January 23rd, 2021
single track
electronic | pop
Archie X – Karma Sucks
Only five months ago, Belgian duo Archie X’s maiden single Loud Boy made a big impression. On me, at least, and I launched my most powerful promotional weapon: I made it the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means a song is highlighted on my blog for a whole week. And then… nothing much happened, really. A bloody shame, I still think it’s one of the strongest debuts in recent years.
But, one can also win a match in the second half. And Charline D’Hoore and Tom Lodewyckx’ sophomore single Karma Sucks is another winner! Even though it’s a totally different track than their first.
Karma Sucks is a dreamier affair. Its first part reminds me a bit of one of 2013’s finest moments: Everything At Once by Lenka. Throughout the song, the production is ace. The combination of an acoustic piano with a subtle electronic beat and dosed vocal effects is accessible, but with an edge. People with ears on their head will put this on their (radio and streaming) playlists.
For those still in doubt: Archie X’s very first band repetition ever will be live streamed on their Facebook page, Saturday 6 February at noon. How about that for self-confidence?
Recommended as well:
Archie X – Loud Boy
Follow Archie X on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
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 trackindie | pop
Mia Wray – Never Gonna Be The Same
Mia Wray is a 24-year-old singer and songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. Her career is off to a very promising start. Her debut single Work For Me was included on numerous Spotify editorial playlists. Also, it was supported by Elton John on his Beats 1 radio show.
Never Gonna Be The Same is only Wray’s second single. A huge, mesmerising pop song with a bluesy touch, that brims with self-confidence. Apparently, its overall theme of self-empowerment isn’t only directed to the song’s listeners, it applies to its singer as well.
Talking about the inspiration behind the track, Wray explains: “I found myself in situations both personally and professionally where I wasn’t being valued or heard and something finally just snapped inside me. I realised I could take control of my own narrative and by trusting my gut and understanding my worth… I unlocked the thing that I always knew was in me and I’ve finally found where I’m meant to be.”
Follow Mia Wray on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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 trackindie | pop | rock
Sam & Sounds – Silly
At the age of 17, Samuel Gemmell decided to pursue music with all he had. He started busking in 2019, earning enough money to be able to quit his job. Busking not only trained his voice, it also generate a small following, which is now expanding quickly. His career really took off in 2020 (in the middle of the pandemic), when he released no less than six self-penned singles as Sam & Sounds.
Now a 19-year-old, Silly is his first track of 2021. It’s another feelgood indie-pop gem, energetic and infectious to the max. For fans of bands like Satellite Stories, Two Door Cinema Club and Hippo Campus.
“Releasing it in Lockdown 3, seems quite appropriate”, he says. ”Honestly, this is just my overly dramatic artistic way of telling my girlfriend that I miss her and love her. I’m a bit wet, but I own it!”
Follow Sam & Sounds on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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 trackindie | pop
Julietta – Not Today
After battling with anxiety and depression, Julietta decided to leave New York for Los Angeles. Although she physically moved away from her problems, they’re still an inspiration for her songs. Also for her new single Not Today. It details her process of letting go of hardships and bad habits to focusing on grounding herself. She explains: “I know what rock bottom feels like, to be in the dungeons of my mind, I’m not scared of it, but I refuse to go back.”
Not Today’s lyrics are mostly sung-spoken, but the chorus comes alive with a choir harmonizing the chant ‘I’m not going back to the bottom, not today’. This gives the track a powerful, anthemic feel. Meanwhile, bouncy keys and light percussion add a feeling of optimism, of hope for a brighter future.
Julietta released six tracks in the past year. All of these will be compiled on her new EP Levitate, due out on 5 February.
Follow Julietta on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
cover, single trackindie | pop | rock
Lou Hayter – Time Out Of Mind
London native Lou Hayter has begun a new chapter of her already impressive musical career. She started as keyboardist for the band New Young Pony Club, with whom she toured the world for eight years. Since then, she was one half of Tomorrow’s World (the other half being Air’s Jean-Benoît Dunckel) and formed The New Sins with Nick Phillips. While they’re working on new material in Paris, Hayter started a solo career.
On 7 May, her solo album Private Sunshine will come out. According to her label, it will encompass her love of acid house, ‘80s hits, yacht rock, electro, future pop and disco. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Many of these ingredients can be heard in her new single Time Out Of Mind. The intro reminds of Jump (For My Love) by The Pointer Sisters, but after 15 seconds a Steely Dan-like synth comes in. Bulls-eye, for Time Out Of Mind is indeed a cover of a track from Fagen & Becker’s 1980 Gaucho album.
