Monthly Archives: October 2017

Manchester rockers @TheCovasettes are set to break out with “This Feeling” and acoustic “She Is”

THE COVASETTES, “This Feeling” and “She Is” (acoustic)

Inspired by fellow Manchester bands of the 90’s, although they don’t really sound like any one of them in particular (Happy Mondays? The Charlatans? nope!), quartet The Covasettes have the same kind of appeal going on as groups like Bastille with their new single “This Feeling”.  Lead singer and guitarist Chris Buxton has a recognizable, charismatic voice that dominates the song, but he wouldn’t be able to achieve that without the tight band of Matt Hewlett (guitar/vocals), Matt Buckley (drums) and Jamie McIntyre (bass/vocals).  Fans of Keane, Kaiser Chiefs, and The Script will also gravitate to radio-friendly appeal of “This Feeling”.  Showing off without electric instruments or drums in the video for “She Is” (below) brings it down to the grass roots for The Covasettes which would come across well as a break in a set in concert.  Give them both a solid listen and remember where you read about The Covasettes 🙂

Watch Dublin’s @EclipseIRE give a heartwarming choral performance of @OneRepublic’s “I Lived”

ECLIPSE STAGE SCHOOL, “I Lived”

It’s not something I would normally write about but the backstory and the focus of it is important.  Dublin’s Eclipse Stage School offers a heartwarming rendition of One Republic’s “I Lived”.  It’s performed choir-style – all you fans of Choir! Choir! Choir! will have an edge – and what’s particularly special is that it’s sung by teen and pre-teen girls who haven’t yet ‘lived’ in terms of the song lyrics.  But that could also be said too of the school’s creative director and choreographer Kenneth Giles, who I also wrote about a few years back when he recorded a pop song.  At age 26, Kenneth was diagnosed with skin cancer, and has now recovered – so as a teenager or at age 26, how does one characterize ‘living’?  Being so much older I could not fathom the possibility of someone so young and close to me being taken away and am thankful every day for my own kids age 24 and 17, one who just underwent her own (very successful and not cancer-related) surgery this week.  So “I Lived” takes on an extended meaning of celebrating life at no matter what age.  Head over to iTunes to purchase it and proceeds will benefit the Irish Cancer Society.

“Only Us” by NYC duo @Paperwhite is given a next-level remix from Canada’s @YoungBombs

PAPERWHITE, “Only Us” (Young Bombs remix)

Paperwhite is the brother-and-sister collaboration of Katie and Ben Marshall, with Katie on vocals, Ben producing, and both as co-writers.  Their pop song “Only Us” is a perfectly likeable slice of life that is even more uplifting in a remix by Martin and Tristan of Canadian production/remix duo Young Bombs.  One thing that sets Young Bombs apart from others in the dance genre is that they know how to pounce on a dynamic vocal and make it even more the centre of attraction.  Katie’s voice can suit any genre, and Young Bombs play with and reshape how her voice comes across, particularly in what is pretty much a big new chorus that will resonate well through huge club speakers.  This is all done without taking anything away from the original inspiring song.  Make sure you add it to your collection by purchasing the Young Bombs remix of Paperwhite’s “Only Us” at your favourite digital music store.

“Drop It” by L.A.’s @Wolfenchill is out to shake up the dance floor

WOLFE, “Drop It” (free DL)

Last year around this time I wrote a blog post about “Under The Covers” by L.A. producer Wolfe, which wove a provocative story around some wild beats and effects.  “Drop It” is the latest from Wolfe and he really switches up the rhythms and effects to shake up the dance floor for club DJ’s.  The song starts out with a bang and although the first minute or so seems a little static, “Drop It” quickly recovers.  Wolfe adds an unforeseen dose of hip hop vocals followed by a soulful female voice that slides in and out of the mix of huge beats, sudden quiet, and constant fun for the rest of the three+ minutes.  Best to try and slay a crowd around midnight with “Drop It”!  Download it for free, for now, at the link above.  

Meet Canada’s new fresh-voiced charmer @QuintonnCochran with “In Your Eyes”

QUINTON COCHRAN, “In Your Eyes”  

Fans of the CBC’s recent Searchlight Showcase will already know 17 year old Torontonian Quinton Cochran as a finalist in that competition.  But if you don’t like me, then we have a new fresh-voiced domestic talent to root for.  Immediate comparisons will go to Shawn Mendes and they aren’t unwarranted with a similar easy-going charm that goes a long way on its own.  Quinton may have an edge though with a voice that could likely sing any song put in front of him and make it work.  New single and lyric video “In Your Eyes” has Quinton singing in a higher, more powerful voice sometimes equally suited to someone like Shawn.  He’s also newly signed to Radar Love Records, which is run by Glass Tiger drummer Michael Hanson, which is a great previous Canadian music generation connection to have behind him.  Quinton Cochran is definitely one to watch starting NOW!

