Browsing Category wildcard
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 47):
indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 47):
Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams
You’ve got debut singles, and then you’ve got DEBUT SINGLES. Garage Full Of Dreams by Laura Mac easily falls in the latter category.
Laura Mac is a brand-new duo from the Australian Sunshine Coast, consisting of Laura MacLachlan and Zachary Connelly. They call their big red tour bus their official third member. That’s the place where the couple wrote this song, record their demos and spend most of their time. Zac writes all the music and then Laura throws in the occasional bass line and puts vocals down over the top.
The band subsequently took their demo to a real studio, where Luke Williams (Dead Letter Circus) was enlisted to play the drums. Ian Peres (ex-Wolfmother) played the keys. The result is an energetic fun track with sunny verses and a guitar-heavy chorus. Despite the busy, rocky backdrop, Laura’s powerful voice cuts through the music like a knife.
In an interview with Good Call Live, the band’s front-woman says about Garage Full Of Dreams: “You know how some people have to work really hard for things that other people have given to them for free? That’s kind of what this song is about. That and cool cars! I sing about all these cool cars when in reality I drive the world’s most beat up Toyota Camry. When I got the car it was rancid and had 5000 cockroaches in it. It’s clean now but has subsequently been nicknamed ‘The Roach’.”
This whole week, Garage Full Of Dreams by Laura Mac will feature here prominently as our Carte Blanche Music Wildcard.
Follow Laura Mac on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 46):
pop
Wildcard (week 46):
Carla Wehbe – Hurts To Love You
After bundling her 2020 singles on her first EP Half Past Nine, Carla Wehbe came to the attention of Warner Music Australia. The love was mutual, and the Sydney indie-pop artist signed a record deal with the major.
Co-produced by Xavier Dunn (who else?), Hurts To Love You is a cracking start of the partnership. It’s a glorious, uplifting pop song; contemporary, but with a distinct retro feel, thanks to the ‘80s style synths. The energetic nature of the song is a sharp contrast with its melancholic lyrics.
Wehbe explains Hurts To Love You is about ‘losing someone that you care deeply about’, and the visceral emotions that come with being forced to distance yourself from them. She continued: “You love them so much that it hurts too much to be close to them, so you have to separate yourself. And you realise that all the things you spoke about doing, or planned to do, aren’t going to happen anymore and you’re just going to have to live with that.”
Wehbe penned the lyrics with Norwegian songwriters Jim Bergsted and Helge Moemthat, with whom she’d connected over Instagram. However, she claims the song embodies only her own perspective. “I’ve never felt more broken in my life than when I was writing this track”, she said.
Next to an upcoming artist, she’s an in demand songwriter, videographer, producer, photographer and fashion designer as well. ‘One to watch’, as they say… Well, don’t look any further. Hurts To Love You by Carla Wehbe is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll feature here prominently for a whole week!
Follow Carla Wehbe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 45):
pop | rock
Wildcard (week 45):
Foals – Wake Me Up
In 2022, Oxford band Foals will release its seventh album. It’ll be their first album as a trio, following keyboard player Edwin Congreave’s departure of the band to pursue a postgraduate degree in economics. A title, tracklisting and release date are still under wraps, but first single Wake Me Up is out now.
The track reveals a slightly different musical direction for the band. Adding funky guitars to their trademark syncopated rhythms and catchy hooks, Wake Me Up sounds like The Clash meets Chic. Frontman Yannis Phillipakis explains: ”There’s a journey that the band has gone on experimenting with different palettes of sound. This time there was a desire to take it back to more of the initial idea of the band where the rhythm, the grooves and the guitars are interlocking architecturally. We wanted to tap into the physicality of music. And we wanted it to feel good.”
About the single, he adds: “With Wake Me Up, I just wanted to write a song about transporting yourself to a better, idyllic situation. I think we all had that feeling of the last eighteen months being like a weird fever dream that felt surreal but very affecting. I think we all wished we could have woken up somewhere else at various points.”
The track was produced by John Hill (Portugal The Man, Florence & The Machine, Cage The Elephant). He also co-produced the rest of the upcoming album, together with Dan Carey (Tame Impala, Fontaines D.C.).
This week, Wake Me Up by Foals is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll feature here prominently for a full seven days.
Follow Foals on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 44):
pop | rock
Wildcard (week 44):
Smith & Thell – Pixie’s Parasol
I once had a cat named Pixie, so every time her name pops up somewhere, my attention is drawn. For example when Swedish duo Maria Jane Smith and Victor Thell released their sophomore album Pixies’s Parasol, early this year. I already wrote about the single Radioactive Rain. It’s one out of two songs on the long-player that was co-written by Joakim Berg. He used to be the front man of one of my favourite ‘90s bands, Kent.
Funnily, there was no track on the album called Pixie’s Parasol. Now, out of the blue, it’s the title of Smith & Thell’s new single. Once again co-written by Berg, it’s a super catchy song. Not in the least because of its resemblance to France Gall’s Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son. If you like upbeat guitar-pop songs and sing-along choruses with an edge, this one’s for you.
Pixie’s Parasol by Smith & Thell is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature prominently on the blog for seven full days!
Recommended as well:
Radioactive Rain
Follow Smith & Thell on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 43):
pop
Wildcard (week 43):
Hope Tala – Tiptoeing
Hotly tipped singer and songwriter Hope Tala continues to expand her fanbase, and rightly so. The West London-based talent released EPs in 2018, 2019 and 2020, so a fourth can’t be far away. For starters, Tiptoeing is a brand-new song. It pairs a beautiful vocal melody with elements of bossa nova and modern R&B. A truly delicious song, that brings Lily Allen‘s early days to mind. That’s undoubtedly the influence of producer and co-writer Greg Kurstin, who also worked with Sia, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Adele and about everybody else.
