I have no commentary to lead off this week’s Report, but it’s loaded with several new, dynamic tunes for you to check out, along with my regular features.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week along with a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers is back and his Classic Five this week offers a rocking quintet of tunes from 1979. Please do peruse the playlist for show 16 of my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, featuring the music of Toronto’s Kinga (whose new single “Giorgio” is also reviewed below). And with a Flashback chart, I’ll take you back to the BILLCS Top 30 from this week in 2019!
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
HAYLA, “Enough”
About the artist: Hayla is the UK dance/electronic pop singer/songwriter whose star has been on the rise since her collaborations with Kx5 (Deadmau5 and Kaskade) and John Summit made her epic voice a sensation in clubs and at festivals. She’s a gifted performer in concert as has been proven on her brief tours thus far, as well as her concert appearances with Kygo and John Summit.
About the record: Following her urgent plea in previous single “Heal” (currently rising up the BILLCS Top 30), “Enough” finds Hayla writing and singing about an unrequited love where the subject of the song doesn’t feel if she’s good enough for her partner. At this stage, she is also unwilling to create a confrontation, submerging herself unfairly in feelings of inadequacy. Like “Heal”, “Enough” is not an electronic banger like “Shiver” or “Where You Are”, but a pensive composition full of throbbing emotions led by Hayla’s beautiful but angst-ridden vocal. For other talented women working in the electronic dance genre, look no further to Hayla as your template to follow.
Other comments: Hayla’s North American tour sets sail on August 6 through early September, with stops in most major big cities, including Toronto and Montreal in Canada. If you get the opportunity, she is not to be missed (I’ve already seen her perform three times).
KINGA, STONEBRIDGE, “Giorgio” (StoneBridge block party mix)
About the artists: Kinga is a Toronto-based electronic pop singer who is kick-starting his career again after emerging first in the 1980’s. Following up the fun and fresh “Just Play the Music”, currently charting in the UK dance charts, he once again collaborates with legendary Swedish producer StoneBridge, who has worked with almost everyone under the sun but is best known for his remix of Robin S’ “Show Me Love” which made it a hit in 1992.
About the record: “Giorgio” is a downtempo but bright-sounding electronic pop track that on the surface salutes the celebrated and innovative dance producer Giorgio Moroder, a personal favourite of mine too for his work with Donna Summer among others. But really, the character of Giorgio in the song could represent anyone you admire for whatever qualities attract you to them. Kinga’s enthusiastic vocal brims alongside StoneBridge’s beautiful wash of synths making it a cheery and memorable 3+ minutes.
Other comments: Kinga is my featured artist this week in Show #16 of my all-Canadian radio program The MAPL Tapes. You can check out the playlist further down the page.
DADI FREYR, “Feel It”
About the artist: I first wrote about Dadi Freyr (often stylized as Daði Freyr) a few weeks ago with his exhilarating track “I’m Out and I Wanna Go Home” from his third album, Too Much Not Enough. He is an Icelandic pop electronic singer and songwriter who has competed in EuroVision for his country.
About the record: By contrast, “Feel It” is a warm and thoughtful track which finds the protagonist in the throes of the end of a relationship, though he still has an unrealistic hope that things will change and be what they were before. Sadly, that’s not often how life goes, and with his vocal shifts to a lower register you can hear Dadi wrestling with the emotions in the story. What makes the song even better though is the lovely melody he’s crafted against a downbeat topic which makes you really want to root for the character he has presented. It’s very reminiscent of Sam Smith’s songs on his debut album.
Other comments: Dadi Freyr begins a North American big city tour – including Montreal and Toronto for Canada – throughout October on October 3. He performs alone on stage, playing instruments he built himself, with visuals he made entirely by hand.
ADAM RODWAY, “Matter of Fact”
About the artist: Adam Rodway is a Toronto-based indie singer/songwriter whose Canadian hit “Runaround” has had a slow-burn rise into the Top 10 at Top 40 radio after being released last December.
