Victor Perry – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

BILLCS New Music Report – July 25/24 with new songs by Starsigns (@imyetep @manilakilla @myrnemusic), @SamSparro, Nathalie Miranda @vocalfreaknat, @KaceyFifield, @kayliox, Lucky Guess & @LoloMayhew, Jimmy Rich x Tony Daly x Victor Perry (@wallflowerperry) and @MaxSarre

It’s that time of year again where I venture to my current favourite place to visit, New York City (Manhattan). In fact on this day in both 2014 and 2018 I was in NYC. There’s no place like it and no shortage of things to do. I’ve been more than 20 times and there are always new parts of Manhattan to explore. I just pray for it not to be dripping with humidity as each day I’m there is expected to be over 30C. Because of this time away, there will be no BILLCS New Music Report next week, and the following one will appear on August 8 rather than the day before. I will have a new BILLCS Top 30 on Monday before I go.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago! Please note that “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five is currently on hiatus.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

STARSIGHTS, GEORGE GLEESON, “Leo (Flicker)”

Starsights is the name of a new collective of Asian-American electronic dance producers – Surprise! It’s yetep, Manila Killa and MYRNE!! In collaboration with British singer/songwriter George Gleeson, “Leo (Flicker)” is a memorable, anthemic slice of pop/dance that finds a similar happy medium outside of harder EDM that The Chainsmokers and Coldplay discovered with “Something Just Like This”. And like that timeless record, “Leo (Flicker)” has a great vocal against an emotional early 2010’s inspired melody, while the song weaves a story about resigning oneself to the end of a relationship. In any case the Starsights collective and the resulting “Leo (Flicker)” release kind of came out of left field this month, so don’t let this one slip through the many releases out there, and I’m looking forward to another Starsights song.

SAM SPARRO, “Pressure” (RedTop mix)

I was delighted to find a Sam Sparro song on the Red Hot Organization’s latest release, the Red, Hot & Free Mixtape. Some songs simply slide under the radar, and this one, remixed by Swedish producer RedTop, was actually released a few years back, and is a worthy addition to this collection. The Red Hot & Free Mixtape also includes songs by the renown producer Arthur Baker, Bright Light Bright Light, Ultra Naté, Tituss Burgess, Imani Coppola and a remix of “Mon Cheri” by Sofi Tukker and Amadou & Mariam, a BILLCS Top 30 #2 in 2022. Like a lot of the Australia-born “Black and Gold” hitmaker’s releases, which have not been many these past few years, “Pressure” is timeless and relatable, with a slinky, funky groove that is an immediate call to the dance floor for clubs. So just let go, enjoy the great vocal, and let the rhythm take you away.

NATHALIE MIRANDA, “U Got Soul”

This week’s new songs have been full of head-turns, and after catching my attention with a Christmas song last year, London’s Nathalie Miranda has returned with an unexpected bluesy pop belter, “U Got Soul”. And looks are deceptive – currently sporting a set of flaming red hair atop her small stature, Nathalie’s vocal on this track sounds like it should be coming from someone else, but in truth she’s got a natural flair for this vibrant soulful sound. “U Got Soul” is destined to be a crowd-pleaser in concert, one that you’ll be happy to get up with to sing along or cheer. It’s one of those solid songs that gets passed around through word of mouth, so don’t be surprised if you hear more about Nathalie and “You Got Soul”. Check out its fun video, which has some inspiration from Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is In The Heart”.

KACEY FIFIELD, “Dream Girl”

The flourishing music career of Kacey Fifield continues with a punchy song about being obsessive called “Dream Girl”. Like her recent single “Never Reply” from the well-received EP Nostalgia Haunts Me, “Dream Girl” is co-written with Smallpools’ Mike Kamerman and Winnetka Bowling League’s Sam Beresford, and produced by Sam, and the amped-up rock flavour complete with fuzzy-sounding guitar work really jibes well with Kacey’s lyrics and voice. “Dream Girl” highlights the extremes to which we will go when going beyond just liking or loving something/someone does not satisfy us enough. The song has a wry sense of humour, and the overall result is positive and versatile.

