Browsing Category wildcard
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 1): Joe Mungovan – Hurts
Wildcard (week 1): Joe Mungovan – Hurts
Aussie multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Joe Mungovan deserves worldwide success. His bouncy new single Hurts is a good place to start!
Hurts by Joe Mungovan is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow him on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2026 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.
playlist, wildcard
Check for weekly updates
Every New Music Friday afternoon (CET):
- A round-up of the latest additions to the Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist
- A new Wildcard, which will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week
For daily updates of the best new music, add the Spotify playlist to your library (click ‘+’)
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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 52):
Wildcard (week 52):
Camp Kubrick – Goodbye To College
Pepijn Schipper is one of the most prolific and successful Dutch EDM artists. As Don Diablo, he is a DJ, digital artist, label owner, record producer, musician, songwriter and remixer. He is one of the pioneers of the future house genre. But Schipper also uses other stage names for a variety of projects. One of my favourites among them is Camp Kubrick.
Camp Kubrick is a project he launched in September 2020 with singer Denzel Chain (born Denzel Ketting). Their sound is very much inspired by ‘80s pop. In their bio, they namedrop artists like Toto, Lionel Richie and Kraftwerk, and movies like ‘Back To The Future’ and ‘The Never Ending Story’ as sources of inspiration.
Choosing quality over quantity, Camp Kubrick only release a track now and then. Their 2020 debut single Johnny’s Online was followed by three tracks in 2021, one in 2022 and one in 2023. Today saw the release of only Camp Kubrick’s seventh tune, but it’s a killer track once again. Not a far cry from The Weeknd, Goodbye To College is an ‘80s style pop song that effortlessly sounds contemporary forty years later.
With Goodbye To College we say goodbye to 2025. Camp Kubrick’s new single is the last Carte Blanche Music Wildcard of the year. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Camp Kubrick @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow the duo on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 51):
Wildcard (week 51):
The Indie Pea – Lights On, Lights Out
With the fragmented ways of music listening nowadays, I don’t expect to hear a new Christmas classic any time soon. All people seem to want for Christmas are Mariah Carey, Wham!, Chris Rea and a few other popular holiday tunes. If you have a broader taste, maybe you’d like to try my playlist Werner’s X-Mess for a change… Every year I add my favourite new festive tunes and it really is… different.
Hailing from the US, The Indie Pea crafts lush, emotionally resonant indie rock that’s as cinematic as it is intimate. A month ago, the band released a gem that seamlessly fits my playlist. All the band’s signature sounds are there: shimmering guitar work, melodic vulnerability, and rich string arrangements.
A potential future X-Mess classic for people who are fed up with the standards and the clichés. It’s Christmas anyhow…
Lights On, Lights Out by The Indie Pea is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More of The Indie Pea @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow the band on Facebook | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 50):
Wildcard (week 50):
Rebecca Bangfield – Soft Landing
Rebecca Bangfield is a rising Norwegian indie-pop artist known for her sharp songwriting and powerful voice. She gained traction with her 2023 EP Bundle Of Bones. The year after, she participated in ‘The Voice Norway’.
With her sharp songwriting pen and showstopping voice, she’s spent 2025 working in the studio with producers Hans Kristian Nordin (tigerstate, For You) and Preben Sælid Andersen (Death By Unga Bunga, Hajk). This resulted in a batch of great singles, two of which (Bon Voyage and New Girl) have been released in the past two months.
The third in a row, Soft Landing, is out now, and it’s an absolute beauty. A piece of fresh and catchy indie pop, it hints to luminaires like Maggie Rogers and Alice Phoebe Lou. It’s a timeless song with smart lyrics and clever punchlines.
Soft Landing by Rebecca Bangfield is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Rebecca on Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 49):
Wildcard (week 49):
Molly Grace – Bow Wow
If you like artists such as Lizzo, Renée Rapp and Chappell Roan, please meet Molly Grace Zeytoonian! Born on 6 December 2001, she’s an American singer and songwriter. Born to parents of Armenian and Irish descent, Grace is currently based in Nashville. The prolific artist released her first EP Everybody Wants To Know Molly in 2021 and has steadily built a career since then.
Hot on the heels of her first studio album Blush, released just months ago, she comes up with brand new track Bow Wow. Following an intro reminiscent of Salt-N-Pepa’s classic Push It, it catches the same vibe as Raye’s current smash Where Is My Husband! And as far as I’m concerned, it deserves to become just as big a hit as those two. Bow Wow is an extremely catchy tune, that effortlessly blends pop, funk, r&b, soul and disco.
Brilliantly timed as a birthday present for her, Bow Wow by Molly Grace is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Molly Grace @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 48): Mid Drift – Whiplash
Wildcard (week 48): Mid Drift – Whiplash
This week, news broke that a historically low percentage of music consumed via streaming platforms is from Australian artists. As you know if you’re a regular Carte Blanche Music visitor, this has nothing to do with a lack of Aussie talent. On the contrary, it’s the continent that houses many of my favourite bands. This week, I add a new one to that lot.
