May 31st, 2019
IAMJJ – My Two Eyes
IAMJJ is the artist name of a 25-year-old Danish singer-songwriter, who writes and performs in English. Following in the footsteps of his heroes Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, his tracks are drenched in melancholy. Both musically and lyrically. A modern crooner!
He now drops My Two Eyes, the first new track since his 2018 debut album Bloody Future. Where he previously wrote songs full of pictorial metaphors and poetic lyrics, My Two Eyes is a more direct story of love. Easier to relate to than his earlier output, this might be just the song his career needed to expand beyond his current fan base.
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.
Bess Atwell – Swimming Pool
Bess Hildick-Smith, known by her stage name Bess Atwell, grew up in the English countryside, one of four children to an eclectic family of artists, songwriters and doctors. Soon after starting her own musical career, she was described in the press as âa promising folk poet of suppression and inner anxietyâ and âa gifted singer-songwriter with a voice like slow, cool waterâ. Eventually, her former solo project evolved into a full band affair, incorporating traces of traditional folk music with newer indie-rock influences.
Atwellâs just-released EP Big Blue includes the new tracks Harvested and Ventnor Villas. The other three songs have been issued as singles via Spotify, but were never actively promoted outside her home country. Swimming Pool, which was met with praise in late 2018, now gets a proper promotional treatment outside the UK. A romantic yet realistic song, influenced by the likes of The National, Fleet Foxes, and Sharon Van Etten.
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.
Delmoro – Dove Siamo Finiti
After graduating in architecture, Mattia Del Moro reinvented himself and turned a singer by the stage name of Delmoro. A year after his debut album Il Primo Viaggio, he released the EP BalĂŹa, including the singles Filippiche and Idiosincrasia, as well as three new songs.
One of those three is his new single Dove Siamo Finiti (âwhere we endâ). The song is rooted in the Italian song tradition from the â60s to the â90s, coloured with balearic beats and disco influences.
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.
Polish Club – Goddamn!
When David Novak (vocals, guitar) and John-Henry Pajak (drums) formed a band in 2014, it wasnât difficult to name it. Both of them having Polish roots, Polish Club was an obvious choice for a name. Their official biography describes them as both âthe loudest goddamn soul outfit youâve ever heardâ and âthe sweatiest rock band in Sydneyâ. Sounds (and probably smells) like a fun act!
On 7 June, the duo release their second album Iguana, and Goddamn! is the third track to precede it. âGoddamn! was the first song we wrote during the writing process for this record,â the band said in a statement. âItâs also the most fun. Itâs also a song where Novak is pretty much screaming the whole time. Itâs also got a title with an exclamation mark. Itâs also got heaps of drums and shit on it.â
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.
Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
Izzy Bizu (British singer Isobel Beardshaw, who has an Ethiopian mother) put out her first EP Coolbeanz in 2013. The year after, she already performed at the Glastonbury festival. She continued to release singles of her own (most notably White Tiger), and ahead of her debut album A Moment Of Madness, she was the featured singer on electronic music duo Honneâs 2016 single Someone That Loves You.
A year later, Bizu opened for Coldplay on their A Head Full Of Dreams tour. That same year, she and the bandâs singer Chris Martin sung Someone That Love You live together for the first time. Two years later, on her new EP Glita, a studio version of this duet appears. Although Martin is uncredited as a vocalist, the male voice is unmistakably his.
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.
Wildcard (week 22):
boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl
One of last yearâs best singles in my opinion was Losing You by boy pablo, a Norwegian group of high school best friends, fronted by now 20-year-old Pablo Muñoz. Recently, they recorded two Spotify Singles at the streaming platformâs Stockholm studio. One of them a new version of Ready/Problems, the original of which featured on the bandâs 2017 debut EP Roy Pablo; the other a cover of 50 Souls And A Discobowl, a Norwegian indie classic by The Lionheart Brothers, dating from 2007.
âIt is a song I have listened to since I was a kid,â Muñoz says in a press release. âI remember the feeling I had the first time I heard the song, and I remember that I think it sounds amazing. I wanted to take the song out of the sound it had original and make it more modern, just to give it some light and attention again. I think it was a great way to show off this cool underground band from Norway, which in my opinion never got the attention they deserved while they were active,â he adds.
Mission accomplished, as far as Iâm concerned. 50 Souls And A Discobowl sounds totally fresh and contemporary, without throwing the charm and drive of the original overboard. Just like Losing You in 2018, 50 Souls And A Discobowl by boy pablo is this weekâs Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this yearâs 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.
The Snuts – All Your Friends
The Snutsâ first demo, in 2016, was called Glasgow. Appropriately, for a Scottish band. Since then, the quartetâs star is rising fast. They played huge sold-out gigs and festival sets in their homeland, signed to Parlophone Records, and continued to release massive indie tunes.
Just like their debut album, which the band are currently recording, their new single All Your Friends was produced by Inflo, who worked with Danger Mouse, Michael Kiwanuka and others. The Arctic Monkeys-like track is full of rock ân roll swagger. It possesses an irresistibly catchy raw edge and a massive chorus. No doubt, The Snuts will be one of 2019âs break-out bands.
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.
Girli – Up And Down
At the age of 12, Milly Toomey originally wanted to pursue a career as an actress, but after two unsuccessful auditions, she left the dream behind. Three years later, she formed an all-female band where she played the role of singer and guitarist. She wasnât the easiest person to get on with, however. Or, in her own words: âI was totally neurotic. I was the bossiest, most annoying band member ever.â After the group fell apart, she decided to carry on on her own, adopting the stage name Girli.
After singles like Hot Mess, Day Month Second and Deal With It, she put out her debut album Odd One Out in early April. The closing song has now been chosen as Girliâs new single. Another guitar-based electropop song, which is about having mood swings. But, the singer concludes, âThis is me, and if you want me around you, take it or leave it.â
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.
Inhaler – My Honest Face
Inhaler are a four-piece rock band from Dublin, consisting of Elijah Hewson (vocals, guitar), Josh Jenkinson-Tansia (guitar), Robert Keating (bass), and Ryan McMahon (drums). They met while still at school and formed the band in 2016. Inspired by artists such as Joy Division and The Stone Roses, they mostly sound like a younger version of U2. This hardly comes as a surprise, since Hewson is Bonoâs son. That said, Inhaler can do without this reference. Although they only have a handful of songs out, they can easily stand on their own feet.
Last week, the band added two new tracks to their tiny catalogue: Thereâs No Other Place and My Honest Face. The latter, my favourite, has the rhythm tandem working their asses off, with its driving drums and bass line. Great song!
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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 22)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard (Wildcard this week)
- The Heavy – Fighting For The Same Thing (Wildcard last week)
- Beachheads – Death Of A Nation
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
- Lauran Hibberd – Hoochie
- Olympia – Hounds
- Phil Collins – The Man With The Horn
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Biffy Clyro, Emeli Sandé, Rammstein, Yungblud, 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.