“Worry” is the 4th – and best – preview of @FelixCartal’s album Next Season featuring @Victoria_Zaro

FELIX CARTAL and VICTORIA ZARO, “Worry”

It’s just over a week now before Felix Cartal’s new album Next Season drops, and his 4th preview single from the album, “Worry” featuring the enchanting Victoria Zaro, is the best of the four, edging out the dynamic and attitude filled “Runaway”.  “Worry”  is a classic pop song about moving on to what’s next and leaving worries behind – with that nagging doubt still lingering in your mind as you move on.  The Vancouver producer gives it a versatile mix, hardly ridden with effects yet turning what effects are used into hooks unto themselves along with the lyrics (‘going down down down’).  “Worry” is also perfect for remixers wanting to spin it on its head.  “Worry” is perhaps the most logical follow up to Felix’s huge Canadian hit from last year, his dance take on New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” so I’m hoping he and his team are keeping radio in mind for it.  Watch the lyric video for “Worry” above.

It’s house music with an earnest and emotional spin – “Falling Apart” by Sweden’s @Erlandomusic

ERLANDO, “Falling Apart”

“Falling Apart” is one of those songs that grabs you by both ears with its earnest, emotional story, against a thumping, but not overpowering, house backdrop.  It’s brought to you by Sweden’s Erlando, seemingly a relative newcomer but you might have known his music under the moniker Sinco up till about a year ago.  “Falling Apart” has a bit of a trick to it.  Just when you think the story might not be going anywhere at a quiet bridge around the 1:10 mark, it deliberately keeps you waiting for an even better half of the song.  This is a clever production foil that is rarely heard, when so many songs fall apart early.  Erlando thus is one to watch out for and “Falling Apart” definitely has the goods to find its way onto your Emotional House playlist using the Spotify link above.

Dutch producer @djJordanJay deals a wild mix with “Treat You Right”

JORDAN JAY, “Treat You Right”

If a big, busy bounce is your thing, then your new favourite song may be Jordan Jay’s “Treat You Right”.  Led by a pleading, enticing uncredited female vocal, the song whirls and swirls and all but goes upside down with heavy, crunchy future bass synths, and this young Dutchman has obviously been learning a thing or two from Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and other big names who have since latched onto his music.  Alas it’s all done in 2:38 but “Treat You Right” winds you up and hopes to leave you panting and breathless on the dance floor.  Add “Treat You Right” to your More Bounce To The Ounce dance playlist using the Spotify link above.

San Diego’s @InsprdandtheSlp creates a timeless melody with honest lyrics in “First Time”

https://open.spotify.com/track/4OX8RaOP3XW389OKbwG6hf

INSPIRED AND THE SLEEP, “First Time”

“First Time” is an honest slice of danceable alt.rock from San Diego duo Max and Bryce, aka Inspired And The Sleep, who have already made their name through performances in Southern California.  Max is the singer/songwriter/producer while Bryce is the multi-instrumentalist, who together craft a nuanced, fluid sound that draws from inspiration from music as diverse as Jeff Buckley and Patrick Watson as well as more contemporary rhythmic soul like Daniel Caesar.  And those are all great signs of promise for the duo.  “First Time”, at times, reminds me of 90’s songs by Third Eye Blind (such as “Never Let You Go”), who were always fine tunesmiths developing timeless melodies.  And if anything’s going to stick in your head to get you humming about “First Time” it’s the melodic structure.  Add Inspired And The Sleep’s “First Time” to your Melodic Indies playlist using the Spotify link above.

“Time” by Florida’s @AdamFostermusic is not-so-secretly a Marvin Gaye classic reworked with finesse

ADAM FOSTER, “Time” (free DL)

Florida producer/DJ Adam Foster may have a personal best in hand with “Time”.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about Australian producer/DJ Alex Preston’s masterful rework of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, which features a hauntingly echoing vocal track.  Front and centre, however, there is no way to hide any elements of that song and make it into something else.  But Adam found another great Marvin Gaye single, “Too Busy Thinkin’ Bout My Baby” – which happens to be my favourite Marvin Gaye song ever and his follow up hit to “Grapevine” in 1969 – and transforms it into “Time”.  Gone is the urgent love story that anchors the original, focusing instead on the verse “I ain’t got time for nothin’ else”.  And I think Adam must be using what sounds like a live rendition of “Too Busy Thinkin'” with a pristine Marvin vocal to boot.  As with other songs by Adam, a stellar house rhythm carries the track, making it immensely appealing for dance clubs.  Overall “Time” is a fine, finessed rework that I will be playing a lot 🙂  Download it for free at the link above while you can.

