I’m going to let Australia-based singer/songwriter Vincent Pine be an enigma for now to let the highly engaging “Perfectly Familiar” stand on its own. It’s rich-sounding, straight-forward, guitar-oriented indie alt.rock with a striking and convincing vocal that might appeal to those who enjoy performers like James Bay, The 1975, or Jake Bugg, but also seems to draw unintentionally on late 80’s sounds familiar to fans of bands like Stone Roses, The Railway Children, or House Of Love. It’s an interesting side project for the performer, who is also becoming known under another name as a splendid electronic dance producer. “Perfectly Familiar” goes down really easy, as you will find by listening to it at the link above.
The amount of social media outreach that Minnesota pop/hip hop artist Call Me Karizma does every day to young music fans is nothing short of incredible, and it goes hand-in-hand with the stories in his music. “God (Damnit)”, from his upcoming EP Gloomy Tapes, is about knowing that you’re good enough to be loved not only by yourself but by others too. To hell with body image, likes, followers, bullying, and anything else that can get in the way of making you feel less than who you are and should be. This time, ‘Riz has crafted a simple lyric video to focus on the key messages of the song. It’s a quickie at only 2:14, but it’s one of ‘Riz’s best to date. Check out the lyric video above and pick this one up at your favourite local digital store.
It’s not often that I get to write about talent that is literally in my neighbourhood, which in Toronto is the former city of Scarborough. Following folks like The Weeknd and Francesco Yates, Aphrose has arrived, ready for you to be compelled by her powerful and soulful voice in “Move On”. There are many parts to this young woman’s voice but most strikingly you will want to say Amy Winehouse, Pink, Adele, Fiona Apple, Alicia Keys, and a few others, just to start. Aphrose (aka Joanna Mohammed) has the command and restraint in her blend of blues, R&B, rock and pop to keep your attention in “Move On”. This is a great start and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Aphrose during the rest of 2018. Check out the unique video for “Move On” above. Perhaps you’ll make out more of its intent than I did but it’s an interesting introduction for Aphrose.
2018 looks to be a year where boundaries of electronic dance and EDM are being pushed out of their comfort zones. Norway’s Dyrisk is back with something new, and you won’t expect the alt.rock flavour of “Smile”, which he concocted with British producer Nik Ernst. All of a sudden it’s a big rush back to the early 90’s when Massive Attack and Radiohead were breaking out while Nirvana and Soundgarden dominated the rock market and dance music was more about Madonna, Michael, Whitney, and maybe C+C Music Factory too. Full of sarcastic lyrics calling out posers, “Smile” moves deliberately through its lilting rhythm and subtle electronics while incorporating crisp percussion sounds and zithery synths. “Smile” is such an uncharacteristic shift for Dyrisk, and it works so well, that it can make you do nothing but smile. Check it out at the link above and be sure to pick it up at your favourite digital music store.
The new chart is being particularly good to my fellow Canadians. With the addition of three more to the chart, the total number of Canadians on the chart is eight!!
The Top 10
As expected, South Africa-born, Australia-raised singer/songwriter Troye Sivan grabs his first #1 with “My My My!”. It’s an energetic celebration of being head over heels for someone. Troye letting loose with some dance moves in the video is the imagery that says it all 🙂 (I’m awaiting a remix from fellow Aussie Throttle too!)
If not for Troye, Toronto’s Loud Luxury would have another #1 with “Body” (featuring Brando), but nonetheless it does advance to #2 as radio and club play increases across the country for it.
L.A.-based ‘mystery’ production trio Giiants move up 5-3 with their debut single “Small Talk”. We’ll be hearing more about these guys very soon I promise. This is the highest placing for a Tipsy Records release on the chart thus far!
Tipsy does get a second song in the Top 5 with the inspiring “What We’re Made Of” by NYC producer Dave Edwards and featuring UK-based singer Mark Asani. It climbs 8-5.
The beautiful “Breathe” by Mako busts into the Top 5, soaring 13-7, as Alex’s much more progressive sounding collaboration with Illenium and Kill The Noise arrives called “Don’t Give Up On Me” (below).
