“Small Talk” by new L.A.-based trio #GIIANTS is massive pop waiting to happen

GIIANTS, “Small Talk”

December brings us one of the finest songs you’ll hear going into 2018 in any genre.  It’s “Small Talk” by new L.A. production/songwriting trio GIIANTS for Tipsy Records.  “Small Talk” is the kind of song that makes songwriting sound easy when actually writing something so breathtakingly simple is in fact so hard.  Anyone who has often gone to a party and finds themselves standing and talking to no one for what might seem like a long time to others knows the feeling of being unable to make small talk, usually because it’s not interesting or doesn’t come naturally.  The lyrics capture this sentiment beautifully.  Another reason why “Small Talk” sounds like a hit out of the box is that the trio of GIIANTS have loads of experience as producers, songwriters, remixers, and singers in previous projects.  In time who they will be unveiled – if you want to try to put pieces together head over to their new Facebook page – but I will say that I’ve written about some of the trio over many years of these blog pages.  GIIANTS is a much more straight ahead pop project surrounded by finely honed synth work.  There is more coming with different vocal mixes amid variations of irresistible danceable pop.  GIIANTS are ones to listen for and who could ask for a better start than “Small Talk”.  You’ll want to playlist it immediately using the Spotify link above.

Baltimore/Washington DC pop duo @CasuEncounter launches with self-titled debut featuring “Kerosene” (video)

casualencounter

CASUAL ENCOUNTER, self-titled album

CASUAL ENCOUNTER, “Kerosene” featuring JOE BENNY and PLAYIN’ FIELDS (video)

Bret is the singer and Raivis is the producer, and you can have a look at both members of duo Casual Encounter in their video for “Kerosene” (featuring production assists from Joe Benny and Playin’ Fields).  The song hails from their self-titled album, which revels in many inspiring songs set to pop or tropical dance rhythms, not entirely what you might expect to come out of the Baltimore/Washington DC area.  But Casual Encounter know what they want to achieve and can do well with familiar-sounding songs told in different but interesting ways such as “Dancing In The Rain”, “Night To Remember” (also featuring Playin’ Fields and an irresistible chorus), “Keep On Fighting”, and another one that happens to be called “I Like Me Better” (but with different subject matter).  “Kerosene” however is likely the song on the album that aims more directly at a pop audience with on-point imagery brought to life in a well-shot and edited video that might leave your heart in your stomach near the end.  Check it out at the link below, and Casual Encounter’s full album of songs is yours for the listening and playlisting at the Spotify link above.

 

Funky and fresh from France: “Watch Me Dance” by @SaraCostamusic featuring @OpeSmith

SARA COSTA featuring OPÉ SMITH, “Watch Me Dance”

“Watch Me Dance” is a delectable feast of 70’s and 80’s-styled jazz-influenced R&B that just happens to come from France, courtesy of producer Sara Costa and featuring the smoky and gritty style of singer Opé Smith.  Opé’s often deep, gracious, and natural tones compliment the lyrics about a relationship that’s collapsing, and how the subject isn’t having any of it.  Sara Costa has been well-established in Europe for many years, and like many of the women producer/DJ’s I’ve written about this year, it’s about more than just NERVO and Krewella – their time is coming for worldwide impact.  Sara crafts a classic disco/R&B rhythm with organic sounds, with emphasis on horns and piano, making the song retro yet quite current-sounding all at once.  “Watch Me Dance” comes out of Sony France but with international appeal.  Check it out at the link above.

“What About Now” by @MKJaff featuring @Evangelia_music is vibrant, alluring dance pop

MKJ featuring EVANGELIA, “What About Now”

Texas-based self-taught musician and dance producer MKJ continues a steady stream of intriguing productions and remixes with an original, “What About Now”.  Even if it’s leading more with a pop flavour, “What About Now” has vibrant vibes and lots of tropical-sounding high end synth sounds that simply soar and will capture the ears of anyone who likes to have a good time.  New Jersey singer Evangelia offers a persuasive gal-next-door vocal to draw you in, while MKJ surrounds it with attractive beats and rhythms to help provide the positive reply to the title phrase.  Side note:  If you’ve been to China recently, you may have heard a song called “Time” which features a Morgan Freeman-soundalike narrative set to dance music.  It’s a little something MKJ created a few years back that is now taking on a massive life of its own outside of North America that I will leave you to investigate for your listening pleasure.  Our friends at Tipsy Records have got MKJ and are working on more fine music like “What About Now” and “Time” coming to you in 2018!  Check out “What About Now” at the link above.

