LINNEY, “Never Be Like You” (Gain Stage remix) (free DL)
It’s a song that’s endured in clubs and on dance music radio throughout 2016, so after so many covers and remixes it’s hard to wonder what someone can come up with next with another one of Flume & Kai’s “Never Be Like You”. St. Louis-based Gain Stage takes a pretty, believable, upper register vocal by L.A.’s Linney and surrounds it with progressive punch, leaving most of the mix in the high end too, but dropping it down effectively too at times. The beginning fools you and brings it right down only to rebuild, and by then you’re well into two minutes of the song, which is really quite refreshing. This helps the song sustain its 5+ minutes length, and sure, perhaps there may be some repetitive moments that could have been reduced. But overall Gain Stage have created a more emotional alternate take on this very popular song, which draws in listeners because it gets away from and tries to be nothing like the trap-flavoured mid-tempo original. You’ll be pleasantly surprised – check it out at the link above and download it for free.
MOLLY MOORE featuring BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Just A Dream”
“Just A Dream” is one wired, surreal, emotional journey for L.A. based singer Molly Moore, offering up a third preview of her upcoming EP Now U See Me. It’s riveting, dynamic alternative rock with EDM flourishes where the singer grapples with wanting to escape into dreamland. It’s hard to top a performance like “Blood. Sweat. Tears” from her debut EP Shadow Of The Sun, but “Just A Dream” comes darned close. Brandyn Burnette’s lower register harmony vocals not only fill out the song but anchor it as well, and the production by our dynamic and ultra-prolific duo of Molly and Brandyn is full and unrelenting. “Just A Dream” is passionate and unique alternative rock and there’s more to come on Now U See Me.
A one-of-a-kind new voice to get to know belongs to NYC’s Janelle Kroll with another vowel-deprived title “FVR”. And the song is a true showcase for that voice which stands apart from just about anyone else’s in a crowd. It’s easy to put Janelle in an Ellie Goulding-meets-Jewel kind of category, with her slight rasp also standing out, but her music is more uptempo left-of-centre. The defining moment of the song comes about two and a half minutes in when we receive a break that allows Janelle to ease out of it with plenty of expression before the beat kicks in. “FVR” is easy to enjoy with a vocal from Janelle Kroll that can only lead to even better things. Give it a listen at the link above.
The world of EDM/Dance moves so quickly, so much that at times it seems like too much of a revolving door of very high quality songs. With the influx of this genre in my chart over the last year, it slows down the pace for some of the songs to be showcased on the chart for up to 10 appearances (20 weeks). So while some of the performers have gone on to record other songs since, these are all of my current favourites, EDM/Dance or otherwise, and there’s a new #1 and a high-flying debut in the Top 10 🙂
The Top 10
“Shy” in its Club mix by The Magician featuring vocalist Brayton Bowman takes over from Brandon Skeie at #1. “Shy” is a barnstorming dance floor filler with a really invested and soulful vocal, one of my favourite songs of 2016 so far!
Soaring into the Top 5 at #4 from #10 is “Her And Him” by L.A.’s Mi Disguise & Rouse, a really cinematic song for a late night highway drive. It comes from the pair’s excellent mixtape called NGHT LFE.
Ariana Grande’s “Into You” becomes her greatest success on this chart as it moves to #6. Also do check out the different and highly complimentary Wookie Vegas remix above.
I didn’t like it enough for it to debut two weeks ago, but since then I’ve grown incredibly fond of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey, so much that I’d call it the End of Summer Song for 2016. It’s this chart’s highest debut at #7. It’s really genuine and romantic in a “Reality Bites” kind of way, if you know what I mean 🙂 It will be as much a dance floor draw as for listening.
Three more songs make their Top 10 debuts. No stranger to this part of the chart is Brandyn Burnette from his State I’m In EP with “Worship” (above) rising to #8. NYC’s Electric Bodega featuring vocalist Matt Beilis climb 15-9 with the incredibly infectious “Rest Of My Life”. And the Jenaux remix of the ultra cool “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik featuring singer Leo Napier soars 17-10. Both of the latter are below.
Movin’ On Up
You wouldn’t necessarily expect to find singer/actor Jesse McCartney on an EDM record but Built By Titan uses his voice to great effect on “Dangerous” which moves up a notch to #13.
