If you’re going to take a bit of a break to finish off school and then come back even stronger, then you can use “Burned Bridges” by NYC’s Kasum as a great example. Not only has Kasum (aka Brandon Weiss) offered the song as a free download for you, but it takes a bit of a nostalgic turn both vocally and melodically into Blink-182/Sum 41 territory, while staying rooted in dance music. So it’s electronic pop with a punkish side, but the attitude is all about fighting to leave what’s buried behind you in life and getting on with things for the better. Reminisce about those “Burned Bridges” with Kasum but expect to be bopping along and smiling in the end 🙂
It’s so hard to believe that Justin Nozuka’s first album Holly was released 10 years ago this Fall, and the thoughtful and emotion-wrenching lead single “After Tonight” became one of my go-to songs for not only the next year but forever more, it has endured so very well. Flash forward and we’re now at the start of a fourth album release for Justin. He’s chosen to release it in EP parts instead of all at once, so the first three-song offering is called “High Tide”. It’s a gracious blend of folk and pop and rock like no one else is making. Inspired greatly by love and nature, you can feel the gentle power particularly in “No Place In Mind”, which reminds me a lot of songs from Justin’s 2010 album You I Wind Land & Sea. Opener “All I Need” is satisfying and slicker pop, and could be a nice slice of ear candy for pop/adult/alternative radio. “Hourglass” takes some kind early advice from parents to reflect on and use as empowering self-realization. High Tide is a true pleasure to hear, with a lot to say crammed into the thoughts of three songs. You can check out the entire EP at the Spotify link below, but be sure to pick it up at your favourite digital store too.
Following up their more-than-terrific second single as Cosmos & Creature as lead artist, “Bad Drug”, the ever-busy Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore continue with “Ride The Wave”. It is indeed positive pop power to get you moving to make the most of your day by seizing it and not sit back to wait for things to happen. For the most part, success, even if it’s on ones own terms, comes with drive, and you have to choose the right times to let things come to you. It’s a fine balancing act but “Ride The Wave” instigates the art of making things happen for yourself starting with you. The song has a great arrangement, musically and vocally, and it’s hard to think of what Brandyn and Molly cannot do. Check out “Ride The Wave” above and purchase it online at your favourite music store.
It’s here, your official end-of-summer song! One of my favourite new singer-songwriters is L.A.’s Axel Mansoor, whose two recent free downloads of “Wasted My Love” and “Out Of My Head” have graced the top and near-top of my personal chart respectively, making them two of the best new songs you can hear this year. Paired with fellow L.A. denizen and producer Louis Vivet, the groovesome twosome come up with some smokin’ hot pop with “Hit Rewind”. I had yet to hear Axel in an uptempo setting and this one is a treat, with a chorus that is such an 80’s-inspired blast it needs to be played quite loud. But that doesn’t mean that the song doesn’t have some downtime saved for Axel’s sweeter voice before that chorus kicks in again. “Hit Rewind” is the kind of potent pop that causes big ears to listen up. Show it some big love at the Spotify link above.
Italian producer Flyboy – not even yet 20 – definitely has a great ear for leaving his imprint on a song, even if it happens to be the ever-reliable Illinois duo Krewella with his remix of “Team”. This one will leave you spinning with all kinds of whirling synths and effects to perfectly match the fresh attitude of the lyrics and vocals calling out the haters. But Flyboy knows his limits and how to place catchy synth riffs without them driving you crazy. Flyboy is getting a lot of notice of late, through Spotify and Sirius XM, particularly in France, where some of his music has been picked up by none other than the prestigious Parlophone label through Warners. This remix of “Team” is only near the beginning so there’s still lots of time to watch Flyboy soar 🙂 Download “Team” for free at the link above.
Even in the music world, six years between your first two records is a long time, but when you can engage fans like Toronto-based band In My Coma did supporting their debut album Magnets & Miracles, then you turn them into keepers who stick with you for when your new music is ready. Now at last we have the new single “Beautiful Mind”, with a more refined, polished sound that also continues to allow In My Coma to rock out like they have done in the past as they continue to acquire wider appeal for their songs.
