Browsing Category wildcard
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 20):
indie | jazz | pop | soul
Wildcard (week 20):
Haerts – Days Go By
Singer Nini Fabi and multi-instrumentalist Benny Gebert are originally from Munich. They met in high school and became a couple, both romantically and musically. The two have been living in the United States for years now. First in New York, but they recently relocated to California. Originally, their band Haerts was a quartet, but in 2021, Fabi and Gebert are the two remaining core members. However, the band can grow out to a six-piece when playing live.
Dream Nation, out this week, is the outfit’s third album. Once again a collection of gorgeous, ethereal alt-pop music, with clear nods to the ‘60s and ‘70s. Take new single Days Go By, for instance. A lovely retro pop song with jazz and soul influences. It’s got an exotic touch, thanks to tropical drums, a prominent flute and even a lovely house piano. It reminds me of The Brand New Heavies, which is never a bad thing!
Haerts’ new single Days Go By is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Recommended as well:
Haerts – No Love For The Wild
Follow Haerts 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, wildcardpop | rock
Wildcard (week 19): Niko Rubio – You Could Be The One
Following her first single I Dreamt About You Last Night (2019), things got quiet around Niko Rubio. But now she’s back with what a press statement calls her ‘debut single’. In other words: forget about the other one, the future starts here.
Danielle Rubio, better known as Niko, is an emerging singer, songwriter and guitarist from the South Bay of Los Angeles. The 20-year-old began her love affair with music when she was just a kid. In her early teens, she listened to artists like the XX, Bob Dylan and Shakira. Later on, she added Vampire Weekend, Lana Del Rey, Erykah Badu and Twenty One Pilots to her tastes. Growing up in Mexican culture, Niko liked the mariachi and banda music her grandparents played at home as well.
This diverse set of influences translates into her own eclectic style. Take her new single You Could Be The One, for instance. A kicky pop-rock track with a shimmering chorus, accentuated with pulsating guitars, groovy percussion and Rubio’s soulful vocals. It’s the first song from her forthcoming debut EP, due out this Summer.
This week, You Could Be The One by Niko Rubio is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. As such, you’ll find it at the top of the blog for a full week.
Follow Niko Rubio on Facebook | Instagram | 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 18):
electronic | indie | pop | tropical
Wildcard (week 18):
Clypso – On Our Way
Clypso is a Sydney-based producer and vocalist, whose music is as colourful as her outfits. Expect a mix of hyperactive beats, gnarly basslines and tropical inspired electronica. Prepare yourself for some African influences as well. She describes her sound as ‘troppo chilli flakes’ herself.
On Our Way is Clypso’s first new track of 2021. It’s a real sunny one, with production duties performed by Pnau’s Peter Mayes. In a press statement, the singer says about the track: “On Our Way is about setting off together on a love or buddy journey. An uplifting and joyful tune about being a steady rock of support till the end no matter what life throws at you. I think I channelled my inner Bruno Mars–John Legend on this one. So yeah, it’d be cool to see someone dance down the aisle to this one!”
Do you like feel-good songs with ’80s pop energy, bursting with big vocals, bright percussion and catchy lyrics? Then On Our Way is the one for you!
This week, it’s the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Clypso 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 17):
folk | indie | pop
Wildcard (week 17):
Lissie – Hey Boy
We all know about Prince’s world famous vault, where he presumably stacked even more music than he officially put out. Obviously, more artists (probably most of them) sometimes record material they eventually don’t release. I presume when a recording is shelved, there’s a good reason to do so. Because it’s crap, for instance. All too often, these sessions end up on box sets, ‘Deluxe Editions’, ‘Expanded Versions’ or ‘Anniversary Editions’. Such a shame…
That being said, there may also be other reasons to hold a release. When a track doesn’t fit the sound or feel of the other songs that make up an album, for instance. However, in some cases it’s impossible to imagine why a song wasn’t issued before. Lissie’s ‘new’ single Hey Boy is such a track…
The American singer-songwriter rediscovered the song when she went through her archives recently. She browsed her old recordings on behalf of two upcoming projects: the Anniversary Edition (whaaa!!) of her 2010 breakthrough album Catching A Tiger (which will be out 25 June) and Watch Over Me (Early Works 2002-2009), an album compiling nine highlights from her formative years as a songwriter (out 23 July). Both will feature lots of cult fan favourites and previously unreleased material.
