L.A.-based producer Mahalo is on a terrific ride right now with collaborations with vocalist Cat Lewis on the more pop-flavoured “Be My Love” and the anthemic “WTFYWF”, which both currently reside happily on my own BILLCS Top 30 chart. So now you need to factor in a fourth release since late last year with some smooth house in “Current Mood”. Like the previously released “Energy”, Mahalo distorts, lowers, and plays with Cat’s vocal, and it works much better here as the melody shows off Cat’s true range, despite sounding very unlike “Be My Love” or “WTFYWF”. It’s got a great flowing rhythm to keep club-goers pleased, and “Current Mood” definitely deserves your attention, particularly if you’re a fan of British house of the early 2000’s. Give it a listen at the link above.
Victor Perry vocals continue to grace these blog pages with songs like “Sail” and “Missing”, and the now-NYC-based singer’s latest is featured in a soulful charmer by 19 year old UK producer Hambleton called “Back To You”. Victor’s vocal takes elements from many of his own favourite singers to create a unique, special performance which sounds like it could have leapt out of the UK 90’s R&B-influenced dance music scene along with singers like Mica Paris, Terence Trent D’Arby, Lisa Stansfield and others. Hambleton’s production is slick and spry, while the engaging lyrics tell a story that’s so easy to which anyone can relate. Do give it some love at the link above.
WITT LOWRY featuring TORI SOLKOWSKI, “Let Me Know”
Connecticut-born rapper Witt Lowry returns with possibly his most personal song to date with “Let Me Know”. Usually when records are produced, some of the more natural effects of a voice are smoothed over. But in “Let Me Know”, you can hear Witt’s voice break numerous times, and it drives the honesty and poignancy of the lyrics home. Tori Solkowski’s supporting vocal is a knowing, perfect foil for the heartbreak and edge brought up front by Witt. Kudos for the production team for thinking outside of the box to make a straight-forward song much, much more. Club DJ’s should give it a spin – it’s a head-turner. Listen to “Let Me Know” at the link above.
I had the good fortune to see NYC/LA duo Powers (guitarist/vocalist Crista Su and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Mike Del Rio) for the second time last night at Toronto’s Adelaide Hall (where I first saw them open for DNCE in November 2015), and they performed an energetic set for a highly appreciative and dedicated crowd. Flash forward a few years from their rollicking and infectious “Classic” (with The Knocks) and Powers now mesh more rock flavour into their dance grooves, especially with two of the three songs released from their upcoming album, due (fingers crossed) in June on Republic.
“Heavy” (above) has another catchy vocal by Crista with a jaunty, almost Caribbean-inspired rhythm married with 80’s pop riffs which could be mashed up with Men At Work’s “Down Under”. It’s definitely that groove that will keep you moving and some remixers could have fun with it as they have had with some of Powers’ other songs. “Dance” (video below) is much more aggressive, again recalling 80’s power rock (think Joan Jett’s “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)”), but loads of fun, with Mike and Crista letting loose in a video that manages to incorporate both a cowboy riding a bull and an astronaut. “Man On The Moon” (also below) veers away from the danceable side of things for a more alt.rock flavoured, lyrical song with some heavier instrumentation and harmonies at the bridge that still swings with an easier-going groove.
Though it was also great to hear other Powers’ songs like “Sunshine” and the hip hop inspired “Legendary”, I think the immediate future is looking very bright for this talented singing/songwriting duo, who also happen to be terrific, smart, positive folks in speaking with them after last night’s show. Check out “Heavy”, “Dance” and “Man On The Moon” and pick them up at your favourite online store, and watch for a solid album when it drops later in the Spring or early Summer.
I’ve written about Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Nick Hagelin so much in the last seven years, that it reads like a chronology of growing personal success that brought him, both somewhat logically and with a lot of hard work, to be an amazing Top 10 contestant on season 10 of “The Voice” as part of Christina Aguilera’s team, where his humble personal life also became front and centre, and only enhanced the appeal of all of his modest talents.
