Browsing Category wildcard
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 16):
Wildcard (week 16):
AngĂšle – Libre
Donât say I didnât warn you. AngĂšleâs debut album Brol was great and I wrote about many of its singles. It turned her into a pop princess, and her sophomore long-player Nonante-cinq will only enhance that status. Iâm curious what would happen if sheâd switch to lyrics in EnglishâŠ
The albumâs second track is my favourite song on it. Libre deals with emancipation in the broadest sense. This includes claiming her position and taking revenge of the ones who hurt her. Musically, itâs a seemingly carefree and danceable tune, with a prominent bass line that resembles Tame Impalaâs The Less I Know The Better.
As proposed last December, itâs AngĂšleâs new single! Even better: Libre is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so itâll feature prominently at the top of this blog for a whole week!
Recommended as well:
Balance Ton Quoi
Tout Oublier (feat. Roméo Elvis)
Je Veux Tes Yeux
La Loi De Murphy
Follow AngĂšle on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 15):
Wildcard (week 15):
Lauran Hibberd feat. DJ Lethal – Still Running (5K)
I consider myself a fan of Lauran Hibberdâs. Her songs are fresh, tongue-in-cheek, hard-hitting and accessible at the same time. Slacker pop for the 2020âs. After two EPâs, sheâs currently recording her debut album. Itâs called Garageband Superstar and will be out on 19 August. Write that date down, peeps. The title may seem to be a tad premature, but sheâs sure to live up to it.
The first single off the long-player, Still Running (5K), is out now. Itâs once again produced to perfection by Suzy Shinn (Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, Dua Lipa). The hip hop inspired scratches were added by Limp Bizkitâs DJ Lethal.
Of the meaning behind the track, Lauran explains: âStill Running (5K) explores my self-destructive ideals. In a world where everyoneâs life looks better online, and everyoneâs thighs donât touch except in real life, it explains what it feels like to start believing what you read. Itâs dangerous to compare your life to others, and itâs somewhat humorous that this is what we let ourselves become.â
Still Running (5K) by Lauran Hibberd feat. DJ Lethal is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means itâll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Recommended as well:
Bleugh
Boy Bye
Bang Bang Bang
Sweat Patch
Hoochie
Follow Lauran Hibberd on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Follow DJ Lethal on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 14):
Wildcard (week 14):
Get Well Soon – My Home Is My Heart
Konstantin Gropper used to be drawn to pessimists and naysayers, to anyone from Thomas Bernhard to Kurt Cobain. However, during lockdown (of all times) the 39-year-old German song-writer suddenly realized heâs an optimist. âEventually I had to give in and admit to myself that I simply needed to believe in some sort of âhappy endâ for all thisâ, he explains.
This new-found optimism can be heard on his Get Well Soon projectâs new album Amen. Although it sounds as melancholic as ever, it has a lighter tone than its predecessors. The record explores social questions Gropper stumbled upon while self-reflecting in isolation. The pros and cons of individualism, the good and bad that unites us and separates us, and the search for happiness and hope.
His recently discovered optimism can also be found in some of the song titles. I Love Humans, Our Best Hope, Golden Days and My Home Is My Heart, for instance. The latter is Get Well Soonâs new single. Itâs driven by a pounding drum backed by a tambourine, but the most striking element is the house-like piano melody. A theatrical song that Arcade Fire fans will certainly embrace, just like we at Carte Blanche Music HQ do.
This week My Home Is My Heart by Get Well Soon will feature prominently at the top of the blog as our Wildcard!
Follow Get Well Soon on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 13):
Wildcard (week 13):
Placebo – The Prodigal
Placebo are back with the eighth, and most accessible sounding album yet. Their first studio album in eight yearsâ time, Never Let Me Go was recorded between 2019 and 2021. It was preceded by the tracks Beautiful James, Surrounded By Spies, Try Better Next Time and âthe fourth and final singleâ Happy Birthday In The Sky. âFourth and final singleâ? Does that mean that The Prodigal, which could grow into Placeboâs Bittersweet Symphony, would not be released commercially? Luckily, it doesnât. Thanks to some attentive (and influential) music lovers, the record company just decided to make it the albumâs fifth single as yet.
