BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

Toronto-based pop singer @KendalThompson drops EP “One” full of R&B flourishes

KENDAL THOMPSON, One (EP)

Kendal Thompson is a promising Toronto-based singer (from just outside of Toronto in Alliston) you may recall from past blog posts in early 2014, but more importantly when she issued her single “Be Mine” as a Valentine’s Day treat initially for free download. Accompanied by a sexy and intriguing video, “Be Mine” got to #16 on my personal chart. Kendal is back with a new release called One, after dabbling more on the side of acoustic pop and folk songs. The five songs in One are more in the vein of “Be Mine”, but instead of reaching back into bluesy influences, the focus here is on 90’s R&B/pop with dashes of jazz and blues. And because the days of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Mary J. Blige have gone on to influence others, thus we hear more current inspiration in the styles of Rihanna or Beyoncé in Kendal’s music. Overall it’s an enjoyable record with the sizzle of “Burn” and “Run” in full gear, while the best is definitely saved for last. “Secret” is my favourite, joyous and engaging, featuring Kendal’s best vocal within, and could easily find a place on the radio. The One EP is a great showcase for a diverse performer who grows with every release and here finds her pop niche. Give a listen to the songs in One by clicking right here.

Minnesota rapper @callmeKarizma strikes a chord with “Euphoria”

KARIZMA, “Euphoria”

With his new song “Euphoria”, 20 year old Minnesota rapper Karizma wants everyone to know that it’s okay to fall in love. He’s all about peace, love, co-operation, unity – positive messages from someone who enjoys the stage but never feels that he’s above anyone else. He’s had his successes in the hip hop scene in the Twin Cities and deserves to breakout nation-wide. I caught Karizma (aka Morgan Parriott) opening up for MAX (Schneider) in concert last month, and his energetic and personable set was a breath of fresh air, sort of like the kinder side of Eminem. “Euphoria” (which revolves around a sample from “Radio” by Alkaline Trio) is a standout song and contrasts a downbeat melody with convincing lyrics that make you feel good. He calls his largely teen fans ‘losers’ because he cares – he’s been down and out, and knows how to rise above it, and they’re all in this together to have a good time. Give a listen to “Euphoria” below and be sure to catch a Karizma show when he comes to your city – guaranteed to make you smile.

L.A.’s @SugarJoans shows off her gorgeous range in “Nvr”

SUGAR JOANS, “Nvr”

You will undoubtedly remember Sugar Joans as a contestant from Season 7 of “The Voice” whose blind audition made mincemeat out of Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools”, among her many standout performances. And appearing on such a show is never about the winning when a song like “Nvr” comes out of nowhere and grabs your ears. Sugar comes from musical roots – her father is pop/R&B singer Joe Pizzulo, whose own striking voice was the lead on 80’s hits by Sergio Mendes, “Never Gonna Let You Go” and “Alibis”. Marry Sugar’s multi-octave voice with a chilled out EDM backdrop and you have a breakout when she goes to town with the strong, emotional and retrospective lyrics of “Nvr”. It might be a touch long at over 5 minutes long but it’s a fine story, and I would definitely enjoy hearing what some remixers might do with it for the dancefloor. You can pick up “Nvr” on iTunes.

Australian producer/DJ @LateNiteTuffGuy updates a Timmy Thomas classic with “Live Together”

LATE NITE TUFF GUY, “Live Together (LNTG No More War Rework)”

It’s been a while since I wrote about veteran Australian producer/DJ Late Nite Tuff Guy (aka Cam Bianchetti), who has been touring Australasia, Europe, and the UK with his clever and reverent DJ sets full of contemporary reworks of classic pop, dance and disco songs, and more. He’s back with a timely mix for you, “Live Together”. He reinvents Timmy Thomas’ North American 1973 #1, the sparsely organ and percussion driven “Why Can’t We Live Together”, by giving it a bassline bounce that will surely make you sway and dance. That and the timely restated messaging (including an excerpt of a famous speech) makes its reappearance today well-chosen. Naturally, all you DJ’s must mix it up with Drake’s “Hotline Bling”, which uses a repeated sped up sample of the original – a guaranteed dancefloor filler. It’s just all round terrific for the Tuff Guy.

