10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Marc Rebillet, Aliyah’s Interlude, Brigitte Calls Me Baby & More

Xander Zellner
·7 min read
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Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

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Here’s a look at 10 artists who appear on surveys via first entries on the Oct. 28-dated charts.

Marc Rebillet

The electronic musician and YouTuber is officially a Billboard-charting artist, thanks to his viral hit “Your New Morning Alarm.” Rebillet first released the 57-second song on April 1, 2021, on his YouTube, Instagram and TikTok accounts, but released an official version on streaming and digital retail services Oct. 13, via Bored Certified Records. The song debuts at No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 downloads sold, according to Luminate. It also garnered 124,000 U.S. streams. The original YouTube video has raked in over 32 million views – his most-viewed clip on the platform – since its 2021 posting.

Rebillet, whose nickname “Loop Daddy” is a nod to his improvised electronic and funk live-looping technique, has been churning out music for nearly a decade. He released his debut six-track EP Loop Daddy in 2018, and has since dropped its sequel, Loop Daddy II, in 2019, as well as three studio albums: Marc Rebillet (2018), Europe (2019) and Loop Daddy III (2020).

Rebillet is from Dallas and now based in New York City. He often performs pop-up concerts on street corners around New York, livestreaming the events on YouTube and Twitch for his “We Outside” series.

In June 2020, Billboard reported about Rebillet’s string of sold-out drive-in concerts around the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12-concert run, which ranged from 350 to 600 cars (or about 1,000 fans) per show, earned over a half-million dollars. Before those shows, he expanded his audience that spring with livestreamed performances from his apartment wearing, simply, a bathrobe and boxer shorts.

Aliyah’s Interlude

The New York City-based influencer, model and artist (real name: Aliyah Bah) debuts at No. 36 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, marking her first chart appearance, thanks to her breakout viral song, and only official release, “It Girl.” Released Sept. 30 on Interlude Records, along with a sped-up version, it tallied a combined 3.3 million U.S. streams in the tracking week (up 60%).

TikTok has been a contributing factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the sped-up mix has been used in over 515,000 clips on the platform to date. Plus, a piece of the original version has soundtracked over 20,000 videos. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard’s charts except for the newly-launched TikTok Billboard Top 50.) The original version has also been used in over 40,000 Instagram Reels.

Aliyah, originally from Atlanta, initially rose to prominence on social media in 2020 after posting videos of her outfits. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported on her fashion aesthetic, which fans have shared online using the hashtag #AliyahCore.

Brigitte Calls Me Baby

The Chicago-based band arrives on Billboard’s charts for the first time with its breakout single “Impressively Average.” The song, released Oct. 3 on ATO Records, debuts at No. 40 on Adult Alternative Airplay (up 107% in plays Oct. 13-19). The song was produced by Dave Cobb, the nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter/engineer behind hits by Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and others.

Outside of “Impressively Average,” the group has released the song “Eddie My Love,” in January. Both tracks are set to appear on the act’s five-song debut EP, This House Is Made of Corners, due Nov. 3. The band comprises Wes Leavins (vocals), Jack Fluegel (guitar), Trevor Lynch (guitar), Devin Wessels (bass) and Jeremy Benshish (drums).

Brake

The singer-songwriter, recognizable by his long, bright orange hair, scores his first Billboard chart hit, thanks to his new single “Cigarettes & Black Lipstick.” The song, released Oct. 13 on Bananabeat Records, debuts at No. 3 on Alternative Digital Song Sales and No. 6 on Rock Digital Song Sales with 1,500 downloads sold in its first week. The track also sparks his No. 42 debut on the Emerging Artists chart.

The song was produced by Cisco Adler, the musician/producer behind Shwayze’s two Hot 100-charting songs, “Buzzin’ ” (on which he’s also featured) and the top 25 hit “Corona and Lime,” in 2008.

Brake (real name: Blake Bidigare) has released 10 additional songs on streaming services, dating to “Mine” and “Halloween in Summertime” in 2020.

Ren

The Welsh musician, from the Isle of Anglesey, lands on Billboard’s charts for the first time with his new studio album, Sick Boi. The set, released Oct. 13 via The Other Songs, debuts at No. 137 on the Billboard 200 with 9,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week. It also starts at No. 2 on Heatseekers Albums, No. 11 on Top Current Album Sales and No. 13 on Top Album Sales. The set also helps him reach No. 4 on the Emerging Artists chart.

Ren (full name: Ren Gill) initially rose to popularity as a member of the groups The Big Push and Trick the Fox before going solo. Prior to Sick Boi, he released his debut LP Freckled Angels in 2016 and the EPs Demos (Do Not Share) Volumes 1 & 2 in 2020.

Haley Heynderickx

The singer-songwriter, from Portland, Ore., debuts at No. 25 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, thanks to the vinyl re-issues of her 2018 debut studio album and sole chart entry, I Need to Start a Garden. The set, released via Mama Bird Recording Co., sold 2,000 copies in the latest tracking week, all on vinyl. (After its initial release, the album ranked among the top 25-selling Americana/folk albums.)

Outside of Garden, Heynderickx has released three EPs: Fish Eyes (2016), Unpeeled (Banana Stand) (2017) and Among the Horses III (2018).

Kaylee Bell

The singer-songwriter, from Canterbury, New Zealand, is a Billboard-charting act, thanks to her breakthrough tribute to Keith Urban, “Keith.” Her first charted track ranks at No. 12 on Country Digital Song Sales with 2,000 downloads sold (up 92% after debuting last week). Bell sang the song as a contestant on The Voice Australia last year – when Urban was a judge – and the subsequent performance went viral. Bell initially self-released the song in February 2019. The single also helps her debut at No. 41 on Emerging Artists.

Bell reminisced about performing the song in front of Urban in an Oct. 9 clip she shared on TikTok. “Still pinch myself that i got to share this moment with you,” she said in the clip’s caption.

Bell has been recording music for over a decade and has released two studio LPs: Heartfirst (2013) and Silver Linings (2021). She has also supported Ed Sheeran, Brad Paisley and Morgan Evans on tour.

Jacob Lusk

The singer-songwriter, and member of gospel/R&B trio Gabriels, earns his first solo appearance on Billboard’s charts, thanks to his featured appearance on The Blessed Madonna’s “Mercy.” The song, released in June on Margeverse/Warner Records, debuts at No. 8 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.

Lusk, from Compton, Calif., competed in the 10th season of American Idol in 2011, alongside fellow Billboard-charting acts Scotty McCreery (who won that season), Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart and James Durbin. Lusk finished in fifth place.

Gabriels have sent one song onto Billboard’s charts: “Love and Hate in a Different Time” reached No. 38 on Adult Alternative Airplay in 2021.

Billy Gillies

The DJ and electronic producer, from Northern Ireland, notches his first entry on Billboard’s charts with “DNA,” featuring Hannah Boleyn. The track, released in July on Big Beat/Atlantic Records, debuts at No. 37 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (up 17% in plays). Billy Gillies has previously collaborated with Aly & Fila, Armin van Buuren and Andrew Rayel, among others.

Kenai

The Puerto Rican singer (real name: Joel A. Lopez) claims his first Billboard chart hit, thanks to “Ultimo Capitulo.” The song, released Aug. 23 via YO SOY LA VOZ INC, debuts at No. 6 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart. Kenai has released two solo LPs so far: Mi Antesala in 2014 and Icono in 2017.

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