Resilience is musical and on Reconnected (Dream Mix), Dorian captures it more than clearly. This electro-pop treasure is a result of a physical recuperation after an achilles tear but instead of living in the state of the handicapped, the DC/Maryland musician has turned the negative to kinetic energy. What you are listening to is not merely a remix, it is a declaration of purpose by a person who does not want to see the obstacles on the path to the goal.
The first beat is glittering with production, and the synth keys are shimmering over the club-ready beats, which cannot be left without movement. The vocal performance of Dorian is a smooth ride over the song, with the harmonies piling up to a rapturous end. Based on the influences that run the gamut of both the accuracy of Michael Jackson and the modern day R&B vibe of Chris Brown, he has created something that is both recognisable and uniquely his own. The synth riffs are so catchy that they stick to your mind even after the last note is over.
The thing that makes Reconnected (Dream Mix) more than just another club music is the emotional centre of the song. Under the colourful and lighthearted production, there is a tremendous amount of longing, the universal one of missing the closeness with somebody, of needing to make the distance shorter and restore the connexion with a person you care about. Dorian does not have to lose substance to be able to dance, but he shows that the two can go hand in hand. The words are addressed to separation and hope, and the production is so smooth and contemporary that it is meant to be listened to through headphones or on dancefloors.
Being a preview of his next album, this Dream Mix accomplishes precisely what it is supposed to do: it makes you wish to hear more. Dorian has invested his adventure - hardships, anxieties, union, happiness into his music and that genuineness shines through all the strata. This is a musician who is not afraid to be weak as he gets you moving.