The original trio of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Jasper James, bassist LauraDoll, and drummer Mike Paterson was expanded not long ago to include keyboardist Linz Clark, and In My Coma has really gelled as a quartet in concert, opening for the likes of classic Canadian rockers Moist, the diverse USS, and most recently longtime rockers Nazareth.
To make a big splash, the band has a striking video for “Beautiful Mind”, with ink-and-paper-like images of the band members performing with a series of often comical characters, including the John Oliver-inspired #JustAddZebras, in this case a dancing one.
The music of In My Coma appeals to fans of rock music transcending the 80’s new wave of Duran Duran, and 90’s grunge of Pearl Jam, to the likes of today’s Cage The Elephant. The co-founder of Moist, Mark Makoway, has produced the band’s upcoming second album Next Life, due on October 6.
I’m looking forward to the ongoing evolution of In My Coma – some of the finest taltned folks in the biz who are already getting early support from the likes of long-time radio host and Canadian music historian Alan Cross. Give the video a good solid watch up top!
Hearing African rhythms blended slickly with international dance and pop styles is quite refreshing in the latest from western New York producer/songwriter Frank Pierce with “Do Me”, featuring vocalist Miles B. The flavours in “Do Me” come from Nigeria, and they are definitely joyous, a fusion of African pop and familiar dance hall sounds. The song stands out with its buoyant, unconventional polyrhythmic beats and cheerful synths, which are guaranteed to make your body want to let loose. “Do Me” has a funky side to it and a soulful, but the overall result is irrefutably pop which would fit happily alongside songs from Major Lazer. If you’ve heard his recent collaboration with Nick Peters on one of my current faves “No Love In Brooklyn”, then you know that “Do Me” is another good reason to get to know more of the music of Frank Pierce. Once again from Tipsy Records in conjunction with Epic Oslo, “Do Me” is a whole lotta fun and delivers the goods!
“Sun Goes Down” is a logical follow-up to German producer Koni’s irresistible “Mad About You” (featuring Danelle) from earlier this year. Relying on a similar and distinct vocal from Toronto’s Lilianna Wilde, “Sun Goes Down” is about the time to make your perfect getaway for romance, fun or whatever. Like a number of Koni’s songs, this time in collaboration with mystery collaborator Jeongwoo, the overall sound is bright and resonating with easy-to-enjoy tropical flavour. Koni knows his audience and hones his craft well, and besides “Sun Goes Down” there’s more new music coming down soon to enjoy. Get “Sun Goes Down” for free at the link above while you can 🙂
Lots of songs on the rise will change the top songs in the next month or so, and there are three debuts 🙂
The Top 10
Bright Light Bright Light’s “New York Pretty” leads the chart for a 4th appearance (8th week). He has done this before THREE TIMES with “Love Part II” in 2010, “Waiting For The Feeling” in 2012, and “An Open Heart” in 2013/14. “New York Pretty” is tied with The Chainsmokers and Coldplay’s “Something Just Like This” for most time at the top in 2017. and BLx2’s Billboard Dance Club Play hit “Into The Night” (below) climbs 10-8 this week too!
Staying at #2 for a second appearance is Toronto’s Loud Luxury with Nikki’s Wives and the catchy bass sounds of “Show Me”. Both groups are touring with Nikki’s Wives bowing in London, Ontario this week.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Mahalo and Cat Lewis, obtaining their third Top 5 song on the chart with “Perfect” vaulting 15-4. It will battle with “Show Me” and CVBZ’s “Be Like You” (#3) for #1 in two weeks. Mahalo and Cat Lewis hit the Top 5 earlier this year with “Be My Love” (#5) and “WTFYWF” (#3), and their other recent collaboration of “Heaven” (below) continues to climb 19-13!