“Blue Moon” is a new independent release from Nick that tells a common story – being in touch with someone you want to know better, but not enough to call it a relationship. It’s more of a pop song this time that downplays a lot of the R&B influence from his previous releases, though you cannot deny that beautiful, soulful falsetto of his when it surfaces to bring the some home. Plus, we get to see some of his dance moves in the above video – as you may know, he’s a ballet dancer too. Nonetheless, like with some of the videos he released before “The Voice”, it’s nice to see Nick front and centre – simply Nick at his best.
“Love You To The Sky” is the first taste of the new Erasure album World Be Gone for duo Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, the follow up to 2015’s highly successful The Velvet Flame. That album put singles “Elevation”, “Reason” and “Sacred” back into the upper-end of the dance charts, where Erasure should rightly be more than 30 years after their first hit (my first club experience with Erasure was in 1986 😀 ). Andy also has a fab thing going on in collaboration with Dave Audé – two #1 Billboard club play songs in a row.
There’s nothing particularly new about “Love You To The Sky” – it’s reliably, solid Erasure with a straight-forward positive pop song about a summer romance with Andy’s recognizable voice front and centre, and a lilting, uncomplicated-sounding synth backdrop from Vince. It’s everything you know and want from Erasure that will be a singalong by the time they tour next. You can also head over to their page on Pledge Music where they offer up some incentives to help get World Be Gone finished and released. Check out the lyric video for “Love You To The Sky” above.
MARTIN GARRIX & DUA LIPA, “Scared To Be Lonely” (Joe Mason remix)
I wasn’t nearly impressed with “Scared To Be Lonely” in its original mix. Perhaps another song not so far removed from “In The Name of Love” came a little too soon after it, instead of one of Martin’s noted bangers. I don’t think either song are as big successes as what was anticipated, so that’s where remixes come in to give them extra shelf life! Landing with an official remix, Australian teen Joe Mason, about whom I’ve written about many times in the last year or so, jazzes up “Scared” with lots of spit and polish, adding more instrumentation and a perfectly placed reggae break that break up the melodrama of the original. And with a powerhouse machine behind Martin Garrix, Joe and his fellow “Scared” remixers will continue to make inroads creating fresh sounds that can accentuate the best from the pop/dance world. Check it out above and pick it up on iTunes.
You’re likely to get so wrapped up with the electro-house energy and power of “Rock Thiz” that you’ll be surprised that it’s over in a two and a half minute flash! Polish producer/DJ’s Dirty Rush & Gregor Es totally blast through the doors with this powerhouse which is out to not only work you out on the dance floor, but will totally slay you in the process. I’ve read the comments that some listeners say this is repping on “All Day” by Kill FM, and while there may have been some inspiration, I think the Polish duo make “Rock Thiz” stand firmly on its own. Listen at the link above, but be prepared to get silly while you do 🙂
Virginia-born but now L.A.-based singer/songwriter Eddy Faulkner has a no-brainer winner with his new pop song “Cruel”. Getting away from the power-pop of his EP Unbreakable, featuring “All The Way” which I wrote about last Spring, “Cruel” offers a gentle but sometimes emotional vocal up against a really big and rich, full-sounding house-y backdrop, which helps bring out a bit of a dark side to the song. It’s amazing what a lot of hard work will do in-between releases, but Eddy’s sound has matured significantly and stays ahead of the game with a song that easily stands out from the rest. It does beg some dance remixes, so you can watch for them in the coming weeks 🙂 Pop and dance radio will find themselves with a listener-friendly song in “Cruel”. Check it out at the above link and pick it up at your favourite digital store.
CAPTAIN CUTS, “Love Like We Used To” (Young Bombs remix)
“Love Like We Used To” is one of the best pop/dance songs I’ve heard lately by recent Sony signing the L.A. trio Captain Cuts (or, two Ryans and a Ben 😛 ) thanks to its fitting remix by Vancouver duo Young Bombs. It’s a really sweet song that can touch anyone who’s just gotten out of a relationship. The vocals are crisp and soulful, and Young Bombs take care of the song well in their remix. They add their usual panache by accentuating the music and slipping in some vocal effects which mesh well with the original. It’s perfect for a late night west coast beach party. You can’t go wrong with the remix or the original of “Love Like We Used To”, it is radio or dance club ready. Listen to Young Bombs’ take above and do yourself a huge favour and pick up the original at your favourite digital store.
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