May 30th, 2025
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 22):
Wildcard (week 22):
Jude Kelly – Married To Her Death
Auckland, New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Jude Kelly is equipped with the confidence of an artist who has honed her craft. She chronicles her experiences of love, loss, growth, accomplishment and resilience in her music. Kelly was raised by two pastors as the youngest of 5 children, before moving out of home at 15 and putting herself through university. From a young age, she turned to songwriting as an outlet to process questions of identity and selfhood. Now at 25, her signature narrative-driven world-building reflects Jude’s fierce independence, coming to grips with the world on her own terms.
She only debuted in late 2024 with the single Bonnet Bunny. That song and follow-up singles Siren Song and Clarence appear on her debut EP The Seven Spirits Of Her, alongside 4 brand-new tracks. Each song uncovers a different character within herself, threaded together like chapters of a memoir. The EP’s sonic world branches out from her foundation in soulful pop, incorporating Americana and folk elements, brought to life with a distinct voice and authentic charm.
Her new single Married To Her Death sits somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and Florence & The Machine. Described by Kelly as ‘a song no one wants to relate to’, it details the angst of staying in a broken one-sided relationship and not knowing when to walk away.
Married To Her Death by Jude Kelly is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Jude Kelly on Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 22)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Altered By Mom – Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen cover)
indie | pop | rock - The Beaches – Did I Say Too Much indie | pop | rock
- Bertolf & Nomden – Hysteria
americana | indie | pop - Veronica Fusaro – No Rain No Tears
indie | pop - Jude Kelly – Married To Her Death
indie | pop - Marine – Coeur Maladroit
pop - The Rions – Shut You Out
indie | pop | rock - Self Talk – Stuck indie |rock
- Nadia Sheikh – Recuerdos (Memories)
indie | pop - Kalie Shorr – My Type
indie | rock - The Spitfires – Where Did We Go Wrong? indie | rock | ska
- Vistas – Cut The Cord indie | rock
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.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 22)
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:
- Pulp – Got To Have Love (Wildcard this week)
- Deacon Blue – People Come First (Wildcard last week)
- Richard Ashcroft – Lover
- Empress Of – Little Secret (from TV series ‘The Buccaneers S2’)
- Home Counties – Spain
- Jung – Tom Cruisin’
- Nicklas Sahl – Trampoline
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.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 21):
Wildcard (week 21):
Pulp – Got To Have Love
The last decade or so, music from the 1980s has been as popular as… well, 40 years ago. It inspired new generations of artists and fashion designers, many ‘80s acts reformed and ‘80s parties sold out. It looks like the same is about to happen for the 1990s. This already shows in music, with acts that were popular in the ‘90s gaining new momentum. To name only one recent example: the new album by Deacon Blue, who held the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard last week, entered the UK Charts at the highest position since their 1991 album Fellow Hoodlums.
This week, Richard Ashcroft (best-known as the frontman of The Verve) made a glorious comeback with his new single Lover, and Pulp released new music as well. Mind you, the latter band was formed in 1978 already by the then 15-year-old Jarvis Cocker. But it took them until 1995 to break through big time with their single Common People. Check its brilliant B-side Underwear as well, by the way. Hits like Sorted For E’s & Wizz/Mis-Shapes, Disco 2000, Something Changed and Help The Aged quickly followed. After the latter however, they never reached the Top 10 again. In 2002, a 9-year hiatus followed.
After a first reunion in 2011, Pulp came back together again in 2022. Initially for a reunion tour, where they debuted a number of new songs. Last April, they released their first new single in a long time, Spike Island. But in my ears, they really hit the jackpot again with their brand-new track Got To Have Love. That is to say, it’s not really brand-new, for the band already recorded demos of it in 1999 and 2000. This may explain why it sounds like a trademark Pulp song, including a typical Jarvis Cocker parlando in the middle.
“It’s a slightly hysterical song that tries to talk about love as I see it now”, the singer reveals of the track, which seems destined for immediate live anthem status when the band kick off their UK & Ireland Arena tour in June. On the 6th of that month, Pulp will release More, their first album in almost 24 years.
Got To Have Love by Pulp is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Pulp on Facebook | Instagram | B | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 21)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Richard Ashcroft – Lover pop
- Empress Of – Little Secret (from TV series ‘The Buccaneers S2’) pop
- Home Counties – Spain disco | indie | pop | rock
- Jung – Tom Cruisin’ indie | pop
- Pulp – Got To Have Love indie | pop | rock
- Nicklas Sahl – Trampoline 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.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 21)
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:
- Deacon Blue – People Come First (Wildcard this week)
- Solo – Do It All Again (Wildcard last week)
- Girl Ultra feat. Chromeo & Empress Of – Tomás
- Janna – She Knows Me Now (The Silent Song)
- Red Rum Club – American Nights And English Mornings
- Sjana Rut – Game Over
- Gizmo Varillas – Still Holdin’ On [Radio Mix]
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.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 20):
Wildcard (week 20):
Deacon Blue – People Come First
Deacon Blue is one of my all-time favourite bands. I’ve been following them ever since their debut single Dignity, back in 1987. Since then, their music has been the soundtrack of my radio career, which lasted for 30 years. When I stopped, in 2017, Deacon Blue continued, and in 2025 the Glasgow band celebrates it 40th anniversary.
