Tag Archives: electronica

You’ll want to get to know @LostChilduk a bit more with revealing “Blacklist” (original and acoustic!)

LOSTCHILD, “Blacklist”

UK singer/songwriter Lostchild bravely got in front of the video camera and then had them let loose for the video of “Blacklist” (above).  Inspired by Madonna’s “Justify My Love” – you’ll recall Lostchild’s earlier take on her song “Skin” that I wrote about last year – basically the video is several hours in the life of a very exposed Lostchild (in more ways than one – so NSFW!) in his room.  It runs through a lot of underlying emotions, and of course is often very playful and naughty too.  All in all, it’s a video to show the very human side of our performer as he sings to a former lover who has shut him out.  If the video’s a bit too risque for you, then fortunately Lostchild has a tamer, acoustic video for the song as well.  As much as the original of “Blacklist” could be a fun song for dancing, the acoustic (below) is actually my preference as Lostchild showcases his expressive voice without layers of production to surround it.  The video is a bit more chipper too but still with enough rough edges to give off some genuine feels.  Both videos of “Blacklist” are terrific showcases for Lostchild, so your kind attention for what’s next is required in 2018!

Jaunty “Anything Can Happen” is an upbeat winner from @TimLegendmusic and @MaikaMaile

TIM LEGEND and MAIKA, “Anything Can Happen”

18 year old South Carolina producer Tim Legend has a song you’ll want to hear over and over again with “Anything Can Happen”.  Featuring a convincing killer vocal by Florida’s Maika, “Anything Can Happen” is one of those fun songs that will just leap out of your speakers and shake you between your ears.  The production gets all anthemic when it needs to but mainly allows the song to unfold in the same way perhaps as “I Like Me Better” by Lauv.  “Anything Can Happen” has both a lot of restraint and energy, as well as an engaging chorus, all from another young and notable producer, and picked up for release by Ultra no less.  Check it out at the link above and then pick it up at your favourite digital music store.

Premiere: Fresh techno-inspired “Lifeline” is by new L.A.-based producer @PrizmMusic

https://soundcloud.com/prizmmusicofficial/lifeline

PRIZM, “Lifeline” (free DL)

“Lifeline” is an enjoyable balance of lilting pop and powerhouse techno-inspired future bass by new L.A.-based producer Prizm.  The melody and effects play on the affecting anonymous male vocal and the emotional resolve of the song, stretching it in a variety of appealing ways that will have dance music fans in a state of bliss. “Lifeline” is heavy without being too far out.  The drops and crunch all act as an envelope for a song inside that will make you want to sing.  And one of the best parts of “Lifeline” is that it easily sustains its over 4 minute length.  Prizm is definitely one to watch, with more to come very soon.  In the meantime, grab “Lifeline” for free (under “More”) at the link above while you can.

80’s-style Europop is revisited successfully by @AllanJay101 with “Almost In Heaven”

ALLAN JAY, “Almost In Heaven”

Scotland’s Allan Jay is a relative newcomer to the dance music scene, making himself known over the past few years through opening for acts like The Vengaboys and Blue in Europe and the UK.  He’s had a number of club successes including a cover of Paul Lekakis’ 80’s hit “Boom Boom Boom”.  So it’s no surprise that his latest original single for Energise, “Almost In Heaven”, is also a well-conceived throwback to 80’s Europop.  But both the lyrics and Allan’s vocal right from his first notes capture a lot of today’s sentiments about letting loose and having a blast on the dance floor with someone special, making it more of a stylistic tribute than an easy carbon copy.  It’s a pretty easy sell to international audiences, including fussy North American club goers, who should embrace it in the same way as songs by the likes of Cascada in recent years.  Add “Almost In Heaven” to your Whirling Europop playlist using the Spotify link above.

Sweden’s @weareBrohug throws it down dirty with “Sinner”

BROHUG, “Sinner”

Keeping their trademark brohouse style intact, Swedish bros Brohug are back with the heavy-hitting future bass of “Sinner”.  It’s an aggressive, dirty house track that recalls the style of 80’s progressive acts like Britain’s Cabaret Voltaire while also reveling in more contemporary rhythms similar to  American counterparts such as The Knocks.  With one of its refrains being “back the fuck up”, it’s hard not to visualize “Sinner” going down well with club DJ’s who will use the suggestive antics of the song to crank up their audiences.  Overall Brohug’s “Sinner” is in-your-face fun, and you can add it to your playlist of Dirty House Hits using the Spotify link above.

Germany’s @Saxity is back with their surprising take on “The Seed” by @TheRoots

SAXITY, “The Seed” (free DL)

German production duo Saxity return with a deep house rendition of The Roots’ powerful 2003 hit “The Seed”.  While it lacks the blistering guitar crunch of the original as well as Cody ChesnuTT’s streetwise vocal, Saxity make this cover slick and rhythmic that will surprise dance club goers as much as it did me when I first listened and realized that this was indeed a song I already knew quite well.  The guitar work is pushed back more in the mix and still works, while the uncredited male vocal also has a credible soulful edge that holds up against gritty lyrics.  “The Seed” is from Saxity’s upcoming project “Internationally Homemade”, and you can get it for now for free at the link above.

Progressive dance duo @SayLessmusic return with blistering trap of “Rapture”

SAYLESS, “Rapture” (free DL)

When you think Nashville, you often think of country and pop music more than other genres.  It’s a diverse place musically, so finding a creative progressive dance duo from that city may not be entirely unexpected.  I wrote about the duo SayLess last year, and their follow up song is “Rapture”.  Taking cues from acts such as Say My Name, VVL, Lit Lords, and Bailo, “Rapture” straddles melodic and accessible pop dance music with a heavily creative and dirty side, featuring a blistering drop and impressive instrumentation that should make it stand out within the trap sub-genre.  The song structure is appealing, and not a turn goes by without SayLess keeping you wondering what’s coming next.  I don’t know a lot about trap as a sub-genre, but I do know when songs will ring bells with their intended audience.  “Rapture” will have hard core trap fans sold, and should also draw in dance music fans looking for something a touch different and well done.  Get to know SayLess by downloading “Rapture” for free at the link above.

