“Bloodline” isone of the most unique alt.pop releases you’ll hear this year, a thought-provoking song from new London-based, Azerbaijan-born singer/songwriter EMINZADA. As easy as the song goes down melodically, the song’s message remains profound, carried by EMINZADA’s own simple and likeable vocal with its tidy British accent. It’s about that time in one’s life where family tradition, as honoured and pronounced as it might be in some cultures, must come to an end in order for someone to live the life they choose. As a person with a disability that affects him as a singer – with a sunken breast bone that can impact his heart and lungs – and as a disabled member of the LGBTQIA+ community, EMINZADA experiences daily hurdles which he shares through his music. “Bloodline” is also rich with Azerbaijan traditional instrumentation, which is rarely heard in the global pop world. “Bloodline” gently commands your attention and makes you look forward to what EMINZADA will deliver on his forthcoming EP.
“You” is a delightful slice of pop-house brought to you by UK-Irish production duo (and brothers ) Menrva and American powerhouse R&B/pop vocalist MOYA. Being led by examples of smashes like Joel Corry’s “Head and Heart” and Elton John & Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart”, “You” has pop and dance radio hit written all over it, not necessarily because it follows a formula, but because its execution is so on point. Menrva’s uplifting production gives MOYA lots of room to play with and flourish. Its melody is instantly memorable and the lyrics are full of welcome positives for the summer months. Although titled the same as Regard’s pop and dance hit of last year, that’s where the comparison ends, but you can expect “You” to find similar success.
British singer Sean Smith’s versatility allows him to move seamlessly between pop sub-genres as diverse as swing and electronic dance music. He’s back with his first solo outing in a while with “In Love With The Night”, a dynamic pop anthem for romance in the wee hours. Whether it’s going to a club or grabbing a coffee, “In Love With The Night” is about celebrating romance in the nighttime setting. Songwriter and producer Justin Busch has tapped into a solid, danceable sound for Sean, who has previously seen action on my chart with “Magic”, and duets with Peter Wilson (“Verona” – which reached #2 – and “One and One”), and Ben Davidson (“Dirty Mirrors”). “In Love With The Night” is an endearing and festive anthem for the night.
With a penchant for bright melodies and thoughtful, personable lyrics, Memphis singer/songwriter Nick Black releases his new single “Filler” which features a well-placed rap interlude from fellow Memphis resident Daz Rinko. “Filler” is about finding balance in life, not looking too far ahead to forget about who and what is currently around you. Nick’s vocal style reminds me of Jason Mraz or Mokita with a dash or two of one of his major influences, John Mayer. “Filler” follows the release of his fourth album Twitch #1, a result of using Twitch.tv over the past few years to formulate songs in real time in front of a virtual audience. So Nick not only has many obvious talents musically, but he’s done well to market himself with a brand for like-minded people. “Filler” is bright and unconventional, and could find favour on alternative or college radio.
STEVEN THAD, “Husband Material” and “Irreplaceable”
Steven Thad’s enthusiasm for his releases is contagious, from his You Tube videos promoting the songs and EP’s to his social media posts, and he’s only just getting started. Give Steven a budget and a good producer and we will have next level recordings to hear. But in the meantime, on his new indie EP “Pop Man”, he offers up the original “Husband Material” and a winning cover of Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable”.
“Husband Material” (above) is especially good as an original because Steven has a gentle way of telling a story about a gal he likes, but who is really only looking to find a guy to marry. And Steven has a mouthful to sing about, so the song isn’t really conventional songwriting, though its melody and brief hook will find their ways into your head. It’s unabashedly pop – as his EP title implies – but with a few different strokes.
Steven’s take on “Irreplaceable” (below) is intended to be a singalong from the get-go, and because Steven doesn’t have Beyoncé’s power and pipes, his far less intimidating version also works. Knowing that this is an empowerment anthem for women in its original form, Steven scales it back vocally while retaining its message and intent, and offers up in the process a more forgiving rendition that we can comfortably sing with because most of us can relate to it all too well.
