May 31st, 2021
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 22)
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:
- Stefanie Heinzmann – Labyrinth (Wildcard this week)
- Haerts – Days Go By (Wildcard last week)
- Lahos x Svea – Bad Thing
- Laura Mvula – Got Me
- Talkbøx & Nick Double – Step Into The Light
- Valeras – Rita
- Winnetka Bowling League & Sasha Sloan – barcelona
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: Bakermat, Black Honey, Sofi Tukker, 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.
remake, single track
Dirty Heads (feat. Train) – Vacation
Jared Watson, Dustin ‘Duddy B’ Bushnell, Jon Olazabal, Matt Ochoa and David Foral formed Dirty Heads in 2003. Redefining the sound of Southern California, their sound contains equal parts alternative, hip hop, reggae and rock. And not unsuccessfully so, for they amassed over 1,3 billion streams to date. As with so many hits nowadays, TikTok is a big driver recently.
The quintet released the original version of Vacation in 2017, on their sixth album Swim Team. The song pays tribute to those who love their jobs. It went on to become one of the band’s biggest hits, reaching the top echelons of Billboard’s specialist charts like Hot Rock and Alternative Airplay. As a spin-off, Dirty Heads even released their own beer; Vacation Session Ale + Pineapple.
In the summer of 2019, the track suddenly spawned the #vacationtransition trend on TikTok. This was revived in early January 2021 by influencers Bryn Sato and Glenca Chysara. The #vacationtransition hashtag now has over 45,5 million views (and counting). Over 493.000 user generated videos (including one by Jared Watson himself) were watched more than 548,5 million times.
In response to its resurgence, Dirty Heads recorded a new version of their viral hit, which features the band Train. Watson says about it: “Thank you to Pat Monahan for hopping on this new version. It’s a gift to everyone who has made us smile with their ‘Vacation Challenge’ videos over the past year.”
If you love Twenty One Pilots and don’t know Dirty Heads yet, do yourself a favour and check them out!
Recommended as well:
Dirty Heads – Lift Me Up
Follow Dirty Heads on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Follow Train 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 trackDrew Sycamore – Jungle
Drew Sycamore – Jungle
The way Drew Sycamore’s career is evolving in her native Denmark is nothing less than impressive. Her last three singles all topped the airplay charts. The latest one, 45 Fahrenheit Girl, even spent 8 weeks on pole position. During the past two months it’s also been by far the most popular post on Carte Blanche Music.
With the same team (consisting of renowned producer-brothers Fridolin and Frederik Nordsø, and songwriter Lasse Boman), Sycamore made her new, self-titled album. Its 10 songs were written and recorded in just 30 days.
Jungle, a story of self-love, is her new single. In the sci-fi inspired video you can watch Sycamore clone herself. Explaining the choice for that concept, she says: “I am many different aspects and personalities and accepting all of them for what they are. Loving them instead of kicking them and gagging them makes me feel like I am in a forward motion and in the end shedding the old and going into the new.”
Another poptastic track that’s impossible not to love when you’re into The Weeknd or Dua Lipa, for instance.
Recommended as well:
Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl
Follow Drew Sycamore 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 track
Scott McWatt – Where We’ll Be
Scott McWatt. Only Scottish artists have brilliant names like that. Hailing from Glasgow, McWatt didn’t learn how to play a guitar until he was 18. In fact, he learned himself to play, on an instrument he was gifted from a friend. At that age, he had already been writing songs and lyrics for a few years. After dabbling in various bands, the 34-year-old is now working on a career of his own.
After he bundled his early singles and a few new songs on the EP The Bar Is A Beautiful Place (2016), things went quiet. But 2021 will see the return of the Mac! Later this year, he’ll release his debut album Past Lives, and his brand-new single Where We’ll Be is out now. It urges people to seize the day and make the most of what they have in the moment, as nobody knows what might be round the corner. Sounds familiar?
Where We’ll Be is a well-written, motivating upbeat song with rich vocals and a driving guitar. McWatt recorded it with guitarists Fearghal McMahon and Michael Hamilton, with Logan Whyte on drums. The track was mastered by John Davis, who worked with the likes of The XX, Lana Del Ray, Paloma Faith, Paul Weller and U2 before.
Follow Scott McWatt 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 trackFarmer & Friends (feat. Zuzu) – Wanna Be With You
Farmer & Friends (feat. Zuzu) – Wanna Be With You
I’d love to give you some interesting background information about Farmer & Friends’ debut single Wanna Be With You. Alas, this project is so new (apparently), that nothing is to be found about it. They haven’t uploaded a biography on the streaming services yet and I dare you to find their socials. If you happen to stumble upon them, please let me know and I’ll add them to this post.
