Browsing Category single track
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.
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.
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 33):
Terouz – Outstanding
Born in Cairo, professional illustrator/singer-songwriter Karim Terouz moved to Montreal in 2008. With his brassy, folk/rock quintet The Rising Few, he released two albums. Then, after losing his father, he decided to re-emerge under the guise of Terouz.
His debut single Outstanding is a great piece of pop noir. Driven by muscular, groovy bass lines, and with Karim’s Bowie-esque vocals throughout. “It’s like Cohen on a treadmill”, the Egyptian/Canadian artist summarizes.
Terouz calls his first single ‘an ode to my journey of renewal’ and ‘an empowering Rocky-esque anthem’. He explains: “Last year felt like a never ending s#%t storm. With the shadow of my father’s passing laying over me, my musical aspirations were hitting a wall with my band and I was pretty close to pulling the plug on it all. I stopped everything to take care of myself. I dove deep into writing, belted out (in despair!) improvised vocal lines to recorded melodies while running up and down the Mont Royal… every day, like an obsessed work-out maniac. I focused on getting clear.”
This song is, indeed, Outstanding. And I’d like to make it stand out even a little bit more, by featuring it here prominently for a whole week. Outstanding by Terouz is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
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.
MisterWives – Whywhywhy
NYC-based band MisterWives actually consists of five males (Etienne Bowler – drums, William Hehir – bass, Marc Campbell – guitar, Jesse Blum – keys/trumpet/accordion and Mike Murphy – saxophone) and one female (Mandy Lee – vocals). Their second album Connect The Dots spawned the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard Machine. Shortly after, they released a stand-alone track. I chose Never Give Up On Me as a Wildcard as well. Contrary to my hopes that a new album was in the works, things went quiet. Until now…
The band recently signed to record label Fueled By Ramen, joining Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, and Paramore. First release: the single whywhywhy. Their first in over two years. The break-up anthem features Lee’s most personal lyrics to date. Nevertheless, it’s the kind of dynamic, high-energy track that I love them for. MisterWives never disappoints!
Recommended as well:
MisterWives – Machine
MisterWives – Never Give Up On Me
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.
Ankathie Koi – Cats And Diamonds
When she released her latest single Royal Boy, end of June, Ankathie Koi also announced a new album. Her second long-player Prominent Libido is due out on 13 September. Ahead of it, the jazz singer turned pop diva now unleashes Cats And Diamonds.
The new single starts with a weird synth melody, which appears to have classical influences. The rest of the song, however, is drenched in ‘80s sounds. It’s both funky and electronic, very well sung (as always), and a rap is included. Swell! (as we used to say in the ‘80s 😉 ).
Recommended as well:
Ankathie Koi – Royal Boy
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.
Sofía Ellar – La Revolución
Following the success of the Angry Birds games, the spin-off movie became a hit as well. You won’t be surprised then, to learn that a second Angry Birds flick can be watched in theatres as off 23 August.
The game’s (and film’s) soundtrack are in part responsible for the franchise’s triumphant reception. It’s a clever mix of classics and a few new songs. During ‘Angry Birds 2’, you can expect to sing along to tunes by Vanilla Ice, Bonnie Tyler, 2 Unlimited, Survivor, Minnie Riperton, David Bowie and Lionel Richie. Yes, it’s that diverse. As far as the new songs go, you’re already familiar with Kesha’s Best Day.
In the larger musical markets, the movie soundtrack will also contain tracks by local artists. The best I’ve heard so far, is La Revolución by Sofía Ellar. Álvaro Soler’s girlfriend provides the ‘Angry Birds 2’ theme song in Spain. A wonderful sing-along tune (if you speak Spanish, that is), with a very summery vibe. Lucky for us, Spotify, YouTube etc. are worldwide platforms, so you can also enjoy this wonderful track outside Spain.
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.
Client Liaison – The Real Thing
Client Liaison are Australian indie-pop duo Monte Morgan (vocals), and Harvey Miller (keyboards, producer). When performing live, the duo expands to include Miller’s brother Geordie Miller on guitar and saxophone, and Tom Tilley on bass. He is also a DJ at radio station Triple J. The band are influenced by late ’80s and early ’90s electronic and house music.
Although Client Liaison their debut single End Of The Earth came out in mid-2012, their first album Diplomatic Immunity wasn’t released until the end of 2016. Having confirmed they are working on a second studio album, the group just released their new single The Real Thing. A funky dance tune with prominent percussion, that bears resemblance to On My Mind by Disciples.
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.
Ava Max – Blood, Sweat And Tears
Although Amanda Ava Koci was born in the United States to Albanian parents, she describes herself as ‘100% Albanian’. An ambitious kid, she competed in multiple singing competitions before entering high school. But it wasn’t until she met producer Cirkut, that her career really took off.
Less than a year ago (mid-August 2018), Max released her third, Cirkut-produced single Sweet But Psycho. It became her global breakthrough hit, reaching number 1 in over 26 countries.
Not taking any chances, the singer and songwriter just put out a pair of new songs. Freaking Me Out, and Blood, Sweat And Tears. The latter, my favourite, is a mid-tempo track with an irresistible pop hook and an anthemic chorus, where she claims she would die with her love. According to Max, the song is ‘about giving all of yourself to someone you love and sticking by their side no matter what’.
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.
Terence Jack – Found It
Four years ago, Canadian entrepreneur Terence Hermiston quit his day job. He had run a travel agency for 13 years, no less. However, he decided it was time to pursue his lifelong passion of playing and writing music, so off he went… From then on, he and a crew of other talented musicians would be Terence Jack.
Off to a good start, the single Eastern Rise from their debut EP Never Get Back nearly became song of the year 2016 in the Canadian Songwriting Competition. This accomplishment was followed by slots at quite a few major Canadian festivals. In other words: they’re quickly building a reputation.
Now, it’s time for new music. Currently working on a second EP, Bloom, the band offer a first glance at what it’ll sound like. Judging from this first single, they’ve established a sound of their own. Fresh and energetic, with epic dynamics and Honne-like vocals. Terence Jack ‘found it’, when will you find Terence Jack?
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.
