Tag Archives: electronica

Young NYC-based producer @iamCRVEU spices up “Favorite Color Is Blue” by @DeLongmusic and @KFlay for clubs

ROBERT DELONG and K.FLAY, “Favorite Color Is Blue” (CRVE U remix)

You can hear the influences of Green Day, Linkin Park and others in “Favorite Color Is Blue” by L.A.’s Robert DeLong with a cool feature by hip hop rocker K.Flay, now available in a variety of remixes to maximize its appeal for dance clubs and electronic music lovers.  Teenage producer CRVE U definitely bridges the alt.rock style with a flurry of busy synths that make the song sound even better when cranked up loud.  The mix almost has a tribal feel at time, but it seamlessly winds its way back to Robert and K.Flay’s infectious collaboration and chorus which are what make the song so memorable in the first place.  CRVE U has always opted for unconventional mixes, and “Favorite Color Is Blue” is yet another reason for you to keep an eye on his ongoing progress.

Another sparkling summer song is “Ride” by @Naikamusic in a @Konimusic remix

NAÏKA, “Ride” (Koni remix)

It’s been out for a little while now, but not to be missed is Miami singer Naïka’s “Ride”, perfect for those sunny day drives or dance parties on the beaches, aided immensely by a sparkling, synth-soaked remix from Koni of the German duo Saxity.  I enjoy Naïka’s solid, direct vocal, which adds to the fun appeal of the song and its “ra-pa-pa-pa-pa-pum” hook.  There’s nothing better to do here but get into your car and crank up “Ride” as the song instructs you to do and let the music take you away.  Add the Koni remix of “Ride” to your Summer Getaway playlist using the Spotify link above.

#BILLCSTop30 #541 – August 6/18

What’s going on in the lower end of the chart will be of most interest to my fellow chart makers and fans, as the new chart has five debuts for the second chart in a row.  The Top 6 songs stay exactly the same, though a shakeup is likely in two weeks.

The Top 10

  • There’s no denying that “Broken Love” by The Him featuring Parson James has a lock on #1.  To my ears it’s the dance ballad of the summer and also one of the best songs of the year.  The Him has quickly followed it up with “By Your Side” with Jordan Jay, which is somewhat different from what they’ve been producing lately.  Check it out below.

  • “Pink Lemonade” by James Bay (#3, above) and “No Place” by Rüfüs Du Sol (#5, below) are the most likely candidates to remain in the Top 5 in two weeks.

  • “Jackie Chan” by the collaboration that is Tiësto, Dzeko, Preme and Post Malone glides into the Top 10 at #8, marking Tiësto’s first Top 10 placing as an artist since 2007, while it’s Dzeko’s second Top 10 of the year following the Tiësto-remixed cover of Seal’s “Crazy” (#2).
  • RetroVision’s “Get Down” shares a Top 10 placing with the song from which its hook is primarily derived – “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters, which got to #1 in 2004 and is one of my all time favourite dance songs.  “Get Down” advances to #9.

  • Also new to the Top 10 and independent is UK singer/songwriter Lostchild’s “Blacklist”, which climbs 14-10.  I’ll share the acoustic video version of the song once again with you, it really is as good as the much more produced dance version 🙂

Movin’ On Up

So many great new songs, and so little time to write…

  • Tony Moran and Jason Walker are headed for the Top 10 for the third time together with the jubilant “I’m In Love With You”, which climbs 18-12.  The song is already in the Top 5 of Billboard’s Club Play chart.

  • Also looking for a third Top 10, following “Memories of You” and “Wake Up For the Night” is Miami-based producer/DJ Alyx Ander this time in a joint effort with Dutch producers Redondo with “Casually”, featuring vocalist and songwriter Maria Z.  It’s the fastest riser on the chart, soaring 22-14.

  • Singer/actor Keiynan Lonsdale’s great new song “Preach” rises 23-17.  Check out the joyous and colourful video above.
  • NYC-based indie producer Squired has hit the chart full on with his powerful song “Peace Out”, which rises 24-18.
  • “Vacant Love” is a terrific sing-a-long that will also have you moving on the dance floor courtesy of L.A. producer Caden Jester and vocalist Blake Rose.  It moves up 26-20.
  • Turn the lights down low, relax your mind and sway to “Eyes”, the latest single from Philadelphia duo NiGHTS, which climbs a healthy 29-22.  It’s the group’s second chart entry following last year’s “P A R T Y” (#3).

