Tag Archives: house

#BILLCSTop30 #544 – September 17, 2018

The new chart is a little more than shaken ‘n stirred!  While there are 5 debuts to keep things rolling, there’s also a new #1 song – one of the more interesting charts to come along in a while if I do say so myself!

The Top 10

  • Both Benny Benassi and Sofi Tukker obtain their first #1 on the chart with “Everybody Needs A Kiss”, up from 4 two weeks ago.  It’s got such a familiar sound yet it’s not like anything else out there, and it’s begging for another collaboration soon!  They send The Him and Parson James’ long-running “Broken Love” to #2 after 4 appearances (8 weeks) at #1.

  • Tony Moran and Jason Walker are back in their comfort zone – the Top 5 – for a third time with “I’m In Love With You”, which advances 6 to 4.

  • “Casually” by Miami-based Alyx Ander and Dutch duo Redondo with vocalist Maria Z. closes in on the Top 5, moving up 8-6.

  • One of the most glorious instrumentals of the year in tribute to Avicii, “Tim” by Arty climbs 11-7.  You can also find “Tim” on Armin van Buuren’s newly released State Of Trance – Ibiza 2018 compilation.
  • One song that slides under your skin neatly and stays there is the R&B ballad “Eyes” by Philadelphia duo N i G H T S, which moves up 13-9, becoming their second Top 10 entry following last year’s different and droll #3 “P A R T Y”.

  • Australian singer/actor/dancer Keiynan Lonsdale – both Kid Flash from TV’s “The Flash” and Bram from “Love, Simon” – grabs his first Top 10 entry with the irrepressible “Preach”, which rises 12-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • “Vacant Love” by L.A. producer Caden Jester and featuring an outstanding and engaging vocal by Blake Rose breaks through and heads towards the Top 10, climbing 16-11.
  • I’m thrilled that “All For You” is the third official single from Years & Years’ Palo Santo album, that I will be most happy to hear in concert next month!  “All For You” jumps 18-14.
  • The fastest riser on the chart is the only debut from the last chart.  “Verona” absolutely commands your attention with it’s story and compelling vocals by Peter Wilson and Sean Smith.  Moving up 24-15 out of the gate is not to be messed with – watch where this one goes in the coming weeks!  Check out a video of a live performance in England by the lads below – so good live, you know why they recorded together!

  • Also making its presence known is the infectious “One Last Time”, a Poland-Norway collaboration from producer Gromee and vocalist Jesper Jenset, who has major Shawn Mendes appeal here with his singing.  “One Last Time” rises 23-16.

  • The soulful, deep hurts of “The Pain I Feel” send UK singer Marlon Percy and UK/France producer collaborators LoFrames 25-20.  And it’s all set to a tidy, winning house rhythm and you’ll find yourself swaying away!

  • Not to worry about the slow start for “I Don’t Dance (Without You)” by Norway’s Matoma with Enrique Iglesias on lead vocals and Jamaica’s own Konshens with an enjoyable vocal breakdown.  It makes up for it by moving 26-22 with no sign of slowing down yet.

5 Debuts!

  • One of the most outrageously enjoyable videos this year is from Calgary’s Kiesza and what should by all rights be a comeback single for her, “Phantom Of The Dance Floor”.  Those gorgeous operatic tones are from Quebec’s Philippe Sly, and the video is eye-popping, perfectly in time for Hallowe’en!  “Phantom” bows at #23 and is Kiesza’s first lead appearance on the chart – she last appeared in 2015 in a feature on the gorgeous #3 alt.rock ballad “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society.

  • Ariana Grande returns with one of her finest vocal performances with “Breathin” from the highly-acclaimed Sweetener album.  It flies onto the chart at #24.  It will have to best the #6 peak of “Into You” two years ago.

  • I rarely write about a song twice but “Down For Me” by PLS&TY is just sooo gooood in its original version (above) and in the amped up Morgan Page extended mix (below).  So in turn it arrives at #28 on the chart.  Florida-based producer PLS&TY appeared on the chart late last year as a remixer for SAINT WKND & MAX’s #8 “Survive”.

