BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

BILLCS New Music Report – August 8/24 with new songs by @TheKnocks & @YELLE, @imZachHerron, Sleepy Benjamin, @NatisaGogol, @Mercer_music and @HazellHD

After a week away in New York City for a vacation, my brain is still in vacation mode, particularly after bad weather stranded me there for an additional days, resulting in some stress trying to make sure that I could get back home yesterday. But besides the weather day, one thing that I’ll always remember is seeing the outstanding YEBBA sing with the Robert Glasper band in Central Park. And as I’ve already mentioned on social media, I’ll never listen to her song “October Sky” the same way again.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five returns with song choices from 1974-1977. Plus you’ll find out what the BILLCS Top 30 looked like this week in 2009!

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

THE KNOCKS, YELLE, “All The Time/Tout le temps”

Enduring dance production duo The Knocks are definitely in an expansion phase of their usual likeable, solid house sound. Their most recent single, “Lover” (currently rising up the BILLCS Top 30), fuses dream pop with house music. “All the Time/Tout le temps” sees the guys tackling their own variation of Europop in collaboration with longtime French electronic duo YELLE, from whom we don’t hear too often. The track has the benefit of a sophisticated bilingual vocal by YELLE’s namesake singer, and the results are fresh, crisp and fun (Dragonette’s Martina Sorbara is also a co-writer). Dance producers themselves should pay attention to this release because I think The Knocks are being quite innovative with their production choices. Let’s see in six months if others have caught on and come aboard. Above all, The Knocks’ fans will love it and it should definitely find new friends, particularly overseas and in French-speaking places (France, Belgium, Quebec).

ZACH HERRON, “caroline”

It’s not too late for another anthemic, summery favourite, and Why Don’t We’s 23 year old Texas native Zach Herron has released his first indie solo single, “caroline”. It’s one enjoyable and catchy pop bop with a great vocal and a bright, zingy power pop flavour. There will come a day when we will see Why Don’t We back together, but “caroline” isn’t quite their brand of harder, edgier pop/rock which sometimes gravitates to loud Imagine Dragon tendencies. It perhaps is more influenced by early 2010’s pop like Katy Perry and One Direction. Like fellow member Corbyn Besson, Zach has started to carve out his own path with solo songs like “caroline” and we’ll be hearing a lot more from him.

SLEEPY BENJAMIN, “3 Things”

The latest release from Australian indie pop artist Sleepy Benjamin finds him tackling for the first time, I believe, a breakup song. As unfortunate as they may be, for years I’ve been firmly of the belief that breakups make the best food for songwriting, and “3 Things” is also one of Ben’s best and bolder songs. He’s been dazzling us with his wordplay on some recent releases, and “3 Things” has plenty of it, set to a rather whimsical melody considering the nature of the song, but it all comes together nicely. It may have taken a few cues from songs like Gayle’s “ABCDEFU” and Leah Kate’s “8 Things I Hate About You”, and its lyrics are pointed, but not vicious. “3 Things” is for pop fans looking for an infectious, to-the-point song that comes from an earnest place.

NATISA GOGOL, “Into The Wild”

Natisa Gogol is a new singer from Kyiv, Ukraine, now based in Prague, who offers a female empowerment anthem in the form of the striking and ear-catching “Into The Wild”. With a stunning voice full of emotion and restraint and an alluring presence, Natisa delivers a song from a woman’s perspective and how a woman can use her unique sensibilities to make things happen. It’s a great introduction to Natisa, who has been releasing music for the two years since she fled Ukraine during the current war, and shows that she is one of many women vocalists, including several that you have read about in the last year in this blog, working outside of the mainstream of the pop spectrum. Check out the video for the song, shot in Portugal, in some scenes in which the crew were employing their best skills to capture beautiful shots and cinematography under some duresse for their art.

MERCER, “Overrr”

French dance producer Mercer is back with one of four singles that he has released recently and after “Disco Sermon” which you read about in these blog pages a few weeks back. “Overrr” is slick and infectious Eurodisco with a pleasing uncredited vocal, which is cleverly based on a refrain by Michael Jackson (cue the single’s artwork) in The Jacksons’ song “Wondering Who” (lead vocal by Jackie Jackson) from their 1980 album Triumph. It’s refreshing to hear new releases like “Overrr” because it sounds so different from what is being produced in North America, yet comes from the same disco and electronic roots. And because of that, the song would have a distinct presence in an R&B-flavoured Eurodisco set.

HAZELL DEAN, “Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)” (JNR remix retro mix)

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, UK dance music queen Hazell Dean has re-rereleased her Top 5 UK smash “Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)” in an effective retro remix by British producer JNR. The song was one of Stock-Aitken-Waterman’s earliest hits, and JNR’s fresh remix keeps the essence of the SAW magic and Hazell’s splendid vocal while adding current synths and production technique in a fast-paced, zesty mix. Fans of Hazell and SAW will be pleased, and because the song was not a hit in North America, it could easily win over new fans in the process. “Whatever I Do” is also available on the remix EP in a ’24 radio remix and extended versions of both.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and debuts throughout the summer each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online. “The 3D Variety Show” in which it normally debuts on Tuesdays, is on hiatus and will return in September.

Kygo gets another pick of the week, this time with UK vocalist/songwriter Hayla on “Without You”

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Russ’ record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.

“I Got Cracked” is by Boston rock trio Vundabar

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and “Pyjama Party”, with both shows anchored at Energy 885. Hunter can also be heard weekdays at 2pm EST on Party Dog Radio. Hunter’s bop of the week can now be heard each week on “The Big 20”.

It’s NYC dance producer Deerock with Jake Neumar and “Out Of Love”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, usually heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST but currently on hiatus until September. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.

Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (1976)
Steve Miller Band – Jungle Love (1977)
Gary and Dave – It Might As Well Rain Until September (1974)
Shawne Jackson – Just As Bad As You (1974) (You Tube link)
Three Dog Night – The Show Must Go On (1974)

BILLCS Top 30 FLASHBACK CHART – 2009

Ah yes, it was a simpler time when our connection to artists and their music was growing on MySpace, and many dance producers were starting to deliver free downloads of originals and remixes through Soundcloud. The MySpace phase would come crashing down within two years as Twitter, along with You Tube and Facebook, became the dominant social media platforms. My #1 song was from a promising Ottawa-based dance music singer who didn’t release a follow up to his indie album Human Geometry and sadly it’s not available on streaming services other than You Tube (below). The highest debut at #17, “Symphonies” by UK singer/songwriter Dan Black (a future BILLCS Top 30 #1), whose melody started life in The Notorious B.I.G. sampled “HYPNTZ”, which became available as a free download when he couldn’t get permission to release it. And at #26 is Swedish-American trio Miike Snow – aka Galantis (known then as Bloodshy & Avant) and Grammy and Oscar winner Andrew Wyatt. I saw them in concert in early 2010.

02 01 MANNEQUIN (Overthrill remix) Noah
01 02 THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT Royksöpp featuring Robyn
06 03 YOU WANT ME DON’T YOU (Spekr Freks mix) Nelson Clemente
08 04 MASTERPIECE THEATRE PART 1 Marianas Trench
05 05 I’M RUNNING Misstress Barbara featuring Sam Roberts
10 06 GIRL NEXT DOOR Darin
03 07 YOU FOUND ME (Lenny B mix) The Fray
04 08 A DUSTLAND FAIRYTALE Killers
14 09 BATTLEFIELD Jordin Sparks
12 10 JUST BREATHE Addictiv
13 11 GOODBYE Kristinia DeBarge
07 12 LONGING FOR LULLABIES Kleerup featuring Titiyo
18 13 BOY MEETS GIRL Evan Taubenfeld
16 14 BULLETPROOF La Roux
21 15 RABBIT HEART (RAISE IT UP) Florence & The Machine
19 16 KNOCK YOU DOWN Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo
New 17 SYMPHONIES Dan Black
20 18 TALK YOU DOWN The Script
New 19 GIVE ME THE MELTDOWN Rob Thomas
11 20 HER DIAMONDS Rob Thomas
15 21 LOVE STORY (Victor Franco Radio mix) Nadia Ali
09 22 FIRE Codebreaker featuring Kathy Diamond
New 23 WONDERFUL Gary Go
29 24 BANG BANG K’Naan featuring Adam Levine
30 25 ALL TO MYSELF Marianas Trench
New 26 ANIMAL (Punks Jump Up Mix) Miike Snow
New 27 REWIND Mans Zelmerlöw
New 28 CONFUSION GIRL Frankmusik
22 29 IF I KNOW YOU Presets
23 30 BREATHLESS Newton White

#BILLCSTop30 #697 – July 29/24

There isn’t much turnover on the new BILLCS Top 30 this week, and with so many songs on the rise, there aren’t a lot of big moves except for the delightful song that is the Fastest Riser. But there’s a new #1 and maybe in two weeks after I’m back from NYC there will be more changeups happening on the chart.