“Echo” by @CutSnake gets an edgy, dirty deep house mix by Chicago remixer Snøwmass @snowmassbeats

CUT SNAKE, “Echo” (Snøwmass remix) (free DL)

“Echo” by Australian producer/DJ’s Cut Snake is one of those sneaky sultry late night club songs which will grab you when you aren’t paying attention with its slickly styled EDM house rhythms. Chicago remixer Snøwmass gives the song a different kind of punch with an in-your-face beginning that turns into a deep, bass-laden dirty house track at about the 1:25 mark. By that time it’s too late to turn back, your speakers will be vibrating and you’ll be wondering what comes next in this unpredictable mix. While the original mix is beautifully suited to the female vocal, Snøwmass provides for a contrasting approach that totally works. I love remixes because someone else takes a song into places that perhaps it wasn’t intended, and if they’re successful it works out well for everyone. Check out the original “Echo” above and the Snøwmass remix below available for free download.

https://soundcloud.com/snowmass/cut-snake-echo-snowmass-remix

@BrightLightx2 pairs up with German producer @FinalDJs with the disco throwback “Lost In Feelings”

FINAL DJS featuring BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, “Lost In Feelings” (free DL)

Even while his latest single, “Blood Moon”, is more chilled out and laid back electronica, you cannot keep Rod Thomas (Bright Light Bright Light) away from a dance song too long. In this case he’s paired up with German producer Final DJs (aka Sebastian Stuetz) for “Lost In Feelings”. It’s a heavenly Nu Disco 70’s throwback full of classic rhythms and melodies that will leave you swooning on the dance floor, and of course comes with a thoughtful emotional side courtesy of our Rod. Don’t let this one sneak by you – it’s available as a free download too – it’s all the more reason to keep you going until the next full set of Bright Light Bright Light music!

Texan trio Northern National @NorthernNatl arrives with single “Love Is Fire”

NORTHERN NATIONAL, “Love Is Fire”

It’s difficult to pull off a solid pop/rock single with alternative leanings in these days where popular radio is full of mainly faceless pop/dance and hip hop. So for those of you who enjoy bands like The Fray or Train, then Texan trio Northern National should definitely be on your radar with their single “Love Is Fire”. Comprised of three guys named Michael (!), Northern National forges a well-crafted alt.rock song with a compelling but simple lyric reminiscent of classic folk or country songs that reinforces the urgency of love. They’ve already received a reputation as force on stage through touring too. What I’m most impressed about is the killer vocal which sends the song home. Pick it up on iTunes. Give a listen below.

https://soundcloud.com/northernnational/love-is-fire-northern-national

#BILLCSTop30 #470 – November 16/15

The focus on the new chart is at the reshuffled top of the chart, as well as on four strong debuts. Songs on the rise between 11 and 25 must be content this week with one or two point moves as a result. So it looks kind of odd but here goes…

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/nothing-at-all

The Insane-Looking Top 10

A performer like Adele does not need help from my blog, and I no longer write about superstar performers. But because I publish my bi-weekly chart of favourites, they do appear in it and I’ll never exclude them. So “Hello” is the fastest riser on the chart and takes over for what looks like a long stay at #1. I’ve adored her two previous albums, and her first single “Chasing Pavements” was her only other song to get to #1 on my chart, in 2008, in fact it will be 8 years in January!! “Hello” is one very deserving song and performance and we will be hearing it ‘evermore!!

While River Tiber’s “Let You Go” slides to #2, it’s also one of my favourites of 2015 and will be hard to dislodge from the Top 10, let alone Top 5.

To fit in with the rest of Brandyn Burnette’s successes on the chart this week – check out the debuts below – “Life’s A Beach”, available for free download from Brandyn’s website as part of The Bright Side Mixtape, soars 9-3. I’ve pretty much been playing it to death for the last year or so and because it became commercially available a while back it became eligible for the chart 🙂

Joe Jonas’ new project DNCE vaults 10-4 with the carefree and hedonistic “Cake By The Ocean” from the new EP Swaay. I’ll get to hear it firsthand in concert this week in Toronto! Looking forward to that show.

Toronto’s Dan Talevski acquires his second Top 5 placing with another sexy piece of business that follows “Guilty As Sin”, called “My Religion”, moving up 7-5. Watch for more new music coming from Dan soon!

Adele’s “Hello” stole the potential fastest riser spotlight away from “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” by The Knocks & Matthew Koma, which bounds 14-6 this week. I am waiting for dance clubs to bite at this nationally but hopefully it’s just a matter of time, as it was with Matthew’s “So F**kin’ Romantic” (which falls to #28).

Chicago singer/songwriter Lucien Dante continues a comfortable reign inside the Top 10 with the softly intriguing “Black Water”, which continues to climb 8-7. It’s from his fine original debut release Our Of We – get it on iTunes 🙂

The last of the three newcomers to the Top 10 is the gorgeous disco throwback that is “Wildstar” by Giorgio Moroder featuring Foxes, moving up 12-9. It’s from Giorgio’s album Deja Vu, mainly collaborations along with some catchy Giorgio instrumentals, well worth picking up!

Movin’ On Up, Bit by Bit

Adam Lambert’s dance track “The Light” from The Original High rises 13-11 and should land in the Top 10 in two weeks. I think the promotional backing behind The Original High has been rather strange, though it seems that new single “Another Lonely Night” is starting to generate some buzz, while it wouldn’t have been my choice for a follow up to “Ghost Town”. Adam is touring overseas and I look forward to seeing him solo in concert one of these years!

