Last year I previewed some songs by L.A. mystery electronic producer The Prizm which showed a lot of interesting potential while he figured out where this new project was heading. So I’m now pleased to introduce you to the first single from his upcoming untitled release, which is “Hello”. It’s a rather uncomplicated first taste of what’s to come, with a straight forward melody which finds its way through some complex synths and heavier beats. The pitched up, unrecognizable vocal belongs to McEwen, otherwise known as Adam Tyler, a long-time favourite in these blog pages. The Prizm uses McEwen’s appearance to unlock the door to the rest of his release, which fans of Illenium or Seven Lions will want to hear. So say “Hello” to The Prizm, with much more to come in 2020.
The new chart is in the end of the year/decade shake down mode, time for old favourites to depart and for new ones to find their way into the chart. The past few weeks have been relatively quiet new music-wise, given that most people were compiling end of the year/decade lists. Oh, and if you missed myBILLCS Top 89 of 2019, feel free to check it out as well as other previous years’ lists back to 2009 using the bottom tabs (it’s a Google spreadsheet). You can also listen to the songs on mySpotify playlist.
So, let’s get back to the music of 2020! The year and decade kick off with a brand new #1, and a unique one it is! Austin production duo Tritonal and Australian producer Henry Dark climb to the top with “Shivohum”. It’s sung in Sanskrit as an empowering mantra, one that deserves to get crowds reeling at festivals this winter.
Another unconventional song that soars 12-3 this week is “Flames” by R3HAB and Jungleboi featuring a potent vocal by Zayn. Could it follow “Shivohum” to #1?
L.A. singer/songwriter Brandon Colbein’s emotional gem called “Mad” becomes his second Top 5 hit, following 2016’s #1 “So Bad”, moving up 9-4.
Canadian singer/songwriter Peter Foldy may be a veteran of the music business but his contemporary, danceable fable of today called “Toxic World” fits right in the mix, climbing 11-8.
It should be no surprise to you that the Fastest Riser on the chart is by the performer who just finished three appearances (six weeks) at #1. It’s Harry Styles of course, from his startlingly good Fine Line album, with “Adore You” making short work of the chart by rising 21-9.
Rounding out the busy Top 10 is the first appearance on the chart for L.A. rockers Awolnation, whose majestic-sounding and danceable release “The Best” moves up 16-10.
Scotland’s Ben Davidson and England’s Sean Smith make a compelling duo as their joint, energetic effort “Dirty Mirrors” (in a Matt Pop edit) climbs 25-19.
“Ain’t Deep Enough” is satiny smooth deep house from Chicago duo Autograf featuring a stellar vocal by Jared Lee, and rises 26-20.
Leading the pair of new songs on the chart at #26 is “Starlight”, the delightful, gentle R&B/pop ballad by Germany’s ZEROBADDAYS and NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry. After a few releases together, this is their best collaboration to date. ZEROBADDAYS is one-half of production duo Saxity (aka Mr. Stan Sax) who worked with Victor on the #8 “You Found Me”, which was on the chart exactly two years ago (the second of three chart entries for Saxity). It’s also Victor’s sixth appearance on the chart overall (which includes his side project Labrose).
The second new entry picks up where former #1 “Dreamer” leaves off, as it departs the chart this week. Australian producer Throttle continues with songs from his EP Where U Are with the introspective and melodic “Japan” at #27.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more in 2020 🙂 You can start by joining our new interactive Facebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
“2020” starts off with a silky smooth Jon Sandler vocal, recalling much of their early music which won me over back about six years ago. Along with keyboard wizard Luke Moellman, Great Good Fine OK has established a career with numerous fine and diverse, mainly danceable original recordings that have found release on Sony and Ultra along with collaborations with the likes of The Knocks and St. Lucia. “2020” is a slower, warm R&B flavoured song that will be a welcome draw in concert, where Great Good Fine OK becomes a tight four-piece unit, amid their many higher energy songs. Along with their work as go-to remixers, Great Good Fine OK have set a welcome tone for the year ahead, which I expect is going to be very good to them!
Great Good Fine OK plays The Garrison in Toronto on Saturday January 18
It’s always cool when an artist works hard to confidently release music that will appeal to their target audience. Such is the case with Miami-based newcomer Ebaniez, who has carefully been honing his craft for the last few years. He has resurfaced with “Here For Me”, a sturdy house track that will immediately draw you in with an infectious first two minutes and a crystalline, wistful vocal by Naomi V. “Here For Me” pleads with club goers to stay on the dance floor to share in the story. Ultimately the song is a tad too long with little more to say beyond three and a half minutes to warrant its length. But more conciseness will come in time and Ebaniez delivers a solid song for your listening and dancing pleasure.