Equally touching and moving up right behind 14-8 is L.A. singer/songwriter Axel Mansoor with “Talk To Me”. Watch the video for some insight into the song. It’s Axel’s third Top 10 entry following last year’s #1 “Wasted My Love” and #2 “Out Of My Head”.
“You Found Me” by Saxity featuring Victor Perry moves up 11-9, becoming Saxity’s second Top 10 following last year’s #3 “Brothers”, and Victor’s fourth – his last Top 10, the #3 “Sail”, with German producer Levi, debuted on the chart exactly a year ago!
While “Pineapple Skies” slips out of #1, Miguel gets his third Top 10 from the War & Leisure album with the Prince-ly “Told You So” (12-10). I’m sooo looking forward to Miguel’s show in Toronto next month!
Movin’ on Up
The Chainsmokers have the fastest riser on the chart with the uncharacteristic, alt.rock-flavoured “Sick Boy” (above), zipping up the chart 25-14. I’m glad to see Alex and Drew pushing their boundaries and their songwriting in “Sick Boy” is top notch. They’ve recently followed it up with an entertaining and unexpected video for “You Owe Me” (below).
NYC singer Reigen advances 21-15 with his lovely rendition of The Cranberries’ “Dreams”.
Still in the midst of their “Just A Kid” tour, Two Friends take their same named song, featuring Kevin Writer, from 22-16 on the chart.
The rest of the last chart’s debuts all show promise:
Italy’s IDEO takes a very different arrangement, featuring American hip hop singer J.Paulished, for “Multiply” (above), which moves up 26-21.
Quebec’s Robotaki partners up with Manila Killa and vocalist Matthew John Kurz for the compelling “I Want You” (below), in haunting Spirix remix, climbing 27-22.
UK singer/songwriter James Poole has an important message about loving yourself and your body with “Perfectly Me” (also below) rising 28-23.
Three Debuts
The highest debut belongs to L.A. producer Bobby Nourmand, who returns with his unique deep house flavours mixed with gritty UK soul courtesy of a potent vocal by singer Laurent John. “Prisoner” arrives at #26.
Vancouver’s Ekali bows with the dark deep house of “Blame”, featuring none other than ZHU on vocals for a powerful collaboration. “Blame” debuts at #27.
At #29 are our remaining Canadians. Toronto’s Keys N Krates is set to break out big time with their latest album Cura, which includes the spirited collaboration with Tory Lanez called “Music To My Ears”.
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! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Lest you think that pop/dance and EDM are the only genres to find their way outside of Sweden, then Simon Alexander’s “Won’t Be Found” is a convincing alternative. This is fine storytelling alt.rock that draws upon a myriad of classic influences which has a compelling vocal and memorable hooks that will draw you into the intriguing lyrics as they unfold. The song, from Simon’s EP of the same name, also features a well shot and thought out video that will keep you scratching your head until the end. “Won’t Be Found” is deserving of attention for rock fans looking for something decidedly different. Watch the video at the link above.
As we enter the second month of year, new favourites keep on coming fast and furious, there is simply no shortage of great pop and dance music out there outside of commercial charts and major labels. Songs from major labels make 7 out of my Top 30, with 4 more distribution/licensing deals. There is always room for new and innovative music regardless 🙂
The Top 10
It’s such a phenomenal performance, and I expect Miguel to be right in there at Grammy time next year for his fine War and Leisure album, which contains “Pineapple Skies” (above), holding at the top for a fourth appearance (that’s eight weeks)! Meanwhile, though “Sky Walker” has dropped from its peak of #3, there’s still “Told You So” (below) too, advancing 17-12.
The fastest riser on the chart, and almost 100% sure of #1 in two weeks, is Troye Sivan’s fun and unapologetic “My My My!”, which soars 16 to 2. I can’t believe how much Troye has transformed into a superstar performer from his You Tube days.
Toronto’s Loud Luxury advances 5 to 3 with “Body”, featuring vocalist Brando, which now has a video (below), and is picking up on national radio airplay in Canada!
Right behind is NYC-based American singer YEBBA, whose great singing on “Evergreen” goes a long way, moving up 6 to 4.