Remember – my blog posts are all about DISCOVERY, so let the music in!!

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are now directly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded. The Big 20 and the picks of the week are happily being syndicated and you can find the current schedule for all at the bottom of the home page of this blog.

With the mid-summer dance grooves in full effect, there’s no better artist to be leading the chart than UK singer/songwriter HAYLA with her solo single “Embers” (2-1, above). HAYLA of course was recently on top of the chart for two months with John Summit and “Shiver”. And this week she has the Highest Debut with Kygo from his self-titled album, “Without You”, which bows at #27 (below). I’m still not done – HAYLA has just released the follow-up single called “Freefall”, which you can also hear below. With this year banging away for HAYLA, I can’t imagine what 2025 might be like!

The Fastest Riser, for a second chart in a row, belongs to Sam Feldt, JVKE and Anitta with “Mi Amor” (below), which soars 18-7. It’s Sam’s second Top 10 entry, Anitta’s first, and JVKE’s 6th, joining “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like” (#3) in the Top 10.

New to the Top 10 are Teddy Swims’ soul-wrenching “The Door” (11-8, above) and Kygo’s second chart entry “For Life”, with vocalist Zak Abel and the legendary Nile Rodgers (12-10, below).

Nile Rodgers also appears in the incredibly infectious “Honey Boy” with Purple Disco Machine, Benjamin Ingrosso and Shenseea, and it zips up the chart 21-13.

The sombre but hopeful “Rearview Mirror” by Greyson Chance (above) is a classic example of thoughtful and authentic songs being released today by artists who are choosing to make music that is deliberately different from what is dominating the charts. It climbs 17-14, and Greyson has already followed it up with, “Haymaker”, which you can hear below.

Another artist carving out his own lane is The Boy From The South with the clever “Space Party” climbing 20-15. The video above gives you more pause for thought as to what the song is about!

The irresistible “Chocolate” by Sweden’s Jubël and NOTD jumps into the Top 20 out of the gate, rising 24-18.

Also destined to get stuck in your head is “Hotel Party”, the summer’s unofficial party anthem, courtesy of my fellow Canadians Crash Adams, and it moves up 26-21.

The second debut on the chart at #30 is the first entry for Dutch producers Lucas and Steve, noted for their collaborations with fellow European producers Sam Feldt, Afrojack, Bassjackers, RetroVision and more. It’s kind of a full circle moment as I saw a set by these guys probably back in 2019 in Miami. They team up with British producer LAWRENT and British vocalist/songwriter Jordan Shaw for “End Of Time”, which is already a North American dance radio smash. Jordan Shaw previously reached #1 with Boye & Sigvardt as the vocalist for “Microdose”.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Halton Hills Radio Online

Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Saturday evening at 6 pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link. My New Music Pick of the Week also debuts each week on The Big 20 until September.

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada is currently on hiatus, and will return in September.

Energy885

Energy885 in Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Energy885 now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Fridays at 6pm EST, and his new show “Pyjama Party” on Saturdays at 5pm EST, which both air my New Music Pick of the Week. Energy885 is also airing my Retro Pick Of The Week as well on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of “Modern Hype” and “Pyjama Party” at the following link: DJ Hunter.

For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

BILLCS New Music Report – July 25/24 with new songs by Starsigns (@imyetep @manilakilla @myrnemusic), @SamSparro, Nathalie Miranda @vocalfreaknat, @KaceyFifield, @kayliox, Lucky Guess & @LoloMayhew, Jimmy Rich x Tony Daly x Victor Perry (@wallflowerperry) and @MaxSarre

It’s that time of year again where I venture to my current favourite place to visit, New York City (Manhattan). In fact on this day in both 2014 and 2018 I was in NYC. There’s no place like it and no shortage of things to do. I’ve been more than 20 times and there are always new parts of Manhattan to explore. I just pray for it not to be dripping with humidity as each day I’m there is expected to be over 30C. Because of this time away, there will be no BILLCS New Music Report next week, and the following one will appear on August 8 rather than the day before. I will have a new BILLCS Top 30 on Monday before I go.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago! Please note that “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five is currently on hiatus.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

STARSIGHTS, GEORGE GLEESON, “Leo (Flicker)”

Starsights is the name of a new collective of Asian-American electronic dance producers – Surprise! It’s yetep, Manila Killa and MYRNE!! In collaboration with British singer/songwriter George Gleeson, “Leo (Flicker)” is a memorable, anthemic slice of pop/dance that finds a similar happy medium outside of harder EDM that The Chainsmokers and Coldplay discovered with “Something Just Like This”. And like that timeless record, “Leo (Flicker)” has a great vocal against an emotional early 2010’s inspired melody, while the song weaves a story about resigning oneself to the end of a relationship. In any case the Starsights collective and the resulting “Leo (Flicker)” release kind of came out of left field this month, so don’t let this one slip through the many releases out there, and I’m looking forward to another Starsights song.

SAM SPARRO, “Pressure” (RedTop mix)

I was delighted to find a Sam Sparro song on the Red Hot Organization’s latest release, the Red, Hot & Free Mixtape. Some songs simply slide under the radar, and this one, remixed by Swedish producer RedTop, was actually released a few years back, and is a worthy addition to this collection. The Red Hot & Free Mixtape also includes songs by the renown producer Arthur Baker, Bright Light Bright Light, Ultra Naté, Tituss Burgess, Imani Coppola and a remix of “Mon Cheri” by Sofi Tukker and Amadou & Mariam, a BILLCS Top 30 #2 in 2022. Like a lot of the Australia-born “Black and Gold” hitmaker’s releases, which have not been many these past few years, “Pressure” is timeless and relatable, with a slinky, funky groove that is an immediate call to the dance floor for clubs. So just let go, enjoy the great vocal, and let the rhythm take you away.

NATHALIE MIRANDA, “U Got Soul”

This week’s new songs have been full of head-turns, and after catching my attention with a Christmas song last year, London’s Nathalie Miranda has returned with an unexpected bluesy pop belter, “U Got Soul”. And looks are deceptive – currently sporting a set of flaming red hair atop her small stature, Nathalie’s vocal on this track sounds like it should be coming from someone else, but in truth she’s got a natural flair for this vibrant soulful sound. “U Got Soul” is destined to be a crowd-pleaser in concert, one that you’ll be happy to get up with to sing along or cheer. It’s one of those solid songs that gets passed around through word of mouth, so don’t be surprised if you hear more about Nathalie and “You Got Soul”. Check out its fun video, which has some inspiration from Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is In The Heart”.

KACEY FIFIELD, “Dream Girl”

The flourishing music career of Kacey Fifield continues with a punchy song about being obsessive called “Dream Girl”. Like her recent single “Never Reply” from the well-received EP Nostalgia Haunts Me, “Dream Girl” is co-written with Smallpools’ Mike Kamerman and Winnetka Bowling League’s Sam Beresford, and produced by Sam, and the amped-up rock flavour complete with fuzzy-sounding guitar work really jibes well with Kacey’s lyrics and voice. “Dream Girl” highlights the extremes to which we will go when going beyond just liking or loving something/someone does not satisfy us enough. The song has a wry sense of humour, and the overall result is positive and versatile.

KAYLIOX, CHLOE DOYON, “Off The Ground”

Quickly following up last month’s “Memory Lane”, and to be included in an EP of the same name, is Quebec dance producer Kayliox who teams up with Quebec vocalist Chloé Doyon once again for “Off The Ground”. I like how this song initially focuses on Chloé’s vocal while introducing its tech house forward synth work, then it builds auspiciously, adding more layers of seamless production until the key drop is unleashed. From that point onward, “Off The Ground” turns into a fierce rave up, and this is one that dance club DJ’s will enjoy the most, especially with an extended version. I’m looking forward to what’s next in line for Kayliox’s EP.

