Although the UK has been noted for many wonderful R&B/soul and dance artists since the 1970’s, you’d hardly think that a broad, funky slice of disco like “Patagonia” would come from an electronic UK trio from Matlock in Derbyshire like Patawawa. It’s from their upcoming EP called Bedroom, and “Patagonia” is just so refreshing with a lot going for it in a cluttered dance music market. Members Sam and Rory start off the song with soul-influenced vocals complementing a snappy funk rhythm that reminds me of Penguin Prison or Dan Black from earlier in the decade, along with a catchy chorus. Then BLAMMO in comes the secret weapon of Beth Garrett’s vocal where one would not expect it, at around the 1:20 mark. I like that “Patagonia” takes risks like that while still being blissfully entertaining because you’re going to want to hear Beth’s voice again… and you shall 🙂 Patawawa will easily draw you in to all of the intrigue of “Patagonia” so make sure you listen above and watch for the EP to drop on January 26.
It made an inauspicious arrival back in the Fall, but after the onslaught of November and December releases, January is a good time to get reacquainted with “Turn It Up”, the first new music in over two years by NYC’s ever-talented Penguin Prison. PP – aka singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist Chris Glover – sounds very fresh again on “Turn It Up”, recalling many of the best songs from his 2011 debut album. 2015’s Lost In New York took on a more pure pop vibe, and “Turn It Up” combines that with infectious guitar riffs and memorable electronic effects. While I expect we’ll have more new songs soon, let’s hope PP follows them up with an EP – more Penguin Prison is always worth an extra wait. Check out “Turn It Up” at the Spotify link above and add it to your playlist of songs with great guitar hooks.
JUSTIN CARUSO featuring JAMES DROLL, “Caving” (Speaker of the House remix)
While he’s subject to receiving nasty erroneous tweets and messages meant for Paul Ryan, L.A.-based producer/remixer Speaker of the House has a great ear for melody and providing a balanced remix. Justin Caruso’s latest, “Caving”, is a perfect case, carried by an amiable and expressive vocal by Nashville-based singer James Droll. Lots of high end sounds make “Caving” sparkle, and the focus on a bright and uptempo rhythm contributes to the confusion that the lyrics in the song are facing. It’s a well-rounded remix that you should check out and add to your summery Spotify dance playlists at the link above.
In “music” years, it doesn’t seem like long ago that I started posting my chart online. But when I think back to 1998 and where I was, with a 4 year old son and no daughter yet, in a different job in a newly amalgamated organization, who was still alive, and the fact that we were probably still using Windows 95 and early versions of Word and Excel, with internet chat rooms and message boards and no Google yet till later in 1998… well it’s all put into perspective. 20 years later music is still my passion and my chart is always reflective of that! The new chart is jam-packed with songs on the rise, so much that many should have moved up more but are stuck behind strong songs that haven’t peaked yet.
The Top 10
Miguel continues to dominate the chart with songs from his album War and Leisure. The classic soul of “Pineapple Skies” (above) rules the top for another week, with “Sky Walker” holding at #3, and “Told You So” (below) up 25-20. War and Leisure is one of the most magnetic and enjoyable albums around right now – do check it out 🙂
The revival of Tiësto’s early 2000’s techno sound is more than evident in his big room remix of Dzeko’s cover of Seal’s “Crazy”. This dance floor filler advances 5-2 from Tiësto’s Club Life Volume 5 – China.
The Him score their second Top 5 song on this chart with “Everybody Hurts” featuring Australian singer Ivy Adara, up 6-4. Watch for great things from the duo this year!
Toronto’s Loud Luxury have their third Top 5 song with “Body” (featuring Brando) advancing 9-5. Could it become their third consecutive #1? The lads return home on Friday January 19 for a club date at Uniun.
New L.A.-based trio Giiants have a winner moving 11-7 with the gentle reality of “Small Talk”. Watch for more from these guys in the coming months. Right now, we’ll keep them as a bit of a mystery act.
South African-Swiss producer Nora En Pure becomes the first woman dance producer/DJ to reach this chart’s Top 10 with “Tears In Your Eyes” soaring 13-9.
Western New York producer Frank Pierce scores his second Top 10 with “Do Me”, featuring vocalist Miles B. The rhythms in this song are a mix of traditional Nigerian music and dancehall, making a unique sound. It follows Frank’s collaboration with Nick Peters on “No Love In Brooklyn”, which just left the chart after peaking at #4.
Movin’ On Up
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to an impressive record by southern California duo waitwhat with “Alive”, climbing 17-11 featuring vocalist Rielle.
All of the remaining debuts from two weeks ago manage to move up 5 places on the chart:
Dave Edwards’ rollicking “What We’re Made Of” rises 19-14 with an impressive synth hook and great vocals by UK-based singer Mark Asari.
German producers Saxity return with the gentle electro ballad “You Found Me” featuring another brilliant vocal by NYC-based singer Victor Perry. It climbs 21-16.
Right behind and up 22-17 is another great story song from L.A.-based Axel Mansoor called “Talk To Me”. Axel’s song all take terrific snapshots from points in time, creating songs to which most people can relate 🙂
Mika’s latest is a fun song welcome to all. “It’s My House” is on its way and moves up 27-22.
