The Dance Music Northwest team picks their favorite albums of 2021

This last year represented a welcomed return to nightclubs and festivals. Amid that, there was also plenty of incredible music, and the Dance Music Northwest team has picked its favorites albums, ranging melodic dubstep to funky house, to everything in between.

Check out our picks below, and be sure to let us know what your favorites from the last year were on Facebook and Twitter!

Glen Sears, CEO & Founder: Silk Sonic, An Evening With Silk Sonic

It may not be an EDM album but it is a 100% certified dance banger front to back. Throw these incredible tracks into any disco or funk set and mainstage DJs, get ready… the EDM remixes are coming.

Nick Bowman, Managing Editor: Purple Disco Machine, Exotica

Purple Disco Machine delivers a masterful front-to-back homage to disco, funk, and soul, worthy of the sweatiest 3 a.m. dancefloors in any era of music.

Ryley Campbell, Marketing: gardenstate, Inspirations

Marcus Schossow and Matt Felner are two dance music veterans that bring together a powerful and melodic sound with this album. With a mixture of heavy and melodic interludes, this album crosses into multiple genres.

Valerie White, Public Relations: MitiS, Lost

This ethereal, melodic album hits all the feels and great for some Pacific Northwest rainy day listening. Chill vibes from start to finish.

Heath Harshman, Project Manager: Flux Pavilion, .wav

Diversity, high-level productions, and an effort and passion that shines through track after track. It’s become commonplace for Flux, but this album stands out.

Maddie Welch, Staff Writer: Porter Robinson, Nurture

Thematically, it’s a deeply personal exploration of relationships and time, and musically, every track is a creatively intentional contribution to the whole. Nurture was highly anticipated, but the timing of its release during the pandemic is meaningful.

Jen Ludington, Editor: Feed Me, Feed Me

In a somewhat sleepy year for bass, Feed Me is happy to yank you off the couch and put some pep in your step. From crunchy beats to the more ethereal hit single “Reckless,” Feed Me’s self-titled album will give you reasons to dance, and take pause, while reflecting on the bittersweet moments of 2021.