Browsing Category single track
Polish Club – Stop For A Minute
Although Sydney duo Polish Club faced the same setbacks in 2020 as every other band on the planet, they still managed to play eight sold-out shows. They also scored an APRA Award nomination for Most Performed Rock Work.
Now, they’re back with their first single of 2021 and it’s a cracker. Stop For A Minute is an incredibly infectious upbeat pop song with a groove to die for. But don’t let this bright soundtrack fool you. Lyrically, the song addresses a heavier theme. It takes aim at the abuse of power within the music industry, that artists and executives got away with in the past. ‘All your heroes end up being fucking monsters’, they sing in the song’s chorus.
“At its core, this song is me trying to deal with our inconsistent acknowledgement of the cavalcade of horrible things done by countless artists in a position of power,” says David Novak, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist. “There is a knowledge that nothing ever really comes of these things until the relevance of these artists wane. A good hit is enough for us to all collectively decide it’s not worth dealing with right now, or sometimes ever.”
Just like the song itself, the video has two faces as well. The duo juxtapose the heavier content with some fun, green-screen heavy scenes.
Recommended as well:
Polish Club – Goddamn!
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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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Noémie Wolfs – Lonely Boy’s Paradise
Some people may still refer to Noémie Wolfs as ‘a former singer of Hooverphonic’, but that’s ancient history by now. Exactly one year ago, the Belgian singer released her second solo album Lonely Boy’s Paradise. In celebration of this anniversary, the record’s stand-out track is released as its fifth single.
Lonely Boy’s Paradise is the long-player’s monumental title track. It opens in a mysterious, somewhat sinister fashion with dark drums and dramatic strings. The further the song enrolls, the more prominent the strings. After a tribal-like mid-section, they even take over completely for a full dramatic effect. Fans of Lana Del Rey will love this.
The video has been a year in the making, as COVID-19 kept messing up the recording schedule. However, the resulting short movie, where Wolfs turns up blonde, is as wonderful as the song itself.
Recommended as well:
Noémie Wolfs – Let Me Down
Follow Noémie Wolfs on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Upsahl – Stop!
Phoenix singer-songwriter Taylor Upsahl comes from a musical family. Her grandmother and grandfather were music teachers, and her father played guitar in several pop-punk and alt-rock bands. She herself started playing the piano and guitar at the age of five. In sixth grade, Upsahl began writing songs and self-released her first, more acoustic-minded music at 14. Three years later, she graduated from Arizona School For The Arts.
Her 2019 single Drugs has since been used in nearly 2.000.000 TikTok videos, making her something of a phenomenon on the platform. That same year, the artist gained many new fans touring with PVRIS, Joywave, BROODS and Young The Giant, and playing the Lollapalooza festival. 2020 however topped all of this. She co-wrote Good In Bed for Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia album, as well as tracks for Anne-Marie and Madison Beer.
Stop! is Upsahl’s first single of 2021. With an overall Billie Eilish-like coolness, it deals with the overwhelming, even frightening feeling of falling for someone, and what it does to you. ’Oh it feels like, my hearts gonna beat so fast, gonna beat so fast, gonna beat so fast that it might stop’. In her own words: “I’m unapologetic about being a sexual person, so here’s a song about being horny and the thirst for another person.”
I’m sure nothing can stop this track from becoming the banger it potentially is.
Follow Upsahl on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Bowe (feat. Sandra St. Victor) – Vintage
Dutch singer Bowe (real name: Boudewijn de Jong) released his first album Moving Through The Night back in 2009. Since then, he released quite some tracks. Near the end of the 2010s, he switched to singing in his mother’s tongue. His break-through however, came in 2020 with a re-recorded version of Tired Of Giving Good Things Up. Originally from his second album Nomansland (2013), the song was picked up by every major Dutch radio station.
With his new tune, Bowe hopes to be able to build upon his earlier success. In my ears, Vintage is an old-school radio song indeed. It’s upbeat, with an infectious bass line throughout. The vocal melody is very catchy as well, with backings provided by none other than Sandra St. Victor. She’s probably best known from her time in funk band The Family Stand, who scored hits with Ghetto Heaven and Plantation Radio in the early 1990s.
Follow Bowe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
Do I look at the wrong places, or is this the most overlooked song of the last week? Criminally overlooked, I might add. Tiger Blood by Fear Of Tigers is a banger, and apparently, I’m the first to tell you. So please, take my word for it. Or even better: listen on your preferred platform via the widget below, and listen for yourself.
Don’t let the 20-second intro, which sounds like a jingle company demo, fool you. Just wait for the synths to kick in, immediately followed by a vocal sample that spells e-a-r-w-o-r-m. No mention of its origin, alas. All and all, Tiger Blood is one of those irresistible ‘80s-influenced pop-dance tracks. Great for working out in the gym (I suppose). For reference, think Call On Me by Eric Prydz.
Fear Of Tigers has been the artist name of Benjamin Berry for over 10 years now. Besides that, he collaborated with people like Ellie Goulding, Max Richter, Leann Rimes and Kylie Minogue. Tiger Blood is the second single from his forthcoming same-titled album, which will be out later in the year.
