The Time is Right for @RiverTiber with EDM/Hip Hop influenced “Waves”

RIVER TIBER, “Waves”

It’s so great to watch Toronto’s River Tiber grow and evolve with “Waves” (co-produced by Danny Voicu, aka KwikFiks) after first seeing Tommy Paxton-Beesley and his band in a small club more than two years ago, and hearing an independent debut release which contained some of my favourite songs of 2013.  You can find all of what I’ve written about River Tiber by searching these blog pages.  

Tommy’s work and reputation led him to be prominently featured in BADBADNOTGOOD’s recent Sour Soul collaboration with Ghostface Killah, and having his own recent single “No Talk” sampled in “No Tellin'” on Drake’s latest album.  So not only can Tommy do his own unique thing but be a great go-to guy as well (he also toured as Justin Nozuka’s right hand guitar player).  

After all of this comes “Waves” from an upcoming EP appropriately titled When The Time Is Right, due in September.  While River Tiber’s early work was progressive/alternative pop, it has grown into dubstep flavoured EDM with significant Hip Hop and R&B influences on “Waves”.  The song has an eloquent feel as it glides along to make you picture a sea of calm waves, then 2/3 of the way through kicks it up with a House/R&B almost New Jack Swing flavoured climax and finale.  Fine vocals and painstakingly complex/lush instrumentation make “Waves” the perfect next step for River Tiber.

#BILLCSTop30 #463 – August 10/15

The amount of posts I write seems to have slowed down, but I do make them count 🙂 And my chart brings some of them full circle and also introduces you to some songs I adore that I haven’t written about (usually major name performers).  So the new chart has five debuts – don’t let the lower chart position belie how well these five will do in the coming weeks 🙂  As usual, current faves have to give up the ghost first!

The Top 10

  • What more can I possibly say about Brandyn Burnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)”?  How about a fourth appearance (eighth week) at #1!  Just in time for the remix by The Bravos which I wrote about recently.  It’s going to be very hard to beat the Top 2 songs in this chart at year end!

  • And then there’s “Shine” by UK trio Years & Years.  I can’t understand why radio will not play this one in North America.  There’s a really powerful emotional undercurrent to “Shine”, which didn’t sink in until well after I stopped hearing it with one ear on a similar-sounding melody to Erik Hassle’s “No Words”.  It holds at #2 again, but “Shine” is looking to take over from “I Wanna Be (Free)” whenever that song surrenders #1.

  • It does have an ‘earworm’ of a chorus as my friend David kindly put it.  Toronto’s Dan Talevski has released a follow up called “My Religion” which I have not heard yet (but will in the next while undoubtedly), probably because I’m too wrapped up in “Guilty As Sin”, which rises to #3 for the talented singer.

  • I get the feeling of triumph every time I hear “Beauty Never Lies” by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov.  The Eurovision finalist climbs up to #5 to anchor the Top 10 midway point 🙂

  • There is no doubt that “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes (which climbs to #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart this week) has its druthers aimed for the top spot on this chart, and for now it bounds 12-6 while the UK singer continues to promote the song throughout the US.

  • Toronto quartet Smashing Satellites follow up their #3 chart hit “Waterfall” with the very different and ebullient “What It’s All About”, which has taken its time but lands at #8.

  • Rounding out the trio of Torontonians in the Top 10 is star-on-the-rise singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates with “Better To Be Loved” at #9.  Francesco sings on one of the debuts too!

https://soundcloud.com/penguin-prison/show-me-the-way

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Penguin Prison with the effortless-sounding and breezy “Show Me The Way”, soaring 22-10, and the Top 10 is no stranger to PP who have cracked #1 twice before.  In the US, you can catch “Show Me The Way” in the latest Hulu ad 🙂  Not yet a single, but soon-to-be… I hope… pretty please…

Movin’ On Up

  • I can’t get enough of UK singer Martin Luke Brown’s vocal on “Take Out Of Me”.  This searing piece of soulful pop rises 19-11.

