BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

Nashville duo @weareApolloLTD will lift you higher “On The Way Up”

APOLLO LTD, “On The Way Up”

“On The Way Up” by Nashville duo Apollo LTD takes a trademark anthemic sound that bands like Imagine Dragons offer to pop and mainstream radio fans, but transforms it through a big synth arrangement for clubs. That doesn’t mean at all that the song is all fist-pumping power. “On The Way Up”, in fact has a dynamic arrangement that brings the music down to those quiet, phone-flashlight moments before it erupts again. Plus, Apollo LTD clearly knows how to get you to those unmistakable highs thanks to an immensely catchy chorus. So “On The Way Up” ends up having wide appeal that should be supported by pop, rock and dance music fans alike.

#BILLCSTop30 #548 – November 12/18

Some new personal faves make significant moves this week, and there are three debuts.

The Top 10

The smashing two some of Kiesza’s “Phantom Of The Dance Floor” (above) and “Verona” by Peter Wilson and Sean Smith (below) hold on to the pole positions handily, but may have to give them up in two weeks given the challenges being presented immediately below!

Seattle duo Odesza had never appeared on my chart before but are slowly taking over with their redux of a festival fave, “Loyal”, which climbs 9-3.

Busting the fastest move on the chart for a second time is “DJ’s Gotta Dance More”, the oh-so-true deal from Montreal’s A-Trak and house legend Todd Terry on vocals. It’s up 13-6 and will definitely give Odesza a run for the top in two weeks.

Also new to the Top 10 are Florida producer PLS&TY with “Down For Me” in its splendid Morgan Page extended mix (above), climbing 11-8, and Canadian producers Botnek with the retrotastic “Days Of Disco” (below) rising 16-10.

Movin’ On Up

I’m totally digging their second full album New York Narcotic, and The Knocks are closing in on another Top Tenner here with “Goodbyes” featuring Method Man moving up 17-11.

Though it’s “Thank U, Next” that’s everywhere, “Breathin” is still my go-to Ariana Grande song, rising 15-12. Check out its new video above.

The Chainsmokers have had a busy few weeks, with several new remixes of “This Feeling” (featuring Kelsea Ballerini) as well as a new video (above). The song climbs 21-16. Check out the official remix by Canadian duo Young Bombs below 🙂

UK singer/songwriter Sam Dickinson is looking to bust out in two weeks with “Wild Sun” (up 23-18) as the Handbag House remix (above) and his EP From The Glass House: Part One are released this Friday. Ahead of that, Sam has also released a lyric video for the upbeat pop/dance track “Hanging By A Thread” (below), where his high register is in winning Mika territory.

Jessie Ware’s “Overtime” is her best, and funkiest, single in years, and it rises 27-21.

Debuts

It’s been a while but Sweden’s Hellberg is back in a huge way, with his new single “Headlights” in a co-billing with none other than the sensational voice of Leona Lewis. With an intriguing, suspenseful video, “Headlights” arrives at #22. Hellberg has been to the Top 10 three times including a #1 with Dzeko & Torres with “Care For Me” in 2016. Leona has been to the Top 10 twice with “Bleeding Love” and “Better In Time”.

What would a year be like without a Bright Light Bright Light appearance on this chart? It’s been the lead off single from his recent EP Tough Love, but it’s grown on me so much with repeated plays that it debuts at #25. I will be seeing Bright Light Bright Light once again in concert, this time in my city, on Thursday November 15!

The next night I will be seeing Dutch producer San Holo in concert for the first time, but in NYC! His recent pairing with vocalist Bipolar Sunshine on “Better Days” premieres at #26 from San’s acclaimed release Album1. Can’t wait to hear what it all sounds like in concert! “Better Days” is San Holo’s second chart entry, following 2016’s #4 “Light”.

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 🙂

In collaboration with @Illeniummusic, @CallMeKarizma’s “God Damnit” becomes an empowering dance anthem

ILLENIUM with CALL ME KARIZMA, “God Damnit”

Let’s go back to March, when I first wrote about “God Damnit” as originally released by Minnesota rapper Call Me Karizma and called it one of ‘Riz’s finest songs to date, albeit short at only 2:14, about why you are good enough for not only love from oneself but from others as well. Flash forward not quite six months and ‘Riz gets word that none other than Illenium is dropping it at the Red Rocks festival, one of his biggest shows. To the surprise of fans, exit song from social media, but then “God Damnit” reappears as an official major label collaboration. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve seen happen in music in 2018, and both Illenium and ‘Riz are now front and centre together as faces for anxiety in young people through this song, and both will benefit from it immensely. Illenium’s synth-sparkled production indeed makes “God Damnit” the anthem that it should be, but no one could have expected this. Everything about this collaboration – now at a 3:35 length – is so right that you should not only add it to your Spotify playlists but pick it up at your favourite online music store.

