Tag Archives: electronica

The Hardest Part often is “Waiting On You” by @weareJRL & #Ludvigsson featuring @theMaxLandry

JRL & LUDVIGSSON featuring MAX LANDRY, “Waiting On You”

“Waiting On You” is a slice of Swedish pop that sincerely conveys the angst in relationships when waiting for the other half to make an important decision.  Production trio JRL and newcomer Ludvigsson let a bright future bass-influenced melody lead the way while US singer Max Landry, having previously worked with JRL as well as D-12 and Boldy James, sells the story with conviction.  And though “Waiting On You” will be very convincing in clubs come slow dance time, all involved manage to capture the essential elements of pure pop without dominating it with tricks and vocal effects which would detract from the core of what it’s about.  Listen to “Waiting On You” at the link above.

A New Ode to Berlin: “My Name Is Lola” by @LolaDutronic

LOLA DUTRONIC, “My Name Is Lola”

Veteran Toronto electronic duo Lola Dutronic keeps it simple with their ode to their city of choice, Berlin, called “My Name Is Lola”.  Despite what you might think, no, it’s not an answer song to Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” 😛  It follows up the duo’s summer redux of Man2Man’s 80’s delight “Male Stripper”.  Musically “My Name is Lola” takes its almost classic melody in a cue from “Prayer In C” by LillyWood & The Prick and Robin Schulz, with even perhaps some lingering traces of 80’s Kraftwerk underneath.  Its video above, featuring singer Stephanie B., as well as some shoutouts in German, is a snappy travelogue that will please fans of the city.  “My Name Is Lola” is easy to sink between your ears and get under your skin and down to your toe-tapping feet, and you can download it on Lola Dutronic’s Bandcamp page right here.

#BILLCSTop30 #523 – November 27/17

There’s lots of movement on the new chart, plus five debuts, three of which are Canadian, which constitutes a mini-takeover 😛  The top of the chart pretty much stays put as other newer songs get closer.

The Top 10

  • The top of the chart is still grooving to old school Chicago-styled house as mixed with contemporary electronic pop.  It’s once again “Need Your Heart”, brought to you by Australia-based UK producer Latchmere from his EP Lovedrunk.  Zooming in on the Top 10 is another song from the EP “Monster”, featuring Aussie female vocalist Dylan, zipping up the chart 18-11.
  • Shoffy’s thoughtful-with-a-beat “Flags” (featuring) looks like it will give “Need Your Heart” the most competition at #1, as the single from his debut self-titled album climbs 5-3.
  • The unbridled energy and attitude of “No Hands” sends it into the Top 5 for the collaboration of producers it’s different and Forever MC, and lethal vocal combo of blackbear and MAX.  It’s too bad the song has never seen official release but is still available as a free download.
  • Making its presence known in the Top 10 for the first time is “Wake Up To The Night” by Miami’s Alyx Ander featuring The Voice top ten contestant and songwriter Caroline Pennell, rising 11-6.
  • US/UK duo Culpriit also move up within the Top 10 with “Driveway” climbing 10-7.
  • The new cool word is “splish”.  Miguel and Travis Scott claim #8 with “Sky Walker” from the upcoming War & Leisure album.  Miguel also nabs one of the five debuts further down…
  • The Thrill Of It All is a beautiful follow up to In The Lonely Hour, a completely different kind of album where the best songs are the ones you won’t hear on the radio, aside of course from “Too Good At Goodbyes”, which moves up 13-9.  You’ll find Sam’s duet with star-on-the-rise YEBBA at #23 with “No Peace”.

Movin’ On Up

  • We have more MAX in his pairing with SAINT WKND on “Survive” rising 19-13 in a fierce PLS&TY remix that totally gets the vibe of the song.
  • Dutch duo The Him look to get to the Top 10 quickly with “Everybody Hurts”, a free download for you featuring Australian singer Ivy Adara, which soars 24-15.
  • A second entry for producer/songwriter Frank Pierce jumps 25-17, “Do Me” featuring vocalist Miles B.  You won’t be able to sit still with the buoyant rhythm of this one. Frank still sits pretty at #4 with pals Nick Peters and Scott Vega with “No Love In Brooklyn”.
  • The fastest riser on the chart is from the aforementioned British singer YEBBA (aka Abbey Smith) with her debut single “Evergreen” rocketing up the chart 29-18.  Patiently waiting for more news about YEBBA!
  • “Murder” is an infectious slice of deep house from Dutch producer/DJ Lady Bee featuring fellow producer Tropkillaz and standout vocalist Oktavian.  It climbs 23-20.

