Carte Blanche Music |

Canadian indie-rock band Monowhales recorded their debut album with JUNO-award nominated producer Ryan Worsley. So far, only two tracks have been released ahead of it: RWLYD (Really Wanna Let You Down) and All Or Nothing. Or, to be precise, they just added a third one to the list: BL/FF (Fake Friends) is the Toronto trio’s new single. An ode to online dating, this is another great, bold and bouncing pop-rock track that begs to be played live.

About the song, vocalist Sally Shaar says: “BL/FF (Fake Friends)” gases you up for a hook-up. Memories flood into your head about that damn person that’s hard to get over because the tension is just too fun to avoid. Imagine a late night, your phone dings and you get that far too familiar message. So, you jump in your car at 3am and turn this song up surrounded by streetlights and heavy feelings of lust on your way to some spicy sleepover.”

No word yet about the release of their album, alas. Judging by the sound of the singles, it will be epic. For now, all we can do is wait for another of their colourful video’s. While you’re at it, listen to BL/FF (Fake Friends) on repeat. It’s the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard and will feature here prominently for a week!

Recommended as well:
Monowhales – All Or Nothing

In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 48)

November 23rd, 2020

This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:

Joel Culpepper – WAR (Wildcard this week)
Keleketla! – International Love Affair (Wildcard last week)
Eelke – I’m A Man
Just – Dark Days
Raye – Love Of Your Life
Shaka Ponk feat. Cypress Hill – Pure 90 (Rapping Queen)
Slum Sociable (feat. Kye) – You’re In My Head

Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: LP, Miley Cyrus x Dua Lipa, The Radar Station, and more.

single track

The All-American Rejects – Me Vs. The World

November 21st, 2020

Okay, The All-American Rejects released a 3-track EP last year, but their latest long-player dates from 2012. While this has caused some to question the band’s future, TAAR just put out a new single. Well, not really new, but newish, at least…

Guitarist Nick Wheeler says about it: “It was written quarantine-style a few years ago when [singer] Tyson [Ritter] and I were doing our part separately. And our keyboard player Scott Chesak co-wrote it as well and produced the track. We never got around to finishing it, and then lockdown hit, and we were all looking at free time on our schedule. So we decided to finally finish it and turn it into something. It ended up being a cool thing, not just for us to do, but to be able to put out there since we weren’t able to do literally anything for fans this year.”

Although work on the bouncy song started a few years ago, it feels fitting given these pandemic times. Wheeler adds: “I think everybody has this mentality that this is the worst fucking year ever. And it literally feels like me against the world, regardless of your status or situation.”

All proceeds from this track will be donated to the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund. This helps those in the music industry who have been out of work since March.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

pop | rock

album track

A Is For Arrows – Every Now And Then

November 21st, 2020

Although singer Alessia Balasbas is their figurehead, Toronto electronic-pop duo A Is For Arrows is in fact a duo. Eric Robbs is her counterpart, in more ways than one. They couldn’t be more different from each other, but their bond over music led to the creation of their debut EP Roses. The two, both multi-instrumentalists, met in 2009, through their parents. Since then, they created an alt-pop sound that blends contemporary beats, soft synths and heartfelt lyrics. Bound to be liked by fans of artists like No Doubt, Charli XCX and The 1975.

A Is For Arrows’ EP Roses compiles the five singles the Canadian duo released in the last year. Additionally, it features two new songs: Every Now And Then, and All The Stars. The former is my favourite. Its soft verses contrast wonderfully with its upbeat chorus. All of the tracks were delicately produced by Joel Stouffer, who worked with bülow, Dragonette and others before.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

electronic | indie | pop

album track

The Cribs – Siren Sing-Along

November 21st, 2020

British rock band The Cribs just released their new album Night Network. And we have Dave Grohl to thank for its existence.

After parting ways with their long-time management in the Autumn of 2017, the band made a shocking discovery. They found out that, thanks to various deals that they were unaware of, they didn’t own the rights to their back catalogue. The band decided to focus on gaining ownership before signing a new deal and making a new album. When Dave Grohl learned about this situation, he invited The Cribs to use Foo Fighters’ own Studio 606. There, they recorded their eighth studio album.

Siren Sing-Along is my favourite track on the long-player. Including all the elements that make The Cribs such a great band, it’s as sunny as rock songs get. This is in large part due to the opening notes of the intro and chorus, which bring Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You to mind. Great sing-along stuff indeed!

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop | rock

single track

Tanaya Harper – Emma

November 21st, 2020

Tanaya Harper is a member of Australian bands Bells Rapids and Ghost Care, but also started a solo career in 2017. Since then, the Perth-based singer-songwriter released two EP’s. Emma is her brand-new single. Fans of fellow Aussie Ali Barter are very likely to love this!

Emma channels ‘90s indie rock and noughties indie pop, resulting in R.E.M.– vs. The Bangles-like jangle pop. Its melodic guitar parts, energetic drum beats and sing-along chorus make it instantly likeable.

Harper is well-known for her intimate lyrics about her own experiences with depression, anxiety and living with bipolar disorder. This new single is just as personal. It’s both a catchy post-breakup song and an ode to recklessness.

She shares: “Emma is a sad song thinly veiled as a fun song. It’s about a couple months of recklessness I embarked on following a breakup. At the time I felt totally justified in my actions when really, grief and denial were always looming. I was partying pretty hard and having lots of fun with all my friends but once I was alone it would just hit me, all the confusion and unresolved issues and the ‘what ifs?’.”

