Tag Archives: alternative

Do it for love: “Seize The Night” by @Reigenmusic

REIGEN, “Seize The Night”

Though I’ve written about his songs several times since 2014’s “Come Back To Me”, Brooklyn, NYC singer/songwriter/producer Reigen is still one of my blog’s best kept secrets.  As he continues to write more of his repertoire, which consists of R&B-soaked softer songs or punchy dance/EDM, continuing towards a full EP or album release, and performing in his city, to me it’s only a matter of time before that changes.  “Seize The Night” is a beautiful anthemic ode to not holding back for the sake of love.  Make that first kiss, win over that first impression – basically don’t hesitate to seize the moment for love if it feels right.  Reigen has absolutely nothing to lose with this one, it’s a real crowd pleaser on its own, this time in a co-production with Data Child (aka Chrissy Tignor Fisher).  So do get to know Reigen with “Seize The Night” and search this blog for my posts about his other songs and videos, which you can hear/watch on his website.

@Bannersmusic’s “Start A Riot” gets fresh EDM makeovers by @itsDaveEdwards and @Thundatraxx

BANNΞRS, “Start A Riot” (Dave Edwards and Thundatraxx remixes)

It’s rare when two remixes of a song that’s been long on the bubble come along, and you can’t really decide which one you like best.  The good news is that both are official remixes of Banners’ “Start A Riot”.  UK singer/songwriter Banners (aka Michael Nelson) has been touring North America recently promoting his highly touted EP released late last year.  And while the original of “Start A Riot” comes off as an enjoyable song that’s the next best thing to acoustic Coldplay, the remixes beg to offer up their own variations.  

NYC native Dave Edwards keeps his remix closer to the original melody as well as the pace of the song, as it gradually segues into charming futuristic deep house that allows a beautiful focus on Banners’ voice at the 2 minute mark.  

Thundatraxx is the (shhh) pseudonym for noted US producer/songwriter Eric Sanicola, who revs up the tempo a tad allowing him to incorporate an anthemic tropical vibe which serves the song nicely, keeping the song’s intention and vocal qualities intact.

So you can’t go wrong with either remix and it will be special indeed if club DJ’s can find a place for them in their playlists, which will help grow Banners’ music to an entirely different crowd.  Listen to both remixes via Spotify below.

 

 

@TwoFriendsmusic ignite the power in @MAXgschneider’s “Lights Down Low”

MAX, “Lights Down Low” (Two Friends remix)

MAX and Two Friends were simply destined to work together.  The LA-based duo of Matt and Eli have given Max Schneider’s “Lights Down Low” (originally from MAX’s Hell’s Kitchen Angel album) an official remix that is totally unlike the ballad original.  But they’ve taken MAX’s splendid vocal in all of its subtle and powerful moments and have built a rollicking club anthem that will lead to those quieter parts of the evening.  Over the last year or so Two Friends have had such a variety of remixes and originals, yet in most of them there are a recognizable few moments that (like The Chainsmokers and a few others) have helped define them as world class producers and performers who are getting those deserved big gigs in Las Vegas, as well as major label releases like this one.  “Lights Down Low” is one of their best yet and MAX’s own fans will be delighted with this one.  Pick it up or hear it on most major platforms.

@BrandynBurnette continues to dive into #EDM with @SeanTurkmusic progressive remix of “Closer”

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Closer” (Sean Turk remix) (free download)

I was not expecting Brandyn Burnette’s music to expand into EDM and embrace it, but once you get started with experimenting then it’s hard to stop.  So following remixes of songs like “Made Of Dreams”, Brandyn lets Sean Turk take the reigns for the alternately progressive and futuristic “Closer”, which in original version appears on the State I’m In EP as a collaboration with John Lock.  I think I like this version of “Closer” better!  It seems to be a little more vibrant and the EDM crunch that arrives quickly at the 40 second mark set the pace for the rest of the remix and doesn’t let up. It’s no wonder that this one is already getting early DJ support, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it pop up in charts nationally.  It’s also a fine companion piece to Elephante’s “Closer” with a different perspective.  Download “Closer” for free above and let it sweep you away!