Rounding out the Top 5 is L.A.-based production trio Giiants, who have a new single coming out this month, to follow up “Small Talk”, which climbs 7 to 5. Giiants is a bit of a collective, using different vocalists, usually anonymously (such as with “Small Talk”), sometimes by the guys in Giiants too. More to come on this mysterious project!
NYC producer Dave Edwards has a strong and inspiring winner with “What We’re Made Of” climbing into the Top 10, up 13 to 8, featuring UK-based vocalist Mark Asari’s soulful vocal.
Also new to the Top 10 is Toronto’s Ryan Shepherd, featuring Dirty Hary, with the dirty and gritty “Right Now”. Ryan shared a #1 last year with Loud Luxury in their cover of Craig David’s “Fill Me In”.
Movin’ On Up
“You Found Me” by Saxity featuring Victor Perry, climbs 14-11, and is a great hybrid of lyrical pop refueled by saxophone-led house rhythms. Get it as a free download while you can!
Alex Seaver, aka Mako, always puts on a high energy, crowd-pleasing performance as I witness in Toronto last week. He also has some interesting, slightly heavier new music coming out, including one that’s a songwriting collaboration you won’t want to miss. Mako’s latest single “Breathe” climbs 19-13 and is available on the Ultra Dance 19 compilation!
The mix of tropical and Eurohouse dance music styles is a big winner for me with “Moves” by Italy’s Big Fish featuring Xuitcasecity’s Mike Gomes on vocals. “Moves” rises 21 to 17.
If you watched the Grammy Awards, you inadvertently heard Toronto’s River Tiber! Yes, his song with Grammy nominee and Torontonian Daniel Caesar, “West”, which I wrote about almost two years ago, is noticeably sampled in fellow Grammy nominee SZA’s “Broken Clocks”, which she performed live (below). River Tiber’s latest single “Patience” moves up 20 to 18 (above).
NYC singer Reigen’s simply blissful cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams” climbs 26 to 21. So much deserved attention is currently being given to The Cranberries’ back catalogue. This interpretation, recorded before (and not associated with) Dolores O’Riordan’s passing and for the wedding of Reigen’s friends, should also definitely be heard by the band’s fans.
“Just A Kid” by L.A. producers Two Friends featuring singer Kevin Writer is downright contagious, reminiscent in ways of early Blink-182, but much more of an anthem to which anyone can relate. It climbs 27 to 22.
New to the Chart
When The Chainsmokers said they were coming back with something totally different, they were not bluffing! “Sick Boy”, which arrives at #25, is a bold lyrical statement mixed with slick dance rhythms that seem to be as heavily influenced by hip hop as EDM. While it’s not another “Closer” or “Paris”, “Sick Boy” is wildly original and a fine introduction to Alex and Drew’s next chapter.
Something weird and wacky out of Italy, courtesy of Balming Digital Recordings, is “Multiply”, by Italian producer IDEO but featuring an entertaining vocal by American hip hop artist J.Paulished. It’s like 5 songs rolled into one… and a lot of fun. “Multiply” debuts at #26.
L.A.-based producer Spirix is back on the chart, this time with his moving remix of Robotaki and Manila Killa’s “I Want You” at #27 (a Canadian-American collaboration too). It features an amazing vocal by Florida-based Matthew John Kurz, who himself got to #6 back in 2011 with his cover of David Guetta & Sia’s “Titanium”, which he makes his own by not trying to emulate Sia’s multi-octave vocalizing. The Spirix remix of “I Want You” is a free download!
The last debut belongs to UK singer James Poole, who has made an important and enjoyable song about positive body image and loving yourself for who you are. “Perfectly Me” is a great companion song to Mika’s “It’s My House” (up at #16) and arrives at #28.
When a relationship gets past the point of no return, it’s time to move on, even if the other party wants it to get deeper. So is the message of “Close” by Kiwi alt.pop singer So Below. I wrote not long ago about Nazariff and Rosé Throne’s rather splendid update on “Cities In Dust”, the 80’s new wave hit by Siouxsie & The Banshees. The guys are back with their atmospheric ‘witch house’ remix for So Below which adds ongoing mystery to her heartfelt story. There’s an almost classically repetitive backdrop in the song’s middle verses which sticks in your head like an unobtrusive ticking clock, as well as an unexpected but gentle drop later on with some dazzling keyboards that follow. Overall this remix of “Close” is easy on the ears but soul food for your head. Check it out at the link above.