Four Debuts
“Patience” is Toronto’s River Tiber’s first chart entry in over 2 years and his 10th overall, pretty amazing for an independent artist who is on the verge of breaking through. It arrives at #24 and I can’t wait to hear more new music which has been waiting to pop for a while now.
Mako, now the brainchild for singer/songwriter/producer Alex Seaver, returns with what might seem as the logical follow up to 2016’s “Smoke Filled Room” called “Breathe”, which bows at #25. It’s Mako’s third chart entry following “Smoke” (#3) and “Way Back Home” (#10).
Fresh with a hybrid European and tropical sound is “Moves” by Italy’s Big Fish, which premieres at #26. It features Florida duo Xuitcasecity’s Mike Gomes on vocals – the duo appeared on Spirix’s “Runaway” last year.
The first K-Pop song to appear on my chart is the energetic “DNA” by BTS at #27 from their worldwide smash album Love Yourself – “Her”. I like it better than the hard-hitting remix of “Mic Drop”, which I think will have a short life span on the charts. “DNA” is more of a classic pop song with hip hop flavour and I still really enjoy their performance from the Billboard Music Awards.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.
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
The ever-mysterious ZHU and Vancouver’s Ekali know how to bring it big individually, but together the intensity is full on with “Blame”. It’s a cinematic-sounding song, starting off quietly but ultimately full of drama and powerful, orchestral synths to balance ZHU’s slight but always recognizable tones. I’m not sure if this is a one-off or if there will be more, but “Blame” is off to a great start out of the gate thanks to fans of both with lots of Spotify plays and a Top 5 Electronic single on iTunes already. It’s also available as a free download for now – go to the Soundcloud link above and find the download link in the description.
Continuing with more originals as they started last year with their EP Out Of Love, L.A.-based producers Two Friends put a special spin on their latest single “Just A Kid”, once again featuring vocalist Kevin Writer. This joyous slice of pop features contributions from kids from the program United In Harmony, for homeless children, which Matt and Eli participated in back in 2016. Proceeds from the song also give back to the summer camp run by United In Harmony. That aside, the anthemic song is on-point for a kid-friendly vibe that will appeal to any age. I think it’s perfect for the Radio Disney audience but has enough power to win over club audiences too. Check it out at the link above.
Two Friends are in the midst of their “Just A Kid” tour, which stops in Peterborough, Ontario on Saturday, January 20 at Aria.
It’s another global collaboration, this time newcomer producers Beau Collins from The Netherlands and Sweden’s Osrin with the sophisticated and pretty “Wonderland”. Not only does “Wonderland” have layers of interesting synths and drops in all the right places, it features an appropriately gracious vocal by award-winning Canadian singer Maggie Szabo, who is now based out of L.A. That vocal is always on point, and I enjoy that that producers have kept it a little gritty in spots. The signs are all pointing to 2018 being a year filled with futuristic emotional electronic pop, whether sad or uplifting, and “Wonderland” is off to an early start in that regard. And if these guys are as young as they look, then we’ll be hearing plenty more of Beau Collins and Osrin.
ROBOTAKI & MANILA KILLA featuring MATTHEW JOHN KURZ, “I Want You” (Spirix remix) (free DL)
Young L.A.-based producer/remixer Spirix has scored with a handful of both originals and remixes while he continues in college, with every one of them offering a somewhat signature sound that will serve him well going forward. To me, Spirix actually improves on the original of “I Want You” by the awesome duo of Robotaki and Manila Killa (of Hotel Garuda), featuring a killer vocal by Matthew John Kurz, who himself has appeared in these blog pages a number of times. It’s all about ear-dropping future bass beats and high end synths, so very complimentary to Matthew’s heartfelt vocal. “I Want You” was a pre-holiday remix gift from Spirix, so get it while you can at the link above.
Unless you recall the days of having a ‘formula’ for a hit record, songs that have both pop and electronica dance mixes that work for their audiences don’t come around too often. L.A.-based Teffler and Chicago’s D.A.N.E. are two producer/DJ/songwriters who have tapped into something quite good with both the radio edit and club edit of “Never Let Me Go” for Wall Recordings. Teffler has already been bringing the goods for a number of years as a DJ – an outlet for his own anxieties, many will relate! – remixer and songwriter for the likes of Ellie Goulding and Nathan Sykes. Featuring the sweet sizzle of an uncredited vocal by Christa Gniadek, the radio edit grabs the longing of the lyrics and leads them towards the bounce of the chorus, whereas the club edit focuses less on the lyrics and more on a classic piano 90’s flavoured house melody to make it pretty darned irresistible for clubs and dance radio shows. Check out both versions at the Spotify link above.
HENRI PFR & ROMEO BLANCO featuring VERONICA, “In The Mood”
“In The Mood” combines many winning elements to make a sunny pop and dance hit for the winter month. It comes together courtesy of Belgium’s Henri PFR and Romeo Blanco featuring a delightful vocal by Canadian Family Channel favourite Veronica. It’s already a Top 30 chart hit in Belgium (Sony is behind it there), with Canada (where it’s an independent release) not far behind with lots of initial pop radio support thanks to Veronica’s presence as well as having Canadian songwriters. The video for “In The Mood” is also both sly and enjoyable and well worth a watch at the link above. I think you’ll be hearing “In The Mood” a lot over the next several months. Some dance remixes would also enhance its staying power!
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