Remixers @Revelriesmusic offer a deep house transformation of “Comfortable” by @SteveVoidmusic and @TELYkast

STEVE VOID & TELYKAST and NATALIE MAJOR, “Comfortable” (Revelries remix) (free DL)

Sometimes remixes can definitely improve on the original song if the mix just doesn’t somehow sit right.  Although “Comfortable” in its original mix is doing just fine for Steve Void’s rising Strange Fruits label, I definitely prefer the deep house slant that Dutch/Emirati production duo Revelries have offered to compliment Steve and TELYKast’s original featuring a solid vocal by Natalie Major.  Revelries have come up with a remix for “Comfortable” that’s a more of a natural fit to flow into a club mix, accentuating the best features of the song and its vocal.  This remix is part of a 25 remix project packaged into Volumes I and II (it appears on Volume II).  For now, you can download them all, including an acoustic version, at the link above.

 

Canadian singer @officialCinde has catchy, radio-friendly single with bold “Hittin’ It”

CINDË, “Hittin’ It”

Cindë is a new voice in Canadian music who could easily turn heads with her new single “Hittin’ It”.  She’s got the same kind of tough sass and R&B grit as Pink while clearly having a full-bodied and powerful voice like a Jessie J or Jess Glynne.  “Hittin’ It” also benefits from a colourful arrangement, starting off slow and sultry, working in a harmonica, and then later on some sharp guitar riffs.  The song overall is a dynamic package that should be a surefire turn-on for radio stations but north and south of the border.  Cindë’s talents and charm will help “Hittin’ It” make great strides in short order.

Austin’s versatile @Mobleywho isn’t going to be Mobley Who? for long with songs like “Tell Me”

MOBLEY, “Tell Me”

Austin singer/songwriter/one man band Mobley is not someone who you can place into any stylistic musical box.  He is driven and committed, directing his own videos and even designing his own artwork. From song-to-song you recognize the multiple dimensions of talent, from gritty and bluesy rock to alternative edginess to sweet and soulful.  From his forthcoming album Fresh Lies Vol. 1 (due Friday April 27) is “Tell Me”.  His voice is like Miguel’s, but not as rich or rooted in classic soul, but could also easily compete with Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons or Vance Joy for both power and rock ‘n roll inspiration.  There’s a sweet edge that could be as soft as Smokey Robinson if he wishes too.  “Tell Me” is a well-structured song with a great melodic hook that would sound just fine on the radio.  Mobley is currently in the middle of a three month tour that will take him to most major cities in the U.S. so watch for him to check out his live performance if you can.  “Tell Me”, I believe, is only one way to whet your appetite for more of what Mobley has to offer.

UK singer @HRVY is back with “Personal” in an uplifting remix by @Shaanmusic

HRVY, “Personal” (Shaan remix)

It’s been a while since UK singer Harvey Cantwell graced these blog pages with “Thank You”, whose blog post racked up hundreds of views at the time.  At 15, he was kind of poised to blossom into a Justin Bieber-esque talent which never really materialized, but Universal kept him on 🙂  Now, he’s back as HRVY with “Personal”, an anthemic pop bop that could go over well in clubs thanks to a sparkling remix by NYC-based producer Shaan, about whose other songs (such as the rollicking “End of the World”) you’ve read about recently here as well.  The remix is rich and uplifting, and draws from the song’s energetic chorus to make the song really bounce.  HRVY has a much fresher sound now that doesn’t really compare to what others his age are releasing, and thus may have found a gap for radio stations to tap into.  

Dallas-based indie rock band @NorthernNatl powers ahead with “C.H.A.R.L.I.”

NORTHERN NATIONAL, “C.H.A.R.L.I.”

Dallas quartet Northern National are back with a pulsating song that’s full of energy and determination with “C.H.A.R.L.I.”.  Standing for “changing how a rebel lies inside”, its lyrics are obviously coming from a darker place with the singer challenging himself to rise up and not give up, making the rebel inside a better person.  The fist-pumping drum beats will work you up while the compelling vocal will ring inside your head.  This is all helped immensely by production which doesn’t go over the top and allows the song and its message to be heard, and could be easily replicated in a live show.  Add “C.HA.R.L.I.” to your New Rock Anthems playlist using the Spotify link above.