Have fun with two doses of @Throttle and @Nikomakesbeats, with “Piñata” and a cover of @JTimberlake’s “Signs”

THROTTLE x NIKO THE KID, “Piñata” and “Signs” (which is a free download above)

My but Australia’s Throttle and recent Grammy-nominee Niko The Kid (for his work on Odesza’s album) make a perfect playful pair with two recent releases, “Piñata” and a cover of the Snoop Dogg/Justin Timberlake collaboration “Signs”.  “Piñata” definitely takes some cues from the Martin Garrix school of fun deep house instrumentals, which will make you pine for arid sunshine and margaritas with a DJ spinning tunes on the side.  “Signs” is quite far removed from the 2003 hip hop/pop original, trading R&B rhythms for lighter, feel-good summery vibes, really only recognizable through its lyrics.  The guys gifted this one to us on New Year’s Day so you can download it for free above.  After some remixes as well as these two releases, maybe we’ll see a joint tour for Throttle and Niko The Kid one day!  

“I Wish U Heaven”, a YouTube playlist tribute to Prince, features @DarrenHayes’ stunning cover

DARREN HAYES, “I Wish U Heaven”

Rarely do I write about songs made available online-only, but when it means a new Darren Hayes vocal, then exceptions are made!  We’ve had no new music from Darren since 2011, while he works on other projects, making the occasional brief live appearance (such as the one I was lucky to see in April 2016 in L.A.).  Debuting on Christmas Day, in case you missed it, Darren seamlessly covers Prince’s brief “I Wish U Heaven”, originally from the 1988 Lovesexy album.  The song wasn’t a North American hit but did well overseas, particularly in the UK.  With a minimal arrangement of strings and piano, Darren’s vocal lovingly pays tribute to pop’s purple hero.  It’s not the first time Darren has covered Prince.  In concert 10 years ago as part of the Time Machine tour, which I saw in Toronto, he dazzled us by incorporating Prince’s “Baby I’m A Star” into a medley with his own playful funky pop of “Pop!ular”.  Perhaps we will see a video of it one day.  While I encourage you to check out Darren’s cover above, you can also listen to the entire “I Wish U Heaven” playlist right here.

Eurohouse flair shines through in “Moves” by #BigFish featuring @MikeGomesmusic

BIG FISH featuring MIKE GOMES, “Moves”

If you like your tropical house with add Euro flair, then you will particularly enjoy “Moves” by Italy’s Big Fish for Tipsy Recordings.  Though the artist is new, the song does a great job of selling itself with its totally engaging melody and slick production.  It also has this vibrant vocal by Mike Gomes of American duo Xuitcasecity – not an entirely unexpected place for Mike to show up, as you’ll remember Xuitcasecity’s memorable presence last year on “Runaway” by Spirix.  “Moves” is an easy add for club DJ’s who want to encourage their audience to strut their stuff rather than simply watch the DJ at work.  Check it out at the link above.

Toronto’s @RiverTiber returns with hypnotic, R&B-influenced “Patience”

RIVER TIBER, “Patience”

If his new songs are anything like “Patience”, 2018 is going to be a stellar year and well worth the wait for singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Paxton-Beesley, aka River Tiber, about whom I’ve written regularly over the last number of years.  We haven’t heard from Tommy since his quickie 2016 EP for Red Bull, “Illusions”, and his critically acclaimed album Indigo.  Never sacrificing quality for quantity in much the same vein as his friends and collaborators such as Grammy-nominee Daniel Caesar (at whose Toronto concert he recently performed), Kaytranada, and BADBADNOTGOOD, “Patience” is as layered and complex as ever, but it jumps back on to the R&B groove that pervaded and took to another level past River Tiber songs like “Let You Go” and “No Talk”.  The story of “Patience” unfolds in a rather understated way but is then anchored with a full-on intense and hypnotic jam, and a stunning vocal chorus, but not until the 1:35 mark, so wait for it!!  Be sure to add “Patience” to your playlists using the Spotify link above.

River Tiber performs at The Mod Club in Toronto on Friday December 29.

K-Pop Stars @weareoneEXO feature @BrandynBurnette/@missMollyMoore song “Been Through” in new album “Universe”

exo

EXO, “Been Through”

K-Pop stars EXO break away from their pop roots with the alt.rock flavoured “Been Through” in their new album Universe.  The song has the real potential for a North American breakthrough, though, thanks to being written by none other than BILLCS Music Blog favourites Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore!  Though sung entirely in Korean, it’s a darker, more reflective song than the others on the Universe album, which also feature some lyrics in both English and Chinese.  BTS clearly are not the only K-Pop group on the international breakout scene.  With more song choices like these, you can expect EXO to appear on more than just K-Pop charts.  And word to Brandyn and Molly:  I, and many others I suspect, would love to hear the English language version of “Been Through” too!!  But way to go on this one to everyone involved 🙂  Listen below!

