“Heart So Big” is the latest in four recent pop/dance releases by Norwegian producer Matoma which I’ve written about that ooze positivity and warmth, while still providing enough melodic bounce to keep you dancing. To recap, the others are “Never Surrender”, “Beautiful Wave”, and “Summer Feeling”. This time Matoma is joined by New Jersey electronic trio A R I Z O N A, who came a long way very quickly with two major-label albums, hits like “I Was Wrong” and “Oceans Away”, and features on songs by the A list of dance producers including Avicii, R3HAB, Don Diablo, and Louis The Child. The fusion of the combined talents of Matoma and A R I Z O N A in “Heart So Big” helps make the simple message of the song really stand out. It’s a welcoming song sure to make you smile, which will prompt repeated plays.
It’s always nice to slip into the imaginative music of Montreal-born dance music legend A-Trak. This time he’s back with the manic but enjoyable “Spit” from his recent EP 10 Seconds Vol. 1. This hip hop and disco-flavoured house track will beckon even the most reluctant club goer to the dance floor with its edgy rhythm and busy song structure, which even includes a well-placed sample from the 70’s #1 “Fly Robin Fly” by Silver Convention. “Spit” is a song that’s meant to be played at the height of a party and its fun, unbridled and unconventional nature is guaranteed to show you a great time.
“Never Forget” will strike you right from the inset with its buoyant house rhythm and a fine, familiar-sounding and ear-catching vocal, on release by Oliver Heldens’ OH2 label. It’s brought to you courtesy of Irish/UK duo Menrva, who recently reached #2 on my personal chart with “Play It Cool” featuring Island Banks. This time the vocalist is British singer/songwriter SOLAH, who is recognizable from her vocal on Shane Codd’s massive “Get Out Of My Head”. The chemistry here is obvious as they create a smooth, polished house track that can fit into any set and provide a welcome bounce. The song’s also co-written by another familiar name – producer/songwriter Alex Adair, who has also seen his fair share of chart success over the years. And congratulations to Menrva who have recently signed to Capitol Records.
This new edition of the chart was a particularly tough one to compile. It’s because there’s so much music out there that I enjoy, even beyond those songs that I write about. So what happens is that the songs now move up and down and off the chart quickly. The oldest songs now in my Top 30 are 16 weeks old (8 appearances) – from the first chart of this year! – and just about any artist with a song on the chart for 10 weeks (5 appearances) has already released one or more songs in follow up. Songs deserve a longer shelf life – the maximum a song can remain on my chart is 20 weeks (10 appearances), and songs don’t reach 10 appearances very much anymore. The music industry currently alludes that the more you write and release, the more money and exposure you might get. At one level perhaps that’s true, but I don’t think that’s the case at all with most indie artists. This is a model that is fracturing that the music industry will have to mend soon. It means burnout – physical and financial – for indie artists, and a short life span for some very worthy songs.
That being said, there’s a new #1 and four debuts!
Washington electronic duo Odesza achieve something rare on the chart – two consecutive number ones, nearly four years apart, which are their only chart appearances to date. Their jaw-dropping rework of Bettye LaVette’s 1965 R&B hit “Let Me Down Easy”, as “The Last Goodbye” (which will be the title of their upcoming album) charges up the chart 4-1, following the lead of their now-classic “Loyal” in the Fall of 2018. And yes, I’ve got my ticket to their concert in my city on their summer tour. Watch the magnetic video performance above too.
That means “High” by The Chainsmokers holds at #2, but it’s in great company, because next to their three number ones on the chart, it becomes their fourth #2, following “Let You Go”, “Sick Boy”, and “Everybody Hates Me”. Their new album So Far So Good arrives on May 13.
Frankmusik’s gorgeous “The Half Moon Came Up In The Sky” advances 6-3, becoming his highest reaching chart entry since 2013’s #1 “Map”.
One of the most melodic pop singles out there is “Don’t Wake Me Up” by Jonas Blue and Why Don’t We, which rises 7-5. It’s the second Top 5 entry for Jonas Blue, following 2016’s “Fast Car” (#3).
The Fastest Riser on the chart soars 25-8, and it’s “Aretha” by French dance producer Mercer. It’s his third Top 10 entry on the chart.
“Oxygen” climbs 11-9, becoming the 4th Top 10 on the chart for German producers Saxity, and it’s also their third Top 10 with Victor Perry on vocals. For Victor however, it’s his 13th Top 10 entry. Still, it’s hard to beat a team like this!
Rounding out the Top 10 is “Reflection”, a deep cut from Years & Years’ deluxe edition of the Night Call album, which moves 12-10. It’s Olly Alexander’s 10th song to reach the Top 10.
“Hold Me Down” by Italy’s Luca and Giam with vocal by Florida’s Sam Merkin is quickly becoming one of the chart’s highlights as it rises 19-11.
Florence Welch hasn’t sounded as good in years as on “My Love” (above), from Florence & The Machine’s upcoming album Dance Fever. The song climbs 28-17, and was recently remixed simply as the “Dave Glass Animals Remix”. You can check out what a fine job Dave did below.
“Tuff” by VASSY and gt_ofice is a fun national dance radio hit and moving up the chart nicely, as it advances 27-21.
To the surprise of no one, the highest debut on the chart belongs to Harry Styles with the magnetic “As It Was” at #25. It now has the task of following 2019/20’s “Lights Up” and “Adore You” to the top of the chart. Think Harry can do it again? “As It Was” also continues to prove what a great voice he has. It’s from his forthcoming album called Harry’s House.