  • Another unique vocal appears in “East Side Bay” by L.A.-based producer/DJ – and yes vocalist – Mi Disguise.  This is one sneaky club track that deserves exposure, and climbs 15-12.

  • Amid fierce competition, Cobi Mike’s thoughtful and affecting “Walking Through The Fire” continues to move up 14-13 – check out the intriguing video (you’ll get past the point that the singer is naked throughout, really, you will).

  • When in doubt gain brownie points by using your country in your latest song title 😉  Seriously, “Girl From Sweden” by Eric Saade is a catchy singalong, and I’m sure you’ll find the singer dancing in the Swedish countryside one day with pretty girls in hand 😉  The song rises 18-15.

  • Performers who collaborate with their significant others often make fine music together.  Such is the case with Molly Moore, whose “Natural Disaster” climbs 25-19 (Brandyn Burnette is a co-writer).  I wrote about another top notch song by Molly not long ago called “Don’t Believe It”, which saw official release on iTunes last week. Much more new music to come!

  • Canadians J-Mi and Midi-D are off to a great start with their recent single “So Much For That”.  Not only is it loads of fun, with its 90’s Europop backdrop, but these underdogs, remixers and ravers alike, have created a song that absolutely anyone can identify with.  The video is a hoot and the nerd in us all will appreciate it.  “So Much For That” climbs 26-21.

Those 5 Debuts

  • I must admit to have been totally blown away by the collaboration of New York producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers with fellow New Yorkers Great Good Fine OK on “Let You Go”.  But the song IMO has been immensely improved with a throttling Tiesto remix which is available for free download on Soundcloud!! “Let You Go” is the highest debut, arriving at #22.

  • It was a fine few weeks for dance music and NERVO land their first chart entry with “The Other Boys” at #23 from their new album Collateral.  The powerful mix plus Kylie Minogue and Jake Shears on vocals, carried by propulsive guitar work by Nile Rodgers should send this to the top of the national dance charts in short order.  I wish that pop radio would be open to playing it but alas I expect not.

  • The Weeknd doesn’t need my blog’s help with all of his success, to be seen in December come Grammy Awards nomination time.  His latest single, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, from the upcoming Beauty Behind The Madness (which I predict will be the #1 album of 2015), arrives at #25.  Despite all of his obvious influences, The Weeknd makes every song his own and that’s part of his appeal!  That he comes from my part of Toronto speaks volumes too 😀

  • Meanwhile, back to Francesco Yates… who sings lead on the latest single from Grammy nominee Robin Schulz on “Sugar”, the title song from Robin’s upcoming album.  The inclusion of lyrics from Baby Bash & Frankie J’s “Suga Suga” is a bonus, but kind of interesting in a roundabout way when you think that Francesco himself (who is 19) was a mere lad when the original came out in 2003.  “Sugar” premieres at #27 and the video is quite slaptsticky-funny if you suspend your disbelief.

  • The final debut belongs to Disclosure featuring Sam Smith once again on “Omen”.  This trio must get into a room and just know when they’ve written a hit.  Although “Latch” did take a while to catch on in North America (eventually climbing to #1 on this chart), “Omen” arrives signed and sealed for success.  It debuts at #28 and comes from Disclosure’s forthcoming album Caracal.

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 🙂

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!

The reeemix is here for @BrandynBurnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)” courtesy of @TheBravosNation

https://soundcloud.com/thebravosnation/brandyn-burnette-i-wanna-be-free-the-bravos-remix

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “I Wanna Be (Free)” (The Bravos Remix)

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when Brandyn recently announced that his gorgeous “I Wanna Be (Free)” (the current #1 on my chart and one of my very favourite songs of 2015) was being remixed.  It’s kind of just delicately perfect the way it is.  But as I always say, music is open to interpretation and producers/remixers The Bravos certainly focused on the open-air kind of vibe of the song and ran with it in a trippy, dubsteppy direction.  So while the song’s powerful lyrics get sacrificed here, the result is a fun club remix to which (as the remix will tell you) you can indeed shake your booty.  Give it a listen above and don’t say I didn’t warn you if you find your body grooving to it without much mental effort 🙂  Watch for it next week on iTunes and elsewhere!