Speaking on the track, Hope Tala states: “Tiptoeing is about the dance we do when we’re at the threshold of romance. It’s about treading carefully when you’re not quite sure what the other person is feeling, but desperately wanting to take a risk because you’re young and life is short.”
This week, Tiptoeing by Hope Tala is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It’ll feature prominently on the blog for a full seven days!
Follow Hope Tala on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 42):
pop | rock
Wildcard (week 42):
Wallows – I Don’t Want To Talk
Los Angeles-based trio Wallows consists of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston. Since their 2019 debut album Nothing Happens, they put out the Remote EP in 2020. The Deluxe Edition of this EP counted 11 tracks, just like their first long-player.
I Don’t Want To Talk is the band’s brand-new single. It’s a poppy, upbeat track with melancholy lyrics, a road they’ve walked before. As a consequence, the song falls between an infectious indie bop and a heartbreak anthem. The tune’s fast drumbeat introduction transitions right into a catchy flute that keeps coming back throughout the song. Other ear-catching elements are thick guitar hooks and a prominent harmonica.
“I Don’t Want to Talk is ultimately a song about insecurities,” Dylan Minnette said in a statement. “Not only in yourself, but in this case, particularly in a relationship. It centers around the fear of being away from someone for too long and that ultimately allowing the other person’s head to be turned by someone else, and instead of expressing those fears, completely shutting down and not wanting to talk about it at all.”
This week, I Don’t Want To Talk by Wallows is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard! It’ll be featured here prominently for a full seven days.
Recommended as well:
Wallows – OK
Follow Wallows on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 41):
indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 41):
Jaguar Jonze – Who Died And Made You King?
Deena Lynch is a multi-talented performer. She is an Instagram artist (as Spectator Jonze), a photographer (Dusky Jonze) and a musician (Jaguar Jonze). Recently however, her artistry was pushed to the back a little, for she had quite the year. Apart from the ‘usual’ COVID-19 hassle, she attracted the virus herself. Also, she shared her experiences of sexual abuse and harassment in the music industry, and became a strong voice for the #metoo movement in Australia.
In her fiery new single Who Died And Made You King?, Jonze celebrates the fact that in the last year, many notable ‘kings’ or heads at the top of the music industry have been taken down. The track is driven by punchy percussion, fierce distorted vocals and determined lyrics. It acts as a warning that more downfalls and clean-ups are yet to come.
Meanwhile, she leaves no doubt she’s back. Jonze explains: “With this single, I wanted to take back my power, take back my voice and take back my artistry.”
This week, Who Died And Made You King? by Jaguar Jonze is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It’ll feature at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Recommended as well:
Rabbit Hole
Kill Me With Your Love
Follow Jaguar Jonze on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 40):
indie | punk | rock
Wildcard (week 40):
Youth Sector – Self Exile
Are you (like me) old enough to know and appreciate bands like Devo, Talking Heads and Tubeway Army? Then you might want to check out Brighton five-piece art-rock outfit Youth Sector, who combine the best of these bands.
Speaking of their new single, the band’s Nick Tompkins says: “Self Exile is about feeling self-destructive, cutting your nose to spite your face, and wanting to push yourself away from those around you as punishment. The lyric ‘That should do it this time’ is written in the mindset of thinking you’ve finally hit someone’s final nerve.”
Clocking in at [3’02], Self Exile is an energetic, well-crafted post-punk track. Exciting and catchy; playful and punchy. What more does a good song need? ‘That should do it’, indeed.
Self Exile by Youth Sector is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature at the top of the blog for a full week!
Follow Youth Sector on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 39):
dance | electronic | indie | pop
Wildcard (week 39):
Foxes – Sister Ray
Sister Ray is a legendary record store in London (worth your visit!), named after a lengthy Velvet Underground song. Now, it’s also the title of Foxes’ new single but sonically, it couldn’t be further away from the VU track.
Coming from Foxes, Sister Ray is a euphoric, carefree dance tune, that sounds like it’s been heavily influenced by Robyn. And that, my friends, is never a bad thing. Drenched in pulsating synths, this banger will most certainly have you put on your dancing shoes.
Foxes, real name Louisa Rose Allen, says of the single: “Sister Ray came from a wild part of me during lockdown that was craving a night of freedom and fun again, a longing to let go. The Velvet Underground reference is a nod to describing the most debauched night you could ever imagine but in its spirit it’s a celebration of the people you can have those indescribable times with. I wanted to encapsulate that energy in a song so I could imagine that feeling forever.”
Foxes’ third album The Kick will come out on 11 February 2022. Sister Ray is the first taster of it, and this week, it’s the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a full week!
Follow Foxes on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 38):
indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 38):
Mazy – Flowers
If you always wondered how Tame Impala would sound if they incorporated Madchester-kind of beats, I’ve got the answer. Please, meet Mazy, a stomping neo-psychedelic band from Marrickville, near Sydney!
Mazy consists of Ben Tierney (vocals, guitar), Tim Grimes (keys, percussion, vocals) and Sam Clayton (bass, vocals). So far, they haven’t been the most prolific band on earth, to put it mildly. Until this year, they released one single in 2017 and one in 2018. But in 2021 they’ve come up to speed, with two singles so far.
Their latest, Flowers, is a real treat. It dives into the sound of the ‘60s with a Beach Boys-like chorus, brass elements, guitar riffs, synth arpeggios and driving drums. After a magical breakdown, the track speeds up to finish in a flurry of colourful harmonies and instrumentation. It was mixed by Kim Moyes from The Presets.
Flowers is a truly a-Mazy-ng song. It’s the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll spice up the upper regions of this blog for a whole week.
Follow Maze on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 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.