That leaves us with the song, which is the most important thing in the first place. Wanna Be With You is an infectious, driving rock song, full of hooks and melodies, both vocally and musically. It’s even got a good old guitar solo. I don’t find it hard to imagine this being played by radio stations who are a bit more adventurous than most of their colleagues.
So, no need for Farmer & Friends to be shy. It’s time for them to step into the light. Wanna Be With You is a great way to start a career, but it might be useful if gatekeepers were able to reach out.
Follow Farmer & Friends on 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
Hurry – A Fake Idea
Matthew Scottoline started his musical career as the bassist in Philadelphia band Everyone Everywhere. But there he didn’t get much chance to fulfil his ambitions about singing and writing songs. Inspired by early ‘90s guitar rock and power pop, he spent his free time penning and recording songs on his own.
After forming his own band Hurry in the early 2010s, Scottoline released their debut album Everything/Nothing in late 2014. 25 June, their fourth album Fake Ideas will see the light. Following lead single It’s Dangerous, the quasi-title track A Fake Idea is out now. Its lyrics focus on ‘how to navigate life, love, and mental illness’. Scottoline himself has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Musically however, it’s a swinging and sunny guitar stomper, including horns and handclaps.
If you dig Lemonheads and I’ll Be There For You-era Rembrandts (count me in!), this is the summer anthem for you.
Follow Hurry 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 track
Punnany Massif – Tokiiiooooo
Hungarians Máté Felcser and Roland Farkas have known each other since 1994. Together, they organized parties and made radio shows. Only in 2003, they formed the hip hop collective Punnany Massif. Tokiiiooooo is their new single.
It doesn’t take much knowledge of the Hungarian language to understand what the song is about. The band wrote the song to support the Hungarian athletes who are currently preparing for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo. Not only do some of them appear in the video, they do so presenting their official Olympic outfits to the public.
Musically, Tokiiiooooo has a Yello-like drive, while Pitbull fans are sure to like the rapping style. Rapping along may prove to be a challenge, though… 😉
Recommended as well:
Punnany Massif (feat. Pásztor Anna, Charlie & Petó Szabolcs) – Ami Volt Az Majd Lesz!
Follow Punnany Massif 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 track
The Deep Blue – Jealous Sea
Manchester has always been a source of great pop music, and it continues to be so in 2021. Please meet the next band to cement the city’s reputation: The Deep Blue. They’re a three-piece that spent the lockdown writing and recording their debut EP. All of its tracks are set to be released throughout this year.
Jealous Sea is their very first, and very pleasant single. Just like other recent bands such as Haim and Soda Blonde, The Deep Blue are clearly influenced by Fleetwood Mac. A great place to start, as far as I’m concerned. However, the trio also throws a pinch of Taylor Swift into the mix. This results in a summer-y track with luscious harmonies and shimmering melodies, which blend indie, folk and pop.
Talking about this very promising introductory single, The Deep Blue explain: “You know that feeling: when you’ve lost a little bit of love for yourself and you see that person who has everything you’ve ever wanted. In a world of endless scrolling through the lives of others, it can be difficult to keep your head above the jealous sea. We are all in danger of slipping under. You’re not alone; sometimes we all want to be somebody else. Here’s a song to get you through and dance the green away.”
Follow The Deep Blue 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.
album track, wildcardWildcard (week 21):
Wildcard (week 21):
Stefanie Heinzmann – Labyrinth
32-year-old Swiss singer and songwriter Stefanie Heinzmann has had quite a diverse career so far. She started as singer in rock band BigFisch, but went on to win a German TV talent show in 2008. This brought her national stardom. In the years that followed, she won many hearts with a soulful repertoire. Throughout the years however, her music has become more and more poppy.
This has resulted in a very contemporary sound on her new, sixth album Labyrinth. The record was preceded by four singles, but the best track has yet to be released as such. I’d like to suggest the opening song and title track of the album for Heinzmann’s next single.
Labyrinth is a powerful, upbeat and tight tune in the best synth-pop tradition. With its funky guitars and catchy backing vocals, it contains hints of Gossip. But this could have been a great Alice Merton track as well. I bet that’s the influence of co-writer Michelle Leonhard, who penned songs for Merton before.
Labyrinth by Stefanie Heinzmann is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Recommended as well:
Stefanie Heinzmann – You Get Me
Follow Stefanie Heinzmann 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 weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 21)
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:
- Haerts – Days Go By (Wildcard this week)
- Niko Rubio – You Could Be The One (Wildcard last week)
- Edouard Landry – Words
- Rebecca Lou – Lovesick
- Vincent – Down
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: Counting Crows, Duran Duran, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Garbage, Twenty One Pilots, Weezer, 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.
