Check out my posts about 10 new songs below, along with picks of the week from online radio buddies “Big Daddy” Russ Horton and Hunter Wilbur, and myself. “The Musicman” James Rogers offers more tunes from the 80’s in his Classic Five. Plus I recap this week’s BILLCS Top 30 new #1 and the Fastest Rising song on the chart.
The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me @billcs on Twitter @thebillcs on Instagram or @BILLCSMusicProjects on Facebook.
SPOTLIGHTING
DARIN, “Satisfaction”
After three brilliant singles, it’s absolutely no surprise that “Satisfaction” is another newly minted gem for 2020’s Darin. Like “Superstar” and “Can’t Stay Away”, a flirty and sexy style of dance music for the Swedish pop sensation draws its influences from 80’s stars like Madonna, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, and other risk takers who converted several of their songs into visual feasts too. Minus the unnecessary voyeuristic plot, the video for “Satisfaction” captures this too with Darin embracing his sexuality amid some eye-catching choreography.
DLMT & PARTY SHIRT, “Goin’ Down”
With the right club DJ and the right mix, “Goin’ Down” is one of those infectious dance tracks that could easily become a centrepiece in a mid-evening set. It’s brought to you by increasingly noted Toronto producer DLMT – he’s recently remixed Bad Bunny – and American-Australian producers and Tik Tok favourites Party Shirt. I’m certain the hook featuring Latin horns is a sample (but I can’t place it… help) and the producers totally smash the production in “Goin’ Down” with their loaded bag of tricks. “Goin’ Down” is one of those dance tracks you don’t want to let up and leaves you feeling exhilarated at the end.
YEARS & YEARS, “100% Pure Love”
Taking a break from original tunes after his fine album from earlier this year Night Call, Olly Alexander and team offer us “100% Pure Love”, a reverent cover of the 1994 Crystal Waters smash. It wouldn’t have occurred to me that this one could be a Years & Years song but it makes total sense. Olly certainly has fun with the vocal, and the supporting musicians nail the mid-90’s house bounce that it could not go without. It’s bound to sound fab at a Y&Y live event!
THE HIM and BULLYSONGS, “Violet Skies”
Dutch producer The Him continues to keep vibrant beats rolling, and switches it up a bit with the slower but funk-flavoured “Violet Skies”. The vocalist is BullySongs, a British artist probably known more as an epic hit-making songwriter for the dance music world cream of the crop like Armin van Buuren, Galantis and Don Diablo among others. His gentle, echo-filled vocal gives “Violet Skies” that soothing, delightful quality that you associate with watching a sunset on the beach. Notch up another impressive release for The Him!
M. BYRD, “Flood”
Although I haven’t written about his music till now, I’ve been paying attention to the growth of Germany-born singer/songwriter M. Byrd through the songs I’ve heard. His new song “Flood” almost sounds like a fresh start, a song about letting go of certain things and people in our lives, even if temporary, to lead your best life. M. Byrd describes it as follows:
“I like to think of it as a constant cascade, like a waterfall that is becoming stronger and stronger, the more it is raining. Musically I find that to be most apparent in the littler guitar melody that slowly weaves into the song…”
Musically, the song harkens back to late 80’s, early 90’s alt.pop/rock that evolved out of the new wave era by British groups like The Railway Children, House of Love, and The Mighty Lemon Drops – whether or not that could have been in M. Byrd’s trajectory is another thing. “Flood” is most enjoyable and also succeeds on its own merit as cathartic and ambitious.
FEATURING
COCO & BREEZY and TARA CAROSIELLI, “Just Say”
“You’re toxic but it only makes me wanna love you”
That memorable recent lyric might have been nagging you when you’ve heard it on your dance radio show, and it comes from “Just Say” by Coco & Breezy with singer/songwriter Tara Carosielli. The independent release has quickly made huge strides and is in the Top 20 nationally for dance music radio airplay. That’s great news for twin sisters Coco & Breezy, otherwise known as DJs/producers/ entrepreneurs Corianna and Brianna Dotson. Among their achievements include running a successful sunglasses company that began when they were teenagers, and performing as tour dancers with Prince. “Just Say” has a welcoming, light-hearted, playful vibe that fills a bankable void left by 90’s pop/R&B acts like TLC or Brandy.
MICHAEL MALCOLM and VICTOR PERRY, “Out Of My Mind”
NYC singer-songwriter Victor Perry teams up with new Canadian dance producer Michael Malcolm for “Out Of My Mind”. Some of Victor’s best releases have been in the deep house genre, and this song about being just a little bit more than infatuated goes down easy. Michael’s production isn’t full of effects or tricks, and ably showcases Victor’s superlative Michael Jackson-inspired vocal. Club DJ’s and dance radio shouldn’t sleep on this one!
OLLY MURS, “Die Of A Broken Heart”
Olly Murs is back with a fresh sound after four years since his last new music. He’s a superstar in England from the early ’10’s hits “Heart Skips A Beat” and “Troublemaker” (with Flo Rida) but is in comeback mode with the reggae-tinged “Die of a Broken Heart”. And it’s a nice change from recording songs with Snoop Dogg or Shaggy for name value. The sound is bright and crisp with a nice percussive backdrop, which allows his vocal to really soar. As a guy in love, he’s got a new album coming appropriately called Marry Me so there may be more opportunities yet for Olly to be back on the charts.
JOT SINGH, “Nothing Like This World”
Earlier this year, I introduced you to L.A.-based singer/songwriter Jot Singh and his beautifully sung acoustic release “Don’t Play With Fire”. “Nothing Like This World” serves as a worthy follow-up. This time it’s a more DIY effort, relying on some effectively distinct choppy guitar sounds which compliment another solid vocal by Jot. The song is about taking risks to help give yourself a better life, and the optimistic lyrics and dreamy melody yield better than average results. Check out the video above!
TYLER GARRETT, “Deception”
This past summer brought us an ambitious full album release, Mirage, by L.A. dance music multi-talent Tyler Garrett. “Deception” is sure to turn heads as Tyler shifts flavours from pop/dance/house and into trance for a trek to a darker side of electronic music. Self-realization is at the core of “Deception”, and Tyler playfully alters his vocal before the chorus kicks in. It’s a tad long at almost 5 minutes but trance music fans will thoroughly enjoy it, and I think it would benefit from an even deeper trance mix.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 20 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
“I Will Wait” by new Toronto singer/songwriter Shawn Molko
BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner of online stations Radio GTA, Halton Hills Radio Online, & FM108.ca.
“Kick Ass” by the one and only Bryan Adams (with an amusing prologue by John Cleese)
HUNTER J. WILBUR’S PICK OF THE WEEK
Hunter J. Wilbur is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype” and “Addictive Energy” which can be heard on several online stations including Classic Hits Canada.
A fast-paced slice of EDM by Quickdrop, “Too Late To Turn Back”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Toto – Africa
Yes – Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Wham! featuring George Michael – Careless Whisper
U2 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
“Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
BILLCS Top30 FASTEST RISER
“My Dying Spirit” by Greyson Chance (18-7)
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 