WORDS

Sometimes chalk and cheese really do make the best bedfellows…

We’re two months deep into the 2015 and already it appears to be the year of unlikely collaborations. Kanye & Paul McCartney lit the touchpaper and a steady flow of surprising co-project news has followed… From Zedd and Selena Gomez to Dillon Francis and Calvin Harris to Skrillex, What So Not and Toto, as the year unfolds we’re likely to experience many strange hook-ups in electronic music.

This is a good thing: there’s nothing quite like listening to a collaborative work between producers that represents the epitome of each respective artist’s sound and style. Some collaborations are rare events that generate huge amounts of hype, whilst some are much more frequent and by the book. But once in a while, you’ll stumble across a gem of a track between two artists that you’d never expect to work together in a million years. Here are 10 of the best…

(Picture Source: Spin / Picture Credit: Sebastien Paquet)

KoRn – Narcissistic Cannibal (feat. Skrillex & Kill The Noise)

The eleventh studio album from legendary metal band KoRn, The Path of Totality featured collaborations with a whole slew of names ranging from Excision to Noisia and even Feed Me. A memorable track from the album was Narcissistic Cannibal which saw the band team up with Skrillex and Kill The Noise for a track that’s still as refreshingly unique as it was back in 2011.

The Bloody Beetroots (feat. Paul McCartney & Youth) – Out Of Sight

Originally intended as a remix to Paul McCartney’s Nothing Too Much Just out of Sight, The Bloody Beetroots made contact with the man himself, whose re-recorded vocals formed the basis of this anthem of a track.

The Qemists – Take it Back (feat. Enter Shikari)

What would it sound like if a drum and bass crossover group collaborated with an experimental electronically influenced rock band? A little like this apparently…

Yogi – Christian Bale (feat. Casey Veggies, Knytro, Sway, KSI, Raptor)

OWSLA signed artist Yogi’s original tribute to the Dark Knight himself features a myriad of names from respected grimesmen Sway and Knytro to… KSI?!

Feed Me & Crystal Fighters – Love Is All I Got

The lead single to Feed Me’s 2013 debut album featured none other than vocals from the alternative dance group Crystal Fighters. A strange choice – but one that definitely worked out for the better.

Boys Noize – Got It (feat. Snoop Dogg)

Boys Noize sought out the vocal talents of the one and only D.O.G.G. for this fiery track. Snoop delivered.

deadmau5 – Professional Griefers (feat. Gerard Way)

When deadmau5 and the ex-vocalist of My Chemical Romance come together to create a track it resulted in one of the most expensive EDM music videos ever made… It reportedly cost in the excess of $2m. Lucky the song’s good, then.

Steve Aoki & Linkin Park – A Light That Never Comes

This collaboration paired the much loved rock band with Steve Aoki. Mercifully no cake throwing was involved.

Oliver Heldens & Zeds Dead – You Know

Zeds Dead collaborating with Oliver Heldens on a house track? Whatever next? Skrillex and The Doors?

Skrillex & The Doors – Breakin’ A Sweat

Oh yeah… This actually happened!