NYC singer @Reigenmusic offers love-struck, heartfelt cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams”

REIGEN, “Dreams”

It’s not easy to cover songs by the seminal 90’s alt.rock band The Cranberries and capture their unique take on music at the time.  However, somehow NYC singer Reigen has gotten well under the skin of their hit “Dreams” (the follow-up single to “Linger”), centering the song around the phrase ‘you’re a dream to me’, which is often isolated in the mix here, whereas the original to me focused more on the gorgeous melody and production.  Originally sung for some friends at their wedding, Reigen’s rendition of “Dreams” is soulful, love-struck, and heartfelt, and is set beautifully in its video (above) to a few first-encounter vignettes which will make you warm and fuzzy.  Call it mission well-accomplished – I’m so very glad “Dreams” was officially released.  It does follow up Reigen’s recent single “Rollin'”, which I wrote about not long ago, and for which there is now a video (below) full of heart-pumping determination to draw you in even more.

Compelling “New Signs” introduces new German singer/songwriter @_ANIQO featuring @AnnieHardy

ANIQO featuring ANNIE HARDY, “New Signs”

Germany’s ANIQO arrives with a compelling single about starting over stronger after hard times called “New Signs”.  It takes cues from 80’s folk and rock, channeled perhaps through 90’s alt.rock singers like Sinéad O’Connor, Dolores O’Riardon, and Fiona Apple.  “New Signs” takes its time to tell its interesting story but ANIQO’s vocals, alongside those of stunning harmonies by Giant Drag’s Annie Hardy, are what sustain its 5:20 length.  The sparse instrumentation, featuring crisp piano, guitar, and percussion, provides an appropriate backdrop for its message of determination.  “New Signs” is the lead track from ANIQO’s upcoming album called Birth.  Give it a good solid listen at the link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #525 – December 25/17

In my last chart of 2017, there’s a new #1 by a performer who is now dominating the chart, as well as five debuts that will make heading into 2018 a lot brighter 🙂

The Top 10

  • It’s Miguel who takes over at #1 with “Pineapple Skies” (above) from the stellar War & Leisure album.  It’s Miguel’s second #1 following 2013’s “Adorn”.  He also rises 6-3 with his laid back collab with Travis Scott on “Sky Walker” (below) and gets one of the five debuts at #25 with the ever-so-Prince-worthy “Told You So” (also below).  2018 is going to be fabulous for Miguel, and I look forward to seeing his show in March!

https://soundcloud.com/shoffymusic/flags-feat-yuna

  • L.A.’s Shoffy has one of the best songs of the year with the pensive “Flags”, featuring Yuna, which holds at #2 from his enjoyable self-titled album.
  • Toronto’s Dzeko soars into the Top 5 from 16-5 with his brilliant retro-techno cover of Seal’s “Crazy” in a Tiësto Big Room mix.
  • YEBBA is a new talent to watch for in 2018.  As far as I know she’s still an unsigned commodity but that will not be for long 🙂  Her first single “Evergreen” (above) climbs 13-7 while her duet with Sam Smith on “No Peace” (below) from The Thrill Of It All moves 17-15.
  • The pairing of producer SAINT WKND and singer MAX for “Survive” is a killer combination as the song rises 11-8 in its fab PLS&TY remix.  It’s MAX’s 5th appearance in the Top 10 overall as either lead or featured vocalist.

  • Toronto’s dynamic duo Loud Luxury score their third consecutive Top 10 with “Body”, featuring a fantastic, earthy vocal by Brando.  It climbs 18-9.

Movin’ On Up

  • The fastest riser on the chart, not surprisingly, is the genuine dance pop of “Small Talk” by new trio Giiants, which soars 23-11.  I’m going to keep the mystery alive about Giiants for now and all will be revealed in 2018 as to who is behind this excellent project.  

  • Nora En Pure’s dance floor filler “Tears In Your Eyes” rises 19-13, one of the best emotional dance pop tunes around to make you swirl away to those rich synth sounds.
  • One of my favourite parts of “Right Now” by Toronto’s Ryan Shepherd featuring Dirty Hary is the punchy and layered beginning, which leaves you hooked for the rest of the song.  “Right Now” moves up 20-14.
  • It’s inspiring and set to a deliberate, almost funky pace, but California duo waitwhat have a winner with “Alive” climbing 26-17 and featuring a stunning vocal by Rielle.

4 More Debuts

  • It’s definitely a pattern – creative synth work and a passionate vocal – that drives “What We’re Made Of” by NYC producer Dave Edwards featuring London-based singer Mark Asari to debut at #19.  It’s one of the best and most fervent songs around heading into 2018, and has the potential to be another “This Is What It Feels Like” by Armin van Buuren.
  • It’s gentle and good-natured with a buoyant electronic melodic hook, so “You Found Me” by German production duo Saxity featuring NYC-based singer Victor Perry arrives at #21 as a free download.  It’s Saxity’s second entry following the #3 “Brothers” (and members Koni and Stan Sax have charted separately too), and Victor’s fourth appearance following #4 “Missing”, #7 “Rainbows”, and his #3 “Sail” with another German producer Levi.

