SHUHANDZ and JOSH RUBIN, “Spend Time” (Prov remix)
“Spend Time” is the kind of song you might expect to hear in a key, taut scene in a TV or film mystery that helps set the tone for the story. It’s brought to you by L.A. producer Shuhandz and Austin-based singer Josh Rubin in a splendid remix by Chicago producer Prov. It also happens to be an immediate draw as a post-midnight deep house track, with a rigorous rhythm that will send late night club goers into liftoff mode. The alternately chill and slick mood of the song with the enigmatic, echoey effect on Josh’s voice really stands out. But it’s that pulsating rhythm track which drives “Spend Time” and the proof will be to hear it pounding on huge club speakers for all to enjoy.
You know those sneaky songs that make you want to spontaneously try to bust a move the best way that you can at the time, even if it’s all stuck in your head? Well “Hold Me Down” by Italian production duo Luca and Giam and Florida-based singer/songwriter Sam Merkin is one of them! It’s the kind of song that can easily switch the mood in a club set from familiar and mundane, to zesty and fun. The insistent 90’s piano house riffs, which recall a lot of Eurohouse that came out of Germany at the time like “What Is Love” and “Another Night”, along with Sam’s urgent but playful vocal give the straight-forward song instantly defining moments to make it memorable. “Hold Me Down” follows up Luca and Giam’s impressive recent work on Danny Dearden’s “Keep Me By Your Side”, which youread about herea short while ago.
Toronto’s Dabin Lee currently works double time, on his own releases as well as being one of Illenium’s right hand stars on record and in performance for the last five years. Somehow, his latest single “Holding On” from his recent album Between Broken, has cut through the red tape and landed on Canadian radio. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer song to bring some electronic flavour and wizardry to radio after Illenium’s own brilliant collaboration with Jon Bellion, “Good Things Fall Apart”, cracked through in 2019. It’s a poignant but unsettling song about finding oneself back with or wanting the same lover even after you’ve broken up. Singer Lowell is a fellow Canadian and, like Dabin, hardly a newcomer, having released two albums of her own, and shows her strong songwriting skills on “Holding On”. She co-wrote last year’s “La Di Die” by Nessa Barrett and jxdn (which got to #8 on my chart), and has also written for Bülow, Madison Beer, Hailee Steinfeld, Tate McRae, and several others over the last few years. It’s a super collaboration that I hope American radio will also recognize soon.
“Broken” is a great way to start of 2022 for 19 year old Alfie Templeman, who has a busy year ahead of him. It’s a bright and chipper-sounding song whose melodies belie its more serious but relatable lyrics. We all sometimes feel broken and used up, and simply can’t give anymore. “Broken” wraps up those anxious feelings in a gentle story that’s given a positive spin by Alfie’s energetic vocal and a much more polished sound than past releases. Coming from the DIY world, it’s refreshing to hear someone grow quickly since I first wrote about him two years ago, and having new fans like Nile Rodgers can’t hurt. Alfie starts a few months of touring in March, releases his debut album Mellow Moon on May 27, and plays the Tramlines festival in Sheffield on July. There’s much more to come from Alfie so keep your ears ready during the next while!
“Better!”, the new single by London-based Australian singer/songwriter Ryan Meeking, is a song that leaps out at you from your speakers thanks to a winning melody that keeps building until it reaches a very catchy chorus. It’s an anthemic pop song that captures the state of two people who decide to get together as a couple after knowing each other for forever. Its positive vibe is refreshing and uniting as we continue to come out of the pandemic and snap out of the browbeaten mood we’ve all been in for two years. The song doesn’t mince any words and Ryan’s enthusiastic performance keeps you intrigued. Check out the amusing animated video for “Better!” above.
