Dance floor magnet: @YoungBombs take “Wild” by @TroyeSivan and @AlessiaCara to a beautiful place

TROYE SIVAN x ALESSIA CARA, “Wild” (Young Bombs remix)

They’ve done it again, the red hot Canadian duo of Young Bombs have managed to transport a favourite song of mine into a totally different place than I’d expected.  The first verse and affecting vocal in the original version of “Wild” last Fall convinced me that Troye Sivan really was someone who had grown considerably and that I needed to watch, and then I saw the Blue Neighbourhood album (along with hit single “Youth”) explode and it’s still going strong.  Despite the original intent and video, “Wild” recently became a duet as a reissued single and addition to Blue Neighbourhood featuring my fellow Torontonian, Juno Award winner Alessia Cara, which totally works.  And now Young Bombs have transformed “Wild” into a dance floor magnet, with a wondrous and inspiring electronic break midway that to me says more about this version than the song or duet itself.  So you too can fall in love with it all over again, and I hope we can purchase it soon.  For now, you can listen above or stream the Young Bombs remix of “Wild” on Spotify.

Lush and dreamy 80’s inspired @Leftimusic remix of @LoFrames’ “Since You’ve Gone” featuring @Anoraak

LOFRAMES featuring ANORAAK, “Since You’ve Gone” (Lefti remix)

Aside from the lush and very contemporary NYC-flavoured nudisco mix, you could probably place the Lefti remix of “Since You’ve Gone” by British/French duo LoFrames featuring French vocalist Anoraak into a set of mid-80’s British synthpop and get away with it.  Brooklyn remixer Lefti took all of the wistful, dreamy elements of the lo-key original, added a bit of strut to the tempo, and made it glisten with some showier synths.  Anoraak’s versatile voice stands out in the same way as Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 or Martin Fry of ABC in the 80’s.  So the guys from LoFrames have 2-for-2 following my post last week about their remix of Bright Light Bright Light’s “Symmetry Of Two Hearts”.  Give this one a good solid listen above and swaaay awaaay….

“Keep Yourself Away” is breezy, end-of-summer beach #EDM from @Egzodmusic featuring @Caiti_Patton

https://soundcloud.com/epicureac/away

EGZOD featuring CAITI PATTON, “Keep Yourself Away” (free DL)

Musically, “Keep Yourself Away” by Florida-based French producer Egzod is a last gasp of fun at the beach for the summer, a fast-paced trap-lite song with a few well-placed breaks and some zingy effects to keep your attention.  The vocals by fellow Floridian singer Caiti Patton seem very 80’s influenced and remind me at times either of Chrissie Hynde or of Katrina Leskanich of Katrina & The Waves.  Lyrics-wise, it’s a strange duck of a song – what is it that she’s singing about?  No matter, there’s huge quality over question marks here and overall it’s a breath of fresh air from a lot of droning EDM out there.  I think “Keep Yourself Away” could benefit from some equally creative remixes.  This is also a welcome debut for the Epicure label.  Show it some love and download it for free at the link above.

@TwoFriendsmusic crank it up with @ExitFriendzone for new original “Overdose” featuring #Natalola

TWO FRIENDS & EXIT FRIENDZONE featuring NATALOLA, “Overdose”

The stars continue to soar for L.A. based duo Two Friends as they follow up their first Armada Trice original “Forever” with “Overdose”, this time in partnership with Toronto duo Exit Friendzone and Demi Lovato-esque vocal by Natalola.  “Overdose” could easily have been over-the-top but restraint comes in the form of familiar Two Friends melodies which make it swing.  But it’s definitely one of their more powerful, aggressive tracks, meant to be the centre of attention on the dance floor.  So if you’re looking to turn the speakers up to 11, “Overdose” is the song to help get them there 😛  Listen above and pick it up on any digital platform.

