Mixing it up with two recent duets with Florida’s @3letterznuk – “I Wonder” with NYC’s @MarcoFoster_, and a reboot of “Fool’s Gold” with @AaronCarter

3LETTERZNUK and MARCO FOSTER, “I Wonder”

AARON CARTER and 3LETTERZNUK, “Fool’s Gold” (remix)

I’m one for connecting the dots with music, and sometimes it takes me to interesting places whether in person or with the songs themselves. 

So I had got word that NYC’s rising and talented singer/songwriter Marco Foster – always on my radar – had a new song out called “I Wonder”.  It offers a sweeter-than-usual vocal by Marco that works in beautiful contrast to a fun rap by Florida’s 3letterznuk, newly signed to Sony.  Both styles come together to make the song really gel memorably. 

And in discovering this winning pairing, I found that 3letterznuk’s re-emergence on an earlier single this past summer latched on to another performer’s own re-branding  – fellow Floridian, Aaron Carter.  “Fool’s Gold” was initially released a few years ago and was included on Aaron’s first album in 16 years (and first as an adult!) called LØVË, released earlier this year.  A remix was an awfully good idea, letting 3letterznuk’s verses flow freely over the beginning of the song, allowing a segue for the lush production and a sincerely restrained and bright vocal by Aaron that has a lot of delightful breathy qualities about it too.  

Both “I Wonder” and the remix of “Fool’s Gold” happen to have 3letterznuk in common, but they’re true 2018 sleepers waiting for you to discover them.

“Paradise” by @Parralox featuring @MarcellaDetroit is reinvented as a chic deep house track by remixer @EricKupper

PARRALOX featuring MARCELLA DETROIT, “Paradise” (Eric Kupper remix)

Sometimes you can’t just let go of a great song with a fantastic vocal.  Such is the case with Parralox’s “Paradise”, originally a mid-tempo pop/dance track for the Aussie production project featuring the fabulous Marcella Detroit, who most of you know as one half of 90’s duo Shakespear’s Sister (1992’s “Stay”) but has an otherwise storied pop music career.  The song arrived on Parralox’s 2017 album Subculture, but John von Ahlen is wise to make the song into much, much more, this time through release on Energise Recordings.  So almost two years later, we have a package of several remixes, which is led by chart-meister Eric Kupper’s chic deep house remix.  “Paradise” simply sounds like it was intended to be a strutting house thumper like this, with the refrain of “the time has come to let you go” resonating much bolder this time around for dance club goers.  With Eric coming off of yet another Billboard #1 remix of Ariana Grande’s “Breathin”, his remix of “Paradise” spells great things for Parralox and hopefully another opportunity to partner with Marcella on a future track.  Mix this one in with Jessie Ware’s “Overtime”, another of my current favourites, and watch dance floor bliss in motion!

The name is Puth, but this time it’s Stephen – that’s @StephenPuth with gritty “Sexual Vibe”

https://open.spotify.com/track/57nU6ivxzZemOQaQK0hqEs?si=K1294bQQQueXJHLfyiIQbQ

STEPHEN PUTH, “Sexual Vibe”

Another Puth has quietly emerged in 2018 – following award-winning older brother Charlie’s massive success, this time it may be Stephen’s turn with his introduction of “Sexual Vibe” being part of the revival of the Arista label for Sony.  If Charlie is the likable Shawn Mendes of the family – who can still get his own sexy on just fine thank you, if you’ll recall “Attention” – then Stephen is the grittier, Michael Hutchence-inspired one who takes things a few steps further.  Thus, “Sexual Vibe” doesn’t beat around any bushes.  It’s a mid-tempo alt.rocker with Stephen comfortably resting in his chest voice, recalling Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers at times.  The second verse of “Sexual Vibe” will have you sold when Stephen croons “your efforts are effortless, so don’t move too fast, cause I like it when you …… fuck with me reck-ol-less [my emphasis]” to the song’s sparse, 60’s sounding melody, which is a real toe-tapper.  “Sexual Vibe” shouldn’t be an inauspicious start to another career but appears to be so for Stephen Puth – just for now.

 

#BILLCSTop30 #551 – December 24/18

It’s the last chart of 2018 for me, and the new entries continue to be bountiful as 4 more songs are added to the chart.  It’s been a busy, fun-filled year for pop music and 2019 doesn’t look like it will let up.  There’s far too much talent out there and not enough forums in which it can be showcased en masse.

