March 29th, 2023
Wildcard (week 13):
Jesse Hite – How Did I
Jesse Hite was born in the United States. Nowadays, he lives in the French countryside as a musician, producer and singer-songwriter. He has taken his lyrics and songwriting to a whole new level by combining his experience exploring and living on the West Coast of America, travels through Asia and Europe and time spent living in France. His songs are groovy, atmospheric tracks with poppy hooks and deep stories.
How Did I is the latest example. Itâs a great tune with a catchy chorus and a dark, yet danceable groove. It comes with heavy drums, guitars, vocals and synths with melodic overlays. Lyrically, Hite explains, the song has multiple meanings: âI was really talking about:
- Being trapped in a cycle of depression (how did I get here in my head after being such a happy kid)
- Feeling trapped during the pandemic (being locked in a âcageâ; confined between four walls)
- Thinking about how I got to France and the chances/circumstances that must have happened for me to write music in France
All related to this initial question, âHow did I end up here?â.â
The track is slated to appear om his long awaited EP Volume 1, which will be released in June 2023.
Jesse Hiteâs new single How Did I is this weekâs Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Recommended as well:
When It All Comes Down
Follow Jesse Hite on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 13)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Dande & The Lion – Children Of The Hour
(Wildcard this week)
- Caity Baser – Pretty Boys
(Wildcard last week)
- Bakermat (feat. Rhys Lewis) – Good Feeling
- Bloxx – Television Promises
- Allie Kelly – Gunshy
- The Rions – Scary Movies
- Hailee Steinfeld – SunKissing
Listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 12)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Addley – Are You Awake?
indie | pop
- Bakermat (feat. Rhys Lewis) – Good Feeling
electronic | gospel | pop
- Bloxx – Television Promises
indie | pop | rock
- Death By Denim – Hope We Donât Fall In Love
pop | rock
- Jesse Hite – How Did I
indie | rock
- Allie Kelly – Gunshy
indie | pop | rock
- Jason LaPierre & Kelsey Blackstone – When Iâm With You
indie | jazz | pop | soul
- Milck – Metamorphosis indie | melancholic | pop
- Reverend & The Makers – A Letter To My 21 Year Old Self
indie | pop |soul
- The Rions – Scary Movies
indie | pop
- Jake Shears (feat. Amber Martin) – Devil Came Down The Dance Floor
disco | indie | pop
- Amen Sioux – Useless
indie | pop
- Hailee Steinfeld – SunKissing
pop
- ZZ Ward – Baby Donât
blues | indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ââ„â) to hear the best new music first.

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 12):
Dande & The Lion – Children Of The Hour
Dande & The Lion is an indie pop rock band from Bristol, UK and Sydney, Australia, where they’re based. Itâs fronted by dual vocalists Natassa ZoĂ« (guitar) and Abbey Gardner (synths), backed by Chris Gabriel (drums) and Nicholas Shea (backing vocals and bass). They cite bands such as The Naked & Famous, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Wolf Alice as their influences.
Children Of The Hour is the quartetâs latest single. A shimmering combination of indie-rock and bouncy electropop, thatâll do well on festivals and dance floors alike. Lyrically, the song is all about being playful in the moment and following the feeling, rather than over-thinking things.
Talking about how she wrote the tune, Zoë explains: âI was sitting in Centennial Park in Sydney waiting to be picked up. Iâd just finished reading a play called âThe Childrenâs Hourâ and that kicked off the songwriting process. My ride was late which allowed me to finish the entire song all in one go which was kind of cool.â
The track was produced by talent Aussie producer Xavier Dunn, whose name has featured here many times already. He created a mesmeric cut that sees ardent intimacies erupt into explosive, danceable choruses.
Children Of The Hour by Dande & The Lion is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Dande & The Lion on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 12)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Caity Baser – Pretty Boys
(Wildcard this week)
- youproblem – Avalanche
(Wildcard last week)
- Bronte Alva – I Hate Birthdays
- Hozier – Eat Your Young
- Lower Loveday – You Couldâve Been My Queen
- Luna Morgenstern – Dance Dance (Donât Go)
- Phoenix (feat. Clairo) – After Midnight
Listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 11)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Bronte Alva – I Hate BirthdaysÂ
indie | rock
- Bleach Lab – Indigo
indie | pop
- Riley Biederer – Beautiful BoysÂ
indie | pop | rock
- The Book Club – Everything Iâm FeelingÂ
indie | pop | rock
- Comment Debord – Blood PareilÂ
indie | pop
- Dande & The Lion – Children Of The HourÂ
indie | pop | rock
- Hozier – Eat Your YoungÂ
pop | soul
- ixaras – LatelyÂ
indie | pop | rock
- Lower Loveday – You Couldâve Been My QueenÂ
indie | pop | rock
- Luna Morgenstern – Dance Dance (Donât Go)Â
electronic | indie | pop
- Phoenix (feat. Clairo) – After MidnightÂ
indie | pop
- Stuck On Planet Earth – Crack In The GlassÂ
indie | rock
- Super db – Back To MeÂ
indie | pop
- Temples – AfterlifeÂ
indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ââ„â) to hear the best new music first.