MICHAEL MEDRANO and FUNK LeBLANC, “Do Your Thing” (Dance Floor version)
Michael Medrano, gradually becoming everyone’s favourite disco dad, is channeling 70’s disco at its best (take it from someone who lived through that era), and he might have a corner on that market in the indie US scene. Taking some cues from artists like The Knocks and Sofi Tukker, “Do Your Thing” in its dance floor version with Funk LeBlanc, is a joyous butt-shaking celebration of you being you wherever you want to just be you. A dance floor in a club is always a safe and welcoming environment for exactly this, and Michael’s R&B-flavoured graceful tones have a field day with “Do Your Thing”. It’s a great follow-up to recent singles “i don’t wanna talk about love” (currently Top 5 on my personal chart) and “Personal Heaven”.
HAZELL DEAN, “Out Of Control” (Back In Control mix)
Singer/songwriter Hazell Dean has left an indelible mark on the UK Top 40 pop charts and dance music charts worldwide with her memorable 80’s smashes “Searchin’ (I Gotta Find A Man”, “Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)” (an early Stock-Aitken-Waterman production), and “Who’s Leaving Who”. She continues to be a highly popular draw in the UK, and last year released two albums, Parts 1 & 2 of The Dean & Ware Collection, as well as a vibrant cover of ABBA’s “Happy New Year” to usher in 2022. “Out Of Control” is an original from Part 1 of The Dean & Ware Collection which has been elevated with a “Back In Control” remix. While geared towards clubs due to its length, “Out Of Control” is a whole lotta fun. The 80’s elements recall S-A-W and other producers in their heyday but it’s the euphoric and dynamically sung chorus, zippy melody and soulful rhythm that all stand out. My wish would be for a tight edit of this song, but Hazell’s many fans and lovers of 80’s dance music will make the utmost of “Out Of Control”.
Bloodkorp is a new Belgian singer-songwriter-producer otherwise known as Chayene, who was signed to a development deal with Sony ATV France when he was 16. And the bells and whistles haven’t been spared for his new single “Elle veut ma vie” (which means “she wants my life”), which is mastered by none other than Randy Merrill, known for his work with Adele and The Weeknd. And The Weeknd is the likely comparison you’ll have here, right down to the Bloodkorp artist name and the mystery behind this talented young man. The chorus of “Elle veut ma vie” translates as “She wants my life and I want her body / just for a night / a honeymoon under a blood moon”, which gives you a flavour of what you’re getting into in this entertaining song. It’s accompanied by an expensive-looking, video-game inspired video, which lends the song its space-age love song appeal. Bloodkorp joins his fellow Belgian artist Stromae as having the ability to crossover to the English language market with a song in French. He’s someone you’ll be hearing much more from in 2022.
A great voice always needs an equally fine song as its match, and that is achieved by NYC newcomer Amaya Santos with “Carousel”. Her voice effortlessly glides over the funky bass and soulful melody which you would sometimes find in an old Doobie Brothers or Chicago song. But Amaya’s voice is all about the 2000’s, influenced by singers such as Aaliyah and Alicia Keys and with precision like Mariah Carey. “Carousel” is about being trapped in, and still fascinated by a relationship even after it’s over, but with a reflective side to encourage yourself and others to recognize the warning signs while it’s in play in order to avoid the same results. The buoyant melody indeed moves like a “Carousel” which helps keep the song stuck in your head long after it’s over.
As was anticipated from the last chart two weeks ago, this new edition of the BILLCS Top 30 gets shaken down pretty significantly. A lot of favourites leave or are about to leave the chart, and others slip down to make room for new ones. And surprisingly, there are another four debuts. But with the fast pace of the music industry it is next to impossible to keep up with all of the new songs that are released each week. I like to think that this blog offers some highlights that you should hear, but I still hear songs months after their release for the first time. And it’s only fair to independent performers who have been pushing out their songs as quickly as they can, to give them a chance for a review up to six months after their songs are released. I’ve seen it happen before, and all it takes sometimes is one door to open, and the song gets a new lease on life.
Just a reminder about my New Music Pick of the Week online radio segment: It now airs on four separate online radio stations! These are segments that usually last between four and a half and seven minutes, depending on the length of song being featured. If you participate in or own an online radio station, feel free to connect with me if you’re looking for additional programming like this!
