madonna, the Queen of Pop to take over the big screens of New York City’s Times Square before making her way downtown to perform to a captive audience at The Standard Hotel in the heart of the Meat Packing District with a mini live set of her recent hits! In lieu of the usual big room parties and outdoor pier dances that usually pack them in, smaller venues dominated and gave ample forum to many of the newest and hottest tracks emerging on the scene.
Continuing the tradition of compiling the hottest dance music available out there, music impresario and dance music fixture Bill Coleman was tasked with curating the collection for the just-released double-album compilation Red Hot + Free that is part of the fund-raising efforts and mission of the Red Hot Organization to fight HIV/AIDS and support the LGBTQ community. This release marks the first “brand new” benefit album in five years and was also produced by Coleman, assembling the incomparable talents of many of pop/dance music’s most exciting artists, remixers, and DJs.
It Goes Something Like This…
The double-album, 18-track offering plays as a miraculous party album, and can also be enjoyed in all its continuous revelry here courtesy of DJ Angelo Pepe. Coleman has expertly rewarded us with immaculate renditions of established dance anthem including the celebratory “Free (Live Your Life)” as performed by the diva Ultra Naté and remixed by the legendary Felix Da Housecat x Chris Trucher. Billy Porter, the multi-talented award-winning star of FX’s original series Pose reimagines a club favorite with his take on Juliet Roberts’ classic “Caught In The Middle” and “Every Color” is represented by Louis The Child.
Watch Coleman’s conversation with with Billy Porter, filmed during the recording session for Porter's Red Hot + Free cover of Juliet Roberts' “Caught In The Middle.”
Sam Sparro drops his latest new single with “Pressure” remixed by RedTop and a disco club classic by Gloria Gaynor proves its longevity with all-new explosive dub remix of “I Will Survive” remixed by Eric Kupper that doesn’t reconstruct the original, but juices it up to sit spectacularly alongside additional tracks by SOFI TUKKER, Tituss Burgess, Foster The People and more! The album with a purpose will help to fund much-needed resources to the Ally Coalition, the Trevor Project, and SAGE; organizations that have long been dedicated to elevating the LGBTQ community and those living with HIV/AIDS.
It is without a doubt, the perfect soundtrack for the summer. Red Hot + Free will provide the elixir to every dance party outing and joyous moment that will lift the spirit and remind fans of music just how relevant the dance genre is in all its textures.
Red Hot + Free Setlist Disc 1: "Mon Cheri" - SOFI TUKKER and Amadou & Mariam "U Try Livin' (Pressure)" - Black Guy White Guy x 808 BEACH "Elastic" (808 BEACH Dangerous Power Mix) - CRICKETS "Start It Up" (Red Hot Extended) - Body Language "Super Duper Party People" (Alan Braxe Extended Mix) - Allie X "Pressure" (RedTop Mix) - Sam Sparro "Free (Live Your Life)" (Felix Da Housecat x Chris Trucher Remix) - Ultra Naté "Caught In The Middle" - Billy Porter "Every Color" (Dombresky Remix) - Louis The Child & Foster The People Disc 2: "Daydream" (Snakehips Remix) - The Aces "Don Dada" (Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon Extended Alcazar Remix) - Cakes da Killa & Proper Villains "It's Ovah" - Kiwi Dreams "Dance M.F." (Red Hot Extended Mix) - Tituss Burgess feat. Imani Coppola "Water Me Down" (Pamcy Remix) - Vagabon "I Love My Problems" (Boys' Shorts Dancefloor Remix) - Casey Spooner "I Will Survive" (Eric Kupper Dub Mix) - Gloria Gaynor "Queen" (Club Mix) - Dubesque feat. Amanda Lepore "These Dreams" (Red Hot Extended Mix) - Bright Light Bright Light feat. The Illustrious Blacks
RED HOT + FREE | Various Artist | is available to download on iTunes and additional digital music store outlets. Download from iTunes here.