Recalling some of the best songs and visuals of Madonna and Kylie Minogue, among others, Sydney, Australia raised and L.A.-based DaniElle DeLaite strikes much more than a pose in “Creature Of The Night”. It’s more than just the clothes and camera shots and solid production that make a talent happen, and DaniElle has the vocals to match. It’s riveting Dance/EDM that will cause stirs in clubs when the video is shown, it’s simply that striking. L.A. and Australia are lucky to have DaniElle; the rest of the world should soon find out more courtesy of the enticing power of “Creature Of The Night”. Get it on iTunes and watch (out) below.
There are so many great, lesser known voices out there in the world, and on some occasions I am privileged enough to write about them. With these days of accessibility to music everywhere, we get to hear songs we would never otherwise have heard. Ferni Lopez is a veteran blues/rock singer from the Houston area, and his ages-old voice packs the emotional wallop that just doesn’t grow on trees. “Wonderful” is not everyone’s cup of tea – it’s a thoughtful, deliberately paced, sparse-sounding blues/rock song. But regardless of your rock music affinities, it will rivet you with its subtleties and intensities. Yup, all in one song. It’s from Ferni’s recently released EP Afterburn, which you can buy on iTunes but also hear onFerni’s Bandcamp page. And remember where you read about it 🙂
Radio Drive is Minneapolis-based singer/guitarist Kevin Gullickson, though once upon a time it was a full fledged band. Now out on his own, Kevin is on to something with his new single “A Taste Of Heaven”. It draws not only on 80’s alt.rock like The Replacements or R.E.M., but quite clearly on classic rock melodies of The Beatles, John Lennon, The Raspberries, and others. Kevin meshes the basics with a full rock sound, augmented by fine session musicians, and you will hear some strings near the end. “A Taste Of Heaven” could have been jangly pop/rock, but replaces the jangle with rich effects, a positive song to keep you company on the road wherever you may go. It’s produced by Chris Garcia of Celine Dion and Katy Perry fame, and mastered by Les Paul’s son Gene. Listen to “A Taste Of Heaven” on Radio Drive’sReverb Nation pageand get it on iTunes.
It’s always great to see a singer like Andy Grammer succeed and return a couple of years later with an engaging new release. “Back Home” not only incorporates the similar fun singalong elements of previous hits like “Keep Your Head Up” (#9 on my chart in 2011) and “Fine By Me”, such as the loud, anthemic chorus, but also the good-natured, emotional part too. This bodes well for 2014 for Andy, and hopefully he’ll get up to Canada – my city (Toronto) specifically 🙂 – to do some shows too. “Back Home” is due on iTunes on April 8. Listen below.
It’s a very timely choice, but the young Dutchman with the far-reaching voice, Matt Blue, is back with his take on John Legend’s “All of Me”, which he informed me about earlier today, and I’m not going to let this one wait. It’s a unique version because Matt’s power and slight rasp replaces John’s trademark silky voice. Plus, it’s a pleasing change of pace for Matt too after a couple of lesser known (except to readers of this blog though 😉 ) Euro-EDM triumphs “Can’t Help Myself (Keep Dancing)”) and “Outta My Mind”. What it does most of course is make you want to hear the full song and more of what this exceptionally talented singer can offer. Watch the short video below.
As brought to you through Billboard today, “Fall Into Love” is indeed a lush and powerful affair from the duo otherwise known as Simon Curtis and Wolfy. It’s the happiest marriage of the talents of the best of friends – both have power and attack in their voices, but are so different that they compliment each other enormously, as we heard previously in very different duets on “Michelle” or “Wicked Baby”. Wolfy’s voice has also grown since the songs from her End Of The Rainbow album. The emotional qualities of the song echo back to anything that hit a chord with you from Simon’s 8bit Heart release, after all everybody has a favourite 80’s movie, right? “Fall Into Love” also has some similarities to Simon’s more recent “Heart In 2” or “Diamonds On The Dance Floor” but more pop-focused than electronica. Overall the song hits every mark to keep your head bobbing and ears tuned in, right through an almost tribal-sounding breakdown that gets reeled back in towards the end. While I think “Fall Into Love” will become a signature song for Wrathschild, I’m confident that the best is yet to come from Simon and Wolfy. “Fall Into Love” comes to you on March 31 with a long-awaited video to follow in April.
Spring has sprung and more great new music seems to be out there than ever. If I didn’t have a 10 appearance (20 week) chart rule, songs would never leave! And so, three favourites will be departing after the current chart. But there are so many songs on the rise that a number get stuck on this chart, which will make the chart in two weeks that much more interesting! The strong debuts in the 20’s would have normally bowed even higher…
The Top 10
All things Sam Smith are happening in pop music right now! Our boy got a gig on March 29 on Saturday Night Live no less. Now that meant that he had to postpone the show I was supposed to go to the day before, but fortunately I don’t have to repurchase tickets and it’s at the same venue on April 23. So Sam stays at #1 with “Money On My Mind”, but bounds into the Top 10 at #10 with Disclosure on “Latch”, which has its sights set much higher than #10…
“Cannonball (Earthquake)” by Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma holds strong at #2 as the song is gradually getting release around the world, so check your iTunes!
Neverest’s rollicking change of pace “Take Cover” climbs to #3. The group is currently down to a trio as drummer Mykey Thomas found a must-take gig in the States, but I know they’ll find a successor who will make an equally great anchor to their sound 🙂 “Take Cover” is still available as a free download through Neverest’s Facebook page.
I cannot resist Audra Mae’s vocal on Avicii’s “Addicted To You”, which not only climbs to #4 on my chart, but it’s in the Top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. North America, what are you waiting for? SMASH.
