New San Francisco-area-based singer Lost Boy (aka Dillon Deskin) has a summery dance-pop earworm with “Poison”. This song is all about the vocal, and a crisp one like this doesn’t often grace us in a danceable track. The song is about making choices and carrying on and has an anthemic quality that’s perfect for a beach party on a sunny day at the beach (companion song: “Sunny” by Papa Ya). If you like what Jesse McCartney, Conor Maynard, or Austin Mahone have done with their music when set to a tropical house rhythm, then “Poison” is also for you. Download it for free at the link above.
So I’m a music blogger from Toronto, and yet I have to find out about Toronto quartet Blajk from my well-respected American blogger and nice guy Jon Ali 😮 Nonetheless it’s never too late to find out about promising new talent. Blajk released their EP Limited last summer. “Lethal” is one of four songs and it’s a dark, chilled out song that will catch you by surprise, largely thanks to vocalist Jordan Radics’ highly identifiable deep tones, which remind me somewhat of fellow Canadian group The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin but with a more deep-down soulful root. So “Lethal” definitely goes for the kill and be prepared for it to be in your head for days. I look forward to hearing more about Blajk in my hometown 🙂 Check out the video for “Lethal” below and pick up the EP on iTunes.
German producer Levi has enlisted the ever-amazing Georgia-based Victor Perry as vocalist on his latest single “Sail”. And it’s simply glorious deep house that would fit like a glove on dance music radio. Victor’s vocal is a delight and draws a lot of inspiration from his favourite 90’s vocalists but makes the song his own too, and that diverse voice seems to fit into any genre easily. But the song would also be much less without its gorgeous melody and effortless production by Levi. “Sail” is one of those inauspicious dance songs that will build its own groundswell based on everything that’s solid about it, so don’t say you haven’t been told! Listen above and pick it up at your favourite digital music store.
Toronto-based singer/songwriter Joël Lemay is back, dabbling this time in acoustic progressive soul with “You”. You’ll recall that when I wrote about Joël’s “You Fucked Up” last Spring, it received the most blog post views I had in a few years for one post, and the song subsequently reached #12 on the BILLCS Top 30. “You” is very understated for Joël, after seeing his live show back in November, it seems like it draws on the potency of songs by R&B singers like D’Angelo and Maxwell, and also fits alongside recent songs by the likes of Brandyn Burnette. Where the song ignites more is about 2/3 of the way through when some wild background vocals surface and bring out a different side to the song. Be sure to stick with “You” all the way through at the link above to hear more of what the music of Joël is all about.
If you don’t already know him from his numerous remixes, meet Copenhagen’s Le Boeuf, aka Nicholas Søbye, with his original release “Waiting For You”. The song probably leans more towards pop than dance even in its remix by London, Ontario’s Kapre. Even after the remix kind of starts over after the 1:30 mark or so, Kapre builds on that break through the urgency of the excellent, rich and soulful vocal. Clubs not looking to get all hard and heavy with bigger deep house beats will appreciate this remix of “Waiting For You” and all of its positive energy. You can get it for free at the link above.
Here at the BILLCS Music Blog, we continue to burn down discos until the morning comes…
The Top 10
Or so sing Pet Shop Boys, as “Burn” from their album Super handily continues its reign at the top. We’ll have to wait to see if any other song challenges in two weeks.
“D E E P In NY”, Bobby Nourmand’s brilliant mix of hip hop and EDM, slides up a notch to #2 to try and rival Pet Shop Boys two weeks from now.
Don’t discount Brothers by Saxity featuring Strøm, either, as this carefree song about friendship advances to #3. The duo have a collaboration on deck with American singer Nathalie Archangel too, with the same songwriters no less 🙂
“All The Way”, a fun-loving instrumental by Sweden’s Hellberg, continues to rise up 7-5.
Tony Moran & Jason Walker know how to have a blast together making songs, and “Say Yes” is the latest collaboration, moving 9-6.
Vancouver’s Felix Cartal has his first of two entries cracking the Top 10 with frequent vocal collaborator Ofelia K on “Drifting Away”, climbing 17-9.
“Light” by Dutchman San Holo continues to tread in the Billboard Top 20 Electronic Songs chart, and also continues to advance on this chart too, soaring 18-10.
Movin’ On Up
It looks like another young Dutchman, Steve Void, is about to get his first Top 10 here with No Mondays with “Chemistry”, featuring a lovely vocal by Clara Mae. It rises 13-11. Steve has been in the Top 10 with remixes last year – SNBRN’s “Beat The Sunrise” got to #5, while “False Alarm” by Matoma & Becky Hill reached #6.
L.A.’s Mahalo is on a roll with a splendid remix of ZHU’s “In The Morning” following a couple of originals, one being “Be My Love” (featuring Cat Lewis) which climbs 16-12.
