Cal Jader’s Top 10 Dance Floor Heaters Of The Year + Tropicalista Mix 2016

By 22 December, 2016

Here is Movimientos’ main man DJ Cal Jader to present ten of his sure-fire Latin dance floor heaters from 2016, as well as an extended Tropicalista mix featuring a wider selection of choice cuts from the year. As well as being an internationally-touring DJ, Cal helms Movimientos, an organisation at the centre of Latin culture in the UK, where they exist as an events organiser, record label and radio show, amongst other activities. In other words, there are few better people to pick out some of the most dance floor-friendly Latin tracks of the year.

Cal will be DJing at the Tropicalista x Lizard Stage NYE 2016 at Rich Mix in London on New Year’s Eve (where you will no doubt hear a selection of his favourites below). For full details go to Facebook.

Check out his 10 dance floor heaters below. At the bottom of the page is an extended NYE-ready Tropicalista Mix featuring a full 100-minute journey through his favourite tracks from 2016.

Top 10 Dance Floor Heaters Of The Year

Coco Raizes de Arcoverde – Seu Maia (DJ Nirso remix)

Nirso did a great job surpassing previous remixes of this infectious north-eastern coco with a masterful dubby 2 minute build before the tune’s sound system-ready pay-off.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/271731715″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Chico Mann & Captain Planet – Como Me Miras (Bastard Jazz)

This dynamic duo continue their collaborations with this banger which is at once melodic and euphoric whilst retaining a tasty dembow dancefloor bite.

History of Colour & Nicola Cruz – Paruma (Shika Shika)

Elegant and hypnotic marimba-enhanced downbeat grooves from two of the leading lights of the folklore digital scene.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/275621579″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Thornato – Chapinero (Wonderwheel Recordings)

Part of the Things Will Change EP and heralding a forthcoming full album in 2017 this track took where his own “Gaita Gaita” left off, mixing the mystic Colombian flute with crunching beats.

The Bongo Hop – Ventana

Taken from the band’s debut album that effortlessly straddles Latin America spirit, Caribbean swing and hefty African funk this track stars Quantic’s Colombian Pacific coast queen Nidia Gongora adding her deliciously dreamy vocals.

Mark B – Vamos a Ponernos Locos

Apart from being a bumpin’ dancefloor tune this track was evidence of how the Dominican and Caribbean urban artists are effectively incorporating the afrobeats sound in 2016.

Swindle – Connecta ft Ricardo China

UK producer and Mala associate pulls off the trick of fusing his organic bass sound with a jump up Brazilian carnival flavour for maximum impact.

Viviano Torres – Mini Kusuto (Rafael Aragon remix) (Galletas Calientes Records)

Taken from surely one of the releases of the year Palenque Records AfroColombia Remix EP. Could have chosen any of the remixes featured but Rafael Aragon takes this champeta outergalactic!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/260588553″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Pablito Mix – Dale Hasta Abajo (Feat Cepillo Cuevas)

Nothing sounded as baaaaad as this on the big sound systems this year… Pablito Mix getting lowdown and dirty firing up a crazy mash up of dembows, cumbia and trap with the inimitable ‘Get Ur Freak on’ riff.

La Mambanegra – La Mamba Te Invita

After slaying European audiences in the summer expect big things in 2017 for this Cali crew as they herald a rebirth of salsa with their raw funk-drenched sound – this track is available to pre-order on vinyl here.

Cal Jader’s Tropicalista Mix 2016

As if that wasn’t enough hear is Cal’s extended Tropicalista Mix 2016 featuring many of the song above plus a tonne of other choice tunes from the year, for those wanting to stay out on the dance floor for that little bit longer.


Follow Sounds and Colours: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mixcloud / Soundcloud / Bandcamp

Subscribe to the Sounds and Colours Newsletter for regular updates, news and competitions bringing the best of Latin American culture direct to your Inbox.

Share: