August 2016 – Page 3 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

Here’s @ColePlante’s winning take on classic “Teardrops” featuring @Bobimusic

COLE PLANTE featuring BOBI, “Teardrops”

I trod in potentially muddy waters when I decided to play this song and this low, expressive voice started singing what are some of my favourite lyrics of the last 30 years. So what did I get myself into? I would never have associated 19 year old California producer/DJ Cole Plante with the 1988 Womack & Womack classic which was such a huge hit in the UK and Europe but not in North America. It’s been covered many times over, but “Teardrops” is a massive, soulful win for Cole, who broke out DJing with Skrillex at age 16, and has already had a Billboard Dance Club Chart #1. The skillful vocal by Bobi has major punch, charm and emotion rolled all into one. Cole’s mix slams hard when it needs to and has a lush and percussive backdrop. While it’s a solo vocal outing rather than a duet, look for “Teardrops” to garner favour in clubland fast. Radio stations looking for a song that’s somewhat familiar yet never a hit over here may wish to invest some time with this rendition. Two big thumbs up!! Listen above on Spotify.

@akaSIROJ and @BrandynBurnette are a perfect pair for R&B/jazz-tinged “Stars”

SIROJ featuring BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Stars”

“Stars” is an unexpectedly R&B/jazz-tinged initial collaboration between Dutch producer/DJ SIROJ and our very own Brandyn Burnette. Off-the-beaten-path dance pairings don’t get better than this. Both bring their A-game, with SIROJ creating a lilting, islands-influenced lighter house melody and rhythm, immensely complimented by Brandyn’s dreamy and committed vocal. While I will always listen to anything that Brandyn sings, “Stars” still caught me off guard for its daring diversity but also its immediate appeal. Listen above and pick it up on iTunes.

@ElectricBodega shake it up Spanish style with @AngelicaRahe’s “Pa’lante”

ANGELICA RAHE, “Pa’lante” (Electric Bodega remix)

Spanish (but L.A.-based) singer Angélica Rahe’s “Pa’lante” has more than enough festive spice to share on its own, but NYC producers Electric Bodega (currently on fire with “Rest Of My Life”) have given it some next-level energy to shake up a dance floor. The song title is the colloquial abbreviation for “para adelante” (or “go ahead” in English), which in dance music terms means strut your stuff and win over your partner 🙂 Angélica’s highly engaging vocal – take that Shakira – is the core of the song but Electric Bodega keep it busy making for both great listening and then reacting on the dance floor. “Pa’lante” is fiery but goes down easy, and Spanish is not required (though it helps). Check it out at the link above.

@officialMAXR adds progressive flavour to “Can’t Let Go” by @TheJaneslife

https://soundcloud.com/maxrmusic/cant-let-go-maxr-remix/s-BzoH4

THE JANES, “Can’t Let Go” (MAXR remix)

NYC vocal quintet The Janes – aka Jaime, Kelly, Llyra, Tayla, & Bella – have already acquired a growing You Tube following with a variety of cover versions. The original of this original tune is much more rooted in a playful tropical pop beach vibe, and remixer MAXR turns it a tad sideways with some progressive flavours that make it stand out, which gives it a nice balance between the song’s softer moments. There never seem to be enough gal groups around long enough to make an impression. “Can’t Let Go” in the MAXR remix could be the ticket for The Janes for some club play. Listen above and download it for free.

Surprise!! A diverse @AdamLambert vocal showcases on the potent @Tritonal and @Jenauxmusic’s collab “Broken”

TRITONAL & JENAUX featuring ADAM LAMBERT, “Broken”

“Broken” is this week’s surprise WOW track and I’m expecting great things to happen with it over the next while. Not only does it unleash something new from Tritonal (from the upcoming album Painting With Dreams due September 9), but in collaboration with my man Jenaux (gracing the BILLCS Top 30 with both funky original “Get It On” and remix of “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik), we have Adam Lambert on vocals! I’m not sure how this all came together but the results are pretty stunning, from both pop and dance perspectives. Adam has such a great, immense voice, and the production on his recent album The Original High offered a lot of restraint in favour of lyrics and melody. In “Broken” there’s a lot of harmony to blend with Adam’s vocal, which provides for a perfect match against the upbeat tone of the song, which is all about putting on your best face going forward after a breakup. “Broken” is one of those classy, diverse radio-radio pop/dance songs that should not be put aside. Adam’s vocal is instantly recognizable and Tritonal and Jenaux have crafted some powerful magic together. Listen above and pick it up on iTunes.

