By barnaby
Boy Golden, Bob Moses, July Talk, The Beaches, Metric, Dear Rouge, The Glorious Sons, Arkells, Billy Talent, The Darcys, Monowhales, Anyway Gang, Mother Mother, and Dear Rouge stand out in the year-end Alt category.
Deadmau5
The Canadian electronic titan and the U.K. singer’s first-ever collab debuts at No. 39 on the Contemporary Hit Radio/Top 40 chart. Plus, new entries from PINEO & LOEB x JRDN, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Jess Moskaluke and more.
There’s a “Science” to deadmau5 and Stevie Appleton’s newest song.
After months of teasing the track live, the Canadian electronic hitmaker and the British singer’s first-ever collaboration has debuted at No. 39 on the Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart, dated April 11.
The song stays true to deadmau5’s production ethos, which often embraces gradual builds and slow-burning atmospheric soundscapes. Appleton’s soaring vocals harmonize perfectly with the song’s sweeping melodies, elevating the track throughout the track’s three-minute radio edit — but can be witnessed in all its glory on the almost 10-minute extended version, which Appleton calls “a piece of cinema.”
As one of the most influential electronic producers, deadmau5 has maintained an unwavering devotion to complex arrangements, and there’s no stopping now. In his quintessential deadpan manner, the producer, born Joel Zimmerman, says of the song: "Steve sent the vocal through. Thought it was neat, so I made a track with it.”
Recently, deadmau5 didn’t mince words when speaking about the rise of generative AI, after an experience with a copycat artist. “People should be in control of their own faces and voices — it’s that simple,” he told Billboard. Still, deadmau5 continues to make waves on the charts, something not every act — nor deepfake one — can achieve two decades into their career.
“What deadmau5 has done with the production and the continuation of the songwriting is incredible,” Appleton says of their collaboration. “I've worked with a lot of big DJ/producers and gotten versions back of songs I've started on a piano, but this one was a different game. It should be a marker for the quality young producers are trying to achieve.”
At No. 36, PINEO & LOEB x JRDN want listeners to “Spin.”
The three-way collaboration is an infectious track that fuses PINEO & LOEB’s vibrant electronic production with JRDN’s smooth, soulful vocals. It marks the first partnership between the Canadian DJ duo and the Halifax R&B singer.
Powered by catchy hooks and a dynamic beat, the feel-good anthem is designed for grooving on the dance floor or a casual drive through the city. Throughout its two-and-a-half-minute runtime, “Spin” captures the dizzying thrill of letting go and losing yourself in the moment with a lover: “Hey, how you make my whole world spin / I ain't never had it like this,” JRDN sings.
On All-Format, Pablo Preston’s “Cause I Do” debuts at No. 39, joining the song’s placements on CHR/Top 40 (rising 27-24) and Hot AC (25-20). Charlotte Cardin’s “The Way We Touch” arrives on All-Format at No. 41 and No. 24 on AC. This week, the singer’s return to singing in English sits at No. 23 on CHR/Top 40, climbs 34-29 on Hot AC and drops 33-38 on Modern Rock. Elsewhere, Quebec’s Bleu Jeans Bleu arrives at No. 26 with “Scotch & poches” on AC.
Jess Moskaluke goes on her “Last Rodeo,” hitting No. 51 on Canada Country and Chevy Beaulieu hopes “She'll Come Back Around” as he debuts at No. 59.
While Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” remains No. 1 on All-Format, AC, CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC, Taylor Swift climbs to No. 2 on All-Format and CHR/Top 40, potentially threatening the fellow pop hitmaker’s chart-topping reign, after remaining at No. 2 on Hot AC. RAYE’s “Where Is My Husband!” remains below Mars on AC.
On Country, radio listeners are “Choosin’ Texas” as Ella Langley rises back to No. 1, following its ascendance to No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. The top of Mainstream Rock sees The Black Keys rising 2-1 with “You Got To Lose” while sombr’s “12 To 12” holds down the top spot on Modern Rock.
Check out the Billboard Canada Airplay charts here.
