New producer/remixer @itsWaitWhat refashions @BoomboxCartel & @Quixofficial’s “Supernatural” feat. @Anjulie

https://soundcloud.com/itswaitwhat/boombox-cartel-quix-feat-anjulie-supernatural-waitwhat-remix

BOOMBOX CARTEL & QUIX featuring ANJULIE, “Supernatural” (Wait What remix)

Berkeley, California producer remixer Wait What (aka Troy Skinner) has refashioned “Supernatural” by Boombox Cartel and Quix featuring Anjulie, and the results not only make the song his own but are highly complimentary to the original.  “Supernatural” as released contains a beautiful, other-worldly vocal by Anjulie which is most present in the first minute, before the song takes a wild dive into heavy futuristic trap, and glides into an enjoyable progressive EDM track.  Wait What takes advantage of the excellent vocal and uses it throughout the song, creating his own future bass trap/dub step arrangement in the process that completely works.  He adds some anthemic vocal effects which gives the song a hip hop spirit.  The result is a confident mix that doesn’t get too wild and focuses on a lot of strengths of the original song.  If you like it by listening at the link above, you can vote for it as a part of a contest at this link by clicking the “Like” button.

“The Great Escape” is potent EDM from @Ravitez & @Afrojack feat. @AmbaShepherd

RAVITEZ & AFROJACK featuring AMBA SHEPHERD, “The Great Escape”

It was a great thing when Afrojack launched his own label Wall Recordings, otherwise we might not hear sparkling new talent like Ravitez.  Afrojack has brought his fellow Dutch protege on many recent tours, and “The Great Escape” is as potent a pairing as you could wish for, made even better with yet another great Amba Shepherd vocal to highlight the high energy of the song.  I’d be shocked if “The Great Escape” doesn’t end up on dance music charts worldwide, and like with past Afrojack records like “Ten Feet Tall” or “Take Over Control” has pop crossover potential.  Watch for Afrojack and Ravitez to bring their show to a city near you, and in the meantime you can buy “The Great Escape” on all digital platforms, and listen above on Spotify.

It’s a @FelixCartal double whammy: New “Drifting Away” feat. @heyOfelia plus @BenZamoramusic’s rich remix of “Keep Up” feat. @iamStephJones

FELIX CARTAL featuring OFELIA K, “Drifting Away”

FELIX CARTAL featuring STEPH JONES, “Keep Up” (Ben Zamora remix) (free DL)

As he tours the USA, Vancouver’s Felix Cartal has plenty of great dance music out there to keep you entertained.  His latest, “Drifting Away”, featuring a seductive vocal by Ofelia K., has pop and dance radio potential with a tight, balanced song structure that will keep you listening and dancing the night away.  Club DJ’s should be all over this one and I’ll await the remixes!!

In the meantime, Ben Zamora is someone to watch after his remixes of songs by the likes of Galantis, and in concert appearances such as opening for Shaun Frank in their home town of Toronto in September.  Featuring yet another fine, soaring vocal by Steph Jones (most recently heard on Tritonal’s album), Felix’s “Keep Up” receives a rich official remix from Ben.  It’s really quite playful and upbeat, perfect for that great evening out in a club with your favourite people.  For now you can get Ben’s remix along with the other official ones for free at the link above.

Join @KidCudi on his EDM/hip hop wave with “Surfin'” featuring @Pharrell

KID CUDI featuring PHARRELL WILLIAMS, “Surfin'”

Despite being in the media a lot lately and declaring how he’s dealing with his own personal issues, Kid Cudi has probably released his best record in a long time with “Surfin'”, which despite millions of You Tube views still seems to be falling under the radar.  You can dance this mess around now matter how you want to party, “Surfin'” has this irresistible beat and a half sung rap from Kid Cudi that completely works.  Guided by Pharrell, the quality is given a one-up, and the video (directed by the Kid aka Scott Mescudi) is a whole lotta fun with some great lighting effects that make you want to be part of the Kid’s beach party.  I wish Scott the best of luck and I’d encourage my fellow music fans not to overlook “Surfin'”.

