Lots of atmospheric deep house vibes in @Mahalo_dj’s “Easy to Love” with #Vivaswan

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MAHALO and VIVASWAN, “Easy To Love”

Hawaii-born, L.A. based Mahalo continues his fine repertoire of original releases with “Easy To Love” featuring the vocals of Vivaswan.  In 2017, we heard Mahalo’s songs gradually fill with more deep house vibes and some deliberately heavier synth work than some of his earlier more pop-flavoured ones.  This time for Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS imprint, “Easy To Love” relies a lot on that rich synth work which plays up against a lot of striking high end and vocals from Vivaswan which don’t sing too many words overall but act as a conduit for what’s surrounding them.  Club DJ’s should easily embrace “Easy To Love”, and all proceeds for the song go to the Hawaii volcano relief fund.  Add “Easy To Love” to your Deep House Treasures playlist using the Spotify link below.

Listen to a 90’s inspired breakout from @TobyGreendj with “Ready”

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TOBY GREEN, “Ready”

When you think of music by The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Aphex Twin, you think of the 90’s, and many club DJ’s and producers are returning to the progressive techno sound of that era to spice up their music.  The thing you have to remember is that the end of the 90’s was 20 years ago – so why is a 21 year old Danish producer like Toby Green filling his new song “Ready” with inspiration from that time period?  I’m not sure but it really works well.  “Ready” is a crunchy, aggressive slice of techno-inspired house that also benefits from wonderful guitar work by Toby’s dad.  The song charges forward in a brisk, fun ride just shy of three minutes.  It’s no wonder that you may keep seeing Toby’s name pop up at festivals, or get endorsements from the likes of The Chainsmokers, or create collaborations with Sam Feldt.  Toby’s got an intriguing angle to his sound, one to keep your ears on this year.  Add “Ready” to your Techno House playlist using the Spotify link below.

Infectious Italo-Arabic dance fusion: “3omri 3addit” is the latest from @DJMirkoB with #Selim

DJ MIRKO B and SELIM, “3omri 3addit”

It may be more common to hear such a mix of languages in music in Europe, but in North America it’s a rarity.  I don’t know what the song is all about, but that’s part of what makes “3omri 3addit” by Italy’s DJ Mirko B featuring vocalist Selim such an interesting record that all of you dance music lovers should check out.  Besides a classic Eurobeat, what also carries “3omri 3addit” along is the sublime acoustic guitar hook, which is just begging for reaction under the dance floor lights.  My preference here is for the extended all Arabic version over the hybrid Italian-Arabic radio edit as it flows better and seems more complete.  “3omri 3addit” is a bold release which needs some props outside of Europe, where it will probably simply go over like gangbusters.  Add it to your Eurobeat With A Twist playlist using the Spotify link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #538 – June 25/18

The new chart gets shaken up a whole lot, with a bunch of songs making large moves.  There are five debuts, but somehow the two on top remain the same…

The Top 10

  • Mercer and Ron Carroll’s “Satisfy” (above) has enough staying power to wrap up a 3rd appearance (6th week) at #1, while The Chainsmokers’ “Everybody Hates Me” (below) matches the two appearances at #2 that “Sick Boy” had not long ago.  Be prepared for changes next week, which are being instigated by the huge movement below.

  • Bobby Nourmand’s been a busy guy, and his Subterranean EP, featuring the dark title song (above) and the creepy and forboding “Estranged” (below), climbs 7-3, making it a contender for the top in two weeks.  Bobby has a new song called “The Sun” on deck and it receives release on Friday June 29. Watch for words on this one at that time!

  • James Bay’s “Pink Lemonade” soars 15-4 from the Electric Light album, making it his biggest hit on the chart to date and also a #1 contender.

  • The one to watch though is the beautiful and timely “Broken Love” by The Him and Parson James, which is the fastest riser, up 20-5.  It’s the Dutch producers’ third Top 5 hit on this chart.