The Prodigal opens with a catchy string arrangement, which Placebo did not sample from a classic Rolling Stones track. Letâs just hope representatives of Queen & David Bowie wonât claim the strings halfway the song resemble the grande finale of Under Pressure.
All in all, The Prodigal is a wonderful, radio friendly single. Its orchestral backdrop and beautiful backing vocals give extra depth to the recognizable Placebo sound. As the albumâs fifth single, it may seem to be the end of the campaign, but its only just beginning. This week, the band start a headline tour thatâll bring them all over Europe. Make sure not to miss it.
This week, Placeboâs The Prodigal will feature at the top of the Carte Blanche Music blog as our new Wildcard.
Recommended as well:
Beautiful James
Placebo – Lifeâs What You Make It
Follow Placebo on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 12):
Wildcard (week 12):
Estella Dawn – Buzzcut
New Zealand-born, US-based Estella Dawn McGee is an independent songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. After releasing 20 tracks in the past four years, sheâll put out her first full-length album this spring. Itâll contain 14 brand-new tunes and the first single off it is out now.
Buzzcut is a sophisticated, self-produced modern pop song with touches of neo-soul. The delicately swinging musical backdrop is very well executed. The real treat however is Dawnâs voice, which is front and center in the mix. She has a large range, which is fully deployed throughout the song. By layering the vocals they even gain eloquence.
Lyrically, Buzzcut holds an empowering message. She explains: âThis song is about holding your shape when embarking on a new relationship, an encouragement to stay true to your own authentic flare. To have someone be so enthralled with you that they would adjust themselves to better suit what they thought you wanted.â
If you like Dua Lipa (count me in!), youâll love Estella Dawn.
Buzzcut is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means itâll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Estella Dawn on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 11):
Wildcard (week 11):
Haley Ganis – Just Pretty
Haley Ganis grew up in New York, where she graduated from AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy). A month after, she landed her first role in the independent film âCathy Coppolaâ. More roles followed, but Ganis currently focuses on her career as a singer and songwriter, based in Nashville. She specialises in bittersweet, honest and nostalgic perspectives on life. If you like renforshort, Julia Michaels, beabadoobee and Olivia Rodrigo, be sure to get to know Haley Ganis as well.
Later this year, the rising indie-pop artist will release a new EP. Just Pretty is the first single to be released ahead of it. A great song with an accessible pop-punk inspired sound.
âI am so incredibly proud of the journey this song has takenâ, says Haley. âWhat started out as a ballad, eventually made its way to a kickass anthem that Iâm obsessed with. I couldnât have done it without my producer, Dylan Maloney, and all of the amazingly talented musicians who played on this track for me.â
Here at Carte Blanche Music weâre obsessed with Just Pretty by Haley Ganis as well. Itâs our new Wildcard, so itâll feature at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Follow Haley Ganis on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
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 10):
Wildcard (week 10):
Iris Gold – Crushed Velvet
I donât have to tell you that nowadays, the amount of new artists and tracks is huge. On the one hand thatâs great; if youâre open-minded and not afraid to listen to totally unknown acts or songs, you might very well stumble upon a new personal favourite. On the other hand, itâs easier than ever to overlook a great act or fantastic song. In that respect, I ask myself how itâs possible I didnât come across the brilliant Iris Gold before?
Irisâ career finally took off in 2015, after a long and not too successful run-up. She was offered record deals, but she didnât sign when she felt she had to make too many compromises. Which was almost every time. Free from restraints and restrictions, she made a debut album that was truly her own. This record, Planet Cool, was a tribute to diversity and to staying true to yourself, no matter the cost.
Since some time, Iris Gold collaborates with David A. Stewart, of Eurythmics fame. He co-wrote and produced her new single Crushed Velvet. Sounding like a hard-hitting version of Funky Town, itâs a song Lenny Kravitz would kill for.
The singer says about her new single: âThe world can be crazy sometimes and sometimes all the time. With this song i guess i can offer you 2 min. of escape to a carefree purple planet. A headbangers ball for yaâll.â
As far as Iâm concerned, Gold will strike platinum with this one. Just like her latest single Piece Of Mine two months ago, Crushed Velvet is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means itâll feature at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Recommended as well:
Piece Of Mine
Follow Iris Gold on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 9):
Wildcard (week 9):
Two Year Vacation – Chasing The Morning
Two Year Vacation are a quintet from Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city, known for its rain, headwind and greyness. Their music however is the exact opposite. Influenced by everyone from ABBA to Fatboy Slim through early Daft Punk, MGMT, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend and Peter Björn & John, they produce rhythmic radio-friendly indie pop. Or, as the Swedish press called it, âtropical kraut-popâ.
