France’s @Mercer_music drops his fresh tribute to @JamiroquaiHQ “Alright”

MERCER, “Alright” (free DL)

French producer Mercer keeps the creative disco juices flowing with “Alright”.  This is Mercer’s take on the UK Top 10 mid 90’s hit for Jamiroquai, and in a way, it’s a much overdue tribute to Jay Kay and his band and their influence on modern dance music.  In the early 90’s, Jamiroquai took Jay’s Stevie Wonder-ish voice and wrapped it gleefully around classic soul and disco grooves, and music fans everywhere embraced it through more than a decade of hits.  Mercer brings “Alright” full circle to 2018 with lots of percussion-shaking rhythms that are as fun as his neo disco beats.  Best of all, for now you can get the radio mix and extended mix absolutely free!  Mercer has delivered the goods this year and “Alright” is deserving of the ongoing dance music love from fans.

Las Vegas legend @Borgeousmusic has a winner with “Famous” spotlighting an engaging vocal by @MorganStJean

BORGEOUS and MORGAN ST. JEAN, “Famous”

Although its subject matter brings to mind immediately another recent song with the same title by ROZES, “Famous” by dance/EDM fave Borgeous hits home with a radio friendly song structure and an engaging, convincing vocal by L.A. singer Morgan St. Jean.  Borgeous has never looked back after soaring to #1 in the UK five years ago with my fellow Canadians DVBBS with the classic “Tsunami”, becoming one of the most in-demand DJ’s and remixers in the world.  “Famous” should easily return him to dance radio in the US especially after the acclaim awarded to him for his recent remix of Marshmello and Anne Marie’s “Friends”.  “Famous” has as many on-point pop elements as it does for dance music fans and is not to be underestimated!

#Toronto’s @LizLokre delights us with powerful piano ballad “Stop Runnin'” from @LittleItalyfilm

LIZ LOKRE, “Stop Runnin'”

Toronto singer/songwriter Liz Lokre makes the most of a powerful piano ballad called “Stop Runnin'” by having it featured in the recently released and highly acclaimed film “Little Italy” (starring fellow Toronto area native Hayden Christensen, and set on Toronto’s Italian strip on College Street).  The song grabs you from the first few words she sings and doesn’t let you go in its empowering story of self-realization that so many young people can relate to.  The melody and piano playing create a lovely, warm, and inviting cushion.  “Stop Runnin'” could do well, particularly in Canada, at Adult Contemporary radio which would surely welcome such a glowing song with big intentions.  Check out the video for this fine young new talent above.

UK producer @officialAevion offers up some tribal house for clubs with “Wild Safari”

AEVION, “Wild Safari”

At only 21, British producer Aevion arrived on the dance music scene around the same time as Martin Garrix but with a somewhat different dance music bent, which has been championed by many of the best DJ’s around the world.  His latest, the melodic “Wild Safari”, does indeed want to treat you to the mystique of a safari, including various animal sounds, and it’s a lot of fun for the dance floor.  While it might mix well with tropical dance tracks, “Wild Safari” has chanting tribal effects which will make club goers participate even when the music’s off.  But it’s also about big, solid rhythms which will keep your feet happy right till the end.

“Plastic Dreams” is a cheery slice of indie electronica from France’s @Khamsinmusic and @Kidswaste

KHAMSIN and KIDSWASTE, “Plastic Dreams”

One of the most vibrant and cheery songs you’ll hear heading into Autumn is “Plastic Dreams” by French producers Khamsin and Kidswaste.  The pair are also two of a bigger collective called Slow Hours that is (ahem) overdue for new music.  Until then, most of the members have recorded recent solo material.  The production here is deliberately pretty sparse and raw at times, with gentle, charming vocals, giving it live-off-the-floor qualities.  But both gents know how to make really big, dramatic productions when they need to, so some hefty rhythms and anthemic qualities make “Plastic Dreams” flow with the dance floor in mind.  Just one last thing – more, please 🙂

“Saturn Return” is graceful, hypnotic soul from Australian R&B singer Wilsonn @hisnameisWilson

WILSONN, “Saturn Return”

Back in the Spring, I introduced you to Australian R&B singer Wilsonn, who I said at the time had the same kind of mystique that one would associate with Terence Trent D’Arby when he arrived on the scene 30 years ago.  Little did I know that I had tapped into what Wilsonn kindly said on his Facebook page as “possibly my favorite singer/artist in the whole world” – and even as a knowledgeable writer, I was floored.  So I’m more than pleased to write about his follow-up “Saturn Return”, a very different record from “Even If I Know”.  It’s a plea for a lover’s return, stylistically something we might associate with Prince or Miguel with a hybrid R&B/rock flavour and some nifty interjections of what sounds like violin or viola.  But although those TTD vocal tones come out in both head and chest voices at times too, Wilsonn definitely has his own direction in mind.  “Saturn Return” is top notch new school soul for your head and heart.