Skipping past the log jam of songs in the ‘teens, “Never Forget You” by Sweden’s Zara Larsson and England’s MNEK became a Top 10 hit in the UK last week. I’m hoping that we’ll see more activity on it in the coming weeks on North American shores too. It inches up 22-21 but that should be temporary.

Also squeaking up 23-22 is “Eyes Shut” by Years & Years, perhaps not a great single choice for a follow up to “Shine” but a beauty of a song that always stands out when I play their Communion album from beginning to end, as well as in their concert performance.

Don’t let the two point rise for each of last week’s other debuts fool ya! I see “Over” by Goldhouse (25-23), “Hearts Beat Loud” by Clinton Washington (26-24), and “Ms Anonymous” by MAX featuring Jared Evan (27-25) as real Top 10 threats in the coming weeks. Can’t get enough of all three right now.

Four Debuts!

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/lost

After reading this blog for the last week, it should be no surprise to you that TWO Brandyn Burnette songs debut from his new EP Made Of Dreams. “Nothing At All” (up top) is set to crush this chart with a #14 debut, while the gorgeously heartfelt “Lost (Stripped)” arrives at #20. Getting to know Brandyn’s music over the last year or so is part of the essence of why I’m a music fan and blog writer, and I’m glad I can share it in these ways!

During the last week it’s been impossible for me to get the Elephante remix of L.A. duo Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” out of my head, so it arrives at #26 (and it’s a free download!). It’s one of those really good but unassuming pop songs that needs to be championed, and I’m glad such a noted remixer and producer as Elephante is behind it 100%. You can also give a listen to Elephante’s dance remix of Nathan Sykes’ new song “Over And Over Again” below 🙂

It’s already made a huge splash on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart as it climbs into the 20’s, so it’s a pleasure to see Nathalie Archangel debut on my chart with “A Higher High” at #27. The veteran pop singer’s voice suits dance music so much… check out the previously released “Next To Me” below too 🙂

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web 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

Planet Radio Canada is back tomorrow (Monday November 16)! You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

An Engaging, Unique and Personal Experience: @BrandynBurnette’s debut EP Made Of Dreams

BRANDYN BURNETTE, Made Of Dreams (EP)

It’s been a long time in the making and seems many steps further away from last year’s winning single “Thanks For Nothing”, but Brandyn Burnette’s 6 song achievement called Made Of Dreams is now ready for you to purchase!

I’ve already previewed four songs from it, including the anthemic title song, the innovative progressive soul of “Nothing At All”, the intensely emotional “Lost (Stripped)”, and Brandyn’s rework of “I Wanna Be (Free)” featuring rapper Nevelle Viracocha, which here brings forward a more serious set of messages than the EDM-flavoured original (still available as a single), which is set to be my #1 song of 2015. The remaining two songs are the jaunty and instantly likeable “No Invitation”, and the more hip hop flavoured, bluesy “Down”.

Brandyn and his collaborators have come up with a one-of-a-kind EP that is testament to his evolution as a performer. He’s found his groove for this record with influences from old school blues and folk, his heroes like John Mayer and Chris Martin, as well as 70’s and 80’s soul and hip hop. Brandyn is also out to ensure that is music is as touching as it is enjoyable.

Made Of Dreams is Brandyn’s ticket to the next level, whatever that may be and whenever it may happen, but he will get there with the able assistance of a committed team and of course his own perseverance which he embodies every day through social media. I’m so happy that Made Of Dreams is now part of my record collection – pick it up on iTunes 🙂

Part 3 of Previews from @BrandynBurnette’s Made Of Dreams EP: “Lost (Stripped)”

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/lost

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Lost (Stripped)”

Be prepared for goosebumps and teary-eyed moments when you listen to the latest preview from Brandyn Burnette’s EP Made Of Dreams (due Friday November 13) called “Lost (Stripped)”. It’s a stunningly beautiful tribute to living, carrying on, and being supported, even when faced with incredible loss. These days I can’t think of another performer who is so much on a person-to-person level than Brandyn, even without many fans ever meeting or seeing him in concert. “Lost” is a heartbreaking, real-life story of two of Brandyn’s fans who Skyped with the singer while suddenly faced with a suicide of a friend; and then subsequently the singer encountered further sorrow when learning that the father of his producer passed away; lastly upon sending the song to his manager, Brandyn learned his manager’s mother had passed away. A song like “Lost” reminds us why music can be our friend and solace in tough times, its power should never be underestimated. I can’t think of hearing “Lost” another way besides this stripped down version, with all of that great high register vocal power, and I’m so happy Brandyn found a place for it on Made Of Dreams. Hearing the songs he’s previewed thus far in concert will be an experience, and can’t wait for that to happen in 2016!