At #27 is “First Time” by L.A.’s Damon Sharpe in collaboration with the #1 future house producer/DJ in Asia, Tokyo-based VIVID. “First Time” follows up last year’s “15 Minutes” (#5) by Damon with The Disco Fries.
“Fall Into Me” is destined to be an inescapable progressive electronic song of the summer for festival goers and fans of its L.A.-based producers, NGHTMRE and SLANDER, and its vocalist, Dylan Matthew, who all appear on the chart for the first time. “Fall Into Me” bows at #28.
Completing the chart at #30 is Toronto area native Ryan Shepherd with vocalist Bella Renee on their single “The High”. It’s Ryan’s fourth chart entry, and he’s playing an already sold-out show at The Garrison in Toronto on May 7 with LUN and Glass Petals.
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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, now brought to you by the Appalachian Pub & Eatery in Georgetown, Ontario!
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” now airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA . NOTE: The show will not air on April 12 and 13.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Wednesdays at 11:00 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Onlineon Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST, and now on WXNZ, community radio in Maine!
The L.A. based (but Hungary born) mysterious and masked dance producer Pillows is on a roll with her latest single, an original called “Sunflower”, which follows up her unique spin on Justin Timberlake’s “My Love”. “Sunflower” contains a lot of high synth notes and effects which make it sparkle, something that dance music radio stations should be listening for these days rather than just playing songs by bigger named producers because of their marquee value. What makes it even better is Pillows’ fresh vocal, which has a grittiness like Alison Wonderland or Lights, and instantly gives “Sunflower” more substance in a dance music biz increasingly full of same-sounding Splice vocals. With songs like this, Pillows is certain to capture the attention of radio station programmers, club DJ’s and listeners alike, with a bright rest of 2022 ahead.
Regular readers of this blog know that I don’t revisit songs that I’ve written about without good reason. Toronto’s CMagic5 is a promising singer/songwriter out of Toronto about whom I’ve written before, including my original post about her single “Dancing On My Heart” last Fall. Since then the song has received some remixes, but this redux by veteran Russian electronic dance producers Going Deeper gives an already strong song an immense lift. It’s been transformed into a punchy, biting (albeit very short) deep house track which I enjoy more than the original. I’m always big on remixes and reduxes if they can take a song to another level, and this one is a very good way indeed to promote the talents of CMagic5.
“Slipping Away” features vibrant, house rhythms that immediately bring summer nights and good times in dance clubs to mind. It’s brought to you by Italy’s Deep Chills, who comes off of a highly prolific 2021 and four songs streaming over 10 million on Spotify at this time. This time he partners with Argentina-based singer/songwriter Polina Grace, who has seen success with her own solo releases as well as recent ones with producers such as Damon Sharpe. The song offers little that’s new lyrically – about a neglected lover who is gradually drifting out of a fading relationship – but Polina’s uplifting performance and Deep Chills’ rich synths and beats make “Slipping Away” a solid, distinct release to keep you dancing the night away.
NGHTMRE & SLANDER and DYLAN MATTHEW, “Fall Into Me”
Heartbreak and desperation are often popular themes in the electronic dance music world because they so suit the intensity of complex synth arrangements and huge beats. Spawned during lockdown times in the pandemic, “Fall Into Me” is by the American dream team of NGHTMRE, production duo Slander, and singer/songwriter Dylan Matthew, is destined to be a classic for festival season which is now upon us. The arrangement doesn’t go too heavy, which makes a lot of the detailed synth work really sparkle, and Dylan’s driven, weary vocal perfectly suits the backdrop. NGHTMRE and Slander have worked together several times before and the ongoing symmetry in their songs is obvious, and Dylan has worked with Slander – their song together, “Love Is Gone”, just was certified Gold. “Fall Into Me” is a powerful electronic dance release that you’ll be hearing for the rest of the year. NGHTMRE is coming off of his set at Ultra Miami, and the song is the first single from his upcoming album.
With this collaboration, Sweden’s Nicky Romero and NYC-based GATTÜSO bring back sorely missed early 2010’s feels with “Afterglow” (above). The song – which has been a long time coming after being featured at EDC Las Vegas last year – is destined to be a festival favourite thanks to the skilled producers and their combined marquee value. The vocal is by co-writer Jared Lee, about whom I’ve written about several times thanks to his winning performances on Midnight Kids’ “Those Were The Days” and Autograf’s “Ain’t Deep Enough”. And you can put this one right up there with the early 2010’s classics with vocals by the likes of Ryan Tedder and Matthew Koma, among others. Stellar!
Jared also recently released his own single, the striking ballad “Breathe In, Bleed Out” (below). Just think about tough situations in your life that you have been faced with, and in the moment don’t know what to do. “Breathe In” personifies those feelings and when Jared hits his high notes the song becomes cathartic. “Breathe In, Bleed Out” is one of those gems just waiting to be discovered.
Nicky Romero plays the sold-out Ultra Music Festival in Miami this coming weekend.
GATTÜSO plays a few events during Miami Music Week, including the Mixmash Miami Pool Party on Friday, but also jets up to Toronto for a show at Toybox on Friday evening.
Jared Lee has been announced as a contestant representing Massachusetts on NBC’s new show The Great American Song Contest (the USA’s take on EuroVision), which premiered on March 21.
For dance music lovers, especially those who enjoy having their house music with a side of techno, “In My House” is a great find as brought to you by Italian producer Daniele Frate. After 2:50 you will want more, but I’m sure there is an extended version for club DJ’s. It’s a surefire weapon for DJ’s to have the audience to invade the dance floor with its repeated sample “in this house, everybody’s welcome”. Daniele keeps the bounce pumping and the mix tight, and there is little more that you can ask for in a dance release like “In My House”.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 