Hey there, music lovers! Picture this: It's 2014, and Elle King's gravelly, no-holds-barred vocals are tearing up the charts with "Ex's & Oh's" – that cheeky blues-rock banger about bad boys and even badder breakups that snagged Grammy nods and became an anthem for anyone who's ever flipped off an ex. Fast-forward to 2025, and Berlin's remix wizard Ely Oaks has grabbed those iconic lines and hurled them into a neon-lit rave. If you're craving that high-octane happy hardcore vibe that's exploding this year, this remix is your new obsession. Dropped fresh on Sony Music/RCA Records, it's the kind of track that turns quiet nights into all-night sweat sessions. Who's ready to crank it up?
Let's dive into what makes this "Ex's & Oh's" remix such a genre-bending beast. Ely Oaks doesn't just tweak the original – he rebuilds it from the ground up for the club kids. Those playful, disco-tinged vocals from Elle? They're still front and center, dripping with sass and swagger, but now they're layered over serrating synths that slice through the air like laser beams. Add in pounding basslines that hit you in the chest and a relentless hardstyle rhythm that builds to trance-like euphoria, and you've got a full-throttle transformation. The original's gritty guitar riffs? Swapped for euphoric drops that scream festival mainstage. It's like if Elle King's country-pop edge crashed a happy hardcore party and decided to steal the DJ booth. Ely himself nailed it in his press notes: "Absolutely honored, after 11 years, to launch a 2025 version of this legendary song together with Elle King." He's been teasing this in his summer sets, and trust me, it's the kind of remix that leaves crowds begging for an encore.
If you're new to Ely Oaks, buckle up – this Austrian-born, Berlin-based producer is the poster child for 2025's dance music renaissance. Kicked off from his school band (hey, we've all been there), Ely traded metalcore mosh pits for EDM epics after a Skrillex remix flipped his world. From dubstep experiments to touring with duo ZOOTAH, he went solo in 2021, and boom – a viral spin on Florence + The Machine's "Spectrum (Say My Name)" lit the fuse. Fast-forward, and he's got over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, nearly a million TikTok and Insta followers, and TikTok's crown as Germany's #1 most-followed DJ in 2024. Tracks like "Running Around" (100 million streams and a Spotify Songs of Summer 2025 staple) and "Borderline" with LAVINIA (#35 UK Singles, #17 Germany) show his knack for blending commercial hooks with underground grit. Collabs with Alok on "Tsunami" and Timmy Trumpet on "Sound Of Da Police," plus remixes for Marshmello and his fresh James Hype "Waterfalls" take? Ely's resume reads like a who's-who of electronic royalty.
And speaking of trends, this remix couldn't land at a hotter moment. Happy hardcore and trance are having a massive glow-up in 2025, with playlists like Spotify's "Happy Hardcore 2025" packed with euphoric bangers from Darren Styles to nanobii. High-intensity sounds are dominating festivals – think Tomorrowland's hard dance stages and the surge in UKG-infused remixes crossing over to mainstream charts. Ely's fusion of accessible pop with that raw, meme-worthy energy (hello, TikTok virality) taps right into it. It's no wonder he's headlining spots from EDC Orlando to Creamfields Asia. Peep his packed fall slate: Catch him at Boo Seattle on Oct 31, Escape Halloween in San Bernardino Nov 1, or his EDC Orlando debut Nov 8 if you're stateside. Over in Europe? Hulakula Warsaw Nov 14 or Kraftwerk Rottweil Nov 29. And Down Under for New Year's? He's hitting Melbourne's D1 and Sydney's Sidebar on Dec 26-27. If you're chasing that live rush where remixes like this come alive, snag tickets now – Ely's sets are pure fire.
What I love most about Ely Oaks is how he turns eclectic roots – indie obsessions with Foals, Bring Me The Horizon phases, even getting booted from band practice – into tracks that feel universally anthemic. This "Ex's & Oh's" remix isn't just a cash-grab nod to a classic; it's a bold statement on how dance music can revive icons for a new era. Elle King's powerhouse delivery shines brighter against those trance swells, making you wanna grab a mic (or a glowstick) and belt it out. In a year where electronic trends lean hard into feel-good escapism, this one's a standout for blending nostalgia with next-level energy.
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So, spill it in the comments: Does this happy hardcore twist on "Ex's & Oh's" have you hooked, or are you team original blues-rock? Drop your fave Ely Oaks track below, share this post if it hit the spot, and let's keep the convo going. Who's spinning this at their next party? Hit play, dance it out, and I'll catch you for the next spotlight.