Fast-paced deep house track “In My Arms” is the latest from L.A.’s @Mahalo_dj with #Le:Blanc

MAHALO vs LE:BLANC, “In My Arms”

Following up his recent collaboration with Milkwish, “Rule Of Thirds”, as well as the propulsive “Easy To Love” featuring Vivaswan, is “In My Arms” by L.A.’s Mahalo, this time in partnership with fellow producer, newcomer Le:Blanc. This is one of Mahalo’s best recent offerings, a short but fast-paced deep house track whose vocal hook should echo through clubland’s biggest and best. The sultry uncredited female vocal provides the forthright longing of the song which could easily have been suitable as a ballad, but also totally compliments the percussive rhythms that make it a fine dance track for both clubs and radio.

“Trust” is a compelling danceable confessional from hip hop performer @PrinceFox

PRINCE FOX, “Trust”

It’s dark and funky but Prince Fox has a winner with “Trust”. Now based in L.A., the hip hop performer lays out a confessional for you all to soak in and enjoy. With its beat-filled backdrop, the song bridges both hip hop and dance music nicely. Its effects seem rather simple but work in their favour within the context of the song. It doesn’t hold anything back when Prince Fox puts forward without a solution that the protagonist is unable to trust anyone and himself. So what would you do? “Trust” pushes the envelope while you groove away to the rhythm.

Check out funky and melodic “I Don’t Really Love You Anymore” by Toronto singer/songwriter @DallasRodin

DALLAS, “I Don’t Really Love You Anymore”

Following up “Spaceship” from earlier this year is “I Don’t Really Love You Anymore”, the latest from Toronto singer/songwriter Dallas. The song offers a memorable melodic hook which makes it ideal for Canadian pop radio in particular. It’s got a funky anchor which fits like a glove when played side by side by songs by Rihanna or Melanie Fiona. The singer’s no-nonsense vocal certainly represents young women who need to take a stand with poor relationships and get out before they do them no good. But with that underlying narrative, “I Don’t Really Love You Anymore” would also still fit well in a club setting and remixes would benefit it in that regard.

The progressive soul evolution of Brandyn Burnette continues as @EMAN8 with “Amen”

EMAN8, “Amen”

Singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette has re-branded himself as EMAN8 (from his Jamaican middle name meaning “come forth”), whose music is launched with “Amen”, a song that moves easily through many musical styles showcased within. Carried by friendly rap-singing that’s speckled with pop culture references, “Amen” flows from classic R&B, through to Blues and Gospel. It’s chock full of positives about getting through to whatever will make you a better person. The choral background vocals and some fluid trumpet keep “Amen” uplifting, and somehow it still is tied up very much in an alternative pop vein as well thanks to EMAN8, who with his cadre of fine support, all know what to do to get it there for broad appeal. Inherently though, we’re likely to hear more songs by EMAN8 in future that pull out more of that progressive soul that we already know and love from his R&B roots. This may result in even richer flavours that may move away from other song styles – such as electronic pop/dance, now more associated with EMAN8 and Molly Moore’s successful side project, Cosmos N Creature. It takes a few listens but “Amen” lays the welcome mat foundation to the ongoing diverse musical journey of EMAN8.

“Mister Love” will slay you with his disco powers courtesy of White Chocolate @hellowhitechoc

WHITE CHOCOLATE, “Mister Love”

New producer/DJ White Chocolate is already acquiring major attention in Europe and his second release “Mister Love” will continue this upward trend. Already supported by Martin Garrix and released on Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS label, the Luxembourg-born producer (who speaks 5 languages) prays to the fine altar that is disco, and it quickly bumps and grinds its funky side into “Mister Love”, featuring an uncredited female vocal (with a wicked acapella verse that will make you cheer) that would not be out of place in the mid-90’s. But the production is big and rich and playful, and belongs perfectly in the club music of 2018-19. Its retrotastic house-meets-disco should be played alongside the latest by Mercer and Todd Terry for best effect. I’m looking forward to hearing more of the fun White Chocolate will bring us next.

NYC’s @ModernMachines shines with brisk remix of “Be Somebody” by @SteveAoki and @NickyRomero with @Kiiara

STEVE AOKI and NICKY ROMERO featuring KIIARA, “Be Somebody” (Modern Machines remix) (free DL)

I like it when a remix adds some pizzazz that was missing or different in the original, which then helps the song move along at a brisk pace for clubland. Dimitry Mak, aka Modern Machines, has done exactly that with his free download of “Be Somebody” by the fiery collaboration of Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero and vocalist Kiiara. All you need to hear are the thirty seconds that start just before the first minute and add a wild mix of buzzing synths and other effects combined with huge beats. The smooth mixing allows it to all happily intersect with the rest of the song and make it shine for the dance floor. “Be Somebody” doesn’t lose any pacing as it slows down and rebuilds to what ends up as a more anthemic flavour that closes out the fun. Definitely catch Modern Machines’ remix of “Be Somebody” and have a blast with it while it’s available for free at the link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #547 – October 29/18

There’s plenty of new music to be abuzz about, including four new entries, and lots of songs rising up into the Top 10 to challenge for the top! And the top of the new chart is all about wonderful singers.