The Report is back after a two week absence, which allowed me to vacation commitment-free in NYC, though of course I was often listening to new music at the hotel when I wasn’t out seeing Illenium in concert for the second time, or giving myself the dose of that ‘buzz’ that only The Big Apple can offer. I have nine new songs for your listening pleasure this week, including a spritely remix of a UK 80’s hit that never got the same attention in North America. My absence did create a long list of songs I’m enjoying which sadly will have to be whittled down, but I expect to bring you the best of the lot in the coming weeks.
Among the features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five pop hits feature, which this week teleports us back to 1970-71. And in case you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what are the #1 and Fastest Riser songs on the BILLCS Top 30.
The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.
REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.
SPOTLIGHTING
GRABBITZ, “Hero”
“Hero” is a hard-hitting and memorable progressive electronic release from L.A.-based, Buffalo-raised Grabbitz (aka Nick Chiari), who has recently been on tour opening for Dabin, and of course has collaborated famously with Rezz as well as Wooli, VALORANT, Subtronics, and Robert DeLong. It’s a song that you could associate with an unmade superhero movie, TV show or video game, and its heavy synth rhythm track just begs for accompanying images. What really makes this song stand out are Grabbitz’s verses mid-song, set only to minimal synths – and then there’s this wicked drop! The piano coda is also sublime and fitting. Dance music fans, “Hero” is certain to be one of your new favourites!
TONIIA, DUNCAN, “Broken Heart”
“Broken Heart” is the intriguing collaboration between German progressive electronic producer Toniia (aka Emre Yilmaz) and Denver-born pop/R&B/hip hop vocalist/songwriter Duncan, who at times in his career has worked with Pitbull, Timbaland and Afrojack, among many others. The song recounts those times where a relationship has just ended and the plethora of emotions that are stuck in our heads with no immediate way out. Duncan’s raw, streetwise vocal is really unique – alternately soulful, anguished, and self-loathing – while Toniia’s production is forceful when necessary, but more often is the understanding melody behind the pain of the lyrics. “Broken Heart” has been in the works for a couple of years, and Toniia and Duncan found a way to refine it and make it work even better.
VOYAJER, “Come Around”
Voyajer is talented new American dance producer A.J. Cassarella, and “Come Around” is his debut release. The energy of this track is contagious, which makes it a most pleasing and unexpected summer banger. Voyajer has quality on his mind with his organized and crisp production, with well-placed synths and beats that revolve around a splendid uncredited male vocal. The layers of effects stand out on their own rather than being submerged into a blurry melting pot, and help the vocal really soar. “Come Around” is a crackerjack start for Voyajer and I can’t wait to see where his next releases will take us.
DYLAN CONRIQUE, ALEXANDER STEWART, “Birthday Cake”
Now you might be going, wait a minute, wasn’t “Birthday Cake” released last year? Why yes it was, as a solo track which went viral by Dylan Conrique, the 19 year old San Francisco-area born singer and actress, noted for her role on TV’s “The Rookie”. It’s a gorgeous, tender multi-tissue song, written for a friend after the loss of her mother to cancer, and the addition of Toronto’s Alexander Stewart and his smooth tones to the song really enhances it and gives it another perspective with another voice. This duet is highly deserving of your attention, so don’t sleep on it!
BONUS!
WHAM!, “Club Tropicana” (Balearic Breeze remix)
To celebrate the reissue of their Singles collection on vinyl, “Club Tropicana” by Wham! is given a fresh official remix. It’s an appropriately refreshing, bubbly update of a song that never became a hit in North America, and takes us back to the pre-solo career days of George Michael, when he was writing songs that tapped into the social consciousness of youth of the day. “Club Tropicana” celebrates the good times to which we all look forward, and the majority of Wham!’s early songs hold up well 40 years later. Be sure to check out the “Wham!” documentary on Netflix, which explores George’s friendship with bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, how important they were to each other, and how critical both of them were to the success of Wham!
FEATURING
MOBIUS RADIO, “Can We All”
“Can We All” is another installment in the forthcoming Mobius Radio album project, brought to you and curated by Canadian musician and producer Dylan Hennessy along with input and inspiration from renown broadcaster Jeff Woods. The theme of the project is a pirate radio station, and I’m looking forward to the completed result. “Can We All” is a fine slice of melodic rock that showcases Dylan’s guitar work as well as an instrument called boomwhackers, which are tuned percussion tubes. The Mobius Radio album is due in August as well as a live launch in Toronto.
GRAYTheBand, K-RIZ, “‘Bit Late”
Edmonton’s Gray Ford, under his collective’s name GrayTheBand, is back with another winning track, “‘Bit Late”, from a forthcoming album. Like predecessor “All Done” (also the title of the album), “‘Bit Late” features a potent vocal by Gray that’s the calling card for this kind of soulful slice of pop/rock. Rapper K-Riz, also from Edmonton, is added into the mix with some slick verses midway that remind me of acclaimed Canadian rapper K-Os. All in all, “‘Bit Late” is another highly listenable track whose somewhat retro appeal comes off as fresh and worthy of your consideration in anticipation of the full album.
TISOKI, “Wish You Weren’t Here”
With the release of his new EP Euphoria, I dive deeper into the musical world of Bradley Edwards, otherwise known as Tisoki, after writing up another track on the EP called “Let You Down” (with Pauline Herr) a while back. And the versatility of the songs on Euphoria (with contributions from San Holo and Fabian Mazur, among others) are sure to be the honey to attract fans of all kinds of electronic dance music, though at times it’s quite unconventional. “Wish You Weren’t Here”, co-written with British electronic artist joegarratt – featured not long ago himself in these blog pages with his track “uncanny” – is a head-scratcher at start, a brisk electronic bop with some affecting vocals in the first half of the song which lay the emotional foundation. But the rest of the song draws from drum ‘n bass and is sure to make fans of that sub-genre jump and dance along. “Wish You Weren’t Here” is a grower and might become one of the favourites on the EP for Tisoki fans.
ME ND ADAM, “Best of Me”
“Best of Me” is a gritty new rocker from Austin, Texas duo Me Nd Adam, whose song “Get The Money” I wrote about almost two years ago. Since that time, Vince Winik and Adam Walker have opened for The Killers in concert, thanks to an endorsement from the band on their social media, and “Best of Me” actually emerged from a songwriting session with George Gekas of The Revivalists. While I can see why Killers fans are drawn to the anthemic, no-nonsense style Me Nd Adam puts forth in “Best of Me”, the artist whose sound comes closest to mind on this track is 2010’s alternative faves Passion Pit. “Best of Me” is solid stuff that’s meant for live performances, and is culled from Me Nd Adam’s upcoming album American Drip Pt. II.
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 25 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
The infectious and summery banger “Move It (Control My Mind)” is by two Canadians, dance producer Ryan Shepherd and vocalist/songwriter Heather Janssen
“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. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”!
From the SZNZ: Autumn album, it’s Weezer with “What Happens After You?”
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.
It’s a snappy dance bop “A Little Bit of Summer” by Nate VanDeusen, Horizon Blue and Michael Hausted
“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.
The Guess Who – American Woman (1970)
Carpenters – (They Long To Be) Close To You (1970)
The Shocking Blue – Venus (1970)
Edwin Starr – War (1970)
Paul & Linda McCartney – Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (1971)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Norway’s Matoma grabs #1 this week with “Won’t Follow You Home” with American vocalist James Droll
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
For a second chart in a row, Alesso’s “Without You” is the Fastest Riser, soaring 17-6
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