As it has been referenced many times on nutshell, I’ve spent every Friday and Saturday evening for the last two and a half years, slinging drinks at one of Ottawa’s busiest night clubs. It’s taught me how to make a wide variety of beverages (fit for any 19-year-old), what to say to someone who has clearly had too much to drink and is trying to shove pennies at me for one extra shot of tequila, what to do to score that extra $2 tip and (for the sake of this post) most importantly, how to identify what song is going to be the next big thing.

I think there’s something about hearing a song amplified through night club surround sound, and being able to watch the crowd’s reaction, that allows me to pinpoint which songs are going to surface as smash hits. I, so modestly, will take credit for pointing my friends in the direction of “hits” like: I’m in Miami B*tch, Tik Tok, Like a G6, S&M, Bass Down Low, and many others, long before they became permanently on repeat in the main stream music world.

With that said, I don’t think it’s news to any club hopper that house music is emerging as the sound of this generation. Synthesized, electro beats are easing their way into every pop hit, hip hop jam and all other genres in between.

A great example is Rhianna’s latest – which I must admit is one of my favourite songs de jour – “We found Love”, featuring Calvin Harris.

Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, who I had the pleasure of seeing live (from backstage, nbd) on Canada Day when he performed at Escapade Music Festival, in Ottawa. His collaboration with Rhianna leaves fans with a combination of her classic powerhouse vocals, accompanied by a heavy beat that makes standing still impossible.

Flo Rida also threw it down on Avicii’s “Levels”, to make the track “Good Feeling” … personally, I was already a big fan of the original – which some are saying was the house track of 2011, and has propelled the already popular Swedish DJ to a new “level” (see what I did there?) – but, has allowed for another main stream house track.

All in all, some may be getting sick of the monotonous beats creeping into our everyday music selection, but in a nutshell, I for one, am becoming a big fan.

With the help of two house music aficionados (thanks Nin & Nat) here are some of my favourite club hits that will get your pre-Saturday-night party bumping, literally.

Jay-Z and Kanye West – Otis (Aylen Remix)

David Guetta & Afrojack feat. Niles Mason – Louder Than Words (Original Mix)

Sander Kleinenberg – R.Y.A.N. ( Pleasurekraft Remix ) – Eerf 

Swedish House Mafia- One (Your Name) [Vocal Mix]

Swedish House Mafia – Save The World 

Calvin Harris – Feel So Close

Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji – Pressure (Alesso Remix) 

Hardwell – Encoded (Official Video HD) 

Tiësto feat. Kay – Work Hard, Play Hard 

Skrillex – Rock n Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) 

Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke ft. Lil Jon – Turbulence  *personal fave*

Afrojack and Steve Aoki – No Beef

Sak Noel – Loca People (WTF)  *disclaimer: strong language*