Search results for "xavier dunn"
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 12):
Wildcard (week 12):
Dande & The Lion – Children Of The Hour[flag country="gb"] [flag country="au"]
Dande & The Lion is an indie pop rock band from Bristol, UK and Sydney, Australia, where they’re based. It’s fronted by dual vocalists Natassa Zoë (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 quartet’s latest single. A shimmering combination of indie-rock and bouncy electropop, that’ll 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: “I was sitting in Centennial Park in Sydney waiting to be picked up. I’d just finished reading a play called ‘The Children’s Hour’ 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.”
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 it’ll 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 you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 43):
Wildcard (week 43):
Sarah Wolfe – I’m A Star[flag country="au"]
Sydney music journalist turned alt-pop singer-songwriter Sarah Wolfe is back with a great track. Her new single I’m A Star is a tongue-in-cheek assessment of the online world’s shameless desperation to look cool.
She explains: “I wanted to look into the duality of social media – because I love it, but I also hate it… and so does everyone I think. Social media often turns into a highlight reel of all the amazing things people are doing, and I can’t help but think ‘Oh my god, everyone’s perfect and incredible and talented, so how come I’m such a piece of shit…’. But then I realise I’m often just doing the same thing. Acknowledging this feeling of disconnect hasn’t solved the anxiety I feel around being online, but it is a start.”
I’m A Star was co-written by Carla Wehbe, whom Carte Blanche Music followers will know from epic tracks like Hurts To Love You and Is Forever Off The Table? Wolfe’s partner Xavier Dunn produced the song. With its breakbeat-like drum rhythm the resulting tune has a distinct Madchester feel. It’s another cracker!
I’m A Star by Sarah Wolfe is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
You Don’t Know Me
100 Times (feat. The Flowers)
Follow Sarah Wolfe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 28):
Wildcard (week 28):
Jack River – Real Life[flag country="au"]
While she’s working on her upcoming sophomore album, Jack River drops brand new, sun-kissed track Real Life. A great bubblegum pop song, clearly inspired by the early ‘90s Madchester sound. Its vintage breakbeats and trumpet samples bring Primal Scream to mind, but with a fresh and modern twist to it. If you like Pixey, you’ll surely love this!
To put it short and snappy: Holly Rankin (her real name) shows her most euphoric and baggy side on this perfect summer single. It was co-written and -produced by the brilliant Xavier Dunn.
“Real Life is the ’90s-esque dream land I needed to take a trip to in the depths of never-ending lockdowns”, River explains. “I know there’s so much hectic stuff going on in the world but hopefully this is a little moment of escape; a little portal to remembering all the good, happy, carefree things.”
Real Life by Jack River is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Dark Star
Follow Jack River on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track
Carla Wehbe – Is Forever Off The Table?[flag country="au"]
*SONG SNACK*
Carla’s vocals and honest lyrics shine in this enchanting banger. Another great Xavier Dunn production.
Recommended as well:
Hurts To Love You
Follow Carla Wehbe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 46):
Wildcard (week 46):
Carla Wehbe – Hurts To Love You[flag country="au"]
After bundling her 2020 singles on her first EP Half Past Nine, Carla Wehbe came to the attention of Warner Music Australia. The love was mutual, and the Sydney indie-pop artist signed a record deal with the major.
Co-produced by Xavier Dunn (who else?), Hurts To Love You is a cracking start of the partnership. It’s a glorious, uplifting pop song; contemporary, but with a distinct retro feel, thanks to the ‘80s style synths. The energetic nature of the song is a sharp contrast with its melancholic lyrics.
Wehbe explains Hurts To Love You is about ‘losing someone that you care deeply about’, and the visceral emotions that come with being forced to distance yourself from them. She continued: “You love them so much that it hurts too much to be close to them, so you have to separate yourself. And you realise that all the things you spoke about doing, or planned to do, aren’t going to happen anymore and you’re just going to have to live with that.”
Wehbe penned the lyrics with Norwegian songwriters Jim Bergsted and Helge Moemthat, with whom she’d connected over Instagram. However, she claims the song embodies only her own perspective. “I’ve never felt more broken in my life than when I was writing this track”, she said.
Next to an upcoming artist, she’s an in demand songwriter, videographer, producer, photographer and fashion designer as well. ‘One to watch’, as they say… Well, don’t look any further. Hurts To Love You by Carla Wehbe is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll feature here prominently for a whole week!
Follow Carla Wehbe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track
Molly Millington – October[flag country="au"]
Molly Millington is one out of many talented artists from Australia. At the age of 14, her parents took her to the Byron Bay Bluesfest. It was her first live experience and she fell head over heels in love with it. Four years later, she performed at the festival herself, playing songs off her debut EP Daddy’s Gotta Gun (which isn’t on Spotify in Europe).
