The last six years, starting in 2017, I posted 10 musical recommendations per week on this blog. A total of well over 3.000 tracks, mostly by upcoming – often female (fronted) – artists from all over the world. As I explained yesterday, Carte Blanche Music is entering a new era. One in which I’ll focus my efforts on my constantly updated Spotify playlist.

For sure, that doesn’t mean the blog is closing down. It’ll continue to be the home of my ‘best of’ collection (Werner’s Weekly) on Monday mornings (CET) and my favourite new track (the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard), every Wednesday morning. Also, I’ll post the latest additions to my playlist on Saturdays. For updates, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

No better way to round up the last six years than by publishing the Your ‘All-Time’ Favourites, a chart compiling the 500 most popular (as in best-read) Carte Blanche Music recommendations from 2017 to 2022. You’ll find the Top 25 below, but click through for the full list. My original recommendations are behind the links. If you’re an artist, don’t be shy and search (Ctrl+F) to find out if you made the list. You might be surprised…

Enjoy and thanks for joining the ride so far. Follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist (click ‘♥’ in Spotify) for many more recommendations to come!

Your ‘All-Time’ Favourites (2017-2022)

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. Wildcard (week 7): Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl
3. Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
4. Wildcard (week 13): Placebo – The Prodigal
5. Super db – Wait For Me
6. Wildcard (week 12): Shanguy – Toukassé
7. Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
8. Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
9. IBE – Table Of Fools
10. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy
11. Wildcard (week 22): Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda
12. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
13. Friedberg – Go Wild
14. Wildcard (week 26): Videoclub – En Nuit
15. Agnes – Here Comes The Night
16. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
17. Angèle – Libre
18. Temples – Paraphernalia
19. Lola Le Lann – Portofino
20. Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
21. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
22. Videoclub – Enfance 80
23. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
24. Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days
25. Just – Walk Slow Smile More Read More →

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

My container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2021 doesn’t only include all of the 998 songs I recommended last year. It also holds the 100 best tracks in my opinion, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2021, which I published last week. But that’s only my selection. Isn’t it more interesting to see which of my recommendations you read the most? In other words: which of them were Your Favourites in 2021?

Apparently, the Carte Blanche Music blog has a strong archive function. A quarter of the Top 100 below consists of blog posts from earlier years, which you find via search engines. ‘Google is your friend’, as they say… Also, I think it’s wonderful to see young and upcoming artists like Angèle, Aili x Transistorcake, Mina Okabe, Eyjaa and Videoclub having more than one track amongst your favourites. These are acts to keep an extra keen eye on!

Thank you for being such loyal visitors of Carte Blanche Music. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and you won’t miss a single recommendation. You’ll find all of these brand-new songs and more in my daily updated Spotify playlist.

And now, enjoy last year’s greatest chart of all: Your Favourites 2021!

1. Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl ^(WC)
2. Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu (2020)
3. Super db – Wait For Me
4. Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
5. Just – Walk Slow Smile More
6. The Blue Stones – One By One
7. Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies (2020)
8. Mina Okabe – Miss Those Days
9. Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda (2020) ^(WC)
10. Agnes – Here Comes The Night
11. Pixey – Free To Live In Colour (2020)
12. Laura Mvula – Got Me
13. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy (2017)
14. Temples – Paraphernalia (2020)
15. Who – Hey! Get Out The Way ^(WC)
16. Julietta – Not Today
17. Lola Le Lann – Portofino (2020)
18. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged) (2019)
19. Eyjaa – Don’t Forget About Me
20. Indochine x Christine & The Queens – 3Sex (2020)
21. Me & My Toothbrush – Funking Around (2020)
22. Jealous Of The Birds – Something Holy (2020)
23. Saint Motel – Preach (2020)
24. Izo FitzRoy – Red Line (2020) ^(WC)
25. Videoclub – Enfance 80 (2020)
26. Therapie Taxi – Eté 90
27. Christopher – Fall So Hard
28. Isaac Dunbar – Fan Behavior
29. Mina Okabe – Walk Away
30. Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine (2020)
31. Danilo – Bringing It Back
32. Negramaro – Ora Ti Canto Il Mare
33. Videoclub – En Nuit (2019) ^(WC)
34. Good Health Good Wealth – Guinness
35. Ivan & The Parazol – Mást Vártam
36. Placebo – Beautiful James
37. Super-Hi x Neeka – Following The Sun
38. Trunky Juno – Daddy’s Gone For Cigarettes
39. Shanguy – Toukassé (2019) ^(WC)
40. Del Amitri – Close Your Eyes And Think Of England
41. Raffaella – Ballerina (2019)
42. Ali Barter – You Get In My Way
43. The Roop – Discoteque
44. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19 (2019)
45. Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
46. Grand Corps Malade – Pas Essentiel ^(WC)
47. Olivia – Can’t Break A Broken Heart
48. The Bamboos – Ride On Time
49. Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi (2019)
50. The Vices – In And Out (2020)
51. The Academic – Not Your Summer
52. Gotts Street Park feat. Flikka – Favourite Kind Of Girl (2020)
53. Aili x Transistorcake – Pari Pari
54. Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ? (2020)
55. Eyjaa – The Wrecking Crew
56. Dubstar – Tectonic Plates
57. Tom Jones – Talking Reality Television Blues ^(WC)
58. AKA George – Manic Machine
59. You Am I – The Waterboy
60. Grand Corps Malade – Des Gens Beaux
61. The Vices – Looking For Faces
62. Kuzko – My Mama Says
63. Alessia Cara & The Warning – Enter Sandman
64. L U – Liquid Gold
65. Ruby Waters – Blow
66. IBE – Table Of Fools (2019)
67. Banji – Listen
68. Moby feat. Gregory Porter & Amythyst Kiah – Natural Blues [Reprise Version]
69. Rori – The Same Way
70. Gracie Abrams – Friend
71. Said The Whale – Honey Lungs
72. Clara Luciani – Respire Encore ^(WC)
73. Papooz – Theatrical State Of Mind (2019)
74. Lou Hayter – Time Out Of Mind
75. Mia Nicolai – People Pleaser
76. Why Don’t We – Slow Down
77. Miss Machine – Regarder Les Choses
78. Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair
79. Devon – Warning Signs
80. Videoclub – Roi
81. Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl (2020)
82. Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams ^(WC)
83. Dopha – The Game (2020)
84. Maty Noyes – New Friends
85. Bugs – Old Youth Feeling
86. Kailee Morgue – This Is Why I’m Hot
87. Calby – Burnout (2019)
88. Dry Cleaning – Scratchcard Lanyard
89. Our Lady Peace (feat. Pussy Riot) – Stop Making Stupid People Famous
90. Eelke – Too Much Too Soon
91. Troi Irons – She Loves Me Not
92. Niko Rubio – Bed
93. Aly & AJ – Don’t Need Nothing
94. Luz – Counting Houses
95. Son Mieux – 1992
96. Valeras – Rita
97. Amen Mustang – (The Shit You Say) When You’re High
98. Angèle – Libre ^(*)
99. Milo – What’s The Matter
100. The Hisunz – CNTRDCTNS

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I’ll publish next week, these are my personal choices from the songs that came out in 2021. This list holds only 100 tracks, but you can find all of my 998 recommendations in my container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2021.

As always, I love to share some statistics about the Carte Blanche Music Top 2021. If there’s one – sad – common denominator to be found in this list, it’s that most of these songs have been criminally overlooked by radio stations outside the artist’s home countries. Radio playlists are growing more and more uniform, denying the diversity of the music available. Obviously, with over 60.000 new tracks added to Spotify every day the supply is kind of excessive, but more adventurous choices would be very welcome. Knowing this won’t happen, the best you can do is follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist, then I’ll keep you updated 😉. This is what you can expect, based on this year’s Top 2021:

• Mostly (young and) upcoming artists, many of whom release their music independently
• No less than 72% of the Top 2021 features female vocalists, up from 70% in our Top 2020 and 60% in the Top 2019
• We love pure pop songs, but with 40% guitar-based tracks, we’re more rock ‘n’ roll than average. According to Spotify Wrapped, our favourite genres last year were indie pop, modern alternative rock and dance pop, and we agree
• You can expect the best new tunes from all over the world, but even we have our preferences. We have extra warm feelings for music from countries like Australia, France, Canada and Denmark. Just so you know…

The Carte Blanche Music Top 2021 features 100 tracks, which are presented below in alphabetical order. You can listen to them all via the Spotify player. If you prefer another order, the shuffle button is your friend.

Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

• Ali Barter – You Get In My Way
• Alice Merton – Island
• The Allergies – Move On Baby
• Ally Cribb – Bigger
• Alta Falls – The Fire
• Aly & AJ – Don’t Need Nothing
• Amy Shark – Baby Steps
• Angèle – Libre
• Anish Kumar & Barry Can’t Swim – Blackpool Boulevard
• Archie X – Fight Me
• Baby Queen – You Shaped Hole ^(WC)
• Bakermat (feat. LaShun Pace) – Ain’t Nobody
• Baxtr – In Pop We Trust ^(WC)
• beabadoobee – He Gets Me So High ^{(*) (WC)}
• Blu DeTiger – Blondes
• Buffalo Paradise – Buffalo Paradise
• bülow – Revolver
• Calogero – Centre Ville
• Camila Cabello – Don’t Go Yet
• Charlie Collins – Just My Luck
• Chloe Lilac – 19
• Clara Luciani – Respire Encore ^(WC)
• Clypso – On Our Way ^(WC)
• Coeur De Pirate – Tu Peux Crever Là-Bas ^(*)
• Cold War Kids – What You Say
• Coral Palms – Something In The Air ^(WC)
• Daði Freyr & Ásdís – Feel The Love
• Dead Anyway – Pigs In Blankets
• Drew Sycamore – 45 Fahrenheit Girl ^(WC)
• Dual – Wipe Your Tears Away
• Dua Lipa – Love Again ^(WC)
• Dubstar – Tectonic Plates
• Dylan Cartlidge – Hang My Head ^(WC)
• Eyjaa – Don’t Forget About Me
• Fear Of Tigers – Tiger Blood
• Foals – Wake Me Up ^(WC)
• Foo Fighters – Waiting On A War
• Foxes – Sister Ray ^(WC)
• Grand Corps Malade – Des Gens Beaux
• Haerts – Days Go By ^(WC)
• Halsey – Honey
• Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness ^(WC)
• Hawke – Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?) ^(WC)
• Hope Tala – Tiptoeing ^(WC)
• Jaguar Jonze – Who Died And Made You King? ^(WC)
• Japanese Breakfast – Paprika
• Jonas Brøg (feat. Lilian Vieira) – I’m Your Nr. 1 [Brazilian Version] ^(WC)
• Julie Zenatti – France Et Jojo
• Kacey Musgraves – There Is A Light
• King Stingray – Milkumana
• Kinishao – Always In My Head
• Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams ^(WC)
• Lauran Hibberd – Bleugh ^(WC)
• Lights – Prodigal Daughter
• Lissie – Hey Boy ^(WC)
• Lizzie Esau – Bitter Weather
• Lou Hayter – Time Out Of Mind
• Lucy Spraggan – Heartbreak Suites ^(*)
• Madison Olds – If You Wanna
• mags – I Can’t Get Over You
• Maisie Peters – Psycho
• Marina – Purge The Poison ^(WC)
• May-a – Central Station ^(WC)
• Mazy – Flowers ^(WC)
• Mike Posner (feat. James Valentine & Jacob Scesney) – Amor Fati
• Miles Kane feat. Corinne Bailey Rae – Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough ^(WC)
• Miss Machine – Regarder Les Choses
• Monowhales – He Said/She Said (I Wait) ^(WC)
• Montaigne – Technicolour
• Niko Rubio – You Could Be The One ^(WC)
• Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
• Orla Gartland – You’re Not Special, Babe
• Palaye Royale – No Love In LA
• Parcels – Comingback ^(WC)
• Päter – Obstinate Brain
• Philippine – Bah Non. ^(WC)
• Placebo – Beautiful James
• The Ramona Flowers feat. Nile Rodgers – Up All Night
• Render Ghosts – Eye Rhyme
• RoseeLu – Playing Alone ^(WC)
• Saint Djuni – All Of My Friends ^(WC)
• Self Esteem – How Can I Help You ^(WC)
• Slothrust – Once More For The Ocean ^(WC)
• Smith & Thell – Pixie’s Parasol ^(WC)
• Stefanie Heinzmann – Labyrinth ^(WC)
• Super db – Wait For Me
• Telenova – Bones ^(WC)
• Thunder Fox – Not For Sale
• Torres – Thirstier ^(WC)
• Tove Styrke – Start Walking
• Troi Irons – She Loves Me Not
• Vistas – Start Again
• Who – Hey! Get Out The Way ^(WC)
• Who Parked The Car – Candle Dance
• Willow feat. Travis Barker – Transparent Soul
• Wilsn – You Know Better ^(WC)
• Wolf Alice – How Can I Make It OK?
• Yelle – Noir ^(WC)
• Youth Sector – Self Exile ^(WC)
• Yuke – Stranger Still ^(WC)

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

My container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2020 doesn’t only include all of the 994 songs I recommended last year. It also holds the 100 best tracks in my opinion, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2020, which I published yesterday. But that’s only my selection. Isn’t it more interesting to see which of my recommendations you read the most? In other words: what were your favourites in 2020?