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 11):
Caity Baser – Pretty Boys
Pretty Boys is the latest single by Southampton-born, Brixton-based talent Caity Baser. Her 2021 debut single Average Student immediately racked up 1 million views on TikTok. Not long after that, her first EP Lil CB came out, which spawned some more well-streamed singles. Subsequent non-EP tracks Virtually and Friendly Sex were even bigger hits.
However, her success multiplied when she started releasing tracks that would end up on her second EP. Friendly Sex, X&Y and Kiss You were listened to millions of times. They can be found on her EP Thanks For Nothing, See You Never, just like her latest single Pretty Boys. Hits donât come any more British than this one. If you like Lily Allen or Kate Nash, youâll certainly love Caity Baser. She currently features on Sigalaâs upcoming summer smash Feels This Good (with Mae Muller and Stefflon Don), but first up, sheâs about to dominate the charts with Pretty Boys, which is bound to be her biggest hit yet.
Pretty Boys by Caity Baser is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Caity Baser on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 11)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- youproblem – Avalanche
(Wildcard this week)
- The Heavy – I Feel The Love
(Wildcard last week)
- Em Beihold – Roller Coasters Make Me Sad
- Edurne – Fresas Y ChampĂĄn
- Hannah Grae – Propaganda
- Nabihah Iqbal – This World Couldnât See Us
- Young Gun Silver Fox – Moonshine
Listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 10)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Milii Austin – Ultraviolet
indie | pop
- Caity Baser – Pretty Boys
pop
- Em Beihold – Roller Coasters Make Me Sad
pop
- Blondshell – Disappointment
indie | pop | rock
- Boxteles – Hindsight
indie | pop | rock
- Buckcherry – Good Time
indie | rock
- Edurne – Fresas Y ChampĂĄn
indie | pop
- Hannah Grae – Propaganda
punk | rock
- Highwayves – Plastic
indie | rock
- Nabihah Iqbal – This World Couldnât See Us
indie | pop
- Demi Lovato – Still Alive
pop | rock
- Mal De Mer – You Said
indie | pop | rock
- Maria Mena – Not Worth It
pop
- Modern Love Child – Diet Cokes
indie | pop
- Patio Gas – Digging Your Own Grave
indie | pop | rock
- Samskara Rad – Wake Up Snow White
indie | pop
- Dan San – The Unknown
indie | pop | rock
- Seaside – Weâre On Fire
indie | rock
- Sego – Tandang
indie | pop
- Sunfruits – End Of The World
indie | pop | rock
- Suzi – At Least My Dog Still Loves Me [2023 Version]
indie | pop | rock
- Betty Taylor – Glitter
indie | pop
- Young Gun Silver Fox – Moonshine
indie | pop | soul
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ââ„â) to hear the best new music first.

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 10):
youproblem – Avalanche
Sydney producer/drummer Alistair Hayes and singer-songwriter Alana Patmore only debuted in March 2022 as a duo. By now, theyâre five tracks into their career, and I like each and everyone of them. Their alternative indie-pop songs are characterized by lush, driving production and relatable lyricism. On Australian radio, their style had been described as âa slice of magnetic indieâ. And not only radio is fond of youproblem, their Broods-, Lauren– and Two Door Cinema Club-inspired tunes could already be heard in TV series as well.
New single Avalanche completes the duoâs first song quintet. Its delicate blend of lush guitars and spacey synths is sure to have you tapping your feet and singing along. Introspective vocals dance over the light, hoppy production, culminating in a dramatic guitar solo.
Patmore explains: âThe song is about crossing a line, saying something you canât take back, and being stuck in the consequences of that. The other person ices you out, gives you the cold shoulder, like theyâre punishing you and youâre just left in their power until they get over it.â
Avalanche by youproblem is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Shoot Me In The Grocery Line
Wasting Time
Follow youproblem on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.