February 28th, 2019
single track
Hezen – Bring Your Alibi
London-based singer-songwriter and producer Sara Hezen grew up outside of Paris. With Caribbean, Tamil, and Jewish blood running through her veins, her family history is coloured with narratives of displacement, resistance, and resilience. This heritage, as well as artists like Björk, Massive Attack, Sia, James Blake, and Lana Del Rey, were of big influence on her song-writing. Hezen produces is dark electronic pop that fuses experimentalism with a canny ear for epic and infectious hooks.
Her new single Bring Your Alibi was inspired by the #MeToo campaign. Hezen says it had a profound effect on her. “It felt like an incredible shift – I remember feeling so much admiration for the people who found the courage to tell their story. I was inspired to channel that resilience and courage – it’s like a feminist retelling of David vs. Goliath.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Sun Gods – Zanzara
Remember Subtle Science by Sun Gods? This great new Belgian band, consisting of brothers Brent Buckler and Sander Cliquet, Vincent Lembregts, and Marijn Geerts, have a new single out. Once again, it’s well worth your attention!
Formerly known as Barefoot & The Shoes, the four musicians renamed their band and re-invented their sound. Nowadays, they produce ‘big music’, referencing the likes of Peter Gabriel and Simple Minds, while adding contemporary elements of new musical heroes like The War On Drugs and Editors. That said, they have a warm and broad sound of their own. This is largely thanks to Brent Buckler’s characteristic and charming voice, that brings back memories of Hothouse Flowers’ Liam O’Maonlai (Don’t Go, anybody?). Oh well, forgive me my melancholy chatter…
After their debut single Subtle Science was fully embraced by Belgium’s Radio 1, 2019 is about to become the year of the Sun Gods. New songs, new shows and festivals will put the band firmly on the map. At least, that’s what the label promises 😉
If new single Zanzara is anything to go by, I’m convinced Sun Gods will live up to that promise!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Maty Noyes – New Friends
Maty Noyes established herself through collaborations with other artists (most notably The Weeknd and Kygo), before becoming a star in her own right.
Last August, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter released her second EP Love Songs From A Lolita. New Friends is the new single off it. A catchy track, of which Noyes says: “A song about a lot of close friends letting me down, when I wrote this song I was in the thick of it. It’s throwing major shade but it serves friendship realness.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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 9):
Wildcard (week 9):
Sundara Karma – Little Smart Houses
Sundara Karma may very well be one of the most creative bands to come out of the UK lately. None of their songs sound the same. Me, for one, I’m looking forward to the follow-up to their 2017 debut album Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect.
After Illusions, One Last Night On This Earth, The Changeover, and, most recently, Higher States, the band now unleash Little Smart Houses. It’s the last single to come out ahead of their second album Ulfilas’ Alphabet (scheduled for release in March).
Little Smart Houses is a cheerful song with David Byrne-like vocals and a few productional jokes. It’s poppy and accessible on the one hand, but sure to please fans of more alternative music on the other. This week, it’s the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
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
Lydia Briggs – Down
Born and raised in Cleveland, USA, a mile from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Lydia Briggs has been playing piano non-stop since the age of 5. At 13, she began writing her own material, and a year later, she started her own label: Gin House Records. She copyrighted her songs, and at 15, walked into the studio to record her debut EP with legendary producer Jim Wirt (Fiona Apple, Incubus, No Doubt, Hoobastank, Live).
This EP, which will be released soon, features the 15-year-old’s pure voice, jazz-influenced piano, bluesy chord progressions, and beautifully thoughtful orchestration. One can hear the influence of Briggs’s idol Regina Spektor resonate in these self-written songs. Down is her very promising, and very first single.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Nikki’s Wives – Lemonade
Spending their time between Canada and the USA, alt-rock powerhouse Nikki’s Wives have currently set up shop in a Hollywood Hills home, where they built their own recording studio and will be filming music videos and continuing to write music until next month. In other words: the three-piece are working hard to force their breakthrough in 2019.
Lemonade is their first single of the year. Huge drums and a driving guitar propel Lemonade forward, perfectly complemented by lead singer Nikki’s powerful vocals, making this their most catchy song, so far.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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
Faico – Half Of It
Faico is a Dutch five-piece, which was started in 2016 by brothers Sep and Jesse Eshuis. Their debut EP Finish Your Song reveals the band’s roots. Raised with The Eagles, and inspired by American folk-rock band Dawes, Faico makes a poppy version of Americana music.
Half Of It is their new single.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 9)
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:
- Vendredi Sur Mer – Chewing-Gum (Wildcard this week)
- Stats – The Family Business (Wildcard last week)
- Badflower – Promise Me
- Barrie – Clovers
- Dombresky – Soul Sacrifice
- PLYA – Adenaline
- Two Year Vacation – I Forgot Your Name (But I Like You)
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: Alex Lahey, My Baby, Johnny Marr, Weezer, and many more.
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
Badflower – Promise Me
Before she departed to Universal Music, Taylor Swift was the labelmate of Badflower. It’s hard to imagine them working together though, as Badflower are an emo rock band. On the other hand, stranger collaborations have happened… (Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney, anyone?)
Today, Badflower released their debut album OK, I’m Sick. It was already preceded by the singles Heroin, Ghost, x ANA x, and their most recent one: Promise Me. The latter has expressive lyrics and smooth guitar riffs, that punctuate its message. On the one hand, it’s about holding on to love and the hope of youth, on the other it’s about accepting loss and moving on.
Lead singer Josh Katz says of it: “This is probably my favourite song on the album. Not only because it’s a departure from what we normally do musically and lyrically, but because it really feels like a story with a beginning, middle, and end. It describes the feeling of growing up, losing youth and losing love – which is a simple concept that scares the hell out of me.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
album track
Picture This – Modern Love
Since their self-titled debut album came out in August 2017, Picture This have gone on to become the biggest selling Irish act in 2017 and 2018. Last week, they released its follow-up, MDRN LV, which is even for sale as a cassette. In interviews, the band claim not to have felt any pressure producing the record, but I bet their label feels pressure to make it just as successful as the first one 😉 .
The long-player opens with Modern Love, more or less the title track, and the song whose lyrics inspired the album’s title. The track marks a different sound for the band, with tight, clean The 1975-like production. Destined to become a live favourite.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
