Giving 'Reflection' a play at random - sounding pretty nice! Definitely taking me back a few years, it reminds me of a song I had one my playlists around 10 years ago. Say My Name is a great track as well!

34 Chris IDH feat. Kwezi - Buya

CR: 9-2-6-29-23-25-40-28-25-18-x (10 weeks)

 

While my taste has become a lot more electronic this year, I still have a lot of time for Afro house. This is the 5th-best Afro house track of 2021 according to my song play history. Curiously, the producer Chris IDH is actually Greek and Kwezi the vocalist is South African. This doesn't prove to be a handicap at all, with Chris IDH creating a magical, immersive and multi-dimensional soundscape here.

 

It's one of those songs that watching it with the music video is a MUST. The dancer is just unreal in how she captures the mood and emotions of the song. I have been considering this for BJSC for a while but have not sent it yet, thinking it will underperform as Afro house tends to do in BJSC.

 

 

 

Chart History

 

Chris IDH

2021 02 Buya (Chris IDH feat. Kwezi)

 

Kwezi

2021 02 Buya (Chris IDH feat. Kwezi)

 

33 Parra for Cuva feat. Kyson & Beau Diako - Ordel

CR: 35-37-29-7-10-46-39-30-49-38-x (10 weeks)

 

The highest Parra for Cuva single on my EOY this year is the gorgeous "Ordel" which had a second wind on my chart thanks to the release of the Rezident Remix. It's another ethnic piece of electronica from him but it mixes very different elements and styles in a coherent and meditative way with slight twists that interrupt the hypnotic rhythm and Kyson's melancholy vocal.

 

 

 

Chart History

Parra for Cuva

2020 02 Sumidero

2021 07 Ordel (Parra for Cuva feat. Kyson & Beau Diako)

2021 13 Dream Reverb

2021 15 Her Entrance

2021 18 Cuiva

2021 06 Juno (Henry Green Remix)

2021 18 Planet and Body (Max Cooper Remix)

 

Kyson

2021 07 Ordel (Parra for Cuva feat. Kyson & Beau Diako)

 

Beau Diako

2021 07 Ordel (Parra for Cuva feat. Kyson & Beau Diako)

32 Franky Wah feat. AETHO - Should Have Seen It Coming

CR: 34-44-47-21-11-35-47-47-32-24-17-46-x (12 weeks)

 

This is the only song to make my EOY that missed the top 10 on my chart. It got very unlucky but had a lengthy chart run. Since Franky Wah signed to Ajunadeep, his releases have been lacking a bit compared to his amazing earlier singles but "Should Have Seen It Coming" has been a standout for me.

 

 

 

Chart History

Franky Wah

2020 07 You're Not Alone (Franky Wah & Olive)

2020 28 Come Together

2020 14 You Don't Know

2021 16 Haunted (Sasha vs. Franky Wah)

2021 15 It Gets Lonely Without You (Sasha vs. Franky Wah)

2021 19 Mark One (Sasha vs. Franky Wah)

2021 11 Should Have Seen It Coming (Franky Wah feat. AETHO)

2021 24 Not In Love (Franky Wah feat. LOWES)

 

AETHO

2021 11 Should Have Seen It Coming (Franky Wah feat. AETHO)

 

31 Sam Blacky - Body

CR: 21-8-11-3-3-4-6-35-x (8 weeks)

 

I discovered Sam Blacky surprisingly through a Basement playlist on Spotify. Conversely, this song isn't basement sounding at all :lol: It's a tech house banger with lots of catchy "la la la"s. She has since released an EP called Summer Solstice, but nothing has grabbed me in the same way "Body" did with its brooding bass line, atmospheric synths and punchy percussion.

 

 

 

Chart History

Sam Blacky

2021 03 Body

 

30 Godford - The Beast

CR: 28-5-2-7-18-21-32-26-27-25-x (10 weeks)

 

I've been following Godford from the very start but this was his first hit on my chart since it began in late 2020. On the surface, it sounds like a repetitive earworm but below the surface there is a lot more to it. "The Beast" is an empowering electronica piece about transcending beyond the collective trauma of isolation.

 

Speaking on the song, Godford said:

"This past year everyone has been locked up. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on many of the young people, some are losing motivation and hope for the future. When you’re locked up for too long you start feeling a bit out of control and the beast that is sleeping inside you wants to escape from this isolation and sometimes she blows up."

