French producer @TezCadey creates blissful EDM with “Logic” tailor-made for clubs and festivals

TEZ CADEY, “Logic”

There is so much great dance music coming out of France lately, and a lot of it is instrumental, so after a series of his singles with vocals comes Tez Cadey’s “Logic”.  With melodic inspiration so evident from Avicii, Martin Garrix, and Kygo, Tez is an absolute treat to watch in the above video which showcases a good day in the life of a DJ/producer off to play at a festival.  It oozes honesty, passion, and joy as Tez works his magic on stage.  “Logic” is a solid companion to Arty’s “Tim” and fellow Frenchmen Slow Hours’ recent “Endless”, and he’s one of the rare new producers to have cracked the Chinese music market early in his career.  “Logic” has a sneaky, recognizable hook that will immediately generate reaction from EDM lovers once they get to know it.  And there’s good news behind the scenes too that “Logic” is one of the first new releases for the Sony reboot of the Arista label, which released so much fine dance music in its heyday before being shuttered in 2011.  Watch for Tez Cadey’s album Lizard Days on November 2 too.

It’s ear-filling funky pop this time for @SleepyTom with “Move” as sung by Sophia Black @sophartso

SLEEPY TOM and SOPHIA BLACK, “Move”

After a huge dance music world break through with Diplo on “Be Right There” a few years back, and working with the likes of Zed’s Dead and Porter Robinson, another of my fellow Canadians, Sleepy Tom, decided to take a few steps away from the big beats and synths.  One of the results of his short hiatus is his new single “Move”, which neatly underscores his skills as a musician (not just synths but guitar) with some funky bass hooks as well.  Sophia Black’s alluring voice positively shines as she draws club goers onto the dance floor for some fun (and gosh she even shares my daughter’s birthday!).  Not unexpectedly, the production is rich and vibrant, and club DJ’s should waste no time in getting to know another side of Sleepy Tom.

NYC alt.rocker @MickyJamesmusic shakes you down with “Tie Me Up” and “New Heart”

MICKY JAMES, “Tie Me Up” and “New Heart”

NYC singer/songwriter Micky James is definitely an attention grabber with ‘double A’ single “Tie Me Up” and “New Heart”.  He’s got a look that makes you think Oasis meets Mick Jagger, but his sound is contemporary sort of post-punk blast from the 80’s, if you think Joan Jett and Generation X-era Billy Idol.  “Tie Me Up” is a quick, edgy, tidy rocker that may draw its energy from the punk era, recalling Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.  “New Heart”, on the other hand, is a bouncy synth-rocker that has a lot of roots in British new wave like Duran Duran as if sung by a Billie Joe Armstrong or Brandon Urie.  There’s a lot to enjoy about these original songs vocally, musically and melodically, which makes them stand well on their own, however you consider Micky’s possible influences, so be sure to give ’em a shot at the Spotify links above and below.

https://open.spotify.com/track/46MpilrHl5tuTYgKyt5smU

 

Nashville pop/soul singer @RLumRmusic’s “With My Words” is one to watch

https://soundcloud.com/werlumr/with-my-words

R.LUM.R., “With My Words”

Take a classic song structure and pair it with a great vocal and heartfelt lyrics and you have “With My Words” by Nashville pop/soul singer R.Lum.R.  He’s definitely one to watch for with this song.  Reminiscent particularly of Sam Smith’s “Like I Can” at times, R.Lum.R. often sings in the same timbre that has made many of Sam’s songs so successful.  But that’s where the comparison stops.  Taking cues perhaps from an un-enhanced Tory Lanez kind of style that is somehow channeled via 90’s R&B like from Jodeci or Brian McKnight, with songs like “With My Words”, R.Lum.R. could easily sneak into the fan realm of singers like Miguel with his personable, honest branding.  

Set to lift your spirits, lend your ears to “Shooting Star” by @AnnaYvettemusic

ANNA YVETTE, “Shooting Star”

NYC-based singer/songwriter Anna Yvette has a winner with the uplifting dance/pop of “Shooting Star”.  It’s full of feel-good, beautiful imagery that aims for those times when you’re going crazy, not yourself, and don’t know what to do – just be your best and aim high.  Inherently everyone is beautiful and talented in their own ways, and Anna Yvette is one like-minded singer to whom you can align yourself.  She’s recorded and written with scores of other dance music artists like Aero Chord, Pegboard Nerds, and Laura Brehm, as well as up-and-comers like JPB and Egzod.  But often it’s her own records like “Shooting Star” that are the most memorable.  You can also hear some of Anna Yvette’s music in a variety of video games, and she’s white-listed “Shooting Star” on You Tube for that purpose (see the  comments in the above link).  There’s a lot that’s subtle and gentle about the song with its synth arrangement, and all of the positives within its 4 minutes contribute to “Shooting Star” breezing by effortlessly.  