 

Get to know Norway’s @MagBechmann with sly and catchy “Bruises”

MAGNUS BECHMANN, “Bruises”

21 year old Magnus Bechmann from Norway has already been racking up praises in the UK from the likes of The Guardian and NME for his live shows and his previous EP Loners Get Lonely Too from earlier this year.  His follow up single “Bruises” is sly and witty and will stay between your ears with its diverse melody and irresistible hook.  And it’s set to lyrics about how a certain yellow light causes bruises to Magnus’ eyes – well not literally anyway.  It’s all about self-empowerment and taking risks, and yeah sometimes you do get bruises along the way.  The vocal, with an ever-so-slight accent, is playful in a knowing kind of way.  All of these characteristics should help “Bruises” bring Magnus Bechmann more fans from the rest of the globe.  And maybe a collaboration with fellow Norwegian Jesper Jenset is in order? 😉  Check it out at the link above.

magnusbechmann

Hard-driving “Crazy” by @Dzekomusic highlights @Tiesto’s Clublife Vol. 5 – China

DZEKO, “Crazy” (Tiësto’s Big Room mix)

I don’t usually zero in on a cover version among an album of originals as its highlight, but if you’re a DJ looking for that one song to crank up a set, then “Crazy” by Toronto’s Dzeko will do the trick.  It’s a more-than-worthy cover of Seal’s 1991 smash, more recently covered successfully as well by Alanis Morissette, and one of my favourite songs of the 90’s, which makes it even harder to convince.  But it gets Tiësto’s Big Room mix treatment and ends up being the focal point of his new gem of a party album Clublife Volume 5 – China, despite top notch new songs by Stargate & Aloe Blacc, Diplo and John Christian, VASSY, KSHMR & Talay Riley and SWACQ.  Give “Crazy” a whirl at the Spotify link above, and don’t hesitate to play Clublife Volume 5 to get a room full of dance music lovers groovin’.

Remixing the remixers: @TwoFriendsmusic remix @TheChainsmokers and get remixed by Poland’s @Clarxpl

THE CHAINSMOKERS, “Break Up Every Night” (Two Friends remix)

TWO FRIENDS featuring JAMES DELANEY, “Emily” (Clarx remix)

While the ever-good-natured L.A. producers/remixers Two Friends (Matt and Eli) keep busy touring, producing their own songs, and remixing those by others, one of the guys’ recent songs in turn has been remixed.

I wasn’t quite sure why “Honest” by The Chainsmokers became the follow-up single to “Something Just Like This”, but the much better “Break Up Every Night” appears to be next, pumped by a number of remixes.  Two Friends give it a fun and zingy remix that helps capture the exaggerated nature of the song, which is actually a co-write with more L.A. denizens, Captain Cuts.  Like with Two Friends’ previous takes on songs by The ‘Smokers, such as their bouncy remix of “Roses”, “Break Up Every Night” should help enliven your Friday or Saturday evening. 

Poland’s Clarx has done great justice to “Emily”, Two Friends’ release which I wrote about last Spring and featuring a playful vocal by James Delaney.  Clarx steered the pop-oriented “Emily” into more of a traditional house rhythm in their remix, which is magnified by some pretty big futuristic synths.   This helps make what is a very good song even better, which is exactly what a top notch remix should do.

Check out both remixes at the above links 🙂

Vibes galore in “Something We Once Knew” by @PatrickReza and @MayaPaynemusic

https://soundcloud.com/patrickreza/swok

PATRICKREZA & MAYA PAYNE, “Something We Once Knew” (remix) (freeDL)

L.A.’s PatrickReza pairs up once again with Kiwi vocalist Maya Payne for a remix of her “Something We Once Knew”.  The vocal starts off as if it could be leading slyly into an alt.pop tune but swiftly turns disco-tastic with an old school breakdown that really busts the reflective song wide open.  So you get the best of a lot of vibes on “Something We Once Knew” which will keep club goers and fans of the prolific producer quite happy.  For dance music fans who like something a little different, “Something We Once Knew” is available as a free download at the link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #520 – October 16/17

Four debuts help keep the music flowing into the chart, as most of the songs are now an appealing pop/dance hybrid with other influences, though I always have a fond spot for a big banger 😀

The Top 10

  • Canadians Loud Luxury & Nikki’s Wives continue to hold at #1 with the irrepressible “Show Me”, whose comical video features none other than long time porn star Ron Jeremy.
  • “Perfect” is the gritty slice of deep house music by L.A.’s Mahalo featuring Cat Lewis that glides its way to #2 on the new chart.  Will it reach the top in two weeks??

