November 2014 – Page 2 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

Don’t Think – Dance! @KristineWmusic Brings Us Full Circle with “Love Come Home”

KRISTINE W., “Love Come Home”

Honestly, there haven’t been many singers who call dance clubs their second home who have endured for 20 years and score big every time. Kristine W. could be set to land her 17th #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart (which has eluded her since 2011). All of her lead artist entries have reached the Top 5. That’s just insane!! I’ve been a fan since 1994’s seminal “Feel What You Want”, one of my Top 10 favourites of that year, which introduced the former Miss Washington to us in an Annie Lennox-like gender-bending video (below) – and who could forget that fluffy white spider/boa thingy? 😛 I still play her 1996 album Land Of The Living regularly. It is an inspiration and radio should have embraced its songs more at the time. A cancer survivor in the early 2000’s, Kristine continued on with so many club classics – “Fly Again”, “The Wonder Of It All”, and “Save My Soul” among them.

Fast forward 10 years and we have “Love Come Home”. This song was actually a minor UK hit in 1994 by Our Tribe which featured Kristine on vocals, very reminiscent of “Land Of The Living” at times. What better way to connect the past with the present. Kristine’s new version is as vital as her 90’s successes. The accompanying video above is all about the love – colourful and energetic and a real showcase for Kristine, decked out majestically once again in unique fashion (remember, back in the day Lady Gaga was a child). Here’s to dance clubs never, ever letting go of Kristine W!!

Couch Surfing Preview: @BrandynBurnette with “Look Both Ways”

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Look Both Ways”

Brandyn Burnette is all about nurturing is growing fan base, and he’s gradually previewing more songs from his upcoming EP The Couch Surfing Chronicles. The latest is the studio version of “Look Both Ways”, which he already offered as a free download in acoustic format. “Look Both Ways” is a heartfelt and knowing recap of what needs to be done next time in a relationship to make it last until you get “the right of way”. And even then “the right of way” comes with commitment. While Brandyn is still making friends with “Thanks For Nothing”, “Look Both Ways” should be sent to radio immediately upon release. With his distinct vocal (at times very reminiscent of Coldplay’s Chris Martin) and passionate performance, audiences should flock to this one. Listen below on Brandyn’s Soundcloud page.

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/look-both-ways

Twists In The Story: @PeeJayBrennan with @Frankmusik Produced “Confidence Man”

P.J. BRENNAN, “Confidence Man”

In case you were wondering what Frankmusik has been up to in between his own recordings, well he’s produced “Confidence Man” by fellow Brit and actor (Doug from “Hollyoaks”) 28 year old P. J. (Patrick Joseph) Brennan. He’s got a quiet vibrato in his voice that may make you recall songs alternately by John Denver, Feargal Sharkey, and Blue Hamilton vocally. The song’s carried by a piano melody that resonates amid the lyrical emotion, where the singer seems to draw from the stronger essence of his partner to develop their relationship… perhaps instilling too much into confidence as a trait. The video, on the other hand, is so much another story. It’s got a crime of passion plot that has been filmed many times over the decades, but it’s unnerving as the lead characters seem to be coping with their deed all too well. Be sure to give it a watch below, but “Confidence Man” stands well on its own too.

Get To Know @Verite with the Original and @PenguinPrison Remix of “Weekend”

VÉRITÉ, “Weekend”

Vérité is a new singer from NYC who is turning heads with her EP Echo. On “Weekend”, a comfortable marriage of pop and dance music, Vérité uses her lower register to dazzle like when we first heard Lorde, but after the minute mark her voice soars into her upper register which will draw in fans of Ariana Grande too. The video up above had me at hello, but the ending is superficial and I’ve seen other (mainly European) videos play this card to their disadvantage. But nonetheless, “Weekend” should be hitbound, it’s just beautiful all around. And it’s enhanced by Penguin Prison’s effortless remix (below) which throws it into a different soundscape without taking anything away from the song. Watch for Vérité and “Weekend”, the song is a creeper and a keeper! I would love to see Vérité play on a double bill with fellow local singer S V Ē!

Gallant Return: @SpandauBallet with “This Is The Love”

SPANDAU BALLET, “This Is The Love”

Spandau Ballet have never really went away for very long, but the original quintet led by the still-stunning pipes of Tony Hadley returns with “This Is The Love”, one of a couple of new songs you can find on their new compilation “The Story”. It’s easy to say that this one’s aimed at the fans of their biggest hits, a simple, tight and effortless return. Their documentary “Soul Boys Of The Western World” received raves at the same time as the group was performing some select gigs to get back out there to the public. As is demand, they have now launched a tour of the same name, coming to a major city near you soon! It’s great to have this band back. Spandau Ballet was one of the more intriguing groups out of the post new-wave movement who continued to embrace dance music. Fans know them for their ballads so I’m hoping in these genre-specific days that Spandau Ballet can bridge both pop and EDM easily. Watch the spot-on performance from “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” last week, above.