Hayter says about her version: “Steely Dan are my favourite band. So I approached this cover with my utmost respect and tried to be reverent. I chose a bit more of a deep cut from their album Gaucho. My friend Jeff Wooton who plays with Gorillaz very kindly added this mega guitar solo on the record. He nailed it in one take which was amazing to watch. I hope it has the same happy sunshine sound that Steely Dan brings to me when I listen to them.”
Follow Lou Hayter on Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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 trackdisco | indie | pop
Rooue – Flavour
Three months ago, London-born, Dublin-based duo Rooue (pronounced as [rew]) impressed me with their debut single What You Want. Their sophomore release doesn’t show any signs of decreasing quality. Quite contrarily.
I loved their first single for being a dark electronic pop song. For its follow-up, twin sisters Roísín and Louisa O’Connor chose a more light-hearted approach. Flavour links in with the current nu-disco trend, providing the track with a catchy, fresh, punchy and accessible sound. The sound of now (but hey, is that a banjo I hear?). Think Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue and Raye.
The track was produced by Irish songwriter, mixer, producer and musician Richey McCourt. He worked with the likes of UK talent Pixie Lott, Will Young, Rebecca Ferguson and Rita Ora before. Great job!
Recommended as well:
Rooue – What You Want
Follow Rooue on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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 trackelectronic | indie | pop
Talkbøx – Reach Out
Talkbøx was only formed in 2019, by producer/beatmaker Dion Peters, guitarist/writer Mitchell Giebels and singer Dana Havrylyuk. Before that, Peters worked as an electronic music producer and DJ for nearly 10 years. Giebels was a professional photographer who had some of the greatest musicians before his camera. Havrylyuk is currently a conservatory student in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Together, they fuse electronic music with retro acoustic elements, which creates a sound totally their own.
The trio put out two singles so far, which were picked up by Dutch radio station 3FM, and NRJ in France. But by the sound of Talkbøx’s new single Reach Out, it appears their career is only about to start properly.
Follow Talkbøx on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
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 3):
electronic | indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 3):
San Mei – In The Machine
San Mei is almost a Carte Blanche Music veteran. I guess I‘m a fan 😉. Maybe that’s because none of her tracks sound the same, ranging from dream pop to indie-rock. Her new single In The Machine however, has a decidedly electronic touch, with fuzzy guitars and big drum beats. To me, it sounds a bit like an updated version of Gary Numan’s Cars.
On Facebook, she adds: “Sometimes in life, we find ourselves just going through the motions and operating on auto-pilot. Especially when life gets hard and wears us down. But don’t get lost in the process. Get moving, shake it up, fight for what you want, who you want to be.”
This week, In The Machine by San Mei is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
Recommended as well:
Dakota
Midnight
Hard To Face
Follow San Mei on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 playlist you’ll 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.
werner's weeklyindie | pop | rock | surf | world
Werner’s Weekly (week 3)
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:
- Black Honey – Believer (Wildcard this week)
- Philippine – Bah Non. (Wildcard last week)
- Cold Years (feat. RR Gospel Choir) – Good As Hell
- Crooked Steps – Catherine
- Declan McKenna – Rapture
- Lucy Spraggan – Animal
- The Vices – Looking For Faces
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: Biffy Clyro, The Veronicas, Foo Fighters, Tom Jones, Maxïmo Park, and 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 trackindie | rock
Citizen – I Want To Kill You
In 2009, Mat Kerekes and brothers Nick & Eric Hamm formed Citizen in Toledo, Ohio. Originally born from the hardcore circuit, they also incorporated post-hardcore, emo and ‘90s alternative in their sound. In 2021, they’re a tight and ambitious rock band.
It’s been over three years since Citizen released their latest album As You Please. In the meantime, front man Kerekes hasn’t exactly sat still. He put out his solo album Ruby in 2019 and, as recent as 2020, the EP’s Amber Park and Songs For Breanne. Also, he built a studio in his garage. There, his band recorded its fourth long-player Life In Your Glass World. It’ll come out on 26 March.
I Want To Kill You is the album’s first single. Opening with a ferocious four-to-the-floor beat, it’s big, sharp and full of hooks. For Kerekes, I Want To Kill You greatly sums up the overall themes and sounds heard on Citizen’s new album. “Sometimes you feel like you’re being used”, he says. “A lot of the lyrics are liberating, they’re reclaiming control.”
Recommended as well:
Mat Kerekes – Hawthorne
Mat Kerekes – Diamonds
Follow Citizen on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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.