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop | rock

single track

Del Amitri – Close Your Eyes And Think Of England

November 21st, 2020

Del Amitri are a Scottish pop-rock band, formed in Glasgow in 1980. Yep, 40 years ago kids, so chances are, you don’t know them. That’s because they released their last album Can You Do Me Good? in 2002. The band went on a long hiatus after that record. Therefore, a (re)introduction seems in place…

Del Amitri scored their first (and biggest) UK hit in 1990 with Nothing Ever Happens, from their second album Waking Hours. Their third album Change Everything spawned the hit Always The Last To Know. Next to its success in Great Britain, it was a minor hit in the United States as well. This led to the band choosing a more American radio sound for their next album Twisted. A good choice, for although its first single Roll To Me was only a moderate hit at home, it went Top 10 in the US. All in all, they sold 6 million units of their first six albums combined. Then, things went quiet…

In 2014 and 2018, Del Amitri hit the road for reunion tours, and now, their seventh album is imminent. Titled Fatal Mistakes, it’ll be out on 30 April 2021. The timeless song Close Your Eyes And Think Of England is the introductory single. A welcome return in the ears of their old fans, that will hopefully introduce them to a whole new generation as well.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop

single track

Lola Scott – The Eviction Song

November 21st, 2020

The last two years, Sydney-based alt-pop artist Lola Scott released more than a handful of singles. She’s currently finishing her forthcoming debut EP 1/4 Life Crisis, but hasn’t named a release date yet. One thing is certain however: her new single will be on it.

The Eviction Song is a catchy indie-pop track. It combines her dreamy, honeyed vocals with experimental, synth-driven production. A modern sounding song, full of melody and sweet hooks.

About the story behind The Eviction Song, Scott says: “Earlier this year, my housemates and I were evicted from our house. We’re not sure what for, but can only assume the many house parties (leading to many noise complaints) didn’t help. (…) The song developed from the idea that when you live with a bunch of wild cards, and have the type of landlord who hoards things under the floorboards, you can never please everyone.”

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop | rock

album track

Two Year Vacation – Stop Making Sense

November 21st, 2020

When you judge Two Year Vacation by their music, it’s hard to believe they’re from Gothenburg. Sweden’s second city, with its seaport, is known for its rain, headwind and greyness. Historically, it’s home to a lively heavy metal scene. In spite of all that, this quintet makes rhythmic radio-friendly indie pop. Their musical influences range from ABBA to Fatboy Slim through early Daft Punk, MGMT, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend and Peter, Björn & John. The band call their fascinating blend of rock, Caribbean kraut, and disco ‘tropical disco kraut pop’.

Two Year Vacation draw inspiration from trivial daily routines, like the laundry day we’re all familiar with. This explains the title of their new album. To me, Stop Making Sense is a highlight on Laundry Day. Unsurprisingly, the fresh, upbeat song has nothing to do with Talking Heads’ concert movie of the same name. On Facebook, they explain: “Stop Making Sense is a song about the friendships of your youth. About growing up with each other, exploring adolescence together and reminiscing about how it used to be, while also longing for the uncynical joy and the fears that you used to feel.”

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop

single track

Rinse feat. Hatchie – Back Into Your Arms

November 21st, 2020

Joe Agius (Rinse) and Harriette Pillbeam (Hatchie) aren’t exactly complete strangers. On the contrary, they are frequent collaborators. When not working on his own material, Agius writes with Pillbeam on her songs. He is also the lead guitarist and keyboard player in her band. So, it may not come as a surprise that both their projects live in the same musical universe. Call it dream-pop, or The Cure light (which is meant to be a compliment).

This year, Rinse released a few singles already, and now he has also announced his debut EP Wherever I Am. It’s scheduled for release on 5 March 2021. Back Into Your Arms, which features Hatchie’s vocals on it, is its radio-friendly new single.

In a statement, Agius says: “I originally started writing Back Into Your Arms as a possible song for Hatchie last year, but enjoyed singing it too much myself and decided to make it my own. Harriette’s vocals sounded so great accompanying mine on the demo we decided it would be a perfect opportunity to make her an official feature, since we both loved the song so much.”

He continues: “I finished the lyrics earlier this year after watching a lot of my friends struggle to maintain long distance relationships through the pressures brought on by COVID-19 and the past year. Each verse is from a different person’s view during different stages of a relationship, while the choruses fantasize about the idea that just being in each other’s arms is enough to make it work.”

Recommended as well:
Hatchie – Stay With Me
Hatchie – Without A Blush

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

indie | pop

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Wildcard (week 48):
Monowhales – BL/FF (Fake Friends)

Werner’s Weekly (week 48)

The All-American Rejects – Me Vs. The World

A Is For Arrows – Every Now And Then

The Cribs – Siren Sing-Along

Tanaya Harper – Emma

Del Amitri – Close Your Eyes And Think Of England

Lola Scott – The Eviction Song

Two Year Vacation – Stop Making Sense

Rinse feat. Hatchie – Back Into Your Arms

Wildcard (week 48)

Werner’s Weekly (week 48)

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Wildcard (week 48)

Werner’s Weekly (week 48)

Spotify playlist

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Subscribe via email

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