MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE: A HUGEL Summer

I’m still riding high off such an incredible release week for Madonna’s Confessions II, and as a result, my playlists have been extremely dance-heavy. I’m craving the sweat from a long night out and the thrill of a flashing strobe light making me feel a little dizzy in the most euphoric way. In simpler terms, all I want to do is dance. Two of this week’s tracks are remixes of classic songs, while French DJ and record producer HUGEL continues his world domination with a new song featuring Bryson Tiller.

Summer 2026 has already been incredibly kind to HUGEL. He’s been DJ’ing for more than two decades and has had multiple high-streaming songs in the last few years, but with the release of his debut album Twenty One, he’s been reaching new heights that only the biggest EDM DJs like David Guetta have ever reached. His album has just pushed his yearly streams to more than one billion, and we’re only in July, so expect that number to double at the very least by the end of the year. The single “Movin’ to the Sun” featuring 90s dance queen Ultra Naté and Imael Angel has been making some serious moves as well. I first featured the song in this column at the end of May, and since then, it has taken over dance floors, streaming services, radio stations and beach clubs all over the world. In the past week, the song became the #1 most shazamed song across the globe. The track is currently taking over the worldwide dance charts as well, sitting at #1 in Germany, #5 in the UK, and #6 in the USA. It also is currently in the top 20 on the overall UK singles chart, now Ultra Naté’s highest charting single in the UK since 1998’s “If You Could Read My Mind”. 

“Movin’ to the Sun” merges Ultra’s more traditional house music with HUGEL’s Afrohouse style, and that’s something he does throughout the entire album, collaborating with artists from different worlds of music and blending their sound with his over-arching Afro House/Latin House vibe, and it’s resonating with audiences. HUGEL’s immense success has translated into a manic summer of live performances. He made his Coachella debut earlier in April, returned to Ibiza to continue his residency there and launched a new residency in Las Vegas at the Encore Beach Club. To top things off, he’s also on the “MOVIN’ TO THE SUN TOUR” which has him scheduled for performances across North America and Europe all summer. Between HUGEL’s house grooves and Madonna’s record-breaking #1 album, it’s never been a better time to dance your troubles away.

Next week, we have new albums from Gracie Abrams and Rick Ross, and a new single from Tinashe. This week, it’s all about ravers and remixes. We’ve got remixes of classics from George Michael and 112, as well as new music from house artists such as HUGEL and ANOTR, with some Shania Twain sprinkled in there for good measure. Plus, this week’s viral pick comes courtesy of a rapper who earns her first solo viral hit, and it has us all spending “dat sh-t”. You’ll understand soon.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“Temptation” by HUGEL, Bryson Tiller

I was particularly interested in this song because this is the first time I’ve heard Bryson Tiller on a dance track. And it doesn’t deflect from his soulful vocals, in fact, they actually help build up the song’s slinky beat drop even more dramatically. The way that HUGEL’s beat makes me want to get up and move my body! I especially love the melody in the second part of the chorus – so dreamy. Bryson slides into the dance world with ease, and I’d love to see him take this route more often, he adds a sexiness to the song’s overall sound. I just wish this was released a few weeks ago and featured on an episode of Love Island USA. It certainly would’ve been better than the coffee shop covers we were forced to sit through. The song is serving as the lead single to the extended edition of HUGEL’s Twenty One album, hoping to further cement his spot as a summer 2026 staple, and I have no doubt that it will do what it needs to do. Get out your heart shaped sunglasses and sunscreen because it’s time to let loose.

“I Want Your Sex” by George Michael, Mosimann

It’s been ten years since we lost George Michael, seems impossible that it’s been that long. This new remix is his estate’s response to that upcoming anniversary, a way to introduce George’s music and legacy to a new generation of listeners. I doubt the average George Michael fan would be too keen on a remix of this nature, but it is a perfect way to expose the song to potential new fans: a remix, and if you’re not into remixes then you won’t appreciate this. But like I said, this summer I just want to dance, and so I took to this new interpretation of the song quite well. It’s something that you would hear at a rave, it’s giving microdosing and tequila shots. Mosimann is an EDM house DJ from Switzerland, with hits that have earned him more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify. His remix doesn’t completely strip away the identity of a song in the way most remixes do. If you can distance yourself enough away from the original, there’s really something fun and bright about Mosimann’s approach.

 

“Dance With Me (Honeyluv Remix)” by 112, HoneyLuv

A remix of a song that you already know and love can be a hit or miss. In this case, Honeyluv’s production is simple. Just a good ol’ dance remix that sounds like you’re drunk in Mallorca. I by no means think is a better version of the iconic original, but it’s a fun alternative that can broaden the song’s musical horizons. 112 have such a rich discography of R&B songs, but it’s fun to hear one of their most famous hits as an EDM banger. Honeyluv loves a good bounce to her tracks, and she put that personal touch to the song. That’s something she mentions wanting to do especially since it’s a song from her own childhood, and she says it “came from a real place”. I’m sure this will hit during a live set of hers or through the speakers of a beach club near you. Maybe even a solid run across the city too, I played it on mine this morning.

