At only 20 years old, L.A.’s Caden Jester already has one of the brightest pop/dance songs of the summer on release with “Vacant Love” (#20 on my personal chart). He throws us a bit of a curve by embracing Latin sounds on his new song “Serpiente”. But it’s one stylish and tight affair, particularly for dance club goers, featuring an appropriately exotic, seductive male vocal by Mexican duo Syon and a fluid rap from producer/songwriter WillX Boy. Fans of Latin music will totally dig “Serpiente” because of its authentic and diverse overall sound. There are plenty of styles and sub-genres within dance music for Caden Jester to tackle, so be prepared for what might be unexpected next! Add “Serpiente” to your Full Throttle Latin Dance playlist using the Spotify link above.
Now stylizing his name as KO:YU, veteran producer Deniz Koyu returns with a change of pace in collaboration with German buddies The Cliqque with the futuristic sound of “Trippy”. Featuring a delightful uncredited female vocal, “Trippy” is all about taking love to the extreme and letting it spiral out of control. Indeed, KO:YU and The Cliqque send your head spinning with high end, percussion-laden dubsteppy breakdowns that punctuate a solid pop melody without throwing the song off course. This makes the song sound quite effortless and its 3 minutes flow by with amazing ease. Add “Trippy” to your Love Gone Wild playlist using the Spotify link above.
It’s bound to get completely stuck in your head, so don’t say you weren’t warned about “One Last Time” by Krakow-based producer Gromee and featuring the vocal of Norway’s Jesper Jenset. We last heard from Jesper a few years back with the very different “High”, which was one of my favourites of its year in its Young Bombs remix. Here we have a slicker vocal that could easily be mistaken for Shawn Mendes, an interesting comparison since Shawn doesn’t make dance music but his songs are often remixed. Gromee focuses on nailing that chorus with the underlying bass synth, and builds on the urgency of the song with higher notes and guitar riffs. “One Last Time” is certain to grab you with one listen, so add it to your Future Pop playlist using the Spotify link up top.
ROBERT DELONG and K.FLAY, “Favorite Color Is Blue” (CRVE U remix)
You can hear the influences of Green Day, Linkin Park and others in “Favorite Color Is Blue” by L.A.’s Robert DeLong with a cool feature by hip hop rocker K.Flay, now available in a variety of remixes to maximize its appeal for dance clubs and electronic music lovers. Teenage producer CRVE U definitely bridges the alt.rock style with a flurry of busy synths that make the song sound even better when cranked up loud. The mix almost has a tribal feel at time, but it seamlessly winds its way back to Robert and K.Flay’s infectious collaboration and chorus which are what make the song so memorable in the first place. CRVE U has always opted for unconventional mixes, and “Favorite Color Is Blue” is yet another reason for you to keep an eye on his ongoing progress.
It’s been out for a little while now, but not to be missed is Miami singer Naïka’s “Ride”, perfect for those sunny day drives or dance parties on the beaches, aided immensely by a sparkling, synth-soaked remix from Koni of the German duo Saxity. I enjoy Naïka’s solid, direct vocal, which adds to the fun appeal of the song and its “ra-pa-pa-pa-pa-pum” hook. There’s nothing better to do here but get into your car and crank up “Ride” as the song instructs you to do and let the music take you away. Add the Koni remix of “Ride” to your Summer Getaway playlist using the Spotify link above.
What’s going on in the lower end of the chart will be of most interest to my fellow chart makers and fans, as the new chart has five debuts for the second chart in a row. The Top 6 songs stay exactly the same, though a shakeup is likely in two weeks.
The Top 10
There’s no denying that “Broken Love” by The Him featuring Parson James has a lock on #1. To my ears it’s the dance ballad of the summer and also one of the best songs of the year. The Him has quickly followed it up with “By Your Side” with Jordan Jay, which is somewhat different from what they’ve been producing lately. Check it out below.
“Pink Lemonade” by James Bay (#3, above) and “No Place” by Rüfüs Du Sol (#5, below) are the most likely candidates to remain in the Top 5 in two weeks.
“Jackie Chan” by the collaboration that is Tiësto, Dzeko, Preme and Post Malone glides into the Top 10 at #8, marking Tiësto’s first Top 10 placing as an artist since 2007, while it’s Dzeko’s second Top 10 of the year following the Tiësto-remixed cover of Seal’s “Crazy” (#2).
RetroVision’s “Get Down” shares a Top 10 placing with the song from which its hook is primarily derived – “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters, which got to #1 in 2004 and is one of my all time favourite dance songs. “Get Down” advances to #9.
Also new to the Top 10 and independent is UK singer/songwriter Lostchild’s “Blacklist”, which climbs 14-10. I’ll share the acoustic video version of the song once again with you, it really is as good as the much more produced dance version 🙂
Movin’ On Up
So many great new songs, and so little time to write…
Tony Moran and Jason Walker are headed for the Top 10 for the third time together with the jubilant “I’m In Love With You”, which climbs 18-12. The song is already in the Top 5 of Billboard’s Club Play chart.