Out to Conquer: @ElevenPastOne Release the EP “The World Is Ours”

ELEVEN PAST ONE, The World Is Ours (EP)

I predict it’s going to be hard to stop hearing Eleven Past One on Canadian radio with the release of new songs on their EP The World Is Ours. Of course it contains the noteworthy hits such as the title song and “Tonight’s The Night”, which gave the Ontario quintet a large following over the past few years, landing them on many multi-artist tours, particularly those sponsored by Canada’s Family Channel (our equivalent to a hybrid of Disney and Nickelodeon). The songs would be nothing if they weren’t so well-written, tightly played, and fronted by the slick vocal talent of Daniel Richter. And no doubt there will be some naysayers that say this is just so much formulaic pop rock aimed for radio and teens. But I am never one to deny the appeal when it’s done as well as this.

The genuine and moving new single “I’m Ready” (above) is accompanied by an important message about bullying which will resonate with all ages. But the EP is more than just the singles. “Night Of My Life” and “I Won’t Give Up” are classy winners. What I also like about the production is the minimal use of studio trickery, which gives it an old school feel in some ways. BUT….. the EP does have a secret weapon! I don’t know what’s up with me and ballads this Fall, but “There’s Nothing Wrong” is a simply stellar and unexpected wow moment, and could be the band’s fourth and biggest hit. Watch for Eleven Plus One on tour to support the EP, and don’t be too surprised if their songs push outside of Canadian borders.

A Roaring Good Anthem: “Lionheart” by @JakeMiller

JAKE MILLER, “Lionheart”

Miami singer/rapper Jake Miller is so loyal to his fans that he’s seen his Twitter followers grow to a half-million. Not too shabby for this young man who signed to Warner Brothers earlier this year. His first release for the label is the EP Lionheart, and I’ve zeroed in on the title song, though Jake has already seen national Top 40 airplay for the poignant “First Flight Home”. “Lionheart” is almost a successor to his previous single “Collide” (which reached #5 on my personal chart) with a similarly crowd-pleasing vibe as he sings and raps about his strong-willed lady love. Jake’s appeal is highly contagious and it’s easy to get caught up in a performance like this that wears his enthusiasm on its sleeve. You can get the Lionheart EP on iTunes and listen to the title song above.

The 9 Frame Way: Toronto Trio @InMyComa Gives @DepecheMode’s “I Feel You” a Workout

IN MY COMA, “I Feel You”

I’ve been fortunate enough to follow along with the rise and rise of Toronto trio In My Coma as one of Canada’s new premiere alternative rock talents. So I was just delighted to watch their new 9 frame video take on Depeche Mode’s “I Feel You”. For one thing, it’s an excellent cover choice, one that’s not heard much, and one that the band completely makes their own, it’s several steps away from the original. Depeche Mode’s rendition is relentless and blisteringly noisy, and while I’ve seen In My Coma blow the doors off when it’s played loud in concert, they tone it down for the video, which also shows the band’s diverse talents. “I Feel You” is a great teaser for what may come on the band’s sophomore album, which I expect we’ll hear sometime next year.

In My Coma opens for Moist along with Smashing Satellites on Saturday, November 22 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto – not to be missed!

Watch Out! You’ve Just Gotta “Believe” in Powerhouse New Talent @JoeKirkMusic

JOE KIRK, “Believe”

Fresh after his remarkable performance on “The Voice” a few weeks back in the battle rounds when he was unceremoniously cut after a truly brilliant duet of Rihanna’s “Stay” which left audiences everywhere scratching their heads with eyes dripping, 18 year old North Carolina native Joe Kirk has issued his first single, “Believe”. It’s a wise choice to follow a performance of “Stay” with a wide-appeal ballad that shows off Joe’s range quite nicely. Melodically and sometimes vocally, the song is a ringer for Swedish House Mafia’s “Save The World (Tonight)” but as it moves along it changes it up until Joe’s voice is completely let loose after the 3 minute mark. “Believe” is only the start for Joe Kirk and the powerhouse talent that I sure believe lies within and will dazzle us more over the next few years. You can preview and buy “Believe” on iTunes right here.

Today’s Lessons from Mr. Jonas: “Teacher” and “Avalanche” (featuring @DDLovato) by @NickJonas

NICK JONAS, “Teacher” and “Avalanche” (featuring Demi Lovato)

Okay, call me convinced. I did indeed enjoy the preview single and video for Nick Jonas’ “Chains”. But somehow… and I still haven’t quite figured it out… I’m not digging “Jealous”, Nick’s first solo Top 40 foray… maybe I’m finding it too close to Justin/Robin songs of the past year? Anyway, the youngest Jonas clearly is on the right track with “Teacher”, which truly does feature a dynamic vocal and rich, ear-zinging production set to a slinky beat. Of course the lyric video featuring some rather nice body parts in reference to Nick’s own beefed-up physique isn’t hard to watch at all 😛 Also previewing online from his self-titled album to be released on November 10 is the ballad “Avalanche” featuring JoBros fave Demi Lovato. While the match up in the past was always with brother Joe, Nick and Demi do sound just great together. The song itself comes off like Nick’s own version of “Chandelier” as transformed into a duet. It’s powerful stuff that bodes well for the rest of the songs on his album. Like Joe Jonas’ Fastlife album of a few years ago, of which I am a big fan, Nick Jonas wisely chooses to step away from the Jonas Brothers sound and go for the gusto his own way (with the help of course of some powerful players and producers). You can buy “Teacher” (above) now on iTunes and get “Avalanche” (below) later in the week when the album is released.