About the record: As “Runaround” continues to hit its stride, “Matter of Fact” is a snappy follow-up that should do as well, though it may find more friends with its alternative rock flavour that has worked for Sombr and Sam Fender. He and his songwriting partners have a flair for compacting a lot into just over two minutes that make songs like “Matter of Fact” memorable.
Other comments: Adam performs as part of NXNE in Toronto on Saturday June 13 at The Dance Cave (above Lee’s Palace). He has clearly grown significantly since I saw him perform about a year ago. Adam is also a graduate of Metalworks Institute of Sound in production.
LOLA DUTRONIC, “Stardom & Death”
About the artist: Veteran electronic pop project Lola Dutronic returns after a few years with synth whiz and producer Richard Citroen continuing on with new vocalist Astrid K as a 100% Canadian outfit on Richard’s new indie label, Miracle Digital Music.
About the record: Dry humour, a droll vocal and an irresistible melody highlight Lola Dutronic’s return with “Stardom and Death”. It’s a song full of cynical glee and mirth that will have you hooked early on with some clever lyrical references and imagery, all courtesy of the mind of Richard Citroen. Astrid K’s delivery is so well-suited for the song that I wouldn’t be surprised if “Stardom and Death” finds interest through the Canadian dance community, as well as in Europe and Japan where Lola Dutronic previously achieved some success.
Other comments: Lola Dutronic’s “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead” reached #1 in Japan in the early 2010’s. In its last incarnation, the fun “Let’s All Dance (Our Last Summer)” got to #9 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2022.
THE GREENBERRY WOODS, “Summer Song”
About the artist: The Greenberry Woods met an unfortunate premature demise in the late 90’s after record company changes and politics led to the loss of their recording contract. The Baltimore-based band, whose style veers between alt.rock and power pop, recorded two acclaimed albums for Sire Records, and 30 years later have released their third called It’s All Good, Sugar…
About the record: I know we haven’t even started summer but yet here is a downbeat end-of-summer record for you to enjoy and contemplate. I never got to hear The Greenberry Woods’ earlier work but “Summer Song” is as good a starting point as ever to experience their flair for choruses, hooks, and harmonies. The song is a flashback to that point in a relationship where everything was working, and then the common dream came to a halt. Despite a melancholy backdrop, the song is peppered with shining guitar work and a catchy midtempo rhythm.
Other comments: The Greenberry Woods share a similar story with Big Stir Records label mates Splitsville, who also returned to music last year. In fact, they even share one member, multi-instrumentalist Paul Krysiak.
LIA LEFAY, “Champagne Trouble”
About the artist: Lia LeFay is not a person but a new musical project for Italian electronic dance producer DJ Mirko B, about whose songs I’ve written several times in these blog pages.
About the record: “Champagne Trouble” allows us to listen to another side of Mirko Boroni that we have had yet to hear. It falls into the sub-genre of “electro swing”, which fuses elements of swing and jazz to provide an elegant and sophisticated side of dance music that we don’t hear often today. The result with “Champagne Trouble” is a fun and creative track that will take dance music fans on a ride back as far as the 70’s chic Dr. Buzzard’s Original “Savannah” Band, though there have been others who have also infused dance music with retro horns along with keyboards/synths. A sassy uncredited female vocal evokes the big band era, and the song is certain to give you a huge lift.
Other comments: I’d certainly like to hear more of what Mirko has to offer with the Lia LeFay project.
ST. CATHERINE’S CHILD, “Fly Me to the Moon”
About the artist: St. Catherine’s Child is the artist name for Connecticut-based, England-born Ilana Zsigmond, a singer-songwriter on the rise in the Folk-Americana genre.