My Christmas #1 though is new to the top and it’s “DJ’s Gotta Dance More” by my fellow Canadian A-Trak and legendary house producer and remixer Todd Terry.  Did you know that Todd was behind the innovative classic mid-80’s slammer “Can You Party” under the name Royal House?  I’m predicting more classic dance music vibes will seep into the mainstream in 2019 to make people feel so good.

The Rest of the Top 10

  • France’s Mercer made some of my most favourite house music of 2018, and “Fireworks” (above), currently #3, is right up there.  The prolific producer just dropped a new one for Armada with ATFC called “Twisted” (below).

 

  • PatrickReza’s heavy remix of Illenium’s “Crawl Outta Love” is perfectly in sync with the intent of the original song (and Illenium-approved) so it advances 5-4.  Also, in a similar alt.dance mode and with a heavy rock flavour is Patrick’s brief (1:50!) and eerie “Tip Toe”, below.
  • Sam Dickinson scores his biggest chart entry to date with “Wild Sun” in its Handbag House radio edit, climbing 9-5 from his EP From The Glass House: Part One.  Check out the remix up top and the video below.

  • Two very different songs featuring great UK women vocalist move up into the Top 10.  Jessie Ware’s “Overtime” (above) is very Lisa Stansfield-ish with a lot of 80’s funk elements, and it climbs 11-9.  Leona Lewis packs a punch with her vocal on Hellberg’s “Headlights” (below) which jumps 12-10.  It’s Hellberg’s 4th Top 10 entry and Leona’s 3rd.

Movin’ On Up

  • Mahalo and Le:Blanc’s insanely catchy 2:28 ear candy “In My Arms” is on the move and climbs 18-13.

  • Ending 2018 with rave reviews for his live shows, San Holo rises 17-14 with “Brighter Days” from album1 featuring the distinct voice of Bipolar Sunshine.
  • The fastest riser on the chart is the disco-tastic “Mister Love” from Luxembourgeois producer White Chocolate, which soars 25-16.

  • When she’s not providing vocals from many top dance music producers, Anna Yvette is writing and producing her own, and the uplifting “Shining Star” advances 22-18.

  • I’m looking forward to what Brandyn Burnette, now known as EMAN8, has up his sleeve for his debut album in 2019.  “Amen” is a soulful, psychedelic, diverse slice of pop music that climbs 23-19.  Check out the attention-grabbing video above.

  • UK producer Jax Jones turns back the clock a bit to what Years & Years sounded like at the time of their debut almost 4 years ago with the joyous pop/dance vibes of their collaboration “Play”, which rises 24-20.

Four Debuts

  • “Closure” by Steve Void and Andy Marsh, is a hard one to get out of your head, and a song to which so many of us can relate, and to which we can dance away our troubles.  It arrives on the chart at #24 and is talented Dutchman Steve’s 4th chart entry as a performer.
  • A voice to listen for in 2019 is NYC-based singer/songwriter Ryan Gibeau.  His gorgeous voice shows off his lower octaves in “Flying High”, an emotional song written on a plane after a relationship ended.  It’s from Ryan’s new album Quiet Fall and bows at #25.

  • Dutch duo The Him return to the chart after a successful 2018 releasing songs for Spinnin’ and getting to #1 on this chart with “Broken Love”.  Steven and J are at #26 with “Look At Us Now”, with some big synth riffs designed for festivals, their 7th entry since 2016.
  • Molly Moore also makes a welcome return to the chart with “Be Here Now”, which is one of her most passionate and compelling songs in the aftermath of personal tragedy.  It arrives at #29 and is her 5th solo chart entry.  Of course Molly is one half of Cosmos N Creature with EMAN8 and her songs feature prominently with them as well.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

 

 

Sweden’s rising duo @NOTD go all #Ninjawerks with “Start It Over”, with @CVBZmvzic and #ShyMartin

NOTD featuring CVBZ and SHY MARTIN, “Start It Over”

It’s so cool to see young and rising Swedish producers NOTD (Tobi and Sam) alongside greats like Alesso, Tiësto, Arty, 3LAU, Kaskade, Nero, and Dillon Francis on the new Ninjawerks Volume 1 compilation with “Start It Over” – and gotta like the boys animated Ninja-style in the artwork above too (real pic below)!  NOTD, who had a Billboard Top 10 dance club play chart entry with “I Wanna Know” with Bea Miller this past summer, brings along Oregon-based vocalist CVBZ, already written about several times in these blog pages, and fellow Swedish singer Shy Martin, who released her first EP this year.  “Start It Over” isn’t the usual kind of dance song you’d find associated with something like Ninjawerks, but clearly the high-profile man behind those projects is looking for a diverse mix, and NOTD delivers.  “Start It Over” is a catchy production that seamlessly blends two splendid and distinct vocals that likely otherwise wouldn’t be matched up, and the bold moves certainly work.  Expect even more big things in 2019 from NOTD.