Mid Drift is a lovely Brisbane-based band. They take inspiration from some of the greats in the surf rock genre, like Ocean Alley, Spacey Jane and Rum Jungle. The band combines Sarah Engstrom’s mellow vocals with the wickedly talented instrumentals from Rowan Bowyer (drums), Dan Larsen (guitar), George Swan (guitar) and John Reid (bass). Their songs burst with sun-soaked melodies and woozy guitar licks.
Ever since their 2023 debut single Know Your Name more and more people started to, well, know their name. Mid Drift, it is. The indie-rock sweethearts have swiftly captured hearts all across Australia selling out two national headliner tours in 2025. They’ve also played support slots for Aussie crowd favourites Ocean Alley, Old Mervs, and DICE. On top of that, they appeared at renowned Australian festivals such as Spaced Out and Rolling Sets.
After the release of their first EP Lemon Lime And Tan Lines, early this year, the female fronted 5-piece show no signs of slowing down. They just announced their sophomore EP is set to come out in February 2026. Whiplash is the third single to be released ahead of it, and I think it’s their finest moment. It reminds me of the most upbeat stuff The Smiths put out. And Engstrom’s powerhouse vocals are spot on!
Whiplash by Mid Drift is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Mid Drift on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 47):
Wildcard (week 47):
Pash – Tracy
Pash are Adelaide lads Jett Gazley, Nic Bergoc, Orlando Elliot and Danny Maclean. After releasing music for a few years now, they’ve got four singles and an EP tot heir name.
They spent much of 2025 playing shows, signing a global record deal and writing new music. The latter resulted in the band’s first single of the year, Tracy. They call it a ‘sonic and aesthetic love-child of INXS and 1975’, but I beg to differ. To me, Tracy sound like a great mix of Hanson’s Mmmbob and Stacy’s Mom by Fountains Of Wayne.
“This is one of those songs that came into fruition effortlessly,” the Australian band said in a statement. “We wanted to channel the nostalgia of the late ‘90s and this playful tune about young obsessive love came bursting out.”
Tracy by Pash is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow Pash on Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 46):
Wildcard (week 46):
Tygermylk – Local Girl, Always Tired
Tygermylk is the project of Hastings-based artist Hayz Harland, a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and disability inclusivity. Years of busking on London’s Southbank taught Harland the power of vulnerability, a quality that shines on their debut album Local Girl, Always Tired. It was ten years in the making and co-produced with Tony Burrata (Edie Bens, The Staves). The record enlists poetic and witty lyricism, dreamy vocals, infectious melodies and bountiful indie-pop earworms.
The title song is the long-player’s focus track. Local Girl, Always Tired pulls on Tygermylk’s experiences of moving back to their hometown during the pandemic. Small towns can mean close knit community and support, but they can also lack diversity and representation.
Harland explained; “Just before the first lockdown, I had a breakdown. I was completely burnt out and had to leave London and move back in with my parents. (…) I’d been badly bullied when I was younger and never had many friends, and suddenly in 2020 I was back in the same place that had been the source of so much trauma. The song is about that feeling: being stuck in a small town that doesn’t fundamentally align with who you are, dreaming of a bigger life, aching to escape.”
The title Local Girl, Always Tired came from a chance moment of inspiration. “The idea came from overhearing a job interview in a hotel foyer in Manchester. This girl was asked, ‘If you ever made the headlines, what would your headline be?’ She sighed: ‘Oh, I don’t know… Local Girl, Always Tired’.”
Local Girl, Always Tired by Tygermylk is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
Follow them on Facebook | Instagram | B | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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, wildcard
Wildcard (week 45):
Wildcard (week 45):
Elle Coves – Fault Line
Elena Coves Cascales, born in Germany to Spanish parents, moved to Ireland when she was thirteen. Inspired by Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Maggie Rogers and Sam Fender, she started writing songs shortly after. Coves merges personal, self-reflective storytelling with powerful melodies and stadium choruses.
Now a twenty-one-year-old, she can look back upon a flying start of her career. She has already toured with the likes of Lewis Capaldi and Niall Horan, and worked with some of the biggest writers and producers in the industry.
Her single Fault Line is Coves’ first new song since releasing her sophomore EP No Good At Hanging Up, last August. It’s a great, melancholic track that goes down very well in the season of falling leaves. Not only by the sound of it, but lyrically as well.
Fault Line explores the emotional turmoil and breaking point in a strained relationship. Through vivid and raw lyrics, she paints a picture of someone who feels trapped in a cycle of emotional pain and is finally choosing to walk away. The metaphor of a fault line (where earthquakes happen) powerfully conveys the constant tension and potential for emotional disaster.
Fault Line by Elle Coves is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Elle Coves @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 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.
