Each week, Billboard is polling club DJs, with venues shuttered due to the coronavirus.
With clubs closed across the country and Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart on hiatus, we’re asking reporting club DJs what they’ve been listening to lately, while at home, of course.
This week, we spoke with Chicago DJ Dante The Don; North Jersey’s Tony Gia; and Wilmington, Delaware’s Ting.
Dante The Don
Dante The Don (real name Dante Deiana) has been reveling in Louis The Child, Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler’s “Little Things.” “I love these guys,” Dante tells Billboard. “Great dudes, from Chicago. I’ve loved seeing their rise. I’m also obsessed with Chelsea Cutler’s voice, and I love the jazz feel of the drops in this song. Great summertime vibes.” “Things” reached No. 14 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in April.
Dante, who would normally be DJing by day at Wrigley Field for Chicago Cubs home games and by night in club residencies at the city’s Tao, Bounce and Liqr Box (and regularly traveling to clubs in Austin, Boston and Cleveland), has also been into MIMO’s “Skin,” featuring Siena Bella. “My boy MIMO is heating up,” Dante raves. “Such a great tune from him and fellow Clevelander Siena Bella.”
Additionally, Dante, who produces weekend mix shows aired on Pitbull’s Globalization channel on SiriusXM and WKSC (103.5 Kiss FM) Chicago, is digging Galantis’ “I Fly,” featuring Faouzia. The DJ gushes, “This song is perfection. It has that sound like it’s destined to fly up the charts and be on everybody’s Spotify this summer. Such a great feel-good song.” “Fly” hit No. 29 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs in May.
Tony Gia
Tony Gia (short for Franjieh) has been partying with PS1’s “Fake Friends,” featuring Alex Hosking. “A track like this needed to be made,” Gia tells Billboard. “I’m a sucker for the big piano melody and feel-good drop. PS1 provides a cool summer anthem paired with a unique message that is really relatable. I mean, who doesn’t have fake friends?”
Gia, who’d normally be playing at such Northern New Jersey venues as Birch in Hoboken, 46 Lounge in Totowa and BarCode in Elizabeth, among others, as well as various venues in neighboring states, has also been listening to BeatBreaker’s “I Love You.” “This one has hopeful lyrics, seductive vocals and a powerful drop,” Gia says. “I love this track, so I guess the name does stick! BeatBreaker says, ‘Always spread love, even in tough times,’ and that’s just what this record has done these past few months.”
Additionally, Gia, nationally syndicated on Hollywood Hamilton’s Remix Top 30 Countdown mix show, shares his love for Kastra and Modern Machines’ “Issues,” featuring Bianca Linta. “At first, the lyrics definitely caught me off-guard,” Gia says. “As I listened, I discovered a super-catchy hook that leads into a groovy drop. Also, I’m pretty sure this song was secretly written by my ex-girlfriend …”
Ting
Ting (full name Ting Azarcon) has been enjoying the extended mix of UK DJ/producer Low Steppa’s “Wanna Show You,” featuring Reigns. “I love this track,” Ting tells Billboard. “It’s a fun piano house track, so uplifting to the spirit, something many of us need right now.”
Ting, who would usually be playing at Crimson Moon in Wilmington, Delaware, and Jocks in Philadelphia, has additionally been jamming to Shapeshifters’ “Second Chance,” featuring Kimberly Davis. “Funky disco house is back,” Ting beams. “Shapeshifters have outdone themselves again.”
The track rose 42-32 in its second week on the Dance Club Songs chart dated March 28, the last frame before the chart as suspended.
Ting, who hosts a podcast, has also been liking the extended mix of Martin Ikin’s “I’ll Be,” featuring Malika. “This track has an awesome piano hook,” Ting muses. “It supplements Malika’s vocals and culminates in a groovy bassline hook. You can’t help but jive to this funky vocal tech house track.”
