SAXITY featuring ANGIE KEILHAUER, “Can’t Stop The Feeling”
Let it be said that the Saxity interpretation of Justin Timberlake’s recent #1 “Can’t Stop The Feeling” is ear-catching for many reasons than what you’d think. Coming off a significant mention in Billboard magazine last week, the German duo have given this movie song a deep house makeover with countryfied vocals courtesy of The Voice Season 10 contestant Angie Keilhauer that puts a new spin on what Avicii accomplished a few years back with the massive “Wake Me Up!”. Blending in wonderful instrumentation and trademark sax like the band name says, “Can’t Stop The Feeling” now swings in a charmingly unexpected direction that will beckon fans of the song to the dance floor. This is the kind of game-changer that Saxity is out to achieve with their unique takes on recent songs. Get it for free at the above link.
Brooklyn denizens Matt and Kim will always keep me coming back to their songs and their shows because we are as much a part of it all as they are. “Let’s Run Away” is from their recently dropped 4 song 10 minute long EP We Were The Weirdos, and in the video above they take full advantage of a device called a Centriphone (think of a selfie stick camera gone wild) for three-plus minutes of crazy fun. I can just picture the silly string instead of balloons at their next shows… Can’t tell you anything else, just watch and enjoy 🙂
The talented quartet from just east of Toronto surprised us last week with “Wrong Way Home”, a gritty funk-edged taste of what’s to come after the domestic success of their 2014 album The World Is Ours. With Daniel Richter’s slick and ever-listenable voice leading the way, I’m hoping these guys will breakout into the rest of North America. I’ve seen them a number of times in concert and they are the real deal in solid musicianship. “Wrong Way Home” may be a little darker than some of their other songs but continues to show that there’s more to Eleven Past One than just the catchy pop song you hear on the radio. Can’t wait to hear more.
PISTOLS & PINTS featuring DAVEY NATE & PRYVT RYN, “The Last Chance”
I’m fortunate to hear a lot of evolution happening in the wings with EDM with a move towards including live instrumentation alternating with washes of synths. “The Last Chance” is a 90’s rock inspired track that marries the essence of Red Hot Chili Peppers to the adventurous EDM sound of a rising dance act like Mako. Pistols & Pints is actually L.A.’s Alex Gabrielian’s space for a collaborative, well-thought out sound that will make you hear something different on each listen. Davey Nate’s voice totally suits the song and Pryvt Ryn’s guitar work shines throughout. But it’s the uplifting vibe of the song – and it’s so very much L.A. – that will win you over, and it’s no wonder that it’s being featured in the upcoming surf film “7 Miles of Paradise”. So don’t just catch the wave, ride it! Listen to “The Last Chance” above and pick it up on iTunes.
NERVO featuring AMBA SHEPHERD, “Did We Forget” (MaxR remix)
For his next feat, after revisiting Manse’s “Freeze Time” with a timely potent and energetic remix, MaxR dives into a song from NERVO’s Collateral album called “Did We Forget”, which happens to feature the beautiful vocals of Amba Shepherd, who has sang with just about every major name in the EDM world in recent years. The collaboration is a wildly successful blend of progressive house and tribal rhythms in the original. MaxR again goes for the throat with a full throttle progressive remix that replaces the tribal beats in favour of a bouncing and driving rhythm that glides alongside the “we re-found love” theme of the song. You can download MaxR’s remix of “Did We Forget” for free at the link above.
It was instant love-at-first-listen with “Blood. Sweat. Tears.” by Molly Moore back when I heard her Shadow Of The Sun EP, my favourite song by her to date that would sit comfortably in a playlist next to the likes of songs by Jessie Ware. It also found its way recently to #8 on my own BILLCS Top 30. It’s the fourth song from the EP to receive an EDM snapshot, following “Natural Disaster”, “Peace Of My Heart”, and “Come Fly”. I was curious about its result, but L.A.’s John Lock has managed to uncover other feels in the song. Initially more of a retrospective lament when you can’t commit to a relationship, this progressive remix manages to bring out the confusion and struggle that you face inside your head quite appropriately. So indeed your head will spin to the multitude of new swirling sounds amid slightly tightened-up verses and vocals that uncover anxiety substituting for the original’s balladry. It goes without saying, the John Lock remix of Molly Moore’s “Blood. Sweat. Tears.” is highly recommended, and you can buy it on iTunes.
After bringing us a wicked, infectious instrumental called “Stressed” a while back, Australia-based Brit Latchmere is back with his spin on British house music titled “Limits”. Appropriately featuring UK soul/hip hop artist Andreas Liberos, Latchmere brings Andreas’ voice down low to make him sound like the missing futuristic prince of British house! Latchmere shows his knack for putting drops in exactly the right places, and the song itself will give club goers a solid workout. “Limits” is a track that should not just end up being a hidden little gem. Download it for free at the link above.
