December 27th, 2023
cover, single track, tribute, wildcard
Wildcard (week 52):
Wildcard (week 52):
The B-69s – Chop Suey!
Christmas is a time to spend with family, to reflect and contemplate. But now it’s time to bring fun back into our lives!
Dalton Deschain & The Traveling Show are a pulp-punk band from New York City. Formed in 2014, the band is known for dark but humorous experimental punk music, filled with pulpy lyrics about circus freaks, dark rituals, nuclear war, and demon possession. But HO HO HO, before you click away: I’d like to talk about another brainchild of Dalton Deschain, The B-69s. In this side project, he and singer-songwriter Jo Kroger cover modern pop songs (old and new) in the style of The B-52s. And believe me, that’s a treat!
Since their first release, in 2019, The B-69s covered the likes of The Killers, OutKast, Britney Spears, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and more. All of them unrecognisable versions. That is, only recognisable as The B-52s. The musical renditions are spot on and Deschain’s voice resembles Fred Schneider’s in an almost scary way. He doesn’t only sound the same, but he also mimics Schneider’s unmistakable singing style perfectly.
The B-69s’ new EP is called 1979 (Fred’s Version). It contains four new remakes; two of recent songs by Olivia Rodrigo (bad idea right?) and Doja Cat (Paint The Town Red), and two of true classics: Smash Mouth’s All Star and Chop Suey! by System Of A Down. The latter was one of the most epic rock songs of 2001. However, this tribute version, full of uplifting organs and handclaps, is a happy pop song. As long as you concentrate on the music, that is 😉. Like all of their previous covers, The B-69s’ interpretation of Chop Suey! ends with an interpolation of The B-52s’ Love Shack. Isn’t a full circle moment the best way to end the year?
Have a funny 2024 y’all!
The B-69s’ version of Chop Suey! is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow The B-69s on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 52)
Merry X-Mess with 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:
- Romy – She’s On My Mind
(Wildcard this week) - Alice Ivy – Wildlife
(Wildcard last week) - Alterlight – One Night Away
- Cry Club – Wanna Wanna Wanna
- Ruby J – Try [EP Version]
- Peg Parnevik – Hit
- Reneé Rapp with Megan Thee Stallion – Not My Fault
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.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 51)
Even these days it’s possible to find great brand-new music that’s not (overtly) Christmas-themed. These are this week’s very best tracks, all added to my playlist (alphabetically):
- Alterlight – One Night Away christmas | indie | pop | rock
- The B-69s – Chop Suey! (System Of A Down cover) / All Star (Smash Mouth cover) indie | pop
- Cry Club – Wanna Wanna Wanna indie | pop | rock
- Ruby J – Try [EP Version] indie | soul | r&b
- Peg Parnevik – Hit (The Wannadies cover) pop | rock
- Reneé Rapp with Megan Thee Stallion – Not My Fault pop
- Sun Affair feat. Aaron Gun – New Year’s Eve
indie | pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Add it to your library (click ‘+’) to hear the best new music first.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 51):
Wildcard (week 51):
Romy – She’s On My Mind
Romy Madley Croft is one of those artists who can go by their first name alone. She’s one third of the xx, but released her debut solo album Mid Air last September. Back then, she described it as ‘a collection of songs celebrating love, navigating loss, and exploring identity’. The record, she explained, was inspired by the dance music she encountered at queer clubs growing up, as well as ‘people I met there and the music I heard that has made me feel more alive and less alone’.
The album closes out on a high note with She’s On My Mind. A hedonistic disco escape, co-produced by Fred Again…, Stuart Price and Avalon Emerson. Romy explains: “I wanted to end the album with this because it feels like the end of the night when you’re at a party and someone puts a disco song on and everyone just has their hands in their air. It’s a fun one to end on. Just embracing and accepting how you feel.”
She’s On My Mind finds the balance between euphoria, escapism, sadness and melancholy, in an Everything But The Girl kind of way. A sound the artist describes as ‘emotional dance music’. All of these emotions are also present in the video, directed by Romy’s wife and collaborator Vic Lentaigne. Starring actress Maisie Williams (Game Of Thrones, Pistol), it embodies the euphoric thrill of meeting someone on a dance-fueled night out.
