July 18th, 2017
Tom Grennan – Found What I’ve Been Looking For
As a teenager, Tom Grennan had a promising football career. He played for Luton Town, Northampton Town, Aston Villa and Stevenage, and was close to playing over in the United States. But he made a last-minute decision not to do so, and instead pursue a career in music. He moved from Bedford to London for university, and started gigging around London with his acoustic guitar.
Grennan first found fame as the guest vocalist on Chase & Status’s All Goes Wrong. Shortly afterwards he showcased his love of blues and soul on his debut EP Something In The Water. Next up is his new single Found What I’ve Been Looking For, another great vehicle for his raspy, emotive vocals.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Llorca (feat. Sapele) – Wonderwhy
After his single Waiting, Llorca now releases a new track from his most recent album The Garden. The Frenchman’s new single is called Wonderwhy, and it’s sung by Swedish singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ Sapele (real name: Samuel Lancine). The single mix, the Get Up Version, is a totally revamped version of the album track however. It’s hardly recognisable and sounds like a hit this time around.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Werner’s Weekly (week 29)
Summers used to be slow-moving as far as new music was concerned, but that has changed in recent years. Why would you wait to release your great new track until after the holidays, when all other artists release their great new tracks as well? Radio and streaming playlists (or listeners in general) are in need of good content the whole year round. No wonder then, that I could add new music from the likes of The Allergies, Arcade Hearts and Foster The People to my 2017 container playlist Carte Blanche Music last week.
Each Monday morning, I put my personal recommendations out of all new releases in Werner’s Weekly, an alphabetically sorted playlist, kicking off with the Carte Blanche Music Wildcards of this and last week. It’s in full below. Follow the links for more information and listen to the songs via the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar!
- Alice Merton – No Roots (Wildcard this week)
- BC Unidos (feat. Shungudzo) – Bicycle (Wildcard last week)
- Black Grape – Nine Lives
- Jain – Dynabeat
- Kesha feat. The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman
- Kideko – Dum Dum
- Urban Cone – Pumping Up Clouds
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
The Hallows – Angel
The Hallows are an alternative pop band from London, consisting of Sarah Rodriguez (vocals/keys/synths), Joe Rodriguez (not related; drums) and Dave Pugh (bass). They came together in 2014, from rather different backgrounds.
Sarah began playing the piano as a young child, and later found inspiration in the music of Nina Simone, Jeff Buckley and Tori Amos. Meanwhile, she also listened to the music her parents loved, including Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC and Pink Floyd.
Joe’s passion for the drums began when his parents played him the anthemic drum beat of Queen’s We Will Rock You and was cemented later by listening to bands such as The Police, Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Dave has a rather eclectic mix of favourites, from Motown to heavy rock bands such as Rage Against The Machine and Foo Fighters. But his bass playing has undoubtedly been influenced by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Cream as well.
Last year, The Hallows released their debut album Of Time And Tides. After Elements and Cardboard Love, the third single is out now. Tori Amos fans (and Kate Bush devotees, for that matter) will probably be delighted!
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Kesha feat. The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman
Kesha (who has ditched the dollar sign from her stage name) has a new goal: female empowerment. That became clear last week already, when she released the emotive ballad Praying, but even more so on the quick follow-up: the soulful Woman; a song that features the fantastic Dap-Kings horn section. Both tracks will be on Kesha’s forthcoming album Rainbow, due out on 11 August. It’s her first album in five years and we all know what kept her busy in the meantime…
It looks like Rainbow is an ambitious project all along the line. Lyrically, obviously, but also because of its collaborations. You can expect the Eagles Of Death Metal, Dolly Parton and Kesha’s mother, Pebe Sebert, on it. But personally, I’m looking out most for the appearance of Ben Folds.
Kesha has stated the album was influenced by the likes of Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, T-Rex, James Brown, The Beatles and The Sweet. Not the first names that popped into my mind when I first heard Woman, but what a great song that is! This is the fun video to go with it…
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
The Allergies (feat. Andy Cooper) – It Won’t Be Me
The Allergies is the production/DJ outfit from heavyweight DJ’s Rackabeat and Moneyshot, from Bristol, UK. They call it their mission to take vintage sounds and reshape them for the modern dancefloor, which they started doing in 2012.
After a few EP’s The Allergies released their first album As We Do Our Thing. Andy Cooper, one-third of Los Angeles rap trio Ugly Duckling, was one of the artists doing a guest performance on the record. He will also be present on their upcoming second full-length Push On, to be released on 28 July.
One of the tracks he will grace with his presence is It Won’t Be Me, The Allergies’s new single.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
European Border Breakers Chart 14 July 2017
Out of the 11 (re)entries in this week’s European Border Breakers Chart I’m especially pleased with Jain’s Dynabeat at #90. The summer has officially started! The highest first-timer though is for Irish electronic pop singer Bonzai, whose bouncy I Feel Alright is new at #55. Pillow Queens’ (pictured) Rats was released at the end of last year already, but is only now starting to heat up on UK radio, helping it to enter at #88. A welcome infusion of guitars into the EBBChart. Even more (and heavier) guitars are provided by French rock band Last Train. Their Between Wounds is in at #95. Lastly, Lekende Lett enter at #99. I Sommer, sung in Norwegian, is also picked up in Sweden.
For the complete Top 100, click the ‘EBBChart’ tab in the top menu of this blog (loading of the PDF may take a little while). For more charts please visit www.europeanborderbreakerschart.eu. Looking at the Tips, for instance, ranking the tracks that are on their way to the Top 100, we may expect Dua Lipa’s new single New Rules to enter the EBBChart next week. Watch this space!
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Urban Cone – Pumping Up Clouds
Apart from the obvious countries (UK and US), Sweden is the worldwide pop factory. Just listen to Urban Cone, whom I recommended before, as an example.
Ahead of their third album A Whole Lifetime Of Happiness, the quartet comes up with this new single, Pumping Up Clouds. Utterly infectious, as always.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Pat Dam Smyth – Juliette
Pat Dam Smyth grew up on a farm in Northern Ireland from Irish and Greek parents. He used his music as a form of escapism and eventually moved to London, via Dublin, Liverpool, Athens and Los Angeles. Inspired by the likes of Nick Cave, John Grant, Beck and Pink Floyd, he recorded his debut album The Great Divide in 2012.
The follow-up, Kids, will be released in a few months’ time. But first you can expect the EP Goodbye Berlin. The first track, which will feature on both, is called Juliette. It’s a story about a young woman who escapes an abusive relationship. Powerful stuff!
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Kideko – Dum Dum
Brighton, UK-based DJ/producer Ryan Hurley originally played in local bands as a drummer. Only when he started studying music technology and music production, he became interested in electronic/dance music. He begun a career of his own, using the stage name Kideko. In 2014, he debuted with the double A-sided single On And On/Amour, but his first real success came with follow-up The Jam, which sampled Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam.
But I’m sure Kideko’s biggest hit is yet to come. Dum Dum ticks all the right boxes in that respect. It’s a samba-influenced dance track with ‘party’ written all over it. And the lyrics aren’t too complex either…
UPDATE 23 September: This fun instrumental now also comes with vocals, provided by Tinie Tempah and Becky G. If it wasn’t a smash already, it sure is now!
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
