Does music make you happy? If not it should, and perhaps you may need to find something new to listen to. All the more reason to read this week’s BILLCS New Music Report and check out the eight songs in the pop, dance and alternative genres within to see if any of them tickles your fancy in any way. I’m lucky to have so many decades of familiar music at my disposal that I can shift gears any day and pick out songs that I’ll always enjoy. For those of you whose vocabulary of songs is still growing, I especially encourage you to break down barriers with your choices and develop your own unique repertoire of favourites.
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 which wave our domestic flag in conjunction with some Canada Walk of Fame inductions that are taking place this week. And in case you missed them on Monday, you’ll learn what are currently #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 and the chart’s Fastest Riser.
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
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, “Down To One”
NYC-based Bright Light Bright Light continues to mine an impeccable roster of pop/dance releases with “Down To One”. BLx2 (aka Wales-born Rod Thomas) is in splendid voice in this tale about attraction to another guy for whom he’d literally use up all but one of his feline nine lives to be with. It also fits into the positive adage about having one life, so be sure to live it. The synth work shimmers, the melody glimmers, and that all makes “Down To One” a Bright Light Bright Light song that you’ll have on repeat.
PETE CHO, “Fan of You”
“Fan of You” is one of those rare songs that instantly creeps under your skin and stays there, thanks to a simple but effective hook that would resonate even more if performed in person. Chicago’s Pete Cho has crafted a warm and inviting pop release, which also features an uncredited rap two-third’s way through that fits like a glove, providing a bit of extra dimension to the song. “Fan of You” is quite different from the songs I’ve written about before either by or produced by Pete, and I’m all for following whatever path it takes him on.
MARCO FOSTER, “Movies”
Marco Foster is an NYC-based indie singer/songwriter who I’ve written about before (albeit not for several years now) and seen in concert early on in his career. After releasing a self-titled album of standards two years ago which show off his skills as an interpreter, Marco is back with new original music that seems to find his calling with the ballad “Movies”. It’s a classically-structured pop song that looks at movies through a romantic fantasy lens. The highlights are Marco’s admirable vocal and the song’s simple but effortless-sounding arrangement. “Movies” is a delight for lovers of pop ballads – they don’t often write ’em like this these days – and the many talents of Marco Foster are sure to surface in future releases.
THE BOY FROM THE SOUTH, “Man Down”
“Man Down” follows up the most recent whimsical delight from Spain’s The Boy From The South, “Amazing-Man”, which reached #3 on the BILLCS Top 30 in the spring. There’s something really refreshing about these two songs, how they combine folk-style story-telling with effervescent pop melodies and create light-hearted fun. The Boy from the South has already garnered attention in London and Mexico City for his live shows, and a video for “Man Down” is forthcoming. Thanks to The Boy’s engaging lyrics and personality, like “Amazing-Man”, “Man Down” is a grower that’s elevated into something larger than would normally meet the ear. He’s got a special niche that he’s riding that will broaden in time, so now is the perfect time to get to know the songs by The Boy From The South.
FEATURING
RYAN SHEPHERD, DARLA JADE, “Deep of the Night”
Of late, Canadian dance producer Ryan Shepherd has been crafting anthemic songs that tell a story or shape a scenario that are highly relatable to his club going audience. Witness “Hello Sunday”, which became a series of same-named Sunday afternoon small club events, and his current BILLCS Top 30 charting song “Move It (Control My Mind)”, which can easily become the centrepiece of a frenetic club set. A bright vocal by Darla Jade sets the stage for the excitement that ensues in “Deep of the Night”, which is a prime candidate to kick off a fun deep house set at 2 a.m. Ryan Shepherd continues to keep the groove steady in his second release for Sonny Fodera’s Solotoko label.
DAVID ARCHULETA, “Afraid To Love”
I’m continue to enjoy hearing Utah’s David Archuleta reveling in a fun pop/dance style, of which “Afraid to Love” is his latest release. He continues to embrace it through matching his songs with fresh and enjoyable videos. The song is about being bold at the right time to embrace your love of another person, no matter what others say or think. I’ve been writing a lot about Swedish singer Darin, with whom David has a lot in common in terms of talent, style and joyous recent pop songs. As much as I enjoy what “Afraid to Love” has to offer, I’d love to see David and his team take a few cues from Darin, and allow his voice to soar more again in future songs. In the meantime, “Afraid to Love” and its video will certainly put a smile on your face, like when David is watching old clips of himself on TV in the video, allowing him to keep his past close but grab the future with gusto.
LOST FREQUENCIES, TOM GREGORY, “Dive”
It’s been a while since a song by Belgium’s Lost Frequencies (aka Felix de Laet) has come to my attention, though his collaboration with Calum Scott a few years back, “Where Are You Now”, became a huge worldwide hit and has nary been out of the public ear. His latest collaboration with vocalist Tom Gregory (who sung on “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE, which reached #2 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2020), called “Dive”, puts him back into deep house territory with an acoustic guitar melody blending with piano to create a satisfying backdrop for Tom’s familiar but engaging vocal. It’s hard to believe that Lost Frequencies first came to prominence with a remix of a country song “Are You With Me” back in 2015, which went to #1 throughout Europe and in the UK. “Dive” is a prime candidate for international dance music radio airplay so be sure to check it out.
TYLER GUNN, “A Million Miles”
Tyler Gunn is a new rock singer/songwriter from Toronto whose sound, like Steve Lacy and Black Pumas for example, is often an exception rather than a rule. “A Million Miles” is about confronting your feelings and making yourself “feel” – often a very individual thing to grasp and understand. The song has striking garage rock guitar sounds which recall early Lenny Kravitz, and percussion by veteran drummer Matt Johnson, who performed with the late great Jeff Buckley. Tyler’s voice gets a little buried in the soundscape, but “A Million Miles” eventually resonates with you through an intriguing young artist who clearly doesn’t want you to try and predict what he does next.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
and
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 30 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
Swedish language hit “Satellit” by Darin (29-21)
“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”.
It’s L.A. rock trio Cannons with “Loving 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.
“Cult” is by Barcelona-born, London-based talent Avi Kytes
“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.
Five Man Electrical Band – Signs (1971)
April Wine – Cum Hear The Band (1975)
Chilliwack – Rain-O (1970 or 1977)
Max Webster – A Million Vacations (1979)
Rush – Tom Sawyer (1981)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Troye Sivan gets his third #1 on the chart with the addictive “Rush”
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.