I think it’s funny to see the Carte Blanche Music blog has a strong archive function. That’s apparent from the number of older posts you still like to visit (and which you find via search engines). A good example is the best read article this year: Toukassé by Shanguy. It stems from 2019, just like 24 other entries in the list below. Even more impressing is La Roi De Murphy, Belgian songstress Angèle’s debut single from 2017 (also her break-through), which is still among the 20 most read blogs in 2020.

Thank you for being such loyal visitors of Carte Blanche Music. Don’t miss a single recommendation by following me on Twitter, Facebook or, new for 2021, Instagram! I’ll do my best to make sure those accounts will soon be your favourites too, just like the tracks below:

1. Shanguy – Toukassé (2019) ^(WC)
2. Saint Motel – A Good Song Never Dies
3. Dopha – The Game
4. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
5. Lola Le Lann – Portofino
6. Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
7. Pyro – Come Back For You
8. Rat Boy – Brave New World
9. Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda ^(WC)
10. Gotts Street Park feat. Flikka – Favourite Kind Of Girl
11. Raye – Natalie Don’t
12. Liela Moss – Atoms At Me
13. Friedberg – Go Wild (2019)
14. Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
15. Fixkes – Dardennen
16. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist (2019)
17. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy (2017)
18. Just Jack (feat. Melissa Jo Heathcote) – Long Grass
19. The Magic Gang – What Have You Got To Lose
20. Videoclub – En Nuit (2019) ^(WC)
21. Jealous Of The Birds – Something Holy
22. Casey Lowry – Psycho
23. IBE – Perfect Storm
24. IBE – Table Of Fools (2019)
25. Lilly Hiatt – Brightest Star
26. Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi (2019)
27. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19 (2019)
28. Saint Motel – Preach
29. Videoclub – Enfance 80
30. The Wannadies – Can’t Kill The Musikk
31. Tout Va Bien – This Is How We Say Goodbye
32. The Mountain Goats – Get Famous
33. Izo FitzRoy – Red Line ^(WC)
34. Temples – Paraphernalia
35. Inhaler – My Honest Face (2019)
36. Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl
37. Miss Machine – Tout Autour
38. Calby – Burnout (2019)
39. Child Of The Parish – Relic Of The Past
40. Zola – Crystal Floors (2019)
41. Raffaella – Ballerina (2019)
42. Gin Wigmore – HBIC
43. Calby – The Everyday Bit (2019)
44. Elsa Birgitta Bekman – All ‘bout Love
45. Just – Dark Days
46. Pixey – Free To Live In Colour
47. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl (2019) ^(WC)
48. Merci, Mercy – Fucked Myself Up
49. Royal & The Serpent – MMXX
50. The Vices – In And Out
51. The Radar Station – Subtle Science [2020 Version]
52. Charles – Far Gone
53. Semisonic – Basement Tapes
54. Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues (2019)
55. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light (2019)
56. Papooz – Theatrical State Of Mind (2019)
57. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love (2019)
58. Esteban – Suburban Paradise
59. Pet Shop Boys – Monkey Business
60. Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair (2019)
61. Grace Farriss – All The People ^(WC)
62. Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ?
63. AKA George – Bad For You
64. Joel Stoker (The Rifles) – Stuck Inside
65. Ethel – Rubikscube (2019)
66. The Big Moon – Barcelona
67. Inge van Calkar – Spinning Around
68. Lux Lyall – Mad With The Moon
69. League Of Wolves – On The Run
70. Charmless i – Superhero
71. Maria Mena – Not OK
72. Alex The Astronaut – Caught In The Middle
73. Rhea – Under My Skin
74. Helmut Fritz – Ça M’énerve [2020 Version]
75. Don’t Bring Stacey – Waiting For It
76. Nana Adjoa – She’s Stronger
77. Stuck On Planet Earth – Ghosts On The Radio
78. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass (2019)
79. The Man Who – Give Me Something (2019)
80. Lead Pony – Soul Sucker (2019)
81. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged) (2019)
82. Barry Moore – Hey Now (2019)
83. Ellie Dixon – Space Out!
84. Catherine Anne Davies & Bernard Butler – Sabotage (Looks So Easy)
85. Gracie Abrams – Friend
86. Roads To Roam – Firework
87. Baxter Dury – I’m Not Your Dog
88. Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine
89. Sunbather – Softly Spoken
90. Eliza & The Delusionals – Swimming Pool
91. Pyro – Your Love
92. Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
93. Marble Waves – Caught In A Current
94. Me & My Toothbrush – Funking Around
95. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia (2019)
96. Raye – Love Of Your Life
97. Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions – Victory!
98. Some Sprouts – At Full Capacity
99. Papooz – Figs And Gorgonzola
100. Fickle Friends – Pretty Great

