“Drinkin'” is an essential rocking bluesy jam that’s going to sound fabulous in concert by L.A.-based singer JMSN. He’ll release his fourth album Whatever Makes You Happy on April 28 and is touring in North America to support it. After a moody pair of albums, It Is and JMSN (aka the Blue Album), and working with folks like Kendrick Lamar, Kaytranada, J. Cole, and Tyga over the past few years, JMSN’s commanding vocal takes control here with a blistering vocal that reminds you of why you got interested in the first place back about five years ago with his solo debut album †Priscilla†. With JMSN still producing and engineering “Drinkin'”, and self-releasing his records, props here must also go to the bass work by Yuki “Lin” Hayashi which captures a deep groove that helps bring the song home. The focus now seems to be more on real instruments and musicians than electronics. Give “Drinkin'” a listen at the link above.
Following up her 2015 EP For Me is Toronto’s Julia Carlucci with “Take Me Down”. Regardless of how you find your music – through radio, digital playlists, or online – “Take Me Down” is vocal-driven R&B-inspired pop whose intent is to bring the house down and make you remember who sung it. And with the video showcase above, Julia has an appeal that could transcend Lady Gaga, Cher, and Céline Dion, even though her most immediate inspirations are the likes of Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. Set in a classic pop setting with orchestra backing, I’m certain you’ll be hearing more of Julia Carlucci as word gets out about “Take Me Down”, as they already have in other parts of the world (Japan and Indonesia, being two)!
Nights is a new male duo out of Philadelphia who’ve just released their debut single “Irreplaceable”. The style is a smooth mix of EDM, R&B and Hip Hop, more likely to appeal to fans of Chance The Rapper, Bryson Tiller or Anderson.Paak than say The Chainsmokers or Tiësto. What I like particularly about “Irreplaceable” is the positive message that’s wrapped up in a vibe that will catch your attention when you don’t expect it. The understated vocal is in a dreamy zone that totally suits the song. “Irreplaceable” is a great start for Nights – folks who also enjoy RKCB and Opia will be pleased. Get it for free at the link above.
Maybe one day we will see a full Matthew Koma album or perhaps another EP, but the singer continues with single releases via RCA with “Hard To Love”, his best since 2015’s “So Fuckin’ Romantic”. Getting away from his trademark higher range which has pervaded so many club hits over the last five years by the likes of Zedd, Sebastian Ingrosso, Hardwell, and Tiësto, “Hard To Love” in some ways reminds me of his earlier songs from the 2012 EP Parachute in terms of edge and grit, but slicker production and a set of new remixes, including a funky one by Niko The Kid, make “Hard To Love” stand out. Ever dance club-friendly, “Hard To Love” could also appeal to other worldwide markets in which Matthew has had success, including the UK, Japan and Indonesia. Check out “Hard To Love” in its Niko The Kid remix above.
JUSTIN CARUSO featuring VICTORIA ZARO, “Talk About Me”
Young L.A.-based producer Justin Caruso has been noted up to now for ear-catching remixes last year of songs by the likes of The Chainsmokers and 3Lau. But his campaign to make original music starts with “Talk About Me”, a solid dance tune that will do well enough in clubs, but has a lot going for it as a song unto itself. Benefiting from a gracious and slick vocal by Victoria Zaro, the lyrics tell an important tale, about being yourself and who you are regardless of what others may say. “Talk About Me” starts off like it might be a ballad but revs up the tempo that will work well in any club set. Just shy of a million Soundcloud plays already, the song is a sign of great things to come for Justin Caruso.
I’ve been a big believer in Vancouver singer/songwriter Tristan Thompson since his debut release Here For You in 2014 yielded a soulful piece of pop ear candy called “Tidal Wave”, which also topped the BILLCS Top 30. That song as well as “Burn Again” and the title track received significant national radio airplay in Canada for an independent performer, and got notice overseas, particularly in New Zealand.
Fast forward three years, and the singer, who is not even 20, has created a new project called Diamond Cafe, after a second album last year stalled and the label behind it folded. The EP Breathe is full of five lush, soulful pop/dance songs that will appeal mostly to Michael Jackson and Prince fans, but also to fans of performers as diverse as Sade and Adele. The singer has also taken on production duties, and he’s definitely on the right track though perhaps some songs might benefit from a deeper sound. His now-richer vocals with some commanding high notes score throughout, and the songs to zero in on are the title track, “Commercial Love”, and “Diamonds”.
I think Diamond Cafe will find friends with club DJ’s, EDM fans, and R&B/soul fans interested in hearing 80’s/90’s sounds mixed in with the style of today. Some of the songs, like “Diamonds” could benefit from remixes. Tristan Thompson should find a new and more mature audience with Diamond Cafe. Check out the entire album on Spotify at the link above.
