Escape and dance to “Take Me Away”, courtesy of Chicago’s CHO @petechosen with singer Brittany Foster

https://soundcloud.com/petecho/take-me-away-ft-brittany-foster

CHO and Brittany Foster, “Take Me Away” (free DL)

Following last year’s slice of pre-Hallowe’en fun with “Howlin'”, Chicago’s CHO is back with a more pop-oriented dance sound with “Take Me Away”.  Despite a rather uncharacteristic start, “Take Me Away” builds into an uplifting anthem of sorts for putting aside the troubles of today and getting away, to somewhere, anywhere, maybe a dance club, to recharge and live your life another way for a while.  Brittany Foster has nice touches of soul and grit in her vocal to make the song real and honest.  CHO’s production and synth work is on point, just the song itself to me could have been about 30 seconds shorter.  Nonetheless, with those extra few choruses you’ll be humming “Take Me Away” long after it’s over.  Download it for free while you can at the link above.

Toronto area alt.rock quartet @InMyComa returns with uplifting video for “We Are One”

IN MY COMA, “We Are One”

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for an uplifting video which is the visual equivalent of a big, warm hug for everyone, regardless of who you may be.  “We Are One” is the latest alt.rock single from Toronto area quartet In My Coma from their recent album release Next Life.  Taking an inspired cue from Godley & Creme’s seminal 80’s video for “Cry”, the video for “We Are One” (directed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jasper James and the band) moves through the four faces of the band – Jasper (and his reappearing and disappearing beard), bassist LauraDoll, drummer Mike, and keyboardist/vocalist Linz – amid the smiling and content faces of men, women, young, old, multi-racial and multicultural, all uniquely different but all US.  As much as their previous video for “Beautiful Mind” was noted for its humour, “We Are One” rocks out in anthemic style and definitely commands even more attention for a straight-forward take on its message in a very caring, delightful video.

You can find In My Coma playing a variety of events this summer, including at Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition on August 29 at the Bandshell as they once again open for classic Canadian rockers Moist.  

NYC’s @Jenauxmusic is back in fine funky form with his take on “Ain’t No Sunshine” featuring Andy Cooper of @Knitesofficial

JENAUX and ANDY COOPER, “Ain’t No Sunshine” (free DL)

It’s been so often covered, one wonders how a pop/R&B classic like Bill Withers’ 1971 smash “Ain’t No Sunshine” could be done as differently as NYC’s Jenaux had in mind for it!  After his fresh flights of funk in 2016, including recording with Tritonal and remixing for the diverse likes of The Chainsmokers, 3Lau, Gramatik and Saint Motel, all well documented in these blog pages 🙂 Jenaux is back and about to take charge of the funkier end of the dance music spectrum once again.  It’s somewhat ironic that he chooses British vocalist Andy Cooper of the band KNITES to sing the song, but he leaves a mark on the song that recalls the vocals of Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay, even if you didn’t know Andy was British.  It’s an edgy, passionate performance, as was Bill Withers’, but in a much different way.  Jenaux’s playful synth work really mixes it up in the background while some fine guitar work also shines through.  There’s a lot to enjoy in Jenaux’s interpretation of such a timeless song, and it prepares us – maybe a little bit – for what’s about to be unleashed from his repertoire, so be prepared!  Get it for free at the link above while you can.

“Take Your Place” is dirty, compelling Brazilian bass-influenced house from @CIDmusic and @Vinneofficial

CID and VINNE, “Take Your Place”

Brazilian bass is one of the latest dance music sub-genres to start to find its way into the mass public ear, and one producer who can certainly help keep it there is Grammy-winner (for his work on Cedric Gervais’ remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness”)  CID.  The NYC producer is partnered with teenage Brazilian producer Vinne for “Take Your Place”.  From the get-go, it’s definitely an adventurous slice of deep house that gets deep and dirty very quickly, recalling what might be some dubstep influences.  But it’s the anthemic bounce of “Take Your Place” that will keep you going, definitely one of the more interesting and unpredictable releases of late.

