Tag Archives: electronica

Bittersweet house tune “Rooms” gives @SteveVoidmusic 4 winners in a row

STEVE VOID, “Rooms”

It’s songs like “Rooms” that make you continue to want to hear more from an artist, and The Netherlands’ Steve Void offers that consistency while mixing it up stylistically with every release.  With powerhouse vocals fronting “Chemistry” and “Never Been Better”, and then a fun sidestep with “West L.A.”, Steve tones it down a bit with the pensive “Rooms”, a bittersweet breakup house tune with a wonderful uncredited vocal that comes into its own.  Despite kind of an uneventful beginning, “Rooms” really kicks in both lyrically and sonically, coaxing you to kick up your heels while you relate to the poignant lyrics.  “Rooms” certainly shows another side of what Steve Void can bring to you on a regular basis along with those club thumpers and remixes.  Check it out at the link above.

A Splendid cover of @Haddymusix’s “What Is Love” highlights @McEwenofficial’s debut EP “90’s Kid”

mcewen

McEWEN, “What Is Love” (free DL)

After all of the play that Haddaway’s “What Is Love” received on radio and in clubs in 1993-94, plus the over-the-top use of it in 1998’s “A Night At The Roxbury”, I never thought I could listen to the song again with a straight face.  Initially, yeah the expressive vocal in the original worked well with the Eurodisco that was popular at the time.  But nearly 25 years later, L.A.-based Adam Tyler, now recording under his last name of McEwen, manages to nail it and update it on his new EP 90’s Kid.  

I can’t think of a better person to do this, with Adam’s similar reverence for 90’s and onward songs to my own from the 70’s and 80’s – except he can sing and I can’t 😛  McEwen wrings out the drama of “What Is Love” in favour of focusing on the ponderous question at hand, and then continuing to elevate it into a contemporary club banger with production by our mutual friend The Wookie.  

Delve into 90’s Kid further and you’ll also be impressed by the mystery of “Your Clown”, originally recorded by Eiffel 65 (those “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” guys), and there are also renditions of George Michael’s “Too Funky”, “Missing” by Everything But The Girl (keeping the club vibe), Ace Of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around” (which I wrote about recently), and even the more obscure throwback “Supernova Girl” from the Disney Channel movie “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century”.  

You can download 90’s Kid for free from the McEwen Official website.  Listen to “What Is Love” and the entire EP below.

Get to know the earnest style of @PhilGoodsmusic with “I Miss You”

PHIL GOOD, “I Miss You”

L.A. singer/songwriter Phil Good makes it sound so easy with his earnest approach to a lyric and melody.  The Sean Turk remix of “Sleeping In” is already one of my favourites of 2017, and following “Growing Up” is “I Miss You”.  It’s another fine song under 3 minutes with an easy-going, sincere vocal, though I don’t think it will make you run back to your ex anytime soon 😉 but you can certainly reflect on all of the good times you had.  Phil’s songs can also traverse the pop and dance music genres easily so I’d like to hear what remixes might bring to “I Miss You”.  In the meantime, get to know this charming new favourite at the link above.

Create your own adventure with “Talisman” by @Egzodmusic

EGZOD, “Talisman”

A lot of songs in the trap, future bass, and dubstep sub-genres can sound like one big mess sometimes, but exceptions like “Talisman” by US-based Frenchman Egzod always make it worthwhile to keep listening.  “Talisman” is a bold, aggressive instrumental that sounds like it wants to transport you to an Egyptian or other African adventure of some kind.  It’s meant to be played loud, and the melody shifts seamlessly away from big future bassy sounds to others with more high end percussion and keyboards.  There’s a lot going on here so don’t expect it to sink in with one or two listens.  Egzod definitely knows his craft and while making a splash with an instrumental is always no mean feat, continuing to incorporate vocalists or other talents into the mix on other songs will definitely give his songs the right attention.  