With instantly relateable lyrics, NYC trio Cash Cash have a winner for Big Beat with “Matches”, which features an affecting, potent by none other than ROZES, about whom I’ve written a few times since her breakout on The Chainsmokers’ “Roses”. Cash Cash have worked with quite the variety of vocalists, including Nelly, Bebe Rexha, Christina Perri, and John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls, among others, in recent years. Always in it for more variety, “Matches” gets really big and anthemic when it needs to and ROZES takes us for a brisk ride before it’s all done in typical spot-on three minute single style. I expect “Matches” will take off in clubs within the next few weeks so give it a solid listen at the Spotify link above.
Their friendly and hook-filled style has had me listening for more than a year now, and L.A.’s Two Friends production duo (Matt and Eli) brings us their first all-original three song EP, Out Of Love. It’s at this stage when musicianship takes over and we have before us three quite different songs which show that Two Friends are not at all stuck to the frenetic EDM of many of their fine remixes.
And what would Two Friends do of course but to bring along more friends! I’ve already written abouttheir collaboration with Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore, aka Cosmos N Creature, on the title song. A second collaboration with the immensely talented MAX (aka Max Schneider) on “Pacific Coast Highway” follows their sparkling redux of MAX’s “Lights Down Low”. It’s a wistful EDM remembrance meant for a late night drive down that long highway or one similar. But the best of the lot is the harmonica-laden “Mona Lisa Eyes”, which sort of celebrates what Avicii brought to the EDM fold five years ago with country flavour and takes it a number of steps further. It also happens to be a gorgeous song with an amazing vocal by an uncredited singer.
Pick up Two Friends’ Out Of Love EP at your favourite digital store.
So help me, everything that WRLD touches lately just glitters! “Stranded”, the Dutchman’s collaboration with Floridians SMLE for Heroic, is big and bold and will smack upside between the ears. The song wastes absolutely no time hooking you up with big beats that give way to quieter moments to let Kiddo AI’s pitch-perfect vocal really soak in, which in turn gives way to more huge sounds that end with a resounding high note that will make you want much more. I think another record with WRLD, SMLE and Kiddo AI is in order. “Stranded” has all of the right pieces in place to slide from dance music clubs and radio and onto the pop scene. Don’t say you weren’t told! Listen above on Spotify and pick it up on iTunes.
Regardless of what you think of The Chainsmokers after their 2016 successes, including a Grammy win for “Don’t Let Me Down”, you had to know that the only way was up in 2017. So they’re touring in Europe and headlining some of the biggest festivals. Yet they always find time for the fans and the up-and-coming producer/DJ’s who would like to taste even a modicum of what they’ve accomplished in a short period of time. Those who knew them before the “#Selfie” days must be gleaming.
So this week on the BILLCS Top 30, The Chainsmokers have the distinction of having the top two songs. The reflective “Paris” (above) remains at #1 by a hair, but the second single from their upcoming Memories…Do Not Open album co-written and performed with Coldplay, the anthemic singalong “Something Just Like This” (below), bows at #2 and is set to succeed “Paris” in two weeks. It’s the first time in a year since the same performer held the Top 2 – currently-charting Brandyn Burnette did it in January 2016 with “Nothing At All” at #1 and “Lost (Stripped)” at #2. And it’s Coldplay’s first appearance on this chart, their 8th in total, since 2008’s #1 “Viva La Vida”.
And with this feat, half of the Top 10 changes…
Four More New Entries in the Top 10
German producer/DJ/guitarist Koni soars 13-3 with the glorious pop tune “Mad About You” featuring a delightful vocal by Danelle. Had The Chainsmokers hits not come along, well, you can do the math!
The sultry and evocative “Memories Of You” by Alyx Ander featuring Srey Davi bounds 15-7 in this release for Nettwerk Records.
Following the #4 “Just A Dream”, Molly Moore follows it into the Top 10 11-8 with “Imaginary Friends”, from the EP Now You See Me, with fine remixes by Pluto and TelyKAST.
Heroic Records lands in the Top 10 for the first time thanks to German producer JPB and British singer Luke Cusato with the lovely “For You” rising 12-10.
Set to follow “Cake By The Ocean” into the Top 10, DNCE gets “Naked” moving 14-11.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to a third German producer/DJ, Levi, but featuring the gorgeous tones of American singer Victor Perry on “Sail”, which vaults 24-13.
Crywolf is in the midst of his North American tour, and a new EP Skeletons is due next week. The epic “Windswept” climbs 20-14.
The Toronto pairing of Loud Luxury and Ryan Shepherd is responsible for a killer deep house redux of Craig David’s “Fill Me In”, retitled “Something To Say” (and also remixed by none other than Tiësto!), and it leaps 25-15.
While The Chainsmokers and Coldplay’s high, high debut kind of steals some of its thunder, totally catchy in a different way is “WTFYWF” by Mahalo featuring Cat Lewis. And yes, this collaboration is still riding high in the Top 10, moving to #9 with the exceptional “Be My Love”. “WTFYWF” is a ribald, no holds barred party song which debuts at #22.
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
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
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