New Zealand singer @SoBelowsound has alt.pop potential with “Hard”

SO BELOW, “Hard”

“Hard” is a recent release from the New Zealand singer Madeline North, who calls herself So Below.  There are lots of singers who are following the same path as her fellow Kiwi Lorde or Banks or Verité, but So Below has both the songwriting chops and the voice to get your attention.  “Hard” has a darker sound to be sure – not quite what I would say the singer is marketing as ‘goth pop’ – but it has the same emotional quality to a song like Linkin Park’s “In The End” but with a different approach.  “Hard” has an assured and accessible sound that alternative pop and EDM fans should enjoy.  Check it out at the link above.

Bedroom bass strikes again: “Think” by @TVNoisemusic featuring @JessameBerry in a @SeanTurkmusic remix

TV NOISE featuring JESSAME, “Think” (Sean Turk remix) (free DL)

The king of ‘bedroom bass’ is at it again so soon after sexy remixes of songs by Stalking Gia and HYDDE & MOONZz, not to mention Brandyn Burnette’s crunchy and even “Closer” remix.  NYC’s Sean Turk is proving to be one of 2016’s hottest and most diverse talents, sliding seamlessly from style to style within the EDM genres.  “Think” by The Netherlands’ TV Noise featuring American singer Jessame finds a happy place somewhere in-between, pulling back from the deep house of the original with all of Jessame’s silky soul power, a lighter rhythm, and slick guitar work.  It still works as a mighty sexy track that captures the progressive soul of others like Brandyn and RKCB who make it work so well.  “Think” is fresh and waiting to woo you and is available for free at the link above.

Remixer @BKAYEofficial gives @Opiaofficial’s “YDU” an intense workover

OPIA, “YDU” (BKAYE remix) (free DL)

California’s BKAYE looks to have a breakout on his hands with his intense workover of L.A. soul/pop duo Opia’s “YDU” (meaning ‘you don’t understand’).  In its original version, “YDU” is a languid, lingering jam when something is amiss mid-relationship.  BKAYE plays on that and cranks it up with strong, crusty, futuristic synths that will keep you on edge until some vocal effects hit an appropriate climax right before it’s all over. Jacob and Cole from Opia have such marvelous voices and BKAYE’s take on the song complements their talents instead of losing them in the mix.  Hear it all above and then download it for free 🙂

Renewing a favourite: @DJAmbidxtrous remixes “Gold Skies” by @SandervanDoorn, @MartinGarrix & @DVBBS

https://soundcloud.com/dj-ambi-dxtrous/free-download

SANDER VAN DOORN, MARTIN GARRIX & DVBBS featuring ALEESIA, “Gold Skies” (Ambi-DXtrous remix) (free DL)

It always takes a lot of effort to transform a song a lot of people love, but L.A.-based, Ohio-bred Ambi-DXtrous totally gets how to refashion “Gold Skies”, the late 2014 dance hit that was the concoction of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix and DVBBS.  Ambi-Dxtrous focuses on a bright and sunny remix rather than a wistful, dreamy one, and it works well, not shaking up the song structure too much but adding well placed effects that take nothing away from the original.  It’s guaranteed to work well if DJ’s drop it mid-set to keep their dancers giddy and shaking it on the dance floor.  It’s a free download too, submitted as part of a talent contest, and even if it doesn’t place in the contest it’s still a winner for Ambi-DXtrous well worth hearing.