NOTD

“All Into Nothing” is a thoughtful downtempo deep house change of pace for @R3HAB with vocals by @thisisMokita

R3HAB & MOKITA, “All Into Nothing”

Award-winning Dutch producer/DJ R3HAB has made many dance bangers over the years, making him one of the most popular electronic dance artists in the world in the process.  So it’s nice to hear more downtempo deep house from him in the form of “All Into Nothing”.  It’s a collaboration with Nashville’s Mokito, providing the warm vocals over a complex, sweeping production which makes it rise above so many other electronic dance ballads, making it very radio friendly.  R3HAB has had 17 Billboard Dance/Electronic chart entries since 2013, reaching the Top 30 7 of those times (including last year’s “Hold On Tight” with Conor Maynard from R3HAB’s album The Wave, his third #1 on the Dance Club Play chart).  “All Into Nothing” should definitely help him get there again!

R3HAB

L.A. duo @Sevenn bring it short, sweet ‘n sexy with “Lollipop”

SEVENN, “Lollipop”

US production duo Sevenn – Sean Brauer and Kevin Brauer – have a sugary holiday winner with “Lollipop”.  Taking many finessed cues from 90’s and 00’s classic house, “Lollipop” becomes less of a novelty track and more of a short, sweet ‘n sexy deep house bumper.  The uncredited female vocal gives it some sleek cheese to please, but the song is more about a tight groove that just doesn’t want to let up.  No wonder Armada has jumped on it – be sure listen for “Lollipop” during festival season.

sevenn

Portugal’s #MrGroove (aka @_luis_telo_) has a slick house track with “Time To Go”

MR. GROOVE, “Time To Go”

“Time To Go” is the kind of European house track that goes down like a shot of brandy – slick with a kick!  It’s brought to you by Portugal’s Luis Telo, who records under a variety of names, including Mr. Groove.  The song slams in all the right places, and has a taut uncredited female vocal that smoothly offsets the big beats to share the melodic chorus, which is repeated later in the song without the vocal.  “Time To Go” is a tidy, effortless-sounding dance song that audiences will relate to, and it’s greatly deserving of club DJs’ attention.

“Flying Away” is an outstanding new song with a powerful vocal by NYC-based singer/songwriter @RyanGibeau

RYAN GIBEAU, “Flying Away”

For those of us who enjoy songs of loves lost and left behind, accompanied by an amazing vocal and lovely arrangement, “Flying Away” by NYC-based singer/songwriter Ryan Gibeau is your new best friend.  The song actually starts off rather plainly with its first few verses, but then Ryan’s voice shifts into this warm, melt-worthy lower octave, and he draws you in like melting butter on toast.  His voice actually reminds me a lot of Burton Cummings, particularly in The Guess Who’s 1973 hit “Glamour Boy”, and not too many singers get away with a deep mellifluous shift and make it work – think Jeff Buckley or Rufus Wainwright.  The arrangement with electric guitar and strings really kicks the record up a few more notches.  The song itself was written while flying to another city after a breakup.  You can feel both the loss of love and the need to get away echoing seamlessly through the lyrics.  “Flying Away” comes from Ryan Gibeau’s new album Quiet Fall.  It’s one of the best new songs I’ve heard in months.  I’ll be diving into the full album soon.  

RyanGibeau

“Strangers Do” is a sultry downtempo release from Norway’s @JonasAden

JONAS ADEN, “Strangers Do”

Refueled and re-energized after taking a break from the business to work on his production techniques with the likes of fellow Norwegian Alan Walker, Jonas Aden is back with “Strangers Do”, following up “I Dip You Dip”, which received high level DJ support across Europe.  Led by a sultry uncredited female vocal, “Strangers Do” is about letting yourself lose control to the charms of a stranger.  The video shows a young woman alone at various remote locations while the fires of past relationships burn in front of her.  For the dance clubs, “Strangers Do” is a downtempo strutter that will work well in the late evening.  Jonas’ production is totally on point but I think some supportive remixes would be beneficial.

JonasAden