January 1st rolls around and everyone loses their minds over resolutions. But for a massive slice of the internet, the new year doesn't actually start until they hear that iconic, high-pitched vocal sample: "Call 911 now!" We're talking about the first of the year song, technically titled "First of the Year (Equinox)" by Skrillex. It’s a weird phenomenon. Most songs have a shelf life of about three months before they're relegated to a "Throwback Thursday" playlist, yet this specific track has managed to become a literal holiday tradition. It’s basically the "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for people who grew up on MySpace and early YouTube, but with more bass drops and fewer sleigh bells.
Honestly, it’s fascinating. Sonny Moore released this under the More Monsters and Sprites EP back in 2011. Since then, it has clawed its way into the cultural zeitgeist so deeply that every January, search traffic for the track spikes like a heartbeat monitor during a jump scare. It isn't just a song anymore; it's a digital ritual.
The Viral Architecture of First of the Year (Equinox)
Why this song? Why not literally anything else? If you look at the first of the year song, it’s a masterclass in early 2010s aggressive dubstep. But the longevity comes from the music video. Directed by Tony T. Datis, it features a creepy guy following a little girl into an abandoned warehouse, only for the girl to turn out to be some sort of supernatural entity with a terrifying scream. It’s dark. It’s cinematic. It’s fundamentally unforgettable.
People remember the visual. The video currently sits with over 500 million views on YouTube. That’s a staggering number for a genre that many critics claimed would be dead by 2014. The "Call 911 now" sample—which, by the way, was actually taken from a viral video of a woman screaming at a group of skaters—became the definitive "drop" moment for an entire generation of music fans. It’s that specific intersection of internet meme culture and high-production electronic music that keeps it relevant.
Breaking Down the Skrillex Sound
The technical side is where things get interesting. Skrillex didn't just make "wub wub" noises. He used FM8 and Massive synths to create textures that felt physical. In "First of the Year (Equinox)," the contrast between the delicate, glockenspiel-style intro and the violent, distorted mid-range growls creates a tension that mirrors the transition from the old year to the new. It's jarring. It's a reset.
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Musicologists often point out that Moore’s background in post-hardcore (he was the lead singer of From First to Last) heavily influenced how he structured his electronic tracks. He writes dubstep like it's a metal breakdown. That’s why the first of the year song feels so heavy. It doesn't just sit in the background of a party; it demands your attention. It’s a sonic assault that feels appropriate for the "fresh start" energy of January.
Beyond Skrillex: Other Contenders for the New Year Throne
While Sonny Moore holds the SEO crown, he isn't the only one in the running. Other tracks get tossed around when people talk about the first of the year song.
- "New Year's Day" by U2: This is the classic choice. Released in 1983 on the War album, it’s about the Polish Solidarity movement, but it has become a global anthem for hope. The piano riff is legendary.
- "The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre: Thanks to the "Hold up, wait..." meme, this often gets played at the stroke of midnight. It’s a mood-setter.
- "Auld Lang Syne": The original. The goat. But let’s be real, nobody actually knows more than the first four words of the lyrics.
Most people don't realize that the "First of the Year" title in the Skrillex track actually refers to the Spring Equinox, not January 1st. Moore has mentioned in interviews that the title was more about a seasonal shift than a calendar date. But the internet doesn't care about technicalities. It saw "First of the Year" and decided, "Okay, this is our January 1st anthem now."
The Economics of a Seasonal Hit
There is a huge financial upside to owning a "calendar song." Think about Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé. They make enough in December to retire every single year. Skrillex isn't quite at that level of seasonal royalty, but the first of the year song generates a predictable, massive spike in streaming royalties every Q1.
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Data from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music show that "Equinox" sees a massive resurgence in "Discovery" playlists during the first week of January. For an artist, this is the holy grail. It’s passive income driven by nostalgia. Even as Skrillex has evolved his sound—moving toward house, garage, and pop collaborations with artists like Fred again.. and Justin Bieber—this 2011 relic keeps his back catalog incredibly healthy.
Why the "First of the Year Song" Still Slaps
Is it just nostalgia? Maybe. But there's also a quality to the production that holds up. In an era of "lo-fi beats to study to" and stripped-back production, hearing something that sounds like a transformer having a seizure is strangely refreshing. It’s maximalism at its finest.
When you play the first of the year song, you're participating in a shared digital history. It’s a callback to the era of "MLG Pro" montages, early Minecraft videos, and the Wild West of the YouTube comment section. It’s an artifact of a specific time when the internet felt smaller and more cohesive.
How to Curate Your Own New Year Musical Identity
If you're tired of Skrillex but still want a definitive first of the year song, you have to look at what you want your year to represent. Music is a psychological primer.
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- For High Energy: Look into "Glitter" by Tyler, The Creator or "1901" by Phoenix. They have that "moving forward" propulsion.
- For Reflection: "Motion Sickness" by Phoebe Bridgers is a fan favorite for people who want to acknowledge the mess of the previous year while stepping into the new one.
- The Experimental Route: Try "First It Giveth" by Queens of the Stone Age. It’s not a "New Year" song by title, but the rhythm is perfect for a fast start.
The reality is that the first of the year song is whatever you decide to play first. But for the collective hive mind of the internet, Skrillex’s "Equinox" remains the undefeated champion. It’s the sound of a glitch in the matrix, which, let’s be honest, is exactly how most Januaries feel anyway.
If you want to maximize your New Year listening experience, don't just stick to the hits. Dive into the stems of "Equinox" if you can find them online; the layering of the "Call 911" sample with the granular synthesis is a masterclass for any aspiring producer. Use the first week of the year to audit your playlists. Delete the filler. Keep the tracks that actually make you feel something, even if that feeling is just the urge to scream along with a supernatural little girl in a warehouse.
Actionable Insights for Your New Year Playlist:
- Audit your "Liked Songs": Go to the very bottom of your Spotify Liked list. Those are the songs you loved years ago. Re-adding them to a "New Year" playlist can trigger positive dopaminergic responses through nostalgia.
- Check the BPM: If you want to be productive, your first of the year song should ideally be between 120 and 140 BPM. This range is shown to increase focus and physical output during workouts.
- Ignore the Charts: The "Billboard Top 100" is usually trailing behind. Look at "SoundCloud New & Hot" or "Bandcamp Discover" for the actual sounds of the upcoming year.
The cycle of the first of the year song will continue as long as YouTube exists. Whether it's Skrillex or the next viral sensation, we’re all just looking for a soundtrack to the reset button. Put on your headphones, crank the volume, and let the bass drop on your old habits.