The latter album is now previewed by the previously unreleased song Hey Boy. It’s a raw and rootsy folk-rocker with an intense and bluesy vocal performance. The track, written circa 2003, finds Lissie criticising the sexism and misogyny that she faced as a young female artist.
She recalls: “When I was in college, I was out seeing live music almost every night. I would play open mics and eventually get to open up for touring acts that passed through town. There was a crew of musician guys who always seemed to mock me and my lyrics, trashed my posters around town and who insinuated that the only reason I was getting opportunities was because I was a silly young woman who was a flirt. That strangely felt like a normal thing to have to deal with then, so I just shrugged it off and kept going. (…) It seems like this is now changing for the better.”
This week, Hey Boy by Lissie is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. Deservedly, this finally unearthed gem will feature prominently at the top of this blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Lissie – Love Blows
Lissie – Best Days
Follow Lissie 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 16):
pop
Wildcard (week 16):
Marina – Purge The Poison
After three albums, Marina Diamandis shortened her professional name from Marina & The Diamonds to Marina. The double album Love + Fear, a collection of two mini-albums, was the first she released under the new moniker. Now, a second full album is on its way. Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land will be out on 11 June. Funnily, there’s no word on a vinyl version, but the record will be put out in three cassette versions, each with a different colour: clear green, metallic blue and gold.
Following last year’s track Man’s World, Purge The Poison is the second single off the upcoming long-player. Personally, I think it’s one of Marina’s best songs to date. It’s lengthy lyrics are a critical summary of recent history, starring climate change, COVID-19, #metoo, equity, diversity and inclusion, and other ‘highlights’. Musically, it’s a punchy, up-beat track, that will hopefully re-open music directors’ ears.
This week, Purge The Poison by Marina is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
Follow Marina 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 15):
electronic | indie | pop
Wildcard (week 15):
Yelle – Noir
Yelle is a French electro-pop group around front woman and namesake Yelle (Julie Budet) and Grandmarnier (Jean-François Perrier). The original name of the band, Yel, was an acronym of ‘You Enjoy Life’. When there appeared to be a Belgian act with the same name, they feminised their name to Yelle. Halfway the ‘00s, they scored a Top 5 hit with their debut single Je Veux Te Voir (Dans Un Film Pornografique!). Follow-up single A Cause Des Garçons was almost as successful.
15 years later, the group has four albums to their name. The most recent one, L’ère Du Verseau, came out in September 2020. Noir is one of the best tracks on it. Early this year, car brand Kia used it in a TV campaign for the Black Edition of its Sportage model, which ignited huge interest in the track. Now it has been released as Yelle’s official new single. Budet explains it’s an ode to post-pandemic life: “I strongly hope that this song will make you want to dance, to party, to stay out late, just at a moment when all of this is forbidden…”
A great punchy electro tune, Noir is cool in every sense of the word. This is well-reflected in the song’s super stylish music video, which celebrates the dynamic versatility of an all-black wardrobe. ‘Comment t’habilles-tu ce soir? / Moi je m’habille en noir’ (‘What are you wearing tonight? / Me, I’m wearing black‘.)
Noir by Yelle is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so it’ll feature prominently at the top of the page for a full seven days!
Recommended as well:
Yelle – Ici Et Maintenant (Here And Now)
Follow Yelle 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 14):
indie | pop | r&b | soul
Wildcard (week 14):
Who – Hey! Get Out The Way
When I spotted a track with the title Hey! Get Out The Way in the Danish New Music Friday playlist, I presumed it would be a cover of The Cardigans’ Hey! Get Out Of My Way. It isn’t, however. That said, it’s very hard to find out what it actually is. I mean, calling your project Who isn’t going to make it easy to find any info via Google, is it? Furthermore, a Spotify bio is lacking as well. The only thing I know for sure, is that Hey! Get Out The Way is Who’s debut single. And a damn fine one as well.