NYC’s @Traedonya! returns with the classic soul of “Simply Beautiful UR” (featuring Irish Soulflower)

TRAEDONYA! featuring IRISH SOULFLOWER, “Simply Beautiful UR”

Ironically, it was exactly two years ago that I first wrote about NYC R&B singer Traedonya! with her unique cover of Sly & The Family Stone’s “Family Affair”.  Always busy, Traedonya! is back with the taut and soulful “Simply Beautiful UR” featuring Irish Soulflower.  There is no doubt in my mind that Janet Jackson deliberately took a similar direction with her great new single “No Sleeep”.  It’s not easy to be lush and restrained in these days of powerhouses like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Iggy Azalea ruling the R&B charts.  Put Traedonya! in the same company as Janet or Alicia Keys or Mary J. Blige, and listen to the way that her flavour glistens to the music.  Bar none, having grown up in a household where classic R&B was played much of the time, Traedonya! knows the way that style should be done on “Simply Beautiful UR”.  Download this delight for free right here.

Meet Australian Pop/EDM singer/songwriter/producer Paul Hetherington (@PaulHmusic) with “Me Against The World”

PAUL HETHERINGTON, “Me Against The World”

26 year old Paul Hetherington thus far has been noted as a producer and remixer for talent as diverse as Adam Tyler, SIRPAUL, and Ro Danishei (aka Bad W0lfy and one half of Wrathschild with Simon Curtis), all previously written up in these blog pages.  The affable Aussie goes full tilt pop/EDM with “Me Against The World”, which he wrote, produced, and also sings.  He’s tested the waters with covers of Matthew Wilde’s “Break My Stride” and TyDi’s “Chase You Down” on his Soundcloud page.  “Me Against The World” is a solid, bold, empowering song when you just need to take a stand and do it your own way, and has a memorable chorus.  Paul has managed to produce his own vocals quite well, leaving them still raw in spots, but adding punch where it counts, and the rhythm track itself isn’t too heavy, definitely balanced for pure pop appeal.  I do feel that some remixes might be in order though!  And I’d like to see some other collaborators for production who could definitely help Paul go to the next level.  “Me Against The World” is a fine debut and is available on iTunes on Friday August 7!

It’s GREAT to have brand new music from @NewOrder: “Restless”

NEW ORDER, “Restless”

After the resounding success of their 2013-14 touring which coincided with the release of the Lost Sirens record (additional songs recorded at the same time as 2005’s Waiting For the Sirens Call), it was inevitable but still GREAT to have New Order back now with new music.  “Restless” is the lead single from their upcoming album Music Complete, due in September.  For fans like me, “Restless” is everything you knew to expect from New Order that you really enjoy about their music.  It doesn’t carve out new territory, but shows how visionary the band was to create their own sound in the alternative dance music sub-genre which has turned out to fit like a glove, anywhere, anytime.  This release also continues to show that while we may miss Peter Hook’s influential and resilient bass work, after over 30 years together it is time to move on.  I can’t wait to hear Music Complete and some of the rumoured collaborations on the record (Brandon Flowers, La Roux, among them).  You can buy “Restless” on iTunes now, but if you pre-order Music Complete, you will get it for free.

Ravers, you now have your theme song: @DVBBS declares “Raveheart”

DVBBS, “Ravestorm”

Just in time for their hometown performance at Toronto’s Veld festival this weekend, Orangeville brothers and DJ’s Alex and Chris drop one of their biggest, busiest, most frenetically enjoyable anthems with “Raveheart”.  It’s an unmistakable ode to ravegoers and their music lifestyle.  After attaining a #1 pop hit in the UK last year with Borgeous on “Tsunami”, the DVBBS lads do not forget where they come from and constantly reach out to their fans, which keeps them coming back to every performance (like three sold out nights in Toronto alone last year).  While being featured in Sander van Doorn’s “Gold Skies” (along with Martin Garrix, which got to #4 on my personal chart) kicked that beautiful song up a few notches, let’s see if the explosive “Raveheart” is enough to propel them to the top of the national dance club play charts.  Listen to “Raveheart” above and pick it up on iTunes on Monday August 3.