Pop Man also includes the previously released cover of Michael Bublé’s “Everything”, another take on a Bublé tune recorded with Charlie Puth called “Love You Anymore”, and a stab at Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license”.
After releasing the criminally overlooked EP Superbad and risqué follow-up single “Late Night Love” in 2020, Toronto singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates continues in top form with his new indie single “Jimi”. The song is really an ode to multiple passions, whether you’re head over heels for someone, obsessed with a favourite performer, or mad about music and guitar-playing, and ultimately how they can all fuse together. “Jimi” is one hell of an entertaining record, with Francesco pulling out all stops with his amazing guitar work – which should be witnessed in concert, where he truly dazzles – and even lets loose with a sensational scream. Francesco has an awesome party going on in “Jimi” and we’re all invited.
LOLA DUTRONIC, “Let’s All Dance (Our Last Summer)”
Following their jab at the world’s biggest song contest with “Get Us To the EuroVision”, Toronto/Dusseldorf-based veteran indie pop/dance duo Lola Dutronic return with some sparkling and playful ear candy called “Let’s All Dance (Our Last Summer)”. The duo have an unique legacy, working in the past with artists as diverse as Tom Tom Club, Leona Lewis, Imagine Dragons, and Ozzy Osbourne! With melody firmly planted in the early 80’s, the duo want you to strike a pose like you were on a holiday, getting into that groove as you cause a commotion for the last time on the dance floor in the summer. Stephanie B-Yen’s inviting, whispery vocal totally suits the dreamy vibe of the song while Richard Citroen’s clearly having too much fun with this production, adding twist after twist to keep you listening.
AASH MEHTA, CAPELLE and ANDY SANDRICK, “When I Saw You In A Crowded Room”
After an outstanding trek into house music last year with “Back To You” (which reached #5 on my personal chart), Chicago-based electronic producer Aash Mehta returns to the electronic ballad landscape with the gentle “When I Saw You In A Crowded Room”. This quiet tale of romance is carried by a striking and yearning melody, and brings together singers/songwriters Capelle and Andy Sandrick, both with contrasting vocals, who were featured separately on Aash’s debut album Discover Infinity. The song starts a bit slow but gradually gels as the story unfolds and the vocalists make their love at first sight believable. “Crowded Room” will be featured on Aash’s sophomore album The Moments In Between, which is due in August.
You’ll get Joni Mitchell and Lana Del Rey feels when listening to “Summer Thing” by Connecticut-based singer-songwriter Julia Sposito, otherwise known as Juls. It’s all about navigating young love through the summer months, trying to determine if it’s the real thing or just a short-term romance destined to be a memory. The instrumentation is dreamy and deliberate as Juls’ polished vocal glides over top while her ruminations are brought to the fore. “Summer Thing” is a relatable introduction to the music of Juls from whom I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more.
What songs have that “sound of summer” to you that are on my chart? Two that I foresee being played loud on summer evenings are Harry Styles’ “Daydreaming” – for folks who can ease up on “As It Was” and “Late Night Talking” – and Darin’s “Superstar”. They are led by commanding vocals with effervescent melodies. It’s funny too that some songs that we might associate with summery sounds weren’t even released or popularized in the summer months, such as The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”. Dance music has been my soundtrack to summer probably back to the days of disco in the 70’s. In one form or another, for me it has been inescapable!
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Mercer’s “Aretha” gets a stunning fourth appearance at the top of the BILLCS Top 30. This has only happened twice in the last two years. The two songs were “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande and “No More Looking Back” by Idris Elba & Inner City featuring Steffanie Christi’an. And what do those songs have in common? They were my #1 songs of 2020 and 2021 respectively. Could the same be in store for Mercer? 2018’s “Satisfy” (with Ron Carroll) was my #3 song of that year.
“Romance With A Memory” by Oliver Sim advances 6-3, with designs on #1 in two weeks. It’s slinky, Prince-like melody and a cool, sometimes droll vocal by Oliver make this one unique.
The intensity of NIVIRO and Harley Bird’s “The Edge” helps send it 8-5 on the chart. This is a rare dance tune with plenty of substance and emotion.
