February 28th, 2022
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 9)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to new music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order. As you can see, Aussie artists did a great job last week:
- Dylan – No Romeo
(Wildcard this week) - Barks IV & I.Am.Em – Hittin’ It
(Wildcard last week) - Alice Offley – Pour (Your Love On Me)
- Hollie Col – Seasick
- Hope D – Hate Goodbyes
- Slowly Slowly – Nothing On
- Sunday Hunter – Illogical Sphere
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: Brian May, Regina Spektor, Tears For Fears, 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 trackThe Vaccines – Thunder Fever
The Vaccines – Thunder Fever
The Vaccines are back at their bouncing best. Thunder Fever is a fresh and danceable track, produced by Fryars (Mark Ronson, Pharrell). I dare you to sit still to this one!
Front man Justin Young says about the new single: “Thunder Fever plays on the idea that falling in love can feel as powerful, intense and as sudden as something meteorological. Something heaven sent. It feels out of this world. Pop music has always been obsessed with the other-worldly, and that’s how the best of it often looks and feels – it relies on hyperbole. I thought our inability to travel to the edge of life’s extremes over the last couple of years and experience any form of hyperbole ourselves added a new and cruel dimension to this. But hopefully ‘Thunder Fever’ allows some escape. It comes at a time when the storm clouds finally feel like they’re parting and hopefully it sounds as fun and frenetic as taking shelter from the rain with someone you cant get out of your head.”
Recommended as well:
Alone Star
Back In Love City
All My Friends Are Falling In Love
Your Love Is My Favourite Band
Follow The Vaccines 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 trackRoseeLu – Overthinking
RoseeLu – Overthinking
You may have read here before I’m pretty enthusiastic about 20-year-old Danish newcomer RoseeLu. If not, links are below… Last year, she made quite an impression with her first four singles on the Universal label. She completely delivered artistically, but alas this hasn’t yet translated into the commercial success she deserves. It’s very hard to believe that’s not going to change with her next single, for it’s a powerhouse track.
Overthinking is the latest track from Rosa Frydensbjerg (her real name). Another great example of RoseeLu’s hard-hitting grunge-flavoured modern pop sound, where acoustic guitars clash with electric ones over a great beat. And where her powerful voice is cut up to great effect.
This is a song about a young, independent woman who knows exactly what she wants to do in her life, but who can be brought off course by doubt. Autobiographical stuff, for sure. RoseeLu says about Overthinking: “Most of the time, I’m totally aware of my own thoughts and I know how to control them – make them mine and turn them into positive vibes and self-care. But sometimes, I doubt. Then all these unconscious, irrational thoughts take over my head and make me hypersensitive. I know, I’m not the only one overthinking life, so I had to write a song about it.”
Recommended as well:
Got Me Feeling Like This
Playing Alone
Follow RoseeLu 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 trackLizzie Esau – Shade Of Green
Lizzie Esau – Shade Of Green
Lizzie Esau’s musical inspiration comes from a variety of artists, including Amy Winehouse, London Grammar, Imogen Heap and Biffy Clyro. No wonder her own music is a melting pot of styles and genres as well. Her new single Shade Of Green is a guitar-based track with a groovy bass line and layered vocals. It has a real band feel and sounds as if it was recorded live. This song will go down well during her upcoming tour.
Esau says about the track: “Shade Of Green was written at the end of summer of 2021, when I was seeing so many people I love – and myself – comparing everything we do and are to other people, and constantly feeling not good enough. It’s about jealousy turning you bitter and hateful to the point where your view is so warped, and you begin to turn against each other rather than the society and the media that has created these conventions. More than anything I wanted the message of this song to be not to compare yourself, drag each other down or hate, but to try to find ways to feel good enough and accept who you are.”
Recommended as well:
Lizzie Esau – Bitter Weather
Follow Lizzie Esau 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 trackJung feat. Lova – Cause In The End We Know That Everybody Dies
Jung feat. Lova – Cause In The End We Know That Everybody Dies
Swedish duo Jung consists of the brothers Tom and Henrik Ljungqvist. They just released their second album Cause In The End We Know That Everybody Dies. Amongst its 14 tracks are songs co-written with Joakim Berg (formerly of the band Kent), Lou Elliotte and Luchs.
The long-player covers themes like life and death, fear of the future, and difficulties to advance in today’s jungle, as well as their love for family, friends and partners.
The album’s title track is the duo’s new single. Or in fact, their collaboration with Lova makes them a trio for the occasion. This promising Swedish singer debuted in 2018 with the single You Me And The Silence. It ended up becoming the Swedish song radio station P3 played the most that year. Both Jung and Lova were signed by Universal around the same time.
Cause In The End We Know That Everybody Dies is an upbeat track that’ll sound great on the radio. Despite its title, it’s an uplifting, ‘80s inspired tune. Feel-good music with a serious message.