  • “Run” by Brandyn Burnette, from his forthcoming debut album Emanate, climbs 11-7, to arrive next to his co-write with Jesse McCartney and Molly Moore, “Better With You”, hanging at #6.  The third single from Emanate will be “Amen”, coming in July, while the album will arrive in August on the singer’s birthday 🙂

  • Troye Sivan’s third single, featuring Ariana Grande, called “Dance To This”, may be taking some attention away from “Bloom” (above), but it still climbs 12-9 on this chart, while Adam Foster’s “Time” (below) also bows in the Top 10 at #10.

Movin’ On Up

  • “Lonely” is a great end of school song for the romances that never were, courtesy of Norway’s Matoma and ever-energetic singer MAX.  It rises 19-12.
  • “2012” does indeed recall songs from around that year, becoming common particularly with veteran producer DJ’s like Tiësto, Hardwell, and Afrojack, who know dance audiences are clamoring for updated tastes of that classic EDM era.  So not coincidentally Afrojack shares billing with protégé Ravitez on “2012”, which rises 18-14.
  • Rüfüs Du Sol has announced a North American tour, which will bring the Aussies to a city near you (including my city Toronto, on November 16).  Their latest single “No Place” moves up 24-18.
  • Madison Mars’ “Back The Funk” is one of the cleverest, non-sensical dance songs to come along in a while to make you love it to death.  This new party anthem will be heard all summer long and rises 25-19.

5 Debuts

  • Making it four songs on the chart from his Musical Freedom imprint, Tiësto pairs up with Canadian buddy Dzeko but gets Preme and Post Malone on vocals for the incredibly infectious “Jackie Chan” which bows at #23.
  • French producers RetroVision liberally borrow the hook from The Shapeshifters’ “Lola’s Theme” and a sample from “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock to make “Get Down” memorable.  The rest of the song is great house music for the summer.  “Get Down” arrives at #24.

  • UK singer Lostchild premieres with his independent release “Blacklist” at #25.  In video format, it comes with two interesting personalities, the NSFW one influenced by Madonna’s “Justify My Love” above, and the acoustic one (below) which emphasizes the singer’s excellent voice and layers of charm.  He’s one to watch 🙂

  • Canadian producer Felix Cartal has a residency in Las Vegas happening, so watch for dates.  He recently released the versatile and generous (18 songs) album Next Season, from which comes the undeniably catchy “Worry”. featuring singer Victoria Zaro, at #26.
  • Another independent UK singer debuts on the chart.  She calls herself Jazz Mino and her song “Misunderstand” is an eloquent, upbeat way to kick the door closed on a relationship that didn’t gel.  “Misunderstand” gets the #27 spot.

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 new BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

Atlanta duo @BellsandRobes weave an intriguing tale set to electronic dance rhythms in “Jackal and the Moon”

BELLS AND ROBES, “Jackal and the Moon”

Atlanta production duo Bells And Robes are not your typical electronic dance music makers.  Drawing a lot of inspiration from zen and other philosophies, their latest effort “Jackal and the Moon” is almost fairytale-like in structure.  The premise – two new lovers dancing in a foreign land, not knowing that their relationship is never meant to be – is intriguing and put across beautifully by uncredited vocalist Kaisune in a passionate and committed performance.  Amid all of Bells And Robes’ electronic experimentation – sometimes house, sometimes future bass with dashes of trap, thriving from what sounds like it could have been a classical piece originally – the vocal holds the song together and retains your interest throughout.  “Jackal and the Moon” is going to be a tricky sell, but there are electronic dance music fans out there who enjoy music that’s a little more left field, and college radio may also be a good home for it.  Check it out at the link above.

