Browsing Category single track
Nadia Sheikh – Toxic
Nadia Sheikh is a half British, half Spanish artist with an impressive cultural background. Currently London-based, she’s a genre chameleon, combining elements of indie, rock and pop, with the addition of folky and jazzy vocals, that shift from airy to powerful in the split of a second.
Since releasing her debut EP 50 Feet in 2013, she put out a new track almost every year. Toxic (not a cover) is her new single. A great song, that shows Sheikh’s rockier side. It’s once again produced by Nigel Walker, whose credits range from Shakatak to Dire Straits, Aerosmith and Kate Bush. This century so far, he is very popular amongst Spanish artists, producing best-selling albums by the likes of La Oreja De Van Gogh, El Canto Del Loco and Pereza.
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.
morgxn & Nicholas Petricca – Blue
As a companion to his 2018 album vital, American singer-songwriter morgxn (pronounced as ‘morgan’) just put out the EP vital : blue. It contains five tracks, four of which are ‘stripped’ versions of tracks from vital, including home. The latter was a single at the end of 2016, and re-released last year as a collaboration with Walk The Moon. More precise: as a duet with WTM singer Nicholas Petricca. This version was a Wildcard here at Carte Blanche Music.
Apparently, the collaboration gave every satisfaction, for the opening track on the new EP, a brand-new song, is another duet between morgxn and Nicholas Petricca (this time under his own name). Blue is a beautifully arranged winter song.
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.
Tessa Dixson – Beautiful Pain
Like Machines by Billie Louise is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. As I explained, they made the pre-selection of radio station Studio Brussel’s ‘De Nieuwe Lichting 2019’ (‘the new class 2019’). They didn’t win, however. On the other hand, Tessa Dixson was one of the winners of this year’s competition, earning her airplay, studio time and a cheque.
The Belgian singer went to a French-speaking school, speaks English at home and has family in Los Angeles. In 2014, Dixson participated in the Walloon version of The Voice. Since then, she performed live with fellow-Belgian acts Roméo Elvis and Warhola and played numerous festivals.
Beautiful Pain was the song that won her ‘De Nieuwe Lichting’. A wonderfully arranged, dramatic song, combining strings and beats just like Billie Louise’s song (which perhaps explains why the latter didn’t win the competition). Beautiful Pain was released late in 2018 already, but has only now been picked up by Studio Brussel, as part of the prize. A well-deserved second chance!
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 6):
Billie Louise – Like Machines
Belgian radio station Studio Brussel has its own talent contest. Each year, a jury and the broadcaster’s listeners choose ‘De Nieuwe Lichting’ (‘the new class’).
This year, one of the nine contestants (selected out of a thousand artists that sent in their music) was Billie Louise, an ultra-young band, consisting of Billie Louise (16, vocals), Dejan (17, drums), and Jérôme (22, keys). They have been together for such a short time, they only played their first ever gig last week.
Billie Louise is the daughter of Reinhard Vanbergen, who played in Belgian bands like Das Pop, The Happy, and Rheinzand. Growing up with pop music, but mainly listening to hip hop herself, she started writing her own songs at the age of 13. Like Machines, a song about a world where people are becoming more and more alike, is the band’s first single. Musically, acoustic instruments like violins and piano are in perfect harmony with synths and beats. A very promising debut.
Billie Louise didn’t win the StuBru competition, but they did win my heart. Like Machines is this week’s 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.
Eckhardt & The House – Humans
The Voyager Golden Records are two gramophone records that are on board of both Voyager spacecraft that were launched by NASA in 1977. The records contain sounds and images that have been selected to reflect the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are meant for any intelligent alien life form or for future people who may find them. Apparently, NASA thinks these aliens will have record players…
Anyway, one of the songs on The Voyager Golden Records is a Peruvian folk song, which has now been sampled by Eckhardt & The House on their new single Humans. A hypnotising song that sounds like Timmy Thomas’ Why Can’t We Live Together with a Madchester feel, akin of The Stone Roses’ Fools Gold. Soulful, funky and cool.
“We are humans, living creatures on the planet earth. We are children of the sun, waiting for you to come.”
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.
dodie – Monster
Dodie (full name: Dorothy Clark) is a popular British YouTuber with over 1,7 million subscribers. But the 23-year-old is also a gifted singer-songwriter. Working on an almost entirely DIY basis she’s beginning to gain a global audience.
After two EP’s and a few singles she just released… a third EP. Title track Human, a duet with man of the moment Tom Walker, preceded it as a single, just like If I’m Being Honest. Third time lucky, Monster is single number 3. A delicately bouncing song with an utterly British vocal melody, but a production level that meets global standards.
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.
Kakkmaddafakka – Runaway Girl
Norwegian sextet Kakkmaddafakka (Axel Vindenes, Pål Vindenes, Stian Sævig, Kristoffer Wie van der Pas, Lars Helmik Raaheim-Olsen, and Sebastian Kittelsen) are on a roll. Releasing back-to-back albums in 2016 and 2017, the band have their fifth – as yet untitled – long-player set for release on 22 March.
Runaway Girl, with its striking resemblance to The War On Drugs, is the energetic second single to be released ahead of the album. Frontman Axel Vindenes says about it: “Runaway Girl is the story of forbidden love, how some people feed off playing with others’ emotions.”
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.
Girli – Deal With It
North London’s Girli (born Milly Toomey) has been releasing singles and EP’s since 2015. 13 of them. Only now, she announced her first full offering: her debut album Odd One Out will arrive on 5 April. No doubt, it’ll be full of teenage-angst filled electropop, including the former singles Hot Mess, Day Month Second and Young, as well as her new one: Deal With It.
With its more rock-inspired pulsing pop sound, Deal With It is a track I expect to come to life at the singer’s infamously energetic live shows. Girli is clearly ready to make this her year.
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.
Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer ‘19
Dodgy are a British pop-rock band, which had its finest moments during the Britpop era in the mid-1990’s. Who doesn’t remember (and love) hits like Staying Out For The Summer, Good Enough and In A Room?
The former celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Originally a minor hit in 1994, it became one of their signature songs a year later, when it was re-issued in remixed form. Now, Dodgy re-recorded the track. To be honest, it’s a pretty straight-forward remake, but Staying Out For The Summer ’19 is still a great song. And a wonderful introduction if you’re new to the band. A bunch of guys with a good heart, for all of the proceeds of this version will go to a charity for homeless people.
Dodgy will play their breakthrough album Homegrown in full on their upcoming UK tour. They will be supported by Babybird (best known for their hit You’re Gorgeous), and Tony Wright (lead singer of rock band Terrorvision). A truly great line-up!
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.
Lizzy V – Little Big Secret
Lisanne Veenendaal, professionally known as Lizzy V, is a Dutch artist and songwriter. Although she didn’t finish her study at the school of music, the did manage to be a full-time musician, playing gigs in the Netherlands and abroad.
During one of her tours, she met Louis Henry Sarmiento, who worked with artist like Lady Gaga and David Guetta. Their first collaborative releases gained her airplay and enhanced the overall interest in her music. Lizzy V is currently working on new songs with a quartet of Swedish songwriters/producers.
Little Big Secret is the first single created by this team. A bold pop song!
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.