Recommended as well:
One Day Left
Black Converse
You Me And The Silence
Follow Jung on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Follow Lova 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 trackStars – Pretenders
Stars – Pretenders
Just to make sure you’re not mistaken: this is not a new single by the Pretenders, called Stars. This is Montreal indie-pop veterans Stars’ new single Pretenders. It’s the first track to be taken off their upcoming album From Capelton Hill, which will be out on 27 May. This long-player, their first in five years, is named after a place in North Hatley, Quebec.
Pretenders, a timeless pop song, features the line ‘We laid our bets, we made our beds on staying young forever’. Referencing said lyric, singer Amy Millan says she wrote Pretenders as a ‘love letter’ to co-vocalist Torquil Campbell and the band’s origins. “When we wrote all those songs 20 years ago, we were young. That’s what being in a band is: you’re putting down your chips on feeling young and being young. It doesn’t necessarily work out because time does its thing.” Campbell adds: “Obviously, we lost that bet. But we are young in the moment of singing it. That’s the incredible thing about music: you are young in the moment of singing that line, even if you’re 80.”
Recommended as well:
Ship To Shore
Fluorescent Light
Follow Stars 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 trackxPropaganda – Don’t (You Mess With Me)
xPropaganda – Don’t (You Mess With Me)
ZTT (Zang Tuum Tumb) is one of my all-time favourite record labels. It was founded in 1983 by legendary record producer Trevor Horn, his wife and businesswoman Jill Sinclair, and NME journalist Paul Morley. In the ‘80s alone, it was the home of acts like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Art Of Noise, Grace Jones and Propaganda.
In 2022, the label still exists. Its first signing of the 2020s is the act xPropaganda. And that name says it all. The band consists of Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag, who were in Propaganda before. Their former engineer and producer Stephen Lipson (who also worked with Pet Shop Boys, Simple Minds, Paul McCartney, Bastille and many others) is onboard as well.
In May, the band release their album The Heart Is Strange. It’s preceded by first single Don’t (You Mess With Me), an unmistakable Propaganda electro-pop track with lyrics in English and German.
Follow xPropaganda 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
St. Lucia – Rocket On My Feet
In the current musical climate, it’s rather unusual for an act to wait four years before releasing new material. But in my opinion, choosing quality over quantity is always a good idea. And that’s exactly what husband-and-wife duo Jean-Philip Grobler (born in South Africa) and Patti Beranek (from Germany) have done.
Rocket On My Feet is Brooklyn-based St. Lucia’s first single since 2018; their debut on new label home Nettwerk Records. The track starts with a synth-driven beat before launching an undeniably groovy crescendo of punchy drums, airy vocals, and slick guitar melodies. With its shimmery pop grooves, it sounds like a disco-fied version of Killing Joke’s Love Like Blood.
“In a way, this is my personal rebellion against the darkness of the world,” states Jean-Philip. “It’s easy to feel depressed these days, so I’m trying to bring something joyous to the world. I was sick of seeing shit on the Internet, and I just wanted to feel good. That’s what being human is about. We have to feel alive, no matter what is happening around us.”
Follow St. Lucia 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 8): Dylan – No Romeo
Wildcard (week 8): Dylan – No Romeo
London-based, Suffolk-born singer-songwriter Natasha Woods came to the scene as Dylan in 2019. That year’s EP Purple and its follow-up Red were only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what lies ahead. She already reached many more people through the release of three more singles in 2021. Some of her new fans included Yungblud, Griff and Thomas Headon, who asked Dylan to support them on their tours. By the sound of her new single No Romeo, it’s fair to predict she might be a future super star.
No Romeo is an ultra catchy electro-pop tune. In line with her earlier releases, it’s an empowering track, with honest, meaningful lyrics. The song is a rally call against wasting any more time on those that don’t deserve it.
Dylan says about her new single: “I wrote No Romeo with my best friends in mind. I was tired of them going back to their questionable exes and letting themselves be treated like crap (although I think I needed the song as much as they did!) and wanted, as always, to write something empowering. The aim was to write an anthem for the late-night drives with the windows down, the shouting at the sea because LIFE, and the screaming crying throwing up heartbreak moments.”
Last year’s singles, No Romeo and two unreleased tracks will be on her next EP, due out on 8 April. It’ll be named after the current single. This week, No Romeo by Dylan is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll feature at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Follow Dylan on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 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 8)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to new music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Barks IV & I.Am.Em – Hittin’ It
(Wildcard this week) - Tommy – Alive (Wildcard last week)
- Bugs – In the Middle (Of It)
- Dubstar – Token
- Novustory – Love Me Too
- Päter – Fan Fan Fan
- Talk In Code – Young Love’s Dream
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: Rex Orange County, Train, White Lies, 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.
