Toronto has many fine up and coming performers who are finding themselves in the midst of a keener interest in R&B/soul – which Toronto has always fancied back to the 1950’s. And yes I’m talking about beyond Drake and The Weeknd who we really have to thank for flinging the door open wide. 23 year old Joël LeMay actually hails from closer to North Bay from a family of music-makers, but is rooted in Toronto now to create his craft. “You Fucked Up” is an excellent start. It’s a fine piece of storytelling when your lover is cheating and has ‘splainin’ to do. But that seems to happen after she drinks lots of whiskey, so what kind of mess have you got yourself into? “You Fucked Up” is over 4 minutes long but breezes by because of the gritty, captivating vocal that makes you want to hear this story. The production by Manuso Joshua is deftly subtle, allowing the song to bask in R&B/soul/alternative folk flavours. If “You Fucked Up” is any indication, Joël should do well both as a solo performer and an in-demand featured vocalist who can adapt to many styles. Download “You Fucked Up” for free at the link above and watch for more new music every month from Joël.
MANSE featuring ALICE BERG, “Freeze Time” (MAXR remix)
Swedish producer/DJ Manse has such a Kool song with “Freeze Time”, featuring fellow Swede Alice Berg on vocals, that it’s already being hyped in advance of its April 13 release date through Revealed Recordings by a number of remixes. MAXR wisely keeps his distance from the pristine, deep-down-affecting original and gives it gritty, progressive house edge instead, in what sounds like what might happen if Foxes and Martin Garrix teamed up. There is so much innovation to be found in dance music right now and “Freeze Time” is a classic example of how an original which is so beautiful on its own can be adeptly reinterpreted while retaining its essence. Like Dzeko & Torres and Hellberg’s recent “Care For Me”, “Freeze Time” is one song I will be playing for months ahead. Download MAXR’s remix above but pick up the original on Beatport too.
The prolific Elephante continues a succession of fresh-sounding club zingers with “Closer”. This is a particularly rich, joyous earful featuring the distinct, commanding voice of rising Portland, Oregon singer Bishøp. You want to get couples up on the dance floor? Just play Elephante’s “Closer” back-to-back with Tegan & Sara’s “Closer” and see what happens. Both are equally good-natured ear candy that will generate a filled club floor and fare equally respectfully on dance music radio. “Closer” is a natural progressive house follow-up to Elephante’s recent Top 20 Billboard Dance Club Play hit “Age Of Innocence”. Download it for free at the link above.
The follow up to the long-lasting dance radio hit “Smoke-Filled Room” by LA-based duo Mako is “Way Back Home”, which in its original form is a lovely, slow-ish progressive/alternative EDM track that will crawl into your ears and stay there. These guys know how to write a great song, which makes it easy for any producer/remixer to adapt it to something suitable. It may seem unlikely, but Matt and Eli, aka Two Friends, turn “Way Back Home” into an effortless-sounding soulful deep house track with so much going on in its 3 minute rework. They’ve taken the yearning and desperation of the lyrics and made them equally urgent through bassy, buoyant rhythms. You can pick up the EP with the original, as well as the Two Friends remix and others, on iTunes. Ultra Music has another winner for Mako in whatever version you hear!
I enjoy finding fine new original songs through remixes, just as much as I like hearing songs that are transformed by remixes. The former is the case with “Burn Fast” by L.A.-based singer/songwriter Bryce Fox. This is a cheery, tropical-tinged, very visual song with a convincing, enthusiastic vocal by Bryce that is given a wicked deep house treatment courtesy of Germany’s Koni, who also works with (the recently blogged-about) Saxity among others. Bryce’s voice has a slick ‘n soulful edge reminiscent of Conor Maynard, Brandyn Burnette and others and is perfectly suited to this genre. “Burn Fast” in Koni’s remix will stick in your head and become a contender for repeated plays. Download it for free at the link above.
UK producer/DJ Kat Krazy follows up his fine remix of Sigala’s “Stay” with a striking original “Run Run” that is nothing short of the complete EDM/pop package that dance music fans will simply love. The contemporary, memorable, and soulful vocal performance by Johnny Stimson (a Dallas native with a strong following in Europe) is on par with the earnest tones of Mako’s recent hit “Smoke-Filled Room”. But what’s best about “Run Run” is that it does not let up, and the piano break is a major wow that will leave you wanting more. Already released in the UK, “Run Run” should perform very well once it receives full international release soon.
Swedish trio Ember Island, who recently visited the U.S. for SXSW among other venues, have a beautiful could-be-hit with “Need You”. But Cloudchord’s funky dance remix could put it on the club map with ease. Following up his engaging remix of Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” (currently on my personal chart), “Need You” is heavily influenced by the classic sounds of yesteryear R&B and disco which when mixed up with today’s flavours results in progressive nu-disco that will stand out in a club mix. What I dig most about this one is the slick and crunchy guitar work which can hold its own against and be mixed with records by Nile Rodgers/Chic, Scissor Sisters, and more. Don’t pass up this remix of “Need You”, be sure to download it for free using the Soundcloud link above.
