October 16th, 2021
single track
Dancer – Fears
After publisher Snowhill Songs did a great job putting Aussie quartet Dancer on the map, a label stepped in to – hopefully – finish the job. Mirror Records is part of Mirror Group, who manage Gang Of Youths and launched the career of Middle Kids. Sounds like a good home for the lads.
As happens more often, the label decided to start from scratch and pull all available music from the streaming platforms. Recently, it re-released last year’s Dreamer as the band’s official debut single with them. Dancer’s second single however, is brand-new. In line with its title – Fears – it has a frantic, almost hypnotic beat that adds suspense to the song. Lyrically, it explores the themes of fear and the relationship our world has with the concept.
Both Dreamer and Fears will appear on Dancer’s debut EP, which is due out on 3 December. It’ll contain a total of 6 tracks. One of these is a new version of last year’s Show Me The Way, which also disappeared from the internet since I wrote about it.
Recommended as well:
Show Me The Way
Dreamer
Follow Dancer 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
Inge van Calkar – Rise
If you’ve been following the Carte Blanche Music blog, you’ll be familiar with Inge van Calkar. This talented singer and songwriter from the northern Dutch city of Groningen featured here more than once. She’s well-known for her smashing white outfits, but especially – and more importantly – for her ultra-catchy electro-pop songs. These are written by herself and ace producer/songwriter Gordon Groothedde.
Inge’s new single Rise has been a few years in the making. Two years ago, she played a part in music theatre spectacle ‘Rise Of The Blue City.’ She also got to write the opening song for the piece, which she performed with Dutch band Alamo Race Track. Now, a new version of this track is out officially. It has different lyrics, and was given a face-lift musically. In 2021, Rise is a pure pop bob, with thick ‘80s synths, matching the style of her overall repertoire.
A great step forward, both for the song and Inge van Calkar, whose star just keeps rising (pun intended, obviously).
Recommended as well:
Spinning Around
Get Out Of My Way
Imaginary
Follow Inge van Calkar 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
Leopard Rays – Carried Away
Alt.rock four-piece Leopard Rays are Luke Dawkins (vocals), Sean McCloskey (guitar), Tom Pattison (bass) and David Wilcox (drums). Hailing from Hartlepool in the UK, they take their influences from the likes of Pearl Jam, Oasis and Ride. Fans of more contemporary bands like The Pale White, Inhaler, Blossoms and Sam Fender are likely to love them.
New single Carried Away is a hymn to breaking up and breaking free. A celebration of hedonism in the face of bad luck and broken hearts, which combines chiming guitars with an anthemic sweetness. This makes it the band’s most radio-friendly release yet.
Follow Leopard Rays 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
Barrie – Frankie
Barrie’s best songs have titles that consist of only one word. New single Frankie is one of those.
The track opens with a pulsating synth in the best New Order tradition. Throughout, the song is drenched in subtle synth layers and propelled by a driving beat. However, who really inspired the song was legendary songwriter Glen Campbell. His 1968 hit Wichita Lineman, which is about the American archetype of the relentless worker, is referenced in the opening lines: ‘Born with emotion / Pushed into motion / Wichita Lineman / Our most favourite tragedy.’
In a statement, Barrie Lindsay explains: “Glen Campbell had just died and the radio was playing Wichita Lineman. It felt relevant to the social justice movements at the moment, to the push for democratic socialism, or at least a rejection of capitalism and where it’s gotten us. The Wichita Lineman has a shitty oppressive job that isolates and overworks him, as many Americans do, and instead of feeling outraged on his behalf we honor and lionize his commitment to labor. The song is a great litmus test. People either find the character really heroic and noble, or find the whole situation sad and fucked.”
Recommended as well:
Drag
Darjeeling
Clovers
Follow Barrie 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 trackelison – Meet Me Halfway
elison – Meet Me Halfway
Elison are a brand-new American indie-rock duo, comprised of Marissa Kephart (vocals, guitar) and Scott Yoshimura (multi-instrumentalist, producer). After 20 years of wishing, the lockdown finally gave Kephart the time (and courage) to pick up playing guitar and start taking voice lessons. Meet Me Halfway was her first demo, which she brought to Yoshimura to help with her song-writing. Quickly, they discovered they were both inspired by bands such as Sparklehorse, Dinosaur Jr., My Bloody Valentine and Soccer Mommy. This led to the formation of their two-piece band, elison.