“Silver Lines” by ANOTR, Emily Warren

Similar to HUGEL, this EDM duo has long been on the rise with 2026 being a breakout year. This release sees them teaming up with CircoLoco Records, who are well known for supplying music for the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise. This track is in the next game in the series, in what capacity, well that’s still unknown. But because of its association, the song automatically gets a built-in fanbase going into its launch. (GTA6 is expected to be the biggest gaming release in history, with sales currently predicted at something like $3-4 BILLION within the first few days of release.) Not a bad deal, especially for a pair of Dutch DJs who are just starting to break into the worldwide consciousness. Aside from being the soundtrack to the popular video game of all time though, it’s also a great song to have on as you lay on a beach with a vodka cosmopolitan Cutwater in hand. Emily Warren is a strong addition to the song with her folky vocals meshing harmoniously with the groovy dance track behind her. I’m feeling the vibes with this one – this is the summer I want to be having. Some would say I already am. Now, I’m sure that if I was a GTA player, I’d have a more fan-like approach to the song. But I’m not, so instead I am just enjoying the song as it is: a great Afrohouse jam. Having said this, if anyone reading this is a GTA truther, feel free to tell me if you think the song fits the vibe of the upcoming game.

“Faded Blue Jeans (feat. Josh Homme)” by Shania Twain

Shania’s new album Little Miss Twain isn’t out until July 24^th, but she has gifted us with another teaser. “Faded Blue Jeans” has a bluegrass feel, while also sounding contemporary. I’m obsessed with the way that Shania’s voice sounds in this song. She really has embraced her new raspiness and is taking new risks. This song has a total road trip feel, especially if you’re driving in an old chevy of some sort. Maybe like the one on the cover of the album. This is the most country she has sounded on an album of hers in a while. And the lyrical content has a southern spice to it too – her faded blue jeans of course. The “faded blue jeans, big holes in the knees”, the ones she’s had since she was 17 as she expresses in the song. She compares them to the memories of a relationship she had at that time. The song has a nostalgic energy, between the lyrical content and the melody itself. Now, the real question is whether those are the real jeans she is singing about and can she bring them out of the archives for future live performances. She did re-wear the “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” dress on tour a few years back, so she definitely could still rock them, just saying. Josh Homme, lead singer of Queens of the Stone Age lends his vocals to the song, which also gives the track a hint of rock to go with the country.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Spend Dat” by Yung Miami

Summer 2026 has had its share of noteworthy music moments, and Yung Miami is experiencing one of her very own. As of the time of writing, her single “Spend Dat” has officially outperformed any of the music she released as part of City Girls, the duo which was comprised of her and JT. In just six weeks, the song has climbed into the top 20 and become a viral anthem. When she stepped onstage to present an award at the BET Awards, she had the entire audience singing her song – in fact, it was one of the most talked about moments on social media the next day, a telling sign that the song was reaching a new peak that even she wasn’t expecting, and naturally, with any viral success in the 2020s, comes a viral dance. She’s got everyone from Raven Symone to internet babies dancing along to the song. Rihanna even jammed to it during her recent grocery trip with Jason Lee (forward to the last 30 seconds).

@antonpeeples I had to do the challenge to the song of the summer • • #spenddat #spenddatchallenge #summer #dance #youngmiami ♬ original sound - DailyDramaDebate

@locafellalocs1 Thank you for trusting me with your crown!! 👑 A time was HAD!!!! SPEND DAT at Locafella Loc Studio!! 💃🏽@ravensymone @locafellalocs @That’s So Kiah @charismaaaa @Nneksenergy @Dev @FLAWDA🇧🇸 @CARESHA #fyp #Spendthatshii #spenddatshit #tiktokviral #ravensymone ♬ original sound - DailyDramaDebate

The track has caused some controversy over the last few weeks, with India Arie criticizing the songs lyrics and influence on today’s youth. She may have a point, but songs like this are always going to exist, and I don’t believe that everything must be so serious all the time. We live in a time where there’s some real crazy sh-t happening in the world around us – if people find escapism in a song about spending a man’s money, then I say, go off. I know I’ve been jamming to the song for the last few weeks, LOL. Whatever your feelings on the song, the fact is that it just keeps growing and growing, and I would not be surprised if it hits the Billboard top ten by the end of the month.

The 2026 “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist is live. You can add it here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year. 

With Love, 

MC