  • One major dance veteran gets his chart debut and that is Dutch producer Sidney Samson with his potent, kick ass techno-house of “Soldier” in partnership with GWise, and it premieres at #29.

https://soundcloud.com/kookysmusic/voice-mails

  • And from a dance veteran to a mystery newcomer we have at #30 “Voice Mails” by L.A.-based producer Kooky.  The song exudes charm amid a beautiful melody that carries the relationship story of two individuals between their two voice mail messages.  It’s very touching and will garner immediate reaction in clubs or on dance music radio, and deserves a shot!

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 🙂

“Words” is delightful downtempo electro-house for Autumn from @SteveVoidmusic and @Beauzmusic with @BriTolani

STEVE VOID & BEAUZ and BRI TOLANI, “Words”

Dutch producer and all-round nice guy Steve Void has spent the last year successfully transforming his business career at age 21 by shaping and branding his Strange Fruits imprint.  After a number of initial releases, “Words”, in collaboration with American duo Beauz and the familiar gentle vocal style of Bri Tolani, hits home.  It’s a delightful downtempo electro-house song that seems to straddle both a happy and sad side to its story.  But let’s look on the bright side and play into the fascination and attraction that Bri’s recounting of the lyrics brings forward.  If Steve can offer up more very radio-friendly, melodic 3 minute songs like “Words” then his Strange Fruits legacy will continue to grow.  Watch the lyric video up top.

Dance producer @AntonioGiacca returns with reworked retro vibes of “Every Way”

https://soundcloud.com/antoniogiacca/everyway

ANTONIO GIACCA, “Every Way”

L.A.-based, Italy-born dance producer Antonio Giacca made two of my favourite dance tunes of 2015/16 with “Ignited” and the wickedly catchy “Sensation”.  He returns in full effect with some slamming house with “Every Way”.  Pop music fans will immediately recognize that “Every Way” is a rework essentially of the early Motown hit “He Was Really Saying Somethin'”, a minor 60’s release by The Velvelettes.  It’s better known in Europe and the UK in a 1982 cover by Bananarama that was their second UK Top 5 chart hit.  But “Every Way” sounds like it samples a slightly pitched-down vocal from the original and makes it brim with funky house energy that will be very inviting for club DJ’s anywhere.  

#BILLCSTop30 #543 – September 3, 2018

A lot of hard and fast favourites continue to hold court at the top of the chart, where there is actually more movement than in recent weeks.  There is so much great music out there with lots of competition, so the nature of my new arrivals on the chart seems that they have to earn their rise up the chart, whereas over the years many songs have debuted in the Top 10 or even at #1.  With 9 debuts over the last month, that left room for only one smashing premiere on this chart.

The Top 10

  • “Broken Love” is definitely one of my Songs of 2018 as recorded by The Him and Parson James.  It sits atop for a 4th appearance (8th week), which we haven’t seen since Miguel’s “Pineapple Skies” did the same thing at the end of last year.  The Him are relentlessly touring and are recording some of the best music of their career so far.

  • Climbing to second place is “No Place” by Australia’s Rüfüs Du Sol, from their forthcoming third album called Solace.  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?
  • The no holds barred fun of “Get Down” by RetroVision sends the song climbing 5-3, after all without fun what would dance music be?  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?

  • Continuing to make great leaps is “Everybody Needs A Kiss” by Benny Benassi and Sofi Tukker, up 11-4.  It’s the highest placing song for Benny to date, and matches the #4 peak for Sofi Tukker’s “Baby I’m A Queen” a few months back.  Will it get to #1 in two weeks?

  • I’m always thrilled to see a grass roots indie reach the Top 5 and UK singer/songwriter Lostchild climbs 8-5 with his melodic and catchy “Blacklist”.  Lend an ear to this one folks, more to come from Lostchild!