Sweet ‘n soulful @GreatGoodFineOK’s top notch EP and vocals on @TheChainsmokers “Let You Go” (@Tiesto remix)

GREAT GOOD FINE OK  2M2H (EP)

THE CHAINSMOKERS featuring GREAT GOOD FINE OK  “Let You Go” (Tiësto remix)

I had the good fortune of seeing Brooklyn, New York band Great Good Fine OK when they swung into town opening up for Penguin Prison.  Their recently released EP of originals 2M2H showcased an 80’s flavoured electronic pop sound influenced heavily by R&B/soul – think Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Level 42, Style Council – with plenty of keyboard wizardry.  Singer Jon Sandler has a multi-octave voice that can go up against the best singers!  He hits those sweet high notes like Mika but has a beautiful, full low register as well.  “Something To Believe In”, featuring St. Lucia, is your go-to song on the EP, though all of the songs form a great introduction to GGFO, including “Carried Away”.  Jon Sandler and Luke Moellman are also DJ’s so not only do they sing and play their music so well with a full band, but they know how to work a versatile mix.  Stream the entire EP above.

So while I was checking out their music on Soundcloud, I came across their featured appearance on a song by fellow New Yorkers The Chainsmokers!  “Let You Go” once again features Jon’s high register in full force, and it’s highly complimented by Tiësto’s progressive house remix which truly kicks up a storm for the dancefloor.  It’s irresistible – you won’t be able to help yourself from moving.  A bonus – it’s a free download!  Play it along your favourite house tracks and don’t say you weren’t warned!  Listen to “Let You Go” and download it below.

https://soundcloud.com/tiesto/the-chainsmokers-ft-great-good-fine-ok-let-you-go-tiesto-remix

#BILLCSTop30 #462 – July 27, 2015

There’s lots of movement within the Top 10, and four new entries, three by chart newcomers!

The Top 10

  • Brandyn Burnette once again reigns at #1 with the joyous and heartfelt “I Wanna Be (Free)”.  It’s my go-to song on my iPod right now!  Good news for Brandyn fans – the powerful “Stand Down (2150 AD)” will be his follow up single, due for release on August 4, from the upcoming EP Made Of Dreams.

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/stand-down-ft-laraisha

  • If not for “I Wanna Be (Free)”, “Shine” by Years & Years would be at #1, but must settle for #2, perhaps only for now, we’ll see.  The trio’s entire Communion album is fantastic, also watch “Foundation” below.

  • Antonio Giacca’s unusually addictive “Sensation” is one dance song you shouldn’t miss.  It climbs up 5-3.

  • Like with Years & Years, Adam Lambert’s The Original High is one of my favourite albums of 2015.  I have many choices as to what will follow “Ghost Town” on to the chart in the coming weeks, but for now the song moves up 6-4.  Who wants a solo tour from Adam?? 🙂

  • Another song on a high is Dan Talevski’s “Guilty As Sin”, which soars 8-5.  The Toronto singer recorded the video for his next single “My Religion” in Spain these past few weeks.  Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us.  “My Religion” arrives July 31.

  • “Beauty Never Lies” continues to make its presence known on my chart!  As sung by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov, the song advances 10-7.

  • UK quartet Lawson obtains yet another Top 10 entry with their latest single “Roads” at #10.  The band has just begun its U.S. tour opening for Australia’s Sheppard.

Movin’ On Up

  • Nathan Sykes managed to take over Times Square in New York City this week for a video shoot.  I’m glad to see his spry song “Kiss Me Quick” is getting so much attention.  It’s the fastest riser on my chart this week, vaulting 20-12!!

