Tag Archives: electronica

“Take Your Place” is dirty, compelling Brazilian bass-influenced house from @CIDmusic and @Vinneofficial

CID and VINNE, “Take Your Place”

Brazilian bass is one of the latest dance music sub-genres to start to find its way into the mass public ear, and one producer who can certainly help keep it there is Grammy-winner (for his work on Cedric Gervais’ remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness”)  CID.  The NYC producer is partnered with teenage Brazilian producer Vinne for “Take Your Place”.  From the get-go, it’s definitely an adventurous slice of deep house that gets deep and dirty very quickly, recalling what might be some dubstep influences.  But it’s the anthemic bounce of “Take Your Place” that will keep you going, definitely one of the more interesting and unpredictable releases of late.

Get to know new Toronto production duo @djWavesofficial with “Blinded” featuring James Delaney @jdelaneymusic

WAVES and JAMES DELANEY, “Blinded”

The latest release from Toronto production duo Waves (aka Frankie and Spencer) is “Blinded”.  It’s a good song that is made even bigger and better by what’s all inside.  The production is well-balanced with many highlights, such as some vivid flute playing, as well as a few solid, well-placed drops.  Boston-bred, L.A.-based singer James Delaney has graced a number of fine dance songs – notably Two Friends’ “Emily” – with his expressive and far-reaching voice, and in “Blinded” it’s definitely at its best.  The overall result is a memorable, well-assembled song that will have you swaying till the end.  

#BILLCSTop30 #540 – July 23/18

The story of the new chart is its five debuts, all but one being independent releases!  This chart has always been a champion for independent releases as so many major label releases are tailored for radio or follow a formula.  Usually only about 30% of the songs on the chart are major label releases, although some indie labels have distribution deals with them.  The Top 10 stays steady but with a switch over at the top!

The Top 10

  • Steven and Jeroen, aka Dutch producers The Him, get their first #1 this week in collaboration with singer/songwriter Parson James for the summer ballad of 2018, “Broken Love”.  I’m very happy for these super down-to-earth guys, who just played a career high at Tomorrowland this weekend.  It’s also the second #1 of 2018 for the Spinnin’ label.

  • Brandyn Burnette’s autobiographical “Run” reaches a new peak of #4 in advance of his debut album Emanate, due next month.
  • Australia’s Rüfüs Du Sol definitely have their eye on the top of the chart with “No Place”, which advances 9 to 5.
  • Adam Foster’s “Time” also gets a new peak of #6 as his redux of Marvin Gaye’s “Too Busy Thinkin’ Bout My Baby” (without the original’s chorus) holds through the summer months!
  • The only new entry to the Top 10 this week is the sublime silliness in less than 3 minutes of “Back The Funk” by Estonia’s Madison Mars, which climbs 11-9.  It’s one of the most fun songs of 2018 so far.

Movin’ On Up

  • Equally silly as “Back The Funk” and just as endearing is “Jackie Chan”, becoming a pop hit all over the world courtesy of Tiësto and Toronto’s Dzeko, with great vocal power from Preme and Post Malone.  It rises 16-11.
  • Bobby Nourmand’s EP Subterranean slipped to #2 this week, but his latest release is wasting no time getting up the chart.  With Blonde’s Adam Engle on vocals, the compelling “The Sun” climbs 23-16.
  • Canada’s Felix Cartal released a high quality album called Next Season recently, and one of my very favourites from it is up 21-17.  “Worry” is super-catchy and sung by Victoria Zaro.

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to the superstar collaboration of Tony Moran and Jason Walker, together for a third time with “I’m In Love With You”.  In its Victor Dinaire and Bissen remix, it soars 26-18.  Their previous entries of “So Happy” and “Say Yes” both got to #3.

Five Debuts

  • Keiynan Lonsdale should now be on your radar as someone to watch over the next few years as the “Love, Simon” and “The Flash” actor develops his singing and songwriting talents.  His latest single “Preach” is outstanding, an incredibly honest and joyful record which deserves to be a big hit.  He’s released it independently but who knows if a major label might come knocking for it.  “Preach” bows at #23.
  • NYC’s Squired, aka Sean Squires, delivers a compelling hip hop influenced dance record with his indie release “Peace Out”, which arrives at #24.  “Peace Out” leaps out as being very different but engaging from a lot of what’s out there, and that will be its calling card, along with a really strong vocal performance.
  • L.A.’s Caden Jester arrives at #26 with the ultra-infectious “Vacant Love”, which features a winning vocal by singer Blake Rose.
  • After the #10 placing of “Sanctify”, Years & Years are back on the chart with their second entry from their second album Palo Santo, which is the pop-inflected “All For You” at #28.
  • The final debut is a soul ballad meant for quiet late summer evenings.  Philadelphia duo NiGHTS return to the chart after last year’s #3 fun and slightly wonky               “P A R T Y” with the beautiful “Eyes” at #29.

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 🙂

With festival and club fireworks to come, @Dzekomusic and @RiggiandPiros give us a definitive summer “Anthem”

DZEKO vs RIGGI & PIROS, “Anthem”

In one short week since its release, “Anthem” from Toronto’s Dzeko and one of New Jersey’s finest dance production duos Riggi & Piros has garnered the support of just about every major DJ in the world, so you can expect EDM domination during the balance of the summer.  All it takes is the 10 deliberate notes in “Anthem” that comprise the unassuming hook and will absolutely slay dance music lovers.  There’s a real throwback melody to late 90’s Eurodisco too within the future house core of the song  that’s highly appealing and causes utter glee with fans of this genre.  With Dzeko now everywhere on the charts with Tiësto and “Jackie Chan”, “Anthem” will follow by conquering festivals and clubs everywhere.  You have been warned!!