  • “I’m In Love With You” by Tony Moran and Jason Walker continues its climb, rising 9-6 this week.  The pair even did some performing for some lucky ducks in Jersey City, NJ last week!  Time to take your repertoire on the road, guys!

  • The other new entry to the Top 10 climbs 12-8 and that’s “Casually” by Alyx Ander and Redondo featuring Maria Z.

Movin’ On Up

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Russian producer Arty with his sensational instrumental tribute to Avicii, “Tim”, which vaults 21-11.  It’s a record that mixes fun arpeggios with an emotional melody, and will indeed stand the test of time.
  • Philadelphia duo N i G H T S looks to be headed for their second Top 10 hit here with the melt-worthy “Eyes”, which soars 19-13.
  • NYC-based Sean Squires, aka Squired, has been doing some remixing when not working on originals.  His debut “Peace Out” (above) rises 17-15 but also check out his remix of Talk Time’s “Year Of Self” below.
  • I’m thoroughly enjoying Years & Years’ second album Palo Santo, and look forward to seeing the trio in concert again in October.  Their perky album track “All For You” should by all rights be a single release, and it continues to move up the chart, rising 22-18.

  • Call Me Karizma just played a really successful club date in his hometown of Minneapolis, and then at Red Rocks, none other than Illenium dropped one of his songs in his set!  There are other things brewing in ‘Riz’s camp, but “Life Of The Party” continues to win fans and climbs 24-20.  Check out the new video above.

  • Out of the four debuts two weeks ago, the song that makes the most of upward movement on the new chart is “One Last Time” by Poland’s Gromee featuring Norwegian singer Jesper Jenset in a Shawn Mendes-ish vocal.  It moves up 29-23.

Debuting…

  • It’s a highly memorable song that you will find yourself humming to no end.  “Verona” by Australia’s Peter Wilson and the UK’s Sean Smith arrives on the chart at #24.  It’s from Peter’s forthcoming album The Passion And The Flame.  It also marks Sean’s second appearance on the chart, reaching #7 last year with the Andy Sikorski remix of “Magic”.  I highly recommend seeking out the Matt Pop extended version of “Verona”.

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 🙂

Canadian duo @Botnek celebrate the last “Days Of Disco” – long live #Disco!

BOTNEK, “Days Of Disco”

“Days Of Disco” is an irresistible dance floor filler from my fellow Canadians, the Nova Scotia duo Botnek, who have caught Tiësto’s ear for release via Musical Freedom.  Though the song sings “Viva the last days of disco”, it is a celebration of disco and dance music.  “Days Of Disco” is full of hooks, from the classic house riffing to a melody that may make you recall “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”, though the rhythm is more uptempo rather than funky.  Botnek have found a great groove with this record, and while the buzzing synth hook (which sounds like a phone dialing – maybe a sample from the opening of Carol Douglas’ disco classic “Doctor’s Orders”?) may be a touch grating, it’s also one of the elements of the song that is highly memorable.  “Days Of Disco” makes for easy spinning in dance clubs, so add it to your Dance Dance Dance playlist using the Spotify link above.

UK-styled progressive house from Australia’s Right-O & Rore Groove with “Can’t Think”

RIGHT-O & RORE GROOVE and MIKECITY, “Can’t Think”

“Can’t Think” is an interesting slice of house music that’s a little more on the progressive side, taking you to a few unexpected places courtesy of the collaboration of Australian producers Right-O and Rore Groove with vocals by L.A. singer MikeCity.  What you’ll hear above is a mix that’s ideal for clubs.  While it starts off in familiar pop territory with an inviting vocal from MikeCity, it proceeds to step into a wilder direction instrumentally that really makes the song percolate and helps sustain its 4 minute length before it revisits more of MikeCity’s singing in its last minute.  “Can’t Think” has a lot of undeniable appeal.  I think it also has potential for dance music radio, though I think an edit would be helpful.  But as is, “Can’t Think” is slick and fun, with a lot of extra extra!