Meet Me Halfway is the duo’s debut single. Dealing with leaving unhealthy relationships behind, it’s both powerful and hopeful in messaging. The track has an immersive atmospheric mood, powered by a driving groove.
Follow elison 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
Go Go Berlin – Better Off Alone
In the ten years of their existence, Danish band Go Go Berlin added more and more electronic influences to their sound. This way, they effectively grew from a rock band into a pop outfit. New single Better Off Alone shows exactly where they stand in the year of their jubilee. In the track, which deals with a failed relationship, singer Christian Vium sings: ”I ran away on our wedding day / I’m way too fucking cool to give my heart away.”
Better Off Alone is taken from the band’s new album Expectations. The title refers to the expectations (about themselves) the band wants to take away. “Expectations are the worst things you can have”, according to Vium. “They can only disappoint you.”
Recommended as well:
Go Go Berlin – Love Me
Follow the band 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
Underline & Gissberg – Get Down With It
The bass line of Chic’s Good Times once inspired Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust. Now, a slightly different version of it appears in Get Down With It by Underline & Gissberg. It makes the song instantly recognizable, even though it’s 100% a 2021 production.
The track came about after 28-year-old Swedish producer Behshad Ashnai, better known as Underline, was coincidentally introduced to Joakim Gissberg. Ashnai heard Gissberg sing as the opening act for a boxing match in Las Vegas. He immediately realized this was the voice he needed to finish a timeless instrumental track he had been struggling with for some years.
After about 15 minutes in the studio, they found the right hook to go with the instrumental. The resulting tune, Get Down With It, is a groovy, bass-driven, utterly infectious and radio-friendly song.
Follow Underline on Facebook | Spotify
Follow Gissberg 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, wildcardWildcard (week 41):
Wildcard (week 41):
Jaguar Jonze – Who Died And Made You King?
Deena Lynch is a multi-talented performer. She is an Instagram artist (as Spectator Jonze), a photographer (Dusky Jonze) and a musician (Jaguar Jonze). Recently however, her artistry was pushed to the back a little, for she had quite the year. Apart from the ‘usual’ COVID-19 hassle, she attracted the virus herself. Also, she shared her experiences of sexual abuse and harassment in the music industry, and became a strong voice for the #metoo movement in Australia.
In her fiery new single Who Died And Made You King?, Jonze celebrates the fact that in the last year, many notable ‘kings’ or heads at the top of the music industry have been taken down. The track is driven by punchy percussion, fierce distorted vocals and determined lyrics. It acts as a warning that more downfalls and clean-ups are yet to come.
Meanwhile, she leaves no doubt she’s back. Jonze explains: “With this single, I wanted to take back my power, take back my voice and take back my artistry.”
This week, Who Died And Made You King? by Jaguar Jonze is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It’ll feature at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Recommended as well:
Rabbit Hole
Kill Me With Your Love
Follow Jaguar Jonze 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 41)
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:
- Youth Sector – Self Exile (Wildcard this week)
- Foxes – Sister Ray (Wildcard last week)
- David Bowie – You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving [2000 Version]
- IndyAnna Baby feat. Amy Shark – I’m Not Giving Up
- Julie Zenatti – France Et Jojo
- Paloma – Fever
- The Cat Empire – Into The Night
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: Richard Ashcroft, Tears For Fears, We Are Scientists, 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 track
Ida Laurberg – Personal Letters
When Danish DIY artist Ida Laurberg self-released her debut single Puppy Dog Eyes in 2016, she was only 16 years old. The song went viral and has now been streamed over 15 million times. It made Laurberg one of the most critically acclaimed DIY pop stars-to be in Denmark. You can imagine several major labels have been chasing her autograph. For a record deal, that is. But instead, she started her own label All Chemistry with her manager. Small on the one hand, but with big – international – ambitions on the other.
So, five years into her career, her new single is once again self-released, just like the one that started it all. “I have never written a happy song”, the songwriter claimed recently. She still hasn’t. New song Personal Letters is a hard-hitting track that fuses dark, modern pop with matching grunge-y guitars.
Speaking of the single, Laurberg says: “Personal Letters is about my frustration of not having the nerve to confront people in my life when they do something that hurts me, which ends up in me getting hurt and having my boundaries overstepped time after time. Instead, I keep up finding myself perform angry monologues with myself in the shower in the mornings. That’s Personal Letters.”
Play this one loud!
Follow Ida Laurberg 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.
