Smallpools’ Big Splash
Following in the vein of pop-leaning rock acts like Phoenix, Grouplove and current format kings Capital Cities, Los Angeles’ Smallpools are approaching the Alternative chart with the buoyant “Dreaming” (RCA). Ahead of the quartet’s debut EP, the song is breaking thanks to major-market West Coast radio support. KKDO Sacramento, Calif., played it 26 times in the May 27-June 2 Nielsen BDS tracking week, while KROQ Los Angeles gave it 21 plays. SiriusXM’s Alt Nation channel led all panelists with 36 spins.
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Showtime For ‘Apollo’
Australian singer/songwriter Amba Shepherd is breaking through stateside thanks to her featured turn on Hardwell’s “Apollo,” which is No. 7 in its 17th week on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (after peaking at No. 5 two weeks ago). It’s the first Billboard hit for the unsigned Shepherd, who’s collaborated with Ferry Corsten and Porter Robinson, among others. Shepherd’s at work on a solo project. She’s managed by Jon Hanlon, who was recently named director of electronic dance music for Sony Music Australia & New Zealand.
Roosevelt’s New Deal
After crafting songs for the likes of Game, Los Angeles-based producer/singer K. Roosevelt has released “Do Me Now” (Interscope). The track is steadily building at rhythmic, with KKFR Phoenix having played it 38 times during the tracking week. Roosevelt also directed the song’s video (alongside Jelani Fresh), which has amassed 170,000 YouTube views since May 20.
Upstanding Citizens
Seattle-based pop/rock worship band Citizens is approaching Christian Songs with “Made Alive” (Tooth & Nail), which registers support at 19 chart reporters. Formed in Seattle’s university district and fronted by Deacon Zach Bolen, the group’s six members are worshippers and performers at the city’s Mars Hill Church. The act released the EP “Already/Not Yet” last year. Its first full-length, “Mars Hill Music Presents: Citizens,” spent two weeks on Christian Albums in March.
(Reporting by Keith Caulfield, Wade Jessen, Rauly Ramirez and Gary Trust.)