In less than three weeks, I’ll be embarking on my first vacation completely outside of North America in many years, when I visit Melbourne, Sydney and Bribie Island (off the coast of Brisbane) in less than three weeks. I’m looking forward to exchanging the cold in Toronto for the summery heat, and hopefully checking out some of the music scene there too. If you know of any artists who are playing, particularly in Melbourne (Feb 19-24) and Sydney (Feb 25-28), and worth checking out, please drop me a message! I’ll be visiting with The Musicman James Rogers too while he’s on Bribie during my last week in Oz.
If you have any suggestions for this blog, don’t hesitate to hit me up on one of my socials at the following Linktree link www.linktr.ee/billcs777, or email me directly bill@billcsmusic.blog.
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 is vacationing in Sydney as I write so I’ve provided this week’s Classic Five selection from the 70’s. If you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser in the latest edition of the BILLCS Top 30.
Reminder: Click on the photos below to listen to the songs. If the song has a video, a You Tube link is now provided underneath the artist and song title.
GREGORY DARLING, JULIAN LENNON, “A New Dream”
Video link: A New Dream
About the artists: Born in San Diego but now based in Europe, Gregory Darling is a singer/songwriter and musician whose foray into music began as a child. He’s had his own band, provided vocals for movie scores, and worked with some of the best artists in the biz. And that of course includes Julian Lennon, who he has known and worked with for many years. The eldest son of John isn’t often seen or heard from, having released one album, his seventh called Jude, in the last 14 years, and revisited his dad’s “Imagine” in support of Ukraine.
About the record: My but Gregory and Julian do sound fab together! Julian kicks off the song modestly with his ageless, familiar voice, and sets the stage for Gregory’s robust tenor. Life is full of stages and one never knows when there is an opportunity to start something fresh. If “A New Dream” is a new beginning for Gregory and Julian as collaborators, then count me in. It’s a classically-written pop song with a soulful backdrop that’s very refreshing.
Other comments: “A New Dream” is a reimagined version of a song from Gregory’s debut 2006 album Shell. And I happen to remember Gregory from his early 90’s hard rock group, Darling Cruel, during a brief flirtation I had with hair metal at the time. He has a multi-octave, powerful voice. I have a copy of Darling Cruel’s single “Love Child” on a compilation album, and I really thought they were going to break through, but label politics prevented a second album from being released. Gregory has toured with Bryan Adams, jammed with Prince, and previously worked with Julian on his 2011 release Everything Changes.
SAM ROBBINS, “What A Little Love Can Do”
Video link: What A Little Love
About the artist: Sam Robbins is a folk/pop singer from New Hampshire, now based in Nashville, who has released three albums to date, including a Christmas album. His touring has taken him 45,000 miles in the USA in the last few years, and he also provides songwriting therapy to veterans.
About the record: “What A Little Love Can Do” is a gentle, piano and guitar-driven track but a pointed slice of thoughtful storytelling that shows how important love is in our daily lives, only for it to get overshadowed by tragedy and world events. It was written in Nashville after a shooting took place, and solidifies our need to connect with each other in person to sing and laugh and enjoy ourselves, and to take ourselves away from the everyday dirge that today’s media and social media foist upon us. Fans of James Taylor, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne and The Eagles will enjoy “What A Little Love Can Do”.
Other comments: With all of his travels, Berklee-educated Sam is likely at some point playing a local gig near you. “What A Little Love Can Do” arrives in advance of his fourth album, So Much I Still Don’t See, recorded live in a church in Springfield, MA.
EKONOVAH, JULIA TEMOS, “One Night”
About the artists: Ekonovah (aka Stephen Scotti) is an electronic dance producer from Phoenix who fuses different sub-genres together with flourishes of old disco mixed in. He reached #4 on the BILLCS Top 30 last year with “Find My Flow”. Julia Temos is an Australian singer/songwriter who has worked with producers such as JYYE.
About the record: “One Night” slams in all the right places. It’s a piano-led deep house track with a seductive melody. The production on Julia’s vocal gives it a futuristic vibe, making it ideal for sync possibilities in video games. And it’s got that disco bounce I’ve enjoyed so much in Ekonovah’s other recent releases.
Other comments: A well-defined progressive sound makes “One Night” stand out in a set.