Five Debuts

  • The high point of Tiësto’s Club Life Vol. 5 – China album comes early on with Toronto’s own Dzeko scoring with potent cover of Seal’s 90’s hit “Crazy” in a Tiësto Big Room mix, which charges on to the chart at #21.  Tiësto has appeared numerous times on this chart, the last time with his remix of “Let You Go” by The Chainsmokers and Great Good Fine OK in 2015.  Dzeko has only had one prior appearance, but it was a doozy – a #1 in 2016 with buddy Luis Torres as well as Sweden’s Hellberg with “Care For Me”, my #2 song of last year.
  • It’s Miguel again at #27 with “Pineapple Skies”, which revels in the music of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder so much that it’s just plain joyful!  
  • Song #2 on the chart for Toronto’s Loud Luxury premieres at #28 with new vocalist Brando in the irresistible “Body” (this time for Armada).  The duo has had two #1’s this year with “Fill Me In” (with Ryan Shepherd) and “Show Me” (with Nikki’s Wives) – will “Body” be next?
  • It immediately got under my skin when I first heard it two weeks ago, so Swiss/South African producer/DJ Nora En Pure’s “Tears In Your Eyes” arrives on the chart at #29.
  • A third Torontonian bows on the chart this week, and it is indeed the previously mentioned Ryan Shepherd, whose amazing new slice of deep house “Right Now” (featuring Dirty Hary) bows at #30.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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

Check out and ‘like’ the new BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

Planet Radio Canada is on hiatus and will return http://www.planetradio.ca 🙂

A few words with huge props to @BTS_twt “DNA” and “Mic Drop” (@SteveAoki remix)

BTS, “DNA”

BTS, “Mic Drop” (Steve Aoki remix)

First off, I’m no expert on K-Pop and really have only had a fleeting interest as millions of fans embrace it around the world.  If PSY didn’t generate the interest 5 years ago with “Gangnam Style” because of that song’s novelty, he certainly paved the road for the right acts to come along to widen its appeal.  And so, with their appearance on the American Music Awards last week, introduced by their friends The Chainsmokers (who produced a song on their recent album Love Yourself: Her), the young septet BTS broke through with their riveting performance of “DNA”. 

Like many other pop music fans, I immediately bought the song.  The choreography and energy were all on-point in that performance (it didn’t even need live vocals), and it became the highlight of that show, which you can watch above.  Then this past week, a Steve Aoki remix of “Mic Drop” appeared, in two versions, one featuring Desiigner which stays more true to the original hip hop flavour.  But just to show that the walls of music genres can be torn apart right in front of you, the Aoki remix (without Desiigner, below) slams hard while keeping most of the original Korean lyrics intact along with some added English verses, if a trifle long at four and a half minutes.  And with dancing that good in the video, Aoki’s remix should have no trouble taking dance clubs by storm, allowing club goers to create their own fun choreography again too. 

I’m not sure how long seven talented guys can survive in one band with such an intense following, but BTS are here and now and will be one of 2018’s biggest draws.

“Electric Nights” gets a retrotastic revival by Australia’s @Parralox

PARRALOX, “Electric Nights” (radio edit)

Some songs just live on and are transformed to have their own showcases, even if it’s years later.  Australia’s prolific Parralox revitalizes “Electric Nights” as the latest single from the same-titled 8 song EP, featuring a new radio edit, as well as a separate 12 song EP that includes the likes of remixers Pete Hammond (of Stock/Aitken/ Waterman) and Vinny Vero.  “Electric Nights” started out as a contest entry in 2003 which ultimately won Australia’s Best Dance Song of the year as sung by frequent collaborator Roxy (who sings back up on this new version).  But “Electric Nights” somehow never saw release until Parralox’s 2016 album Subculture.  Even then “Electric Nights” was perhaps lost in the weight of many strong, differently flavoured songs, and at last gets its own showcase.  Ever the learned connoisseur of 80’s and 90’s electronic dance pop, John von Ahlen, Parralox’s producer, chief songwriter, and often vocalist himself, has designed “Electric Nights” Mach III to make a big splash on dance music radio and in clubs, with Johanna Gervin’s bright vocal a key attraction.  “Electric Nights” also bridges the wait for the next Parralox album, due in 2018, called Genesis.  Add “Electric Nights” to your Spotify playlist at the link above.

“Tonight” is a formidable collab between France’s @Kidswaste and @HotelGaruda’s own @ManilaKilla

KIDSWASTE & MANILA KILLA, “Tonight”

“Tonight” is cozy, shiny electropop for spending those special moments with someone when everything is all right in the world and troubles melt away.  It’s definitely a step in another direction for progressive/alternative French producer Kidswaste and one half of American production duo Hotel Garuda, Manila Killa.  Co-written (and sung, unbilled) by Chelsea Cutler with the guys, its instant familiarity resembles a sequel to or continuation of Chet Porter’s 2016 hit “Stay” (also of course with vocals by Chelsea) – not a bad thing at all!  While it may take a few listens to sink in, the song starts out bold but ends up with a slight but satisfying finish.  Chelsea’s distinct voice goes a long way and carries a pretty melody.  Check it out at the link above.