  • In case you missed it, Canadian singer Francesco Yates is the featured vocalist on Robin Schulz’s excellent new single “Sugar” (below).  In the meantime, Francesco’s “Better To Be Loved” (above) climbs 16-13.  Yesterday in concert in Toronto, he dropped some songs (including a few written with Pharrell) that are going to pop big time!

  • “Walking Through The Fire” by Cobi Mike rises 17-14.  It’s accompanied by a compelling and thought-provoking video too.

  • L.A. based producer Mi Disguise is recording more music for his album which will be on its way this Fall.  Do check out his unique EDM single “East Side Bay” which climbs 19-15.

  • You want to dance like “Uma Thurman” too, don’t you? 😛  The fun single by Fall Out Boy continues to advance, with that surfin’ groove from the 60’s TV show “The Munsters” used to great effect.  It moves up 21-16.

  • Janet Jackson fans are soaking in her first single in 7 years in advance of her tour and the Unbreakable album.  The sexy quiet storm ballad “No Sleeep” rises 25-20.

  • The good-natured and energetic “Summertime” by Vancouver’s Trevor Guthrie is well on its way, climbing 27-21.

The New Stuff

  • It was released last March but one of the reasons my chart is here is to bring you new found talent that I enjoy.  And such is “Take Out Of Me” by UK singer Martin Luke Brown, which is certain to grab your ears from above just like it did me.  It bows on the chart at an impressive #19.  Also take a look at the video below for the emotional follow-up single “Scars On Scars”.  Think Mikky Ekko meets Sam Smith!

https://soundcloud.com/penguin-prison/show-me-the-way

  • Penguin Prison’s concert in Toronto a few weeks back reinforced that “Show Me The Way” is my favourite new song from his new album Lost in New York, bowing at #22 on my chart.  The crowd reacted to it most favourably on the dance floor – as much as Penguin’s encore cover of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”.  It’s Penguin Prison’s 10th chart entry summarized as follows: 🙂
    • Something I’m Not, #2, 2010
    • The Worse It Gets, #1, 2010
    • Golden Train, #1, 2010
    • Multi-Millionaire, #7, 2011
    • Fair Warning, #6, 2011
    • Don’t Fuck With My Money, #3, 2011
    • Hollywood (with RAC), #5, 2012
    • Hang On To Your Love, #19, 2014
    • Calling Out, #13, 2015

  • I’ve already written about L.A.-based singer Molly Moore a number of times this year.  But I’m pleased to say that her song that I wrote about back at the top of 2015 has now received official release.  “Natural Disaster” (co-written with her guy, Brandyn Burnette) is a winner both in its original and laid back, tropical Win & Woo remix, and arrives on the chart at #25!

  • Canadian producers/remixers (as well as ravers and gamers) J-Mi and Midi-D debut at #26 with their move-on-let’s-party anthem “So Much For That”, which I wrote about on its day of release last week.  Check it out for a lot of 90’s Swedish dance-pop inspiration!

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 🙂

Dance powerhouse: @Nervomusic with “The Other Boys” featuring @KylieMinogue, @JakeShears & @NileRodgers!

NERVO featuring KYLIE MINOGUE, JAKE SHEARS & NILE RODGERS, “The Other Boys”

Wowza!  Just when we are still digging so many recent collaboration in dance music, and along comes Kylie, Jake and Nile featured in Nervo’s new song “The Other Boys”.  It’s a highly propulsive dance powerhouse of a song too, with Nervo giving all of the featured performers great standout moments in the song.  Although the Aussie producer duo has just released its debut album Collateral, they are far from strangers to the music scene over the last 6 or 7 years, really getting a kickstart as co-writers of the Grammy-winning “When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta & Kelly Rowland, and having written and/or remixed songs for Kylie, Kesha, Beyonce, Avicii, and one of my favourites from a few years back, the #1 club smash “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Sweden’s Agnes Carlsson.  Not to mention that the gals have had their own #1 dance club hit, “Hold On” in 2013 too (included in Collateral)!  “The Other Boys” is not only riveting for the dance floor, it will also have you singing and swinging along too.  Not to be underestimated!