“Bad Things” (above) by Swedish indie pop/rock quartet Louis Pax has been flying up my chart for the last month of so, and it’s only fitting that the song advances 4-1 this week. It’s a bright, feel good song with an amusing video and a terrific guitar solo that screams 80’s influences but sounds contemporary in its own lane. The band released a new softer new single recently, you can check out “Spanish Rain” below.
I can’t rave enough about Years & Years’ Night Call album. I think it’s now passed The Weeknd’s Dawn FM as my favourite album of 2022 so far (and it’s still early, mind you). So while “Sweet Talker” (with Galantis above) stays put at #2, the title song (below) advances 28-20.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to spread the love about Darren Hayes’ solo return to the pop music world after 10 years. And the song has been released without any expectations and any designs on radio play. So do take the time to enjoy “Let’s Try Being In Love”, which leaps 10-3. And your eyes will definitely be moist at the end. His vocal contribution on Louis La Roche’s “Cold To Me” gives Darren two songs in the Top 10, just like old times, as it climbs 12-9.
Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware offer up everything that was fun and memorable about disco music in “Kiss Of Life”, which climbs 9-6.
And speaking of The Weeknd, both of my featured songs from Dawn FM move up in fine fashion. First we have “Less Than Zero” (above) climbing 16-7, while current single “Sacrifice” (below) rises 22-15.
Rounding out the Top 10 in a big way this week is the punchy rock-flavoured “Pulling Me Down” by Emirati producers Revelries, which soars 19-10. It’s the duo’s third visit to the Top 10, following “Don’t Think Twice” (#2) and “Fall-Out” (#7).
The sound of Martin Garrix is evolving eight years after “Animals” created a defining moment in electronic dance music history. Now one of the richest producer/DJ’s in the world, he can write his own ticket, and working with Russian producers Matisse & Sadko and vocalist John Martin has given him one of his best recent singles, a natural for play at upcoming festivals called “Won’t Let You Go”, and it moves up 21-14. And is that Zedd collaboration actually coming soon? Hopefully all of the photo teasing of them together means that the song is on its way.
Given that The Chainsmokers have had 3 #1’s on my chart and 3 #2’s too, it’s no surprise that the incredibly infectious “High” flies up the chart as the Fastest Riser, moving 26-16.
Lifehouse’s rocking “Cut and Run” is wasting no time proving that a straight-ahead rock track still kicks ass in today’s music world. It climbs 24-17 and is culled from the EP Goodbye Kanan.
Arriving on the chart at #24 as the Highest Debut for the first time since 2014 is L.A.-based British electronic artist Frankmusik, and it’s with a song he didn’t even write. But the production and vocal here are outstanding so be sure to check out “The Half Moon Came Up In The Sky”. It’s Frankmusik’s 14th chart entry, which all began back in 2009 with “Confusion Girl” (#9).
L.A.’s Mahalo returns to the chart with his 11th chart entry, the piano-house track “Careless” at #25. It’s his second collaboration with Poland’s Milkwish – they previously charted together with “Alone Again” (#11) in 2019. The vocalist on the track is the fantastic Lena Leon. Mahalo’s last two entries, “Not Watching Anymore” and “Got That Love”, both went to #1 and were both in My Top 10 of 2021.
NYC singer/songwriter Victor Perry is also back on the chart with his 13th entry under his name (which includes the #1 “Myself In You” plus one entry under his project as a duo called Labrose) with German producers Saxity with the dance rave up “Oxygen” at #26. It’s Victor’s sixth time working with Saxity, previously charting with “You Found Me” (#8) and “Fantasy” (#4), and it’s Saxity’s 5th entry. I love hearing whatever they come up with together!
The fourth debut is NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen’s 8th entry in less than two years, this time with Finnish producer Foxela, called “Think About You” at #28. With “To The Top” still hanging in at #30, “Think About You” continues Robbie’s unbroken streak of regular chart entries which began with last year’s “When I Lost You” on the March 15, 2021 chart.
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.
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm 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! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the 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. The “3D Variety Show” now repeats on Friday evenings at 9pm EST on Radio GTA .
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Wednesdays at 11:15 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Onlineon Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, and now on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST.
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