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L-R: Josh Ross, Norma Jean Martine, Frank Walker
Chart Beat
Frank Walker, Josh Ross and Norma Jean Martine's Cross-Genre Collab Cracks the Top 10 on Billboard Canada Airplay Charts
After five months, the electronic/country/pop trio's "Lay It On Me" rises to No. 9 on the CHR/Top 40 chart. Ross also scores his own debut on All-Format with “Scared Of Being Sober.”
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Frank Walker, Josh Ross and Norma Jean Martine are laying it on the Airplay charts.
The trio’s song, “Lay It On Me,” hits the top 10, rising from No. 13 to No. 9 on the Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart, dated March 28 — 20 weeks after its debut.
The song is a fusion of electronic, country and pop genres, as the Canadian electronic producer and DJ (Walker) teams up with the Canadian country act (Ross) and U.K. soul-pop artist (Martine).
On the emotionally-charged track, Walker’s signature melodic production shines alongside raw, heartfelt vocals from the two rising singers. The organic instrumentation — including subtle guitars, plucky pianos and ethereal strings — adds intimacy, while the production ramps up the song’s dancability.
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“Lay It On Me” seemingly leans into the 2010s era of EDM, when bold artist collaborations reigned supreme.
“When I first started this record, I knew it had to be a duet,” Walker says. “The search began from there. Because of the country feel, Josh Ross was an obvious choice. Norma is such a dance music powerhouse and when she cut it we knew she was perfect for it.”
The track is already an Airplay chart hit, earning spots on All-Format and Hot AC. This week, it rises 43-39 on the former chart, and moves up from No. 25 to No. 24 on the latter chart dated March 21.
In June, Walker will play a special edition of Billboard Canada LIVE at NXNE, playing an intimate DJ set and answering questions from fans in a live onstage Q&A.
On the All-Format chart, Josh Ross is “Scared Of Getting Sober.” It arrives at No. 46.
The country rock ballad is a vulnerable moment for the Waterdown, Ontario native, as he highlights the pain of heartbreak and the fear of moving through life sans alcohol — admitting he’s not as strong as he thought.
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Serving as the closing track on his debut album, Later Tonight, Ross bares it all: “Yeah, I'm scared of getting sober / 'cause sober me's gonna start thinking 'bout you,” singing wistfully over a twangy guitar.
“I was starting to get to a point where, if I was being honest with myself, there’s times where it’s difficult,” he tells Billboard of the social norms of partying and drinking in the music industry. “You’re really, really tired, and you’re trying to balance fun with work. And then, also just the relationship side of it — you watch relationships sometimes kind of fizzle away.”
He continued: “I just feel like it’s a raw, emotional song that definitely will connect with certain people.”
Earlier this month, “Scared Of Getting Sober” debuted on the Canada Country chart dated March 14. On that chart, it rises from No. 30 to No. 26 this week.
Ross is no stranger to the Airplay charts. Last year, his hit “Hate How You Look” reached No. 1 on Country, and “Leave Me Too” landed at No. 96 on Billboard Canada’s year-end radio songs list.
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Elsewhere on All-Format, Morgan Griffiths is “Just Being Me,” and arrives at No. 43. Over on Canada Country, Tebey’s “That's Gonna Leave A Memory” debuts at No. 56 and Charlotte Cardin’s sensual hit “The Way We Touch” enters at No. 39 on Modern Rock.
While Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” keeps up his No. 1 hot streak on All-Format, AC and CHR/Top 40, Raye might be aiming for the top spot on the latter two charts with her hit “Where Is My Husband!” as she rises to No. 2 on both rankings.
Canadian Country radio listeners have returned to Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” as it climbs 2-1 and Modern Rock sees sombr’s “12 To 12” holding down the No. 1 spot for a second week.
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Check out the Billboard Canada Airplay charts here.
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