#BILLCSTop30 #488 – July 25/16

The increasingly fast pace of the online music community, especially those in EDM/dance, has created a shift on my bi-weekly chart, with five more debuts this week.  My favourites up top are hard to dislodge right now but will soon have to make way for new ones 🙂

The Top 10

  • Newly signed to Warner Chappell/Justin Tranter publishing this week, Brandon Skeie retains the pole position with his delightful “So Bad”, either in original form or the splendid remix by EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix.  It ties “Care For Me” by Dzeko & Torres and Hellberg (now #20) as the longest running #1 of 2016 so far.

  • Both the #3 and #4 songs have a funk undercurrent in common which makes them stand apart from other songs this year.  Snøwmass’ crunchy remix of “Sound Of Home” by Canadians Sterling Grove and Ellyn Woods moves to #3, while the 80’s retro funk/R&B sound of Jenaux’s original “Get It On” climbs to #4.

  • For the second time, the fastest riser belongs to the glorious “So Happy” by Tony Moran and Jason Walker which rises 12-5 and has its sights on the top.  Will it get there?  It largely depends on other songs on the rise further down.

  • Making it two-for-two in the Top 10, L.A.-based producer/remixer/performer Spirix lands at #8 in partnership with LZRD and vocalist Remmi for the crazy/emotional “Take Me Apart”.  One to watch 🙂
  • Michael Christofi gets his first Top Tenner with the slick classic house of “Don’t Need You”, featuring a marvelous vocal by J-VEN.  It moves up 11-9.

  • Following 2013’s debut “The Way”, Ariana Grande is back in the Top 10 at #10 with the slick, R&B flavoured “Into You” from the Dangerous Woman album. 

Movin’ On Up

  • Chicago’s Megaphonix continues to climb up the chart with the fun and positive deep house track “Open Your Mind”, rising 20-14.  Spin this and watch your dance floor fill up!
  • L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette is really expanding his horizons with the diverse songs from his recent EP State I’m In.  The title song (video coming soon!) climbs 26-22 while the hypnotic “Worship” jumps 21-17.

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/state-im-in

  • The songs from the mixtape NGHT LFE by Mi Disguise and Rouse have major growing power.  The late night romance in “Her And Him” rises 23-18 but I wouldn’t second guess a future debut from another song on the mixtape sometime soon!

5 Debuts

  • One song I’ll be heaping praise over for the next few weeks is “Shy” by Belgium’s The Magician featuring NYC-based singer/songwriter Brayton Bowman.  This old-style disco-flavoured track is one of the most powerful, ear-catching dance songs around thanks to a riveting vocal by Brayton.  It plows onto the chart at #19!
  • Another song with a fantastic vocal but an emotional quality that will leave it stuck in your head is “Rest Of My Life” by NYC’s Electric Bodega.  The vocalist is Matt Beilis and I could listen to him sing anything.  “Rest Of My Life” bows at #23.
  • Following his success with “Get It On” (currently #4), Jenaux continues to funkify other songs through remixes, and one that works especially well is “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik.  But what also helps make this song special are the ultra cool lyrics and equally smooth vocals which are so into it all by Leo Napier.  “Native Son Prequel” premieres at #25.

  • I’m not sure it will happen, since it was pretty well released simultaneously with “Don’t Let Me Down” (now #13), but to me “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers featuring Charlee should be “Down”‘s follow up hit.  So many remixes, including those by KLYMVX and Not Your Dope x Spirix, show the diversity and power in this particular song that worked so well with “Down” too.  “Inside Out” debuts at #26.
  • A few weeks back I was pleased to write about “Rainbows” by new Atlanta singer/songwriter Victor Perry, which helped send it to #1 for a few days on the Hype Machine Twitter chart!  It’s also got some positive vibes from other blogs since then too.  It’s a beautiful classic ballad – “Rainbows” arrives at #27, from Victor’s EP 4 A.M. Nostalgia.