Can emotional and physical bruises “Heal”? It’s asked through song by Michael Medrano (@Michaelantny) and @SteveGrandmusic

MICHAEL MEDRANO & STEVE GRAND, “Heal”

It might be a difficult song to get through if you’ve just had a break up of some sort, but “Heal” is a beautiful ode to the confusing feelings resulting from a particularly tumultuous relationship.  It’s from L.A. newcomer Michael Medrano who includes Chicago’s Steve Grand to help sing the story.  Each’s voices play off each other so well that you’re not sure if they are part of the same relationship or incorporating their own story within the song.  And with the electronic backdrop, it’s a splendidly diverse musical setting for Steve, who nearly 5 years ago released “All American Boy” to another kind of audience, and has since moved away from that sound to more classic pop and rock, with a new album coming soon.  “Heal” is an intensely beautiful song despite the harsh source of its setting.  Add it to your Sad But Hopeful Songs playlist using the Spotify link above.

The hypnotic rhythm of “Just A Taste” by @therealShiShi, @Baermusic and @WestheWriter will carry you away

SHISHI, BAER and WES WRITER, “Just A Taste”

There’s a lot going on to like in the latest single from NYC producer ShiShi called “Just A Taste”.  It has a harmonic way of moving from being drenched in synths, through brief percussive xylophonic breaks, and, to say the least, to lots and lots of flute (picture that belly dancing like in the song’s artwork)!  The song starts off like it’s taking us on a trip through the Caribbean and ends up embracing deep house rhythms.  Carrying it all through are the enticing vocal stylings of BAER and soulful hip hop from Wes Writer.  While it may not always work, there is too much inside of “Just A Taste” that’s present for your enjoyment!  Clubs will find lots of elements within “Just A Taste” for their clientele to embrace.

#BILLCSTop30 #534, April 30/18

Spring has sprung finally, there is lots of music in the air and on the new chart where there are three debuts.

The Top 10

  • Norway’s Dyrisk holds at #1 with the unconventional and delightfully catchy slice of alt.electronica, “Smile”, as produced by England’s Nik Ernst.  There’s lots more to come from Dyrisk who is a rising talent that you should be keeping your ears out for.  It’s the second song called “Smile” to top my chart in its 20 years, the other being by Mikky Ekko in 2015.

  • I do like The Chainsmokers’ forays away from EDM ballads and bangers with both “Sick Boy” (holding at #2) and the fierce “Everybody Hates Me” (above), soaring 15-8.  Check out their latest below called “Somebody”, featuring vocalist Drew Love of the duo They.

  • It’s one of the simplest and most haunting songs out there right now – “I Want You” (above) in its taut Spirix remix by Robotaki and Manila Killa featuring singer Matthew John Kurz.  It continues to rise, climbing 5-3.  L.A.’s Spirix has his own new original called “This Is What It Feels Like” (not the Armin van Buuren tune) below.
  • Besides “Everybody Hates Me”, the other new addition to the Top 10 is the quirky and fun “Multiply” by Italy’s IDEO featuring American hip hop artist J.Paulished.  It climbs 12-9 and is the first Top 10 for Balmung Digital Recordings.

https://soundcloud.com/ideodj/ideo-feat-jpaulished-multiply-1

Movin’ On Up

Oh where to begin… and how to edit this part of the post down…

  • The huge club and dance radio hit “All Falls Down” by Alan Walker featuring Noah Cyrus and Digital Farm Animals continues to reach new heights on this chart, leaping 14-11.
  • Their new album is called Palo Santo, due July 6, which looks to be a more progressive effort for UK trio Years & Years if the lead single “Sanctify” is any indication.  “Sanctify” rises 16-13.

  • The fastest riser on the chart is a slick, languid mix of hip hop, soul and dance music styles.  It’s “Butterscotch”, the second entry by Canada’s Robotaki, featuring vocalist Jamie Fine and producer Falcxne.  It flies up the chart 22-14.
  • Jesse McCartney’s latest single is well on its way and starting to attract radio attention.  Taking cues from his early hit singles, “Better With You” is a charming, low-key winner and climbs 25-18.
  • Shawn Mendes’ new album is called – Shawn Mendes!  Which means his songs might continue to be just as personal as “Lost In Japan” seems.  With its old school vibe, “Lost In Japan” rises 26-20.

3 Debuts

  • While “Prisoner” continues its roost at #7, L.A.’s Bobby Nourmand has created some of the most enjoyably dark house music I’ve heard in quite some time with his recent EP Subterranean.  And seeing that I love both songs from the EP, I’ve created a ‘first’ on the BILLCS Top 30 to add both “Subterranean” (above) and “Estranged” (below) as one entry at #26.  Never listen to these ones nearly alone in a dark club or you may not feel the same again!!
  • On a completely different bent, Australia’s JYYE has a perky, percussive, upbeat electronic sound with his latest single “Somewhere Else” which makes a splash at #27.
  • Ever since I was at Miami Music Week I’ve been wanting EDM artists to throwback to the classic sounds of the 2012-14 era.  A number of artists have since obliged, and I expect there to be more after Avicii’s sudden passing.  Dutch producer Ravitez debuts on the chart with the instrumental “2012” which features his mentor Afrojack, who is about to go on his first North American tour in some time.  It’s Afrojack’s first chart entry since 2014’s smash “Ten Feet Tall” (#8).

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 new BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