Follow Fear Of Tigers on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Wildcard (week 7):
Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl
Drew Sycamore’s is a Danish singer-songwriter with Welsh roots. Her voice lies somewhere between Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa. Musically, she fishes in the same pond as well. Expect tight, ‘90s inspired pop music with a disco twist.
45 Fahrenheit Girl (which is only 7 degrees Celsius, by the way) is a very strong pop song that’s only 2,5 minutes long. It’s got big shoes to fill, for her latest two singles Take It Back and I Wanna Be Dancing both reached the summit of the Danish airplay charts. Luckily, it totally lives up to the expectations.
The song has a classic theme, but with a ‘different’ angle. 45 Fahrenheit Girl describes a relationship between a woman and a vampire. The vampire is dead and the woman is alive, which presents her with a huge dilemma; should she have the vampire kill her so that they can live together forever?
This week, 45 Fahrenheit Girl by Drew Sycamore is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard.
Follow Drew Sycamore on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 playlist you’ll 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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Fletcher Gull – Heaven Is Around The Corner
Comparing rising Aussie artist Fletcher Gull with The Beatles may be early days. But listen to his new single, and you’ll understand what I mean to say…
Heaven Is Around The Corner sounds like multiple songs combined. The first half is a dreamy, David Bowie-esque part. Around the 2 minute mark however, the dream comes to an end abruptly, as if the studio had a melt-down during the recording. What follows, is a richer – and totally different – song. A happy piano, warm bass and horns are added with a euphoric effect.
One can only hope that in 2021 people have the patience to wait for a song to evolve like this. Even if they do, this track may need a few listens. Once the penny has dropped, you’ll be thankful you did. This is a gem.
Recommended as well:
Fletcher Gull – City Is Busy
Fletcher Gull – Deciduo [2020 Version]
Follow Fletcher Gull on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Sarpa Salpa – Another Life
For artists, recognition (and motivation) can come from various places. Family and friends are often amongst the first supporters. When well executed, live performances produce new fans that were unrelated to the act beforehand. Then, hopefully, curators at radio and streaming platforms will follow suit. Sarpa Salpa can hardly complain about support from radio. Obviously, family and friends are on board as well. As far as I’m concerned, streaming gatekeepers could do better. And, like for any other band, it’s heart-breaking to see they’ve had to cancel all of their touring plans.
On the other hand, the Northampton five-piece ended 2020 on a high in the form of a grant from the (UK music licensing company) PPL Momentum Music Fund in December. This grant, supported by PRS Foundation, PPL, Spotify UK, Creative Wales, and Arts Council Northern Ireland has enabled the band to continue to progress by funding the recording, mixing, mastering and promotion of their sophomore EP. Additionally, this funding will back the release of the EP on vinyl and help the band promote the release through a series of live dates in 2021.
We’ll have to wait until 2 April for the EP to come out, but Another Life is Sarpa Salpa’s new single off it. An uplifting, upbeat pop song, that begs to be played live. The band have socially distanced gigs lined up for April through August. Fingers crossed…
Recommended as well:
Sarpa Salpa – Stick To What You Know
Sarpa Salpa – Say Something
Sarpa Salpa – Before It Goes Dark
Follow Sarpa Salpa on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
The Bamboos – Ride On Time
Back in 1989, Italo-house/Euro-dance act Black Box released Ride On Time. A great floor filler, based on a vocal sample of Loleatta Holloway’s 1980 single Love Sensation. Her lyric “Thank you baby, ‘cause you’re right on time” was misquoted in the song title. Nevertheless, it topped several European charts and went on to become the bestselling single of the year in the UK.
32 Years later, the song gets a complete make-over. Australian nine-piece The Bamboos turn the track into an infectious soul/funk tune. It’s not the first time they sink their teeth in another track to turn it completely upside-down. They did so before with songs by everyone from James Blake, Kings Of Leon to London Grammar.
Their reinvented version kicks off with tight, up-tempo drums, followed by the three piece horn section, which carries the song’s hook. Subsequently, The Bamboos’ stellar singer Kylie Auldist does what no-one would have thought possible: she does complete justice to Loleatta Holloway’s inimitable vocal.
Ride On Time will be the closing track on their upcoming tenth album Hard Up, which will be out on 7 May. It’ll also feature the band’s three 2020 singles Hard Up, While You Sleep (feat. Ev Jones) and Power Without Greed.
Recommended as well:
The Bamboos – Night Time People
The Bamboos (feat. Montaigne) – I’ll Make You Happy
Follow The Bamboos on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
L U – Liquid Gold
L U is the artist name of Lucy Pearson, a singer, songwriter, producer and DJ from Norwich, UK. After collaborating with some of the hottest artists in the country, she is now embarking on her own solo project.
Earlier this year, she released the 1 minute long track Hit My Line, which has since been deleted from the interwebs. That makes Liquid Gold her new debut single. As the title promises, it’s sweet and sticky like honey. It’s inspired by the fever of new love and pays homage to the ‘80s classics she grew up with. It would be a fun game to find out which classics, based on the sound of this great track. My five cents: it sounds like a 2021 version of Five Star to me. Yes, a 2021 version. For with its imaginative synths and propulsive rhythms Liquid Gold sounds as ‘80s as can be, but at the same time, the production is very contemporary.
L U wrote and produced the track herself, but it comes with a fiery guitar solo, played by Harry Smith from the band Mirror Mask.
Follow L U on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
