It’s been a while since I’ve written about the many talents of Dutch singer and entertainer Jeronimo, who dazzled me so much with “One Kiss” (below) back in 2012. Now billing himself as Jeronimo DaSilva, he continues to please his many fans this time with an intriguing choice for a cover, Britney Spears’ 2004 smash “Toxic”. In order to showcase the much richer tones of his voice, Jeronimo and his team have stripped back “Toxic” and married it with an acoustic jazz arrangement. The results are simple but way more effective than I would have anticipated. Plus the video also continues to show off the singer’s natural charm in front of the camera. I for one would be very happy with an ‘unplugged’ EP of clever cover choices like “Toxic”. Watch the video above.
With five years of big success under his belt, including a Grammy and working with the diverse likes of Lady Antebellum and Troye Sivan among others, Zedd continues to see reinvention as a big thing as “Stay” should slay pop and dance radio, as well as clubs. After her Juno Award wins last year, it also offers my fellow Torontonian Alessia Cara one of her best and more playful features yet. The giddy bounce is what really makes “Stay” come alive, quite the alternative to the more lush melodies of Zedd’s biggest hits like “Spectrum” and “Clarity”. As readers know, I don’t write about many big stars anymore, and while it’s been around three years since I last wrote about one of Zedd’s songs (“Find You” to be exact!) I do like to follow up on progress and change when my blog is an early believer of the performer. One of the good guys in the biz, Zedd is on his AA-game with “Stay”, which you can hear at the link above.
This one’s been a while in the waiting (thanks Ruth for the early preview!) but such good things do come to fruition as “Wasted My Love” by L.A.-based singer/songwriter Axel Mansoor certainly proves. It’s a mid-tempo EDM ballad that portrays cool confidence as the singer leaves behind a love story that wasn’t meant to be. Axel has a beautiful high end to his voice that reminds me of Charlie Puth. The song takes its time winding its message through this smart and stately performance, and it only makes you want to hear more. But for now “Wasted My Love” is where it’s at for Axel Mansoor, and I think it will have many friends joining along over the next few months. Check it out at the link above.
He had a great year in 2016 opening for The Chainsmokers as well as remixing for them, as well as for Elephante and Marshmello, and then releasing his own top notch originals like “Awake, Asleep” and “Wide Awake”, so L.A.-based Speaker Of The House (Dylan Orvell) continues with new originals with the progressive-influenced instrumental amusingly titled “Hi”. Quite different from his other songs, this one takes ear-catching simplicity like we heard with Hellberg’s “All The Way” and makes it bright and joyous-sounding, with unobtrusive vocal samples, which is sure to put a smile on your face. I really enjoy how the melody progresses and the song structure unfolds, which keeps you interested with its 4 minute plus length. Give it a good solid listen at the link above and sway away!
It’s been a while since we last heard from San Diego EDM producer/DJ Convulsic (Erik Hale) after two outstanding songs from this time in 2014 which both landed in the Top 10 of my personal chart,“Love Space” and “The Day You Left”. But he’s back and shifting his soundscape to keep it current and gritty for dubstep lovers with “Darkside”. Convulsic’s usual array of impressive sounds and edits will keep your ears attuned along with incorporating some hip hop elements in “Darkside”. If you like your EDM busy but full of flavour then Convulsic’s “Darkside” might just be what you’re looking for right now. Give it your attention at the link above.
L.A.’s Mahalo continues with a number of winning collaborations with diverse vocalist Cat Lewis with “WTFYWF” (or ‘what the fuck you waiting for’) for Midnight In Paris. This is a potent, energetic romp to make you go and get whatever it may be that you want before it’s too late. The drops and anthemic chorus are all in the right places, and Cat Lewis shows another side of his vocal talents when one compares a listen to a romantic uptempo dance track like “Be My Love”. If you’re looking for another big banger in a sea of downtempo EDM songs, then “WTFYWF” is what you will want! So WTFYWF, go get at on your favourite digital store.
The original EP Spleen by France’s Kidswaste (aka Quentin Beauvois) arrived last week via Ultra Records, and it’s a delicate, understated progressive electronic affair featuring two instrumentals and three vocal tracks that was led off by the gorgeous single “True Colours” featuring Chelsea Cutler. “Friends”, featuring Trace, should be your next dip into Spleen, like “True Colours” a more uptempo song than the others, carried by a simple, silky high end melody. It’s a lovely ode to friendship or perhaps being more than friends, meant for strolling through Paris or the French countryside hand-in-hand on a sunny Spring day. “Friends” and the entire Spleen EP are atypical of the dime-a-dozen EDM that pervades the scene, and worthy of some time to enjoy all of the sounds on headphones. Kidswaste is someone to watch out for in 2017. Check out “Friends” at the link above.