Also looking for a third Top 10, following “Memories of You” and “Wake Up For the Night” is Miami-based producer/DJ Alyx Ander this time in a joint effort with Dutch producers Redondo with “Casually”, featuring vocalist and songwriter Maria Z. It’s the fastest riser on the chart, soaring 22-14.
Singer/actor Keiynan Lonsdale’s great new song “Preach” rises 23-17. Check out the joyous and colourful video above.
NYC-based indie producer Squired has hit the chart full on with his powerful song “Peace Out”, which rises 24-18.
“Vacant Love” is a terrific sing-a-long that will also have you moving on the dance floor courtesy of L.A. producer Caden Jester and vocalist Blake Rose. It moves up 26-20.
Turn the lights down low, relax your mind and sway to “Eyes”, the latest single from Philadelphia duo NiGHTS, which climbs a healthy 29-22. It’s the group’s second chart entry following last year’s “P A R T Y” (#3).
Five Debuts
I’m waiting for the international chart attack to happen, because it’s already happening here! Veteran producer Benny Benassi pairs up with new kids Sofi Tukker for “Everybody Needs A Kiss”, which features some of the most wonderous synth work of the year, and duly crashes onto the chart as the highest debut at #19. It’s Benny’s third appearance, the last being in 2011 concurrently with “Cinema” (#11) and “Beautiful People” (#10, with Chris Brown). It’s also Sofi Tukker’s third appearance, immediately following the #4 “Baby I’m A Queen” from their Treehouse album.
Martin Garrix returns to the chart for the first time since last year’s collaboration with Troye Sivan on “There For You” (#3) with “High On Life” at #23. It’s one of the year’s most vibrant dance songs featuring an excellent vocal from newcomer Bonn.
Russian producer Arty, like Benny Benassi, has also been absent from the chart for a while, when 2012 brought us “Must Be The Love” (#13) in collaboration with Nadia Ali and BT. He’s back with a beautiful instrumental tribute to Avicii simply called “Tim” at #25. This one will have you bouncing in no time.
One of Minnesota’s finest, indie artist Call Me Karizma, returns to the chart with the spoken/sung “Life Of The Party” (#27), which with its minimal electronic arrangement is turning out to be a great companion song to The Chainsmokers’ “Sick Boy” and “Everybody Hates Me”. ‘Riz first appeared on the chart two years ago with the fun and pointed “u suck” (#9).
The last debut is also independently released by Netherlands-based production duo Revelries with the bright and inviting “Infinitum”, featuring vocals by Australia’s Beamish Boys, at #28. Revelries has only appeared on the chart previously as remixers under another name last year for Welcome To The Hotel’s “Darlin'” (#10). “Infinitum” is a free download for now at the link above.
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
He’s apparently been part of many platinum-selling releases and won a Grammy in 2017 (though not sure for what), and now L.A.-based producer LyLoh is about to take command of the dance music scene if potent tracks like “Riot!” are any indication. This new mystery man is originally from France and was part of the metal scene, so his description on Facebook may be apt: Rock, EDM, metal and pop had a bastard son. It me (sic). “Riot!” is one crunchy, memorable rock-flavoured dance bop picked up for release by Armada no less, a little harder edged than usual for clubs or radio, softened a bit by the use of a familiar-sounding pitched-up vocal. But dance music needs to be spun off the rails sometimes and it looks like someone like LyLoh will have a lot of fun keeping our interest doing just that.
In its original form, “Compromised” by L.A. indie soul artist Tim Atlas is a gentle, free-flowing song about not knowing what to do about a particular crush on someone. Also from L.A., producer Michael Christofi is pretty selective about what he releases and remixes, and his spin on “Complicated” is upbeat and sparkling. It brings out the genuine wonder and joy of curiosity that will have no problem getting you to shuffle out onto the dance floor. Tim’s vocal to me also tends to shine a bit more in this remix, whereas the original is focused more on melody and lyrics. “Compromised” as remixed is quite an unexpected pleasure that will help the song find a wider audience.
Wearing the hats of singer, songwriter, and producer, L.A.-based EMM is doing things her way and making it all shine along the way with punchy songs like “Dirty”. EMM is also a fearless advocate for young women and men, and “Dirty” is about sharing and empowering that much-needed self-confidence to get by in life. Stylistically she crosses lines between the likes of Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Jennifer Lopez, while still creating some of that bold, fun rock star mystique as in the photo below. Call her “Dirty” or not as the song says, EMM is here for a good time and has a terrific, convincing vision, aiming high for all to share.
German producer Satin Jackets wants to make you sway your night out away to European-flavoured nu disco with “Primordial”, featuring a slick and classic vocal by American singer Niya Wells. This is sophisticated, soulful dance music that seems to marry many dance styles together, including some that I grew up with (I age myself yet again). The sounds of the Philadelphia International era of the 70’s come to mind quickly, but more immediately would be the style of European female vocal groups like Silver Convention (“Fly Robin Fly”). You see, overseas, disco never went away after 1979 unlike in North America, and Satin Jackets is clearly out to make it fresh-sounding once again. Add “Primordial” to your Nu European Disco playlist using the Spotify link above (for original or extended versions).
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