Kidswaste opens for Hotel Garuda in Toronto at The Velvet Underground on Friday, December 15.

“Romance Is Dead, Good Riddance” is @RustyHookmusic’s subtle and captivating electronic EP premiere

RUSTY HOOK, Romance Is Dead, Good Riddance (EP)

About a month ago, I introduced you to Guillaume Costes, the artist also known as Rusty Hook, with the varied and melodic “Relief” (featuring Nashville’s Truitt) which is included in his debut EP Romance Is Dead, Good Riddance, kind of an alternate viewpoint to Green Day’s similar but parenthetically titled “Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)”. 

Through three vocal songs book-ended by an instrumental introduction (“Hailstorm” – I can picture walking through Paris in the hail to this 🙂 ) and “outro” (“Afterword”), Romance Is Dead, Good Riddance travels through an atypical sea of emotions, showcased sometimes by big beats but with lingering melodies as its constants.  I think perhaps “Higher”, with an uncredited vocalist, comes off as a bit soft and unexciting next to both “Relief” and the EP’s potentially trailblazing highlight, “Everything” (featuring a supurb vocal by Ria).  Its synth work at its heaviest blasts out like sonic lasers and recoils into a slow build up that will grab you again for another shake before a low-key 20 second ending.  If there’s one song here for clubs it is “Everything”. 

There’s lots in Romance Is Dead, Good Riddance to enjoy and as solo artist Rusty Hook has the potential to waste no time in joining the recent successes that are folks like San Holo or Petit Biscuit.  Listen to all of the songs at the link above.

Before you wrap up, Rusty Hook was the unfortunate victim of a thief who stole his Macbook with all kinds of new and previously unreleased music and all of his related work.  Since all of that is now lost, if you can help him out towards the purchase of a new laptop, please visit his Go Fund Me page.

rustyhook2

“Marination by @Meatportmusic” begins with a rework of @Linneyofficial’s “AloneTonight”

https://soundcloud.com/trapxrave/marinatedbymeatport

LINNEY, “Alone Tonight” (Marinated by Meatport)

In its original version, “Alone Tonight” by L.A.-based singer/songwriter Linney – known for her work with Robbie Rivera, covers like last year’s “Never Be Like You”, and her own originals – is a dreamy mid-tempo ballad about being with your special someone on a night at home when perhaps they should have company.  In the hands of producer/remixer Meatport however, that evening becomes vibrant and teleported to a rave where that person will have a great time.  Meatport’s trap “marination” draws heavily on late 90s/early 00’s techno to give “Alone Tonight” a really giddy bounce while retaining the wonder of Linney’s vocal.  It’s always fun to enhance a blog post about Meatport with some tenderizing seasoning 😉 given his own fun and sometimes wacky songs to date (“The Troll”, “Noobs”, and new Hallowe’en fave “Spook”).  However I’ll forego additional puns by encouraging you to check out Meatport’s seriously good remix of Linney’s “Alone Tonight” at the link above.

“Motion” by @SamSmyers featuring @MMaggieMiller gets a retro-house makeover by @Revelriesmusic

SAM SMYERS featuring M. MAGGIE, “Motion” (Revelries remix)

Dutch-Emerati production duo Revelries return with a retro-house makeover of L.A. producer Sam Smyers’ “Motion” featuring American singer/songwriter M. Maggie.  The remix sets a steady dancefloor pace for “Motion” which makes for a fast three and a half minutes full of early house flavour amid today’s deep house style, and sparkling synths which flow under M. Maggie’s genuine emotion.  “Motion” in the Revelries remix is an easy choice for club DJ’s to help pick up a set leading to its high point.  Add it to your dance or house playlist using the Spotify link above.

“Tears In Your Eyes” by @NoraEnPure will make your heart melt while you dance

NORA EN PURE, “Tears In Your Eyes”

“Tears In Your Eyes” was released during the summer through Spinnin’ but somehow slipped past my ears until the other night when I heard it at a club.  South African-Swiss DJ Nora En Pure (aka Daniela Niederer) creates a perfect emotional deep house companion to Loud Luxury & Ryan Shepherd’s cover of “Fill Me In” from earlier in the year using similarly pitched-down vocals with a melody that along with the lyrics soars right to your heart-strings.  If the nightclub crowd reaction I saw was any indication, “Tears In Your Eyes” is a gem-in-hiding by someone well-known overseas but not in North America that I would love to see breakout internationally.  Watch the lyric video above for this winner