It’s happened a few times as of late, and I hope it’s not becoming a trend, but lately I’ve been discovering some very good songs by indie artists who I later find are choosing mainly to be anonymous, with little information about them online, other than the songs and videos they’ve released, and perhaps where they are from. Some of these artists also have decent social media followings, probably through word of mouth or through Tik Tok (which I don’t, and won’t, use), as well as decent streaming numbers, with some songs over a few million streams. I’ve also noticed that they follow few, if any others, in their socials too. I may be old school, but none of that is enough information to encourage someone like me to write about their music. So in my choice not to do that, I hope one day that I’ll come across another song by them again when there’s a story to write about and not just a song I like. It has to work both ways.
Please note: The next two Reports will appear on Thursday October 16 and Thursday October 23.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my picks of the week from this week and last, 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 selections are all from 1970 except one, from 1977. In case you missed them on Monday, you’ll also find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.
Do check out my daughter VXTORIA‘s six song EP Dreamstate, which follows up her her fantastic house collaboration with Toronto-area producer TEARJVCKKD called “More Love” (at the following link: More Love). Dreamstate includes three more new songs, “Awaken”, “TMRW”, and “U&Me”. It includes the previous recent releases, “Back To You”, the afrobeats-flavoured “Lost In Your Love” and “changes”. You can watch her in the video for her debut single “Back To You” at the following link: Back To You.
KELLI-LEIGH, “Elevate”
About the artist: Kelli-Leigh is a London-born singer/songwriter with her greatest success in dance music outside of long-time work providing background vocals. She was the uncredited vocalist on Duke Dumont & Jax Jones’ UK pop #1 and US dance #1 “I Got U” and the credited singer on James Hype’s UK Top 10 “More Than Friends”. She has also been a background vocalist for Adele and Leona Lewis. She has released numerous singles independently and for major labels during the past 12+ years. Her songs have been recorded by the likes of Tiësto, Benny Benassi, and Sonny Fodera.
About the record: “Elevate” is a vibrant anthemic dance track that will resonate most with pop and dance music fans who enjoy releases by Jessie Ware, Kylie Minogue and Karen Harding. Kelli-Leigh’s vocal here is soulful, effortless and magnetic – don’t forget it was she who lent the Whitney Houston-like vocal to “I Got U” that made it seamless with the interpolation of “My Love Is Your Love”. “Elevate” is a zinger just waiting to find more new fans. In another time and place, it would be a certified smash. Not to be missed.
Other comments: Kelli-Leigh released her debut album called Legacy this year independently on her Music Core label, and “Elevate” is part of that release.
GREYSON CHANCE, “Flip The Record”
About the artist: Greyson Chance is back with his first new music of the year, which we have seen begin with rerecordings of songs from his childhood star era, “Summertrain” and “Waiting Outside the Lines”.
About the record: “Flip The Record” is a passionate and bluesy song that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Greyson’s last album, 2022’s Palladium. Greyson showcases a varied style in his vocal that goes from aching and emotional to a brief semi-spoken word verse, which reminds me of Madonna’s “Vogue”. The song is about waiting anxiously for what’s coming next with the imagery of flipping a vinyl record over to find out what’s on the other side.
Other comments: Greyson Chance is currently touring in south east Asia, which I’m hoping will lead to a North American tour – he played an excellent small show in my city in December 2022 – as well as more new music on the way.
EAGLE-EYE CHERRY, “Chasing Down a Dream”
About the artist: 2025 looks to be a watershed year for Sweden’s Eagle-Eye Cherry (brother of Neneh), who has been welcomed back (though he’s never really been away) by listeners with a terrific single, “Hate to Love”. You know him best from his 1998 smash “Save Tonight”.
About the record: “Chasing Down a Dream” is another earworm from Eagle-Eye, albeit with a dose of realism in an analogy of working hard at a relationship, only to find that it’s not meant to be. Like “Hate to Love”, “Chasing Down a Dream” is completely relatable and Eagle-Eye’s softer and friendly but determined pop-rock style goes down easily. Don’t let this one get lost in your pop music shuffle.
Other comments: “Chasing Down a Dream” is from Eagle-Eye’s recently released 7th studio album Become A Light.
JAY BIRD, “Higher Calling”
About the artist: Jay Bird is the San Jose-based dance producer about whom I’ve written about many times in this blog over the years. He has recently dove into producing disco-flavoured house tracks, and also runs his own label, The Birdhouse Records, named after his production networking group.