@DROELOEmusic are back with an ear-catching original “Shibuya”

DROELOE, “Shibuya”

Dutch duo DROELOE are already making waves in the EDM world after their solid official remix of Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez’s “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and their remix of WRLD & Father Dude’s “Galaxies”.  Brand spanking new out of the gate, “Shibuya” (which seems to be named after a part of Japan) is a progressive, creative instrumental like no other.  It definitely has an east Asian vibe about it but has some crazy shifts which could sound like either the backdrop to a horror movie or a slapstick comedy.  And you’ll have you’re own take on it all to, but it doesn’t stop it from being a fun track that will cause ears to pay attention in a club.  If DROELOE keeps working it like this they will be very well known and respected by year’s end.  Check it out at the link above.

@Opiaofficial’s soulful “Shadow Dances” gets pumped up by @Christofimusic

OPIA, “Shadow Dances” (Christofi remix)

Michael Christofi continues to be a producer/remixer to watch as he switches it up with his take on Connecticut-based duo Opia’s “Shadow Dances”.  The original song is a laid-back soulful tune that recalls Daryl Hall & John Oates and Steely Dan.  Christofi has kept the easy-going vibe but makes the tempo much larger which will find favour in those sweeping moments in clubs.  Normally noted for his reverent house remixes, Christofi has a well-chosen winner here that is more geared towards fans of electronic pop/dance.  I found it took a few listens to get going but well worth the ride.  Listen at the link above and download it for free.  PS: Could easily make a mashup with the 70’s classic “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb 😛

#BILLCSTop30 – September 5/16

It’s STILL summer folks and there’s plenty of great dance music driving us through till Fall in a few weeks 🙂

The Top 10

  • “Shy” by The Magician featuring Brayton Bowman stays on top for a second appearance, and if not for #2 it might have a longer reign at #1…

  • Despite all of the very good remixes and covers I’ve heard, I still love the original and “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey advances 7-2.  The song now credits two members of The Fray as co-writers due to similarities between “Closer” and the group’s 2006 hit “Over My Head (Cable Car)”.  That song was also a BILLCS Top 30 #1 back in the day… I really can only hear them slightly after it was brought to my attention, but better to settle now than years later.  The Chainsmokers meanwhile are working on their album, but I don’t think we’ll see it till 2017.
  • Just crank ’em up in the car:  “Her And Him” (ab0ve) by Mi Disguise x Rouse climbs 4-3; and below, Electric Bodega & Matt Beilis’ “Rest Of My Life” jumps 8-4; and the funky Jenaux remix of Gramatik & Leo Spence’s “Native Son Prequel” leaps 10-5.

 

 

  • One of the best deep house songs around for clubs is deserving of some extended remixes.  It’s the all-too-brief “Balance” by The Him featuring Oktavian, which soars 15-8.  This one is also pop radio-ready!
  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Charlie Puth and Selena Gomez with “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, which rockets 19-10.  It’s also available in a fun new unofficial remix courtesy of L.A. producer The Wookie.

Movin’ On Up

  • Victor Perry’s gorgeous song about heartbreak “Rainbows” continues to climb 17-13. It’s from his EP 4 AM Nostalgia, and I still hear some remixes are coming 🙂
  • The Disco Fries’ rollicking “Born Ready”, featuring an intense vocal by Hope Murphy, moves up 18-14.
  • I still have money on this song breaking out even to radio, but definitely clubs and dance music radio should be all over “Broken” by Tritonal and Jenaux featuring Adam Lambert, which moves 23-18.
  • Moving 25-19 is a remix that is really a redux – transforming a beautiful ballad into a late night party anthem.  Such is the case with Two Friends’ remix of “Lights Down Low” by MAX.

  • Right behind is what should be the North American breakout for Sweden’s Matoma featuring the UK’s Becky Hill on “False Alarm”, which climbs 26-20.  It’s also now available in a super Steve Void remix 🙂

Debuts

  • Toronto’s Chet Porter really mixes it up with all of the subtleties and melodic changes in his new song “Stay”, featuring Chelsea Cutler on vocals.  That makes it a song that stands out as a centrepiece in a set, and it arrives at #24.