About the record: “Fly Me to the Moon” is an intriguing take on a pop classic most closely associated with Frank Sinatra, whose 1964 recording was arranged by Quincy Jones. St. Catherine’s Child’s version is subtle and deliberate, reminiscent of the late Julee Cruise’s 1990’s retro take on contemporary pop with her music for the TV show “Twin Peaks”. This rendition is dreamy, with Ilana’s vocal almost sounding disembodied at times, but it’s also warm and luscious and could easily have fit in with the late 1960’s lounge pop led by artists like Herb Alpert and Burt Bacharach at the time. It’s guaranteed to be one of the most unique interpretations you will hear lately!
Other comments: St. Catherine’s Child has released “Fly Me to the Moon” as a “Double A” sided single along with a cover of T-Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer”, which follows up her 2025 album This Might Affect You. “Fly Me to the Moon” was originally written as “In Other Words” by Bart Howard. Its original version was recorded by talented singer, actress and comedian Kaye Ballard in 1954.
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.
“Body Talk” by John Roberts is a fun and infectious pop/dance track to check out
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that currently airs on The Musicman James Rogers’ “The 3D Variety Show” (Tuesdays between 7 and 8pm ET) and KPHR Kat Power Radio (Tuesdays at 12:25 pm ET).
My throwback is to 1996 or 1997 (depending on what country you’re in) for “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner and program director of online station Halton Hills Radio Online.
It’s British electronic collective Jungle with “The Wave”
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, including Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bottom.
It’s British singer/songwriter Rose Betts with “Goodbye California”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays). 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.
Night – Hot Summer Nights
Bob Dylan – Gotta Serve Somebody
Triumph – Hold On
John Stewart – Gold (You Tube link)
Long John Baldry featuring Kathi McDonald – Come And Get Your Love (You Tube link)
Show #16 featuring songs and insight from Kinga
BILLCS TOP 30 FLASHBACK CHART – 2019
Mark my words, the feel good vibes and energy of 2019’s dance music will get its due, but probably not for a few more years. This chart in particular takes me back to a great time for music that mostly was not on the charts. In fact you can read about what I had to say at the time at the following link: June 10 2019
01 01 WHITE LIES M-22
02 02 GOOD THINGS Cedric Gervais, Just Kiddin, Kyan
03 03 ENLIGHTEN ME Dubvision, Syzz
07 04 LOVE ME LESS MAX, Quinn XCII
05 05 SUCKER Jonas Brothers
09 06 KISS AND TELL Mokita
11 07 DO YOU MEAN The Chainsmokers, Ty Dolla $Ign, Bülow
10 08 WILD Final DJS, Bright Light Bright Light
20 09 GOOD THINGS FALL APART Illenium, Jon Bellion
12 10 RECOGNISE Lost Frequencies, Flynn
17 11 COYOTE Mako
19 12 SWEAR TO GOD Famba
04 13 GO AHEAD Mahalo, MOZ
16 14 SLEEPING PILLS Kidswaste, Kole
23 15 WORLD AT YOUR FEET Timmy Trumpet
06 16 BLACK GASOLINE Mark Mendy, The Beamish Brothers
22 17 ADORE YOU Jessie Ware
26 18 WE FOUND LOVE Sultan + Shepard, Showtek
25 19 ATYPICAL Manila Killa, GiGi
08 20 I’M SO TIRED Lauv, Troye Sivan
24 21 FIGURE IT OUT Flight School, CVBZ
28 22 LISTEN TO YOUR MOMMA (A-Trak remix) Showtek, Leon Sherman
NEW 23 DON’T LEAVE ME LONELY Mark Ronson, YEBBA
13 24 CRASHING Illenium, Bahari
NEW 25 SHE GOT ME Luca Hänni
14 26 LET’S GO DANCING Horse Meat Disco, Amy Douglas
NEW 27 WHERE DID YOU GO Nick Peters, Jamie Grey
15 28 LONDON Mokita
18 29 WEEKEND Saxity
21 30 PERFECT STRANGERS Krono, Piotr
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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