Toronto’s Dan Talevski collects his third Top 5 song on this chart with the endless fun of “Birthday Suit” climbing 9-5. “Guilty As Sin” got to #3 in 2015, and it was followed by “My Religion” (#5).
L.A.’s Lauv will be touring with none other than Ed Sheeran in Asia very soon, as “I Like Me Better” continues to make new friends and rises 12-9.
Those of you who enjoy the new mystery band Terror Jr. will have a chance to catch Iowa’s Kid Froopy as the opening act on their tour. The Kid’s exceptionally produced “Drive Slow” moves up 14-10.
Movin’ On Up
Matthew Koma’s “Suitcase” breaks loose from lower chart numbers and soars 17-12 and is headed for the Top 10.
The Florida-based Tipsy label’s partnership with Epic Oslo is working with stellar new songs like “No Love In Brooklyn”, which has a great singalong chorus. It’s by French producer Nick Peters paired with American Frank Pierce and with vocals by American Scott Vega, climbing 20-14.
“Gold” by Ricky Remedy and John.k rises a big 26-16, thanks to slick production and amazing vocals by John.k. In fact John.k has already followed it up with a new song “OT”, which you can hear below.
What more can I say about the songs from Carlos Nobrega’s The Art Of Making Love? A dedicated following has provided him with great chart numbers in Europe and has sent so many new visitors to this blog, over 80,000! The charge started with “You (It’s All About You)” (above), the blog post of which is now my 3rd most viewed – but the blog post for the album is now most viewed at over 36,000 views!! The song climbs 27-18, as a new instrumental from Carlos’ other project, Almageddon is released, “Almageddon: Madrid”. This time it’s accompanied by a picturesque video of the famous city where he lives. It debuted at #1 on the Spanish new age chart this past week. Check it out below.
Steve Void and Syence move up with their touching joint collaboration to support anyone who’s down. “We Won’t Leave You” rises 25-20.
The melodic but crazy dubstep of “Anesthetic” by San Diego’s Convulsic moves up 28-22.
A new current favourite of mine that blends in contemporary electronic dance sounds with early 90’s classic house is “Need Your Heart” by Australia-based British producer Latchmere, from his debut indie EP Lovedrunk. It bows at an impressive #23, ahead of some major major names and deserves your support 🙂
Sam Smith has such an amazing voice even if “Too Good For Goodbyes” as a song is weaker than some of his past hits, nonetheless it premieres at #26. Sam has got to #1 here four times, all in 2014, with “Money On My Mind”, “Stay With Me”, “I’m Not The Only One”, and his collaboration with Disclosure on “Latch”. The video arrives tomorrow!
Arriving on the chart for the first time is multi-Grammy winner Skrillex in collaboration with producer/songwriter Poo Bear (aka Jason Boyd), who co-wrote many songs on Justin Bieber’s Purpose album as well as classics like 112’s “Dance With Me” and Usher’s “Caught Up”. The free download remix by scrvp. of “Would You Ever”, which gives the vocals and song an entirely different effect from the original, arrives at #27.
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
Throughout 2017 so far, there are few singer/songwriters who have surprised me more than Oregon’s CVBZ. And it’s not like his music totally won me over at the first few listens. The great thing about songs is they get stuck in your head and sometimes the rest of their intentions strike you later. Such is the case with “Be Like You”, which in its Sean Turk remix is one of my favourites of the year so far. Following up “Be Like You” and the bold and risky “Vicodin”is third single “Be Somebody”. Like both songs, it’s full of earnest sentiment that comes from a place deep down where you can fill lyrics with both encouragement and well screw that attitude. So many young people can relate to these lyrics and I hope “Be Somebody” can find its way through the maze of a today’s music scene to get to the listeners who need it the most. Musically, its big electronic sound is the right backdrop for its lyrics, and some remixes might help follow up the success “Be Like You” has had with dance music lovers. Check it out at the link above.
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