While trying different styles and angles over the years, they always stayed true to their sophisticated pop roots. By chance one of my favourite genres. Over the years, they produced way more classics than the ones that reached the charts. As a consequence, their live shows turned into greatest hits packages long ago. Still, they continue to add new classics to their repertoire.
Most recent example: People Come First. I already recommended it here as a stand-out track when they released their 11th album The Great Western Road last March. Instead of ripping their fans off by saving bonus tracks for a future ‘anniversary edition’, they rewarded their true devotees by putting out a limited edition of the album on day one. It added six previously unreleased tracks to the standard release. Glory to them!
But back to People Come First now… As far as the music is concerned, it’s a timeless track. Delightful how Lorraine McIntosh’s angelic vocals perfectly compliment Ricky Ross’ immediately recognizable voice. Lyrically however, it’s a song that’s very much rooted in the present.
The band say about the tune: “The song was inspired by Ricky seeing the late American painter Alice Neel’s People Come First exhibition in San Francisco. It reminded him that the same mantra has always been at the heart of everything Deacon Blue do. This song is for right now, and a reminder that more than ever, people should come first.”
In a classic case of putting my money where my mouth is, People Come First by Deacon Blue is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Deacon Blue @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow Deacon Blue on Facebook | Instagram | B | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 20)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Bussol – Cae De Tus Manos indie | flamenco | jazz
- Deacon Blue – People Come First indie | pop
- Girl Ultra feat. Chromeo & Empress Of – Tomás funk | indie | pop
- Janna – She Knows Me Now (The Silent Song) indie | melancholic | pop
- Judith – Your Opinion
folk | pop - Lézard – Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Stop indie | pop | rock
- Red Rum Club – American Nights And English Mornings indie | pop | rock
- Sjana Rut – Game Over electronic | indie | pop
- Gizmo Varillas – Still Holdin’ On [Radio Mix] indie | pop
- Lola Young – One Thing 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.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 20)
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:
- Solo – Do It All Again (Wildcard this week)
- Ava Breeze feat. Westgate Cam – Lemonade (LMN8) (Wildcard last week)
- Tom Grennan – Full Attention
- Little Green – I Really Like You
- Lizzo – Still Bad [Animal Style]
- Nadia Sheikh – Memories
- Sanny Veloo – Warning Signs
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.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 19):
Wildcard (week 19):
Solo – Do It All Again
Contrary to the band’s name, Solo is in fact a duo, helped by some more musicians. But Solo’s center piece is Michiel Flamman, a Dutch singer-songwriter. He starts playing in bands at a young age, and fairly successfully so. With his trip pop-like album Stardumb, he wins the Public’s Choice award at a local talent competition.
Flamman continues his musical career as J Perkin. With that name he honours multiple other Perkins, such as actor Anthony Perkins, women rights advocate Charlotte Perkins and singer/guitarist Carl Perkins. This project brings him a bit of airplay, slots at festival and supports for Ocean Colour Scene and Crash Test Dummies. The single Errorist (2003) is a hidden gem, even after all these years.
Not much later, J Perkin comes to an end. With the band’s keyboard player Simon Gitsels he starts a new project: Solo. Under this name, he enjoys his first mainstream success. The singles Mind and Come Back To Me become airplay hits and their first two albums are critically acclaimed. Nevertheless, a large-scale break-through doesn’t happen.
The title of Solo’s third album, Before We Part, turns out to be prophetic: Flamman and Gitsels part ways and for the first time, Solo is a real one-man band. However, faith has it that both musicians move to Berlin, where they eventually meet (and make up) again. Together, they make the long-player New Men. But what is meant to be a comeback record, sadly turns out to be a farewell album. At the end of 2024, Flamman is diagnosed with lung cancer. He won’t get better…
Once again, their new single – which they recorded before the diagnosis – is a prophetic one. Flamman sings that, if he’d get the chance, he’d do it all again, in love and music. This remorseless look back over his shoulder is accompanied by an upbeat and optimistic musical backdrop. Timeless as ever.
May that be a reassurance for Flamman: if Solo ceases to exist, their music will live on as a beautiful legacy.
Do It All Again by Solo is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Solo on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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.