The band spent the summer of 2021Â in the legendary âSilence Studiosâ. A well-chosen name for a place deep in the Swedish wilderness, far away from everything. They passed the time BBQing, recording, swimming in the lake and having the best of times. It may not have been a âtwo year vacationâ, but it sure felt like it. The five musicians managed to catch the atmosphere on tape, as we will be able to hear on their upcoming EP High Hopes/Low Expectations.
Chasing The Morning is the first single to be released ahead of it. Sound-wise, it paints a decent picture of the fun experience. Itâs a feel-good sing-along song with rhythmic beats and tasty melodies. A great start of a new era for the band. And to make it even better, Chasing The Morning by Two Year Vacation is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means itâll feature at the top of this blog for a full week.
Recommended as well:
Stop Making Sense
I Forgot Your Name (But I Like You)
Follow Two Year Vacation on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 8): Dylan – No Romeo
Wildcard (week 8): Dylan – No Romeo
London-based, Suffolk-born singer-songwriter Natasha Woods came to the scene as Dylan in 2019. That yearâs EP Purple and its follow-up Red were only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what lies ahead. She already reached many more people through the release of three more singles in 2021. Some of her new fans included Yungblud, Griff and Thomas Headon, who asked Dylan to support them on their tours. By the sound of her new single No Romeo, itâs fair to predict she might be a future super star.
No Romeo is an ultra catchy electro-pop tune. In line with her earlier releases, itâs an empowering track, with honest, meaningful lyrics. The song is a rally call against wasting any more time on those that donât deserve it.
Dylan says about her new single: âI wrote No Romeo with my best friends in mind. I was tired of them going back to their questionable exes and letting themselves be treated like crap (although I think I needed the song as much as they did!) and wanted, as always, to write something empowering. The aim was to write an anthem for the late-night drives with the windows down, the shouting at the sea because LIFE, and the screaming crying throwing up heartbreak moments.â
Last yearâs singles, No Romeo and two unreleased tracks will be on her next EP, due out on 8 April. Itâll be named after the current single. This week, No Romeo by Dylan is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means itâll feature at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
Follow Dylan on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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 7):
Wildcard (week 7):
Barks IV & I.Am.Em – Hittin’ It
Itâs not always easy to find any interesting information about the artists I feature at Carte Blanche Music. Especially when it looks like the acts are doing their best to maintain a mysterious profile. Obviously, my ultimate goal is to introduce you to the best new music, not to âexposeâ artists against their will. On the other hand, having been a radio DJ for 30 years, I know itâs fun to play a great song, but equally satisfying to be able to give some nice background info. So I did some diggingâŠ
Turns out, Iâve been writing about Barks IV before. His real name is Bjarke SĂžrensen, born in Denmark, but currently working from Berlin, Germany. He used to be in the band The Dead-On, who had to change their name to The New Madness due to legal issues. I recommended their debut single Lovesick back in 2017. Nowadays, SĂžrensen is a producer and A&R at Deadly Tunes, a company thatâs specialized in producing and licensing music for commercials and TV.
I.Am.Em is the artist name of American artist, singer-songwriter and music producer Emmery Williams. Sheâs currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Her LinkedIn profile states: âA multifaceted pianist, I.Am.Em thrives in providing top quality productions for artists & music synchronizationâ. Her Instagram bio adds: âPlacements on TV, Filmâ.
Now, Barks IV and I.Am.Em found each other in song and mission. Hittinâ It is a top-notch tune with a great beat and swinging vocals. To me, it immediately brought back memories of Neneh Cherry. And did they succeed âsynchronizationâ-wise? Oh yeah, they did. You can hear the song in the Netflix series âTwentysomethings: Austinâ. Mission accomplished on every level. Good story, brilliant song!
Oh, and hereâs another âplacementâ: Hittinâ It by Barks IV & I.Am.Em is our new Wildcard. This means itâll feature at the top of the Carte Blanche Music blog for a full week.
Follow Barks IV on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Follow I.Am.Em on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