 

 

 

Chart History

Godford

2021 02 The Beast

2021 07 Say My Name

2021 37 High and Lonely

2021 10 No One

 

29 Slayyyter - Clouds

CR: 49-27-28-46-18-8-7-3-21-31-19-x (11 weeks)

 

Slayyyter released some dreamy house earlier this year in the form of "Clouds", a bit of a stark contrast to the hyperpop we are used to from her. It suited her perfectly and became her highest charting single on my chart till date.

 

"I remember getting the demo beat for clouds from nicopop during earlyyy quarantine and writing it so fast," Slayyyter Tweeted, explaining the track's production process. "I felt so depressed and like i didnt belong in music. recorded 90% of the vocals myself in my airbnb and i think it is one of my favorites off the album."

 

 

 

 

Chart History

Slayyyter

2021 04 Troubled Paradise

2021 03 Clouds

2021 31 Cowboys

2021 09 Stupid Boy (Slayyyter feat. Big Freedia)

RECAP:

 

29. Slayyyter - Clouds

30. Godford - The Beast

 

31. Sam Blacky - Body

32. Franky Wah feat. AETHO - Should Have Seen It Coming

33. Parra for Cuva feat. Kyson & Beau Diako - Ordel

34. Chris IDH feat. Kwezi - Buya

35. Jacques Greene - I Won't

36. Kelly Lee Owens - Jeanette

37. DJ Counselling - Reflection

38. Juche - MPH

39. Paris Green - Maya

40. TCTS feat. Nono - Sorry

 

41. BYOR - The Cure

42. Ben Böhmer feat. lau.ra - Erase

43. Godford - Say My Name

44. Hildegard - Jour 1

45. Rebecca & Fiona - Sing it back

46. Jasper Tygner - That's Too Slow

47. Parra for Cuva - Juno (Henry Green Remix)

48. Prince Kaybee feat. Nkosazana Daughter & Masuda - Sbindi Uyabulala

49. Anetha - Free Britney

50. Bicep feat. Clara La San - X

 

Hey Kath. Loads of great choices there! “Jour 1” was entered when I hosted - was quite interesting seeing that one predicted to DNQ when it quite easily made it in the end, though I guess it was probably a favourable draw for it. I obvs loved it. <3

Speaking of Persephonia entries, great also to see Godford here. My fave of their singles this year was “Can't Get Over You” which was on my BJSC potentials list but they have had a lot of interesting singles out this year.

 

Also want to show some love for “Jeanette”, that one may be in my Top 100 of 2021 - I haven't checked - but it reached #5 in January following “On” (#4) and “Luminous Spaces” (#2) last year.

 

Hey Doctor B! Thanks a lot! "Can't Get Over You" was from last year I think, a great track I agree!

 

Those peaks for Kelly on your chart *.* If my chart was running around that time I imagine "On" and "Luminous Spaces" would have peaked similarly or even challenged for #1 :wub:

 

Giving 'Reflection' a play at random - sounding pretty nice! Definitely taking me back a few years, it reminds me of a song I had one my playlists around 10 years ago. Say My Name is a great track as well!

Yay glad you're finding "Reflection" nice! It's got a very nostalgic vibe to it and every time it comes up on rotation, it takes me back too :wub: Ty for the comment!

Edited December 12, 20213 yr by k👠th

28 Pretty Girl - Sun Phase

CR: 14-5-14-17-20-16-21-27-x (8 weeks)

 

Pretty Girl is an Australian DJ who I came across on tastemaker YouTube channel EELF. She has a unique mellow, chopped syllable electronic house style across all her tracks. "Sun Phase" is the most dreamiest, happy sounding of them all. It's got an almost William Orbit/"Pure Shores"-like glee to it which really drew me to it as opposed to the general ping pong chill tracks that all sound the same on EELF. The big room synth chords and the effortless kick are to die for :wub: There's another Pretty Girl track to come still #spoilers

 

 

 

Chart History

Pretty Girl

2021 05 Sun Phase

2021 01 Arc

2021 24 The Only Way Out Is Through

2021 16 Empathy

 

27 Ben Nicky & Apollo - Dance

CR: 49-23-6-3-7-27-25-12-8-23-48-x (11 weeks)

 

A rare trance song appears :magic: I got into this one through The Snake hyping it in the dance forum and iTunes thread. It's a really banging remake of the Clubland classic :music:

 

 

 

Chart History

Ben Nicky

2021 03 Dance (Ben Nicky & Apollo)

 

Apollo

2021 03 Dance (Ben Nicky & Apollo)

 

26 Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Amy Jones - Close to Me

CR: 8-4-6-19-9-13-13-22-47-28-12-19-x (12 weeks)

 

Ryan Murgatroyd is easily my favourite South African DJ around at the moment. The 1-2-3 punch of "On My Mind", "Wooma" and this was just something else :wub: This track an ethereal and enthralling organic house, downtempo vibe to it with plenty of nice electronics the whole way through. Amy Jones's hypnotic feint vocal suits the vibe perfectly.

