Like last week, my attention with the current week’s selections again drifted away from dance music – though there are three wonderful new dance tracks in this edition of the Report. Be sure to check out all eight of these very strong songs, varying from future bass through alternative rock through pop/R&B. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life!
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 zeroes in on a quintet of tunes from 1976. And in case you missed it, you’ll find out what were my number one song and the fastest riser on the latest BILLCS Top 30.
The BILLCS New Music Report is always 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
MOONWOOD, “Curfew”
Australia-based rock quintet have a lot of top quality songs waiting for the world to hear in their new 5 song EP Curfew Hours. It includes the heart-wrenching ballad “Let It Go”, which I wrote about recently. I rarely repost about a song I’ve written about, but with the release of this EP, “Curfew” has grown on me a lot since my original take on it, which I now feel was incomplete. It’s a radio-friendly rocker that college and alternative radio stations would eat up. Moonwood is a tight outfit which has a dynamic vocalist/songwriter in Jake McCullough, and I enjoy when his voice has the opportunity to soar. For whatever reason, the song structure of “Curfew” reminds me of the mid-80’s UK new wave era, and retro appeal like that never hurts. You really can’t go wrong though with other songs in Curfew Hours like “Cool If I Love You?”, and you’re bound to latch on to a new favourite. And if you’re in Australia, you might want to keep an eye out for local show dates from Moonwood in future as their songs are likely heard best live.
YEARS OF WAR, “Used To Be”
Years of War is the new artist name for NYC-based electronic dance talents Rico & Miella – I guess we can now properly call them Rico and Michelle! – with “Used To Be” their second single under the new moniker. Just when you least expected after the 40 second vocal intro, this fresh song revs up into a future bass frenzy by the end of the first 70 seconds, creating immediate curiosity and anticipation for what’s next. Michelle’s touching vocal alternates between tender and urgent moments and the second, even wilder build up before another drop exceeds what electronic music fans would expect. I’ll pitch “Used To Be” to fans of Illenium, Trivecta, Seven Lions, and Nurko, but it’s a top notch song which could attract dance music fans outside of the harder core sub-genres.
ROSS LYNCH, THE DRIVER ERA, “Rumours”
I’m always happy to write about a good new song by L.A.’s Ross and Rocky Lynch under their project name The Driver Era, though Ross’ name has now been added I suppose for marquee value. I saw the Lynches and their siblings perform live as R5 10 years ago and since then have been captivated by their cohesive talent (Ross was pretty good in Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” too!). Their 2020 single “Take Me Away” also got to #11 on the BILLCS Top 30. “Rumours” is a kiss-off song to an ex who has nothing better to do than gossip about her former boyfriend’s new love life, while he couldn’t care in the least (in fact, he enjoys it). It’s a snappy guitar-drums rocker filled up in the background by a wash of soft keyboards, that focuses on the vocals and harmonies to make it resonate easily. It follows up last year’s Summer Mixtape and the guys’ second album Girlfriend, but this time as a self-released indie, so I’m hoping that a third album is in the works for next year. “Rumours” is a great way to kick it all off.
PARTY PUPILS, MAX, bbno$, MILLI, “Girlfriend”
NYC’s Party Pupils is MAX’s ongoing side project with his producer/guitarist buddy Ryan Siegel, and Ryan has continued to release several recent songs under this moniker, including last year’s “Me Without You” with rising dance music star Kaleena Zanders. Aside from some streaming shows during the pandemic, “Girlfriend” is actually MAX and Ryan’s first recorded project together since 2020. It’s a zippy, enjoyable track to which you can let loose, with the streetwise addition of Canada’s bbno$ and Thailand’s MILLI worked aptly into the mix. Their respective refreshing raps flesh out the song and increase the playfulness count. If you enjoy recent R&B flavoured dance releases by A-Trak or Purple Disco Machine, then “Girlfriend” is worth adding to your favourite playlist. You can check out the video above.
FEATURING
JAY BIRD, ALLIEY XO, “Touch”
Bay area electronic dance producer Jay Bird continues his immersion into deep house, sometimes with retro flavours or inspiration, and “Touch” is another fun track. In collaboration with L.A. vocalist/DJ Alliey XO, “Touch” benefits from a playful vocal and some 90’s techno touches which bring to mind Wildfire’s classic “Renegade Master” or music by the likes of Groove Armada or Deep Dish. “Touch” is a great addition for club DJ’s looking to build excitement in their sets where their audience/dancers can have a great time.
CHURCH OF TREES, “Pet Sematary”
A cover of The Ramones’ 1989 movie theme “Pet Sematary” may not have been exactly something that has crossed your mind, but Ottawa’s Church Of Trees intends to convince you that it is indeed a good thing with their thoughtful take on the song. Picture if you will a slowed-down acoustic piano version that has been expanded to include rock instruments along with some lush synths, which give it a larger-than-life sound, shadowing the late Jim Steinman’s school of production. It features guest Heather Brazeau’s fervid vocal, with breadth in the same vein as Amy Lee or Hayley Williams but with possible nods to Heart’s Ann Wilson and Grace Slick when they’ve sung ballads. Co-produced by CoT’s Bernard Frazer and Blinker The Star’s Jordan Zadorozny (who also plays drums), “Pet Sematary” may just be that new surprise to tickle your fancy. Church of Trees’ next album Transience is due in early 2024.
MATT TERRY, “You Don’t Know Nothing”
The music business can be merciless, and despite two Top 10 hits (which included “Subeme La Radio” with Enrique Iglesias and Sean Paul), that didn’t seem enough for his label and other supposed advocates to support Matt Terry back in 2018. So 2017 the X-Factor UK winner who hails from Bromley in greater London is back as an indie talent, after refocusing his songwriting skills and performing in UK theatre and on cruise ships these past few years, with a funky downtempo slice of business called “You Don’t Know Nothing”. It’s a solid original that’s a step in the right direction, joining the always interesting UK soul and dance genre where some interesting opportunities could await him. It also takes him away from being classified as an interpreter. If you enjoy the songs of Samm Henshaw or Leon Bridges, then be sure to check out the video for “You Don’t Know Nothing” above.
RiTcH, “Big Dream”
“Big Dream” is my big new surprise of a fresh bop this week, only the third single release from British singer/songwriter RiTcH (aka Richard Scholes) who hails from Warrington in Cheshire, England. “Big Dream” is top notch indie bedroom production that immediately caught my ear along with its tale of a former girlfriend who returns coincidentally when the protagonist garners some success, though he’s ready to confront it because he knows she has selfish, ulterior motives. Its uptempo exterior doesn’t clash with the rather sullen nature of the plot. RiTcH provides a solid vocal in the guise of just another guy next door, which puts him on the same playing field as the listener, making “Big Dream” an easily relatable, fine release.
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.
“3D” is a fun collaboration between BTS’ Jung Kook and American rapper Jack Harlow
“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”.
“Heartbreak Kid” is by West London rock quartet The Vaccines
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.
Wales-born singer/songwriter twst with “Catch Me (Beautiful Fall)”
“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. This week they’re all from 1976!
Vicki Sue Robinson – TurnThe Beat Around
Diana Ross – Love Hangover
Chicago – Another Rainy Day In New York City
John Sebastian – Welcome Back
Steve Miller – Rock’n Me
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
With the release of his 3rd album Something To Give Each Other, Troye Sivan gets a 3rd appearance at #1 with “Rush”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
Bright Light Bright Light’s “Down To One”, and its fun horror movie-themed video, soars 24-12
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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