#ayumix2020

[ayuvogue]

Last year, Ayu released 90 free a cappella tracks for fans to download and remix as they saw fit. While the tracks were only available to download for a few months, we're still seeing creative remixes like the one above under the #ayumix2020 hashtag.

[alonsomontero]

浜崎あゆみ ayumi hamasaki - LOVE ~Destiny~ (Alonso Montero Remix)

This is my entry for Ayu’s Creator Challenge. Leave me a comment if you like it! Here’s a youtube mirror 😸

[yunku-chan]

I have always been a big fan of Ayumi Hamasaki. Recently she posted acappella versions of her songs to create, remix and sing. I don't know how to remix a song, but I know how to make an album cover! What do you think? My artstation: https://www.artstation.com/geoffreycote © Yunku-chan. Please like and reblog if you save or use it! ♥

[ayuvogue]

Ayumi Hamasaki just kicked off an “Ayu Creator Challenge” by dropping a ton of a cappella tracks on her channel. Fans are encouraged to use the tracks to make their own remixes and share with the hashtag #ayumix2020. 

Edit: you can download all the files from the official site as well as streaming from Youtube. 

In the past, a few of her maxi-singles included a cappella mixes, but a vast majority of these have never been officially released! 

According to Oricon, there will eventually be 100 a cappella songs available. The first 25 currently in this playlist include:

poker face

LOVE ~Destiny~

TO BE

Boys & Girls

appears

Who...

vogue

SEASONS

SURREAL

M

evolution

Dearest

Voyage

Moments

INSPIRE

fairyland

HEAVEN

BLUE BIRD

JEWEL

Days

Love song

You & Me

Hello new me

Last minute

Mad World

[ayuvogue]

Final Batch of Free A Cappella Tracks Now Available

Ayumi Hamasaki’s official website dropped the final 25 free a cappella tracks, making a total of 100 free to download or stream on Youtube. Fans are encouraged to remix the tracks using the #ayumix2020 hashtag. In addition to streaming on Youtube from the links below, all tracks can be downloaded in mp3 format directly from the official site. The songs included in the last batch are as follows:

BALLAD

blossom

CAROLS

Far away

FLOWER

For My Dear...

Free & Easy

GREEN

I am...

independent

Memorial address

NEXT LEVEL

ourselves

Pride

progress

Rule

Song 4 u

STEP you

Sunrise ～LOVE is ALL～

too late

Trust

UNITE!

WARNING

WORDS

Zutto...

Previous Free Tracks

Batch 1

Batch 2

Batch 3

[ayuvogue]

Ayumi Hamasaki’s official site has published the third round of free a cappella tracks. They can be streamed on Youtube or downloaded from the official site. (As of right now, the “talkin’ 2 myself” mp3 download is broken.)  Stream the new tracks below or as part of the updated a cappella playlist. If you use these a cappella tracks to create a new remix, make sure to tag it #ayumix2020

Edit: the “talkin’ 2 myself” download link is now working.

AUDIENCE

beloved

Born To Be…

Daybreak

decision

End roll

Endless sorrow

Feel the love

forgiveness

Greatful days

HANABI ～episode II～

immature

is this LOVE?

Ladies Night

Last angel

Microphone

Mirrorcle World

Real me

Step by step

Sunset ～LOVE is ALL～

Sweet Season

talkin' 2 myself

Trauma

Virgin Road

You were...

[ayuvogue]

[k0tonii]

#ayumix2020

I spent half of yesterday trying to get all my favorite YouTube rips of #ayumix2020 songs on some of my Spotify playlists. Why it took so long is because I have a MacBook from 2010 and it runs on coal. These missing songs were a bunch of my top favs so I decided to put in the time yesterday to re-rip them from YouTube and re-add them to Spotify.

I had already added these songs a couple of months ago, but then I dared to move some into other playlists and then boom, they disappeared from my phone. They played and showed up on my laptop, but for whatever reason, would not on my phone. Of course, as a lot of Spotify FAQ answers go, I was screwed. Thanks for nothing, Spotify Desktop.

I know I’m like a year late on this but some of these remixes are so freaking creative and amazing. Like you can tell when people have such an ear for music and it feeds the soul.

It was also super refreshing to hear some of Ayu’s songs with a more modern sound. While ayu-mi-x 7 aged pretty well, if you listen to any of her old ayu-mi-xes, you can really pick up on that early 2000s sound. And then some of them (especially the ones released on singles) sound like absolute noise; it makes me wonder if we even had ears back then. For some old remixes, the sound is super nostalgic and still vibe-able, but when that’s all we had for 10+ years, it’s SO NICE to hear some new takes.