LUCKY GUESS, LAUREN MAYHEW, “Feels So Right”

Lucky Guess is an Indianapolis-based production duo of Samuel Schmelzer and Tom Huettner, who have been releasing music these past five years, and along the way have been solidifying worldwide DJ support, and have had releases through labels like Spinnin’ and Revealed. With “Feels So Right”, they’ve teamed up with Florida multi-talent Lauren Mayhew, who works some dynamic and playful vocal magic. “Feels So Right” is one tight tech-house banger that showcases all of its talents well – but we’re left a bit wanting after the song finishes at the 2 minute mark, so an extended version, especially for clubs, would be most welcome, and would benefit the release as a whole. As is, “Feels So Right” is enough of a sinfully sizzling rollercoaster ride that if it gets in enough of the right ears, it could be around for a while. Don’t sleep on this one!

JIMMY RICH, TONY DALY, VICTOR PERRY, “Paradigm”

It’s been a while since NYC’s Victor Perry graced these blog pages with his silky vocal and creative songwriting, but he’s back with “Paradigm” in collaboration with Italian producers Jimmy Rich and Tony Daly, with whom he recorded last year’s “Gemini”. “Paradigm” is smooth and inviting deep house release with Eurohouse flavours and a catchy refrain. In the song, Victor wants to get the object of his affection’s attention by seeing their paradigm, which is another way of wanting to look at something but through their eyes. The song moves along briskly and is available in both radio edit and extended versions as a two song single.

MAX SARRE, “Brother”

“Brother” is a cheery and warm slice of straight-forward pop music brought to you by 22 year old rising London-based talent Max Sarre. It’s an affecting song which could be as much about a relationship with a brother as it could be a best friend who’s always there for you to turn to when needed. In some ways thematically it reminds me of Coldplay’s big 2005 hit “Talk”. Vocally, Max is engaging and spot on, and “Brother” will appeal easily to fans of Ed Sheeran and Charlie Puth. Max has released about a dozen singles and two EP’s in the last four years, and “Brother” looks to be the start of a positive new era for him.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

Canadian duo Crash Adams are guaranteed to light up your event with “Hotel Party”

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

Toronto trio Valley return with “Bass Player’s Brother”

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

After her breakout with “Austin”, Dasha returns with the more straight-up country tune “Didn’t I”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

The “Classic Five” will return.

THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…

The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…

2019

1 GOOD THINGS FALL APART, Illenium & Jon Bellion

2 WORLD AT YOUR FEET, Timmy Trumpet

3 SWEAR TO GOD, Famba

4 LOVE ME LESS, MAX, Quinn XCII

5 KISS AND TELL, Mokita

2014

1 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT, House Rockerz, Davis Redfield, Carl Man

2 TIDAL WAVE, Tristan Thompson

3 TELL IT TO MY HEART, Jason Walker, Bimbo Jones

4 LITTLE ME (Steve Smart & Wildfunk radio edit), Little Mix

5 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING, Anton Ewald, Medina

2009

1 THE GIRL & THE ROBOT, Royksöpp, Robyn

2 MANNEQUIN (Overthrill remix), Noah

3 YOU FOUND ME (Lenny B remix), The Fray

4 A DUSTLAND FAIRYTALE, Killers

5 I’M RUNNING, Misstress Barbara, Sam Roberts

2004

1 SATELLITE (Above & Beyond mix), Oceanlab, Justine Suissa

2 SHE WILL BE LOVED, Maroon 5

3 ROCK U, Laurent Konrad

4 FALLING DOWN, Ben Jelen

5 MOVE YA BODY, Nina Sky

1999

1 THE CUP OF LIFE (Spanglish radio edit), Ricky Martin

2 U DON’T KNOW ME, Armand Van Helden, Duane Harden

3 NO REGRETS, Robbie Williams

4 SHE’S SO HIGH, Tal Bachman

5 GET YOU IN THE MORNING, Crash Test Dummies

BILLCS New Music Report – July 18/24 with songs by @itsJudeYork, @Mercer_music & @RonCarrollBMC, @AndrewBayer & @djOliverSmith,Eyeglasses @iainsforrest,@grabbitz, and @NathanBallhq

It’s been a busy week, so I have no additional commentary to preface this edition of the BILLCS New Music Report. Enjoy the songs and features!!

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. In case you missed them on Monday, you’ll also find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the current BILLCS Top 30. Please note that “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five is currently on hiatus.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

JUDE YORK, “Monaco”

Australia’s Jude York has acquired a worldwide following with his unique brand of pop, sometimes mixed with danceable rhythms. From the swoon-worthy old school sounds of “I Won’t Need To Dream” to the lyrical wordplay towards the man of his affection with “Mr. Porcelain” and the pop rave up of “All My Friends Hate Me”, all previously written up in this blog, Jude has put his thoughts and personality on full display these past few years. “Monaco” brings it all together with Kylie Minogue flair in a song completely written and produced by Jude. It’s got an irresistible chorus which transports you to sunny Monaco for a three minute pop-dance vacation. Jude has recorded dance music previously under other names, so this is a full-circle moment. “Monaco” has huge dance radio potential and its release on Spinnin’ should help it get there.

MERCER, “Disco Sermon featuring Ron Carroll”

French dance producer Mercer has had the distinction of acquiring three number one’s on the BILLCS Top 30 to date out of his four charted entries. Little did I know until recently that he co-wrote Lady Gaga’s “Applause”, one of my Gaga faves which got to #2 as well, and he has worked closely with artists like DJ Snake, Cerrone, Tchami and Malaa, sometimes in the background as an engineer. And Mercer is one of a few contemporary producers who does disco proud. His latest release “Disco Sermon featuring Ron Carroll” is no exception, as he partners once again with the Chicago house notable (their first collaboration was 2018’s “Satisfy”, which samples Don Ray’s disco hit “Got To Have Loving”, and is one of those BILLCS Top 30 #1’s). And what better to preach the word of disco than the expressive voice of Ron Carroll? This “Disco Sermon” will unite club goers on the dance floor, for the power and presence of the 70’s most enjoyable music genre is very much alive, it never really went anywhere except back underground while other sub-genres which couldn’t have existed without it (house, trance, etc.) rose to the fore. “Disco Sermon” is a lot of fun, and any club DJ who appreciates the history of dance music and the impact of disco should be playing it.

ANDREW BAYER, OLIVER SMITH, “Rude Boyz”

Two Anjunabeats headliners, Grammy-nominated Washington DC native Andrew Bayer and the UK’s Oliver Smith (the first artist signed to the label), combine forces with the fun trance-flavoured bop “Rude Boyz”. It’s essentially an instrumental, with some vocals used as effects, and it plays on some familiar trance sounds and effects, but then tosses in arpeggios and some cool drops to really diversify the mix. Having been to see an Anjunabeats show before (which included Oliver), I’m certain that “Rude Boyz” would be an in-demand crowd-pleasing highlight when played in a set by Andrew or Oliver. Its euphoric melody will keep the audience raging and bouncing, so it deserves to be a centrepiece of a set.

EYEGLASSES, “Beautiful Things”

It’s hard to listen to covers of one of your favourite songs, knowing that none is likely to match it. But this cello instrumental take on Benson Boone’s massive “Beautiful Things” (a BILLCS Top 30 #1) manages to stand on its own. Eyeglasses is the performing name for Iain S. Forrest, who is a medical student in New York City and plays free performances in subways and throughout NYC. He’s received notice on social media and TV for his performances, and sadly last year, he was attacked in a subway by a deranged person and was struck on the head with a big object. While it took him some time to recover, particularly psychologically, from the incident, Iain is back performing in public. His arrangement of “Beautiful Things” is stunning and captivating, his cello sings on its own, so be sure to check it out. He’s also begun releasing vocal originals like “Tomorrow’s Dawn” which you can listen to at the following Spotify link: Eyeglasses.

GRABBITZ, “In The Dark”

Acclaimed electronic artist Grabbitz continues to dazzle with songs like the title track from his 3-song EP In The Dark. The L.A.-based, Buffalo, New York singer, songwriter and producer offers a creative mix of progressive electronica and dubstep in this compelling track. The production is highly layered and brings some surprises, like a short spoken word interlude. With taking some risks in the production, “In The Dark” stands apart from a lot of same-sounding progressive electronic dance music. Its theme of self-isolation could prompt a discussion about mental health and the need for some people to be alone at certain times, which often leads others to worry rather needlessly instead of trying to understand the big picture. To the special attention of producers/remixers, he has also placed the stems for his songs on his website for your use. Website link: Grabbitz.com. The website also includes a digital booklet containing the lyrics to the three songs on his EP.