Get to know new Toronto production duo @djWavesofficial with “Blinded” featuring James Delaney @jdelaneymusic

WAVES and JAMES DELANEY, “Blinded”

The latest release from Toronto production duo Waves (aka Frankie and Spencer) is “Blinded”.  It’s a good song that is made even bigger and better by what’s all inside.  The production is well-balanced with many highlights, such as some vivid flute playing, as well as a few solid, well-placed drops.  Boston-bred, L.A.-based singer James Delaney has graced a number of fine dance songs – notably Two Friends’ “Emily” – with his expressive and far-reaching voice, and in “Blinded” it’s definitely at its best.  The overall result is a memorable, well-assembled song that will have you swaying till the end.  

#BILLCSTop30 #540 – July 23/18

The story of the new chart is its five debuts, all but one being independent releases!  This chart has always been a champion for independent releases as so many major label releases are tailored for radio or follow a formula.  Usually only about 30% of the songs on the chart are major label releases, although some indie labels have distribution deals with them.  The Top 10 stays steady but with a switch over at the top!

The Top 10

  • Steven and Jeroen, aka Dutch producers The Him, get their first #1 this week in collaboration with singer/songwriter Parson James for the summer ballad of 2018, “Broken Love”.  I’m very happy for these super down-to-earth guys, who just played a career high at Tomorrowland this weekend.  It’s also the second #1 of 2018 for the Spinnin’ label.

  • Brandyn Burnette’s autobiographical “Run” reaches a new peak of #4 in advance of his debut album Emanate, due next month.
  • Australia’s Rüfüs Du Sol definitely have their eye on the top of the chart with “No Place”, which advances 9 to 5.
  • Adam Foster’s “Time” also gets a new peak of #6 as his redux of Marvin Gaye’s “Too Busy Thinkin’ Bout My Baby” (without the original’s chorus) holds through the summer months!
  • The only new entry to the Top 10 this week is the sublime silliness in less than 3 minutes of “Back The Funk” by Estonia’s Madison Mars, which climbs 11-9.  It’s one of the most fun songs of 2018 so far.

Movin’ On Up

  • Equally silly as “Back The Funk” and just as endearing is “Jackie Chan”, becoming a pop hit all over the world courtesy of Tiësto and Toronto’s Dzeko, with great vocal power from Preme and Post Malone.  It rises 16-11.
  • Bobby Nourmand’s EP Subterranean slipped to #2 this week, but his latest release is wasting no time getting up the chart.  With Blonde’s Adam Engle on vocals, the compelling “The Sun” climbs 23-16.
  • Canada’s Felix Cartal released a high quality album called Next Season recently, and one of my very favourites from it is up 21-17.  “Worry” is super-catchy and sung by Victoria Zaro.

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to the superstar collaboration of Tony Moran and Jason Walker, together for a third time with “I’m In Love With You”.  In its Victor Dinaire and Bissen remix, it soars 26-18.  Their previous entries of “So Happy” and “Say Yes” both got to #3.

Five Debuts

  • Keiynan Lonsdale should now be on your radar as someone to watch over the next few years as the “Love, Simon” and “The Flash” actor develops his singing and songwriting talents.  His latest single “Preach” is outstanding, an incredibly honest and joyful record which deserves to be a big hit.  He’s released it independently but who knows if a major label might come knocking for it.  “Preach” bows at #23.
  • NYC’s Squired, aka Sean Squires, delivers a compelling hip hop influenced dance record with his indie release “Peace Out”, which arrives at #24.  “Peace Out” leaps out as being very different but engaging from a lot of what’s out there, and that will be its calling card, along with a really strong vocal performance.
  • L.A.’s Caden Jester arrives at #26 with the ultra-infectious “Vacant Love”, which features a winning vocal by singer Blake Rose.
  • After the #10 placing of “Sanctify”, Years & Years are back on the chart with their second entry from their second album Palo Santo, which is the pop-inflected “All For You” at #28.
  • The final debut is a soul ballad meant for quiet late summer evenings.  Philadelphia duo NiGHTS return to the chart after last year’s #3 fun and slightly wonky               “P A R T Y” with the beautiful “Eyes” at #29.

