Carte Blanche Music |

Kalie Shorr’s career is off to a fabulous start. She was named ‘CMT Next Woman Of Country’ and a ‘Top 10 Country Artist To Watch In 2018’. A year later, her debut album Open Book even became the #7 best album of 2019 according to The New York Times.

The Portland, Maine singer-songwriter just started the next chapter of her success story. Amy is her first all-new track of 2021. Gone are the country roots. Instead, she embraces a grungy sound. But that only emerged secondarily. Initially, Kalie Shorr posted a 30 second video of the song played on an acoustic guitar on TikTok. It was watched over 2 million times, and one of its viewers was renowned producer Butch Walker (Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, Green Day). He offered to produce the final version, which ended up a rock song in the best ‘90s tradition. To me, it sounds like a cross between Cornershop’s Brimful Of Asha and Sinéad O’Connor’s Mandinka (the latter being from 1987, obviously, but you get the point).

Amy is an honest and brutal song. Based on feelings of both hurt and anger, it contains great one liners like ‘He wasn’t over me when you were under him’. It’s the first track released from Shorr’s forthcoming EP, set for release later this year.

This week, Kalie Shorr’s Amy is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!

Follow Kalie Shorr on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

In the Wildcards 2021 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.

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Your favourites (February 2021)

March 1st, 2021

Below, you can find all 10 of Your Favourites in the month of February; my recommendations that you read the most. Great choices!

The links bring you directly to the original posts. Each of them features a player that allows you to listen to the track via the platform of your choice. Enjoy!

^(WC) ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

werner's weekly

Werner’s Weekly (week 9)

March 1st, 2021

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:

MBG – This Time (Wildcard this week)
Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl (Wildcard last week)
Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
Grrrl Gang – Honey, Baby
Isaac Dunbar – Fan Behavior
Noémie Wolfs – Lonely Boy’s Paradise
Upsahl – Stop!

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: Del Amitri, Green Day, Maxïmo Park, The Offspring, and more.

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renforshort – Virtual Reality

February 27th, 2021

At just 18, Lauren Isenberg has already generated significant international industry buzz. She’s signed to a major label and has a well-received EP (Teenage Angst) under her belt. Early in her career, the Toronto singer-songwriter used a stage name as short as Ren. Recently however, she extended her moniker to renforshort. In my book, that’s humour with a capital H. But her lyrics are far more serious.

Take her new single Virtual Reality, for instance. That was inspired by the fact that most individuals – ren included, are addicted to their phones. It’s a much-needed wake up call, not only for people her age. A catchy tune with gritty production, it’s a rock-infused alternative pop song. Great taster for her forthcoming second EP!

Recommended as well:
Ren – I Drive Me Mad
Ren – New Way

Follow renforshort on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

pop | rock

single track

Baby Queen – These Drugs

February 27th, 2021

In recent years, more and more (mostly young) artists open up about their pains, depressions, and insecurities. This can make for uncomfortable listening, but often provides the artist with an escape from their past. And judging from the number of streams these songs pick up, they certainly connect with a large audience. Apparently, this is a problem that more people deal with than one would hope for. Obviously, a pandemic with all the restrictions that come with it doesn’t help…

One of those artists that don’t wear their heart on their sleeve, is Bella Latham, a.k.a. Baby Queen. Her new single These Drugs deals with refusing to acknowledge or pay attention to mental health issues, which can ultimately lead to a self-destructive cycle. This subject matter comes from personal experience, the singer explains.

“I wrote this song when I was in a really bad place which was characterized mostly by this idea that I wasn’t a good person and didn’t deserve good things. (…) I knew I was taking a risk when I decided to be so uncomfortably honest in these lyrics. But I also knew I had to share this story with people, because we all have a monkey on our back and self-destruction is a stranger to nobody. I really want people to know that there is a better life waiting for them should they choose it.”

Therefore, These Drugs is not a song about self-pity, but an ode to self-reflection and eventual self-realization.

Recommended as well:
Baby Queen – Raw Thoughts

Follow Baby Queen on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

pop | rock

single track

Dayglow – Something

February 27th, 2021

Now 21 years old, Sloan Struble has been making music since he was 10. But his Dayglow project only began in 2017, naming the band after a song he liked. With his first album Fuzzybrain, the Texan artist proved he has a knack for writing great pop songs. By consequence, expectations for his sophomore album Harmony House, out on 21 May, are high. But by the sound of its first two singles, it’s not likely to disappoint.