NATHAN BALL, “Stateline”

House music fans know Cornwall, England-based talent Nathan Ball as the current touring vocalist for the seminal dance band Faithless, who frequently tour in the UK, Europe and Australia. In fact, Faithless reached #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 with the mesmerizing “Synthesizer” in 2021, which featured Nathan on lead vocals. But with “Stateline”, Nathan steps back into a grounded indie singer/songwriter pop/folk mode in refreshing song about being young, dreaming, and in love, only to reach that stage that eventually happens to us all when reality bites. It’s hard not to like a song like this with an earnest vocal which would appeal to fans of Niall Horan and Ed Sheeran. While it’s great to hear Nathan as part of the ongoing Faithless clan, it’s also cool to see him creating a parallel identity which could serve him well long after his time in Faithless comes to an end.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

Swedish electronic production duos Jubël and NOTD pair up for the irresistible “Chocolate”

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

“Better Days” is by veteran rockers Staind

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

It’s Belgian alt.pop singer Tessa Dixson with “Way Back”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

The “Classic Five” will return.

BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG

Felix Cartal and Lights continue at #1 with the Live String Version of “feel less”

BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER

Rising 27-18 it’s “Mi Amor” by Sam Feldt, JVKE and Anitta

#BILLCSTop30 #696 – July 15/24

In a chart where this week the top 13 songs are holding or on the rise, it leaves a big question mark as to how it will look in two weeks, just before I head off to New York City (yup again, can’t get enough). There are several worthy candidates on the move for the top of the chart, we’ll just have to see what songs I can let go of… well a bit anyway!

Remember – my blog posts are all about DISCOVERY, so let the music in!!

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive (recently updated along with its Artist tab)

Deservedly killing it at #1 for a second appearance is “feel less (Live String Version Recorded at The Warehouse)” by Canadians, Juno Award winners, and true buds Felix Cartal and Lights. It’s one thing to make a dance track, but then to turn that track into one with orchestra and synths is a brilliant thing.

I’ve seen UK singer/songwriter Hayla in concert twice this year, and it will happen for a third time in September when she opens in my city for Kygo. Her solo release “Embers” rises 4-2 and seems most likely to succeed “feel less” at #1 – but will it? Hayla also has a new single, “Freefall”, coming soon, and both of her tracks with John Summit, the recent BILLCS Top 30 #1 “Shivers” and “Where You Are” appear on John’s new album Comfort In Chaos. She’s one of dance music’s biggest stars on the rise.

When JVKE releases music, things seem to happen in at least double the ways of other performers. His single “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like” (above) advances 5-3, but he’s also one of the vocalists and songwriters of “Mi Amor” with producer Sam Feldt and Latin sensation Anitta. “Mi Amor” (below) is the Fastest Riser on the chart this week, soaring 27-18, and easily one of dance music’s summer songs of ’24.

Benson Boone’s story of 2024 is also one of multiples – mainly with “Beautiful Things” reaching #1 in multiple countries around the world. He too has two songs on the chart this week from his Fireworks and Rollerblades album. “Cry” (above) – which pulls your leg with its false start – jumps 8-5, while current single “Slow It Down” (below) moves up 26-19.

It’s been a long time coming but Germany’s TheFatRat lands in the Top 10 for the first time with his enthralling single “Myself & I” featuring Canadian vocalist/songwriter RIELL. It leaps 12-7.

Three times a charm as L.A. dance producers TELYKast reach the Top 10 for the third time with “Without Your Love” climbing 11-9. It’s also the first one for collaborator Deorro and a second one for vocalist Catello. Both TELYKast and Catello have reached #1 with “Unbreakable” and “Nobody” (with NOTD).

Vanessa Williams’ first new song in 15 years moves up 14-10 as “Legs (Keep Dancing)” joins other dance favourites in her repertoire like “Work To Do” and “Running Back To You”.

Kygo’s self-titled album became one of electronic dance music’s most important releases of the year and is expected to debut in the Top 10 of Billboard’s album chart this week. “For Life”, featuring vocalist/songwriter Zak Abel and the amazing Nile Rodgers, jumps 18-12.

Hanging in among it all after his win at EuroVision in May is Switzerland’s Nemo with their flamboyant and engaging “The Code” rising 17-13.

While their track with Zerb, “Addicted”, has been a recent favourite at dance music radio in North America, “Bad Advice”, from their EP No Hard Feelings and featuring Canadian singer/songwriter ELIO, is mine, as it moves up 21-15.

I can’t tell you how many times “Honey Boy” has been stuck in my head this week. This uber-creative track by Purple Disco Machine, Benjamin Ingrosso, Shenseea, and again, the inimitable Nile Rodgers, climbs 28-21.

Another track that has been spinning in my head for days is “Chocolate” by two pairs of Swedish producers, Jubël and NOTD, which is the Highest Debut at #24. It’s Jubël’s first appearance on the chart while for NOTD it’s their second, and first since their 2021 #1 “Nobody” with Catello. I was also lucky to see NOTD perform last September when I was visiting Austin, Texas. And is it just me or do the male and female uncredited vocals on this track sound like they could be by the same person (pitched up/down)?

Also making a return to the chart after a briefer absence of less than two years is Canadian duo Crash Adams with their no-holds-barred “Hotel Party” at #26. This is their fourth appearance on the chart after making their debut back in 2020 and reaching #10 in 2022 with “Give Me A Kiss”, so yes, I have been an early-bird supporter of these guys and their energetic brand of fun!

Combining dream pop and dance music for a unique release are The Knocks and indie vocal duo Dolores Forever with “Lover”, which arrives at #27. The Knocks of course are chart veterans here, making their 11th appearance since 2012. They also got to #6 earlier this year with Sofi Tukker on their release “One On One”. I’m thinking that “Lover” marks a turning point in their career with another fine release.

Rounding out the new releases is the fourth chart entry for Miami producer GT_ofice with the banger “Ecstasy” at #28. He works again with both New Jersey producer Matthew Topper and the sensational Robbie Rosen on this track. Matthew makes his first appearance on the chart, and for the prolific Robbie – who got to #3 with GT_ofice and JAYEM earlier this year with the dance radio hit “Feels Like Us” – “Ecstasy” marks his 12th visit to the chart.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Halton Hills Radio Online

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada is currently on hiatus, and will return in September.

Energy885

For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

BILLCS New Music Report – July 10/24 with new songs by @CrashAdamsmusic, @FlyByMidnight, @DJSianofficial x @BobbyNourmand x David LeSal, @TravisGarland, @PLSandTYbased & Thomas Daniel, @Jottimusic, Felix Raphael, and OSKA

All-in-one talents – those who can sing, write, producer and play an instrument – seem to be more prevalent of late in the releases that I’ve heard. This should be big news to major labels, who can sign and nurture talents like this and then give them big releases. So label A&R’s should not be passively scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok feeds so much, there needs to be a much more organic approach in order to get the right talent.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” zeroes in on songs from the 80’s and one from the 90’s. Plus you’ll find out what songs were rocking the BILLCS Top 30 in this week in 2017!

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

CRASH ADAMS, “Hotel Party”

It’s been a while since I’ve written about their songs, but Toronto area duo and Juno Award nominees Crash Adams (Raf and Vince) have been killing it lately on the social media and fan engagement front, which has led to some live shows in the U.S. They continue their energized brand of slice of life songs with “Hotel Party”. And like “Give Me A Kiss” from 2022 (which reached #10 on the BILLCS Top 30), it’s a fantastic summer song in which they apologize to their neighbours for their rowdiness, but really want them to join in the fun. I first wrote about Crash Adams back in February 2020 and I’m glad they haven’t changed their vision, because we need more feel good songs in our collective lives right now. And they’ve nailed it with “Hotel Party”. Crash Adams also just announced a North American tour, which sees them play The Axis Club in Toronto on September 15 – see ya there!

FLY BY MIDNIGHT, “SuperFine”

Originally based out of Staten Island, New York, pop/dance duo Fly By Midnight – Justin Breit (Bryte) and Justin Slaven (Slavo) – have been releasing bright-sounding songs over the last six years or so, with their latest being “SuperFine”, part of a three song EP called The Race:Lap 1/3. While they’ve been honing their own sound for the past few years, they’ve previously collaborated with the notables like Betty Who, Shoffy, and Clara Mae. “SuperFine” is one of the most infectious songs of late from its very first few seconds. It’s also a great summer song, with the guys’ standout vocals leading the way atop an 80’s flavoured pop arrangement that accentuates guitars and harmonies. There’s no denying that Fly By Midnight have enormous pop potential with “SuperFine”, and if you enjoy pop/dance releases with rock elements then be sure to spread the good words about this one. Fans of groups like LANY and Walk The Moon will enjoy “SuperFine”.