Netherlands-based producers @Revelriesmusic score with dreamy mid-summer song “Infinitum” with Australia’s #BeamishBoys

REVELRIES and THE BEAMISH BOYS, “Infinitum”

You can tell the guys behind Dubai-bred, Netherlands-based Revelries (they would be Nik and Abhi) are not only producers but musicians as they follow up their successful take on Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” (featuring Henri Purnell) with the glorious escapism of “Infinitum”.  Not only does “Infinitum” have great melody, instrumentation and song structure, but Revelries have partnered with young Australian duo The Beamish Boys (Ben and Jeremy) for some compelling, diverse vocal work that makes the song soar even more.  “Infinitum” is a dreamy mid-summer alt.dance.pop song for those clear starry evenings when nothing else matters, with sparks of love and affection in the air, and anything is possible.  There are lots of folk/pop elements that creep in with some effective acoustic guitar work that helps guide the song along and make it quite accessible for radio play.  “Infinitum” is highly deserving of your attention and placement on your favourite Spotify playlist using the link above.

“Give Me Love” has a direct groove for the win by Dutch producer @Mestomusic

MESTO, “Give Me Love”

There’s a lot familiar about “Give Me Love”, the latest from Dutch producer Mesto, but there’s also a lot that’s new and on point that will keep you listening and bouncing.  The pitched up vocal and repeated chorus – yeah, been there done that.  But Mesto’s got a great groove and complex synth work happening to make you stick with it.  So when club DJ’s wanna see some love on that dance floor mid-evening, then “Give Me Love” is part of the solution!  Add “Give Me Love” to your Pump It Higher playlist using the Spotify link above.

UK-based producer @iamEmbody revives a classic 90’s hit as “Be Cool” with vocalists @MarcoFoster_ and #Bailey

EMBODY, MARCO FOSTER and BAILEY, “Be Cool”

It’s been a while since Lithuania-born, UK-based producer Embody has graced us with original music, after creating one of my favourite songs of Summer ’16 with “Dreamin'”.  He continues on a light tropical house vibe with “Be Cool”, which is actually a surprise cover of Des’ree’s huge 1994 hit “You Gotta Be”.  Great songs will often translate well to any setting, and “Be Cool” keeps a lot of the same familiar flavour of the original.  It’s aided immensely by the male/female duo talents of US singer Marco Foster (about whom I’ve written several times), no stranger to contributing to dance tracks himself, as well new singer Bailey.  Their voices have similar qualities that are fused together well in the production.  “Be Cool” should be a no-brainer for dance radio and clubs (remixes will help) as the original will attest to its timeless popularity.

Being strong is hard in the face of “Tough Love” as recounted by @BrightLightx2

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, “Tough Love”

If someone so very badly hurts another person in a relationship, then the price is to face “Tough Love”, the second taste of Wales-born singer/songwriter Bright Light Bright Light’s upcoming release following the recent “How I Feel”.  While BLx2 (Rod Thomas) had a stellar year in 2017 with gorgeously happy songs, such as my favourite “New York Pretty”, 2018 brings us to a return of more downbeat stories that make you think and inspire as with many songs in Rod’s extensive repertoire.  “Tough Love” gets right to the point, enabling you to be strong enough to call out someone who is mistreating you.  And the line you belong as far way from me as you can get is indeed the rusty nail in that relationship’s coffin, if you have ever experienced such a thing.  So get to know “Tough Love” and “How I Feel” in anticipation of BLx2’s upcoming Fall tour, which will take him to my city (Toronto) and many others for the first time!

“Rocket Girl” brings together the many talents of @Lemaitremusic and @BettyWho

LEMAITRE and BETTY WHO, “Rocket Girl”

It’s been out for a while, but don’t let “Rocket Girl” fall outside of your radar.  It’s a solid mix of dance, pop and rock flavours courtesy of the unexpected collaboration of Norwegian producers Lemaitre and NYC-based Australia-bred singer Betty Who, following up Lemaitre’s 2017 album Chapter One.  “Rocket Girl” is a dance anthem that is scored with rock guitars and heavy bass synths, a good companion to Pink’s latest releases if you ask me.  Anyone who has seen Lemaitre in performance knows that while their genre focus is electronic dance, that does not limit what elements they will bring into their songs.  There’s a lot of graceful keyboard work in “Rocket Girl” too, which creates a beautiful bridge with an outro of relentless drums and percussion, barnstorming right back to the chorus.  Betty Who’s vocal is engaging and proud to lead the way as our “Rocket Girl”, so check it out at the link above.

A welcome return for UK singer @Haywoodemusic with bubbly reduxes of her biggest hit as “Roses 2018”

HAYWOODE, “Roses (2018)”

Sid Haywoode had steady popularity in the UK throughout the mid-80’s on the pop and dance charts, which had its apex with “Roses”.  It became a #11 hit in a UK reissue in 1986, and could be frequently heard side-by-side hits of the day by Sheila E. and Jody Watley.  Although she only released one album in the 80’s, Haywoode’s loyal fan base allowed her a return to the music scene at the top of this decade, and 2018 is the perfect time for a redo of “Roses” courtesy of Energise Records.  And when you have invested producers like Matt Pop and Andy Sikorski on the scene to make it work, well you know that the results are going to be even better than expected.  “Roses 2018”, particularly in its Matt Pop edit and extended versions, simply sparkles and highlights those important old school touches in a relationship that might be weathered by social media these days.  Not being a hit outside of Europe in the 80’s, “Roses 2018” has the benefit of sounding slick and contemporary to blend without issue but more importantly to stand out on its own all over again.