Australia-based @Latchmeresound shines with summery “You”

https://soundcloud.com/latchmeresound/you

LATCHMERE, “You”

UK-born, Australia-based producer Latchmere continues to showcase the diverse mix of dance music he can offer with “You”.  While essentially an instrumental with vocal effects, “You” has an summery classic house vibe with some slight hip hop flavour to create a big bounce that makes you feel good when it all meshes together.  It’s pretty straight-forward and immediately likeable 🙂 Be sure to show “You” and Latchmere’s other songs some love by starting with the link up above for a free download.

“New York Pretty” is simply one of @BrightLightx2’s best, effortless-sounding songs

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, “New York Pretty”

Being a huge fan of Bright Light Bright Light – singer/songwriter/producer Rod Thomas – since 2010’s “A New Word To Say”, and having seen the singer in concert in NYC in 2013, Bright Light Bright Light has made one of his very best songs yet with “New York Pretty”.  Since he came to reside in NYC part-time for the last number of years, I’ve always been drawn to Rod’s enthusiasm for the city, which parallels my own when I visit.  So this Wales-born singer has created a new, contemporary theme song for NYC for those inspired (as Rod has revealed) by the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Kylie Minogue, and the Bette Midler/Lily Tomlin movie “Big Business” – and for you and me, likely any similar personal blend of joyous entertaining eccentricities. In the video, Rod takes us on his own tour through some of the best views of NYC outside of a Woody Allen movie.  “New York Pretty” is endearing, emotional, and sure to put a smile on your face and a kick in your heels.  It’s from Rod’s upcoming third 2017 EP “Tales Of The City”, which you can pre-order on iTunes.

A Slinky sexy groove drives “Show Me” by Toronto’s @LoudLuxury and @NikkisWives

LOUD LUXURY featuring NIKKI’S WIVES, “Show Me”

“Show Me” is one of those bass-driven disco-influenced songs that will yank people out onto the dance floor mid-evening in a club.  It’s brought to you by fast-rising Toronto duo Loud Luxury – coming off of one of the best records of 2017, “Something to Say”, with Ryan Shepherd – and fellow Canadians Nikki’s Wives.  It’s all about getting a sexy party going in your feet and butt.  And the video is worth a look for a starring role for porn star Ron Jeremy.  And when you invite Ron to a party, well you know the women will be drawn to him wherever he goes… it’s just like that, but the guys in the video hadn’t figured on that (we last saw Mr. Jeremy guesting in the video for Armin van Buuren and Trevor Guthrie’s massive 2013 hit “This Is What It Feels Like”).  So all in all “Show Me” is a real attention-getter for a lot of valid reasons 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #512 – June 26/17

The Top 10

  • L.A.’s Axel Mansoor acquires another rare feat on this chart in his second appearance at #1 with the pensive “Wasted My Love” (above).  He scores a simultaneous Top 5 entry with the soulful post-breakup song “Out Of My Head” (below), which also has designs on #1 but I’m afraid may have to wait its turn.  The best thing about all of this is that both songs are available for free download – get ’em while they last!
  • Charlie Puth’s bass-laden “Attention” climbs to #2 and appears to be the successor to “Wasted My Love” at the top, but we will see in two weeks…

  • Not to be discounted, Philadelphia’s NiGHTS keep it going, rising 5-3 with the quirky and infectious indie release “P A R T Y”.
  • Bubbling under the Top 10 has paid off for “Never Been Better” by Dutch producer/DJ Steve Void, which climbs 11-8, becoming Steve’s second Top 10 solo entry following “Chemistry” (#10) earlier this year.
  • UK producer Murky arrives at #9 with the lovely “Heavy-Hearted”, featuring Polish singer Anuka, currently available as a free download.

https://soundcloud.com/manifesto-music/murky-heavy-hearted-feat-anuka

  • And another free download gives L.A.’s Bobby Nourmand his second Top 10 entry, “D U S T”.  It follows the #1 hip hop/EDM grabber “D E E P in NY”.