Five Debuts

  • I’m waiting for the international chart attack to happen, because it’s already happening here!  Veteran producer Benny Benassi pairs up with new kids Sofi Tukker for “Everybody Needs A Kiss”, which features some of the most wonderous synth work of the year, and duly crashes onto the chart as the highest debut at #19.  It’s Benny’s third appearance, the last being in 2011 concurrently with “Cinema” (#11) and “Beautiful People” (#10, with Chris Brown).  It’s also Sofi Tukker’s third appearance, immediately following the #4 “Baby I’m A Queen” from their Treehouse album.

  • Martin Garrix returns to the chart for the first time since last year’s collaboration with Troye Sivan on “There For You” (#3) with “High On Life” at #23.  It’s one of the year’s most vibrant dance songs featuring an excellent vocal from newcomer Bonn.

  • Russian producer Arty, like Benny Benassi, has also been absent from the chart for a while, when 2012 brought us “Must Be The Love” (#13) in collaboration with Nadia Ali and BT.  He’s back with a beautiful instrumental tribute to Avicii simply called “Tim” at #25.  This one will have you bouncing in no time.
  • One of Minnesota’s finest, indie artist Call Me Karizma, returns to the chart with the spoken/sung “Life Of The Party” (#27), which with its minimal electronic arrangement is turning out to be a great companion song to The Chainsmokers’ “Sick Boy” and “Everybody Hates Me”.  ‘Riz first appeared on the chart two years ago with the fun and pointed “u suck” (#9).
  • The last debut is also independently released by Netherlands-based production duo Revelries with the bright and inviting “Infinitum”, featuring vocals by Australia’s Beamish Boys, at #28.  Revelries has only appeared on the chart previously as remixers under another name last year for Welcome To The Hotel’s “Darlin'” (#10).  “Infinitum” is a free download for now at the link above.

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! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs

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

 

New L.A. dance music producer @iamLyLoh takes command with potent “Riot!”

LyLOH, “Riot!”

He’s apparently been part of many platinum-selling releases and won a Grammy in 2017 (though not sure for what), and now L.A.-based producer LyLoh is about to take command of the dance music scene if potent tracks like “Riot!” are any indication.  This new mystery man is originally from France and was part of the metal scene, so his description on Facebook may be apt: Rock, EDM, metal and pop had a bastard son. It me (sic).  “Riot!” is one crunchy, memorable rock-flavoured dance bop picked up for release by Armada no less, a little harder edged than usual for clubs or radio, softened a bit by the use of a familiar-sounding pitched-up vocal.  But dance music needs to be spun off the rails sometimes and it looks like someone like LyLoh will have a lot of fun keeping our interest doing just that.

“Compromised” by L.A. indie soul artist Tim Atlas @TimothyAtlas gets a sparkling remix by @Christofimusic

TIM ATLAS, “Compromised” (Christofi remix)

In its original form, “Compromised” by L.A. indie soul artist Tim Atlas is a gentle, free-flowing song about not knowing what to do about a particular crush on someone.  Also from L.A., producer Michael Christofi is pretty selective about what he releases and remixes, and his spin on “Complicated” is upbeat and sparkling.  It brings out the genuine wonder and joy of curiosity that will have no problem getting you to shuffle out onto the dance floor.  Tim’s vocal to me also tends to shine a bit more in this remix, whereas the original is focused more on melody and lyrics.  “Compromised” as remixed is quite an unexpected pleasure that will help the song find a wider audience.

Ear-catching European nu disco by @SatinJackets and @NiyaWells_ with “Primordial”

SATIN JACKETS and NIYA WELLS, “Primordial”

German producer Satin Jackets wants to make you sway your night out away to European-flavoured nu disco with “Primordial”, featuring a slick and classic vocal by American singer Niya Wells.  This is sophisticated, soulful dance music that seems to marry many dance styles together, including some that I grew up with (I age myself yet again).  The sounds of the Philadelphia International era of the 70’s come to mind quickly, but more immediately would be the style of European female vocal groups like Silver Convention (“Fly Robin Fly”). You see, overseas, disco never went away after 1979 unlike in North America, and Satin Jackets is clearly out to make it fresh-sounding once again.  Add “Primordial” to your Nu European Disco playlist using the Spotify link above (for original or extended versions).

