October 31st, 2025
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 44):
Wildcard (week 44):
props – Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
When Mark Thomas Gilyead discovered the Ableton Live audio software, around 2007, it was love at first synth preset. He began experimenting by recording the sounds of mugs, creaky chairs, and other unsuspecting household objects. After hitting drums in indie bands for ten years, he started his solo project props.
His first mixtape, Songs, born from climate anxiety and production rabbit holes, was picked up by BBC 6Music, Elton John’s Rocket Hour, Spotify and others. Musically, props sounds like a glitter cannon going off in a therapy session (I wish I had made up that comparison myself, but actually, it’s from his own bio). Lyrics about societal collapse float over euphoric hooks and bright, hyperactive arrangements.
This goes for props’ new single Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is as well. The upbeat tune sounds carefree and extremely catchy, but it has a serious message. On the website that comes with the song, the artist shares: ‘Every quid we spend creates carbon emissions (ergo planetary self-destruction) through the making, moving and marketing of stuff. And that quid is going to get spent again + again, driving more of the same… So it’s up to you and me to start the trend of spending less and better. And when we do, making sure all that money is going towards good people, planet and stuff that’s actually going to last’.
Backing up our words with deeds, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is by props is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow props 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 44)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Avengis – I’m A Winner
electronic | indie | pop - Michelle David & The True-Tones – Running
indie | pop | soul - props – Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
indie | pop - Reneé Rapp – Lucky pop | rock
- Sigrid – I’ll Always Be Your Girl (album track)
electronic | pop - Smith & Liddle – Eyes On You indie | pop
- Sophie & The Giants – Loser electronic | pop
- strongboi – Favorite Place
indie | pop - Lawrence Timoni – Velvet Bite indie | pop | rock
- Tje – Easy
electronic | 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 44)
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:
- Em Beihold – Scared Of The Dark (Wildcard this week)
- Moli – Aftermath (Wildcard last week)
- Arxx – WIP (Work In Progress)
- LoveLoveLove – Talk!
- lovelytheband – Never Leave The House
- Melys – 5 Star Tits
- Barbara Pravi – Où Es-Tu?
pop
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 43):
Wildcard (week 43):
Em Beihold – Scared Of The Dark
Emily Mahin Beihold is an American singer and songwriter. She started learning the piano and writing songs at the age of seven. Em fully profited from the rise of TikTok by publishing her songs on the platform. The attention her tracks got there landed her a record deal in 2021.
Just in time for Halloween, she now releases her new single Scared Of The Dark. An emotionally charged pop song about co-dependency. The fear she sings about symbolises her fear to be left alone.
Beihold has been performing the song live since early 2025 to an enthusiastic response by her fans. Scared Of The Dark will be on her debut album, which she’s currently working on.
Scared Of The Dark by Em Beihold is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow her 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 43)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Arxx – WIP (Work In Progress) indie | pop | rock
- Em Beihold – Scared Of The Dark pop
- Circa Waves – Lost In The Fire (album track) indie | pop | rock
- Few Bits – Nowhere In Love indie | melancholic | pop
- LoveLoveLove – Talk! indie | pop | rock
- lovelytheband – Never Leave The House indie | pop | rock
- Melys – 5 Star Tits indie | pop | rock
- Barbara Pravi – Où Es-Tu? 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 43)
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:
- Moli – Aftermath (Wildcard this week)
- Louis Tomlinson – Lemonade (Wildcard last week)
- Alessia Cara with Julia Michaels – Nighttime Thing
- Fionn – Scum
- Talia Rae – Blind In Love
- Sorry – Today Might Be The Hit
- Tender Misfit – I Just Can’t Remember
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 42):
Wildcard (week 42):
Moli – Aftermath
Moli is a Belgian/British artist, who is working from Berlin, Germany. As a writer of hits for others, Moli goes by her real name, Molly Irvine. She (co-)wrote many critically-acclaimed pop and dance hits, like Breaking Me by Topic & A7S, which won her a BMI Pop Award. She also worked with Lost Frequencies, Zoe Wees, Alvaro Soler, Jonas Blue & Felix Jaehn, and Ilse DeLange, to name but a few – very different – acts.
Following the release of her first solo single Didn’t Mean To in 2018, it was clear straight away that Moli was set for a career as both an artist and a songwriter. She isn’t the most prolific of artists, but by her standards it’s all about quality, not quantity.
Aftermath is her new single. A melancholic song with timeless class. She describes it as ‘a 4 mins not very tiktokable song that’s exposing just how much of a hopeless romantic I am and the ugly sides to heartbreak’.
Aftermath by Moli is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Moli @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 42)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Kylie Auldist – Get In The Game funk | indie | pop
- The Awkward – Takes Two To Tango indie | pop | rock
- Bolivard avec Alice & Moi – Illussionnisme chanson | indie | pop
- Alessia Cara with Julia Michaels – Nighttime Thing pop
- Fionn – Scum indie | pop | rock
- 5 Seconds Of Summer – Boyband pop
- The Maccabees – Koya pop | rock
- Moli – Aftermath indie | melancholic | pop
- Talia Rae – Blind In Love indie | pop | soul
- Sorry – Today Might Be The Hit indie | rock
- Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers – Bait indie | rock
- Tender Misfit – I Just Can’t Remember indie | rock
- Westside Cowboy – Don’t Throw Rocks 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.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 41):
Wildcard (week 41):
Louis Tomlinson – Lemonade
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That’s just what British singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson did. After the quite exhaustive world tour promoting his album Faith In The Future, he stood down for a while, which he prolonged in the wake of the sudden death of his One Direction bandmate and friend Liam Payne. Now, he’s ready to release his new album How Did I Get Here? His third solo album since One Direction announced its hiatus in 2015 will be out on 23 January 2026.
The long-player’s lead single, Lemonade, is dedicated to a lady who’s ‘so bitter’ and ‘so sweet’ at the same time. In discussing the single, Tomlinson said he wanted the track to open the new era with an energetic and ambitious sound. He described it as ‘a lively blend of funk-inspired guitar, bright keyboard lines and natural percussion’, which he felt made it an ideal introduction to the project.
Indeed, it’s a fun track, with big riffs, a big vocal, and a big chorus. It was written by Theo Hutchcraft (of Hurts-fame), David Sneddon, Nico Rebscher and Tomlinson.
Lemonade by Louis Tomlinson is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Louis Tomlinson @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow him 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.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 41)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- The Bobby Lees – Napoleon indie | punk | rock
- Danger Mouse & Black Thought with Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Up hip hop | indie | pop
- The Dears – Tomorrow And Tomorrow indie | pop | rock
- Brandon Frizzell – Distracted indie | pop
- James – Wake Up Superman pop | rock
- Pierre Lapointe & Voyou – Fallait Pas Nous Inviter indie | pop
- Lucius – Thick As Thieves indie | pop
- Teenager (feat. Ladyhawke) – Getting Tough
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.
