#BILLCS Top 30 #489, August 8/16

This is a condensed NYC-holiday based blog post coming at you with the new chart 🙂

The Top 10

  • Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” (in original or EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix remix) stays on top for a 4th appearance (8 weeks) and certainly appears to be my song of the summer as well as one of the best of the year so far.
  • Bounding in to steal the top away from “So Bad” in two weeks is “Shy” by The Magician featuring Brayton Bowman.  It soars up the chart 19-2 as the fastest riser.  Find the Club mix of this one if you can!
  • Now based in L.A., Spirix gets his second song in the Top 5 in a pairing with LZRD and vocalist Remmi for the emotional “Take Me Apart”, which climbs 8-5.
  • Ariana Grande’s “Into You” matches the #8 peak 3 years ago of “The Way”, so let’s see if it goes higher in two weeks.  Helping make that a possibility is the delightful, recent arpeggio-laden remix by L.A.’s The Wookie.
  • The only other new entry to the Top 10 rises 18-10, some  NGHT LFE romance called “Her And Him” courtesy of Mi Disguise and Rouse’s mixtape.  It becomes Mi Disguise’s 2nd Top Tenner following 2014’s “East Side Bay”.

Also Rising

  • The song that’s resonating most with me from the State I’m In EP by Brandyn Burnette is “Worship”, which rises 17-11.  The title song is also on the move too, up 22-18.
  • “Rest Of My Life” by Electric Bodega featuring Matt Beilis gets stuck in your head way too easily.  I’m often humming it long after it’s ended, and it climbs 23-15.
  • Equally memorable but for different reasons – such as a funky remix by Jenaux and a sly vocal singing cool lyrics, is “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik featuring Leo Napier, which moves up 25-17.

  • Don’t y’all worry ’bout their new single “Closer”, with Halsey, it should arrive on the chart in two weeks as it continues to grow on me amid fierce competition… in the meantime should-have-been-second-single “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers featuring Charlee, jumps 26-20.
  • New Atlanta singer Victor Perry brings on his unique soulful charm on his song “Rainbows” from the EP 4 A.M. Nostalgia.  It moves up 27-22.

New to the Chart

The common theme with this chart’s debuts is that songs with great vocals won out this time!

  • If you’re looking for an early 90’s influenced house track with a fierce vocal, then get to know “Born Ready” in its Halogen radio edit by The Disco Fries featuring UK singer Hope Murphy.  It arrives at #24.
  • Another bouncy house track of a different, darker nature premieres at #25 – it’s “Balance” by The Him featuring Oktavian.
  • Charlie Puth returns to this chart courtesy of an engaging remix by The Netherlands’ DROELOE with “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, his duet with Selena Gomez, who has never appeared on this chart previously.  It debuts at #26, and follows Charlie’s previous entries of “Marvin Gaye” (#7) and “See You Again” (#16).
  • The final new arrival is “Elevated” by rising L.A. duo RKCB, which has been remixed by many folks lately but none better to my ears than by young Australian producer Joe Mason.  “Elevated” debuts at #27.

In lieu of the published prettier web version of the chart, here’s the basic chart until I post the full one later in the week 🙂

01 01 SO BAD (EDWYNN x TIKAL & Spirix remix) Brandon Skeie
19 02 SHY (Club mix) The Magician F/ Brayton Bowman
05 03 SO HAPPY Tony Moran F/ Jason Walker
04 04 GET IT ON Jenaux
08 05 TAKE ME APART LZRD x Spirix F/ Remmi
06 06 MAGNETISED (Kat Krazy remix) Tom Odell
07 07 RUN RUN Kat Krazy F/ Johnny Stimson
10 08 INTO YOU Ariana Grande
02 09 DREAMIN’ Embody F/ Camden Cox
18 10 HER AND HIM Mi Disguise x Rouse
17 11 WORSHIP Brandyn Burnette
14 12 OPEN YOUR MIND Megaphonix
15 13 STRONGER (Steve Void edit) Nik Ernst
16 14 DANGEROUS Built By Titan F/ Jesse McCartney
23 15 REST OF MY LIFE Electric Bodega F/ Matt Beilis
03 16 SOUND OF HOME (Snøwmass remix) Sterling Grove F/ Ellyn Woods
25 17 NATIVE SON PREQUEL (Jenaux remix) Gramatik F/ Leo Napier
22 18 STATE I’M IN Brandyn Burnette
21 19 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi
26 20 INSIDE OUT The Chainsmokers F/ Charlee
24 21 LIMITS Latchmere F/ Andreas Liberos
27 22 RAINBOWS Victor Perry
09 23 DON’T NEED YOU Christofi F/ J-VEN
New 24 BORN READY (Halogen radio edit) The Disco Fries F/ Hope Murphy
New 25 BALANCE The Him F/ Oktavian
New 26 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE (DROELOE remix) Charlie Puth F/ Selena Gomez
New 27 ELEVATED (Joe Mason remix) RKCB
11 28 CLOSER Elephante F/ Bishøp
12 29 LOST (Young Bombs remix) Connor Phillips
13 30 DON’T LET ME DOWN The Chainsmokers F/ Daya