SIAN, BOBBY NOURMAND, DAVID LeSAL, “Control”

“Control” is a compelling electronic dance release that’s destined for widespread play in clubs and at festivals. Once in a while a song with a spoken word vocal comes along and proves that it’s not at all a novelty. “Control” features New York City poet and MC David LeSal over the intense rhythms provided by L.A.-based producers Sian and Bobby Nourmand. David has a unique voice and when he tells you that your “body’s controlled by giant black speakers”, you’re apt to believe him! Sian, born in Ireland and raised in Spain, has been working with Sacha Robotti in the project Third Culture (USA), and it’s always nice to have Bobby Nourmand back on the darker side of electronic dance music which he creates so well. These three talents make the most of “Control” and run off with a hypnotic and highly provocative track that’s going to give Shazam a workout.

TRAVIS GARLAND, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”

Comeback kid Travis Garland looks like he has a lot of songs up his sleeve, including those that aren’t his own. The L.A. performer’s interpretation of Cher’s 1966 hit “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” is taut and mysterious, with a soulful and inspired vocal that is only accompanied by guitar. It’s quite far away from Cher’s original and not often covered, which allows Travis to comfortably make it his own. If you enjoyed Travis’ music from his self-titled album of 11 years ago as much as I did, then “Bang Bang” is a must for you, and to anyone new to his music, it’s a great place to start.

PLS&TY, THOMAS DANIEL, “Move”

“Move” sets out to make you do just that on the dance floor, courtesy of L.A.-based dance producer PLS&TY (aka Tommy Leas) and Nashville-based vocalist/songwriter Thomas Daniel. It’s a fast-paced, snappy pop/dance track that doesn’t let up, with Thomas’ lively vocal set against a wash of stellar synths from PLS&TY. For club DJ’s, “Move” is a good one for the start of a set as it will do a great job of motivating club goers to the dance floor. The combination of talents also makes it friendly for national dance radio ears.

JOTTI, “Like You’re Mine”

In 2022, I wrote a couple of times about songs by Jot Singh, a Kansas City-born, L.A. based talent with a flair for melody. The releases were either acoustic or DIY and showcased his fine vocal tone as well. He has since rebranded himself as Jotti, and his recent single “Like You’re Mine” is a much more produced affair that levels up from previous releases and shows that he’s ‘in it to win it’. There is always room for artfully-created, straight forward romantic pop, and Jotti nails it with “Like You’re Mine” in all departments – vocal, melody, arrangement and production – and it’s all Jotti. There aren’t many solo talents like Jotti that can do it all so well, so don’t pass up “Like You’re Mine”.

FELIX RAPHAEL, “The Further We Go”

Felix Raphael is a German multi-talent – producer, songwriter, vocalist and instrumentalist, which includes guitar. He’s best known in Europe for his live performances and collaborations with other producers such as Ben Böhmer. His latest single “The Further We Go” is ear-catching for all of what Felix packs into the song’s 4:22 length. To me, it’s a progressive electronic track with classical elements and guitar that launches a drum ‘n bass groove about a minute and a half in. With a strong lead up, you can easily get hooked on its rhythm, and once we’ve heard Felix’s voice in the first half, he uses it effectively as an instrument in the last half. “The Further We Go” is tightly woven and breezes by thanks to Felix’s tight arrangement. If you enjoy music by San Holo – and it happens to be released on his Bitbird label – DROELOE, Manila Killa, or Mako, then you’ll find plenty to enjoy in “The Further We Go”, and there’s plenty of sync potential for gaming here too.

OSKA, “Forever Blue”

“Forever Blue” is a fine song to introduce Austrian artist OSKA to the rest of the world, after winning several prestigious awards in Europe during the last four years, which largely have to do with her live performances. It’s an uplifting song with beautiful guitar work about appreciating the small things in life that make us happy, whether it’s enjoying a ride in the car or the company of someone special. There are similarities vocally to singers like Olivia Rodrigo, Nessa Barrett, Lorde and Mallrat, while the production textures offer a bit of a quiver to her vocal throughout most of “Forever Blue”, which helps make it memorable. OSKA already has one album under her belt, and later this year she will be supporting Maggie Rogers and Coldplay, so 2024 looks to be a promising year for OSKA.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

“Honey Boy” by quite a collective – Purple Disco Machine, Benjamin Ingrosso, Nile Rodgers & Shenseea

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

“In The Beginning”, the title track from the latest album by ex-Klaatu member Terry Draper

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

NYC social media star Vinny Marchi performs “Lady Of The Lyre”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

Loverboy – Working For The Weekend (1981)
The Go-Go’s – Our Lips Are Sealed (1981)
The Cars – Shake It Up (1981)
Gloria Estefan – Turn The Beat Around (1994)
Climie Fisher – Love Changes (Everything) (1987)

BILLCS Top 30 FLASHBACK CHART – 2017

In the music world, seven years travels fast, but artists like N i G H T S, The Chainsmokers, Bobby Nourmand (one of my reviews this week), Martin Garrix, Andy Suzuki & The Method, and Bright Light Bright Light are all either in the BILLCS Top 30 recently or currently, or I’ve written up their new songs in a blog post. But wow at seven years ago!!

02 01 ATTENTION Charlie Puth
05 02 OUT OF MY HEAD Axel Mansoor
03 03 P A R T Y N i G H T S
01 04 WASTED MY LOVE Axel Mansoor
11 05 SILENT GAMES Lars Beck & Henri Purnell F/ Zekt
10 06 D U S T Bobby Nourmand
09 07 HEAVY-HEARTED Murky F/ Anuka
08 08 NEVER BEEN BETTER Steve Void
12 09 BYTE Martin Garrix & Brooks
14 10 THERE’S NOTHING HOLDING ME BACK Shawn Mendes
17 11 BAD DRUG Cosmos & Creature
15 12 DARLIN’ (Saxena remix) Welcome To The Hotel F/ Brandon Serafino
04 13 FALLING Alesso
20 14 L.I.L.Y. Anton
22 15 THERE FOR YOU Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan
New 16 NEW YORK PRETTY Bright Light Bright Light
06 17 RUNAWAY Spirix F/ Xuitcasecity
23 18 ASTRONAUTS Boye & Sigvardt & MAGNUS F/ UHRE
21 19 TRUTH Reeve Carney
28 20 MAGIC (Andy Sikorski remix) Sean Smith
13 21 I NEED YOU NOW (THE MORE YOU LEAVE) Andy Suzuki & The Method
16 22 LOVE LIKE WE USED TO (Young Bombs remix) Captain Cuts F/ Nateur
New 23 SECRETS The Him F/ Cub Rayan
27 24 THE MAN Killers
New 25 BIRTHDAY SUIT Dan Talevski
18 26 SIGN OF THE TIMES Harry Styles
19 27 CRUEL Eddy Faulkner
24 28 I WONDER The Him F/ LissA
25 29 WTFYWF Mahalo F/ Cat Lewis
26 30 SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

BILLCS New Music Report – July 3/24 with new songs by @TheKnocks & @DoloresForever, @TwoFriendsmusic & @alexanderstew, @GT_Ofice x @MatthewTopper_ x @RobbieRosenlive, @Kayliox & Chloe Doyon, The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio, @TylerGarrettusa, MELØ, and Michael Medrano @stachepapi

Summery sounds prevail in this edition of the Report, with whatever shade of pop, dance or alternative music you might be seeking. My emphasis on writing about independent releases continues, as only one of the eight songs has a major label affiliation.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” dazzles us with a selection of Canadiana as his Classic Five picks. In case you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser in the latest edition of the BILLCS Top 30.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

THE KNOCKS, DOLORES FOREVER, “Lover”

The evolution of NYC’s The Knocks over the past decade has been an always interesting ride, and “Lover” almost sounds like it is kicking off a new era for Mr. J. Patt and B. Rock. “Lover” takes its melodic cue from what is becoming better known as “dream pop”, but of course The Knocks run with it, adding some tropical synths and creating a delightful danceable melodic pop record that would not be out of place at a rave. It’s highly complimented by the lovely voices of indie duo Dolores Forever, and they really shine in its first critical minute of “Lover”. After that the production fun ensues, and the guys play with the gals’ voices but show a great deal of restraint that other producers can’t seem to do. Ultimately “Lover” is anchoring a new and different chapter for The Knocks and it sounds just great to me!