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch :)

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 return this Tuesday evening at 9pm EST:)

New @Frankmusik collab with #LindsayLowend on “High On You” is R&B-flavoured synthpop

https://soundcloud.com/frankmusik/high-on-you-feat-lindsay-lowend

FRANKMUSIK featuring LINDSAY LOWEND, “High On You”

From FrankMusik’s latest EP release Day Break, “High On You”, a collaboration with Lindsay Lowend, recalls other FrankMusik songs such as “Hurt You Again”, “Hymn” and “2B” where the singer brings forward his not-often-heard R&B and soul inspiration.  In the past, his voice has reached soulful heights on edgier breakup songs.  “High On You” definitely rides a happier vibe with a retro feel that seems to be a throwback to the halcyon days of mid-80’s US mid-tempo R&B that was more successful in the UK charts than at home (e.g. Rene & Angela’s “I’ll Be Good”) or even perhaps songs by the likes of The Style Council.  I’m not sure if there’s a sample in the mix or not, if so it may be obscure, too hard to tell! “High On You” is set to a slicker-than-ever electronic backdrop and is a quintessential FrankMusik song, so I’m looking forward to hearing more songs from Day Break, which you can pick up now on all major platforms.

@Xan_Griffin puts a progressive spin on “Thief” by @Ookayx

OOKAY, “Thief” (Xan Griffin remix)

California producer/DJ Xan Griffin substitutes the tropical vibes and saxophone riffs of LA producer/singer Ookay’s original version of “Thief” to create a progressive house alternative that stands on its own.  The original intent and somewhat unique song structure (for EDM anyway) is maintained and the result is a touch dramatic but well done.  My only complaint is that, despite a lovely softer ending, this remix of “Thief” ends too soon and could easily have gone on for another minute!   Enjoy and get it for free at the link above.

Slick, sexy, soulful “D E E P” by @BobbyNourmand

BOBBY NOURMAND, “D E E P”

L.A. producer/DJ/performer Bobby Nourmand finds his own ways through dance music which in 2016 has resulted in an instantly recognizable style with recent originals like “Smokin’ Joe” and smart reworks of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” (as “Sister”) and The Beatles’ “Because”.  “D E E P” had been available to hear on Bobby’s Soundcloud page previously but due to demand is now available for purchase.  There may be a sample or two within that I can’t recognize because they’re too brief or well-disguised (like played backwards 😛 ) but that kind of adds to the appeal of “D E E P”.  It’s got a sexy, soulful, laid back vibe that throws back to mid-80’s R&B with early house music flavours.  “D E E P” is perfect for the start of a set to get a crowd up and grooving for the night.

#BILLCSTop30 #487 – July 11, 2016

The new edition of my personal chart is one of my favourites of 2016.  It was difficult to compile in many ways, and there’s also so much great new music out that it makes it challenging to create only a list of 30 favourites.  This is also causing songs to exit the chart sooner perhaps than in recent years – many used to last the full 10 appearances (20 weeks).  But onward and upward with this post highlighting a number of the songs 🙂

The Top 10

  • He apparently has something new in the works, but right now I cannot get enough of L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” in either its original (above) or its swirling remixed version by EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix (below).  This was the easy part of compiling the chart – “So Bad” nails #1 hands down and will be difficult to dislodge!
  • The runner up is the timelessly summery “Dreamin'” by the UK’s Embody featuring vocalist Camden Cox.  It’s one to play at your beach parties 🙂

  • One of the more out-of-the-ordinary songs on the chart is “Sound Of Home” by Canadians Sterling Grove and vocalist Ellyn Woods, which in its deep house remix by Chicago’s Snøwmass climbs 6-4.

  • Rounding out the Top 5 is the enjoyable funky business that is “Get It On” by NYC producer/performer/remixer Jenaux, who is also making headway with his 80’s influenced rework of Gramatik’s “Native Son”, which I wrote about recently.  “Get It On” rises 8-5.

