Browsing Category re-release
demo, playlist, re-release, single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 7):
Wildcard (week 7):
Judith – Hi, How’s Your Girlfriend?
Judith van Hirtum is a 25-year-old Belgian/Dutch singer-songwriter. In 2022, she won the ‘Rising Star’ contest on radio station MNM with a cover of Beggin’. Shortly after that, she released her successful debut single Me And My Big Mouth. A great way to start her music career.
In 2024, Judith supported Belgian superstar Pommelien Thijs on her tour in The Netherlands. This was followed by support slots for other artists like Rick Astley, Milow and Di-Rect. Last summer, her single Are U Done? got nominated for the Flemish television contest ‘Zomerhit’.
Since then, Judith signed a major record deal and is ready for the next chapter of this promising story. Lately, she’s been writing lots of new music. Her songs may sound up-beat and happy, but her light-hearted, self-written lyrics often deal with universal subjects such as heartbreak and mental health. Meanwhile, she doesn’t shy away from social themes like women’s rights and unequal relationships.
In her new single Hi, How’s Your Girlfriend? Judith targets a man who has two girlfriends who don’t know about each other’s existence. The poppy tune was one of six songs the Dutch selection committee chose to represent the Netherlands at the Eurovison Song Contest 2025. I think it would have been a very successful entry. In fact, I still think it’s a huge hit!
Hi, How’s Your Girlfriend? by Judith is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Judith 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.
demo, playlist, re-release, single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 4):
Wildcard (week 4):
Gavin James – Goldrush
Gavin James’ debut album Bitter Pill immediately established him as an artist to watch. The Book Of Love and Nervous off said album became huge hits and brought him to the attention of Alan Walker. Together, they released the single Tired, which has been streamed on Spotify nearly 270 million times. In no-time, James had grown from an upcoming artist to a global super star. The Irishman toured with fellow megastars Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Niall Horan, as well as playing sold-out solo shows all over the world. This year, he’ll do a new European tour.
Following the over a handful of singles he released in 2024, Gavin James is now back with Goldrush. It’s the first music off his upcoming album, to be out later this year. Goldrush is a song about listening to your inner voice, James explains: “It’s about seeing the world as it is after being through some hard times. About having a devil inside you that you sometimes have to keep at bay. The voice that makes you want to go crazy and lose yourself a bit. Kind of like the tale of the two wolves. It’s full of feel-good energy, and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”
From the wobbly keys to the driving drums via the dirty bass line to the house-like piano motif and gospel choir, Goldrush sounds like a jackpot to me!
Therefore, Goldrush by Gavin James is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Gavin James 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.
re-release, single track
Yuke – No Sleep In Heaven
Yuke – No Sleep In Heaven
*SONG SNACK*
Re-release of their upbeat 2019 single. Now, its time has truly come. Deserves to become a hit.
Recommended as well:
Stranger Still
Follow Yuke on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, single track
Gorgeous – Divine
Gorgeous – Divine
With a band named Gorgeous and a single titled Divine, you can wait for the smart wordplay. We’ll come to that later, but let’s start at the beginning…
Singer and songwriter Maríe Louise and producer and multi-instrumentalist Murga are Gorgeous. Oh wait, that one came too early… Let me rephrase. Gorgeous are singer and songwriter Maríe Louise and producer and multi-instrumentalist Murga. The Copenhagen-based duo met three years ago, and write and record all their music as a team.
They self-released their first single Divine in late August 2021. The right song at the wrong time, amidst the traditional tsunami of post summer releases by other artists. However, it did draw the attention of a proper record label. Not only did it decide to sign the duo and re-release their awesome debut, they also commanded a beautiful video to go with it. This adds greatly to the track’s atmosphere: gentle and introverted, yet fresh and charming. And it’s about a very relatable subject, as well.
Maríe Louise says about it: “Falling in love easily seems like a veil of euphoria, happiness and fascination. But at the same time, it’s a personal invitation into the life of a complete stranger – and the other way around – where you eventually will have to face each other’s story and what it holds of peculiarities, weaknesses, misfortune and tragedy. Divine is about that total surrender. About showing the good and the bad sides when you bump into that ‘one in a million’ true love.”
All in all, Divine is gorgeous and Gorgeous is divine (you may shoot me now).
Follow Gorgeous on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, remix, single track
Ferraro – Sugar Rush [2021 Remix]
What’s Ferraro? The plural form of Ferrari? ‘With which one of our Ferraro will I drive to the supermarket this afternoon?’. Nope. It’s an aptly named Toronto-based band, comprised of sibling trio Cosmo (guitar), Tally (bass) and Gianni Ferraro (drums). All three of them perform vocal duties as well. Recently signed by a major label, they’re currently working on a 6-track EP, co-written and produced by alt-pop duo The Darcys.