Eddy Faulkner is a 24 year old Washington DC-based singer who can craft wicked song hooks that with stick with you, such as in the lead song from his debut EP Unbreakable called “All The Way”. Unbreakable itself has a variety of pop songs with dance flavouring sprinkled throughout, but “All The Way” stands out and will grab you in the same power-pop way as others by the likes of Chris Wallace, Steve Grand, or Tyler Shaw. Eddy has been honing his talent for a while now via social media and has this seamless, diverse voice that would be equally at home singing jingles, commercials, or big dance music anthems. Give a listen to the summery, feel good vibe of “All The Way” at the link above.
You read that right – London duo Mick and Lily, aka YES BABEZ!, have a flair for fun and it arrives doo-wop pop style with “Madame Beaujolais”. The song itself is much ado about nothing but in a Bananarama kind of way, and YES BABEZ! dazzle with minimal instrumentation and emphasis on sublimely fine vocals. I could do without the keyboard sounds which make it sometimes more of an unintended companion to Scandinavian dance pop, but YES BABEZ! have the start of a good thing with “Madame Beaujolais” and I’d definitely like to hear more like this. Give it a spin at the link above.
We have a gorgeous, emotional new #1 which will be challenged in a few weeks by some new tunes not too far below… 484 editions later, here is the new BILLCS Top 30!
The Top 10
The top spot this week belongs to Young Bombs’ stunning remix of fellow British Columbian singer/songwriter Connor Phillips’ “Lost”. What is originally a 2 minute acoustic song is completely overhauled to become a mesmerizing and emotional 3+ minute EDM song that will stop people in their tracks when they hear it. Plus the after effect is that you will want to give someone a great big hug. A one-of-a-kind record for sure!! And it’s still available as a free download 🙂
Max R’s progressive remix (and free download) of Manse’s “Freeze Time” (featuring Alice Berg) helps it advance 4-3, while continuing to keep Pet Shop Boys at bay at #4 with the affectionate retrospective of “The Pop Kids”.
Brandyn Burnette collects his 7th Top 5 hit on the BILLCS Top 30 with the Win & Woo x Kiso remix of “Made Of Dreams”. It’s a different approach to the song from Brandyn’s original on his same-titled EP but it’s a total winner with a happy, sunny vibe that hits a home run. Brandyn’s new EP State I’m In is coming soon!
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Brandon Skeie with “So Bad”, in its pensive original or the fantastic EDWYNN x TIKAL & Spirix remix (a free download – 1.6 million listens!). About to become one of the best of 2016, “So Bad” soars 15-6.
I just wrote about a vibrant alternate take by remixer Aash Mehta (free download!) on Elephante’s “Closer” (featuring Bishøp), but the original lands in the Top 10, moving 14-8 🙂
Rounding out the Top 10 is the Two Friends remix of Mako’s “Way Back Home”, climbing 13-10, and helping create an entirely new adventure for that song 🙂
Movin’ On Up
It’s your late night date song for a night on a Caribbean beach. “Dreamin'” by Embody featuring Camden Cox moves up 19-11.
Toronto’s Dan Talevski has been appearing on Canadian TV recently performing his latest, an 80’s R&B-influenced hit called “Knock Me Off My Feet”, which rises 18-12. Look for Dan to be out and about this summer promoting his music!
While Eric Saade’s “Colors” continues to climb 16-13, he’s released a follow up already which is decidedly different called “Wide Awake”. Check it out below.
Toronto-based singer/songwriter Joël continues to move up with his great story song that is still available as a free download. “You Fucked Up”, rising 20-15.
“Don’t Let Me Down” looks like it will become one of the songs of summer ’16 for many folks. The Chainsmokers and Daya have a huge winner which moves 22-17.
Aside from Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad”, all of the rest of the last chart’s debuts move up in due order, which are all free downloads:
Canadians Sterling Grove and Ellyn Woods have their pop/jazz song “Sound Of Home” transformed into a gritty, mysterious EDM number by Chicago’s Snøwmass, and it rises 21-16.
Jenaux’s funk and disco-inspired “Get It On” advances 23-18, while the classic house riffs of “Don’t Need You” by Christofi featuring J-VEN allow it to climb 26-19.
Koni’s inspiring tropical remix of Bryce Fox’s “Burn Fast” send it moving27-20.
Debuts
The lower reaches of the chart have gone Kat Krazy as the London duo’s remix of Tom Odell’s affecting “Magnetised” arrives at #21, while the pair’s own “Run Run”, featuring Texan singer Johnny Stimson, bows at #24. These are Kat Krazy’s first appearances on the chart since 2013 when their remix of Natalia Kills’ “Problem” reached the Top 15, and prior to that, “Never Will Be Mine” by Rye Rye featuring Robyn got to #10 in 2011.
The third debut goes to the slinky and dirty-sounding “Into You” by Ariana Grande at #25 from her Dangerous Woman album. This is probably the best I’ve heard the singer to date. She’s appeared twice on the chart before, but it’s been some time – as featured on Mika’s reissued “Popular Song” in early 2013 (#17), followed by her own debut with Mac Miller on “The Way” that Spring (#8).
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 SpotifyBILLCS Top 30 Songs
http://www.planetradio.cais back! Listen for my Pick of the Week regularly, and this week I’ll have my flashback to a Toronto Top 10 on Wednesday evening at 9pm EST 🙂
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