TWO FRIENDS, ALEXANDER STEWART, “Wrong Way”

I’m so pleased to see Two Friends’ success after many years of writing about their remixes and later their own songs, and meeting them a few times along the way – playing “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and, recently, NYC’s Madison Square Garden are two things not too many electronic dance acts can even do these days. For “Wrong Way”, they’ve tapped into the many talents of my local lad Alexander Stewart, a number of whose ballads have become Canadian radio hits, something Two Friends also experienced when their release with Loud Luxury and Bebe Rexha “If Only I” became a Top 10 Canadian radio hit last year. Anyway, “Wrong Way” has the three guys snug like peas in a pod, with Alexander’s vocal perfectly suited for a classic Two Friends mix in a rather downbeat story that has a surprisingly positive finish accompanied by lots of bounce and shiny synths. “Wrong Way” should become a big audience favourite in Two Friends’ Big Bootie Mixes too.

GT_OFICE, MATTHEW TOPPER, ROBBIE ROSEN, “Ecstasy”

Miami producer GT_Ofice plays mix-and-match with his recent collaborators, with producer Matthew Topper from the recent “No Tears” and Robbie Rosen from the national dance radio hit “Feels Like Us” joining him for “Ecstasy”. This one is a fast-paced melodic house track that also slams pretty hard with its bass synths in its second half, making it ready-made for festivals and late nights in clubs. I’m really enjoying Robbie’s vocal in one of the wilder dance tracks which he sings and co-writes. “Ecstasy” is an energetic instant go-getter right out of the gate, and is a must-add for dance music radio stations whose audiences like their playlists a little clubbier.

KAYLIOX, CHLOÉ DOYON, “Memory Lane”

Quebec dance producer Kayliox returns after a lengthy absence with bright new and unique sounds in “Memory Lane”. Not only is his synth work tapping into sounds that we don’t hear in dance music these days, but he’s employed the distinct, recognizable voice of fellow Quebecer Chloé Doyon, with whom he co-wrote “Memory Lane”. Chloé has begun her career with French language releases up until now, including a full album in 2022. Her voice reminds me of singers like Normani and Kehlani, with an engaging soulful edge. After a series of memorable releases a few years back such as “Lost Control” (with Victor Perry) and “Don’t Want Perfect” (with Robbie Rosen), it’s great to have Kayliox back and I’m certain “Memory Lane” will find new fans.

THE MIKE JACOBY ELECTRIC TRIO, “There Oughta Be A Law”

If you’re looking for good time rock ‘n roll with some country flavour, then The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio’s second album Rocket Fuel Logic will satisfy your musical appetite, and I’ll whet it for you with the fun opening track “There Oughta Be A Law”. The Long Beach, California trio’s songs are all written by Mike Jacoby, and if you enjoyed seminal 80’s rock bands like Georgia Satellites, The Smithereens, The Insiders or The Rainmakers, then their songs are perfect for you. “There Oughta Be A Law” has a great melody and lyrics, one of the lighter songs on the album, which also wades into humorous and serious songs too and shows Mike’s versatility as a songwriter. The overall sound is polished, but songs like “There Oughta Be A Law” are best heard in a small club in person.

TYLER GARRETT, “Never Give Up”

L.A. singer, songwriter and producer Tyler Garrett continues to do his own thing very well in the electronic dance music world, and his latest release “Never Give Up” is no exception. I don’t think there are many songs about romance and dedication that are set to a frenetic drum ‘n bass rhythm, but “Never Give Up” melds them together seamlessly. Tyler’s passionate vocal really soars, and I think that “Never Give Up” has loads of sync possibilities especially for the gaming world. It has all of the elements of a classic pop song but turned sideways a bit if you will – one for you to let sink in and enjoy. Check out Tyler’s in-studio performance of “Never Give Up” by clicking on the photo above.

MELØ, “Only The Lonely”

“Only The Lonely” is the latest single from Windsor, Ontario alternative artist MELØ’s album Songs From The Spirit Box. While many of MELØ’s recent songs have dealt with loss, particularly the touching “Memento” (which reached #8 on the BILLCS Top 30), “Only The Lonely” is about breaking away from loneliness, finding new love, and moving on. MELØ’s dark, 80’s new wave flair is replaced here by a more contemporary pop arrangement, a good representation of why you should never try to put artists who might surprise you into a particular box of genre or style.

MICHAEL MEDRANO, “Tom Hardy”

When we last left L.A.’s resident disco dad Michael Medrano last year with his super-infectious raw and uncut remix of “Disco Sleaze” (which reached #2 on the BILLCS Top 30), he continued in a more ribald direction with his music and songs like “Pornstar” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. “Tom Hardy”, the hunky British actor, is the object of Michael’s comparison as he unleashes a quick NSFW electronic dance track about sex that is a banger made for clubs. Its pitched-down vocal makes it stand out while the melody and synth work, which at times recall The Mad Stuntman & Reel 2 Reel’s “I Like To Move It”, will keep those feet racing on the dance floor.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and debuts each Tuesday at 6pm EST on The 3D Variety Show on Xstreamrockradio and also now on Lil Rawkers out of California! Note: The 3D Variety Show is on vacation and returns July 16. For the next three weeks, the New Music Pick of the Week will debut Wednesdays at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.

“Mi Amor” by Sam Feldt, JVKE and Anitta mixes in pop, tropical dance, and Latin vibes

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

It’s “No One Sleeps In Hollywood” by Welsh indie singer/songwriter Ben Ellis

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

It’s “100 Miles” by Scottish singer Nathan Evans

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST (currently on vacation till July 16). The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.

Burton Cummings – Stand Tall (1976)
Bachman Turner Overdrive – Blue Collar (1974)
Tom Middleton – It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference (1973) (You Tube link)
Cooper Brothers – The Dream Never Dies (1978)
Ken Tobias – Dream #2 (1972)

BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG

Felix Cartal and Lights get their first #1’s on my chart with the Live String Version of “feel less”

BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER

It’s “For Life” by Kygo, Zak Abel and Nile Rodgers (25-18)

#BILLCSTop30 #695 – July 1/24

Two weeks later and there is more turnover than usual on the new chart. Like the last chart, there are five debuts, and as I’ve mentioned before, songs are spending less time on the chart than usual. In fact since November, only 5 songs have “gone the distance” on the chart to a maximum of 10 chart appearances (20 weeks), with the 6th going deservedly to John Summit & Hayla’s former #1 “Shivers” this week. That of course means the song will depart the chart (unless it reverses course, which is not likely).

Remember – my blog posts are all about DISCOVERY, so let the music in!!

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive (recently updated along with its Artist tab)

There’s also a new #1 as Canadians Felix Cartal and Lights get their first one on this chart with the stunning live string version of “feel less” (above). You can also check out Felix’s latest, “idwtwya”, below.

It’s hard to say at this point if “feel less” will be #1 in two weeks, but two songs making a case for succeeding it are Hayla’s solo release “Embers” (7-4, above) and JVKE’s “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like” (9-5, below).

Three of the catchiest songs on the chart also arrive in the Top 10. Ekonovah’s “Feel My Flow” (above) jumps 11-6, while Kiesza’s national dance radio hit “I Go Dance” (below) leaps 13-7, and Washington’s Dreamer Boy (aka presidential namesake Zach Taylor) climbs 12-9 with “Heartbreaker” (also below)

TheFatRat’s “Myself and I” (17-12) is proving to be one of his most enduring releases, with great thanks to a superb vocal by Canada’s RIELL.

Vanessa Williams’ “Legs (Keep Dancing)” continues to work its magic and find new listeners who just adore it, and it rises 20-14.

All but one of the five debuts from last chart gets stuck in a tough place in this week’s chart, and “For Life” by Kygo, Zak Abel and Nile Rodgers ends up being the Fastest Riser, soaring 25-18.

While “Cry” climbs 10-8, Benson Boone’s official follow up single to “Beautiful Things”, “Slow It Down”, has grown on me more, and is the Highest Debut at #26.

At #27, after his “Rest Of My Life” departed the chart recently after peaking at #2, Dutch dance producer Sam Feldt returns, this time with JVKE and Brazilian star Anitta accompanying him, on the ultra-summery “Mi Amor” at #27. It’s also JVKE’s 6th chart entry.

“Honey Boy” is a pretty irresistible slice of funky dance pop as created by Germany’s Purple Disco Machine, Swedish vocalist Benjamin Ingrosso, rising star and Jamaican vocalist Shenseea, and Nile “he’s everywhere” Rodgers, and it arrives at #28. It’s Purple Disco Machine’s second entry, following last year’s “Substitution” (with Kungs, #8), Benjamin’s first (he’s the cousin of Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso), Shenseea’s 1st, and Nile’s 5th (where he is billed).

