Following up his fine album release from last year called Off Script, Sam Dickinson is back to bridge the gap between his next original release with some remixes of songs from Off Script. I’ve been writing about Sam’s music since his first album released in 2013, and first up is a fantastic choice – his cover of Mica Paris’ 1998 single “Carefree”. Sam’s a huge fan of Mica as well as British soul music of the 80’s and 90’s, and his rendition is a tantilizing homage. Remixed for the dance floor, Blackjack gives it a deep and dirty house redolent in bass, and it’s right on point without taking anything away from Sam’s original execution. This remix of “Carefree” is a great start in reintroducing listeners to songs from Off Script – more to come!
Four Nights is the recording name for Ireland’s Tommy Buckley, and he has a refreshing, earnest pop sound for 2021. He writes direct, easy-to-digest songs without sugar-coating his ideas or compromising his storytelling ability. “Let’s Stay Up” is his latest song that appears on his new EP Bed. You can hear him confidently sing about what might be an otherwise awkward time for some when getting to know someone a bit better and pulling what hopefully might be a romantic all-nighter. “Let’s Stay Up” is a gracious tribute to those times which will become memorable even if they don’t turn out to be special. I enjoy Tommy’s commitment to his pop style and encourage you not only to check out “Let’s Stay Up” but also the Bed EP, which also features my favourite song of his to date, “Want You Always”, which recently reached #8 on my personal chart.
“Wasted” is a vibrant and fun original slap house track that is ready for the dance parties to begin. It comes from Hungary-born, California-based producer/DJ Pillows and collaborating producer James Mercy. Pillows (aka Anna Negyesi) caught the attention of Forbes Magazine earlier this year after her electronic cover (again with James Mercy) and video of Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That” showcased her as a mystery DJ with a pillow helmet. But like Marshmello, Electric Polar Bears and a few others who have decided to remain “masked”, there is certainly much talent underneath the quirky exterior. “Wasted” doesn’t show off any new tricks but it is a solid deep house release that can compete with the best of them. With or without the gimmick, Pillows is one to watch and any ongoing collaborations with James – who has had his fair share of dance successes like “Fractures” a few years back – should continue to be fruitful.
I am a sucker for a song with a super melodic structure, especially when it’s grounded with thoughtful lyrics, divine synths, and a catchy vocal like “Moonlight”, the latest release by South Korean producer Little Rain in collaboration with former “American Idol” contestant Devyn Rush. It’s ear candy of the best kind without giving you an unwelcome sugar high. All of the details in this production give it an elegance that you don’t hear every day in electronic dance pop. Devyn wrote a true feel-good song which her vocal then takes right to heart. “Moonlight” indeed is one of the loveliest songs you will hear this summer, perfect for late night fun on the beach.
Dimi L released his first single back in 2018 called “Nature”, and I wrote about it then, so it makes sense that a fresh start three years later also gets its due! The Greece-born, England-based producer/musician returns on LoudKult no less with “Thinking About You”, which like “Nature” employs the resonant sound of White Trumpet (otherwise known as Romania-based Eugeniu Albu). It’s a rich, sophisticated deep house track with future house elements and plenty of bounce, as well as a cool uncredited female vocal. Dimi L combines it all in an ear-pleasing, infectious way that would work equally well on the dance floor. As lovely as it is, “Thinking About You” doesn’t take too many risks, so I’d recommend some remixes which might help support this release.
The new chart is so chockful of my favourites that it seems pretty static, with only a few songs making decent-sized moves. But if you’ve followed this blog or my chart, then you’ll know that this is temporary.
With this chart, I’m pleased that my number one song is “Myself In You” (above) by Italy’s Lordnox and NYC’s Victor Perry. Victor’s music has been appearing regularly on the chart since 2016 and this is his first trip to the top, and almost certainly not the last! I was delighted that Lordnox could capture the glory and diversity of Victor’s vocal in this particular song. It makes the song just so much fun! Victor has a second entry on the chart with French producer Kislaw called “Slip Away” (below), which climbs 20-17.
Making an impressive move from 7-4 is the emotional electronic whirlwind that is “Sideways” by Illenium, singer Valerie Broussard and fellow producer Nurka. Illenium performed his first three albums in concert in Las Vegas as his “Trilogy” show this past weekend, which is quite an amazing accomplishment.
Glass Petals’ infectious deep house track “Heartbeat” is making short work of its time in the Top 10, rising 9-6. One half of Glass Petals, Juno Award-winner Felix Cartal, released his latest album Expensive Sounds For Nice People, which is chock full of many of his single releases of the past two years.
To no surprise, the dance floor banger “The Feels” by Cash Cash featuring Alex Newell advances 12-9 – for now!
The darker and deeper house track from Australia, “Unnatural” by Needs No Sleep and Jeremy Beamish, is the other newcomer to the Top 10, up 11-10.
Whenever I play Greyson Chance’s “Hellboy”, I am stuck humming it for hours on end. This quirky track from his album Trophies climbs 16-11.