Movin’ On Up

https://soundcloud.com/selectedsounds/silent-games

  • There aren’t many ‘story songs’ on the dance music scene, but one that works very well is the tell-it-like-it-is “Silent Games” by Lars Beck & Henri Purnell featuring Hawaiian vocalist Zekt.  It climbs 16-11 and is also a free download!

  • Besides Axel Mansoor, Martin Garrix is the other performer in the chart who has two entries.  The fun instrumental club banger “Byte” (above), with fellow Dutchman Brooks, soars 19-12, while Martin’s pop collaboration with Troye Sivan on “There For You” (below) moves up 29-22.

  • Welcome To The Hotel’s indie pop release “Darlin”, featuring vocalist Brandon Serafino, gets transformed with a clubby sax break by remix duo Saxena, and climbs 22-15.  It’s available as a free download too!

https://soundcloud.com/classyton/welcome-to-the-hotel-ft-brandon-serafino-darlin-saxena-remix

  • The fastest riser on the chart should come to you as no surprise.  Cosmos & Creature are BILLCS Top 30 chart veterans Molly Moore and Brandyn Burnette with their best collaboration yet “Bad Drug”, which vaults 26-17.
  • One jam you should definitely give a chance is Anton Ewald’s “L.I.L.Y.” (Like I Love You), which climbs 27-20.  Check out the flashy ‘all Anton’ video directed by his fiancée.

  • Singer/songwriter/actor Reeve Carney continues on his club tour in North America to support his debut album Youth Is Wasted.  From that album, the soulful and gritty “Truth” moves up 28-21.

Three Debuts

  • The highest debut on the chart at #23 looks to be a long-term favourite of mine for 2017, the joyous “Astronauts”.  It’s a collaboration between three Danes and a Scot and it’s absolutely magnetic.  It will be hard to remember the artists – Christian Boye & Christian Sigvardt & MAGNÜS featuring vocalist Uhre – so best to go pick it up at your favourite digital store now!

  • The second debut is the first appearance on this chart by Las Vegas’ Killers since 2009’s “A Dustland Fairytale”.  Brandon Flowers are back in the form that we enjoyed them best with their new wave/disco splashed “The Man” at #27.

  • One half of the UK X Factor contestants Same Difference, which achieved some popularity domestically, is singer Sean Smith, who is now solo with the gorgeous “Magic”, which has international club potential thanks to a thoughtful remix by Andy Sikorski.  “Magic” bows at #28.

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

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

 

Watch the starlight: “Heaven” by @thisisMahalo featuring #CatLewis

MAHALO featuring CAT LEWIS, “Heaven”

Hot off the press is another club zinger from L.A.’s Mahalo called “Heaven”.  It’s got a retro-tastic late 80’s, early 90’s chill house rhythm that will make you think of clear starry nights that approach the sunrise.  Once again Mahalo has employed the versatile voice of Cat Lewis, this time providing a warm, romantic and atmospheric effect to surround the notion of one of those ideal nights when everything seems so right.  “Heaven” might seem a little unassuming initially but it’s sophisticated and rich elements will draw you in deeper.  Following up “Be My Love” and the ribald “WTFYWF”, Mahalo and Cat Lewis have another winner here.

Electro-Salsa: “Shingaling” becomes the @TomSwoon club companion of “Despacito”

TOM SWOON, “Shingaling”

Thanks to the massive international success of “Despacito”, just about anything Spanish or Portuguese that’s really good will find its way to the dancefloor.  And one top notch new entry, though a bit short at only 2:33, is “Shingaling” from 24 year old Tom Swoon, who himself happens to Polish.  But where you’re from doesn’t make a difference if the song is a club banger, and “Shingaling” certainly is as Spanish big band meets electro-Salsa.  With Spinnin’ releasing “Shingaling” you know that it’s gonna be around for most of the summer.  Watch the international charts light up and dance contests begin with Tom Swoon’s “Shingaling”.  Check out the video below.