As good as the original: @officialKoni does it again with rework of @DJSnake’s “Let Me Love You” (featuring @EmmaHeesters)

DJ SNAKE, “Let Me Love You” (Koni remix featuring Emma Heesters)

Fresh off of the immediate viral success of his remix/cover of “Cold Water” by Major Lazer, Koni follows it up with his take on “Let Me Love You” by DJ Snake. Here he substitutes Justin Bieber’s vocal for Dutch YouTuber Emma Heesters, and quite honestly (coming from me, as covers do need to dazzle me), it’s as good as the original and therefore requires your attention. Putting the wrong voice in a cover of a brand new tune will sink a song, and Koni always carefully curates his tracks to ensure positive results. The melody gracefully lilts along, making it a great choice as an end-of-summer-romance track. Lend your ears and download it for free above.

Koni also brought us a recent favourite remix of mine, which reached #15 on the BILLCS Top 30. Check out my original post about “Burn Fast” by Bryce Fox 🙂 right here.

Check out @TomDempseymusic’s progressive house take on “Escape From Love” by @EvaSimons & @SidneySamson

https://soundcloud.com/tomdempsey/escape-from-love-tom-dempsey-remix

EVA SIMONS & SIDNEY SAMSON, “Escape From Love” (Tom Dempsey remix)

Eva Simons and Sidney Samson have worked together regularly over the past few years, both highly recognizable in both vocal and music style, particularly to UK dance music fans. UK remixer Tom Dempsey transforms the original mid-tempo song into more of a futuristic progressive house track that builds nicely into a slick club banger. There’s high quality at work here, making it easy to blend seamlessly into a set while still being dynamic enough to stand out. Download it for free at the above link.

@Hellbergmusic’s VIP mix of “Synchronize” featuring @_AaronRichards nails it again, future bass-style

HELLBERG featuring AARON RICHARDS, “Synchronize” (VIP mix)

Could there be anything better in the EDM/dance music world when a track is remixed by the performer and matches the original? “Synchronize” is one of my favourites of 2016, reaching #8 on the BILLCS Top 30 this past Spring, with a unique, soaring vocal by NYC singer Aaron Richards. Sweden’s Jon Hellberg has refreshed “Synchronize” with a future bass VIP mix that relies as much on its quieter moments (like the original) before its melody explodes with a drop that will simply have you cheering. Club DJ’s will be wise to revisit “Synchronize” in your sets due to its previous success and audiences will resonate with it immediately. Download it for free at the link above.

You gotta say YES: @Yello_band is back with “Limbo” and you’re gonna love it @BorisBlankYello

YELLO, “Limbo”

Swiss band Yello – long a duo of Dieter Meier and Boris Blank – arrived on the dance music scene in 1979 to catch the sunset that was the finale of disco, and remain in it while incorporating characteristics of other genres, such as the rising punk-oriented new wave, into their music. Listening to some of their earlier hits, like the still-fresh-sounding “Bostich”, shows Yello’s influence on dance music in the 35+ years since. They’ve never left the dance music scene, and their first release in 5 years is upon us called Toy, from which we now have “Limbo”. The dark, deep, mysterious vocal that has graced other songs like “Goldrush I” and of course “Oh Yeah” is back in full effect, but the music is definitely reaching to the halcyon days of disco for its ambiance. Yello never miss a step with the contemporary technology to keep their sound cutting edge, and “Limbo” blends as well as it stands apart for that ever-recognizable vocal. And with Giorgio Moroder out there performing at 75, perhaps we will see Yello (who are also in their 60’s and 70’s) one day too as dance music has no age limit or barrier 🙂 Watch the video above.

Toronto’s @KikiRowemusic gets the @YoungBombs remix treatment for new single “Trust Issues”

KIKI ROWE, “Trust Issues” (Young Bombs remix)

New Toronto singer Kiki Rowe’s single “Trust Issues” is a dark song that should find favour with fans of Lorde, Banks, and Juno winner Alyssia Cara. Rising Vancouver duo Young Bombs (who scored recently with their remix of Alyssia’s “Wild Things”) recognize this and add some tempo and progressive house flavour to help the rich and soulful song move along for a dance club crowd, and it works beautifully. Like both Lorde and Banks, Kiki’s voice is completely suited for the EDM genre and Young Bombs showcase it while adding distinct that subdued progressive vibe.