Originally released in October 2020, they just re-released their single Sugar Rush. A new mix of the track, to be precise. Oddly, the 2021 version has been removed from the band’s Spotify profile, but it can still be found on the platform via this link. As you can hear, Sugar Rush is an energetic, radio-friendly pop-rock song.
Recommended as well:
Ferraro – Fool’s Paradise
Follow Ferraro on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, single track
Bad Nerves – Can’t Be Mine
Bad Nerves – Can’t Be Mine
Bad Nerves don’t have an album out yet, but after only four singles, ‘people in the know’ are convinced: these East-Londoners might be the next big thing. In case you missed it a year ago, the British band just re-released their single Can’t Be Mine.
Sounding like a bastard child of The Ramones and The Strokes, ‘Supergrass on speed’ is another good description. Can’t Be Mine is fast and furious, but melodic throughout. Catch them at showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag in the Dutch city of Groningen mid-January 2020, if you can!
Recommended as well:
Bad Nerves – Dreaming
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, single track, soundtrack
Lizzo – Good As Hell
Lizzo is becoming more and more of a phenomenon. Correction: Lizzo is a phenomenon. To such an extent, that even her older songs belatedly prove to be hits. Melissa Jefferson (the 31-year-old American singer and rapper’s real name) is currently #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 with Truth Hurts, a song originally released in 2016. But another song from that same year is doing great as well.
Following her performance at the MTV Music Video Awards, Good As Hell is climbing up the Billboard charts. It was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut’, and served as the lead single from her debut EP Coconut Oil. Do yourself a favour and also check the track Worship off that EP.
Despite not being on Lizzo’s recent album Cuz I Love You (not even on the Deluxe Edition), Good As Hell is about to be re-released worldwide as her new single. A great choice, for the tune totally lives up to its title.
Recommended as well:
Lizzo (feat. Gucci Mane) – Exactly How I Feel
Lizzo – Juice
Lizzo – Boys
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, remix, single track
Zuzu – Get Off [2019 Version]
In 2016, I spent as much time looking for great new music as I do now. By then, however, I didn’t post those songs on this blog, but I played them in my Carte Blanche radio show. Almost exactly three years ago, I discovered Zuzu, a singer-songwriter from Liverpool with a rough edge to her voice. I instantly liked her debut single Get Off, which she said was influenced by Pavement and Courtney Barnett.
She was quickly signed by Virgin/EMI, part of major record company Universal Music. They just released a new version of Get Off as Zuzu’s next single. By the sound of it, it’s clear there was more money available than the first time around. It all sounds much fresher and this mix leaves more room for all of the instruments. As if a blanket was pulled off of the song.
That doesn’t mean the first version was bad though. I’d still fall for it if it wouldn’t have been remixed. Therefore, I think it’s a little bit daft that the original version has now been removed from streaming services, like it never existed. Because it did, and it still does 😉. Great song, which should finally signal her break-through!
Recommended as well:
Zuzu – How It Feels
Zuzu – Beauty Queen
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, single track, soundtrack
Nouvelle Vague feat. Julie Delpy – Lalala
Nouvelle Vague feat. Julie Delpy – Lalala
Nouvelle Vague is a French band, with musicians Olivier Libaux and Marc Collin as its constant factors. They surround themselves with a large rotating cast of mostly female vocalists. Some of them (like Camille, Phoebe Kildeer and Liset Alea) have also had successful solo careers, while Élodie Frégé is currently part of super group Gemme.
The outfit is best known for their bossa nova covers of new wave classics. That’s why the band name is appropriate in more ways than one. Nouvelle Vague is French for ‘new wave’, just like ‘bossa nova’ is Portuguese for ‘new wave’.
Julie Delphy is a French singer-songwriter, actress, director and screenwriter. In 2007, she produced the movie ‘2 Days In Paris’. She not only also starred in the film, she composed the soundtrack as well. She co-wrote one of the tracks, Lalala, with Marc Collin. It’s no cover, but an original song with a retro ‘60s sound and a beat you can’t help but dance to.
Although this bi-lingual tune is 12 years old, it has only just been made available on the streaming platforms. So let’s just pretend it’s brand-new, shall we?
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
re-release, single track
Wyke van Weelden – Make You Mine
In 2014, two years after competing in a Dutch TV talent show, singer-songwriter Wyke van Weelden released three beautiful songs. All of them had a strong cinematic (James Bond-like, dare I say Adele-esque?) sound, and not without a reason: Kenau was written for the movie of the same title, the revenues of World Of Blue were donated to the World Wildlife Fund’s Seastars campaign and Make You Mine was the title track of horror movie ‘De Poel’.
After a short absence from the streaming platforms, the latter song has now been re-upped and most deservedly appeared in last week’s New Music Friday playlist. Could and should be a hit as yet…
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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.
