I’ve got nothing to add to this week’s Report other than to keep on checking out new music, because you never know what treasure you might find! And never let anyone tell you that there is no good new music to check out anymore – they’re just wrong.
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Among the other features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers has his Classic Five pop hits feature, which offers another selection of hits from the 1980’s. I’ll also take you back through 5-10-15-20 years of BILLCS Top 30 Top 5’s from 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018!
The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me @billcs on Twitter @thebillcs on Instagram or @BILLCSMusicProjects on Facebook.
REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.
SPOTLIGHTING
DLMT, LUIS TORRES, RICO 56, “Wildfire”
“Wildfire” is indeed one fiery deep house tracks that’s set to ignite clubs and festivals this summer. And it’s 100% Canadian, from my fellow Canucks, dance producers DLMT, Luis Torres and Rico 56. It’s a splendid collaboration with big beats and some fantastic synth sounds that resonate right through your body. Rico 56 is a new name to me, but DLMT recently got to #11 on the BILLCS Top 30 with “Goin’ Down”, and Luis Torres – who I saw play an impressive set in advance of a Tiesto show last summer in Las Vegas – is ex- of duo Dzeko & Torres, who I also saw play a memorable set back in the day. The uncredited vocal sounds a lot like Chris Martin of Coldplay which helps broaden the appeal of “Wildfire”. Maybe “Wildfire” will be remembered come Juno Awards (Canada’s Grammy-equivalent) time next year!
REVELRIES, “Down On You”
Frequent visitors to this blog, Emirati dance production duo Revelries are back with one of their best recent house tracks, “Down On You”. Post-break up songs often make the best kind of dance records, and “Down on You” postulates about troubled times ahead for the person in question who simply can’t handle what’s coming. The road-weary male vocal works well as a sympathetic narrator watching the inevitable unfold. Best of all, the riveting rhythm is perfect for blasting the car stereo when out for a late night drive. “Down on You” is another song that signals that summer is coming and is highly recommended to club DJ’s for the wee hours.
PURPLE DISCO MACHINE, KUNGS, “Substitution”
Veteran German dance producer Purple Disco Machine won the Grammy for best remixed recording of Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” last year, and forges ahead with the infectious “Substitution” in collaboration with French producer Kungs, whose 2016 worldwide smash “This Girl” is still played everywhere and who reached #2 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2021 with “Never Going Home”. It’s an 80’s Eurodisco flavoured track featuring some fine bass synth, a zesty rhythm, and a supremely catchy chorus, along with a sly sample of Alphaville’s “Big In Japan”. Purple Disco Machine and Kungs definitely have chemistry with their production together and should plan on repeating it again soon.
KASTRA, SARAH DE WARREN, “Landslide”
New Jersey dance producer Kastra has been no stranger to the national dance music charts in recent years with songs like “U & Me” and “Wassup” (with Timmy Trumpet), as well with recent work with talent such as The Disco Fries and Borgeous. “Landslide” is a gentle melodic house gem about trying to save a relationship from crumbling apart, co-written with singer Sarah de Warren, who has also worked with Paul Oakenfold, Gareth Emery and Tritonal. The song goes down really easy thanks to a wonderful vocal and a memorable melody, making it tailor-made for national dance radio and for club DJ’s who want to add some sparkle to their sets.
FEATURING
FRED AGAIN.., THE STREETS, DERMOT KENNEDY, “Mike (desert island duvet)”
British producer Fred Again.. is always full of surprises, and his latest single “Mike (desert island duvet)” is kind of disjointed but is entirely brought together by the light deep house melody which contains some drum ‘n bass elements. I like to think of this song as a tribute to British alternative rock group The Streets, who had their time in the sun in the UK in the 2000’s and didn’t start to release music again until recently. The spoken word interludes by The Streets’ Mike Skinner give the song some authenticity, though I really can’t connect with what he’s talking about. Fred Again.. has lifted Dermot Kennedy’s vocal from his own “Berwyn (all that I got is you)” from his Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) album and its affecting quality works in contrast to what else is going on. Fred Again..’s new album Secret Life is out on Friday May 5.
NIKITA, THE WICKED, “don’t look”
Nikita, The Wicked is a 24 year old San Francisco-based producer whose unconventional approach manages to successfully combine melodic house with future bass rhythms and elements. “don’t look” is full of bright synths while creating a bouncy rhythm with unexpected pauses. The uncredited female vocal also acts as an instrument, singing lyrics that really don’t have connection with each other. “don’t look” comes from Nikita’s four track EP called not me, the internet. He’s a producer who has an identity on Tik Tok which now needs to spread over the rest of social media where progressive-minded dance music enthusiasts can embrace his songs.
GABE JAMES, “College”
It’s nice to hear new music from 21 year old Gabe James, whose impressive song “Gracie” captivated me at the beginning of last year and ended up reaching #13 on the BILLCS Top 30. “College” is an entertaining romp in which the protagonist knows better to stay away from a gal he’s attracted to because of all of the crazy things that she does to people. It’s a kiss off to our young and foolish years, leaving them behind and perhaps finding something more at “College”. Gabe’s playful vocal and the song’s cheery production aren’t taking things too seriously, though there’s clearly some happy truths underneath that fun exterior.
REYA, “kinda like it”
London-based Norwegian singer/songwriter of Chilean heritage, Reya, follows up the sultry “attention” with “kinda like it”. The song is an ode to taking back control when you become disrespected for too long. It puts the protagonist of the song in the position where she’s enjoying that power, and the song as a result has a mischievous wink-wink kind of unexpectedly playful tone. As with “attention”, Reya also sings a verse or two in Spanish, and there’s plenty to listen to in “kinda like it” even in its short 2:15 duration.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 20 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
Audien & Codeko with J.T. Roach with “Antidote”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online stations Radio GTA, Halton Hills Radio Online, & FM108.ca.
L.A. quintet Grouplove returns with “Hello”
HUNTER J. WILBUR’S BOP OF THE WEEK
Hunter J. Wilbur is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype” and “Addictive Energy” which can be heard on several online stations including Classic Hits Canada.
Matchbox Twenty is back with “Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Robert John – Sad Eyes
Olivia Newton-John – Magic
Diana Ross – Upside Down
Kenny Rogers – Lady
Air Supply – The One That You Love
THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20…
The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago…
2018
01 SMILE Dyrisk featuring Nik Ernst
02 SICK BOY The Chainsmokers
03 I WANT YOU Robotaki & Manila Killa featuring Matthew John Kurz
04 17 MK
05 SATISFY Mercer featuring Ron Carroll
2013
01 MAP Frankmusik
02 LIFTED Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni
03 SAIL INTO THE SUN Gentlemen Hall
04 CAPTAIN Frankmusik
05 MY GIRL Willy Moon
2008
01 MERCY Duffy
02 AMERICAN BOY Estelle featuring Kanye West
03 YOU WANT ME DON’T YOU Nelson Clemente
04 4 MINUTES Madonna & Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
05 NO AIR Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown
2003
01 THE REMEDY (I WON’T WORRY) Jason Mraz
02 JUST THE WAY I’M FEELING Feeder
03 ROCK YOUR BODY Justin Timberlake
04 AT THE END iio
05 GIVE YOU LOVE Original 3
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