June 10th, 2017
single track
The Shins – Half A Million
The Shins’s first release dates back to 1998. It landed them a record deal with legendary label Sub Pop. Over the years, the American band has released indie pop gems like New Slang, So Says I, Saint Simon, Fighting In A Sack, and many more.
Half A Million, off their most recent album Heartworms, will be their next single.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Kat Eaton – The Joker
Being raised in Sheffield, Kat Eaton came across a lot of music. The Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Richard Hawley are all from the steel city, but she was mostly influenced by Joe Cocker. The heart felt emotions in her songs can be traced back to him.
After moving to London, Eaton launched ‘Blue Sundays’ in October 2014; a weekly music night hosted by herself, featuring a new up and coming artist every week. But now, her priority is to raise her own voice. Quite literally, because her voice is her main asset. You can hear it shine on her new single The Joker, the first track off her debut EP When You’re Not Around, which was produced by Neros (Jack Savoretti, Foster The People).
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
chart, ebbchart
European Border Breakers Chart 9 June 2017
Once more, the European Border Breakers Chart has a huge number of (re)entries: 15 emerging European acts that are being picked up by radio stations outside their home countries. A promising start of an international career!
If 15 songs are too much, let me help you with a smaller selection. Why don’t you try 21 year-old Hannah Rodgers, who calls herself after her grandmother’s nickname, Pixx (pictured)? An obstinate British singer who combines pretty dark synth-pop with unusual hooks. Her new single Waterslides enters at #86 this week. The absolute queen of the chart is Dua Lipa. She already held five positions, but after the release of her debut album another one comes in at #90. It’s Homesick, her high profile collaboration with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. And there are even better tracks on the record… The red lantern is worn with pride by The Amazons this week. Airplay in Estonia, Serbia, Italy and Spain has lead their Junk Food Forever to slip into the chart at #100.
Also this week I’m very happy with the re-entry of Calypso Valois with Vis À Vis and Loyle Carner’s Ain’t Nothing Changed.
Happy discovery!
For all 100 positions, click the ‘EBBChart’ tab in the top menu of this blog (loading of the PDF may take a little while). For more charts (like the Bubbling Under, which ranks the tracks that are on their way to the Top 100), please visit www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
The Pretty Reckless feat. Warren Haynes – Back To The River
Taylor Momsen is an American model and former actress, who’s breakout role was Cindy Lou Who in ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’, before playing in teen drama series ‘Gossip Girl’. But since 2007 she spends most of her time being the front woman of rock band The Pretty Reckless, where she does a damn fine job.
The band’s latest album Who You Selling For features a collaboration with Warren Haynes, an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as long-time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the band Gov’t Mule.
The song that he plays on, Back To The River, has been chosen as The Pretty Reckless’s new single!
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Raphael Gualazzi – La Fine Del Mondo
Raphael Gualazzi is an Italian singer and pianist. In 2011, he won the Sanremo festival in the Best Newcomer category and a year later, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. He ended second.
Gualazzi hasn’t yet been able to profit internationally from that platform, even though he releases singles both in Italian and in English. Musically, he mixes pop, jazz and soul, but also typical Italian pop and even classical music.
High time to re-introduce Raphael Gualazzi to a larger audience. I really like his new single La Fine Del Mondo. How about you?
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Beachwood Coyotes – Face To Face
Beachwood Coyotes. Interesting name. It was inspired by an adventure singer Jason Nott went through… After taking acid for the first time, he decided to go on a night hike up the Beachwood Canyon trail to the iconic Hollywood sign. Unfortunately for Jason, as he approached it he spotted a group of coyotes, so he headed back.
The next morning he discovered that three decapitated bodies were discovered on that very same trail. Time of death? The exact same time he was scared away. So those Beachwood coyotes saved his life…
True story? No-one knows. But at least it’s a good story 😉 .
Nott formed the band Beachwood Coyotes with bassist Drew Smith, drummer Bryan King and Canadian guitar phenomenon Yan Clermont. After two singles in the past two years, they are now ready to release their new EP Scrubby next summer. The first single Face To Face is out now.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track, tribute
Intergalactic Lovers – Between The Lines
Speaking of great Belgian bands, here’s another one… Intergalactic Lovers consists of singer Lara Chedraoui, Brendan Corbey (drums), Maarten Huygens (guitar) and Raf De Mey (bass).
Scoring moderate hits in their homeland since second single Delay, the big international break-through has yet to come. Will this be the track to accomplish that? At least it should appeal to a lot of people, with a musical heritage that hints to bands like Interpol, Editors, The Cure and New Order.
15 September, Intergalactic Lovers will release their new album. Exhale is already on Spotify, but currently only the single Between The Lines can be played. The video to the track is an homage to Belgian painter René Magritte. The clip features ten references to paintings of his. See if you can spot them…
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 23):
Wildcard (week 23):
Triggerfinger – Flesh Tight
Belgium may be a small country, but the number of great musicians per capita is extremely high. Always has been, by the way. Only one small piece of evidence to support my thesis: this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard is by a Belgian band, just like last week, when Soulwax’s Do You Want To Get Into Trouble? featured prominently on this blog.
One of best known Belgian bands in recent years is Triggerfinger. Not because they have so many hits, but because they are such an incredible live band. They’ve played every venue and every festival around. If you haven’t done so before, please go and see one of their shows and you’ll be sold.
Their new single Flesh Tight adds a touch of Roxy Music and David Bowie to Triggerfinger’s typical hard, bluesy, stoner rock sound. I could hear it all week. And so can you, for the next seven days you’ll find the track at the top of this blog, only one click away from pleasing your ears.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
border breaker, single track
The Hunna – Never Enough
An emerging band releasing six singles off their debut album? Even in this digital age that’s pretty rare. British rock band The Hunna, that only exists since 2015, released their first album 100 last August. It already includes the singles Bonfire, We Could Be, You And Me, Still Got Blood and Piece By Piece.
In the autumn of 2016 I played Never Enough a few times in my Carte Blanche radio show and the band just released a video to it. A pretty raw video, starring model Polly Ellens.
I love this track. After the first bars, that remind me of Survivor’s Eye Of The Tiger, it builds up to become one of the best rock songs of 2016 (and now, 2017 as well).
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Anymore
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart took their name from an unpublished children’s story of the same title. It was written by a friend of the band’s founding member and main songwriter Kip Berman.
So far, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart put out three albums. The next one, The Echo Of Pleasure, is set for release on 14 July. The first single, Anymore, already sets the wheels in motion.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
