10/10 #04
10/10 (or tenoutoften) is back and is once again this blog’s new feature where I write about 10 hot and fresh songs in no particular order, for your kind consideration and attention.
I continue to write individual blog posts about certain songs. That does not mean that songs in the 10/10 lists are any less than those featured individually.
Writing 10/10 features means I can cover more songs in one shot . So you get to learn about more new music that I hear but don’t always get a chance to write about.
tenoutoften 04
- SAVI & TARYN MANNING, “Bring Me Back To You”
“Bring Me Back To You” is a future house fan’s delight from L.A. producer SAVI and long time dance club favourite, singer/actress Taryn Manning (“Orange Is The New Black”, “Hawaii Five-O”). This Strange Fruits release is a well-produced mix to keep dancers on the floor, with a nice trappy mid-section that draws you back into the latter part of the song. It’s great to hear Taryn in this slightly different, more progressive setting, so with her track record on the charts – two #1’s “Send Me Your Love” (with Sultan + Shepard) and “GLTCHLFE” – club DJ’s will easily fit “Bring Me Back To You” to their mid-evening Saturday night sets.
- TOBIAS BERGSON & MICHAEL SHYNES, “Keep Trying”
“Keep Trying” is one of those positive slices of deep house music that’s destined to be a crowd pleaser. Brought to you by the new Dutch label Diepgraven, Austria’s Tobias Bergson surrounds the lyrics with bright sounds and a riveting rhythm to allow the fine voice of US singer Michael Shynes to anchor the song. This one’ll getcha in the same way that Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie’s “This Is What It Feels Like” or Dave Edwards & Mark Asari’s “That’s What We’re Made Of” created timeless, effortless good vibes.
- ADNAN VERON & SHAYCE OPAL, “Without You”
Anytime is the perfect time for romance in “Without You”. Adnan Veron is a new producer out of Indonesia and he’s got a fantastic British singer named Shayce Opal to carry the song for him. It’s a delightful combination of stunning high vocal notes with mid-tempo electronica, and it lilts along at a comfortable pace with wistful lyrics setting the tone. “Without You” is a gorgeous Neon Fruits release that deserves attention.
- PAUL HETHERINGTON, “Touch”
Australian producer and vocalist Paul Hetherington follows up his first release in a number of years called “When I Lost You” with the atmospheric and taut “Touch”. The song seems to take cues perhaps from 80’s new wave and late 90’s and 00’s pleasures from the likes of fellow Aussies Darren Hayes and Savage Garden. Paul crafts an intriguing and memorable melody while the provocative synth beat throbs along.
- BENEDICT CORK, “Funny How Things Change”
It came out a little while ago now but I don’t want “Funny How Things Change” by British singer Benedict Cork to slip away without notice, in the same way that I immediately latched on to YEBBA’s “Evergreen” in late 2017. This is indeed a happy marriage of a wonderful new voice and a splendid song, which Benedict co-wrote. He has a radiant tone that immediately impresses and cuts through the lyrics like butter. Benedict Cork is definitely one singer to put on your list. In fact he’s released another song since “Funny” called “Breaking Hearts” so I’ll have to get to that one soon too.
- APOLLO LTD, “Misfits”
Nashville duo Apollo LTD returns with “Misfits”. It strikes you instantly with an urgent vocal and a snappy melody with well thought out words to which anyone can relate. It has a slightly soulful backdrop that could have found its way out of a 70’s Boz Scaggs or Steely Dan record, but mainly “Misfits” is a solid, contemporary pop release that stands out.
- BETICAL, “Runnin'”
French brothers Max and Martin, aka Betical, offer up late night deep house grooves with “Runnin'”. It’s a bit different from their more recent releases but should have no problem drawing folks out on to the dance floor with its atmospheric vocal and booming house beats. The song hopes to strike a chord with the younger crowd about being independent and free-thinking. DJ’s might find themselves making “Runnin'” a go-to for late hot summer nights.
- KENNY SUMMIT, ERIC KUPPER and AMY DOUGLAS, “Give Me Love”
“Give Me Love” has one mission – to make you groove long and hard. This is big sounding deep house at its best thanks to US producers Kenny Summit and Eric Kupper featuring the classic, soulful voice of NYC’s Amy Douglas, who most recently appeared on Horse Meat Disco’s “Let’s Go Dancing” (which got to #14 on my personal chart). There’s simply no denying the power of a song like this in dance clubs. It draws heavily from 90’s house – a nice companion piece in my opinion in fact to its namesake late 90’s classic by Alcatraz.
- VALENCIA JAMES, “Flames”
Australia-based, NYC-bred singer/songwriter Valencia James is a newcomer with a fierce voice to remember in her debut single “Flames”. It’s a powerful song with an expressive and compelling vocal that uses the imagery of playing with fire when a relationship is about to be permanently damaged. There’s no doubt when you hear Valencia James that you will think of another very famous NYC vocalist – Lady Gaga. “Flames” is a great introduction to Valencia James and I’m sure we will be hearing much, much more from her.
- HOMESTEAD, “Runaway”
“Runaway” was a nice surprise to come my way as the debut single from two super and talented fellow Canadians calling themselves Homestead, producer/guitarist Liam DeBoer and vocalist Joël, who previously reached #12 on my personal chart with 2016’s “You Fucked Up”. This alt.rock flavoured dance track has a hypnotic melody led by Joël’s at times unique and mysterious-sounding vocal. I haven’t figured out what it’s all about but “Runaway” is chock full of interesting imagery and warrants multiple listens.
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