The Fastest Riser on the chart was the Highest Debut two weeks ago. It’s “Can’t Stay Away” by Sweden’s Darin, which is now accompanied by a zesty, splashy video loaded with cool choreography. It soars 22-14.
Another banger from England to keep your ears on is “Give Me That” (23-19) by producers Charlie Lane and Gold 88 with a stunning vocal by Kate Wild.
While it’s already been to the top of the dance charts, “You” by Regard, Troye Sivan and Tate McRae (27-21) is also headed to the Top 10 of Top 40 radio.
The Highest Debut on the chart is also a first on the chart. In the over 23 years that I’ve published it, a completely redone version of a song originally recorded by the same artist has never charted – until now! Moby’s “Natural Blues” reached #5 on my chart in 2000, and 21 years later he has re-recorded it and some of his other best known songs on his album Reprise. “Natural Blues”, featuring the stellar vocals of Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah arrives at #24. Some chart geekery: Because it was re-recorded, it is not considered to be a re-entry.
Next up at #26 is India’s Ashwyn with the guitar-soaked “Sell My Soul”. This single preceded his latest, more progressive rock-flavoured one “Deja Vu” , which I wrote about recently. Ashwyn is also the second artist from India to appear on my chart, following DJ Shaan’s “By Heart” which reached #10 earlier this year.
My third debut at #27 is the second chart appearance by Australia’s Beamish Brothers called “Anxious”. Ben and Jeremy previously were featured on “Black Gasoline” by Mark Mendy, which got to #6. And Jeremy is currently charting at #10 with Needs No Sleep. Their music keeps on getting better and better so this is their first appearance on the chart as lead artists. In fact I just wrote about their newest single “Privilege” this past weekend, so check it out too.
The last of four debuts at #28 is “Gone Tomorrow” by Southern California producer Jay Bird with vocalist Clay Agnew. This is definitely in the Illenium/Trivecta vein and is exceptionally well done as an independent release. Jay Bird recently got to #4 with “Escape”.
Announcements
NEW AND STARTING JULY 10!! I’m pleased to announce that I will be your weekend announcer onHalton Hills OnlineandRadio GTA for my show “Your Weekend Music Mix”. The show will air Saturday and Sunday afternoons on Halton Hills Online and Saturday and Sunday evenings on Radio GTA. Be sure to check it out next weekend!
The music from this chart and blog are also featured regularly on the online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings, also with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers, and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactiveFacebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right 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! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Jeremy and Ben Beamish are definitely on fire with three releases in a row that command your attention. “Privilege” is the latest, following up “Dollar In The Heart” and “Anxious”, which both reflect personal and global themes such as greed, money, corporate domination, mental health, and more. “Privilege” is the light-hearted one of the bunch, but continues to offer soulful vocals and funky rhythms to support the fine lyrical content. As shown in the video above, “Privilege” comments on those well-off, privileged individuals who are just wrapped up in their own lives in a self-made vacuum – the world revolves around them. Each of the lads continue to sound better and better with vocal registers totally on point, and another well-made, direct and interesting video too.
“Peace” is a celebratory anthem for everything that is good in the world, that I’m counting on the dance community to embrace. Reteaming for this banger are dance diva and Broadway star MOYA and UK/Canadian producers Future Kings, who kicked off 2021 with the memorable “Laser Beams” with Moguai for Spinnin’. The only other belters to come along this decade that I can think of who hold their own with MOYA’s fierce voice are fellow Broadway star LaChanze (from “The Donna Summer Musical”) and Glee’s Alex Newell (currently blowing the house down with “The Feels” with Cash Cash). “Peace” is bouncy and jubilant and bubbling with old school disco flavours, with everything that you need in a magnificent summer anthem.
Aash Mehta is a familiar name to readers of this blog who have enjoyed his ethereal, romantic and reflective electronic pop and dance tracks over the last five years. Breaking out of that mold for now, Aash returns with a fun, bass-laden house track called “Back To You”, which introduces fellow producer, Charlotte, N.C.’s ephem (aka Nilay Ghatlia) to the scene. With its punchy rhythm, echo-ey vocal call backs, and a solid uncredited female vocal, “Back To You” is an engaging surprise, the kind of song that’s placed in a set midway through the evening deliberately to keep dancers on the floor. The strong results in “Back To You” signal that this collaboration between Aash and ephem is worth repeating.
Matt FX not only is an up and coming producer and DJ from NYC, he’s also the music producer behind soundtrack to Comedy Central’s “Broad City”, and is also an accomplished chef, known for his “underground fried chicken sandwich racket” DUBPLATE NYC. Music wise, Matt is onto something with his latest single about a night out in a club that just might go somewhere called “A Love Beginning”. Definitely peppered with vibes you would associate with songs by Disclosure and Gorgon City, “A Love Beginning” is all about relishing those preliminary moments about what could happen next after you spot someone on the dance floor that you would like to get to know better. Melika’s vocal is alternately flirty and sultry, and before you gasp at the song’s length (5:11), note that it is paced so evenly that you’ll happily want to hear more.
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