It should really have been the follow up to “Don’t Let Me Down”, but nonetheless “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers featuring Charlee has now become a companion song to “Closer”, on this chart anyway 🙂 It jumps 20-14.
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to a short but busy deep house track called “Balance” by The Him featuring vocalist Oktavian. The Him are popping up in high places now with remixes… watch out for more from them. “Balance” vaults 25-15.
Atlanta singer/Victor Perry continues to advance 22-17 with his gracious ode to love that could have been called “Rainbows” from his EP 4 AM Nostalgia. I hear that a remix of “Rainbows” is coming soon 🙂
The very busy duo called The Disco Fries moves up 24-18 featuring UK singer Hope Murphy on the powerful dance floor banger “Born Ready”.
I think “We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Charlie Puth and Selena Gomez is going to be a long-lasting hit through September. It moves up 26-19 in its DROELOE remix.
Vocal duo RKCB have great voices as evidenced on “Elevated”, which rises 27-20 in its Joe Mason remix. The duo was also recently featured on Steve James’ “In My Head” to great effect.
3 More Debuts
It didn’t take long for it to become one of my favourites about to soar, but the beautiful “Broken” by Austin duo Tritonal along with NYC’s Jenaux and featuring none other than Adam Lambert quickly bows at #23. That makes it three chart appearances for Jenaux – #10, #11, and #23 😀 And the song follows two Top 10 songs from Adam’s last album The Original High, “Ghost Town” (#4) and “The Light” (#9).
I know MAX Schneider fans may be soaking in the richness of the original ballad, but L.A.’s Two Friends really transformed “Lights Down Low” into a dance floor rave up. One of the best parts of the song is the simple chorus with some added vocal effects which enhance rather than detract. Anyway this collaboration between MAX and one of my favourite remix teams – who I hear have a remix of my #7 song on deck this week – lands at #25 not long out of the gate. It’s MAX’s third entry on this chart, following #1 “Wrong” and #6 “Ms Anonymous”.
The final debut this week belongs to a song that should by all rights be a worldwide hit. Sweden’s Matoma meets UK’s Becky Hill for “False Alarm” which arrives at #26.
The complete chart:
02 01 SHY (Club mix) The Magician F/ Brayton Bowman 01 02 SO BAD (EDWYNN x TIKAL & Spirix remix) Brandon Skeie 03 03 SO HAPPY Tony Moran F/ Jason Walker 10 04 HER AND HIM Mi Disguise x Rouse 05 05 TAKE ME APART Lzrd x Spirix F/ Remmi 08 06 INTO YOU Ariana Grande New 07 CLOSER The Chainsmokers F/ Halsey 11 08 WORSHIP Brandyn Burnette 15 09 REST OF MY LIFE Electric Bodega F/ Matt Beilis 17 10 NATIVE SON PREQUEL (Jenaux remix) Gramatix F/ Leo Napier 04 11 GET IT ON Jenaux 12 12 OPEN YOUR MIND Megaphonix 14 13 DANGEROUS Built By Titan F/ Jesse McCartney 20 14 INSIDE OUT The Chainsmokers F/ Charlee 25 15 BALANCE The Him F/ Oktavian 18 16 STATE I’M IN Brandyn Burnette 22 17 RAINBOWS Victor Perry 24 18 BORN READY (Halogen radio edit) The Disco Fries F/ Hope Murphy 26 19 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE (DROELOE remix) Charlie Puth F/ Selena Gomez 27 20 ELEVATED (Joe Mason remix) RKCB 21 21 LIMITS Latchmere F/ Andreas Liberos 07 22 RUN RUN Kat Krazy F/ Johnny Stimson New 23 BROKEN Tritonal & Jenaux F/ Adam Lambert 06 24 MAGNETISED (Kat Krazy remix) Tom Odell New 25 LIGHTS DOWN LOW (Two Friends remix) MAX New 26 FALSE ALARM Matoma F/ Becky Hill 09 27 DREAMIN’ Embody F/ Camden Cox 13 28 STRONGER (Steve Void edit) Nik Ernst 16 29 SOUND OF HOME (Snøwmass remix) Sterling Grove F/ Ellyn Woods 19 30 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi
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
http://www.planetradio.cais back! Listen for my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear return this Tuesday evening at 9pm EST
New Toronto singer Kiki Rowe’s single “Trust Issues” is a dark song that should find favour with fans of Lorde, Banks, and Juno winner Alyssia Cara. Rising Vancouver duo Young Bombs (who scored recently with their remix of Alyssia’s “Wild Things”) recognize this and add some tempo and progressive house flavour to help the rich and soulful song move along for a dance club crowd, and it works beautifully. Like both Lorde and Banks, Kiki’s voice is completely suited for the EDM genre and Young Bombs showcase it while adding distinct that subdued progressive vibe.
