Toronto singer Diego Gomes continues to come a long way from his humble beginnings as a young teen on the Canadian talent contest The Next Star. He dazzled us a while back with the toe-tapper “Bow Tie”, and now return with the playful and highly danceable “Impossible”. As Diego pursues the object of his relentless affection in the video (well shot in Toronto), the song takes a break from the amusing quest thanks to a simple but effective drop that completely changes the appeal game for the song. Diego himself now is dabbling in remixing and DJing and has obviously been paying attention for what works on the dance floor. “Impossible” is an enjoyable surprise and I think remixers will have fun with it if Diego and his team let them *hint hint 😉
I’m a little late on this one as it came to my attention twice last week but “Shy” by Belgian producer/songwriter The Magician featuring 22 year old Philadelphian vocalist-on-the-rise Brayton Bowman is special for so many reasons. That layered, commanding production is front and centre with bass synths and a killer drop that send the song well on its way. Brayton has been on the bubble for a while now and his gritty and soulful voice reminds me of someone inspired by classic R&B like John Newman. But “Shy” is one of those great songs that immediately send folks onto the dance floor at clubs. You’ll just have to watch those guys and gals who are out to impress and make their best move when this song comes on. Bonus – it would sound great on the radio. Listen above and pick it up on iTunes (also check out the fiery club mix!).
Norwegian producer/musician Matoma looks to have a big summer hit under way with the major label release of “False Alarm”, featuring Becky Hill, who rose to fame as a contestant on the UK’s “The Voice”, and subsequently scored on the UK charts featured in songs by Oliver Heldens and Rudimental. “False Alarm” has the potential to break both performers even more worldwide. Becky’s voice definitely has Adele qualities to it, particularly when the song’s story and melody are at their most vulnerable. Matoma, who has remixed everyone under the sun in such a short time, including Eminem, Enrique Iglesias, and Coldplay, creates a lilting mix that’s quite unlike other tropical EDM. He doesn’t just shake those vibes at you, he draws you in and they become companions to the emotional feels in the song. Watch for Matoma on his “Party At Your Place” tour this Fall, coming to a city near you!
3LAU featuring YEAH BOY, “Is It Love” (Neevo remix)
Just when you might have thought you’d heard remixes of “Is It Love” in every shape and form, along comes Austin-based Neevo, bringing his creative game face with a futuristic spin on the 3Lau hit. As a result, the lofty bounce of the original disappears, and the song slows down and becomes this slightly drunken, romantic cousin that will take over the mid-point of a club set, much in the way of some recent down-tempo remixes of Elephante’s “Closer” or “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers. Neevo’s remix is fresh and brisk and deserving of your attention. Lend your ears to the link above.
It’s kind of rare that an EDM song (let alone one in the future bass sub-genre) has an adorable quality about it, but Hollywood producer/songwriter PatrickReza’s “Let U Fall”, featuring collaborator and sultry vocalist Aubren Elaine, is that exception. The simple lyrics walk that line where you know that your friend/lover/partner has your back with the repeated lyrics “I won’t let you fall”. It has an equally simple melody line, augmented by some nice layers of synths, which gives you almost a playful sense of keeping your balance during a relationship. Anyway I enjoy what Patrick and Aubren have concocted and I hope it will catch on with DJ’s who know to draw friends and couples out onto the floor in a slower set with a song like “Let U Fall”. Pick it up as a free download at the link above.
Chicago’s Megaphonix follows up the uplifting “Open Your Mind” (currently residing at #20 on my personal chart) with “Don’t Stop”. It’s got a breezy, effortless melody to keep club goers happy in the summer months along with a compelling classic house rhythm that scores with immediate notice early on. The futuristic vocal effects are persuasive; they help make “Don’t Stop” into a club anthem and will resonate in a big club environment. Chalk up another one for Megaphonix as his music continues to receive worldwide support. Stream or download it for free at the link above.
You need to have a great set of ears and imagination to take a gorgeous song like “Elevated” to another very sophisticated level. With stunning, sometimes soulful vocals that remind me alternately of FrankMusik and Robin Thicke, L.A. duo RKCB clearly are on the right path with this song. But for dance music fans, Australian teenage producer/remixer Joe Mason seems to know innately how to accentuate all of its best features, and reimagines the song at a point in a set when the DJ has tired out his audience and brings it back down under some soft lights. Except Joe’s mix doesn’t get all too mellow, he throws in some blissful futuristic vibes to make the lights flash and to keep the crowd on the floor. “Elevated” in this remix is simply going to become a ‘gotta have’ song for many dance music fans. Download it for free at the above link.