  • L.A. based singer/songwriter Axel Mansoor is just finishing up a run on the chart with the #12 “Hit Rewind”, and for his fourth entry this year it’s “Talk To Me” at #22, whose video features a cute story with an ending that will leave you thinking.  Axel’s “Wasted My Love” and “Out Of My Head” will both figure prominently in my upcoming year end list 🙂
  • British singer Mika returns to the chart for the first time in almost exactly five years with the bubbly and all-inclusive message of “It’s My House” at #27, his 10th overall entry.  He’s the real deal as I’ve seen in concert and should never be underestimated even if his last album really did not win me over.  He’s been to #1 once on this chart, with “Rain” in 2010 from my favourite album by him, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.

In lieu of the online version, here’s the full chart:

03 01 03 PINEAPPLE SKIES Miguel
02 02 06 FLAGS Shoffy F/ Yuna
06 03 06 SKY WALKER Miguel F/ Travis Scott
01 04 08 NEED YOUR HEART Latchmere
16 05 03 CRAZY (TIESTO’S BIG ROOM MIX) Dzeko
09 06 04 EVERYBODY HURTS The Him F/ Ivy Adara
13 07 04 EVERGREEN YEBBA
11 08 05 SURVIVE (PLS&TY remix) SAINT WKND F/ MAX
18 09 03 BODY Loud Luxury F/ Brando
10 10 05 MONSTER Latchmere F/ Dylan
22 11 02 SMALL TALK Giiants
14 12 04 DO ME Frank Pierce F/ Miles B
19 13 03 TEARS IN YOUR EYES Nora En Pure
20 14 03 RIGHT NOW Ryan Shepherd F/ Dirty Hary
17 15 04 NO PEACE Sam Smith f/ YEBBA
04 16 07 WAKE UP FOR THE NIGHT Alyx Ander F/ Caroline Pennell
26 17 02 ALIVE Waitwhat F/ Rielle
07 18 07 DRIVEWAY Culpriit
New 19 01 WHAT WE’RE MADE OF Dave Edwards F/ Mark Asari
05 20 07 NO HANDS it’s different & Forever MC F/ blackbear & MAX
New 21 01 YOU FOUND ME Saxity F/ Victor Perry
New 22 01 TALK TO ME Axel Mansoor
15 23 06 FREE Carlos Nobrega f/ JVEL
08 24 10 PERFECT Mahalo F/ Cat Lewis
New 25 01 TOLD YOU SO Miguel
12 26 06 HIT REWIND Axel Mansoor & Louis Vivet
New 27 01 IT’S MY HOUSE Mika
21 28 10 NO LOVE IN BROOKLYN Nick Peters & Frank Pierce F/ Scott Vega
23 29 08 TOO GOOD AT GOODBYES Sam Smith
24 30 07 CAN’T RESIST Halogen F/ Adriana Gomez & Lub X Tpf

Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs

Check out and ‘like’ the new BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

Infinite love awaits at the “End of the World” by @Shaanmusic featuring #AllanEshuijs

SHAAN featuring ALLAN ESHUIJS, “End Of The World”

We can party like it’s 2012 again with glorious arpeggios spearheading an uplifting message in “End Of The World” by Mumbai’s noted producer/DJ Shaan, featuring a powerful vocal by Dutch singer Allan Eshuijs.  Now only 22, Shaan returns after becoming India’s only producer/DJ to play the Tomorrowland festival a couple of years back,  and has been playing numerous other festivals in south Asia throughout December.  “End Of The World” couldn’t be any more triumphant.  It’s the perfect foil for Britney Spears’ “Till The World Ends” and should be played immediately after when the New Year tolls in a few days.   “End Of The World” is brought to you once again by Armada, and is already receiving support by The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, and Tritonal but to name a few.  I know so many people miss the dance sounds of the first part of this decade, so let’s start a revival, right?  Don’t miss “End of the World” for your club sets and Spotify playlists at the link above.

Memorable “Polaroids and Dirty Dances” scores by @DJJuicyM & @HIDDNmusic_ featuring @weareKepler

JUICY M & HIDDN featuring KEPLER, “Polaroids and Dirty Dances”

“Polaroids and Dirty Dances” is the latest and immeasurably catchy dance song to come out of L.A. with the great collaboration of prominent producer/DJ Juicy M, fellow producer HIDDN, and singers/songwriters Kepler.  This song has so much going for it, from the dreamy vocals through to an infectious if familiar overall sound that make it a huge banger which wraps up under just three minutes.  Kyiv-born but US-based Juicy M (and new mom-to-be) has such a worldwide following for her mix shows that it’s no surprise to find “Polaroids and Dirty Dances” with over 800K views on You Tube already (below).  The song is a club DJ’s dream, so be sure to add it to your set and playlist using the Spotify link above.