Arriving at #29 is another single from Bright Light Bright Light’s Enjoy Youth album, the fun and infectious “Heartslap”, with Mykal Kilgore. It’s BLx2’s 26th chart entry, and Mykal previously appeared with him on “Feel It” (#5, 2012).

British singer/songwriter Florrie has rebooted her career with a new album called The Lost Ones, and from that we have “Kissing In The Cold” arriving at #30.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Halton Hills Radio Online

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada (currently on vacation, returning July 16)

I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the live online radio show “The 3D Variety Show”, now powered by both www.xstreamrockradio.com and Lil Rawkers with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. My pick of the week airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at the following link: 3D Variety Show. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.

Energy885

For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

BILLCS New Music Report – June 26/24 with new songs by @AlexSampson, @Boogie_Hill, @JoyceMunizmusic & Sara Bluma, @JonMullane, Louis Pax, @OlivLouise, @Laurentiusmusic x AUGUSTKID x @JeffreyJames, and Latchmere

I have no commentary or anything additional to add this week, so I’ll let the new music and our other features speak for themselves!!

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five picks which will keep you grooving to songs from 1977-79. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago!

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

ALEX SAMPSON, “Pretty Baby”

Singer/songwriter Alex Sampson shows what a diverse performer he is becoming with his latest single “Pretty Baby”. The Canadian with the handsome California beach boy looks brought us the fun Marianas Trench-esque “WANT YOU!” last year, so we’re hearing Alex take a deep dive into territory already well-scoped out by contemporaries JVKE, Stephen Sanchez and a few others. “Pretty Baby” is an engaging but gentle 1960’s inspired ballad, produced beautifully by co-writer John Nathaniel. While Alex may be conquering the Instagram/Tik Tok worlds, radio hasn’t fully embraced his music yet, and “Pretty Baby” could be the song that gets there for him. It’s highly recommended for Top 40 and AC Top 40 stations to let their audiences get to know the music of Alex Sampson.

BOOGIE HILL FADERS, “Yeah Oh Yeah”

Canadian dance producers Boogie Hill Faders, who regularly work with blog faves The Disco Fries, have a winner with the highly recognizable “Yeah Oh Yeah”. While stylistically different, think of those European masters of nonsense, Yello, who unleashed “Oh Yeah” into the world in 1985, only to have it synced famously in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” a year later. “Yeah Oh Yeah” has that same basic anthemic grab along with its big synths and beats, and you could easily envision it in TV commercials, at sports events, or in DJ ID’s in clubs or at festivals. “Yeah Oh Yeah” is brief but engaging and you’ll have it stuck in your head for days.

JOYCE MUNIZ, SARA BLUMA, “Beats and Lines”

These days, the world of music seems awfully small when you can hear music from just about anywhere at any place that plays good music. I’m big on Shazaming songs that I hear in different places, and I heard “Beats and Lines” recently at John Summit’s show in my city (courtesy of opening act, DJ/producer Nala). It pairs veteran Brazil-born, Vienna-based DJ/producer Joyce Muniz with Algerian DJ/producer on-the-rise Sara Bluma. Full disclosure – I’ve never heard of either of these talented women before because their music is better exposed in European countries, so hearing it at a concert helps bring down those global divides. “Beats and Lines” sounds best over huge speakers, but you can shake your own stereo system with its bold bass synths. It’s got a seductive, sultry disco rhythm that pairs well with something like Imany’s “The Good, The Bad and The Crazy”. Sara’s vocal, with its droll and carefree attitude, provides yet another dimension of a song that’s a complete, fun package.

JON MULLANE, “The Sun In Summertime”

If you’re looking for a straight-forward, solid song to kick off the summer months, then Halifax native Jon Mullane’s “The Sun In Summertime” could fit the bill for you. It’s an earnest song with a tight instrumentation and arrangement, no bells and whistles here. And it’s simply not easy to write without complexities, the idea and its root must happen organically, and Jon’s lifelong passion for singing and writing songs shines through. Jon had some success on AC radio some years back with the song “My New American Girl”, and has numerous fans of his music throughout Europe and Asia. While summer has arrived in the western part of the world, “The Sun In Summertime” is for summer when it happens anywhere in the world, and it’s sure to help keep you smiling during all those days of sunshine. “The Sun In Summertime” also now has a remix by producer John Green which you can check out at the following link: Wave Remix.

LOUIS PAX, “slip gun”

Swedish pop/rock trio Louis Pax returns with “slip gun” in advance of their next EP called in case i don’t see ya part ii. While the song overall is an easy sell with its singalong chorus and another top notch vocal by Oscar Reingsdahl, the song does require repeated plays to digest its story of being part of a tumultuous relationship, hence the reference to the title object, which is what you get when you disconnect the trigger from the hammer. It’s nice to hear a brighter sounding song after some of the more introspective ones on their previous EP, and be sure to check the humorous video for “slip gun”, which keeps you guessing with its camera work and editing, by clicking on the photo above.

OLIVE LOUISE, “No Medicine”

New York native Olive Louise has created an interesting mix of sound and style in her short but intriguing new release “No Medicine”. It’s a lushly produced song that takes pride in being unconventional, which is something that takes a few listens to grow on you. “No Medicine” doesn’t fit into one sub-genre, call it a mix of dream pop and chamber pop, criss-crossing Billie Eilish with 60’s pop legend Lesley Gore (of “It’s My Party” fame, and latterly, of her cover of “Misty”, which has been gracing social media as well as TV through an Amazon Prime commercial). The topic and lyrics are a bit downbeat as Olive weaves her story – there are indeed not enough cures for the diseases and conditions that lead to so many people dying every day. So somehow we have to take comfort in the solace of living the life we choose, ultimately leaving our best imprints in life, small as they may be in the big scheme of things.

LAURENTIUS, AUGUST KID, JEFFREY JAMES, “Floating On Forever”

“Floating On Forever” is the kind of pop-dance release that transports you back about 10 years when Avicii was soaring to the top of the EDM world with his escapist dance releases. It’s brought to you by a well matched collaboration of three. Dutch producer Laurentius is no stranger to this blog for his variety of releases including the jubilant BILLCS Top 30 #3 single “Celebrate” in 2022. He has teamed up with Italian producer AUGUSTKID, still relatively new to the scene after releasing music since early 2022, and seasoned Nashville singer/songwriter Jeffrey James, who appeared as a contestant on TV’s “Songland”, also in 2022. His streetwise-sounding vocal alternately sounds gruff and polished against the producers’ dreamy mid-tempo EDM backdrop, and then before you know it, “Floating On Forever” quickly comes to an end and leaves you wanting more.

LATCHMERE, “Moonlight”

Australia’s Latchmere is back after his 2023 EP release Fire In The Sky with a five song instrumental dance EP called You First. Latchmere (Shaun Galvin) has released commercial-oriented deep house (which resulted in a BILLCS Top 30 #1, “Need Your Heart”, from his EP Lovedrunk) and more progressive, sometimes experimental (and often quite personal) electronic music such as with the songs in Fire In The Sky. What he’s put together in You First kind of falls half-way between, with the extremely catchy “Moonlight” standing out. It brought me back to another Australian release from 2010, which has become a worldwide wedding song, and that’s Yolanda Be Cool & DCup’s “We No Speak Americano”. And while “Moonlight” certainly does not have or need the novelty appeal of that song, its hook and its wacky-sounding instrumentation and synth work, which are unveiled within the first 40 seconds, are similarly infectious. “Moonlight” is one of those happy deeper cuts that I wrote about last week, and I encourage electronic and dance music lovers to lend an ear to Latchmere’s You First EP to see what song most appeals to you.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

Kygo is back with new music with “For Life” featuring singer/songwriter Zak Abel and legend Nile Rodgers!

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

Previously one of my picks of the week, Big Daddy is also loving”Myself & I” by TheFatRat & RIELL!

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

It’s “Ten (Get Back Up)” by Nathan Dawe and MNEK!