DVBBS & SHAUN FRANK featuring DELANEY JANE, “La La Land” (Spirix remix)
Newly based in L.A., teen producer/remixer/performer Spirix continues to cast an inventive, progressive spell over some recent dance music songs, two of which are currently on my personal chart (#1 his co-remix of Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad”; #14 his collaboration with LZRD on the original “Take Me Apart”). Here he shakes up the latest from my Canadian EDM contingent – the DVBBS lads, Shaun Frank and vocalist Delaney Jane, “La La Land”. Quite honestly, it doesn’t sound much like the original, and though I know many EDM fans already love the original, I think Spirix’s approach improves on it. He keeps the aggressive pace already well-established for DVBBS front and centre in his remix as well as the carefree melody which is attractive about the original. Yeah for some it may be too busy and I think Delaney Jane’s voice perhaps is over-transformed, but you can’t deny the kind of reaction this remix will make in a packed club. Download it for free above and see why! 🙂
The new edition of my personal chart is one of my favourites of 2016. It was difficult to compile in many ways, and there’s also so much great new music out that it makes it challenging to create only a list of 30 favourites. This is also causing songs to exit the chart sooner perhaps than in recent years – many used to last the full 10 appearances (20 weeks). But onward and upward with this post highlighting a number of the songs 🙂
The Top 10
He apparently has something new in the works, but right now I cannot get enough of L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” in either its original (above) or its swirling remixed version by EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix (below). This was the easy part of compiling the chart – “So Bad” nails #1 hands down and will be difficult to dislodge!
The runner up is the timelessly summery “Dreamin'” by the UK’s Embody featuring vocalist Camden Cox. It’s one to play at your beach parties 🙂
One of the more out-of-the-ordinary songs on the chart is “Sound Of Home” by Canadians Sterling Grove and vocalist Ellyn Woods, which in its deep house remix by Chicago’s Snøwmass climbs 6-4.
Rounding out the Top 5 is the enjoyable funky business that is “Get It On” by NYC producer/performer/remixer Jenaux, who is also making headway with his 80’s influenced rework of Gramatik’s “Native Son”, which I wrote about recently. “Get It On” rises 8-5.
More people need to discover the vivid Kat Krazy remix of Tom Odell’s “Magnetised” which leaps 11-6; you can find the original on Tom’s second album Wrong Crowd.
Speaking of Kat Krazy, the British duo end up with two new Top 10 entries, the second being their collaboration with American vocalist Johnny Stimson on “Run Run”, which jumps 14-9. That piano riff will get you every time!
Movin’ On Up
Tony Moran and Jason Walker are making many joyful waves together on the chart with “So Happy”, as the #1 Billboard Club Chart hit soars 18-12.
The fastest riser on the chart is one of the most decidedly different, a heartbreaking EDM song that has a refrain that you’ll either find haunting or daft. Nonetheless young producers/remixers LZRD and Spirix have got a great thing going on with “Take Me Apart”, featuring a beautiful vocal by singer Remmi, and it vaults 23-14, heading in no time to the Top 10! Spirix is already up top with his co-remix of “So Bad”; more to come from this talented young man – like tomorrow!
There’s been renewed interest on the music website Hype Machine this past weekend for Bryce Fox’s fine “Burn Fast” in its Koni remix, which continues to rise 17-15.
Rain Man is all over the Billboard Dance Radio charts with his reflective “Bring Back The Summer”, featuring powerful vocalist Oly in its INSTRUM remix. It moves up 20-16.
The exuberant deep house sound of Chicago’s Megaphonix is on display with “Open Your Mind”, which climbs 25-20.
I really enjoy the softer progressive soul sound that Brandyn Burnette has used in his song “Worship” from the State I’m In EP. It advances 28-21 – only the humble beginning 🙂
Four Debuts
There was no way that I could miss adding “Her And Him” by Mi Disguise and Rouse to the chart, from their soulful and danceable mixtape NGHT LFE. It’s a romantic saga for the club world 🙂 “Her And Him” bows at #23.
It’s been in the wings for a while, but L.A.-based singer/songwriter Cobi, formerly of Gentlemen Hall and more recently a featured vocalist on the Above & Beyond acoustic tour, arrives on the chart with “Don’t You Cry For Me”. The song was originally titled “Darker Than Dawn” when I wrote about it a while back. Newly christened, this compellingly old-school bluesy pop song debuts at #24. It follows up last year’s “Walking Through The Fire”, which reached #12.
Following #21 “Worship” is the title track from Brandyn Burnette’s State I’m In EP. It’s such a timely song given recent current events, and everyone should think twice about how they really feel and how it affects the world around them. “State I’m In” premieres at #26, making it three songs on the chart for Brandyn, including “Made Of Dreams”, which peaked at #5.
Another one that’s been waiting to make its move, and is a perfect companion piece to both #19 “Stronger” by Nik Ernst and “Open Your Mind” by Megaphonix at #20 is the British house sound of “Limits” by Australia-based Brit Latchmere featuring singer Andreas Liberos. It debuts at #27 and is a free download.
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch
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.cais 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
WRLD featuring FATHER DUDE, “Galaxies” (DROELOE remix)
Following up his busy and fun remix of Lights’ “Slow Down”, Dutch teen producer/remixer WLRD continues to kill it big time with “Galaxies” featuring a vocal by NYC’s Father Dude that really anchors the song. What is a creative and above average dance track gets taken to another level by fellow Dutchmen DROELOE once the first minute kicks in. The falsettos get isolated and reshaped, and before you know it the song has launched into a free spirited futuristic bounce that will keep you going till its subtle ending. DROELOE’s fun foray is a preview of the upcoming multi-mix EP of “Galaxies”. You can pick it up in advance of the full release on iTunes.
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