Now based in New Mexico and formerly of the production outfit The Golden Pony (who co-produced), indie performer Memoryy (aka Shaun) recently made a huge score by creating the theme to the Chelsea Handler Netflix series, which has now been renewed for a second season. That definitely opens all kinds of possibilities from which songs like “Turning The Page” will benefit. There’s nothing out there that quite sounds like “Turning The Page”, from Memoryy’s upcoming album, it seems to be this deep but engaging mix of 80’s rock, pop and dance music. Just as you’re getting used to a subdued, almost mysterious sounding vocal, the song shifts into high gear with a powerful, emotional chorus. “Turning The Page” then becomes this inspiring danceable pop record about moving on for the better. Memoryy is riding a cool wave and you’ll only want to hear more. Check it out at the link above and watch for it on your favourite digital platform on August 26!
This is a condensed NYC-holiday based blog post coming at you with the new chart 🙂
The Top 10
Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” (in original or EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix remix) stays on top for a 4th appearance (8 weeks) and certainly appears to be my song of the summer as well as one of the best of the year so far.
Bounding in to steal the top away from “So Bad” in two weeks is “Shy” by The Magician featuring Brayton Bowman. It soars up the chart 19-2 as the fastest riser. Find the Club mix of this one if you can!
Now based in L.A., Spirix gets his second song in the Top 5 in a pairing with LZRD and vocalist Remmi for the emotional “Take Me Apart”, which climbs 8-5.
Ariana Grande’s “Into You” matches the #8 peak 3 years ago of “The Way”, so let’s see if it goes higher in two weeks. Helping make that a possibility is the delightful, recent arpeggio-laden remix by L.A.’s The Wookie.
The only other new entry to the Top 10 rises 18-10, some NGHT LFE romance called “Her And Him” courtesy of Mi Disguise and Rouse’s mixtape. It becomes Mi Disguise’s 2nd Top Tenner following 2014’s “East Side Bay”.
Also Rising
The song that’s resonating most with me from the State I’m In EP by Brandyn Burnette is “Worship”, which rises 17-11. The title song is also on the move too, up 22-18.
“Rest Of My Life” by Electric Bodega featuring Matt Beilis gets stuck in your head way too easily. I’m often humming it long after it’s ended, and it climbs 23-15.
Equally memorable but for different reasons – such as a funky remix by Jenaux and a sly vocal singing cool lyrics, is “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik featuring Leo Napier, which moves up 25-17.
Don’t y’all worry ’bout their new single “Closer”, with Halsey, it should arrive on the chart in two weeks as it continues to grow on me amid fierce competition… in the meantime should-have-been-second-single “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers featuring Charlee, jumps 26-20.
New Atlanta singer Victor Perry brings on his unique soulful charm on his song “Rainbows” from the EP 4 A.M. Nostalgia. It moves up 27-22.
New to the Chart
The common theme with this chart’s debuts is that songs with great vocals won out this time!
If you’re looking for an early 90’s influenced house track with a fierce vocal, then get to know “Born Ready” in its Halogen radio edit by The Disco Fries featuring UK singer Hope Murphy. It arrives at #24.
Another bouncy house track of a different, darker nature premieres at #25 – it’s “Balance” by The Him featuring Oktavian.
Charlie Puth returns to this chart courtesy of an engaging remix by The Netherlands’ DROELOE with “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, his duet with Selena Gomez, who has never appeared on this chart previously. It debuts at #26, and follows Charlie’s previous entries of “Marvin Gaye” (#7) and “See You Again” (#16).
The final new arrival is “Elevated” by rising L.A. duo RKCB, which has been remixed by many folks lately but none better to my ears than by young Australian producer Joe Mason. “Elevated” debuts at #27.