Benson Boone’s “In The Stars” also has sights on #1 as it charges into the Top 10, up 11-6. It’s led by a sincere vocal and interesting story that makes it so repeatable.
Two additional songs land in the Top 10. “Mind Of Mine” (above) by Danish producer Henrikz and British singer/songwriter Danny Dearden, climbing 16-9. It’s Danny’s second Top 10 following last year’s “Tell Me” (#4) with Bobby Harvey. And “don’t you wanna know” (below) by Syence and Britt Lari moves up 14-10. Syence’s previous Top 10 entry was the touching “We Won’t Leave You” with Steve Void (#7).
Continuing to make inroads on the chart is “The High” by Canada’s Ryan Shepherd with vocalist/songwriter Bella Renee, climbing 15-12. I’m delighted to find out that Ryan will be opening for Two Friends in Toronto at History on June 30 and July 1. I’ll be there on June 30 and look forward to seeing Ryan and hearing what he spins for us that evening!
Be sure to contribute to UNICEF on behalf of Ukraine if you can by purchasing a digital copy of “Unity” by Gareth Emery and Ukrainian producer Omnia, which climbs 18-13.
Although they are very different in styles, “Memories” (above) by Conan Gray (20-15) and “Let Me Down Easy (Lie)” (below) by Why Don’t We are two ballads that will endure for the summer, and will always be bookends like that for me now!
The Fastest Riser on the chart is the aforementioned “Daydreaming” by Harry Styles, which soars 26-17. The funky 60’s meets 70’s sound of the song led by another top notch Harry vocal is a jam that keeps giving.
The also previously mentioned “Superstar” by Darin climbs 27-19 and looks to find its way to the Top 10 as did its #1 predecessors, “Can’t Stay Away” and “Holding Me More”.
“Dusk” by Manila Killa and Lights continues to grow on me, and rises 28-21, with a delightful vocal by Lights.
“Crown” by Canadian producers We Are Fury featuring singers brassie and Kyle Reynolds moves up 30-23, putting some alternative electronic crunch into the chart.
The Highest Debut belongs to pop stalwart Mika, who is back with “Yo Yo” at #26, which is quite different for him with a downbeat midtempo melody, but it is a real grower. It’s from his forthcoming 6th album (excluding his compilation Storybook Vol 1), some of which he played in concert when I saw him perform in April. It’s Mika’s 11th appearance on my chart. He reached #1 with “Rain” in 2010.
At #27, it’s “Love That About You” by Arizona-based singer/songwriter McEwen. That may be a new name to you but the sound of the song is certainly familiar. That’s because McEwen previously recorded under the name Adam Tyler and charted 12 songs on this chart between 2010 and 2015, 10 of which reached the Top 10. “Love That About You” was actually recorded four years ago but is timeless and very appropriate theme-wise for this post-pandemic world. It comes from McEwen’s first album in more than seven years called 0524.
The last debut at #28 belongs to American-Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Javi with his terrific cover of Sade’s “Cherish The Day”, originally from the 1992 album Love Deluxe. Javi has consistently been making music for several years as a solo artist or as a vocalist in projects like Native Underground. This is his first song to appear on my chart however since 2010’s Monsieur Adi remix of “Situation” (#3), and a very welcome return!
In fact Mika and Javi were on my chart at this very time in 2010 (Mika with “Kick Ass”), and McEwen came along later that summer with his first entry, “Friction” (Ricardo Autobahn remix).
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features! Links to all stations appear later in this section in blue.
Radio GTA
Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Sunday mornings on Radio GTA at 2:00 AM EST, at 8pm EST on Sundays on Party Dog Radio, and then at 7:00 am EST Fridays on Unique Radio Australia!
On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online
“Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight EST! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, now brought to you by the Appalachian Pub & Eatery in Georgetown, Ontario! “The Big 20” also airs on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.
I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” now airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on:
Radio GTA Wednesdays at 11:00 pm EST, Saturdays after Midnight EST, and Sundays at 3 am EST
Halton Hills Online Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, and Saturdays at 7pm EST
Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays after 9pm EST
WXNZ, community radio in Maine, Mondays after 10pm EST
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 