Now 21 years old, Millington’s currently working on a second EP. It’s produced by Xavier Dunn (Amen Mustang, Slum Sociable, Evie Irie, Sarah Wolfe and others). The first trio of songs is available for streaming worldwide, October being the third single. Self-described as ‘possessed pop’, her style has been compared to the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Melanie Martinez.
Talking about the track October, Millington explains: “I wrote this song the day I realised you can look back on someone or something fondly and not want them/it back.”
Follow Molly Millington on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Evie Irie – Bleed
Evie Irie is an Aussie native who released three EP’s (5 Weeks In LA, The Optimist and The Pessimist) in just two years’ time. Her two most recent songs are on neither of them, so hopefully EP #4 is on its way.
Bleed is Evie Irie’s new single. It’s cleverly produced by Dutch-born, Sydney-based Louis Schoorl (who worked with 5 Seconds Of Summer, Delta Goodrem, De La Soul, The Veronicas and many others), and Xavier Dunn (Amen Mustang, Slum Sociable, Sarah Wolfe and others). The track features one of those gorgeous walking basslines that are getting more and more (back) into fashion. Another absolutely catchy feat is the stadium-ready ‘la-la-la’ part, which brings Self Esteem by The Offspring to mind. In the chorus, her singing style (reminiscent of Lizzo’s Juice) shows she’s a girl with attitude.
EnigmaOnline’s description (‘she strikes a balance between the wild sonic bliss of Willow and classic Gwen Stefani ‘Just A Girl’ energy’) is spot on.
Follow Evie Irie on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Amen Mustang – (The Shit You Say) When You’re High
After Aussie band Jenny Broke The Window went their separate ways in 2018, singer Sam Lathlean moved to London. It wasn’t long before he reinvented himself as Amen Mustang, a one-man band inspired by Mystery Jets, PNAU, The Maccabees and Passion Pit. Exactly one year ago, he released his debut single Someone To Somebody. It was followed by Isolation Tapes, an EP with three covers and a home recorded version of his first song.
Amen Mustang’s second single (The Shit You Say) When You’re High came out mid October 2020 in Australia. However, it wasn’t promoted outside that continent. Until now. British label Snowhill Songs is determined to make this the indie hit it deserves to be. And I think they’re right.
After an intro that sounds like a collection of samples, (The Shit You Say) When You’re High really kicks off with a driving bass line. Elsewhere, we hear spacey drum patterns, shimmering guitars, cutting edge synths, horns and layered vocals. Indietronica meets downtempo rock. Cleverly produced by Xavier Dunn (Jack River, Slum Sociable, Sarah Wolfe), it sounds like an indie version of OneRepublic.
Follow Amen Mustang on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Slum Sociable (feat. Kye) – You’re In My Head
Australia has by far my favourite music scene at the moment. The amount of talent it produces is unbelievable, and their success abroad rather underwhelming. I do what I can (and will continue to do so) to introduce you to as many of them as possible.
Did you know Slum Sociable already, earthling? This Melbourne duo, comprised of Ed Quinn and Miller Upchurch, have been around since their 2015 debut single Anyway. That same year, they put out the EP TQ, follow by their self-titled debut album in 2017.
You’re In My Head is their second single of this year. It’s an incredibly catchy affair, that brings you straight back to 1989. It’s groovy beat finds itself halfway If Only I Could and Fool’s Gold.
Co-produced by Xavier Dunn, this track marks the first time Slum Sociable collaborate with another artist. It features Melbourne based, Zimbabwe born, London raised Kye to great effect. “Working alongside Kye was a dream come true”, Quinn said of the collaboration. “She took this track to another level. We’ve always wanted to make a stomper like this, so it feels good to finally release it.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Sarah Wolfe feat. The Flowers – 100 Times
Sarah Wolfe has been a music journalist behind the scenes for three years. But then, she decided to switch to being front of stage as a performer. So far, the Sydney singer-songwriter made three sensual indie electro-pop gems. Devil U Know was followed by U Think This Is A Game? and I Think We’re Alone Now. The latter was a collaborative cover with her partner Xavier Dunn.
Although all three are great songs, she easily tops them with her fourth effort. 100 Times features upcoming Sydney band The Flowers (Agnes O’Dwyer and Leighton Cauchi). O’Dwyer, who co-wrote the track, is Wolfe’s long-time best friend. The resulting song is a wonderful, chilled out, gentle guitar pop tune with a softly thumping electro beat.
“Aggy and I have been friends since we were 14, and music has bonded us throughout our entire friendship!” said Sarah Wolfe. “A few months ago we decided to have a crack at writing a collab, so we got in the room with Xavier Dunn (who produced it) and smashed out 100 Times in a few hours! Last year we went on a best friends trip to New York, so this song is our ode to nostalgia and our love letter to that amazing city. I’m holding out for the day we can eventually move there.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
