Keeping in mind their discography and larger conceptual ideas around music, we had a feeling that the Houston-born artist Dorian Electra would give us a major list of Best Songs. And you know what? We were not wrong. On the heels of their self-titled album of cover songs, here they continue their exploration of other people’s music. It’s the newest edition of Best Songs, on Nina Protocol, and you can read it below.

Best song to listen to at the club after 2 a.m.?

“Technologic (Vitalic Remix)” by Daft Punk 

I’m obsessed with DJing this one in all of my sets. Particularly after 2 a.m. Obviously it’s a classic, but Vitalic adds this slightly more chaotic, analog/lo-fi production to it and sings the hook in this casual-borderline sloppy way that compliments being drunk so well. Like you know it, but it’s new. Almost more of a cover song tbh, ha ha, which is fire.

Best song to listen to while doing the laundry?

“Organ Eternal” by These New Puritans

I’ve been a fan of These New Puritans since like 2007 and was introduced to their music through being a super fan of The Horrors. I love how much their sound has evolved over the years and this track is so hypnotic to me and combines so many elements of music that I’m obsessed with: baroque melodies on arpeggiated synths, jazz drums, these super raw and dry gravelly vocals. Honestly, I’m too ADHD to listen to music while doing chores, and if I did try to listen to this track while doing laundry, I’d probably get distracted, ‘cos it’s too good and all of my clothes would be dirty.

Best song made by a friend?

“Needle Guy” by Dylan Brady 

I love anything Dylan makes. But since he put out “Needle Guy,” I haven’t been able to stop listening. If you haven’t heard it, the bass in the song sounds like it’s saying “Needle Guy … but I also noticed ... that if you keep listening, there is another part where the bass sounds like it’s saying “yaoi.” (If you don’t know what that is, Google it. But maybe not at work or make sure safe search is on.)

Best song that is extremely fast?

“Frankie Teardrop” by Suicide 

This song is either extremely fast or extremely slow depending on your perspective. I choose to feel it as fast even though Google says the BPM is 84. It has a diabolically manic energy to it that truly only Suicide can capture. Also side note, but that would be a dream collab for me.

Best song that is very slow?

“Satanic Rites of Drugula” by Electric Wizard

Definitely one of my most played tracks ever. This whole album by Electric Wizard (Witchcult Today) is one of my favorites of all time. It’s so slow and sludgy and feels like a meditation to me. If I’m in a bad mood, I can put this on and it like sucks all of the negative energy out of me and channels it into the music and out of my body in some kind of Spotify purification ritual.

Best song to play during a flight delay?

“Just Wait Til Next Year” by John Maus

Any time is a good time to play this song. Angel from Frost Children showed it to me and it changed my life and the trajectory of my next album. So much of John Maus’s music combines so many of my favorite elements of music that really resonate deep in my soul; baroque melodies, medieval choral parts, harpsichord-esque synths, and this dark, desperate energy that feels like an epic, cathartic release of the masculine soul. 

Best song that you've heard so far this year?

“Love Yourself” by Worldpeace DMT, Rowan Please

Some of the most interesting and unique production I’ve heard this year that feels so new yet also so wonderfully classic. Count Baldor showed it me. Also—a truly sincere positive message (quite rare these days). Let’s wake that up. And of course as a certified sick in the head anglophile, I’m a sucker for the double British accents and the performance and prod. on Worldpeace DMT’s vocals sound straight of like “Waterloo Sunset” by the Kinks which makes me feel good. <3

Best song to listen to when you want to rock?

“We Are Rockstars” by Does it Offend You, Yeah?

It just gets me going every time. The most epic drop. Yep. Never even listened to any of their other songs tbh, this one just goes so hard I figured I didn’t need to.

Best song to listen to when you are trying to get to sleep?

“Tongue Demons” by Amnesia Scanner, Freeka Tet

This one goes beyond all reason and consciousness so maybe a good way to get out of one’s head before sleep. Or perhaps might induce nightmares.

Best song that makes you want to make a song?

“Der Mussolini” by DAF

I’m Dorian Electra, so like, you know I’m gonna love some dark ass political-historical/irony-laden theme of a song I just literally can’t help it. The song is mocking fascist figures like Mussolini and Hitler by turning them into a “dance craze” sort of commenting on the aestheticization of political movements in this super camp way. Musically, the beat is really militaristic and the song channels all this weird masculine rage and energy into such an incredible synth line and the vocals feel like they’re sputtered out by someone on way too much speed. Boys Noize showed me this classic German track and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Also I recently finished an online course about the dictators of the 20th century and I had this track on repeat in my brain while writing my final essay about Mussolini and Hitler.