The fastest riser on the chart is Phil Good’s ode to “Sleeping In”, which in a Sean Turk bedroom bass remix is more than about just that. It wastes no time rocketing up the chart 22-13.
All of the last chart’s debuts are well on their way. DNCE’s “Naked” bounds 25-19 (above), with Felix Cartal’s second entry “Keep Up” (featuring Steph Jones in a Ben Zamora remix) jumping 27-20 (below), Throttle’s pairing with Michael Buble for a remix of “My Kind Of Girl” rising 26-22, and would-be sports anthem “#Bomber!” by Italy’s BeatmartHz & DJ Mirko B climbing 29-23.
Three Debuts
There is no denying that The Chainsmokers were wise to wait till January to unleash “Paris”, now that “Closer” has hit its stride. The guys know their audience and wrote another song to which anyone can relate, capturing a snapshot and the accompanying emotion to make the song soar. Once again Drew Taggart’s vocal totally suits the song and the chorus is a positive singalong that will endure throughout 2017. It arrives at #15, giving it a good shot at the top… soon! The Chainsmokers did reach #1 here with “Closer”, as well as #2 in 2015 with “Let You Go” (featuring Great Good Fine OK), and #8 with “Don’t Let Me Down” (featuring Daya).
Debuting on the chart is Miami producer Alyx Ander with the seductive “Memories Of You” featuring an amazing vocal by Srey Davi. This one will get under your skin… it arrives at #27. It’s the first appearance by Nettwerk Records on this chart since 2011 too.
The last debut belongs to British producer KDA with “Just Say” featuring rising American vocalist Tinashe. Not much is known about KDA but he did manage to fend off One Direction and scored a UK #1 in late 2015 with “Turn The Music Louder (Rumble)” (featuring Tinie Tempah and Katy B). “Just Say” is classic American-style house with European flair, and it’s no surprise it’s already in the Top 20 of the Billboard Club Play chart.
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 on http://www.planetradio.ca live on Tuesday evenings, and with my Pick of the Week segment throughout the week 🙂 See below for details!
After many top notch remixes and covers in 2016, German producer/guitarist Koni knocks it out of the park with an original for Big Top Records, “Mad About You”, featuring L.A. vocalist Danelle. This isn’t even the kind of song I would like normally but ends up being top notch tropical flavoured light deep house with a really adorable vocal by Danelle. “Mad About You” is a big-hearted song for laying back on a clear sunny day and letting everything around you drift away while you groove to the slinky beat. Listen above and pick it up at your favourite digital store.
Ultra-prolific L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette continues to engage and dazzle his fans, this time with a new burst of songs from his upcoming third EP Feature Films. Having written and performed some of my favourite music of the last three years through his first two EP’s State I’m In and Made Of Dreams (eight songs of which ended up in my Top 86 Songs of 2016), it’s no surprise that “Escape” shines with a lot of understated, thought-provoking appeal. The first 2/3 of the song echoes with pent up emotional narrative in a sparse, soulful arrangement. The remainder of “Escape” advances with a catchy percussion break that starts the trippy journey into an electric guitar-fused finish that is deliberately kept open-ended. Brandyn always makes his music for your mind and your soul, and “Escape” is a great introduction to Feature Films. To me, this song is about finding and owning your own brand of escape. Brandyn is also posting links to the behind-the-scenes creation of his new songs, so watch for them. In the meantime you can listen to “Escape” above and pick it up on iTunes on Monday January 23.
MILK N COOKS x TWINNS featuring LYON HART, “Thunder” (Snøwmass remix) (free DL)
“Thunder” by Chicago’s Milk N Cooks with Twinns featuring vocalist Lyon Hart (who you heard in Elephante’s compelling “Shake The Earth”) gets a slinky bass synth makeover from fellow Chicago producer Snøwmass. But while that rhythm will definitely get you hooked on this one, this remix has tremendous pop flavour and crossover potential. Lyon Hart’s prominent vocal is what really sends it home. Snøwmass shows that he’s not always about crazy futuristic dirty remixing when he can accentuate the pop but also retain the solid deep house club vibes. “Thunder” is a standout track for so many reasons which you can hear at the link above – and download for free.
NYC singer Reigen continues to diversify his style with “Weekend”. Like my favourite by him, the ballad “Come Back To Me”, “Weekend” features a lush, soulful vocal that shows off a lighter, sometimes breathy style that totally suits this new song. Reigen marries his love of R&B and dance music together with a chilled out backdrop that helps tell the story of a weekend encounter that happens to lead to something more. With every release, and following some inspiring songs with a lot more force and drive (“Seize The Night”, “Real New Yorker”), Reigen offers a different side to his stories, enhanced by a rich grab bag of vocal talents that will take him far. “Weekend” is a sexy and earnest introduction for those who don’t already know Reigen’s music. Watch the video above and pick up the single on iTunes.
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