I have no thoughts to write about as an intro to this week’s Report, so please check out and enjoy the music and our features.
Listen to my daughter VXTORIA‘s latest release “Lost In Your Love” at the following link: Lost. If you haven’t checked out her second single, “changes”, you can do so at the following link: changes. You can watch her in the video for her debut single “Back To You” at the following link: Back To You.
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”. The Musicman James Rogers is back with his weekly “3D Variety Show” and this week’s Classic Five choices come from an interesting time for pop music, 1974-75. In case you missed them, you’ll also find out which songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser in the latest edition of the BILLCS Top 30.
Reminder: Click on the photos below to listen to the songs, usually with a Spotify link unless otherwise indicated.
SAM FELDT, JUSTIN JESSO, PARSON JAMES, “Lonely Tonight”
About the artists: Sam Feldt is the talented Dutch dance producer who has been releasing music for about 10 years, and topped the BILLCS Top 30 last year with both “Mi Amor” (with JVKE and Anitta) and “Heart Like Mine” (with Rosa Linn). Justin Jesso and Parson James are both American singers/songwriters noted mainly for their vocals on too numerous dance music releases between them to mention here over about the last 10 years too, but like me, you may have seen them perform on Kygo’s most recent tour.
About the record: Like with “Mi Amor”, Sam has smashed it again with another tropical-flavoured summer song. in “Lonely Tonight”. I don’t know why so many producers are reluctant to release songs with the good vibes only feel of tropical house. To boot, it’s an anthemic singalong that will stir up some emotions inside, and the inspiring vocals by Justin and Parson take the reigns and make it almost go down too easy. This is grand, textbook creating in both songwriting and production for dance music fans everywhere.
Other comments: Sam’s first album in several years, Time After Time, arrives on Friday May 23.
COBI, “Out Here”
About the artist: Cobi is the L.A.-based singer/songwriter whose most recent releases have been in the bluesy rock vein, either as punchy rockers or laid-back slower songs. His complex 2023 release “Telepathic Powers” reached #5 on the BILLCS Top 30. He has recently been touring in Europe, and has a large fan base in France.
About the record: “Out Here” is a moody rocker led prominently by Cobi’s passionate, intense vocal, snappy guitar work, and atmospheric production. The defining moments of the song are catchy and memorable, making “Out Here” a natural crowd pleaser that would be a highlight in concert.
Other comments: Lucky music fans in mid- and west US states get to see Cobi in concert this summer so check your local listings!
BENEDICT CORK, “Deep Dive”
About the artist: For the last 6 years or so, Hertfordshire, England born Benedict Cork has been a frequent visitor to these blog pages as well as the BILLCS Top 30. He’s in a new era, following up his 2024 album Notes On A Hopeless Romance.
About the record: Leaving behind the often wrenching heartbreak of some of his songs, “Deep Dive” is a peppy bop with the theme of promising new beginnings. It includes another beautiful vocal by Benny – some of you may have caught snippets of some of his thoughtful Instagram interpretations recently – and bright, fulsome production. It’s got a classic song structure to ensure that you get its chorus stuck in your head.
Other comments: And while “Deep Dive” signals that something fresh is afoot, Benedict is including the song in a deluxe edition of the Notes album for release on July 4. He’ll be playing all of the songs from the album at Hoxton Hall on July 24 for lucky denizens of London, England.
BUD CAHILL, “Vessel”
About the artist: Bud Cahill is a producer and violinist from NYC whose sly instrumental “Intergalactic Highway” reached #5 on the BILLCS Top 30 at the top of the year.
About the record: “Vessel” is an adventure into progressive house music with a lot of studied techno inspiration particularly from the early 2000’s when artists like Above & Beyond, Tiësto, and Armin van Buuren were breaking out. His violin work is blended into the mix instead of as a showcase but hearing that live instrumentation instead of a synthesized version is always an impressive addition. From a journey to the stars on “Intergalactic Highway”, “Vessel” conveys images of exploring the underwater world. As is often the case with progressive house instrumentals, “Vessel” is a little longer than usual but you’ll want to be along for the full ride.
Other comments: There are exciting sync possibilities for “Vessel” for either film-makers specializing in themes of nature and the elements, video games, and animated films. The song is culled from the Substance Selects EP, a label sampler for Controlled Substance.