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 will be heard on Wednesday evening at 9pm EST:)

@CandylandDJs returns with @Shoffymusic for quirky head-turner “Faces”

CANDYLAND & SHOFFY, “Faces”

I’ve gotta hand it to Candyland for making her return an even sweeter one with the quirky “Faces”, featuring vocals by L.A.-based up-and-comer Shoffy.  The SoCal DJ/producer had taken some radio silence but recently re-emerged like time had stood still in the EDM world.  “Faces” has a lot of different flavours – progressive, R&B, hip hop, softer future bass – making it easy to slide into many different sets of songs.  In-between stylistic changes, Shoffy’s vocals sound rather vulnerable and heartstruck.  Don’t be fooled by the unassuming beginning; once some sly effects start feeding into the music then heads will start turning.  Those who are looking for something a little different in their playlists will enjoy “Faces”.  Give it a listen at the above link.

Remix this: Swedish producer Philip Mikal (@pmikal) and fun, zesty “Waiting 4” featuring @Ola_official

PHILIP MIKAL featuring OLA, “Waiting 4” (free download)

If you’ve been missing some Jamiroquai or Penguin Prison power in your playlists, then the fun and soulful house track “Waiting 4” by Sweden’s Philip Mikal featuring vocalist Ola should do the trick.  It’s a zingy and zesty track with instant club appeal.  And if you’re a producer or remixer, Philip currently has a competition underway (deadline August 17) in exchange for prizes for remixes, and the right ones can take the song to even bigger places.  If not, you have yourself a free download for the listening at the above link.

Brendan Velasquez (@BrendanV88) brings on the unassuming charm with “Disappearing”

 

BRENDAN VELASQUEZ, “Disappearing”

Part of the qualities of a good record, no matter how unassuming it may seem, is charm.  Proof in the pudding are in both vocals by Maryland-raised, Texas-based Brendan Velasquez, and melody and lyrics courtesy of the ever-amazing Crush Boys (Daniel Volpe and Thomas Lipp) and Charlie Mason.  “Disappearing” is a song of self-reflection and making a decision for not only those around you but yourself as well.  Whether or not that’s the right decision is the point/counterpoint at the crux of the song.  Brendan’s voice, dreamy and full of conviction [producers/remixers – if you’re looking for another go-to voice for dance tunes… 🙂 ], sells us this dilemma, while the songwriters aptly let the story unfold and give it a sullen but silky 80’s-tinged synthpop backdrop.  Don’t let “Disappearing” slip on by, be sure to watch the video above and pick it up at your favourite digital music store.

Check out the pulsating #EDM of @RiverTiber’s “Motives”

RIVER TIBER, “Motives”

“Motives” is the latest song I want to showcase for you from Toronto’s River Tiber, aka multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley.  It comes from River Tiber’s diverse recent album Indigo, and also features such winning songs as “No Talk” (sampled in Drake’s “No Tellin'”), “Acid Test”, and “West” (featuring Daniel Caesar), all of which I’ve written about.  Diving deeper into Indigo, it’s a moody album that shifts styles frequently, moving seamlessly from R&B/hip hop, to progressive/experimental electronic rock (“Clarity” featuring Tess Parks), through to rhythmic EDM like “Motives”.  “Motives” will resonate in clubs because of its full sound, playful effects, and rich harmonies.  Tommy’s voice is always his secret weapon and it’s one of his best performances in Indigo.  Check it out at the Spotify link above and pick up Indigo on any major digital platform.