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I’ll publish tomorrow, these are my personal choices from the songs that came out in 2020. This list holds only 100 tracks, but you can find all of my 994 recommendations in my container playlist Carte Blanche Music 2020.

As always, I love to share some statistics about the Carte Blanche Music Top 2020. These findings are further evidence of the fact that the music radio stations play for you is far from representative of the wealth of great new music out there. Thankfully, there are blogs like Carte Blanche Music that are independent and unbiased, and don’t want to please everybody at the same time. We’re here to surprise you with great new music, no matter what genre or gender, origin or orientation. Just a few statistics:

• Judging from this Top 100 alone (let alone the full container playlist), 2020 was a great year for pure pop music, young artists, ‘80s influences, independent releases, the Australian music scene, queer pop-rock and female vocalists
• A whopping 70% of the tracks in this year’s list feature female lead vocals (and I thought the 60% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 was impressive already)
• Overall, rock ruled. 54% of the tracks in my year-end chart is guitar-based (just over last year’s tally)
• The list clearly shows there are more countries that produce great artists than Great-Britain and the United States alone. This year, more nationalities than ever are represented in my Top 100. You’ll also find artists from Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
• As a result, although most lyrics are in English, you’ll also hear songs (partly) sung in French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish

The Carte Blanche Music Top 2020 features 100 tracks, which are presented below in alphabetical order. You can listen to them all via the Spotify player. If you prefer another order, just use the shuffle button 😉.

Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

• A Is For Arrows – Every Now And Then
• Abbie Ozard – True Romance ^(WC)
• Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu
• Aitana – 11 Razones
• Alex The Astronaut – I Think You’re Great ^(WC)
• Alice & Moi – T’aimerais Que Ce Soit Vrai
• Altered By Mom – Better On The Page
• Amy Allen – Difficult
• Archie X – Loud Boy ^(WC)
• Ava Max – Kings And Queens
• Awolnation feat. Alice Merton – The Best
• Badflower – 30
• Baxtr – Bloom ^(WC)
• Bée – Nothing Alike ^(WC)
• The Beths – Mars, The God Of War
• Betty Who – The One
• Blossoms – It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter
• Bloxx – Off My Mind
• Bloxx – 5000 Miles ^(WC)
• Calogero – La Rumeur
• Charles – Far Gone
• Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
• Dagny – Coulda Woulda Shoulda ^(*)
• Don Diablo – Invincible
• Don’t Bring Stacey – Waiting For It
• Dopha – Anti Breakup Song
• Doves – Prisoners ^(WC)
• Dua Lipa – Physical ^(WC)
• Dua Lipa – Break My Heart
• Dua Lipa (feat. DaBaby) – Levitating [Single Version]
• Efecto Pasillo feat. Huecco – Funketón [2020 Version]
• Egoism – You You ^(WC)
• Ella Grace – Unfree
• Ellur – Alive
• The Flowers – You Don’t Say!
• Francesco Gabbani – Il Sudore Ci Appiccica
• Genes – Super Single
• Gin Wigmore – HBIC
• Grace Farriss – All The People ^(WC)
• Gracie Abrams – Friend
• Grand Corps Malade – Pas Essentiel ^(WC)
• Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda ^(WC)
• Harper Bloom – Walk My Way
• Hedda Mae – Madness
• The Hold Steady – Family Farm
• Hollie Col – She Knows ^(WC)
• Holy Holy (feat. Queen P) – Port Rd ^(WC)
• Hope D – Second
• Hoshi feat. Corine – Larmes De Croco ^(WC)
• Icona Pop & Sofi Tukker – Spa
• Indochine x Christine & The Queens – 3Sex
• Izo FitzRoy – Red Line ^(WC)
• Jaclyn – Energy
• Jake Bugg – Rabbit Hole
• Joan – Want U Back
• Joel Culpepper – WAR ^(WC)
• Julie Bergan – Commando ^(WC)
• Kailee Morgue – This Is Why I’m Hot ^(*)
• Keleketla! – International Love Affair ^(WC)
• Killboy – That’s OK I’ll Just Fuck Myself
• King Princess – Pain
• Kristiane – Wish I Could Be Your Girl
• La Oreja De Van Gogh – Te Pareces Tanto A Mí
• Lauran Hibberd – Boy Bye
• Lime – Fever
• Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
• London Grammar – Baby It’s You
• The Lottery Winners – An Open Letter To Creatives ^(WC)
• Lova – Black Converse
• Lova – One Day Left
• Lucas Hamming – Falling
• The Magic Gang – Make Time For Change ^(WC)
• May-a – Apricots
• Miss Li – Therapy
• Miss Machine – Tout Autour
• MisterWives – Rock Bottom ^(WC)
• Monowhales – BL/FF (Fake Friends) ^(WC)
• Ocean Grove – Dream
• ONR (feat. Nile Rodgers) – Kill TV ^(WC)
• Palace Winter (feat. Penny Police) – Richard (Says Yes) ^(WC)
• Pixey – Just Move ^(WC)
• Pyro – Your Love
• Raave Tapes – Habitual
• The Radar Station – Zanzara [2020 Version] ^(*)
• Raye – Love Of Your Life
• Red Rum Club – The Elevation
• Ren – I Drive Me Mad ^(WC)
• Rinse feat. Hatchie – Back Into Your Arms
• Rooue – What You Want ^(WC)
• Sebu with Eraserfase – The Worst That Could Happen To Us ^(WC)
• Semisonic – Basement Tapes
• Sidonie with Delaporte – Mi Vida Es La Música
• Slum Sociable (feat. Kye) – You’re In My Head
• Super-Hi x Neeka – Following The Sun
• T99 vs. Youngr – Anasthasia [Youngr Bootleg]
• Temples – Paraphernalia
• Texas & Wu-Tang Clan – Hi
• Town Of Cats – Lemons ^(WC)
• Veronica Fusaro – Beach
• Videoclub – Enfance 80

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

So here it is… 2020 is upon us. Happy New Year! May it be a healthy and exciting one, both musically and otherwise. Just like the last three years, I intend to introduce you to the best new music, often by artists you probably didn’t know yet. Check the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 for my personal picks. It’s on Spotify as well.

But looking back doesn’t end there. I think your preferences are as important as mine (if not more important). Therefore, let’s dive into which of my recommendations have been read the most. In other words: what have been your favourites in 2019? Enjoy the Top 100 below and find all of my musical tips of last year in the Carte Blanche Music 2019 playlist on Spotify.