London-based singer Harriet has come a long way in a short time since I first heard her more than two years ago, resulting in the initial EP What’s Mine Is Yours. Mixing up a repertoire that shuffles between originals like “Fly”, other performers’ songs as recorded on her Covers EP last year, as well as Christmas songs (which resulted in a warmly-received album Maybe This Christmas last year), Harriet’s honest love for her craft and her warm and caring vocals will continue to take her into the ears of new listeners. “Permission To Kiss”, once again produced and co-written by the renown Steve Anderson, starts off with its keyboard riffs as almost a sound-alike to Sara Bareilles’ “Love Song”. It works and Harriet’s smooth style takes over along with the playful, teasing lyrics. The song successfully moves her away from the numerous comparisons to Karen Carpenter and puts her in the current company of Ms Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Brandi Carlile and others for whom there is already an eager audience. Release is forthcoming but do give a listen at the Soundcloud link below.
Spring has sprung and there are a lot of changes afoot on the new edition of the BILLCS Top 30, including a new #1 song as well as three debuts. You can expect more debuts in the coming weeks as the lower part of the chart consists of songs which are running their natural course. Dance music is in full effect, so boogie away 🙂
The Top 10
After making an impressive debut in the Top 5 of the Billboard Electronic Albums Chart this week for their fine album 55, The Knocks along with vocalist Wyclef Jean find themselves atop the chart this week with the rousing “Kiss The Sky”. With such a busy chart it may find itself displaced in two weeks, as it did the same with “Wrong” by MAX (now #5).
Canadians the brothers DVBBS and Toronto’s Dante Leon zip up the chart 10-2 with designs on #1 in two weeks with the pensive and bouncy “Angel”. Apparently DVBBS had a stellar set during Miami Music Week, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that helps give “Angel” some additional notice in clubs to follow up the Billboard Dance Club Play Top 10 “Never Leave”.
Troye Sivan’s “Talk Me Down” is the best song on his Blue Neighbourhood album to me, and it climbs to #3, while “Wild” rests at #6, and “Fools” advances to #11. Sooo impressive!
It was originally featured on the singer’s 2010 8bit Heart mixtape, but the redux of Simon Curtis’ “Super Psycho Love” fits in beautifully with today’s dance music in addition to being a fine song all in itself. From the Super 8bit Heart album, it climbs 7-4.
Craig David is on a roll in the UK, with another song to be released by Blond that features him on vocals, after appearing recently on Katy B & Major Lazer’s “Who Am I”. His pairing with Big Narstie, the mighty fun “When The Bassline Drops”, rises 9-7.
The only new Top 10 entry is the second in recent months for Clinton Washington with the stunning “Frozen” 11-8. “Hearts Beat Now”, which recently left the chart, peaked at #6, making it 2 Top Tenners for Clinton.
Movin’ On Up
The fastest riser on the chart is a somewhat rare cover version for me. Losing the edgy folk style in favour of a laid back EDM flavour for driving down the coast, Jonas Blue and Dakota soar 23-12 with their rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”.
You might find yourself catching yourself singing “where are you now” over and over again, but may not know the song. It’s called “Faded” and it’s by young Norwegian producer/DJ Alan Walker, and it leaps 18-13.
German producer/DJ Calvo has a winner with the insanely catchy “Vicious Girl”, which continues to rise 16-14 – a co-write for the wonderful Daniel Volpe (aka performer Zorro Blakk).
I’m totally into the frankness of the lyrics in “u suck” by Minnesota’s Call Me Karizma, which climbs 20-16. YesterdayI wrote about his latest effort“Darkness” from his forthcoming album.
And all of the rest of the debuts from two weeks ago have designs on the Top 10. The Steve Void remix of “Beat The Sunrise” (above) by SNBRN (also a presence at Miami Music Week) featuring Andrew Watt moves 24-17; right behind is the stellar “Synchronize”, by Hellberg (also at MMW) featuring Aaron Richards, up 25-18; and then Miguel’s nifty and sexy “Waves” climbs 26-19.
Those Debuts
I only wrote about it the other day, but the effect that this song has on me (and perhaps you as well) is just instantaneous. “Care For Me” has such a beautiful lyric and it’s enhanced by the phenomenal layers of production created by Toronto’s Dzeko & Torres and Sweden’s Hellberg” – all those arpeggios have me spinnin’ every day. “Care For Me” is a chart contender and bows at #21!
Continuing with the positive themes of many of the songs on the chart is “Bright Side” by Dutch duo Vicetone, and featuring none other than Cosmos & Creature. Who are they? Why Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore, so prominent all over this chart and now with a delightful foray into EDM, which was the first song the two co-wrote after meeting more than two years ago. So lovely that it made it to record and it arrives on the chart at #23.
The last debut is the first release by new-label-on-the-rise TropiKult. As showcased during the Ultra Music Festival, Couzare’s disco-inspired “Afraid Of Heights”, featuring a cute, droll vocal by April Cheung, premieres on the chart at #27.
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
You can now hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.caevery Tuesday at 9:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear, and then again every Thursday in a rebroadcast at 7:00 a.m. EST on WROCKhttp://www.wlor.net!
The best thing that Pet Shop Boys could ever have done for their career is to bring back what they do so much better than many and put it up front – witty, electrifying music designed for clubs. 2013’s Electric was the result, and my favourite song of that year was the magnificent “Vocal”. Neil and Chris carry on with more of what their fans absolutely want the most with “The Pop Kids”. Like 80’s hits such as “Rent”, “Heart” and “Being Boring”, “The Pop Kids” is a simple, direct tale – wonder, excitement and love are all prominent, resulting in a warm, effusive song that should continue the lads’ prominence as revered champions of the dance music genre. It’s from their upcoming album Super due on April 1. Check out the lyric video up top and get the EP on iTunes.
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