The Autumn months are bringing us some pretty unexpectedly diverse new releases, and I’ve captured eight of them for you in this week’s report, so be sure to give them your attention!
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, with a selection from 1975-76. You’ll also find out what are my #1 song and Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30, in case you missed them earlier in the week.
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
DVBBS, JESSE JO STARK, “Breathe”
Even after more than 10 years in the music business, artists can still surprise with something most of us wouldn’t have expected from them. The brothers DVBBS (Alex and Chris, originally from Orangeville, Ontario) crashed the UK chart at #1 back in 2014 with Borgeous and Tinie Tempah on “Tsunami”, which opened doors for their dance music around the world, as well as for a steady stream of domestic pop radio hits, like last year’s “Summer Nights” (with Brandyn Burnette). “Breathe” is one of the darkest, eeriest-sounding tracks (just in time for Hallowe’en) I’ve heard in quite some time, perfect for night time at festivals. DVBBS really embrace early trance and techno as well as drum ‘n bass flourishes, with the potent, hypnotic, sometimes minimalist synths and an alluring vocal by L.A.’s Jesse Jo Stark, who is usually found in alternative rock settings. I enjoy it when artists take risks, so DVBBS, Jesse and Spinnin’ Records are to be commended for not letting a great song like “Breathe” gather dust. Club DJ’s will have fun with this one into the wee hours before patrons trek off to their favourite 24 hour diner for breakfast.
GT_OFICE, ALWZ SNNY, ROBBIE ROSEN, “Feels Like Us”
Miami’s Gt_ofice and Maryland’s sunshine-masked ALWZ SNNY saw their early summer bop “Every Thought of You” attain some key national dance radio airplay, which led them to play some shows together too. They follow it up with “Feels Like Us”, and have brought frequent blog visitor Robbie Rosen into the fold. It’s an even better release with a singalong hook, an ode to beautiful summer sunsets and nights where everything about them reminds you of that special someone. Robbie knocks it out of the park with his warm vocal and the producers complement it with a joyous, classically-styled melody. Sometimes you just don’t need to mess with a fine song with needlessly frilly synth effects, and the straight-forward pop/house of “Feels Like Us” should continue to open more doors for these talented artists.
JUDE YORK, “All My Friends Hate Me”
You’ve got to hand it to Australia’s Jude York for taking his initial bunch of alternative pop singles in wildly different directions, from the dreamy ballads “All I See Is Him” and “Mr. Porcelain” through to the knowing but fun “All My Friends Hate Me”. It’s a pop dance track that will appeal to fans of Jessie Ware and Troye Sivan – a perfect companion piece to Troye’s “Dance To This” – but with the affecting and sometimes theatrical vocal flair that we’ve grown to enjoy from Jude. Some dialogue is added to give it extra dimension and connection to his audience, but “All My Friends Hate Me” can probably stand tall as Jude York’s best release thus far.
ULTRA NATE, LES BISOUS, “Dangerous (So Dare Me)”
Legendary American dance music singer Ultra Naté has been a continuing force in the genre years after her halcyon days which gifted us with anthems like “Free” and “Found a Cure”, and even found her on the pop charts with the cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind” with Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez. “Dangerous (So Dare Me)” is dance music radio-ready and retools The Pointer Sisters’ 80’s hit “Dare Me” – a familiar place for Ultra Naté to revisit, since one of her biggest club hits was a cover of the Sisters’ “Automatic”. In any event, the punchy percussive and jazz-tinged house backdrop by French producers Les Bisous makes her sound just wonderful, and I’d highly recommend it to club DJ’s who want an alternative to Junior Jack’s early 2000’s wonky “Stupidisco”, another take on “Dare Me”. There is always an audience waiting to get down to fun and invested performances like this!
FEATURING
SURF MESA, GRIFF CLAWSON, “Run”
Surf Mesa (aka 23 year old Powell Aguirre) is the latest dance producer to dabble in trance/techno synth sounds that seem to be in full comeback swing, with his latest track “Run” featuring L.A.-based go-to singer/songwriter Griff Clawson, known for his previous work with Arty and Matoma among others. It follows up Surf Mesa’s recent “City of Love”, a pop-oriented grower that attracted some national dance radio stations and got to #4 on the BILLCS Top 30, but which deserves more attention. While “Run” is infectious enough with its vocal hook, I would tend to pitch it more to dance clubs, who should be able to work with well with those lucid synths to keep their dancers on the floor.
DANIEL RICHTER, “Survive”
Canada’s Daniel Richter, the former voice of hitmakers Eleven Past One, returns with the follow-up to his cathartic ballad “Forget You”, the spirited and reflective “Survive”. Daniel once again sounds in great form with thoughtful lyrics over a familiarly styled pop melody. The theme of remembering and standing by those who support you through tough times is bang on in these times when people need all of the love and understanding they can get. Daniel recently won a local Durham Music Award for his songwriting talents, so we can expect ongoing high quality releases from him.
ROSEBURG, “See You Never”
Last year I introduced you to Utah-based Roseburg, an alternative rock quartet who hail from and proudly rep their hometown Roseburg, Oregon. From their new EP 2 In A Million, I bring you the energetic dis song “See You Never”. Recalling other similar songs by the likes of Paramore but say with inspiration via The Ramones, “See You Never” benefits from great vocals and tight musicianship in a tightly woven, short production. It’s top notch garage rock that makes you want to hear more from Roseburg.
ALEX SAMPSON, “Til The World Gets Sick Of Us”
Although he’s been known to make his social media following swoon with a ballad or two online, Canada’s 19 year old singer/songwriter Alex Sampson clearly also likes to rock out. His previous single, the anthemic Marianas Trench-esque “WANT YOU!” is riding at #16 on the BILLCS Top 30, and its vibrant video has over 300K spins on You Tube. “Til The World Gets Sick Of Us” is a similarly spun, quick anthem that recalls early Fall Out Boy and other bands from the same time like American Hi-Fi. But, with props to producer Dylan Rouda, you can hear Alex’s exceptional vocal tone throughout it all, and the rebellious theme of the song is infectious.
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 30 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
From his forthcoming 5th album, it’s Bright Light Bright Light with “Down To One”
“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”.
Long Beach, California rock quartet Cold War Kids with “Run Away With Me”
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 the remix of Noah Kahan’s “Dial Drunk” featuring Post Malone
“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.
Paul Simon – 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (1976)
Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)
Neil Sedaka – Laughter In The Rain (1975)
Carpenters – Please Mr. Postman (1975)
Chicago – If You Leave Me Now (1976)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Troye Sivan has a second appearance at #1 with “Rush”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
Michael Medrano’s “Disco Sleaze”, in its raw and uncut remix, moves up 17-9
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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