“What You Do” is a must for the club and festival circuit from British duo @KuDeTaofficial and Dutch producer @JoeStonemusic with singer Sylvia Mwenze

KU DE TA & JOE STONE and SYLVIA MWENZE, “What You Do”

There are some songs that just belong in clubland, so you can expect to hear “What You Do”, as made in the collaboration of British production duo Ku De Ta (as in coup d’état) and Dutch producer Joe Stone, for the rest of the Fall and into Winter.  “What You Do” has a splendid uptempo house rhythm and a vocal by Sylvia Mwenze that is nothing short of perfect for this kind of song.  And there is nothing better to do with this kind of record but to loosen up, put on those dancing shoes, and groove the night away.  Joe Stone has been known to make some crafty, infectious tracks, such as 2015’s “The Party” which brought back Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do it” to clubs 20 years later.  Matched with Ku De Ta, and to keep us happy, these guys could definitely work on another record or five 🙂

French collective @SlowHours drop their adventurous debut single of many moods, “Endless”

slowhours

SLOW HOURS, “Endless”

After numerous well-received remixes, which led to most of the six members of Slow Hours – Khamsin, Rusty Hook, Kidswaste, Kultur, Astre, and Lain – branching out with many terrific solo efforts, many of which I’ve written about, the band has dropped their debut original, progressive-sounding single “Endless”.  It’s a moody affair for sure, but well worthy of your kind attention for just shy of four minutes.  Now these guys know how to start a record with a great lead up to a complete change of pace before the 50 second mark, which turns into a gritty, trappy main section that returns later in the song.  It’s punctuated by a quieter, cinematic-sounding break, and finishes with almost a minute of melt-in-your mouth piano and symphonic effects that help make “Endless” quite an unexpected musical adventure.  I hope more will be forthcoming soon to show off the many diverse talents within Slow Hours.

“Could This Be Love” is sparkling funky dance music from @Jenauxmusic and T-Elle

JENAUX and T-ELLE, “Could This Be Love”

I don’t know what I enjoy more about “Could This Be Love”, the latest from NYC’s Jenaux – the 80’s-tastic funky groove or the accompanying underlying keyboard hook of low notes, which when played in higher notes you’ll find up front in classic house music tracks.  This is all in fine contrast to T-Elle’s soulful and sometimes sassy vocal, so overall it comes off like fine musicians like Boz Scaggs or Toto pairing up with an R&B/disco queen like Evelyn “Champagne” King or Linda Clifford. And trust me, there is nothing at all wrong with that!! “Could This Be Love” is a tight and tidy addition to any disco/dance/soul playlist that highlights the classic influences of yesteryear, while offering a fine alternative to the everyday pop/dance you hear on the radio.  

Australia’s @Throttle is back with spry original “Wanderlust”

THROTTLE, “Wanderlust”

Though he’s been extremely busy on the festival circuit this year, Australia’s Throttle returns with a spry new original, “Wanderlust”, for his own Dirty Disco label through Spinnin’.  While his beats continue to be heavy and playful, the synths in “Wanderlust” this time stay in the high end often, as a synthesized voice reassures us that “lovin’ you is easy”, but when repeating the hook sings “lovin’ you is ***” – left to our imagination.  “Wanderlust” is all about a love for travel, and producer/DJ’s like Robbie who enjoy performing worldwide certainly get their taste of it, so it’s nice to bring positive thoughts back full circle and put them into song.  “Wanderlust” is an easy choice for clubs that will have hands clapping and lots of smiles lighting up the room.

New partially-masked producer @Aadysimusic offers up wild and futuristic “Myth”

aadysi

AADYSI, “Myth” (free DL)

Joining the mystique of fellow producers like Alan Walker by wearing a partial mask, the otherwise NYC-based Aadysi (say it like ‘odyssey’), who’s a student of the ICON collective (like Jauz or NGHTMRE), has a lot going on in his instrumental “Myth”, which is available below for free while it lasts.  It’s a striking song that has a lot of different movement within, from isolated piano sounds to grinding, wild ‘forbidden bass’ trap and almost industrial flavours.  “Myth” somehow all works because it’s so unpredictable and makes you anticipate that Aadysi’s music could be a lot of fun in the offering.  Its nearly 3 minutes come and go in a flash, so I’ll definitely be interested in hearing what’s coming from Aadysi.

https://soundcloud.com/aadysimusic/myth