In lieu of the published prettier web version of the chart, here’s the basic chart until I post the full one later in the week 🙂
01 01 SO BAD (EDWYNN x TIKAL & Spirix remix) Brandon Skeie 19 02 SHY (Club mix) The Magician F/ Brayton Bowman 05 03 SO HAPPY Tony Moran F/ Jason Walker 04 04 GET IT ON Jenaux 08 05 TAKE ME APART LZRD x Spirix F/ Remmi 06 06 MAGNETISED (Kat Krazy remix) Tom Odell 07 07 RUN RUN Kat Krazy F/ Johnny Stimson 10 08 INTO YOU Ariana Grande 02 09 DREAMIN’ Embody F/ Camden Cox 18 10 HER AND HIM Mi Disguise x Rouse 17 11 WORSHIP Brandyn Burnette 14 12 OPEN YOUR MIND Megaphonix 15 13 STRONGER (Steve Void edit) Nik Ernst 16 14 DANGEROUS Built By Titan F/ Jesse McCartney 23 15 REST OF MY LIFE Electric Bodega F/ Matt Beilis 03 16 SOUND OF HOME (Snøwmass remix) Sterling Grove F/ Ellyn Woods 25 17 NATIVE SON PREQUEL (Jenaux remix) Gramatik F/ Leo Napier 22 18 STATE I’M IN Brandyn Burnette 21 19 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 26 20 INSIDE OUT The Chainsmokers F/ Charlee 24 21 LIMITS Latchmere F/ Andreas Liberos 27 22 RAINBOWS Victor Perry 09 23 DON’T NEED YOU Christofi F/ J-VEN New 24 BORN READY (Halogen radio edit) The Disco Fries F/ Hope Murphy New 25 BALANCE The Him F/ Oktavian New 26 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE (DROELOE remix) Charlie Puth F/ Selena Gomez New 27 ELEVATED (Joe Mason remix) RKCB 11 28 CLOSER Elephante F/ Bishøp 12 29 LOST (Young Bombs remix) Connor Phillips 13 30 DON’T LET ME DOWN The Chainsmokers F/ Daya
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
http://www.planetradio.ca is back! Listen for my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear will be heard on Wednesday evening at 9pm EST
I’ve gotta hand it to Candyland for making her return an even sweeter one with the quirky “Faces”, featuring vocals by L.A.-based up-and-comer Shoffy. The SoCal DJ/producer had taken some radio silence but recently re-emerged like time had stood still in the EDM world. “Faces” has a lot of different flavours – progressive, R&B, hip hop, softer future bass – making it easy to slide into many different sets of songs. In-between stylistic changes, Shoffy’s vocals sound rather vulnerable and heartstruck. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming beginning; once some sly effects start feeding into the music then heads will start turning. Those who are looking for something a little different in their playlists will enjoy “Faces”. Give it a listen at the above link.
Part of the qualities of a good record, no matter how unassuming it may seem, is charm. Proof in the pudding are in both vocals by Maryland-raised, Texas-based Brendan Velasquez, and melody and lyrics courtesy of the ever-amazing Crush Boys (Daniel Volpe and Thomas Lipp) and Charlie Mason. “Disappearing” is a song of self-reflection and making a decision for not only those around you but yourself as well. Whether or not that’s the right decision is the point/counterpoint at the crux of the song. Brendan’s voice, dreamy and full of conviction [producers/remixers – if you’re looking for another go-to voice for dance tunes… 🙂 ], sells us this dilemma, while the songwriters aptly let the story unfold and give it a sullen but silky 80’s-tinged synthpop backdrop. Don’t let “Disappearing” slip on by, be sure to watch the video above and pick it up at your favourite digital music store.
“Motives” is the latest song I want to showcase for you from Toronto’s River Tiber, aka multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley. It comes from River Tiber’s diverse recent album Indigo, and also features such winning songs as “No Talk” (sampled in Drake’s “No Tellin'”), “Acid Test”, and “West” (featuring Daniel Caesar), all of which I’ve written about. Diving deeper into Indigo, it’s a moody album that shifts styles frequently, moving seamlessly from R&B/hip hop, to progressive/experimental electronic rock (“Clarity” featuring Tess Parks), through to rhythmic EDM like “Motives”. “Motives” will resonate in clubs because of its full sound, playful effects, and rich harmonies. Tommy’s voice is always his secret weapon and it’s one of his best performances in Indigo. Check it out at the Spotify link above and pick up Indigo on any major digital platform.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.