November 30th, 2022
Wildcard (week 48):
K.Flay – It’s Been So Long
The Carte Blanche Music crew (that’s me) loves K.Flay. We’ve featured many of her tracks already. Shifting between pop, hip hop and electronic moods, this new one is one of her most accessible singles to date. It’s Been So Long is an infectious feel-good song, where Kristine Flayerty sounds like an indie version of Lizzo. Gotta love it!
The artist explains ‘it’s about not giving a f*** and being yourself and feeling powerful in your body and mind’. She adds that the song has ‘taken on a whole new meaning’ for her after she lost hearing in one ear.
K.Flay says about the track: “There’s that moment after heartbreak or loss or pain when you emerge from the wreckage and finally feel good again – ready to go out dancing, ready to be yourself, ready to feel handsome – and it’s like you’ve been waiting all your life to get back to that place and it feels so so so good when you do get there. It’s Been So Long is about that feeling.”
It’s Been So Long by K.Flay is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
More K.Flay @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow K.Flay 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 (week 48)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- mazie – Girls Just Wanna Have Sex
(Wildcard this week)
- Black Honey – Heavy
(Wildcard last week)
- ainheeky – Hard Sell
- Blitz Vega (feat. Johnny Marr) – Strong Forever
- Last Dinosaurs – Hanson Ghost
- Loveta – All We Got
- spill tab – Crème Brûlée
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: Champs, Ronniee, Trunky Juno, 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.
Gord Downie & Bob Rock – The Raven And The Red-Tailed Hawk
*SONG SNACK*
Great posthumous single with the late The Tragically Hip front man. Sadly missed…
Follow Gord Downie 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.
Rye Catchers (feat. Nekane) – Sometimes
*SONG SNACK*
US songwriter/producer David McClintick Roberts teams up with Spanish singer Nekane on this gem.
Follow Rye Catchers on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Follow Nekane 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.
Lucy Sugerman – Dead To Me
*SONG SNACK*
Mixing her sweet voice with gritty dark pop, this is brooding and ice cold at the same time.
Follow Lucy Sugerman 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.
Bakermat – Work It Out
*SONG SNACK*
Dr. Charles Hayes & Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer Choir sample + killer beat = hit!
Recommended as well:
Ain’t Nobody (feat. LaShun Pace)
Follow Bakermat 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.
Mia Wray – Stay Awake
*SONG SNACK*
Ahead of her new EP (10 February 2023), Mia Wray releases its bass-heavy title track.
Recommended as well:
Never Gonna Be The Same
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.
Mayleaf – Tough Luck
*SONG SNACK*
The kicking title (and opening) track off Dutch rock quintet’s banging debut album.
Follow Mayleaf 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.
Taylor Moss – Ghosted
*SONG SNACK*
Upbeat and uplifting country pop with a haunting tempo. Pun intended, obviously 😉
Follow Taylor Moss 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.
Wildcard (week 47):
mazie – Girls Just Wanna Have Sex
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper sung in the 1980s. But these are the 2020s and girls’ needs appear to have shifted somewhat… Enter mazie’s new single Girls Just Wanna Have Sex. It’s a punky pop song full of attitude, that shares mazie’s feelings on women’s sexual liberation. A banger in more ways than one!
Also check the colourful video, which is just as hectic as the song itself.
23-year-old Baltimore native mazie’s real name is Grace Christian. She spent most of her childhood studying classical and jazz vocals. By the time she hit her teenage years, she was writing her own music. She recording it with her neighbour, Elie Rizk, who was teaching himself to engineer and produce in his basement studio. After years of experimenting and collaborating, they immediately scored big with her 2020 debut single No Friends.
Mazie’s new single Girls Just Wanna Have Sex is this week’s new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow mazie 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.