New Dutch producers @Oomloudmusic impress with EP Pyramids/Yummy Funk

OOMLOUD, Pyramids/Yummy Funk (EP)

Could there be any more room in the dance music world for yet another fine pair of Dutch producers?  The answer is a resounding YES, as Oomloud make their case with a two song EP Pyramids/Yummy Funk, which follows up a debut single that featured none other than Bingo Players.  The guys in Oomloud – their name is a fun play on the word ‘umlaut’, the diacritic symbol ¨ usually representing a ’rounding’ sound change in some languages, but also often used for unofficial effect, such as by Rüfüs Du Sol, your linguistic lesson for the day 😛 – know their way around a deep house groove, and in both songs they don’t hesitate to get both dirty and playful, with full intention on blowing up club speakers to the max.  The drops in “Pyramids” are resounding, while “Yummy Funk” messes with you like a good European mix should.  The songs are already getting support from the biggest in the biz – David Guetta, Robin Schulz, Afrojack – so you can expect these songs to last long into the Fall months.  

Australian producer @DJAlexPreston has your “Friday Night” off and grooving

ALEX PRESTON, Friday Night (EP)

Following up his well-received house party EP Get It Started, Australia’s Alex Preston is back with another deft set of songs designed with your “Friday Night” in mind.  He doesn’t stray too far from the classic 90’s influenced house songs from Get It Started, making Friday Night almost like a second chapter.  The songs are full of fun vocal samples which make them stand outs in clubs, so no wonder that DJ’s like Richie Hawtin, Mahalo, TOCADISCO, and others are supporting them.  There’s the title track, “Hip Shakin’ Mumma”, and in particular “Don’t You Mind”, which should get your weekend off to an impressive start!

Escape and dance to “Take Me Away”, courtesy of Chicago’s CHO @petechosen with singer Brittany Foster

https://soundcloud.com/petecho/take-me-away-ft-brittany-foster

CHO and Brittany Foster, “Take Me Away” (free DL)

Following last year’s slice of pre-Hallowe’en fun with “Howlin'”, Chicago’s CHO is back with a more pop-oriented dance sound with “Take Me Away”.  Despite a rather uncharacteristic start, “Take Me Away” builds into an uplifting anthem of sorts for putting aside the troubles of today and getting away, to somewhere, anywhere, maybe a dance club, to recharge and live your life another way for a while.  Brittany Foster has nice touches of soul and grit in her vocal to make the song real and honest.  CHO’s production and synth work is on point, just the song itself to me could have been about 30 seconds shorter.  Nonetheless, with those extra few choruses you’ll be humming “Take Me Away” long after it’s over.  Download it for free while you can at the link above.

NYC’s @Jenauxmusic is back in fine funky form with his take on “Ain’t No Sunshine” featuring Andy Cooper of @Knitesofficial

JENAUX and ANDY COOPER, “Ain’t No Sunshine” (free DL)

It’s been so often covered, one wonders how a pop/R&B classic like Bill Withers’ 1971 smash “Ain’t No Sunshine” could be done as differently as NYC’s Jenaux had in mind for it!  After his fresh flights of funk in 2016, including recording with Tritonal and remixing for the diverse likes of The Chainsmokers, 3Lau, Gramatik and Saint Motel, all well documented in these blog pages 🙂 Jenaux is back and about to take charge of the funkier end of the dance music spectrum once again.  It’s somewhat ironic that he chooses British vocalist Andy Cooper of the band KNITES to sing the song, but he leaves a mark on the song that recalls the vocals of Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay, even if you didn’t know Andy was British.  It’s an edgy, passionate performance, as was Bill Withers’, but in a much different way.  Jenaux’s playful synth work really mixes it up in the background while some fine guitar work also shines through.  There’s a lot to enjoy in Jenaux’s interpretation of such a timeless song, and it prepares us – maybe a little bit – for what’s about to be unleashed from his repertoire, so be prepared!  Get it for free at the link above while you can.