This incredible group of artists has just released a new track titled Awake Tonight, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. From the very first listen, it feels like an instant throwback to the golden Monstercat-era EDM of the 2010s. That sound is actually how I first discovered Sia, through tracks like Titanium by David Guetta and Sia. There is something special about this style of music. It brings hope, joy, energy, and a deep sense of nostalgia all at once.

By now, it is probably obvious that I adore Sia. She is undoubtedly one of the most prolific artists out there, and what makes her journey even more fascinating is that she began her career as a jazz singer before transitioning into pop and EDM. In Awake Tonight, her collaboration with Afrojack and David Guetta feels like a perfect match. Afrojack, who rose to prominence in the early 2010s with tracks like Take Over Control, played a huge role in shaping the very EDM sound this song so vividly revisits.

In many ways, the track maps almost perfectly onto what you would expect from a classic 2010s EDM anthem. The structure, the energy, and the emotional lift are all there. The differences, though subtle, are meaningful. Sia’s vocal melodies take a slightly more refined direction, but the most noticeable evolution lies in the production. The sound design is sharper and more intentional, and the mix is noticeably more polished. Modern tools, along with the engineers behind them, have elevated the craft significantly, and you can really hear that progression here.

Artists like David Guetta, who has been active since the 1990s, have lived through and contributed to that entire evolution. That is what makes this track feel so natural. It is not just a throwback, it is a refined continuation of the sound.

At its core, EDM is about feeling, about those sounds that lift you up and make you move. That is why it is also such a powerful genre for aspiring mixing engineers to study and draw inspiration from.

So go ahead and give this latest banger a listen.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!