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 🙂

With festival and club fireworks to come, @Dzekomusic and @RiggiandPiros give us a definitive summer “Anthem”

DZEKO vs RIGGI & PIROS, “Anthem”

In one short week since its release, “Anthem” from Toronto’s Dzeko and one of New Jersey’s finest dance production duos Riggi & Piros has garnered the support of just about every major DJ in the world, so you can expect EDM domination during the balance of the summer.  All it takes is the 10 deliberate notes in “Anthem” that comprise the unassuming hook and will absolutely slay dance music lovers.  There’s a real throwback melody to late 90’s Eurodisco too within the future house core of the song  that’s highly appealing and causes utter glee with fans of this genre.  With Dzeko now everywhere on the charts with Tiësto and “Jackie Chan”, “Anthem” will follow by conquering festivals and clubs everywhere.  You have been warned!!

Netherlands-based producers @Revelriesmusic score with dreamy mid-summer song “Infinitum” with Australia’s #BeamishBoys

REVELRIES and THE BEAMISH BOYS, “Infinitum”

You can tell the guys behind Dubai-bred, Netherlands-based Revelries (they would be Nik and Abhi) are not only producers but musicians as they follow up their successful take on Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” (featuring Henri Purnell) with the glorious escapism of “Infinitum”.  Not only does “Infinitum” have great melody, instrumentation and song structure, but Revelries have partnered with young Australian duo The Beamish Boys (Ben and Jeremy) for some compelling, diverse vocal work that makes the song soar even more.  “Infinitum” is a dreamy mid-summer alt.dance.pop song for those clear starry evenings when nothing else matters, with sparks of love and affection in the air, and anything is possible.  There are lots of folk/pop elements that creep in with some effective acoustic guitar work that helps guide the song along and make it quite accessible for radio play.  “Infinitum” is highly deserving of your attention and placement on your favourite Spotify playlist using the link above.

“Give Me Love” has a direct groove for the win by Dutch producer @Mestomusic

MESTO, “Give Me Love”

There’s a lot familiar about “Give Me Love”, the latest from Dutch producer Mesto, but there’s also a lot that’s new and on point that will keep you listening and bouncing.  The pitched up vocal and repeated chorus – yeah, been there done that.  But Mesto’s got a great groove and complex synth work happening to make you stick with it.  So when club DJ’s wanna see some love on that dance floor mid-evening, then “Give Me Love” is part of the solution!  Add “Give Me Love” to your Pump It Higher playlist using the Spotify link above.

UK-based producer @iamEmbody revives a classic 90’s hit as “Be Cool” with vocalists @MarcoFoster_ and #Bailey

EMBODY, MARCO FOSTER and BAILEY, “Be Cool”

It’s been a while since Lithuania-born, UK-based producer Embody has graced us with original music, after creating one of my favourite songs of Summer ’16 with “Dreamin'”.  He continues on a light tropical house vibe with “Be Cool”, which is actually a surprise cover of Des’ree’s huge 1994 hit “You Gotta Be”.  Great songs will often translate well to any setting, and “Be Cool” keeps a lot of the same familiar flavour of the original.  It’s aided immensely by the male/female duo talents of US singer Marco Foster (about whom I’ve written several times), no stranger to contributing to dance tracks himself, as well new singer Bailey.  Their voices have similar qualities that are fused together well in the production.  “Be Cool” should be a no-brainer for dance radio and clubs (remixes will help) as the original will attest to its timeless popularity.