Steve Aoki has unveiled his collaboration with Louis Tomlinson over the weekend, giving us our first chance to hear the DJ’s new song, “Just Hold On.” The two musicians unveiled the track with a performance of the fresh single on The X Factor.
“Just Hold On” kicks off with a four bar chord progression played by a plucky synth, before Louis Tomlinson begins to sing the song’s vocal hooks. Picking up speed, Aoki layers in mid tempo four on the floor rhythms, injecting a tropical vibe moving into the chorus with exotic melodies and undeniable groove.
With the new collaboration, it looks like Steve Aoki is hoping to get in on the EDM-pop crossover trend that we’ve seen thrive in 2016. Thankfully, he doesn’t go the future bass route, opting instead to craft a tropical pop production elevated by Louis Tomlinson’s smooth vocal approach. “Just Hold On” is definitely catchy enough to get some heavy radio play, and Tomlinson’s presence on the song may just be enough to score Steve Aoki a full fledged pop hit.