Canada’s @Kiesza is back and dance music has got her again with “Phantom Of The Dancefloor” featuring @PhilippeSly

KIESZA featuring PHILIPPE SLY, “Phantom Of The Dancefloor”

Oh where to begin!  Leaving her previous record deal behind after her huge Juno Awards winning 2015 hit “Hideaway”, Kiesza returns with the delights of “Phantom Of The Dancefloor”, which is taken amusingly over-the-top in its showy video.  Using elements from the likes of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Bat Out Of Hell”, Kiesza and her team mesh it all up in a “Phantom Of The Opera” turned sideways and inside out – and that’s where the beautiful bass baritone of Canadian opera singer Philippe Sly come in.  And yeah, it’s all set to house rhythms, so “Phantom Of The Dancefloor” is a lot of campy fun to make you smile and dance, with Kiesza and Philippe sounding positively grand together.  I’m not going to give away anymore, so watch the video up top and be enthralled!

Club veteran @SidneySamson crushes it with inspired “Soldier” in collaboration with @iamGwise

SIDNEY SAMSON and GWISE, “Soldier”

“Soldier” is an inspired, rollicking production which sounds like it almost wasn’t meant to be.  It apparently came about while Dutch veteran Sidney Samson was working on an entirely different project with fellow Dutch producer Gwise.  They must have had retro vibes flowing through their veins because “Soldier” is a total throwback to the late 90’s, early 2000’s techno-house and the best work by producers like Fatboy Slim and Fedde LeGrand among others.  It features an irresistible synth riff and familiar shout outs book-ended by slamming beats… and then, boom it’s over!  “Soldier” is a top notch, totally unexpected party spearheaded by a dance music heavyweight who should by all rights break through internationally with this one.  Once “Soldier” takes command it won’t let you go so be prepared to add it to your Fight For Your Right To Dance playlist using the Spotify link above.

It’s so easy to get lost in their “Verona”: Peter Wilson and Sean Smith’s compelling duet @pete80s @SeanSmithsolo

PETER WILSON & SEAN SMITH, “Verona” and its Remixes EP

“Verona” has a such a beautiful melody at first listen that you simply must play it a few times for the rest of the song to sink in.  Once you’re hooked, it’s so easy to get lost in the “Verona” as sung in the duet of the unlikely vocal pairing of Australia’s Peter Wilson and England’s Sean Smith.  Some of you will know Peter from his fine work with John von Ahlen’s Parralox, and others will recognize ex-Same Difference’s Sean Smith from these blog pages last year when he tantalized us with “Magic” in an Andy Sikorski remix.  The voices don’t really sound like they should be together but they offset each so well other that you don’t want to wait until whichever of them sings next!  And when they sing together, it’s a perfect sonic fit.  “Verona” of course is the setting in Italy for Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”.  Here, the song is a story of a love that is losing its vibrancy only perhaps to be rekindled by the end.  With its musical influences sunk in German europop of the 80’s, “Verona” has this massive and unexpected appeal all around.  And there are even a variety of remixes to choose from, but I will tap Matt Pop’s extended version for adding a triumphant flavour to “Verona”.  Check out the original below (from Peter’s forthcoming album The Passion & The Flame) and pick up the Remixes EP on iTunes.

How about an amazing @KAYTRANADA bootleg mix of “Kiss Of Life” by @Sadeofficial?

SADE, “Kiss Of Life” (Kaytra edit) (free DL)

The most delicious surprise for this Tuesday was to find Montreal’s award-winning KAYTRANADA dropping his ‘Kaytra edit’ bootleg mix of Sade’s 1992 hit “Kiss Of Life” (originally from the Love Deluxe album).  Press your local dance club to give it a spin later in the evening after they’re done with bangers and want some different action on the dance floor.  The ‘Kaytra edit’ is a luscious, ever-so-slightly pitched up slice of deep house that’s ideal for any time of day.  I thoroughly enjoy reduxes like this that take risks and strike gold in the process.  Get it for free at the link above while you can!!