KAYLIOX, CHLOE DOYON, “Off The Ground”

Quickly following up last month’s “Memory Lane”, and to be included in an EP of the same name, is Quebec dance producer Kayliox who teams up with Quebec vocalist Chloé Doyon once again for “Off The Ground”. I like how this song initially focuses on Chloé’s vocal while introducing its tech house forward synth work, then it builds auspiciously, adding more layers of seamless production until the key drop is unleashed. From that point onward, “Off The Ground” turns into a fierce rave up, and this is one that dance club DJ’s will enjoy the most, especially with an extended version. I’m looking forward to what’s next in line for Kayliox’s EP.

LUCKY GUESS, LAUREN MAYHEW, “Feels So Right”

Lucky Guess is an Indianapolis-based production duo of Samuel Schmelzer and Tom Huettner, who have been releasing music these past five years, and along the way have been solidifying worldwide DJ support, and have had releases through labels like Spinnin’ and Revealed. With “Feels So Right”, they’ve teamed up with Florida multi-talent Lauren Mayhew, who works some dynamic and playful vocal magic. “Feels So Right” is one tight tech-house banger that showcases all of its talents well – but we’re left a bit wanting after the song finishes at the 2 minute mark, so an extended version, especially for clubs, would be most welcome, and would benefit the release as a whole. As is, “Feels So Right” is enough of a sinfully sizzling rollercoaster ride that if it gets in enough of the right ears, it could be around for a while. Don’t sleep on this one!

JIMMY RICH, TONY DALY, VICTOR PERRY, “Paradigm”

It’s been a while since NYC’s Victor Perry graced these blog pages with his silky vocal and creative songwriting, but he’s back with “Paradigm” in collaboration with Italian producers Jimmy Rich and Tony Daly, with whom he recorded last year’s “Gemini”. “Paradigm” is smooth and inviting deep house release with Eurohouse flavours and a catchy refrain. In the song, Victor wants to get the object of his affection’s attention by seeing their paradigm, which is another way of wanting to look at something but through their eyes. The song moves along briskly and is available in both radio edit and extended versions as a two song single.

MAX SARRE, “Brother”

“Brother” is a cheery and warm slice of straight-forward pop music brought to you by 22 year old rising London-based talent Max Sarre. It’s an affecting song which could be as much about a relationship with a brother as it could be a best friend who’s always there for you to turn to when needed. In some ways thematically it reminds me of Coldplay’s big 2005 hit “Talk”. Vocally, Max is engaging and spot on, and “Brother” will appeal easily to fans of Ed Sheeran and Charlie Puth. Max has released about a dozen singles and two EP’s in the last four years, and “Brother” looks to be the start of a positive new era for him.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and debuts throughout the summer each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online. “The 3D Variety Show” in which it normally debuts on Tuesdays, is on hiatus and will return in September.

Canadian duo Crash Adams are guaranteed to light up your event with “Hotel Party”

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Russ’ record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.

Toronto trio Valley return with “Bass Player’s Brother”

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and “Pyjama Party”, with both shows anchored at Energy 885. Hunter can also be heard weekdays at 2pm EST on Party Dog Radio. Hunter’s bop of the week can now be heard each week on “The Big 20”.

After her breakout with “Austin”, Dasha returns with the more straight-up country tune “Didn’t I”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

The “Classic Five” will return.

THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…

The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…

2019

1 GOOD THINGS FALL APART, Illenium & Jon Bellion

2 WORLD AT YOUR FEET, Timmy Trumpet

3 SWEAR TO GOD, Famba

4 LOVE ME LESS, MAX, Quinn XCII

5 KISS AND TELL, Mokita

2014

1 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT, House Rockerz, Davis Redfield, Carl Man

2 TIDAL WAVE, Tristan Thompson

3 TELL IT TO MY HEART, Jason Walker, Bimbo Jones

4 LITTLE ME (Steve Smart & Wildfunk radio edit), Little Mix

5 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING, Anton Ewald, Medina

2009

1 THE GIRL & THE ROBOT, Royksöpp, Robyn

2 MANNEQUIN (Overthrill remix), Noah

3 YOU FOUND ME (Lenny B remix), The Fray

4 A DUSTLAND FAIRYTALE, Killers

5 I’M RUNNING, Misstress Barbara, Sam Roberts

2004

1 SATELLITE (Above & Beyond mix), Oceanlab, Justine Suissa

2 SHE WILL BE LOVED, Maroon 5

3 ROCK U, Laurent Konrad

4 FALLING DOWN, Ben Jelen

5 MOVE YA BODY, Nina Sky

1999

1 THE CUP OF LIFE (Spanglish radio edit), Ricky Martin

2 U DON’T KNOW ME, Armand Van Helden, Duane Harden

3 NO REGRETS, Robbie Williams

4 SHE’S SO HIGH, Tal Bachman

5 GET YOU IN THE MORNING, Crash Test Dummies

#BILLCSNewMusicReport – July 27/23 spotlighting songs by @SteveAngello & @thisisWH0 @GATTUSO @SamDickinson Michael Medrano @stachepapi

There were so many songs that came my way over the past few weeks that are heavily influenced or inspired by the original disco music of the 1970’s, that I had to bundle them together for you, in an energy-filled Report this week. What’s been labelled as Nu Disco never really graduated to the big time over the past few years, but the way that some of this year’s producers are incorporating classic disco style in their songs could spark a very happy trend! You need to have lived through it, but disco music created some of the best times of people’s lives, and to be able to feel that again in today’s music is special. Coincidentally, today’s WORDLE game answer was DISCO (but I got it in five tries :P).

Among the features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five pop hits feature with some classics from 1979. I also have the list of songs that topped my chart at this time of year since 1998.

The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.

SPOTLIGHTING

STEVE ANGELLO, WH0, “What You Need”

Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello kicks off his new Size record label with a ferocious start with “What You Need”, in collaboration with masked British producers WH0. The song blends in a lot of contemporary elements with early 90’s eurohouse vibes. There’s a potent uncredited female vocal which sounds like a cross-between Tina Turner and Loleatta Holloway, and some orchestral synths which provide some genuine disco flair. Add a brisk pace and you have a masterful record that by all rights should be a club and festival smash and is totally unexpected, so make sure this one gets your full attention.

GATTÜSO, “Unstoppable”

The latest from New York-based, Israel-born dance producer GATTÜSO (aka Reem Taoz), “Unstoppable” (no relation to the Sia song) is one swirling, energetic firecracker. I’ve been hearing a lot of piano-led house lately and loving it, so it’s no wonder that “Unstoppable” stands out big time among today’s releases. The uncredited male vocal is infectious and affecting, giving the proper drive that the frenetic pace of the song needs. GATTÜSO has been on a splendid roll with recent releases “Out Of My Mind” and “I’ll Be There”, and next up is a collaboration with Laidback Luke.

SAM DICKINSON, “Falling”

UK singer/songwriter Sam Dickinson returns after a few years’ absence during which he evaluated what direction he was going into with his music. His songwriting is always of high calibre, he’s received oodles of praise from Graham Norton, and Sam’s been a regular visitor to this blog since the release of his debut album The Stories That Occurred 10 years ago. Happily, Sam continues in a dance music direction laid by previous singles “Diamond Skin” and “Carefree”, and “Falling” is a disco-flavoured house track with a vibrant synth hook, co-written with Adam Dixon, that would sound great in concert. Sam’s edgy, soulful voice matches perfectly with this genre and the unique sound of “Falling” is ear-catching, making it a good one to start off a club set. Sam’s got much more in store for us and “Falling” comes from his next album, Stories: The Collection, due in the Fall.