GLASS PETALS, ROSE MOTION, “Just Let Go”
About the artist: Glass Petals is the side project for Juno Award winning dance producer Felix Cartal in conjunction with fellow producer Johnny Jover which first released music back in 2018. Rose Motion is a male-female Canadian-Australian production duo who have been releasing music during this decade.
About the record: “Just Let Go” is an intriguing tech-house production that is much more geared towards clubs than Felix’s releases under his own name. It’s a song that immediately beckons dance club patrons to the dance floor where they can do exactly what the title says. There’s a wicked, multi-layered drop in the last quarter of the song that will have those dance floor lights aflutter.
Other comments: Glass Petals doesn’t release music too often but you won’t be disappointed when you check it out.
PHARØ, ROBBIE ROSEN, VERONICA BRAVO, “While We Slowly Fall Apart”
About the artists: PHARØ is a relatively new mystery American dance production duo, and that’s all I could find to share with you about them. Robbie Rosen is the multi-talented former “American Idol” contestant who makes regular appearances in these blog posts. Veronica Bravo is an Australian singer/songwriter who has released solo and worked with such dance producers as Coopex, Egzod and WVLNGTH.
About the record: While it’s sometimes difficult to listen to songs about break-ups, “While We Slowly Fall Apart” is a creative melodic techno production with an infectious, stuttering beat. The vocals by Robbie and Veronica mainly blend in seamless harmony, and each get their own solo moments that help make the song stand out from the rest. The lyrics relate a hopeful story about salvaging a relationship before it’s too late.
Other comments: While PHARØ and Robbie appear to have worked together previously, I would be down to hear a second collaboration by all three artists!
JNR, NATALIE GRAY, “Meant To Be”
About the artists: Following up their collaboration from late last year, “Player Two”, JNR is a dance music producer from Newcastle, England who recently remixed Hazell Dean’s “Evergreen”, and Natalie Gray is a British dance music vocalist who has performed live opening for the likes of Becky Hill and Rag ‘n Bone Man.
About the record: “Meant To Be” is a solid and funky British house track that uses a slamming rhythm similar to what you heard recently in PAWSA’s smashing rework of The Adventures of Stevie B’s “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”. Natalie’s vocal is fresh, soulful and sophisticated, with some 90’s/00’s inspiration drawing from releases by Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Britney Spears.
Other comments: JNR and Natalie’s talents jibe well together and “Meant To Be” is a highly elevated indie release that deserves attention.
EMILY HABER, “Nostalgia”
About the artist: Until now, L.A. born Emily Haber has been noted as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Joy Oladokan, Andy Grammer, Syence, and Gryffin. As a child, was also in a group called Laughing Pizza, which toured the US for 10 years. She has now released her debut 5-song EP, Nostalgia. One other thing that you should know about Emily before checking out her music is that she experienced severe hearing loss at age 4, resulting in hearing aids in each ear.
About the record: The title song to her EP is an easy-going short folk/pop track that is partially acoustic, with additional instrumentation in its latter half. With crisp production by Latin Grammy winner Daniel Dávila, “Nostalgia” sparkles with a raw, affecting vocal from Emily with highly relatable lyrics guaranteed to make you think back to many good times, as well as ones that might have been.
Other comments: Emily Haber weaves her story from a unique perspective and background, also being a person with a disability who shares her many talents with us.
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 now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.
From last week’s Report, it’s Provi and Ron Carroll with their danceable disco delight “Celebration”
“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 which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
It’s Miami indie rock trio Mustard Service with “Big Time”, which I wrote about a few weeks ago
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations. It’s anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. His show “Pyjama Party” is back, on Saturdays at 5pm EST on Energy 885.
Montreal-area artist Jay Scott, who sings in French, with “Woodstock” from his album Toutes les rues sont silencieux
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, where you can hear my Retro Pick of the Week. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Grand Funk – Some Kind Of Wonderful (1975)
The Guess Who – Dancin’ Fool (1974)
Cher – Dark Lady (1974)
Barry White – Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe (1974)
Dionne Warwick & The Spinners – Then Came You (1974)
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
My retro pick of the week is currently in repeats, and new ones will return soon.
BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG
19 year old singer/songwriter sombr climbs 4-1 with his alternative radio hit “back to friends”
BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER
It’s sombr again, this time with his Top 5 UK hit “undressed”, which soars 20-8