Booty luv gets its due in “Crazy” by @EneaMarchesini_ featuring Robin Marchetti @Robinfortyseven

ENEA MARCHESINI featuring ROBIN MARCHETTI, “Crazy”

Not to be confused with any of the numerous other songs of the same title, “Crazy” is a fun ode to a lover’s boo-tay and wanting to get romantic under the sheets, courtesy of producer Enea Marchesini and fellow Italian singer Robin Marchetti for Balmung Digital Recordings.  As slight and silly as it may be, “Crazy” totally works thanks to Robin’s lust-struck vocal which is separated by a most welcome and not too dirty deep house drop that makes the record bounce and more than just a novelty.  “Crazy” is just for you wild ones who like enjoy letting loose on the dance floor.  Be pleasantly surprised as you listen to “Crazy” at the link above.

The Hardest Part often is “Waiting On You” by @weareJRL & #Ludvigsson featuring @theMaxLandry

JRL & LUDVIGSSON featuring MAX LANDRY, “Waiting On You”

“Waiting On You” is a slice of Swedish pop that sincerely conveys the angst in relationships when waiting for the other half to make an important decision.  Production trio JRL and newcomer Ludvigsson let a bright future bass-influenced melody lead the way while US singer Max Landry, having previously worked with JRL as well as D-12 and Boldy James, sells the story with conviction.  And though “Waiting On You” will be very convincing in clubs come slow dance time, all involved manage to capture the essential elements of pure pop without dominating it with tricks and vocal effects which would detract from the core of what it’s about.  Listen to “Waiting On You” at the link above.

Soulful Holiday Spirit: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by @BrandynBurnette has a laid back #Fugees vibe

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

It is indeed one of my favourite Christmas songs, but Brandyn Burnette’s spin on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” deserves to be heard because of its chill, soulful vibe that would definitely make Lauryn Hill and Fugees fans proud.  Brandyn reaches into that old-soul bluesy R&B style that surfaces in his songs now and again to bring a contemporary, content and, holiday-happy ambiance to this classic.  The music is minimal and like the best renditions of “Merry Little” it’s all about the vocal and the style.  Add it to your holiday Spotify playlist at the link above.

Toronto’s @Beatchild & @TheSlakadeliqs are back featuring @JustinNozuka in the 60’s throwback “The Only Difference”

BEATCHILD & THE SLAKADELIQS featuring JUSTIN NOZUKA, “The Only Difference”

There are a lot of parallels between the late 60’s and the late ’10’s, mainly the aftermath of unfortunate politics prompting songwriters to focus on writing on songs about love, peace and understanding.  And Beatchild & The Slakadeliqs, in their first release in some time, are all about that, along with featured vocalist Justin Nozuka on “The Only Difference” (as with late 2011’s “Love Controls The Sun”, which I wrote about in a post right here).  So not only thematically is it a throwback to the 60’s, but in my estimation (and I could be wrong) the music, with its simple piano melody, and the harmonic vocals full of symmetry, recall many soul groups of that era like Five Stairsteps, The Delfonics, The Intruders and so on.  The rest of the music is terrific collaborative jamming, making “The Only Difference” go down very easy, and having me wonder what it would all sound like in a live setting.  Check it out at the Spotify link above. 

A New Ode to Berlin: “My Name Is Lola” by @LolaDutronic

LOLA DUTRONIC, “My Name Is Lola”

Veteran Toronto electronic duo Lola Dutronic keeps it simple with their ode to their city of choice, Berlin, called “My Name Is Lola”.  Despite what you might think, no, it’s not an answer song to Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” 😛  It follows up the duo’s summer redux of Man2Man’s 80’s delight “Male Stripper”.  Musically “My Name is Lola” takes its almost classic melody in a cue from “Prayer In C” by LillyWood & The Prick and Robin Schulz, with even perhaps some lingering traces of 80’s Kraftwerk underneath.  Its video above, featuring singer Stephanie B., as well as some shoutouts in German, is a snappy travelogue that will please fans of the city.  “My Name Is Lola” is easy to sink between your ears and get under your skin and down to your toe-tapping feet, and you can download it on Lola Dutronic’s Bandcamp page right here.

A Taut makeover for “Cities In Dust” by #SiouxsieandtheBanshees c/o remixers @Nazariff_ and @RoseThrone_

SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES, “Cities In Dust” (Nazariff x Rosé Throne remix)

Take it from someone who lived through the era as an adult, and also someone who doesn’t write about older songs remixed very often, American remixers Nazariff and Rosé Throne have done contemporary justice to 1985 alt.rock and dance classic “Cities in Dust” by Siouxsie & The Banshees originally from the Tinderbox album.  It was an important record for Siouxsie.  After many hits in the UK starting in 1978, “Cities In Dust”, with its raw vocal and tribal rhythm, was her US breakthrough, which ultimately culminated in the 1991 pop and dance hit “Kiss Them For Me”, and effectively extending her chart career to 1995 in the UK.  Nazariff and Rosé Throne honour the goth origins of the song, giving it a cinematic, taut makeover that loses nothing in its translation to 2017.  It’s hard to get it right and please everyone, but Siouxsie fans and club DJ’s will certainly embrace this remix.  You can download it for free at the link above.