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

Boney M – Rasputin (1979)
ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You (1977)
Village People – Y.M.C.A (1979)
Donna Summer – Last Dance (1978)
The Raes – A Little Lovin’ (Keeps The Doctor Away) (1979) (You Tube link)

THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…

The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…

2019

1 GOOD THINGS FALL APART Illenium, Jon Bellion

2 WHITE LIES M-22

3 GOOD THINGS Cedric Gervais, Just Kiddin’, Kyan

4 LOVE ME LESS MAX, Quinn XCII

5 KISS AND TELL, Mokita

2014

1 STAY WITH ME, Sam Smith

2 TIDAL WAVE, Tristan Thompson

3 PROXY, Martin Garrix

4 TELL IT TO MY HEART, Jason Walker, Bimbo Jones

5 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT, House Rockerz, Davis Redfield, Carl Man

2009

1 THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT, Royksöpp, Robyn

2 YOU FOUND ME (Lenny B mix), The Fray

3 LOVE STORY (Victor Franco radio mix), Nadia Ali

4 IF I KNOW YOU, Presets

5 MANNEQUIN (Overthrill remix), Noah

2004

1 ROCK U, Laurent Konrad

2 AMAZING, George Michael

3 THIS LOVE, Maroon 5

4 MOVE YA BODY, Nina Sky

5 HEY MAMA, Black Eyed Peas

1999

1 LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCA, Ricky Martin

2 MILLENNIUM, Robbie Williams

3 U DON’T KNOW ME, Armand Van Helden, Duane Harden

4 GIVE IT TO YOU, Jordan Knight

5 SHE’S SO HIGH, Tal Bachman

#BILLCSNewMusicReport – May 25/23 Original spotlighting new songs by @MorginMadison & @RyanLucianmusic @ZacPoor @BJonesdj & @Rudeejay x @RobbieRosenlive @Airportsmusic

Thanks to the interactions on Twitter of many fans of BTS and member JIMIN, whose “Like Crazy” (English version) is #1 on the BILLCS Top 30, my blog received more than 1,000 unique visits, and I got over 60 new followers on Twitter, almost 74,000 views of my tweet when it went to #1 on Monday, over 4,500 likes and almost 1,700 retweets. It has been an amazing week. Thanks to the very kind BTS and JIMIN fans who tweeted back, and even made a point of checking out some of the other songs on my chart.

Among the features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers has his Classic Five pop hits feature, featuring songs from 1970-71. I’ve also included my #1 song and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.

The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me @billcs on Twitter @thebillcs on Instagram or @BILLCSMusicProjects on Facebook.

REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.

SPOTLIGHTING

MORGIN MADISON, RYAN LUCIAN, “Stimulate”

If the intention of “Stimulate” is to keep dancers going through to late into the night, then it’s mission accomplished! Morgin Madison hails from Boise, Idaho, and after a career change to producing a few years ago, his music caught the attention of Deadmau5’s label, which released his album Living The Phantasm in 2021. His bold and anthemic remix of Tritonal’s “Out Of The Dark” resonated with me and got to #7 on the BILLCS Top 30 that year. With “Stimulate” he’s teamed up with Australian producer Ryan Lucian for a second time – their other collaboration “From The Start” is currently charting at dance music radio. “Stimulate” though is a trippy trance/techno-infused deep house track for clubs featuring infrequent male and female vocals largely used for effect. It could easily light a fire in a late night deep house set and help ignite one of those nights when dancers just won’t want to leave.

ZAC POOR, “Catapult”

L.A. based singer/songwriter Zac Poor follows up “Pink House” and the heart-wrenching “Ghost Boy” (which reached #4 at the top of the year on the BILLCS Top 30) with “Catapult”. All three singles offer up varied emotions and interesting topics, with “Catapult” about finding oneself in another potential relationship because it seems the right thing at the right time. With minimal electronic backdrop, “Catapult” showcases Zac’s formidable power and range, which I remember so well from when he covered Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” years ago – as good as if not better than the original. Many people will relate to this song who find them bouncing from relationship to relationship seemingly without the ability to stay with one partner. Despite all of our ups and downs, “Catapult” offers some hope when there’s an idyllic situation upon which we can build.

B. JONES, RUDEEJAY, ROBBIE ROSEN, “Face Your Fears”

“Face Your Fears” is slick eurohouse with a twist, brought to you by Spanish producer B. Jones, Italian producer Rudeejay, and frequent blog visitor, NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen. The song starts off like a folk song with a classic Robbie Rosen vocal and a stunning melody that could have been forged a long, long time ago. The powerhouse synths kick in with a techno-tinged vibe, and meshing the two together, you have a potential singalong that will work just as well on the dance floor. There’s a lot of talent here too. Former “American Idol” contestant Robbie has had 11 BILLCS Top 30 chart entries including two #1’s among his prolific and vast repertoire. B. Jones is not only one of Spain’s top producers, but she is also well known throughout the world. And Rudeejay has been pleasing European audiences with memorable songs for over 20 years.

AIRPORTS, “Need U Here”

Australian multi-instrumental, producer and vocalist Aaron Lee is the force behind Airports and his latest release “Need U Here”. The song is a frenzied fireball fueled by emotion, in particular various forms of loss which Aaron has experienced himself. His fresh pop-punk style fuses with the wild energy inspired by drum ‘n bass electronic music, and shows off some impressive guitar work too. He does bring the energy level down briefly for a caring, human moment. “Need U Here” will stay with you long after it’s over thanks to an earnest vocal and lyrics that cut to the chase. Hopefully “Need U Here” will help lead Airports for a place on the international pop map.

FEATURING

FAMBA, OLIVIA SEBASTIANELLI, “40 Days and 40 Nights”

Canadian dance producer Famba continues with songs mainly geared for dance clubs with the techno-infused “40 Days and 40 Nights”, featuring Italian-English vocalist Olivia Sebastianelli, who has also recorded recently with such notables as Sunnery James & Ryan Luciano and Andrew Rayel. “40 Days” will appeal to those dance music radio curators too, who took Famba’s “Storm” to #1 a few years back. Musically, this one is a throwback to that song in some ways, which is not a bad thing, and the techno touches are appealing. Famba continues to evolve as a producer and Olivia’s voice is a solid match in “40 Days”.

MR! MOURAY, “Who’s Paying Now”

Laden with some great guitar riffs, “Who’s Paying Now” takes us three songs deep into Toronto quartet Mr! Mouray’s album What’s The Stouray, after previous singles “Cats Can’t Fly” and “Pretty In Ink”. The energetic “Who’s Paying Now” draws on the pop and punk roots of the band’s key members, veteran local musicians Simon Bedford-James and my long time friend and fellow music historian Jaimie Vernon (author of the indispensable The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia). Simon’s vocals give a nod to early Elvis Costello while the song’s vibrant, edgy melody transports us through the 90’s, reminiscent of bands like Toad The Wet Sprocket and the Gin Blossoms. I was pleased to see Mr! Mouray acquit themselves quite well in concert recently at a small downtown venue in Toronto, so if you have a chance to see their show do check them out.

ROWAN FLACK, “Tipsy on the Tongue”

“Tipsy on the Tongue” is another way of looking at how words get in the way when lovers have their differences. Rowan Flack is a British singer professionally trained and educated in jazz, but “Tipsy” is a pop/soul/jazz effort that will curry favour with fans of Norah Jones and Jessie Ware. It’s sophisticated but earthy, rooted in the realities of relationships. The mellow backdrop makes the topic go down easy, and allows Rowan’s style and personality to move up front. “Tipsy on the Tongue” is only Rowan’s third release following an EP and a single, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing more of her cool and appealing talent in ’23.

JON MULLANE, “The Sun in the Summertime”

It’s great to hear a new pop song that revels in the summer season, and “The Sun in the Summertime” is brought to you by Halifax native,, singer/songwriter Jon Mullane, who you may know from his Billboard-charting single from a few years back, “My New American Girl”. “The Sun in the Summertime” eschews bells and whistles in favour of a feel-good singalong that takes its cues from The Beach Boys and The Raspberries/Eric Carmen, and would go over well in concert. A solid arrangement and a lot of enthusiasm go a long way, and “The Sun in the Summertime” is a solid add for your Summer of ’23 playlist.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 20 times/week on online radio stations around the world.

Norway’s Matoma returns with American vocalist James Droll for the banger “Won’t Follow You Home”.

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK

“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online stations Radio GTA, Halton Hills Radio Online, & FM108.ca.

Added to the “Complete” version of the Dance Fever album is “Mermaids” by Florence & The Machine.

HUNTER J. WILBUR’S BOP OF THE WEEK

Hunter J. Wilbur is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype” and “Addictive Energy” which can be heard on several online stations including Classic Hits Canada.

“My City” is the collaboration between 24KGoldn, Kane Brown and G. Herbo from the film “Fast X”.

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.

Neil Diamond – Cracklin’ Rosie
Three Dog Night – Joy To The World
Temptations – Just My Imagination
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown
The Honey Cone – Want Ads

BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG

“Like Crazy” (English version) by JIMIN

BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER

EuroVision winner “Tattoo” by Loreen (14-4)