I realized I tend to be partial to the remixes that aren’t techno in nature but of course I always appreciate a good house/trance/EDM remix! Below are some of my favorites, and you just might understand why I worked for 12 hours trying so hard to make these songs accessible ;)

1. LOVE ~Destiny~ (Alonso Montero Remix) - Alonso Montero This remix turns this sleeper into a cute and simple techno track, and not in a bad way at all! 

2. SEASONS (Aura Qualic Remix) [Uplifting Trance] - Aura Qualic I’ll admit, I would groan anytime I saw any song from Duty or I am... show up in the hashtag, only because there are already 8294739 remixes of those songs, and I’m craving some remixes of her more obscure and overlooked albums/tracks. But this one of SEASONS is pretty damn good and well-produced.

3. kanariya - beamgame a.k.a. 8LY [éitli] This version gives this song a sultry touch. kanariya is already sexy in its OG form, but this is a different sexy.

4. evolution (PHUNKSTAR Remix) - Bentley Jones Modern, well-produced, and just plain good :)

5. HANABI ~episode II~ (REMIX) - DJ cha-p I might be biased because HANABI ~episode II~ is my most favorite Ayu song ever, but damn this remix slaps.

Real Me (80′s lover remix) - DJ cha-p I’m DJ cha-p’s number-one fan, I swear. I did notice the ‘80s sound was a trend among a lot of the remixes in general.

6. HANABI (Orchestra Version) - DJ 秀吉 That beginning piano is just so haunting and gives me chills. So beautiful T_T

7. SEASONS - DODOWAKA This version is so fresh and summery and such a bop!

8. Moments (Dominant Space Future House Remix) - Dominant Space I go so hard to this remix, I wish it was 7 minutes long. 

9. INSPIRE (Rockabilly remix) - Hidetaka Suga OMG like I love how much this works!!!! I kind of hate it too but I LOVE IT!!!! He has a bunch of other good bluesy rock remixes, but INSPIRE is my most favorite.

teddy bear (Rock Ballad Remix)

ANGEL’S SONG (Rockabilly remix)

10. INSPIRE "KAZUKI's 90's Inspired Remix" - Kazuki Shintaku This seriously takes me back to LA Gears and Zubaz pants.

11. LyxKP

Just.... just listen.

blossom (Nostalgic 80′s Italo Disco)

I am... (Flute, Piano, Strings)

Duty (Bass, String Section & Guitar)

Pride (piano sonata + choir)

vogue (Acoustic Mood)

HANABI ~episode II~ (Cello, Guitar & Piano Trio)

12. kanariya 〜おしゃれピアノリミックス 〜 - Michisuke-P Another slow and sexy version.

13. BLUE BIRD (Otak’s Flashback Remix) - otak11 Out of all the throwback remixes of this song, this one is the best. I love the beginning.

14. Terminal (Orchestra) Demo - S W This version is so fucking evocative and beautiful, it works too well and drives you crazy. Ayu needs to re-record this song just like this. 

15. Sean North Hearing stuff like this makes me so impressed with people. I love how someone can hear Ayu and be like, this needs Celtic flutes. It’s so creative and brings a sound to Ayu you never would hear officially.

BLUE BIRD [Celtic arrange]

fairyland [Celtic arrange]

16. M -takamatt remix- - takamatt Again: simple, modern... something nice to bob your head to.

17. is this LOVE? (Terusik Piano Remix) - Terusik I’m just happy to see this song get some love.

18. M (TTSYa REMIX) - TTSYa This was one of the first remixes I heard right after Ayu announced the campaign. It reminds me of the first part of quarantine when it was fun. So good!

19. vogue (Xelakad 20th Anniversary Remix) - Xelakad The strings part reminds me of the music on the sand levels on Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. I love it :) I also am partial to Xelakad remixes; I love his Reggaeton remix of ourselves and his Ambient mix to Two of us—oldies but such goodies!!!

20. evolution 〜祭〜 (和風 EPIC TAIKO REMIX) - 김대석SAMSARIDER This remix is just plain cool!

21. Voyage - 林勇太郎 I read on AHS someone saying this sounds like an anime opening and now I can only imagine it opening to some coming-of-age epic journey anime, like Demon Slayer or something.

22. Days (Lo-Fi Reggae.Ver) - 音楽学校バンブースタジオ It’s just so sweet!

Honestly there are more I love, and everyone who participated did such a great job, but I’m tired LOL. I hope Ayu blesses us with ayu-mi-x 8 soon and we see some of these awesome tracks.