  • More people need to discover the vivid Kat Krazy remix of Tom Odell’s “Magnetised” which leaps 11-6; you can find the original on Tom’s second album Wrong Crowd.

  • Speaking of Kat Krazy, the British duo end up with two new Top 10 entries, the second being their collaboration with American vocalist Johnny Stimson on “Run Run”, which jumps 14-9.  That piano riff will get you every time!

Movin’ On Up

  • Tony Moran and Jason Walker are making many joyful waves together on the chart with “So Happy”, as the #1 Billboard Club Chart hit soars 18-12.

  • The fastest riser on the chart is one of the most decidedly different, a heartbreaking EDM song that has a refrain that you’ll either find haunting or daft.  Nonetheless young producers/remixers LZRD and Spirix have got a great thing going on with “Take Me Apart”, featuring a beautiful vocal by singer Remmi, and it vaults 23-14, heading in no time to the Top 10!  Spirix is already up top with his co-remix of “So Bad”; more to come from this talented young man – like tomorrow!
  • There’s been renewed interest on the music website Hype Machine this past weekend for Bryce Fox’s fine “Burn Fast” in its Koni remix, which continues to rise 17-15.

  • Rain Man is all over the Billboard Dance Radio charts with his reflective “Bring Back The Summer”, featuring powerful vocalist Oly in its INSTRUM remix.  It moves up 20-16.
  • The exuberant deep house sound of Chicago’s Megaphonix is on display with “Open Your Mind”, which climbs 25-20.
  • I really enjoy the softer progressive soul sound that Brandyn Burnette has used in his song “Worship” from the State I’m In EP.  It advances 28-21 – only the humble beginning 🙂

Four Debuts

  • There was no way that I could miss adding “Her And Him” by Mi Disguise and Rouse to the chart, from their soulful and danceable mixtape NGHT LFE.  It’s a romantic saga for the club world 🙂  “Her And Him” bows at #23.
  • It’s been in the wings for a while, but L.A.-based singer/songwriter Cobi, formerly of Gentlemen Hall and more recently a featured vocalist on the Above & Beyond acoustic tour, arrives on the chart with “Don’t You Cry For Me”.  The song was originally titled “Darker Than Dawn” when I wrote about it a while back.  Newly christened, this compellingly old-school bluesy pop song debuts at #24.  It follows up last year’s “Walking Through The Fire”, which reached #12.
  • Following #21 “Worship” is the title track from Brandyn Burnette’s State I’m In EP.  It’s such a timely song given recent current events, and everyone should think twice about how they really feel and how it affects the world around them.  “State I’m In” premieres at #26, making it three songs on the chart for Brandyn, including “Made Of Dreams”, which peaked at #5.

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/state-im-in

  • Another one that’s been waiting to make its move, and is a perfect companion piece to both #19 “Stronger” by Nik Ernst and “Open Your Mind” by Megaphonix at #20 is the British house sound of “Limits” by Australia-based Brit Latchmere featuring singer Andreas Liberos.  It debuts at #27 and is a free download.

https://soundcloud.com/latchmeresound/limits-feat-andreas-liberos

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch :)

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 return this Tuesday evening at 9pm EST:)

 

Stylish and classy, Victor Perry (@perksofbeingvic) is going places with songs like “Rainbows”

VICTOR PERRY, “Rainbows”

From the first few bars of “Rainbows”, you just know that you are going to hear something special, and this time it comes from new Atlanta-based R&B/pop singer/songwriter Victor Perry.  Though there’s not a bad song at all on his EP 4 A.M. Nostalgia, the record really is all about his inspiring voice, and a sweet style that recalls singers like Toni Braxton and Smokey Robinson.  “Rainbows” probably has the most committed vocal to the sad story where there are still glorious rainbows ‘without colouring’.  Victor has brilliant control and resonance like Mikky Ekko and Alex Newell (when he’s not belting out powerhouse dance tunes).  This is all going to take him very far and 4 A.M. Nostalgia is a fine start.  You can pick it up on iTunes.