Pump that bassline: “9 To 5” has spicy retro flavours from NYC’s @TruthxLiesmusic and @Holymanmusic

TRUTH x LIES and HOLYMAN, “9 To 5”

It’s been a while since I’ve written about NYC duo Truth x Lies, but they have a winner for clubs with “9 To 5” in collaboration with fellow New Yorker Holyman.  There’s not much lyrically to the song but its chorus is consistent with what club goers want to hear because there is no “9 To 5” in the dance music world 😛  What gives this one edge is its sly, retrotastic synth bassline, which sounds like it was inspired from some of the best disco and dance records of the 70’s and 80’s.  It all works together well, making the Truth x Lies and Holyman a collaboration that could be repeated, and club DJ’s should appreciate the extended mix.  Add “9 To 5” to your Dance The Night Away playlist using the Spotify link above.

Post-royal wedding original from UK singer/songwriter @JamesFrancis86 with “Free To Be Me”

JAMES FRANCIS, “Free To Be Me”

What a thrill it must have been for James Francis to be part of the choir that received worldwide praise for their rendition of “Stand By Me” at the recent royal wedding.  James has fine talents to offer on his own as is readily apparent with his new original “Free To Be Me”.  The UK singer/songwriter has crafted an instantly likable slice of soul/pop that you don’t hear much of these days.  It’s positive and empowering, with a terrific carefree rhythm that makes it a breezy breath of fresh air.  While the younger folks are crafting their own brand of R&B, it’s a pleasure to hear a song that will remind you of 80’s and 90’s  soul pop like Seal, Hall & Oates, Lionel Richie and others.  Add it to your Slice Of Soul playlist using the Spotify link above.

SoCal’s @CadenJester has a zingy toe-tapper “Vacant Love” with singer @BlakeRosemusic

CADEN JESTER and BLAKE ROSE, “Vacant Love”

It starts off a bit deceptively, as it phases in introducing the fine voice of Blake Rose, but “Vacant Love” by SoCal producer Caden Jester is actually a memorable, zingy toe-tapper that nicely straddles the finer lines between pop and dance music.  Pop-wise, it’s an engaging, melodic song, and I must say that Blake’s vocal is one of the finest by a new singer that I’ve heard in a while.  Caden Jester’s production keeps the snappy rhythm flowing, cleverly using a quieter vocal break that might otherwise be the place for a big drop, and it works extremely well.  “Vacant Love” gets an immediate two thumbs up for me and club DJ’s should enjoy a song that will take audiences out of a slower set from zero to 140 🙂

 

Another instant summer disco anthem by @Moranmusic and @divaJasonWalker with the striking “I’m In Love With You”

TONY MORAN and JASON WALKER, “I’m In Love With You”

Legendary producer Tony Moran and sensational NYC powerhouse vocalist Jason Walker can simply do no wrong when they get together with a new song.  Following up “So Happy” and “Say Yes”, this year we have “I’m In Love With You”, ready to brighten up your day if not your entire summer!  Like the others, it’s an ideal song for clubs, reveling in the happy vibe of the classic disco era, with Jason’s vocal towering over a zesty, contagious melody.  There is no wonder why the pair keep going to #1 on the dance music charts.  “I’m In Love With You” draws from many different, enjoyable dance styles while still carving out its own niche in the crowd.  Watch the video above.

A soaring @JayB1rdmusic remix enhances dreamy “Wasted A Moment” by Pink Lemonade @PinkLemon4ever

PINK LEMONADE,  “Wasted A Moment” (Jay Bird remix)

Sometimes it does take a remix to show another side to a song, or to bring a little more flavour to it that works in harmony with the intent of the original.  Such is the case with UK duo Pink Lemonade’s “Wasted A Moment”, which in its original version is an atmospheric mid-tempo ballad.  You’ve read a few posts this year about Southern California producer Jay Bird’s songs, and he brings his distinct melodic flair to the dreamy landscape already created by Pink Lemonade in the song.  It’s a rich-sounding production that accentuates high end drum beats, and really soars in key places in the song, so it doesn’t come off as busy or over-produced.  “Wasted A Moment” becomes more of an anthem for savouring those special times in your life.  Check out the remix at the link above and download it for free!