Search results for "raye"
Wildcard (week 42):
Raye – The Thrill Is Gone.[flag country="gb"]
I presume Rachel Keen was a happy girl when she signed a record deal with a major record label at the age of 17. Alas, after releasing single after single (with some big hits among them), the label wouldnât let her release a debut album. And even in 2022, thatâs most artistsâ big dream. It was Rayeâs, anyway.
After addressing this matter via her socials and subsequently parting ways with the label, sheâs now an independent artist again. The whole story landed her much goodwill and support, but in the end it comes down to releasing good songs. Well, Raye hasnât disappointed.
This week, she releases not one, but two singles. Escapism (feat. 070 Shake) is the kind of modern-sounding pop song weâve come to expect from the singer. The other one is my favourite, however. The Thrill Is Gone has soulful horns and funky arrangements. It was recorded live, with no autotune and no overdubs. Despite it being about the dying spark, itâs an uplifting sounding song. Couldâve been an Amy Winehouse track, but itâs very much a Raye tune.
Oh, and as far as her debut album is concerned: the record, titled My 21st Century Blues, will be out on 3 February 2023.
The Thrill Is Gone by Raye is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Love Of Your Life
Natalie Donât
Follow Raye on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Raye – Love Of Your Life[flag country="gb"]
This week, Raye will release her EP Euphoric Sad Songs, a seven-track music project exploring the cycle of grief. Love Of Your Life is the embodiment of the final stage of grief. It represents coming to terms with the trauma and hurt youâve experienced, and realising that you feel ready to turn a negative into a positive and grow through it.
True to the EP title, itâs a euphoric tune, and true to its theme, itâs as uplifting as can be. This should be the song that propels Rayeâs solo career into true stardom.
If you like Dua Lipaâs latest tunes or Kylieâs nu-disco sound, Raye could be the next Love Of Your LifeâŠ
Recommended as well:
Raye – Natalie Donât
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Raye – Natalie Donât[flag country="gb"]
So far, Croydon, South London-based singer Rachel Keen (a.k.a. Raye) has been mostly successful as a featured artist. She worked with everyone from Jax Jones (You Donât Know Me) to Regard (Secrets) and David Guetta (Stay (Donât Go Away)), not to mention Charli XCX. But here is the song thatâll make her a star in her own right.
Rayeâs new single Natalie Donât is a desperate appeal to another woman to not steal her man. Speaking of the track, she says: âItâs about that feeling of panic you have when you know youâre losing someone. The song is beautifully hopeless because you know Natalie will do what she wants regardless.â
Natalie Donât fits perfectly in the nu-disco world Dua Lipa helped shape. The track ends in crescendo thanks to a beautiful, I Will Survive-like string arrangement. Itâs taken from a forthcoming seven-track music project exploring the cycle of grief.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Middle Kids – Beliefs And Prayers[flag country="au"]
In preparation of their upcoming six-track EP New Songs For Old Problems (out on 24 May), Middle Kids release a third teaser. Following Salt Eyes and Real Thing, the Australian indie rock trio just put out Beliefs And Prayers.
Just like its title, the song is built around two sections. The first half is up-tempo and catchy, with swirling guitars and driving drum patterns. Hannah Joy puts a lot of variety in her vocals, before launching into a soaring chorus. In the second half, things slow down considerably, before building back up to the sweeping chorus.
Based on the singles, the new EP is very unlikely to disappoint.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 5)[flag country="##"]
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Blaue Blume – Crush
indie | pop
- Dead Anyway – Life Is Brutal/Big Foot/The Dotted Line
indie | melancholic | pop | spoken word
- Dolores Forever – When I Say So
indie | pop
- Paddy Echo – Butterfly Kissing
indie | pop
- Girli – Imposter Syndrome
electronic | indie | pop
- Hannah Grae – I Never Say No
pop | rock
- Raye – Worth It.
indie | pop | soul
- Rori – Encore
pop
- Secret Lung – Phantom Limbs
indie | rock
- Jake Shears – Too Much Music
disco | indie | pop
- The Utopiates – Making History
indie | pop | rock
- We The Commas – Keep Going
indie | pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ââ„â) to hear the best new music first.