The rest remains pretty much a mystery, and it might even be meant to be. One can only guess it’s a Danish project, as it appeared in the Danish NMF playlist. This guess appears to be confirmed by the fact the track was co-written by Nabiha Bensouda. She’s a very fine (Danish) artist in her own right. I’m especially fond of her early singles, like Deep Sleep and Never Played The Bass from circa 10 years ago.
Anyway, ‘who’ever Who is or are, Hey! Get Out The Way is a great debut, that echoes Lizzo’s Good As Hell. What’s not to like about that? If you like a good pop-r&b-soul crossover, this one’s for you. The single is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, which means it’ll feature prominently at the top of this blog for a whole week!
Follow Who on 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 13):
indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 13):
RoseeLu – Playing Alone
RoseeLu has always done things her way and has always been a loner. In other words: the 19-year-old Danish newcomer is a girl with character. Rosa Frydensbjerg (her real name) grew up to the sound of her dad’s piano, and wrote her first melodies in kindergarten. Eventually, she decided to follow her own dream and ambition to become a full-time musician. She quit high-school, left home and moved to Copenhagen at the age of just 17.
Destined for big things, she already released three tracks in 2020. But with this new autobiographical single, Playing Alone, her break-through is inevitable. It’s a very confident track, which clashes grungy guitars with contemporary beats. The sound of the alternative ‘90s meets raw, modern R&B and widescreen pop.
RoseeLu explains: ”Even though it sounds cliché, I really hope to inspire anyone who listens to embrace their inner child and cherish it. Playing Alone is my appeal to those who thinks kids are wrong if they – like me – are not into commercial toys and football trading cards, but are totally fine contemplating with themselves in their own company – which is OK and super healthy.”
To me, Playing Alone is the best new single of this week, which makes it the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. This means, it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week!
Follow RoseeLu on Facebook | Instagram | 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 12):
indie | pop
Wildcard (week 12):
Telenova – Bones
You may not have heard about Telenova before, but you’re not to blame. The trio only just released their debut single. How about a little introduction, then?
Telenova is front woman Angeline Armstrong, and producer/multi-instrumentalists Edward Quinn and Joshua Moriarty. Three seasoned musicians, who were in notable Aussie acts Beachwood, Slum Sociable and Miami Horror before. Comes pretty close to a super group from down under, doesn’t it? The trio first met at a songwriting camp in early 2020, curated by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla. Bringing together their respective music worlds, they immediately connected. This resulted in a refreshing and distinctive sound. A symphonic fusion of classy indie-rock with a splash of modern disco.
Their own description is: ‘cinema for your ears’. A further explanation reads: ‘a silver screen dreamscape of ‘70s chords, haunting melodies, cinematic song-writing and nostalgic trip-hop beats’.
In a press release, Armstrong said the genesis of first single Bones stemmed from the percussive intro, sounding like ‘rattling bones’. “It reminded me of this feeling I’ve had of being so trapped inside my own head, my own skin and bones. We started to envision this elaborate narrative of melancholia and longing, a girl trapped in her own bones… her own disillusionment.”
Telenova’s debut single Bones will feature prominently at the top of this blog for a full seven days. It’s this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
Follow Telenova 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 11):
indie | pop | rock
Wildcard (week 11):
Hawke – Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)
Hawke are a young Dublin act, consisting of friends Richie Power (vocals/keyboards) and Eoghan MacMahon (vocals/guitar). They formed the band in the shadow of the world-famous Guinness Brewery (in the south of the city). Cheers to that! The duo is currently based in London, by the way.
After recording initial home demos in Richie’s bedroom, they decided to send their demo-tape to a hit-list of the industry’s top producers. Within days, the cunning plan paid off and Richie & Eoghan found themselves recording their newly-written songs during precious studio time at both Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios in the capital.
Hawke have used their lockdown time wisely, spending much of 2020 furiously writing and recording songs. These will form the basis of another cunning plan: they’ll release twelve new singles throughout 2021. One each month.
Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?) is the second of this bunch. An anthemic track that displays the duo’s fondness for rousing ‘90s indie-rock (particularly their love of The Verve, Coldplay and Oasis). Produced by Jamie McIntyre (a member of highly tipped The Covasettes), it was mastered by Carlos Bricio of the Abbey Road Institute, London.
Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?) by Hawke is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. As such, it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Hawke 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.