rivertiber13

With vocals by @RKCBmusic, @SteveJames creates a winning team with thoughtful, progressive “In My Head”

STEVE JAMES featuring RKCB, “In My Head”

L.A. producer Steve James premieres the start of good things to come in advance of an EP with the original “In My Head”.  Helping out this thoughtful song immensely is a heartfelt vocal by RKCB, who are currently everywhere with the excellent “Elevated” in original or many remixed variations.  “In My Head” is about making the right choice for you, whether to stay with someone or move on to someone else.  Steve digresses from the emotional lyrics to provide some sharp progressive tones and effects which do not overpower the song as a whole.  Steve James and RKCB are truly a winning team on “In My Head”, so make the right choice and play it alongside recent similarly structured songs by Kat Krazy, Arizona, or Mako.  

stevejames

Sleek ‘n sultry: “Don’t Shoot Me Down” by @itsAnevo featuring #JaeMi

ANEVO featuring JAE-MI, “Don’t Shoot Me Down”

Anevo is a promising new producer/remixer out of Sweden who looks to be well on his way with the soulful and gritty “Don’t Shoot Me Down” featuring a slinky vocal by Jae-Mi.  The song captures the perspective when you are just about to lose something but really don’t want that to happen, and wonder why you’re being shot down before you have a chance.  Not really your typical theme for a dance music record, but Jae-Mi’s vocal is convincing and the downtempo funky backdrop suits it well.  “Don’t Shoot Me Down” is a refreshing change to some of the frenetic EDM out there and deserves your attention, so take a listen at the link above and pick it up on iTunes.

anevo

Glittering prize: @Wookieofficial’s soaring remix of “Into You” by @ArianaGrande

ARIANA GRANDE, “Into You” (Wookie Vegas remix)

L.A.-based producer The Wookie, who I wrote about some time ago when he partnered up with the always fabulous Adam Tyler on “The Dreamers”, returns with his glimmering remix of one of my current faves, “Into You” by Ariana Grande.  Right off the bat, the seductive funky groove of the original is gone, instead replaced by incredibly well-balanced high end.  This is one showy remix, it’s all about shimmering synths and arpeggios, which always put me in a very happy place.  No wonder The Wookie calls this his Vegas remix – I can picture it as the backdrop to one of the larger than life shows in that city’s venues.  Dance music lovers should not pass this one by.  DJ’s can easily incorporate it into either a retro hi-energy set or a more contemporary progressive one.  Either way your audience will be surprised and pleased.  Download The Wookie’s remix at the link above.

Killer duet: @AnnaYvettemusic and @LaurakBrehm with “Summer Never Ends”

ANNA YVETTE & LAURA BREHM, “Summer Never Ends”

The Monstercat team has managed to come up with the first must-hear end of summer song that is sure to turn heads.  NYC songwriter/musician Anna Yvette (who co-produced here as well) pairs up with Colorado singer/songwriter Laura Brehm for “Summer Never Ends”.  The dance music community loves duets, especially when the vocals compete without really competing and therefore both end up winning!  Such is the case with these two different vocalists, already well known to dance music, who definitely put their all into “Summer Never Ends”.   What starts off sounding like it might be an acoustic ode ends up as this magnetic EDM ballad.  Because of the perfect mid-summer timing and the overall strength of the song, “Summer Never Ends” should rise to the top of your playlist multiple times.  Check it out at the above link and pick it up on your favourite digital platform.  

Spread for love: “Wings” by @AashMehtamusic featuring #JessForman

AASH MEHTA featuring JESS FORMAN, “Wings”

Currently based out of San Francisco, producer/remixer/performer Aash Mehta returns with quite possibly his best original song to date, “Wings”, featuring NYC vocalist Jess Forman.  It’s a lovely layered effort, quite the beautiful song lyrically too.  The progressive future bass backdrop meshes amazingly with the diverse voice of Jess Forman.  So all of the pieces to this song end up front and centre and competing for your attention, which is a good thing as there’s lots to remember about “Wings”.  Be dazzled at the link above and then pick it up on iTunes.