About the record: There are hooks galore in “Higher Calling” which begin with the soaring uncredited female vocal and lead to the infectious rhythm track, with a repeated guitar-like sound (reminiscent of one in Loud Luxury & Nikki’s Wives’ track “Show Me”) that resonates over a disco-house beat. With its simple and uplifting message in which music is the medium, “Higher Calling” has that disco panache that will make you smile while busting your best dance moves
Other comments: “Higher Calling” is also the latest release on Jay Bird’s label The Birdhouse Records.
MSAKI, JESSE CLEGG, SJAVA, “Wayside Lover”
About the artists: All three artists hail from different parts of South Africa where they have all had a variety of successes.. Msaki (aka Asanda Lusaseni Mvana) is an award-winning singer and songwriter with an MFA who has had success in the pop, alternative, and dance genres. Jesse Clegg is the son of the late, great South African music champion Johnny Clegg. He has released 3 albums to date, last in 2016, with several singles since, and has opened for artists on tour such as Imagine Dragons and Joan Armatrading. Sjava (aka Jabulani Hadebe) is an award-winning singer and actor whose music was included in the soundtrack to the film “Black Panther”. He has recorded three albums to date.
About the song: “Wayside Lover” is a soulful love song in which all three talents bring their A-game. It’s essentially a duet between Msaki and Jesse, with Msaki bringing Alicia Keys vibes while Jesse channels Ed Sheeran with a dash of Bruno Mars. Sjava’s rap-like vocal interjects the South African flavour of the song that we have missed in pop music since Johnny Clegg’s songs crossed over world-wide into the 90’s. It’s a nice change from the current afrobeats sub-genre, and distinctly displays its South African roots.
Other comments: I’d love to hear a revival of the joyous music of the 80’s South African era, made during the intense time of apartheid, which was brought to prominence by artists like Juluka, Johnny Clegg, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others, and popularized through Paul Simon’s Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints albums.
JORDAN ANTHONY, “Tell Me”
About the artist: Perth, Australia born, L.A.-based pop singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Anthony, a former contestant on Australia’s versions of “The Voice” and “American Idol”, is back and follows up his recent single “Reckless”.
About the record: There’s always room in the world of music for artists who sing with such ease as Jordan Anthony, in this reflective but upbeat song in which he wants his special someone to be direct with him and stop giving mixed signals. It’s not a new story, but everything else is so on point, with an engaging performance by Jordan, that it makes it hard to resist. Jordan’s approach reminds me of American singers Jared Lee and Ryan Tedder.
Other comments: You simply can’t go wrong with a pure and entertaining pop song like “Tell Me”.
LILY LANE, “Don’t Stop”
About the artist: Lily Lane is a pop powerhouse vocalist/songwriter from the US East Coast, currently based in Los Angeles. Her flare for the dramatic in showing off her vocal talent got her song “Bad” to #9 on the BILLCS Top 30 a few years back. She has been a model and is an advocate for positive body image. She’s also the sister of Tucker Halpern of dance duo Sofi Tukker.
About the record: “Don’t Stop” is a refreshing step back to songs by the early 2000’s, with an expressive vocal by Lily, which is often in her higher range. While it could easily be played in a mix with releases by Sabrina Carpenter or Charli XCX, its playfulness is a more refined, dreamy and flirty, which is not always easy to do right. “Don’t Stop” is an upbeat and thoughtful treat!
Other comments: “Don’t Stop” will be included on Lily’s upcoming EP called Domesticated.
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 the heart-wringing piano ballad “Friends Don’t” by Canadians Alexander Stewart & Lauren Spencer Smith
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.
I got to hear this one in concert recently – “Takin’ It To The Streets” by The Doobie Brothers (1976)
“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”.
It’s Grammy winner, Australia’s Tame Impala with “Dracula”
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 anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter also has a new show on Fridays at 8pm EST called “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it also includes the New Music Pick.
“Quicksand” is by Caustic Waves, the performing name for Glasgow rocker Neil Thomas
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays, now on hiatus for a few weeks) where you can hear my Retro Pick of the Week on Tuesdays after 7pm EST. 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.
Ram Jam – Black Betty (1977)
Three Dog Night – Mama Told Me (Not To Come) (1970)
Neil Diamond – Do It (1970)
Tom Jones – Daughter Of Darkness (1970)
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (1970)
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
sombr’s “12 to 12” is #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 for a 3rd appearance (6th week)
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
It’s “My Everlasting Love” by DJ Martinee and Canada’s France Joli, which soars 26-13
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.