Not long after Close To You, Dayglow puts out his new track Something. A bright, fun and refreshing song. At first hearing, you might think nothing much happens. But listen more closely and you’ll hear one productional gimmick after another. And just when you realize that, all of a sudden it’s over. Less than two minutes after it started.

Follow Dayglow on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

indie | pop

single track

Coach Party – Everybody Hates Me

February 27th, 2021

Coach Party used the free time COVID-19 forced upon them very well. They released no less than ten songs throughout 2020. Six of those were collected on their debut EP Party Food. 20 April, the Isle of Wight four-piece release their sophomore EP After Party. It’ll include previously released singles Can’t Talk, Won’t and Really OK On My Own, as well as their first track of the new year: Everybody Hates Me. A raw, energetic tune – both lyrically and musically – with great guitar riffs.

Commenting on the track, singer Jess Eastwood says: “Everybody Hates Me isn’t a metaphor for anything. It’s literally about those times when you convince yourself that everyone, including your best friends, don’t actually like you, and your self-confidence is so low that you don’t even blame them. Disguise that sentiment in an up-beat singalong, and there you have the third single from our new record.”

Follow Coach Party on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

indie | pop | rock

single track

The Reytons – Broke Boy’s Cartel

February 27th, 2021

The Reytons don’t waste any time. Hot on the heels of their Carte Blanche Music Wildcard Jealous Type, the Yorkshire quartet put out their fourth EP May Seriously Harm You And Others Around You. A classic example of ‘all killers, no fillers’, it contains three previously released tracks and three new ones.

One of the latter tunes is the new focus track. Broke Boy’s Cartel is another up-tempo rock song with ‘banger’ written all over it. Finishing in less than three minutes, it’s a burst of energy. Sounds like it’s made for live arenas, but in the meantime, it’s hopeful to see radio stations across the UK are supporting the EP.

The band’s loyal fans show their commitment as well. Thanks to their enthusiasm, the EP entered the UK Album Top 40. An unprecedented achievement for a 6-track record (but a well-deserved one)!

Recommended as well:
The Reytons – Jealous Type

Follow The Reytons on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

indie | rock

single track

Good Health Good Wealth – Love Hangover

February 27th, 2021

Hard-Fi is a British band that released some pretty awesome music between 2003 and 2013. For those who asked themselves what happened to them since then: they released a Best Of album in 2014 (which really contains some great hits), and went on an indefinite hiatus afterwards. But now, front man Richard Archer resurfaces as the co-writer and producer of a wonderful debut single.

Love Hangover (no cover) is the first ever track Good Health Good Wealth throw upon us. This London-based duo consists of singer and songwriter Bruce Breakey, and guitarist Simon Kuzmickas. They blend an eclectic mix of influences from indie, punk, hip-hop and pop. Their debut single combines spoken word flows with punchy drums, animated guitar riffs and a walking bass line. In that respect, it could easily have been a new Hard-Fi track. The duo themselves cite N*E*R*D, OutKast, Baxter Dury and The Clash as their main influences. Fair enough.

Looking forward to their introductory EP, set for release later this year!

Follow Good Health Good Wealth on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

indie | pop

single track

The Roop – Discoteque

February 27th, 2021

The Roop are a trio from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. After forming in 2014, they put out two long-players. In 2018, they made their first attempt to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest. With their second try, two years later, they hit the bull’s eye. Alas, as we all know, the event had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While many participating countries decided to send in their 2020 entries to this year’s edition, the Lithuanian broadcasting organization decided to hold a new national selection for the 2021 contest. The Roop was guaranteed a place in the final. Luckily for the trio, they won the national competition once again. As a result, they’ll represent their country in next May’s Eurovison Song Contest after all.

The song they participate with is a very strong one. An electro-pop tune, consisting of equal parts Depeche Mode and Sparks. The bridge even has Kraftwerk influences in it. Three of my personal favourite bands all wrapped up in one track. What can possibly go wrong? Douze points from this one-man Dutch jury!

Follow The Roop on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify

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

electronic | pop

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