  • “I Like Me Better” by Lauv (aka 23 year old Ari Leff) is finally making inroads at US radio after performing well on charts in Canada, the UK, and Sweden among others.  It climbs 5-3.
  • New to the Top 5, and a first timer for Tipsy Records, is the wistful singalong “No Love In Brooklyn” by producers Frenchman Nick Peters and western New York native Frank Pierce along with fellow Yank vocalist Scott Vega, which rises 7-5.

https://soundcloud.com/latchmeresound/need-your-heart

  • The Fastest Riser belongs to Australia-based UK producer Latchmere (the moniker of Shaun Galvin), whose Lovedrunk EP is perfect for club dance floors and of course to blast from your stereo.  The classic house rhythms of “Need Your Heart” take it 15-6 on the chart.

  • If you’re going to see Terror Jr. in Toronto this Friday (October 20) at The Drake Hotel, you will see Iowa’s Kid Froopy open the show.  The Kid’s EP is now out and its namesake first single “Drive Slow” moves up 8-7.
  • Rich production by Ricky Remedy and a stunner of a vocal from Orlando’s John.k take “Gold” up the chart 13-9.
  • “You (It’s All About You)” becomes the third Top Tenner here for Carlos Nóbrega, from his album The Art Of Making Love.  And if you want gorgeous goodies like buttons or postcards, as well as other collectibles, then head over to Carlos’ store right here.  “You” climbs 14-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • Every time I listen to “We Won’t Leave You” by Steve Void and Syence, it’s emotional power definitely gives me the feels.  Featuring an unbilled vocal by the fantastic Clara Mae (she also sang Steve’s “Chemistry” late last year), it rises 16-11.
  • Remixes are en route for Bobby Nourmand’s “MIND” featuring D.OC. and Goodmorning with another set of highly complimentary call-back vocals and rapping to help keep spinning EDM on its head.  “MIND” rises 17-13.
  • The US/UK duo called Culpriit (above) is well on its way with its debut single “Driveway”, which moves 24-17, and right behind is the free download with spirited vocals by blackbear and MAX, “No Hands” (below) by producers It’s Different and Forever MC, climbing 25-18.
  • Miami’s Alyx Ander’s “Wake Up For The Night” is for those with wee hour vibing featuring an Ellie Goulding-ish vocal by Caroline Pennell, and moves up 27-22.
  • Atlanta duo Halogen know good voices when the hear them, witness “Can’t Resist” featuring dazzling duo Adriana Gomez and Lub from the Porch Family (lub x tpf), and jumps 28-23.  It’s also a free download for you!

4 Debuts

https://soundcloud.com/shoffymusic/flags-feat-yuna

  • From one of my favourite albums this year so far comes “Flags” by L.A.’s Shoffy (aka Alex Shofler) featuring Yuna.  This song is available as a free download, but check out all of Shoffy’s songs from his self-titled album.  It’s full of well-produced spins on dance music, not without some big beats, but focusing on the songs and his unique vocal style.  “Flags” bows at an impressive #20.
  • Following his amazing 2017 singles “Wasted My Love” and “Out Of My Head” is L.A.’s Axel Mansoor with producer buddy Louis Vivet and your official end-of-summer song “Hit Rewind”.  As with previous singles, this one is a free download for now, but you can go and support it by picking it up on your favourite digital platform.  “Hit Rewind” arrives at #26.  Axel has yet to leave the chart since the week of April 3 which is when “Wasted My Love” premiered.

  • Another single from The Art Of Making Love makes its entrance on the chart.  This time it’s “Free” by Carlos Nóbrega featuring Spanish singer JVEL, and it debuts at #27 with its intriguing comic-book themed lyric video.

  • The last debut is by the ever-irresistible Miguel, this time paired up with Travis Scott for “Sky Walker” at #28.  Time to chillax and party down with these guys with this cool song!

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs

Check out and ‘like’ the new BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

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