MICHAEL MEDRANO, “Disco Sleaze (Raw and Uncut)”

Perhaps when L.A.’s Michael Medrano and his fans gave him the moniker of “disco dad”, they were a touch ahead of the game, given the other disco and retro-flavoured songs that are included in this week’s report. Michael’s been making disco-flavoured songs for the last few years now, so a likeable song from him called “Disco Sleaze” isn’t unexpected. He follows up his recent album LoveSexDrugs with an entertaining and extended redux of one of its tracks, now with the subtitle “raw and uncut”. And “Disco Sleaze” is grittier, dirtier and well-hung 😛 in its new version, which improves immensely on the previous version, which isn’t anywhere near as playful. “Disco Sleaze (Raw and Uncut)” is a winner, so put on your platform shoes or cowboy boots with pride, and get down and boogie or whatever you might do!

FEATURING

DISCO DOM, YUNG BAE, “Be The One”

Disco Dom is another side to France-born, Miami-based producer Dombresky, who made a fast rise from remixes to concert sellouts at the end of the last decade. In the 1970’s there was a lot of great disco music that came out of France, so Disco Dom reaches back into his heritage to put his own spin on it with “Be The One”, the ‘A’ side to his release called Inferno No. 1. And to partner up with Oregon-born Yung Bae, a producer who I saw perform last year in Miami, is simply kismet. Yung Bae (who has another collaboration coming with Nile Rodgers) has a lot of disco up his sleeves too, and the audience last year ate it all up. “Be The One” employs uncredited Gospel-flavoured vocals against a surprisingly traditional disco arrangement that recalls specifically 70’s French acts like Voyage and the late Patrick Juvet. “Be The One” is a lot of fun, if a little on the repetitive side, but the spirit of disco lives on in songs like this.

OLD JIM, VICTOR PERRY, “Beat It”

To get your first question out of the way, yup, this is a cover of Michael Jackson’s classic. And while Italian producer Old Jim fashions a creditable contemporary arrangement for the song, its secret weapon is NYC-based singer Victor Perry, whose voice hasn’t sounded better! I’ve written before how much at times Victor can sound like Michael, and by covering “Beat It” the resemblance continues at its strongest without entirely trying to copy him throughout the song, so still sounding like Victor in the process. But the critical parts of the song where Michael’s voice is needed are impressive and well-represented by Victor. It’s hard to slay a somewhat “untouchable” classic like this and give it new wings but Old Jim and Victor Perry’s take on “Beat It” goes down just fine.

JRDN, “What Do I Got To Do”

The return of the soulful voice of Toronto-based, Halifax-born JRDN has been a welcome surprise so far in 2023 starting with his previous release “Call My Name”. JRDN’s first Canadian successes occurred before The Weeknd arrived on the scene, and songs like “What Do I Got To Do” can easily co-exist next to The Weeknd’s hits on the radio. “What Do” moves along briskly to make you dance, and relies heavily on JRDN’s striking falsetto. I’ve long thought that Canada needs to do a better job with promoting its talented R&B singers who have somehow ended up in the shadow of The Weeknd’s success despite their unique talents. Even before The Weeknd, singers like Melanie Fiona also had to go to the US to get recognized before receiving similar acknowledgement at home. “What Do I Got To Do” has fortunately popped into Canada’s Top 40, so I’m hoping it continues another string of hits for JRDN.

BEN DAVIDSON, “Wow”

It’s a pleasure to be writing about Scotland’s Ben Davidson after a while with his new house-flavoured pop single “Wow”. Continuing a collaboration with producer Dan Scholes, Ben gives one of his best vocals in the anthemic “Wow”. He can sit up in his head voice like some of the best of ’em, and here he delivers a joyous song in “Wow” that is quite the bouncy, memorable bop. I’ll be exceedingly happy if Ben continues to pump out songs like this one.