Is it just me or are we on another roll of great sounding ‘boy bands’, particularly from England? UK quartet Rixton’s “Me And My Broken Heart” is a no-brainer, a smooth and classy pop adventure with just enough soul and reggae flavouring to recall hits like “Wake Up Call” by Maroon 5 (to whom they’ve been most compared – justifiably so). Even with a Scooter Braun signing there is no guarantee… but listen for this one to be playing all summer long, with band accompanied in concert by the accordingly large amount of devotees 🙂 Get it on iTunes.
So we found out yesterday that the new project that L.A.-based singer Simon Curtis (8bit Heart, the Billboard-charting R∆) had been working on for the last while is in fact a duo, Wrathschild, with his great friend Wolfy Jones (Ro Danishei). The teaser impresses with a big lush sound. This pair did some great underrated work on Ro’s 2011 album End Of The Rainbow… find out about the whole story and song on Monday March 24 at http://www.billboard.com 🙂 Video to follow… spread the news!
Liquid Diet, the NYC based trio of Georgia, Billy, and Jonathan, and they of endless titillation and clever double-entendres, is back with their latest “Inside Me”. Georgia’s sounding mighty fine in this tribal-sounding, sinewy late nite disco setting which is guaranteed to get you all hot, bothered, and, well, moist – in a carefully crafted chilled out kind of way. Download for free from their Soundcloud page above.
It’s not quite enough that Harriet is already working with Mr. Steve Anderson. So then “First and Last” surfaces as her latest co-write with Steve as well as Judie Tzuke! The result is a warm and very telling song capturing those times in a relationship when nothing else could be better. Harriet’s Karen Carpenter-esque voice continues to resonate as it’s done with “Can I Keep You”, and especially “Afterglow”, though you can hear her British accent this time around which makes it sound more unique. But it seems like good old fashioned story songs are on their way back in, and we will have so much to look forward to with people like Harriet singing them 🙂
A relative newcomer, young UK singer Jake Sims has one of those silky voices that oozes personality. But when he throws some grit into the mix, it’s reminiscent of the way Adam Lambert grabs you when he comes down from his high notes. I like “Blind” just fine in its original softer format (below), but Italian producer Laibert has turned it into a spiffy danceable mix of emotional sophisto-pop that will sit comfortably alongside songs by Bright Light Bright Light and Matthew Koma on your playlists. Here’s hoping Jake can take his songs to the next level internationally!
Montreal/Toronto DJ/producer Kwik Fiks (he of last year’s “Lifted” collaboration with Bongiovanni) is back but with a versatile throwback to the late 80’s and early 90’s. “Never Here” combines elements of classic house and acid house with a pop sound that made the song “Show Me Love” by Robin S a long-lived classic. But somehow it still wants me to start humming The Chemical Brothers’ “Get Yourself High” too. This is fun, unpredictable stuff that will keep your body going into the wee hours. Bonus: It’s a free download at the above link 🙂
As with the last chart, there are 5 new entries, and I suspect this will be the trend for the next few charts too, as many are sticking around to the maximum 10 appearances (20 weeks) before they drop off (“What’s Going On” by Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E first charted for 4 appearances prior to its release, then re-entered, and is now in its 10th consecutive appearance). So the wheels on the chart are going round and round…
The Top 10
Sam Smith fever is slowly finding its way to North America. So “Money On My Mind” continues at the top of my chart, while his featured vocal in “Latch” by Disclosure is the highest debut at #16. That song peaked at #11 in the UK at the end of 2012. There’s a brilliant acoustic version of “Latch” on Sam’s equally stunning EP Nirvana (live version below).
Challenging for the top is the first of three appearances for Matthew Koma in the Top 10, this time on “Cannonball (Earthquake)” by Showtek & Justin Prime, which climbs 5-2. Watch the new sci-fi adventure themed video below, sort of reminiscent of “Mad Max”.
“Collide” by Jake Miller shows it has staying power, and rises 6-5, while Audra Mae’s deep-down-in-your-soul vocal carries Avicii’s “Addicted To You” 10-7.
“Happy” by Pharrell is number one in most countries, climbing 11-9, as his new album G I R L is released to positive reviews. It’s Pharrell’s fourth appearance in the Top 10, the other three times as featured artists on Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful” (#6, 2003), “Wanna Love U Girl” by Robin Thicke (#4, 2005), and Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” (also #4, 2013).
The rest of the songs moving up in the Top 10 do have Matthew Koma in kommon 😉 Zedd’s “Find You’ (also featuring Miriam Bryant) is the fastest riser on the chart (19-8), becoming Zedd’s third top tenner following “Spectrum” and “Clarity”, while his collaboration with Robbert Hardwell jumps 14-10. That makes it 7/7 Top 10’s for Matthew, following #1’s “Spectrum”, “Parachute”, and “1998”, plus “One Night” (#10). Enjoy the exclusive Sky Felix remix of “Find You” below.