 

 

 

Chart History

Ryan Murgatroyd

2020 01 On My Mind (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

2020 03 Wooma (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

2021 04 Close to Me (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Amy Jones)

 

Amy Jones

2021 04 Close to Me (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Amy Jones)

 

I don't think I've heard much (if any) Parra For Cuva music since 'Wicked Games' so was interested to give Ordel a listen - it's certainly quite a different sound! Could definitely see it growing on me with a few listens though.

25 Bicep - Sundial

CR: 50-24-13-22-10-9-7-6-18-16-36-48-x (12 weeks)

 

I know most prefer "Apricots" and "Saku", but this along with "Atlas" and album track "Lido" are my holy trinity :wub: The song features a sample of “Jab Andhera Hota Hai” from the 1973 Bollywood film Raja Rani, recorded by Asha Bhosle and Bhupinder Singh and written by Anand Bakshi and R. D. Burman. The song and the whole album tbh was just the perfect remedy to COVID ruining Christmas and new year in 2020. It's one of the more simpler tracks on Isles, but all the better for it. The combination of the sample and the use of the arp here is just haunting and it really takes me back listening to it again today :heart:

 

 

 

Chart History

Bicep

2020 08 Saku (Bicep feat. Clara La San)

2021 06 Sundial

2021 07 X (Bicep feat. Clara La San)

2021 13 Siena (Bicep feat. Clara La San)

 

I don't think I've heard much (if any) Parra For Cuva music since 'Wicked Games' so was interested to give Ordel a listen - it's certainly quite a different sound! Could definitely see it growing on me with a few listens though.

"Ordel" is definitely a grower like most of his recent releases in general. I love the video and the eagle/falcon in it being named "Ordel" really elevated the song for me :heart:

24 Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana - Wooma

CR: 3-4-3-4-9-9-13-28-38-30-39-50-x (12 weeks)

 

This track became a surprise success for Kathaldazia in BJSC (or a witness era flop by Cody's standards) finishing 21st in the first contest of the year after several bottom 10 finishes. It really set the tone for us to send more forward thinking electronic, dance entries for the rest of the year. It was held off the top spot by 2 Dua releases at the time and definitely deserved #1 in hindsight. An expansive, cinematic soundscape, chugging rhythms and a mesmerising vocal refrain, courtesy of Sobantwana.

 

 

 

Chart History

Ryan Murgatroyd

2020 01 On My Mind (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

2020 03 Wooma (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

2021 04 Close to Me (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Amy Jones)

 

Sobantwana

2020 01 On My Mind (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

2020 03 Wooma (Ryan Murgatroyd feat. Sobantwana)

23 Overmono - Bby

CR: 6-3-9-12-14-29-13-3-13-11-... (10 weeks)

Currently charting

 

Doctor Blind-approved "Bby" is having a bit of a mammoth chart run for me at the moment and would have easily snuck top 20 on this EOY if I didn't decide to post it now. It's a lush 2-step style garage track which contrasts a pulsating kick and bass with a dreamy synth sequence and vocal sample. A must hear :wub:

 

 

 

 

Chart History

Overmono

2021 03 Bby

2021 12 Diamond Cut

 

23 Overmono - Bby

 

BANGER.

 

Love the artwork too. <3

 

Hopefully they break out in 2022.

Just given 'Bby' a listen, another interesting track! I like the way it progresses throughout the song, the repeated chopped-up vocals near the end caught me off guard a bit although I'm sure I'd get used to it if I heard it enough!

22 April - Piece of Me (salute Remix)

CR: 19-1-1-1-5-24-22-24-... (8 weeks)

Currently charting

 

Back to back garage excellence with this salute rework of an indie pop ballad by April. I did not expect to like this as much as I did. There's some touching vocals and a lit breakdown from the bridge onwards.

 

 

 

Chart History

April

2021 01 Piece of Me (salute Remix)

 

21 Sha Sha - Woza

CR: 25-2-1-2-4-30-34-43-x (8 weeks)

 

Zimbabwean main pop girl Sha Sha lands at #21 with this Afro house club banger. This felt so unique to me and I've been considering it for BJSC for ages. The track takes many twists and turns, starting as moody amapiano slow jam to a ballad like pre chorus with an impressive vocal run, before turning into a full-on club bop.

 

 

 

Chart History

Sha Sha

2021 01 Woza