Despite rock and alternative rock not being the current flavours in pop music, invested musicians like those in Dallas quartet Northern National continue to offer top quality songs like their new single “Slow Down”. The spirit of the song is self-confidence and facing up to a challenge – about not slowing or backing down – brought to you in a similar anthemic style to Imagine Dragons without going over the top. Michael Rossi’s vocal is full of restraint but also unleashes a lot of power when the energy level rises in the song. “Slow Down” would fit perfectly into either mainstream or alternative rock radio and would definitely help bring the house down as a set closer in concert. Add it to your playlist of new rock anthems at the Spotify link above.
Edition #527 of my chart, now in its 20th year, begs the question: What do you do when you enjoy all of the songs at the top of your chart so much?
The answer: You put them on hold! But something’s gotta give in two weeks 🙂
There are three debuts, including the one right below:
The Top 10
So in a BILLCS Top 30 chart first, songs 1 through 7 remain the same.
Miguel’s “Pineapple Skies” gets its 3rd appearance (6th week, above) at #1, while Billboard Top 40 hit “Sky Walker” stays steady at #3, and “Told You So” (below) rises 20-17. They’re all from the compelling and enjoyable War and Leisure album.
YEBBA’s “Evergreen” (above) holds tight at #6, while her duet with Sam Smith, “No Peace”, inches up to #12. This compelling new singer continues to be one to watch, and more proof is available in the form of a song recorded live called “My Mind” (below), which is available for free download, or you can make a donation, with proceeds going to Bring Change To Mind, an organization to assist people with mental illnesses. It’s availablefrom her website right here. Its video has over a million views.
Nora En Pure’s gorgeous “Tears In Your Eyes” climbs 9-8, and I’d love to see this song set to some lovely choreography 🙂
New to the Top 10 is SoCal production duo waitwhat with “Alive” rising 11-9 featuring a provocative vocal by Rielle.
Movin’ On Up
The songs just below the Top 10 are kind of stuck this week, slinking up the chart by 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 positions, save one song, the fastest riser.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Mako’s “Breathe” which jumps 25-19. And this is just as Alex’s tour kicks off, with a stop this week in Toronto on Friday January 26, as before, at The Velvet Underground 🙂
“Moves” will keep you dancing courtesy of Italy’s Big Fish featuring American singer Mike Gomes, rising 26-21.
It’s a 2-for-4 deal with River Tiber’s “Patience” (above) climbing 24-20, while K-POP stars BTS are up 27-23 with “DNA” (below).
Keeping the doors wide open is Mika with the jaunty and inspiring “It’s My House” climbing 22-18.
Three Debuts
Putting a huge wrinkle into the chart which will ultimately play out in two weeks is Troye Sivan’s new single “My My My!” (at the top), which soars into the chart at #16. It would have been higher had most of the songs above it not been frozen this week. This is the breakthrough single that everyone had hoped for, a joyous mid-tempo dance song that sees Troye flashing his moves in the fun video. It was immediately followed up this week by the more pensive “The Good Side” (below performance from Saturday Night Live).
Arriving at #26 is NYC singer Reigen with “Dreams”. I wrote about this cover of The Cranberries 1994 hit shortly before the sudden passing of its singer, Dolores O’Riordan. Reigen recorded it as an ode to the marriage of his friends. While his version has suddenly taken on a bittersweet quality with Dolores’ passing, Reigen’s cover should always be regarded for what was intended. It’s Reigen’s second chart appearance, following 2014’s #2 “Come Back To Me”.
Debuting on the chart as lead artists rather than remixers are L.A. duo Two Friends with “Just A Kid” at #27, featuring a playful vocal by singer Kevin Writer. Matt and Eli have already been to the Top 10 twice with their fine remixes of Mako’s “Way Back Home” (#10) and MAX’s “Lights Down Low” (#3), which looks to finally crack the Billboard Top 40 after nearly two years on release!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.
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
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 