She’s On My Mind by Romy is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Romy on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 51)
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:
- Alice Ivy – Wildlife (Wildcard this week)
- Trunky Juno – Death On TV (Wildcard last week)
- Bad Nerves – Antidote
- Bruses with Pale Waves – She’s So Cool
- The Cat Empire – Hello [Anniversary Edition]
- Alanna Malkoc – Goodbye
- Scarlett Woolfe – Poor Suzy
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.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 50)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Bad Nerves – Antidote indie | punk | rock
- Bruses with Pale Waves – She’s So Cool indie | rock
- The Cat Empire – Hello [Anniversary Edition] indie | jazz | latin | pop
- Alanna Malkoc – Goodbye indie | pop
- Night Talks – Running On A Cloud electronic | indie | pop
- Romy – She’s On My Mind disco | indie | pop
- Scarlett Woolfe – Poor Suzy indie | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 50):
Wildcard (week 50):
Alice Ivy – Wildlife
Annika Schmarsel was born in Germany in 1993, but emigrated to Australia with her parents in her youth. After studying for a music industry degree, she launched her music career in 2015 under the alias Alice Ivy. Since then, she released two albums: I’m Dreaming (2018) and Don’t Sleep (2020). The latter landed her multiple ARIA Awards nominations and the Triple J award for Australian Album Of The Year.
When she’s not working on her own project. Schmarsel lends her songwriting and production skills to a variety of other artists, including Mallrat and Boo Seeka. She also made official remixes for the likes of E^ST, Luca Brasi, Japanese Wallpaper, Thelma Plum, The Rubens and PNAU.
In June 2023, Alice Ivy signed a global deal and announced her third studio album Do What Makes You Happy. Its first single Howlin’ At The New Moon featured Grammy-nominated soul singer Mayer Hawthorne. In fact, by far most of her songs include a featured singer. In that respect, her new single is a unique affair, as she lent her own vocals to it.
Wildfire was co-written by Pip Norman and multi-platinum Dutch singer-songwriter Dotan. Schmarsel explains: “We started out sampling my Omnichord (which you can hear all over my new album), added some acoustic guitar and got a cool little vibe going. Then we went into the archives and salvaged an old chorus from a song Pip had started with the incredible Dotan. I tweaked the melody and it worked like magic!”
The resulting song combines acoustic and electronic elements, a bit like a carefree Empire Of The Sun track with female vocals. It’s currently summer in Australia, but hopefully it’ll bring out the sun in Europe as well!
Wildfire by Alice Ivy is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Alice Ivy on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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 50)
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:
- Trunky Juno – Death On TV (Wildcard this week)
- Blenko – Only A Matter Of Time (Wildcard last week)
- Barry Can’t Swim Surya Sen – Always Get Through To You
- Harper – Whateveryouwant!
- Pattern Pusher – Edge Of The World
- Abby Roberts – Volatile
- The Vaccines – Love To Walk Away
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.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 49)
Not all, but only the *best* new non-Christmas music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Barry Can’t Swim feat. Surya Sen – Always Get Through To You dance | hip hop | indie | pop
- Harper – Whateveryouwant! indie | rock
- Alice Ivy – Wildlife indie | pop
- Pattern Pusher – Edge Of The World indie | pop | rock
- Abby Roberts – Volatile indie | pop | rock
- The Vaccines – Love To Walk Away indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 49):
Wildcard (week 49):
Trunky Juno – Death On TV
If you’re a regular Carte Blanche Music follower, Trunky Juno is no stranger to you. Mark Owens (his real name) has been showing up here regularly in the past few years.
He released his first EP Too Many Teeth – containing the singles he put out prior – in June 2020. Now, 3½ years later, EP #4, Call Me Trunky, sees the light. A 5-track opus that sounds like the best version of everything he’s done before. This is an artist on top of his game.
Apart from the three former singles, the EP holds two new tracks. Appropriately, it rounds off with This Is The End, which is preceded by my favourite: Death On TV. The latter combines melodic verses with pounding choruses. A sure fire future live banger.
The EP is entirely self-released, all the more reason to support it to the fullest.
Although it’s not a single, Death On TV by Trunky Juno is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Trunky Juno @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow Trunky Juno on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.
