Happy Anniversary to the BILLCS Music Blog! It’s hard in some ways that it began 15 years ago this month. It’s gone from being strictly a source for my personal chart, the BILLCS Top 30, to a blog site that has been praised for the support it provides to the independent music and dance music communities. Because of the fast pace of today’s music industry, there will be some changes for the blog starting in January (which are all TBD at this time), but I’m happy to continue writing it for as long as it’s worthwhile and I am able to do so. I’ve been involved, on and off, with either announcing or writing about music for over 40 years, and I like to think my varied experiences show.
In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five takes us back to 1979 for some rocking favourites. And if you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the 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 on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.
SAM FELDT, ROSA LINN, “Heart Like Mine”
Dutch Dance producer Sam Feldt is releasing some of the best music of his career this year, and clearly some of you are missing out. “Rest Of My Life” (with Jonas Blue and Sadie Rose Van) was a heater back in the Spring, and the feel-good “Mi Amor” (with JVKE and Anitta) was my song of the Summer. “Heart Like Mine” could be bigger than all of them, thanks to a sample of the seminal keyboard hook from Coldplay’s 2003 smash “Clocks” and the vibrant, uplifting vocal by Rosa Linn, the Armenian singer who you know from the post-Eurovision 2022 smash “Snap”. Sam’s careful production and keen ear for melody craft it all together for a release with both international dance radio and Top 40 radio potential.
DIAMOND CAFE, “Sweet Cherry”
“Sweet Cherry” has been released with perfect timing to coincide with Diamond Café’s first and long awaited Canadian tour! Following up the sophisticated and refined “When You Can’t Resist” (which reached #5 on the BILLCS Top 30), “Sweet Cherry” is a pastiche of pop and R&B styles that Diamond Café uses as a baseline for his own sound. The song borrows liberally many 80’s flavours from Prince and George Michael with stops by songs by the likes of George Clinton, Cameo, The Gap Band and many of their forebears. “Sweet Cherry” is a fun track that will get you up to groove and move. Diamond Café’s vocal moves from silky smooth to a scream with ease, which adds to making the record a playful party unto itself. I expect “Sweet Cherry” will also be included in Diamond Café’s upcoming new album.
WILL SWINTON, “Fall Apart”
New Zealand’s Will Swinton has a flair for writing authentic songs with an emotional core, such as the huge surprise “Harmless” from earlier this year, which got to #2 on the BILLCS Top 30. And while in “Harmless” it was Will who was about to leave his lover for something important (but likely temporary) that is never stated, in “Fall Apart” it’s his lover who’s leaving, leaving him bewildered with the upfront sentiment that he’d never break her heart. Sadly, even if you don’t break someone’s heart, that’s not going to stop them from staying, making “Fall Apart” so from-the-gut relatable.
EKONOVAH, “Take Me Home”
The latest release by Phoenix-based dance producer Ekonovah is the huge-sounding “Take Me Home”. To me, it’s more like ‘take me to the dance floor’, with the producer (AKA Stephen Scotti) using a soulful, lyric-less vocal interpolation to ride atop complex layers of synths and effects in a mix of techno and bass house. One of which stands out the most is what I call ‘disco strings’, so it’s clear that Ekonovah has been combing some 70’s disco records for the right sounds – disco fans can think along the lines of Silver Convention or The Salsoul Orchestra. It all makes “Take Me Home” a highly enjoyable dancefloor-filler.
WIN & WOO, JAKE NEUMAR, “Reload”
Dance music fans of the early 2010’s classic era are in for a treat as L.A.-based producers take on a cover of “Reload”, original recorded by Sebastian Ingrosso, Tommy Trash and John Martin. It’s a difficult task to try and fill the shoes of John Martin on vocals but Nashville-based Jake Neumar, who has worked with Syence and Dave Audé among others, capably captures the anthemic essence of the original. Win & Woo have appeared frequently in these blog pages over the years and recently celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of their indie album of originals called Ten Years. They rarely create covers but “Reload” is a great choice because it hasn’t been recorded by many others. Their production provides a solid update for this festival favourite that Swedish House Mafia fans and club DJ’s alike should embrace.
JAY BIRD, NICO CRESPO, ALLIEY XO, “Risk It All”
Bay area producer Jay Bird unleashes another release from his recent Birdhouse Records label with “Risk It All”. This time he’s collaborating with fellow SoCal producer Nico Crespo along with his “Touch” singer ALLIEY XO. It’s a big-sounding record, full of drums and percussion as well as an entertaining synth hook that seems to want to talk back in its own language. ALLIEY XO’s vocal is appropriately sultry and alluring, while the production takes us away from the cut-and-paste style that’s become synonymous with a lot of recent major label dance music releases, in favour of uplifting and playful results. I enjoy what the Birdhouse collective is cooking up and “Risk It All” should help fuel it further.
JOHN SURGE & THE HAYMAKERS, “Marisol”
“Marisol” is a fun new song fused with elements of rock, country and tex-mex flavours and brought to you by L.A.’s John Surge & The Haymakers. The first person I thought of when listening to the song – before reading the press release – was Doug Sahm, and my instincts were right: The producer is Tommy Detamore, who previously produced the late leader of Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornadoes. “Marisol” creates a fictional legend about a woman who claims “my love is like a heart attack, the kind of love that’ll keep you coming back.” It’s a terrific piece of songwriting, with musical supports from a band that has also worked with the likes of Dave Alvin, Raul Malo and Merle Haggard. It’s culled from an EP called Maybe You Don’t Know Me, which also includes a cover of John Stewart’s big 1979 pop hit “Gold”, a long-time favourite of mine. I haven’t been well acquainted with the Americana genre since it became its own recognized force years ago, but fans of artists in the genre will want to add “Marisol” to their playlists.
IZZA, “Sweat”
Quickly carving out her own brand with her take on 2000’s dance/pop is L.A.-based singer/songwriter IZZA. Her emergence on the pop scene even led to an opening gig for Maroon 5 and One Republic in 2023. “Sweat” is for fans of the now-classic Britney Spears-Christina Aguilera-J.Lo era, in which IZZA doesn’t hesitate to take us behind closed doors where we can let loose in private without inhibitions. It’s an energetic, sexy romp without being overly provocative, and an enjoyable showcase for this new talent.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.
It’s brand NEW K.C. & The Sunshine Band with DJ Martinee in an Eric Kupper remix of “I Get To Love You”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Russ’ record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
From their album Dark Matter, it’s Pearl Jam with “Waiting For Stevie”
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and “Pyjama Party”, with both shows anchored at Energy 885, where you can also hear both my New Music and Retro Picks of the Week. Hunter can also be heard weekdays at 2pm EST on Party Dog Radio.
The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence teams up with Tanishk Bagshi and Ganesh Waghela for “Feel Your Love” (Rapture)
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, which can be heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST, where you can also now hear my Retro Pick of the Week. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Led Zeppelin – All My Love
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays
Streetheart – Under My Thumb
Electric Light Orchestra – Confusion
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
With its classic and influential melody, it’s “Green Onions” by Booker T & The MG’s (1962)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Swedish dance production duos Jubel and NOTD take over at #1 with their irresistible confection, “Chocolate”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
NYC duo Fly By Midnight have a memorable pop bop with “SuperFine” (19-10)
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