COLOUR OF THE JUNGLE, “Humblebee” and “Steel Tray”
The inevitable comparisons to the music of Kings Of Leon and Nathaniel Rateliff will usher alt.rock fans in the door to meet UK quartet Colour Of The Jungle. Two recent singles, “Humblebee” (above) and “Steel Tray” (below), prove that they are worthy of your attention in this busy music world. Lead singer Jack Evans commands these songs as he flexes his sometimes raspy voice through the often intense proceedings. “Humblebee” soars with pounding rhythm and excellent guitar work, while “Steel Tray” has a melodic foundation that gradually allows the song to rev up significantly. In time, with more familiarity, the complexities of the lyrics will sink in. Colour Of The Jungle deserve a place at the rock ‘n roll table and I’m sure these songs will resonate even more in concert.
India-born, Toronto-based electronic producer Dr. Ozi will push your limits with “Youth In Asia”. It’s a colourful, herky-jerky track that will keep your attention and impress you with how deftly he moves between rhythms and styles, all in one song! It’s more apt to please folks who like their electronic dance music on the heavy side, with lots of familiar dubstep moments to ride along the way. It’s also incredibly melodic and detailed, so it’s no wonder he’s attracted attention from the likes of Zomboy (for whom he opened on a recent tour). “Youth In Asia” is a feast for your ears if you like your dance music on the progressive side and your electronic music riddled with all kinds of sounds.
SONIA, “A Night That’s Never-Ending” (Matt Pop radio edit)
For the 5 years between 1989 and 1994, the voice of Sonia on UK radio was a fierce and unmistakable one, starting with the classic #1 “You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You” when she was just a teen. Sonia acquired 10 more Top 40 UK hits, and to appease her many fans has released some new music over the past few years. “A Night That’s Never-Ending” is too good to resist, a classic slice of songwriting by Gordon Pagoda (known for his work with Steps) and Joe Faraci that is given even more buoyance and pizzazz in the hands of producer Matt Pop. Sonia’s voice soars gloriously and suddenly it’s 1989 again with 2020 bells and whistles, and it all does not disappoint. You can also check out the holiday edition of the song, appropriately called “A (Christmas) Night That’s Never-Ending”.
If you’re looking for music mixed with old school trance by the likes of The Chemical Brothers or early BT, but mixed with contemporary progressive house that you’d hear on a Fisher release, then Marten Hørger’s “Another Dimension’ will have no problem winning you over. It’s familiar but incredibly playful, as you’ll find when you reach the halfway mark and this remarkable, attention-grabbing pause occurs and then rebuilds over 40 seconds, reminding me a lot actually of the mid-section of “Setting Sun”. Club DJ’s will enjoy how the song will keep their crowd on the dance floor not knowing what to expect next. “Another Dimension” is the kind of song that will gain traction over the coming months and into winter festival season.
While I’ve been somewhat critical of his latest ‘comeback’ songs, Atlanta house producer Popeska’s “Like This” is easily his best release of the year. It’s carried by an engaging uncredited female vocal, a chorus that could easily become a sing-a-long, and a synth hook that will have heads bobbing on the dance floor. When I’m not writing about songs I love outright, I’m always looking for potential. Popeska has the pedigree from the early part of the decade, which needed to be translated into music that will last beyond 2019. “Like This” is even quite radio friendly, with a big, effortless sound that will pull in listeners, and will appeal to fans of Zedd, Kygo and Kaskade.
Lexxi Raine is a talented new singer/songwriter from Buffalo, New York who arrives with her 7 song EP Fun While It Lasted. While all of the songs aren’t entirely successful, with too sparse production sometimes a culprit, the EP focuses on showcasing her razor sharp songwriting skills, and to me, her songs are easily transferable to be promoted to and recorded by other artists as well. She has a great way with words and telling a story like so many other songwriters cannot do. She calls her style “pop-punk” but it’s really cut from the same cloth that made The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, The Waitresses, and other women artists all the rage in the 80’s, which also influenced male bands like Green Day and Blink-182. The songs are often acoustic, with vocals not always on key (but someone tell that to team Billie Eilish 😉 ), but the best ones rock out with full band effect. So I’ll draw your attention to the gritty “He Says, She Says” and the cutting “Dear Kellie”, both below. But don’t get me wrong, Lexxi Raine is on a very contemporary path with the telling and provocative video for “What The Lonely People Do” (above), where the protagonist wants a relationship to be all about her and not about others. Lexxi Raine has just completed a small tour of the UK where she is obviously establishing a fan base. She’s someone to check out at this ground-level stage and has the potential to go far with the right songs and production.
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