Your âAll-Timeâ Favourites (2017-2022)[flag country="##"]
The last six years, starting in 2017, I posted 10 musical recommendations per week on this blog. A total of well over 3.000 tracks, mostly by upcoming â often female (fronted) – artists from all over the world. As I explained yesterday, Carte Blanche Music is entering a new era. One in which Iâll focus my efforts on my constantly updated Spotify playlist.
For sure, that doesnât mean the blog is closing down. Itâll continue to be the home of my âbest ofâ collection (Wernerâs Weekly) on Monday mornings (CET) and my favourite new track (the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard), every Wednesday morning. Also, Iâll post the latest additions to my playlist on Saturdays. For updates, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No better way to round up the last six years than by publishing the Your âAll-Timeâ Favourites, a chart compiling the 500 most popular (as in best-read) Carte Blanche Music recommendations from 2017 to 2022. Youâll find the Top 25 below, but click through for the full list. My original recommendations are behind the links. If youâre an artist, donât be shy and search (Ctrl+F) to find out if you made the list. You might be surprisedâŠ
Enjoy and thanks for joining the ride so far. Follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist (click ââ„â in Spotify) for many more recommendations to come!
Your âAll-Timeâ Favourites (2017-2022)
- Videoclub – Roi
- Wildcard (week 7): Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl
- Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
- Wildcard (week 13): Placebo – The Prodigal
- Super db – Wait For Me
- Wildcard (week 12): Shanguy – ToukassĂ©
- Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
- Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
- IBE – Table Of Fools
- AngĂšle – La Loi De Murphy
- Wildcard (week 22): HĂ„kan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Ăr Uppfyllda
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Friedberg – Go Wild
- Wildcard (week 26): Videoclub – En Nuit
- Agnes – Here Comes The Night
- a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene HĂ„vik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
- AngĂšle – Libre
- Temples – Paraphernalia
- Lola Le Lann – Portofino
- Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
- Videoclub – Enfance 80
- Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
- Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days
- Just – Walk Slow Smile More Read More →
Bakermat – Work It Out[flag country="nl"]
*SONG SNACK*
Dr. Charles Hayes & Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer Choir sample + killer beat = hit!
Recommended as well:
Ainât Nobody (feat. LaShun Pace)
Follow Bakermat on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 44)[flag country="##"]
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:
- Sarah Wolfe – Iâm A Star
(Wildcard this week)
- Raye – The Thrill Is Gone.
(Wildcard last week)
- Dead Anyway – The King And I
- Fresco Kyoto – You Save Me
- LDRU – The Excuse
- Loose Bricks – Right Now
- The Assist – Better Days [Single Version]
Click the links for more info and 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. Also added last week: AngĂšle & Orelsan, Garbage, The Go! Team, Razorlight, Weezer (feat. Noga Erez), and more.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 43)[flag country="##"]
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:
- Raye – The Thrill Is Gone.
(Wildcard this week)
- noelle – Cold Killer
(Wildcard last week)
- Amy Shark – Only Wanna Be With You
- Augusta – Little Birds
- Meg Smith – You Make Bad Things Not Suck â„
- Nadia Kazmi – Manufactured Dream
- Xani – Michelle
Click the links for more info and 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. Also added last week: Ellie Goulding, Harry Styles, You Me At Six, Young Gun Silver Fox, and more.
Bash! – Mental Hygiene[flag country="gb"]
On a positive note, the pandemic allowed many young wannabe artists to pick up an instrument. With most of the COVID measures lifted, many of them returned to their old routines. Meanwhile however, the go-getters cause an explosion of talent at the moment.
One of those acts with a great future before them, is Bash! Following 2021âs debut EP Pop In The Key Of Love, they put out the single In My Head earlier this year. Next up is the Southampton five-pieceâs new single Mental Hygiene. A harder hitting track than their earlier output, with a growling bass, thumping drums, ethereal synths and prominent guitars. On top of this melodic cacophony, front woman Amanda Bashmakova switches between spoken word verses and sung choruses.
She says about the track: âItâs really about being consumed by emotions, portrayed through the lens of a coupleâs deteriorating relationship. You can get stuck in that cycle easily and end up acting completely on impulse. Hopefully, with a bit of maturity, you can break the cycle.â
Mental Hygiene is the title track off Bash!âs upcoming sophomore EP, expected in June 2022.
Recommended as well:
In My Head
Follow Bash! on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.