MEDUZA, MORTEN, and Jauz Breathe More Life Into HUGEL and Diplo’s Global Afro House Hit With ‘Forever’ ft Malou & Yuna (Remixes) via Insomniac Records and Higher Ground – OUT NOW

HUGEL and Diplo closed out 2024 on a high note with their infectious afro house collab, “Forever,” featuring sultry vocals from Malou and Yuna. Now, the powerhouse pairing is furthering its unstoppable momentum as they offer up fresh remixes from three of dance music’s major players, MEDUZA, MORTEN, and Jauz. Taking the shape of the official ‘Forever (Remixes),’ the star-studded affair arrives as a joint release between tastemaker imprints, Insomniac Records and Higher Ground. 

MEDUZA’s remix served as the lead offering to create hype around the full-fledged release, preceding the package by a couple of weeks. A masterclass in restraint, their seething reimagining builds anticipation and energy, before ramping up the energy midway through the journey. At the midpoint, the Italian trio shifts gears, peppering in the ruminating hook in perfect measures atop swelling synthetic chords. Layers of organic beauty are implemented into the electronic construction before those two diametric sonics converge into a moody beat decorated with subtle arpeggios and syncopated sound design.

Touching on their process, MEDUZA shares: “As soon as HUGEL and Diplo asked us to remix the original track, we knew exactly how we could recreate it in our own melodic sound. We manipulated Malou and Yuna’s euphoric vocal, whilst adding some classic MEDUZA chords and a deep bassline to create a remix that is full of energy for the dancefloor. We’re super excited to be releasing this one, which has been a staple in our sets across the last few months.” 

Next up, Danish mainstay MORTEN adds his golden touch to the single. Striking the perfect balance between spellbinding and explosive, the seasoned producer manipulates the mood via a propulsive melodic house & techno framework. Complementing the breathtaking nature of the vocal, MORTEN maneuvers through expertly crafted leads and epic lulls, resulting in a track that lends itself perfectly for open-air festivals and late-night raves alike.

Last but not least, veteran producer Jauz takes the release in a whole new direction. Opting to go down a brooding drum & bass route, his version sets off with a sense of enticing mystery. Slowed-down vocals are accompanied by a haunting piano motif, before the energy explodes once the drum breaks enter the soundscape. Then, in a flash, the ringing two-note phrase elevates into futuristic synth riffs, while leaving space for fuzzy bass synths to drive the chord changes and rapid-fire percussion fills.

Sharing his decision to transport the track into a new sonic realm, Jauz explains: “Getting to rework a hit record is always super fun but it’s even more special to do something official with a friend like Diplo, as well as an artist like HUGEL, who I’ve been a fan of for a long time. The original mix and vocal from Malou is so beautiful, I wasn’t sure where to take it at first, but ultimately my ear kept coming back to the drum & bass version you hear today.”

Originally circulating as an ID, which reaped millions of views on TikTok and Reels months prior to an official release date, “Forever” eventually materialized during a highly anticipated back-to-back set between Diplo and HUGEL at the former’s Higher Ground live showcase at the Brooklyn Mirage. Since its release last September, “Forever” has amassed nearly 35 million streams, in addition to garnering an outpouring of editorial support across the board, including Spotify’s global mint and New Music Friday; landing the prestigious cover of Apple Music’s danceXL; topping the Beatport ‘Afro House’ charts at #1; earning coverage from Billboard, Mixmag, DJ Mag, and more; with heavy radio rotation allowing it to crack into the top 5 of Mediabase Chart. 

Now, in the early days of 2025, HUGEL and Diplo are set to take their viral afro house hit to the next level, as they rope in the mighty talents of MEDUZA, MORTEN, and Jauz. With the “Forever (Remixes)” arriving by way of Insomniac Records and Higher Ground, the single is expected to continue to leave an indelible mark on dancefloors worldwide. 

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