MASHBIT, JAKE NEUMAR, “Echo of You”
About the artists: MashBit (aka Dariush Mashayekhi) is a Texas-based dance producer who recently provided the stellar VIP remix for Angrybaby’s “Back To Life”, currently in the BILLCS Top 30’s at #4. Jake Neumar is a prolific Nashville-based singer/songwriter who recently provided the vocal on Win & Woo’s “Reload”.
About the record: “Echo of You” is more proof that every record an electronic dance producer releases does not need to be a banger. It’s a sweet pop song with a distinct vocal by Jake that puts you into the long aftermath of a relationship where hints or echoes of that person remain in everyday memory, but as the song resolutely points out for good or bad, “it’s never you”. So to paraphrase Disclosure, she’s gone, vibe on.
Other comments: Despite its many subtleties, “Echo of You” is full of pop or dance radio potential, and could also work well for DJ’s as an evening at the club winds down.
MANTRA, JAKE NEUMAR, “Remember”
About the artists: Mantra is a rising new dance producer from Atlanta named Arnav Singh who recently scored a remix for Flo Rida. And Jake Neumar scores two reviews in one Report!
About the record: “Remember” is a brisk, drum ‘n bass-driven song led by Jake’s captivating and affecting vocal. “Remember” touches on those times when you feel like you’re literally all out of love after “hollow relationships”, and how to move forward. It’s a relatable viewpoint for many people, and dance music is often the genre where you’ll find those perspectives translate the best.
Other comments: The song is included on an album compilation by its label, Lost In Dreams, called Gateway Vol. 7, which also features artists like Z3LLA and Monica Santucci.
NICO DE ANDREA, hazel, “Compromise”
About the artists: Nico De Andrea is a veteran French dance producer who has had great success in Europe and the UK for many years. hazel is a pop/R&B singer/songwriter based in L.A. who has recorded songs in the past five years solo and with other producers such as Dunisco and Boye & Sigvardt.
About the record: “Compromise” is uber-smooth melodic deep house, a style that producers have been veering away from lately in favour of flirtations with afrobeats, drum ‘n bass and progressive house. A fine melodic deep house song goes a long way. Nico concentrates on building a warm, sophisticated ambiance, with hazel’s alluring voice a perfect foil in a memorable performance.
Other comments: North American club and festival DJ’s shouldn’t sleep on “Compromise”, a wise choice for Armada to release to keep variety going in the mixes.
ELEPHANTS & STARS, ” Strangers on a Train”
Captioned video link: Strangers
About the artist: Elephants & Stars is the Toronto area rock quintet I wrote about earlier in the month with their previous single “The Ceiling” leading off their upcoming album Under The Earth and Above Heaven. The band is led by singer/guitarist Manfred Sittman, with production by Toronto mainstay Ian Blurton.
About the record: Jangly guitar work abounds and provides “Strangers on a Train” with a killer hook, with other standouts being its chorus and harmonies. In contrast are the bleaker lyrics, which identify people you might see every day on a train, bus or subway, but never get to know, as we are all sometimes just passers-by, but in the meantime our days just slip away in front of our eyes.
Other comments: With two solid lead off singles, Elephants & Stars definitely provide the goods for mainstream rock fans which should prevail on the new album.
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. Here are my picks for this week and last week.
It’s American-Italian dance producer Adyma teaming up with Ellie Goulding for “Hypnotized”
Video link: Hypnotized
“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”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
From their album Clancy, it’s Twenty-One Pilots with “Routines In The Night”
Video Link: Routines
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and is newly anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week.
Canadian group Walk Off The Earth returns with “Mom’s Old Car” (acoustic version)
Video link: Live Performance
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, where you can also now hear my Retro Pick of the Week. The 3D Variety Show is now on hiatus, returning in April 2025. 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.
Note: For this week, I’ve provided the Classic Five selections below from the mid-to-late 1970’s.
Todd Rundgren – Can We Still Be Friends (1978)
Doobie Brothers – Black Water (1975)
William Devaughn – Be Thankful For What You Got (1974)
The Babys – Isn’t It Time (1978)
Alan Parsons Project – I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You (1977)
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.
There’s no new retro pick this week, but here’s a previous one, “I’m On Fire” by The Dwight Twilley Band (1975)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
Swedish House Mafia and Alicia Keys continue at #1 with “Finally”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
“Heart First” by Lucas & Steve and Jordan Shaw climbs 26-17
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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