“Blackout” is a big techno-house speaker-shaker from @ChocolatePuma and @Firebeatz

CHOCOLATE PUMA and FIREBEATZ, “Blackout”

Dutch legends Chocolate Puma and Firebeatz are huge festival and club draws unto themselves, so it makes total sense for them to pair up again on “Blackout”, even if it’s for a brief 2:18 (which can only mean that remixes are much needed!).  If there’s any style that’s made strides in dance music in 2018 it’s the influence of 90’s techno.  “Blackout” is a helluva speaker-shaker meant for big crowd moments in dance clubs, and it only takes two minutes for a song to create defining moments for club goers.  Hence the need for multiple remixes here.  “Blackout” is powerful stuff and sometimes ya just gotta let the masters do it at their best!

“So Real” reworks “Warriors” by @TooManyZooz and @KDAbeats with lyrics and dynamic @JessGlynne appeal!

TOO MANY ZOOZ vs KDA featuring JESS GLYNNE, “So Real (Warriors)”

Sometimes the life of one song can unfold in many different and exciting ways.  “So Real (Warriors)” started off as “Warriors”, a rollicking, in-your-face R&B/jazz instrumental by NYC trio Too Many Zooz.  It then took on new life for the dance floor in a rework with British producer KDA.  A few remixes later (including by Armand Van Helden) and five months after I first wrote about it, “So Real (Warriors)” arrives with not only lyrics but a dynamic vocal by UK sensation Jess Glynne!  With Jess’ amazing popularity in the UK – which includes 7 number ones! – “So Real (Warriors)” should find its way quickly into the public ear, bringing what is a fine song in the first place some deserved success in a rather roundabout way.  Although Jess has yet to have North American hits under her own name – known best for singing on Clean Bandit’s massive “Rather Be” – “So Real (Warriors)” should help keep that audience attuned for her upcoming album.

“Overboard” by California-based producer @JayB1rdmusic mixes candor with big rhythms and bright synths

https://soundcloud.com/jayb1rdmusic/overboard/s-xZBPq

JAY BIRD, “Overboard” (free DL)

“Overboard” is the latest single by California-based producer Jay Bird.  It’s the first recent single where Jay uses another vocalist, and the results are probably his most well-rounded record yet while still harvesting a distinct, bright synth sound that becomes part of his brand.  It’s interesting to hear a British (but unnamed) vocal on what in what is clearly a west coast vibe, but it connects an earnestness that compliments Jay’s important lessons-learned story.  “Overboard” is all about regrouping and moving on after deciding to throw life to chance and feel what it’s like not to be grounded.  While being an intangible force, life is full of both tangible and intangible elements that need to be satisfied, and which can’t always be achieved when casting oneself adrift.  Jay’s production, full of big rhythms and sparkling synths, drives home all of the positives, and “Overboard” comes across as not only a delightful dance/pop song but also one with a provocative story that unfolds in a friendly, often subtle way.   Get it for free for now at the Soundcloud link above.

“Alive” by German producer @NiklasIbach is a compelling story awash in 80’s melodic bliss

NIKLAS IBACH, “Alive”

“Alive” by Germany’s Niklas Ibach is one of the more distinctive songs that I’ve heard lately for many different reasons that have to do with the talent that it is the mix.  Firstly it’s a compelling story of being dedicated to someone, no matter how much they may question you, written by the always ace pairing of Charlie Mason and Daniel Volpe.  Secondly, that’s Daniel – erstwhile known as singer/songwriter Zorro Blakk – singing (uncredited) in a much lower octave than I’ve heard before.  He ends up sounding a lot like UK singer Peter Murphy at times, and that puts a unique 80’s spin on the song.  Lastly, 20 year old Niklas’ production offers poignantly crafted melodic bliss that suggests a Vince Clarke in the making, to counteract the brash-sounding vocal and support the conviction of the story.  All in all “Alive” comes across as somewhat familiar but also stands out proudly from the rest.