  • Bebe Rexha’s vocal on “In The Name Of Love” grabs you with its intensity, and it helps make her pairing with 20 year old Martin Garrix something special.  It bows at #25, and becomes Martin’s fourth chart entry here following two #1’s, “Animals” and “Proxy”, as well as the #3 collaboration “Gold Skies” with Sander van Doorn and DVBBS.
  • When Brandyn Burnette songs are on my chart, they multiply fast – so now it’s three, following #7 “Worship” and #15 “State I’m In”.  Producer Sean Turk reimagined “Closer” in a crunchy EDM mix, and the result is even better than the original from the State I’m In EP.  “Closer” debuts at #26 and the remix is a free download.
  • The fourth debut belongs to L.A. producer Steve James with “In My Head”, which features the slick ‘n soulful vocals of duo RKCB, who are also at #16 with the Joe Mason remix of “Elevated”.  Besides those voices, there is a drop that slays every time and “In My Head” premieres 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

http://www.planetradio.ca is back!  Listen for my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear return this Tuesday evening at 9pm EST:)

 

@GainStagemusic adds a progressive, emotional spin to “Never Be Like You” as sung by @Linneyofficial

 

LINNEY, “Never Be Like You” (Gain Stage remix) (free DL)

It’s a song that’s endured in clubs and on dance music radio throughout 2016, so after so many covers and remixes it’s hard to wonder what someone can come up with next with another one of Flume & Kai’s “Never Be Like You”.  St. Louis-based Gain Stage takes a pretty, believable, upper register vocal by L.A.’s Linney and surrounds it with progressive punch, leaving most of the mix in the high end too, but dropping it down effectively too at times.  The beginning fools you and brings it right down only to rebuild, and by then you’re well into two minutes of the song, which is really quite refreshing.  This helps the song sustain its 5+ minutes length, and sure, perhaps there may be some repetitive moments that could have been reduced.  But overall Gain Stage have created a more emotional alternate take on this very popular song, which draws in listeners because it gets away from and tries to be nothing like the trap-flavoured mid-tempo original.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised – check it out at the link above and download it for free.

Powerful “Hold” featuring @JessicaJarrell previews upcoming @iamtheElephante album – I Am The Elephante!

ELEPHANTE featuring JESSICA JARRELL, “Hold”

What a year this has turned out to be for L.A.-based Elephante (aka Tim Wu), capped recently by playing the Billboard Hot 100 festival!  It’s made a timely lead-in for his upcoming album I Am The Elephante! which features this third preview called “Hold”, featuring noted L.A. singer Jessica Jarrell.  A convincing, sharp vocal ignites “Hold” as one of ‘Phante’s more aggressive songs both musically and thematically.  He glues you to your seat (or the dance floor, as the case may be) with a busy and relentless mix that isn’t over-the-top.  Given that the song’s about holding on to love for dear life, you’d want to be right there hanging with them both too!  A reference point might be his recent and hard-hitting remix of Stephen’s “Crossfire”.  Nonetheless, “Hold” bodes well for the rest of the new songs on the album.  Elephante is one of the new EDM kings who are about to take over the Fall with their new records.  You can pick up “Hold” now on all digital platforms and pre-order I Am The Elephante! 🙂

Now U see her: @missMollyMoore’s dynamic “Just A Dream” featuring @BrandynBurnette

MOLLY MOORE featuring BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Just A Dream”

“Just A Dream” is one wired, surreal, emotional journey for L.A. based singer Molly Moore, offering up a third preview of her upcoming EP Now U See Me.  It’s riveting, dynamic alternative rock with EDM flourishes where the singer grapples with wanting to escape into dreamland.  It’s hard to top a performance like “Blood. Sweat. Tears” from her debut EP Shadow Of The Sun, but “Just A Dream” comes darned close. Brandyn Burnette’s lower register harmony vocals not only fill out the song but anchor it as well, and the production by our dynamic and ultra-prolific duo of Molly and Brandyn is full and unrelenting.  “Just A Dream” is passionate and unique alternative rock and there’s more to come on Now U See Me.