Songs on the Rise
Disclosure is #16 on the new chart as the boys were on the last one with Mary J. Blige on their rework of “F For You”, which climbs 16-12.
John Newman continues to find new North American fans with his soulful voice, which to me sometimes recalls Paul Young. “Love Me Again” moves up 17-13.
The online reaction to Adam Tyler’s “Electric Valentine”, which the singer dropped on V-Day, has been just splendid, and it’s still available as a free download for you to enjoy. It looks to be one of Adam’s biggest hits on my chart, rocketing 22-14.
Riding right behind as the release of his EP City Lights approaches is Nick Hagelin with the playful “Finest Clothes In Town”, up 23-15.
Semi-Precious Weapons have a full album coming to you sometime soon, but in the meantime, from their EP Aviation is “Drink”, rising 26-19.
U2’s new album has been deferred to 2015, despite the Oscar-nominated success of “Ordinary Love” and the charity donations behind “Invisible”, which moves 25-21. I suppose it makes sense that a tour will promote the album and looks like one may not be announced till year end.
If you’re in the New Haven, Connecticut area, watch out for club dates from Sean O’Reilly, whose melodic delight “Ready For You Now” jumps 27-22.
The Rest of the Newcomers
A lot of dance/EDM is booming in my Top 10, and San Diego-based Convulsic’s imaginative “Love Space” will tweak your ears and move your booty, arriving on the chart at 23. Official video is on its way.
I’m a tad late on “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo and 2 Chainz, but in keeping with the playful and bawdy spirit of “Blurred Lines”, the song scores a place on the chart this week at 24. It’s Jason’s first appearance in these parts since 2010’s “In My Head” (#7).
The honest storytelling and performance are the key to the vast enjoyment you will receive from Steve Grand’s “Back To California”. The singer moves a touch away from the country music leaning of his first two singles for something more in classic pop. It premieres at #26 in advance of his crowd-funded All American Boy – The Album, due in May.
In keeping with “Talk Dirty”, I might as well go for the gusto with the return of dance diva Lonnie Gordon with “Horny” at #29. Looks like there will be all kinds of naughty fun this Spring! And remixes are on their way!
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 05 02 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma 03 03 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland 04 04 TAKE COVER Neverest 06 05 COLLIDE Jake Miller 02 06 ANIMALS Martin Garrix 10 07 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae 19 08 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant 11 09 HAPPY Pharrell Williams 14 10 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma 12 11 INTO THE BLUE Kylie Minogue 16 12 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige 17 13 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman 22 14 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler 23 15 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin New 16 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 07 17 IN YOUR CARE Bright Light Bright Light 09 18 MANiCURE Lady Gaga 26 19 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons 13 20 AN OPEN HEART Bright Light Bright Light 25 21 INVISIBLE U2 27 22 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly New 23 LOVE SPACE Convulsic New 24 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz 15 25 GOLD Eurielle New 26 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand 18 27 TALKING TO THE WALLS Své 20 28 BREATHE ME Carlos Nóbrega New 29 HORNY Lonnie Gordon 24 30 WHAT’S GOING ON Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E
Could this be a year of big Eurovision ballads? Sanna Nielsen’s gorgeous and touching “Undo” was the surprise winner in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2014 last night. There was a lot of buzz particularly about Alcazar’s entry “Blame It On The Disco” and to a lesser extent “Natural” by Anton Ewald. But the audience favoured “Undo” and so we will see how it fares against the rest of the European contingent at Eurovision.
MATT DUSK & THE MAX RIVER BAND, “Juno Awards Medley”
Juno nominee himself Matt Dusk continues to show is versatility by taking on a medley of songs that by all rights should not go together. But with Matt’s slick voice and sound, it’s all good. So give us songs by Drake, Serena Ryder, David Myles, Robin Thicke and Mr. Dusk himself and it’s quite an earful. The Juno Awards – Canada’s Grammys – take place on March 30 from Winnipeg featuring co-hosts Classified, Serena Ryder, and Johnny Reid.http://www.junoawards.ca
As a thank you from Martin for the fans, the talented Dutch DJ/producer dropped “Proxy” for free download last week. And like “Animals” and “Helicoptor” it’s a hot, catchy, and very distinct song that could be the theme music to something, when it’s not busy making audiences react and go crazy on the dance floor. What I like about Martin’s music is that it’s full of high quality, and easily measures up to his better known counterparts like Tiesto and Zedd. Listen to the preview up top then save it using the Soundcloud download link below. Ah to be 17 and travelling the world… thanks Martin!!
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