It’s all about the fight in desperation for the right kind of change, but as thoughtful and lyrical as it may be, “Fractures” by Denver’s Illenium has also got its grooves all in the right places, like what Illenium has brought to you in some of his remixes, particularly Flume’s “Say It”. Featuring a far-reaching, poignant vocal by Nevve, who you heard most recently on two songs on the I Am The Elephante! EP, “Fractures” has splendid almost R&B-ish rhythms to keep it moving through its wordscape. It’s a beautiful song for a whirl under the big lights but perfect for those who have their ears attuned to more than the beat. With already over 2 million plays (!), check it out at the link above.
The new music keeps coming and the last chart’s runner-up takes the pole position this time… but what will follow it in the coming weeks?The new music keeps coming and the last chart’s runner-up takes the pole position this time… but what will follow it in the coming weeks? The Top 10
So much is happening for The Chainsmokers after their Grammy win for Best Dance/Electronic Song for “Don’t Let Me Down” (featuring Daya). An album is forthcoming and it will consist entirely of new music, which they apparently are previewing while in Europe. In the meantime, “Paris” has followed “Closer” to the top of this chart while official remixes of the song have arrived by Pegboard Nerds, VINAI, LOUDPVCK, Jewelz & Sparks, Party Thieves, and FKYA!
As another song featuring his wonderful voice lands on the chart, Victor Perry moves up 6-4 with his piano cover of Everything But The Girl’s “Missing”. In even better news, Tunecore, through its new label Wunder, has officially released the song, which was previously available as a free download. If you haven’t got it yet, buy it!
There’s so much buzz about The Netherlands’ San Holo on the EDM scene that he’s already landed spots in a number of American EDM festivals! In the meantime, his song “Light” continues to find new friends and advances 9-5.
Felix Cartal continues with two songs on this chart, the highest being “Drifting Away”, featuring Ofelia K., which is great for imagining a drive down one of the U.S. coasts. It climbs 8-6.
“Sleeping In”, that splendid new song by L.A.’s Phil Good is remixed by Sean Turk to reimage what else you might do when you claim you’re sleeping in on a Sunday morning. It moves up 12-8.
L.A.’s Mahalo climbs an important notch to #10 for “Be My Love” featuring a beautiful vocal by Cat Lewis.
Movin’ On Up
Continuing to delight us from her EP Now You See Me is Molly Moore with the atmospheric “Imaginary Friends”. As remixed by both Pluto and TELYKAST, it rises 14-11.
Right behind “Imaginary Friends”, as it has been for the last few charts, is Germany’s JPB featuring England’s Luke Cusato on vocal with the heartfelt “For You”, up 15-12.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to another German performer, producer/guitarist Koni, who is one half of Saxity (at #7 with “Brothers”) and charted last year as a remixer of “Burn Fast” by Bryce Fox, which peaked at #15. Now with vocalist Danelle, Koni is at his best with the simple pop/dance mix of the engaging “Mad About You”, which soars 23-13.
“Memories Of You” is one of the most deliberately mysterious songs on the chart as brought to us by Miami’s Alyx Ander featuring a seductive vocal by Srey Davi. It glides 19-15.
All of the last chart’s debuts besides “Mad About You” are well on their way at #20, #21, and #22 respectively: “Windswept” the epic progressive EDM song by L.A.’s Crywolf (above), now on tour; another mysterious song by Toronto’s Blajk called “Lethal” (below); and the whimsical remix by Christofi of Elohim’s “Hallucinating” (also below).
Collaborating with Germany’s Levi, American singer/songwriter Victor Perry is on point with cool restraint on “Sail” which arrives at #24, to accompany #4 “Missing” on the chart.
Toronto’s rising Loud Luxury pairs up with fellow Torontonian Ryan Shepherd for “Something To Say”, which is a UK house-inspired redux of Craig David’s “Fill Me In” in disguise, and it is glorious, remixed by Tiësto no less!! It bows at #25.
I’m so excited about the arrival of this song that I wrote about recently that it lands on my chart a few days before official release. Brandyn Burnette’s adventurous progressive soul-meets-hip hop in “Manifest”, from the upcoming Feature Films EP, premieres at #29, just as “Plans” featuring Brandyn with Elephante leaves the chart after a mandatory 10 appearances.
The more you hear “Know Myself” by Denmark’s Owkey but featuring UK vocalist Ashdown, the more it will stick in your head. Everyone can relate to this song and its melody is quite memorable. It debuts at #30, accompanying another release by Heroic (“For You” by JPB at #12) on the chart.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.
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Listen for me onhttp://www.planetradio.ca live on Tuesday evenings, and with my Pick of the Week segment throughout the week at 2:20 6:20 10:20 AM/PM EST
“Come First” by trio Terror Jr. as remixed by the elusive Kid Froopy is a quirky bit of breezy fun with some punchy guitar riffs that will pull at your ears and make you sway. This is a next level official remix released by Atlantic that focuses on making “Come First” playful with a shiny, arpeggio-laden melody and a fair bit of repetition. This may give it a bit of a short shelf like but you’ll be guaranteed to keep coming back to it. Kid Froopy’s remix of “Come First” is definitely a fine early evening song to successfully coax folks onto the dance floor. Check it out above and pick it up at your favourite digital store.
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