The rest of the songs featuring the amazing Matthew Koma still climb up within the Top 10, so we see “Find You” by Zedd and also featuring Miriam Bryant up 8-6, bound to be a huge hit by summer, while Hardwell’s “Dare You” is #9. The new video for “Find You” is above.
The fastest riser on the chart is one of the year’s most pleasing surprises so far, and still available for free download! That it’s by Adam Tyler is even better… “Electric Valentine” zips up the chart 14-7!
Movin’ On Up
Nick Hagelin’s “City Lights” EP is coming to you in early April, in the meantime do listen to the snappy song rooted in old R&B, “Finest Clothes In Town”, which rises 15-14.
Semi-Precious Weapons also have their album on deck for next month, but until then the party-hardy “Drink” moves up 19-15.
I’m absolutely loving the creative EDM by San Diego’s Convulsic – particularly on the car stereo 🙂 – and “Love Space” makes its presence known by climbing 23-17. Video to follow soon!
Sean O’Reilly’s video for “Ready For You Now” was shot as Hurricane Sandy was coming, and the intensity of inviting something big to happen prevails in the song too. It moves up 22-19.
Steve Grand’s campaign to raise funds for his “All American Boy” album is way past doubled right now, which means more great things to embellish the album or accompany it will be in store for fans. The lovely story of “Back To California” takes the song to #20 on my chart this week.
It’s a club smash in the making, and Lonnie Gordon’s “Horny” is now available on iTunes. It rises 29-24. Check out the Paul Goodyear radio edit video below.
New to the Chart
I’ve written about all three of these stellar songs and I expect big moves in the coming weeks…
As “Animals” is about to leave the chart, “Proxy” by Martin Garrix debuts at #23. It’s still available as a free download and quite honestly I’m loving this one more than his other projects. It’s Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” meets early Tiesto… and that’s all powerful stuff for this 17 year old Dutchman. Love the official video at the top of this post.
“I Wish We Were Leaving” (#25) could be one of Bright Light Bright Light’s most downbeat sounding songs, until the powerful and hopeful message is revealed. Having Elton John’s vocal as the other side of the story is just mind-blowing and impressive. The video (at the top of this post) is going to make you tear up when you feel happy or sad throughout (my only critique is that the turning point happens too abruptly). Brilliant. Bright Light Bright Light’s new album Life Is Easy is coming, with the EP of “I Wish We Were Leaving” due April 7.
We finish up with “Dear Nicole” by FrankMusik from his upcoming fourth album By Nicole at #28. This song pulls you in with its story and Vincent Frank’s build up to a positively ferocious vocal. As always FrankMusik’s songs make you want more and more, and that’s exactly what’s to come!
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart.
01 01 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith 02 02 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma 04 03 TAKE COVER Neverest 07 04 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae 05 05 COLLIDE Jake Miller 08 06 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant 14 07 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler 09 08 HAPPY Pharrell Williams 10 09 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma 16 10 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 11 11 INTO THE BLUE Kylie Minogue 12 12 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige 13 13 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman 15 14 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin 19 15 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons 03 16 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland 23 17 LOVE SPACE Convulsic 06 18 ANIMALS Martin Garrix 22 19 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly 26 20 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand 21 21 INVISIBLE U2 24 22 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2Chainz New 23 PROXY Martin Garrix 29 24 HORNY Lonnie Gordon New 25 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John 20 26 AN OPEN HEART Bright Light Bright Light 18 27 MANiCURE Lady Gaga New 28 DEAR NICOLE FrankMusik 17 29 IN YOUR CARE Bright Light Bright Light 25 30 GOLD Eurielle
His sound and appearance are more apt to conjure up images of Justin Bieber, Usher, and Chris Brown, than the human-sized invisible rabbit of stage and screen, but slim, baby-faced Harvey Cantwell could find his place on the charts with the effortless-sounding “Thank You”. He gives a slick and tight vocal performance on the record, which also uses an acoustic riff similar to Bieber’s “Boyfriend” or Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul”, and it all helps place the song over and above the many soundalikes in this style of music today. Plus it has instant retro appeal, recalling older songs by Backstreet Boys or 98 Degrees. Overall “Thank You” is well-rounded with universal qualities which should put Harvey on the map through his deal with Universal Music. It’s not yet available in my country – at least I couldn’t find it – but check your iTunes where you live.
Looking to find his way into the contemporary pop/R&B scene is New Jersey-based singer Edifon. His latest song “Let Go” resonates immediately with its classic R&B style honed from years of listening to Stevie Wonder and Boyz II Men (though his smooth, diverse voice reminds me more of Montell Jordan). The song digs deep with an identifiable emotional quality while still carrying an urgency through its uptempo melody. To me the song is begging for a strong remix which could put it into contention for dance clubs. You can listen to it on Edifon’s siteright hereand can pick it up on iTunes.
Florida EDM duo Chron, aka Christianna and JDub, will help get those happy feet on with “Bass In Me”. What might start off sounding like a Deadmau5 knockoff quickly changes your mind and draws you in with an engaging and unique vocal, fun drops and chopped vocal parts, so after a minute in you are completely sold. Chron aims to please in concert where they apparently can reproduce what’s on record here and add other effects and rapping for a solid experience. This is a great start with loads of potential – I’m no expert at music played at raves, but Chron appears to be a few steps ahead of the game in terms of their EDM/dubstep/trap sound and what they have to offer. Looking forward to hearing more! Download “Bass In Me” for free from their Soundcloud page below.
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