Browsing Category single track
Ana & The Changes – Differences
In 2016, Serbia-based singer-songwriter Ana Ćurčin released her debut album Sketches Of Belonging under her own name. Since then, she and Goran Antović (keyboards), Marko Cvetković (bass) and Marko Benini (drums) perform live using the stage name Ana & The Changes. This is also the name tag that will be put on Ana’s second album Differences, due out on 6 September.
Nine months ago, the first single from this album was released. Take My Hand featured Dan Byron, a Romanian singer-songwriter and frontman of the alternative rock band Byron. Now, the forthcoming album’s title track is Ana & The Changes’ new single. It’s a classic pop song; cheerful and catchy, with seductive keys and lush guitars. “The song Differences embodies the space where we meet, work, talk, and dream”, according to Ana Ćurčin.
Recommended as well:
Ana & The Changes feat. Dan Byron – Take My Hand
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Courtyards – Stay Up
Matthew Riley, Callum Jack, Louis Taylor and Luke Allcock met at university in Huddersfield (UK). There, they formed the band Courtyards. The 4-piece combines infectious hooks, an immersive atmosphere and energetic live dynamics. Or, as they call it themselves, ‘dirty reverb-soaked indie-rock’. If you still don’t have a clue, just listen to the band’s new single Stay Up.
Lead vocalist Matthew Riley says about the single: “We’re incredibly happy with this track and have experimented more with synth, samples, and electronics during the production than ever before, which is pushing us towards a musical direction that we’re really excited about.” He continues: “Stay Up is inspired by the desire to help those close to you with their mental health battles while at the same time working out how to be that figure of solidarity to confide in. It’s our most personal track to date and is inspired by our experiences with people close to us.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Wildcard (week 34):
Nicolah – Holiday
Nicolah is a Cumbrian singer-songwriter, based in London. Her music is a sum of fresh life experiences about faith, sexuality, and culture. She explains: “I often see life from 2 sides of the same coin, and I battle with these sides in my head. What I have to come back to is hope.”
Her new single Holiday is the third release in a 3-track series, developing the concepts of reflection, refraction and dispersion. It was preceded by Waiting On You and Out Of The Pie. Inspired by everyone from Bruce Hornsby and Paramore to The Beatles, to me, Holiday sounds like a great mix of Jade Bird and early Melissa Etheridge. A song with ‘summer smash’ written all over it.
For starters, Holiday by Nicolah is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it will feature here prominently for a whole week!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Sarpa Salpa – Before It Goes Dark
Sarpa Salpa are a 4-piece alt-pop band from Northampton. George (guitar), Marcus (vocals/guitar), Ethan (bass) and Charlie (drums) take their influences from Foals, Tame Impala and Friendly Fires. Apparently, they’re not afraid to raise high expectations. Even better: they don’t disappoint.
Their first two, independently released, singles were met with praise, airplay and packed shows. Now, they’re now working on their debut EP, which is due out at the end of the year. Before It Goes Dark is the band’s new single. A mid-tempo, yet danceable track. It tackles the frustration of not being able to stop the inevitable. On top of that, it proves parlandos don’t have to be daft.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Phantogram – Mister Impossible
In 2007, Josh Carter (vocals, guitar) and Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboards) started the band Charlie Everywhere. But it wasn’t until they changed the band name to Phantogram that success fell their way. Their debut album Eyelid Movies came out in 2009, but its follow-up meant their break-through. Second long-player Voices contained the single Fall In Love, which was a worldwide hit. The same goes for You Don’t Get Me High Anymore, off 2016 album Three.
After a few rather quiet years, Phantogram speeded things up recently. Late May, they returned with Into Happiness, and Mister Impossible out now. Looks like a fourth album is on its way…
Mister Impossible is a self-written and -produced tune with a certain suspense to it. This is imposed by a booming beat and stretched-out synth bursts. In the bridge of the song, the vocal melody is doubled with a keyboard melody, which adds a sense of urgency. Great comeback!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Nasty Cherry – Live Forever
Charli XCX is ready to release her third album in less than a month. But besides that, she’s helping her protégés of Nasty Cherry launch their career. The band consists of model Gabriella Bechtel (vocals), Chloe Chaidez of the band Kitten (guitar), Georgia Somary (bass), and Deborah Knox-Hewson (Charli’s drummer). Half of them living in London and half of them residing in Los Angeles, this is not the best example of a logistic success story. However, when they come together to write, there is instant chemistry.
Nasty Cherry just released their third single, Live Forever. Once again co-written by Charli XCX, it’s a song where the loud drums and catchy chorus stand out. Live Forever follows the quartet’s awesome debut single Win and What Do You Like In Me.
Recommended as well:
Nasty Cherry – Win
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Son Mieux – Nothing
Dutch band Son Mieux (‘his best’ in French) is formed by The Hague brothers Camiel, Wrister and Quinten Meiresonne. Their debut album Faire De Son Mieux (including the single Everyday) was loaded with compliments. Rightfully so!
New single Nothing is arguably the long-player’s most beautiful track. That’s not only my opinion, it’s a real crowd-pleaser during their live shows. The song consists of three parts, each with its own theme: the ambition to be in contact with yourself and your surroundings, the desire to be able to express one’s emotions, and self-realization. The band asked young film makers Philine van den Hul, Robin Piree and Max Westendorp to visualize their views of these themes. Together, these three interpretations form the song’s beautiful video.
Recommended as well:
Son Mieux – Everyday
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Temples – You’re Either On Something
Ahead of their third studio album Hot Motion (due out on 27 September), British band Temples just released its second single. Being a psychedelic pop band, recent single Hot Motion leaned more towards psychedelic, whereas You’re Either On Something is more pop. That may not be good news for hardcore fans, but it certainly is for a band that deserves to make a next step in their career. Good stuff!
Frontman James Bagshaw says about it: “I’m really proud of You’re Either On Something lyrically. On that track, I can hear influences of stuff that I listened to when I was growing up. There’s almost a nostalgia to that track, even though it’s very forward-looking. (…) You’re Either On Something tackles the theme of bliss, and the perception of people’s experiences of it. We delved into the idea that some people are inherently carefree, and others more anxious. Some people may use a chemical cocktail to reach a blissful state.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Sulene – Diamonds
So far, South African indie-pop artist Sulene van der Walt is best-known for her blue hair. But that’s about to change. In fact, she’s already working hard to raise her profile. You may have seen her when she toured the world as guitarist for Nate Ruess (of fun.). Also, you probably heard her music scoring TV shows, movies and commercials.
Now, she is back with her first new music since her 2017 debut EP Strange. New single Diamond is another piece of shiny, valuable, polished, multi-faceted bedroom synth pop. A jewel!
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
The Man Who – Give Me Something
Toronto, Canada-based alt-rock trio The Man Who recorded their new single Give Me Something in Los Angeles. This explains the song’s carefree California vibe. With its characteristic spacey synth riffs and distorted beats, it’s a track that will stand out on radio and streaming playlists alike. Give Me Something is only the band’s second major label release, so now it’s up to the label to show what they’re worth.
If you think The Man Who named themselves after the 1999 Travis album, think again. The band took their name from a quote by philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he’s going.”
For the record: Travis named their album after the book ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat’ by neurologist Oliver Sacks. A highly recommended book, by the way. You’re welcome.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