“Six Feet Under” by young @Billie_Eilish gets a slick melodic house remix by @Vastamusic

BILLIE EILISH, “Six Feet Under” (Vasta remix)

For a different kind of remix full of an immense variety of sounds, check out what Florida’s Vasta has created to refashion teen-on-the-rise Billie Eilish’s “Six Feet Under”.  He actually plays off her uniquely expressive somewhat Lana Del Rey-ish style in the quieter, emotional parts of the song and adds a bass undercurrent, sharp percussion, and other soaring synths with a driving rhythm that takes the song to different places than the original.  It might take a little longer to arrive at in the second half but it’s definitely worth your while to stick with it.  Take a listen above to Vasta’s melodic house remix, and download it for free.

#BILLCSTop30 #496 – November 14/16

Some favourites remain at the top while others tumble this week to make room for songs that have been waiting patiently in line…

The Top 10

  • “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik and Leo Napier (Jenaux remix) (above) and “Balance” by The Him (below) have been my one-two punch now for three charts (six weeks), and it looks like they will yield to other songs in two weeks – but exactly which ones I do not even know yet!!
  • “Plans” by Elephante and Brandyn Burnette is definitely a contender for the top as it climbs 7 to 4.  Check out the new Acoustic version below 🙂
  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs somewhat surprisingly to The Weeknd and Daft Punk, whose “Starboy” rockets 12-5, to become the highest ranking song by The Weeknd on my chart to date.  And… he has one of four debuts too!

  • L.A.-based producer Steve James pairs up with fellow L.A. duo RKCB for a fine blend of EDM and soul on “In My Head”, which rises 9-6.
  • And you’ll see Brandyn Burnette two more times in the Top 10 as his duet with his gal Molly Moore on “Just A Dream” (above, from her brand new EP Now You See Me, which he produced) leaps 13-8, while the Sean Turk remix of his own “Closer” (below) moves up 11-9.  Brandyn has achieved this feat before and most of his songs just make a bee-line for the Top 10 anyway 😛  It’s also the third song called “Closer” to reach my Top 10 this year, following songs by Elephante and The Chainsmokers.

Movin’ On Up

  • NYC trio Liquid Diet close in on the Top 10 with their Eurotastic “Luminary” and its provocative video, up 14-11 from their album Double Life.

https://soundcloud.com/stan_sax/vague

  • That unassuming instrumental “Vague” by Fabian Luttenberger in its playful Stan Sax remix continues to gain momentum, climbing 17-14.

  • Cole Plante’s reworking of Womack & Womack’s classic “Teardrops” from 1988, featuring a powerful vocal by Bobi, rises 21-16 and is currently a Top 5 Billboard Club Play hit 🙂
  • My fun, fun, fun trio of debuts from two weeks ago are on the move:  “Right Here Right Now” by Halifax’s Famba (above) jumps 26-20, while Bobby Nourmand’s rework of his instrumental “Deep”, now called “D E E P In NY” featuring rappers DOC and Goodmorning (below), rises 25-22, and Convex & Titus get naaasty in a Snøwmass remix of “Bad Kids” (27-23, also below).

https://soundcloud.com/snowmassmusic/convex-ft-titus-bad-kids-snowmass-remix

Four Debuts

  • Released by The Disco Fries’ new label Liftoff, producer Eric Sharp and vocalist Zhao have a powerhouse deep house tune called “The Thirst”, which is the highest debut at #25.
  • Pet Shop Boys put on an amazing show last week mixing in old with new and even a bit obscure, and one of the best songs from their latest album Super came out sounding quite grand.  “Burn” isn’t a single – but it should be – and arrives on the chart at #26.

  • If you’re used to the slick and soulful side of The Weeknd then you may be taken a bit aback as he lets loose with the rock-flavoured “False Alarm” at #27, from the upcoming Starboy album.  Not of course to be confused with the Matoma/Becky Hill song which hangs in at #21.

  • One of the nicest and most uplifting songs around right now is the EDM pop ballad “My Hands” by NYC vocalist Ayer, and it lands on the chart at #28.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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 with my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST on http://www.planetradio.ca most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear this Wednesday (Nov 16) and next Tuesday (Nov 22) at 9pm EST! :)