1. Videoclub – Roi
2. IBE – Table Of Fools
3. Friedberg – Go Wild
4. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
5. Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
6. Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
7. Calby – The Everyday Bit
8. The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport – Getaway
9. Mamacita feat. Didy & Roy Paci – (Yo No Soy Tu) Nena
10. Sir Notch – Gimme That Sunshine
11. Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
12. Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
13. Inhaler – My Honest Face
14. boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
15. Sophie & The Giants – Waste My Air
16. Barry Moore – Hey Now
17. Angèle – Balance Ton Quoi
18. SWMRS – Lose Lose Lose
19. Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
20. Ethel – Rubikscube
21. 900 Miles feat. The Kooks – Hold Tight
22. The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
23. Parov Stelar feat. Muddy Waters – Soul Fever Blues
24. Pyro – F.O.M.O.
25. Claire Laffut feat. Yseult – Nudes
26. a-ha feat. Ingrid Helene Håvik – The Sun Always Shines On TV (MTV Unplugged)
27. The Twang – Everytime
28. Izzy Bizu (feat. Chris Martin) – Someone That Loves You ’19
29. Angèle – La Loi De Murphy
30. Kesha – Best Day [Angry Birds 2 Remix]
31. HÆLOS – End Of The World Party
32. The Knocks (feat. Sofi Tukker) – Brazilian Soul
33. Nona – It’s Alright
34. Therapie Taxi – Candide Crush
35. Jesse Hite – When It All Comes Down
36. Chateau Chateau – Burn Me Alive
37. Christon – Closer To A New Day
38. Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go / Remix feat. Travis Barker ^(WC)
39. Pat Dam Smyth – Last King
40. Nona – Last To Know
41. Vendredi Sur Mer – La Nuit
42. Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
43. Narda – Love Me Long
44. Ed Struijlaart – What I Like About You
45. Caravan Palace – Supersonics
46. Man & The Echo – A Capable Man
47. Cat Pierce – Human Experience
48. Yonaka – Death By Love
49. Casey Lowry – Boyfriend
50. Rex Orange County – Sunflower
51. DRMS & L’Isle – La Vague
52. eMMa – Fått Deg På Hjernen
53. Gemme – Sweet Harmony
54. Raffaella – Ballerina
55. Lizzo – Good As Hell / Remix feat. Ariana Grande ^(WC)
56. Model Depose – Damage Control
57. Phil Collins – The Man With The Horn
58. Bear Ghost – Haunt, The Cartoon Heart
59. Parov Stelar feat. Lilja Bloom – Go Wake Up
60. Prince – Holly Rock
61. Isaac Dunbar – ferrari
62. Au/Ra – Dance In The Dark
63. Jonas Brøg – All Across The Sky
64. Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
65. Deacon Blue – City Of Love ^(WC)
66. Otherkin – On And On
67. Will Hutton – Silhouette
68. Sheila & The Kit – Mike ^(WC)
69. Vant – Propaganda Machine
70. Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard ^(WC)
71. Model Depose – Bombs Are Falling
72. Client Liaison – The Real Thing
73. Madame Psychosis – Kapow
74. The Snuts – All Your Friends
75. Self Esteem – Girl Crush
76. She Drew The Gun – Paradise
77. Maty Noyes – New Friends
78. Call Me Loop – Self Love ^(WC)
79. Skylar Grey – Shame On You
80. Dirty Heads – Lift Me Up
81. Kakkmaddafakka – Sin
82. The fin. – Come Further
83. Vant – Exoskeleton
84. Sun Gods – Zanzara
85. Jimi Charles Moody – Happy Song ^(*)
86. Barry Moore – The Tide ^(WC)
87. Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey ^(WC)
88. Indigo – Distant Lullaby ^(WC)
89. Virgins At Heart – Show Me
90. Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] ^(WC)
91. Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend ^(WC)
92. Ride – Jump Jet
93. Hecht – Besch Ready Für Die Liebi Vo Mer?
94. Bye Beneco – It’s Not True Love
95. Retro Video Club – Addicted
96. Dodgy – Staying Out For The Summer ‘19
97. Zola – Crystal Floors
98. Alfie Templeman – Tragic Love
99. Yonaka – Lose Our Heads
100. Picture This – Modern Love

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I publish on New Year’s Day, I round off 2019 with my personal choices.

The last year, I introduced you to 979 great new songs via my container playlist Carte Blanche Music; almost 57 hours of music. Exactly 500 of those translated into a written endorsement through this blog. In other words: only one out of each 10 suggestions (and one fifth of all of my posts) made it onto the Carte Blanche Music Top 2019.

Just like the recommendations you can find here every day, this year-end list differs largely from the majority of charts you’ll find. The Top 100 below is filled with the finest pop and rock; and a much larger percentage of rock than you’ll hear on the radio. Most tracks were independently released by upcoming artists from all over the world, and feature female vocals. Just a few statistics:

• 60% of the tracks are sung by women (up from an already impressive 58% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018)
• 53% of the tracks is guitar-based (10% more than last year)
• Apart from British and American acts, my list contains artists from Australia (14 of them!), France (9), Canada (5), the Netherlands (5), Norway (4), Ireland (3), Belgium (3), Spain (2), Sweden (2), Denmark (2), Germany (1), Israel (1) and Brazil (1)
• As a result, you’ll not only hear lyrics in English, but also in French, Spanish and Swedish
• Apart from Dua Lipa and Lizzo, you won’t find any hits in this chart. It’s a great way to discover artists, some of which I expect to break through in the years to come

The Carte Blanche Music Top 2019 features 100 tracks. You can listen to them via the Spotify player. As compiling the list was hard enough, the songs are sorted alphabetically. Just use the shuffle button if you prefer another order 😉.

Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

• Alex Lahey – Isabella ^(*)
• Ali Barter – January
• Alice Merton – Learn To Live
• The Allergies feat. Andy Cooper – 2 Much!
• boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
• Alphabeat – Shadows
• Baker Grace – Sad Summer ^(WC)
• Barrie – Drag
• Barry Moore – The Tide ^(WC)
• beabadoobee – She Plays Bass ^(WC)
• Billie Louise – Like Machines ^(WC)
• The Bird & The Bee (feat. Beck) – Hot For Teacher
• Bishop Briggs – Champion
• The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
• boy pablo – 50 Souls And A Discobowl ^(WC)
• Calby – The Everyday Bit
• Call Me Loop – Self Love ^(WC)
• Charli XCX feat. Christine & The Queens – Gone
• Circa Waves – Jacqueline
• Citizen Kay – Ego
• Clara Luciani – Ma Soeur
• Client Liaison – The Real Thing
• Con Brio & Lyrics Born – Mistakes
• Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
• Countless Numbers – Twice As Hard ^(WC)
• Cyn – Terrible Ideas
• Deacon Blue – City Of Love ^(WC)
• Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend ^(WC)
• Don’t Bring Stacey – Changed My Hair
• Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
• Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
• Elliphant – To The End
• Enter Shikari – Stop The Clocks
• Evil Edna – Isle Of Dogs
• Field Music – Only In A Man’s World
• Fitz & The Tantrums – I Just Wanna Shine
• Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta ^(WC)
• Gemme – Sweet Harmony
• Georgia – About Work The Dancefloor ^(WC)
• Georgia – Never Let You Go ^(WC)
• Grace Lightman – Repair Repair [2019 Version]
• Grace Potter (feat. Lucius) – Back To Me
• Halie – Good Kids ^(WC)
• Hayley Mary – The Piss, The Perfume
• Hazel English – Shaking
• Hemliga Klubben – Asshole
• IBE – Table Of Fools
• Inge van Calkar – Get Out Of My Way
• Inhaler – My Honest Face
• Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
• Jain – Gloria ^(WC)
• Jara – Don’t Drop The Funk
• Jay Som – Superbike ^(WC)
• Jealous Of The Birds – Blue Eyes
• Jonas Brøg – That Feeling
• Jon Tessier – For A Little Eye Candy ^(WC)
• Julie Zenatti – Tout Est Plus Pop ^(WC)
• Kakkmaddafakka – Baby ^(WC)
• K.Flay – Sister ^(WC)
• Lauran Hibberd – Hoochie
• Lily Moore – Over You
• Lizzo – Good As Hell / Remix feat. Ariana Grande ^(WC)
• Lizzo – Juice ^(WC)
• Lola Marsh – Echoes
• Lorelei – Skylight
• Lucy Spraggan – Today Was A Good Day
• Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey ^(WC)
• Madame Psychosis – Kapow
• Maggie Lindemann – Friends Go / Remix feat. Travis Barker ^(WC)
• Mat Kerekes – Diamonds
• Mélodie Lauret – 23h28 ^(WC)
• Middle Kids – Beliefs And Prayers
• Miki Núñez – Celébrate ^(WC)
• Nancie Schipper – Take Out The Trash
• Nicolah – Holiday ^(WC)
• Nikki’s Wives – Real Girl
• Owl Eyes – You And I / Le Soleil
• Palaye Royale – Hang On To Yourself ^(WC)
• Pet Shop Boys – What Are We Going To Do About The Rich? ^(*)
• Ride – Jump Jet
• Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] ^(WC)
• Shanguy – Toukassé ^(WC)
• Sheila & The Kit – Mike ^(WC)
• Sigrid – Don’t Feel Like Crying ^(WC)
• Skunk Anansie – What You Do For Love
• Skylar Grey – Shame On You
• Sofía Ellar – La Revolución
• Spacey Jane – Head Cold
• Stats – The Family Business ^(WC)
• Suns Up – Just Because ^(WC)
• Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
• Tape Toy – Sad Girl ^(WC)
• Terouz – Outstanding ^(WC)
• The Heavy – Fighting For The Same Thing ^(WC)
• The Heavy – Last Man Standing
• The Howl & The Hum – Hall Of Fame
• The Howl & The Hum – Human Contact ^(WC)
• The Mowgli’s – Fighting With Yourself ^(WC)
• Videoclub – En Nuit ^(WC)
• Zuzu – Get Off [2019 Version]

^(WC)    ex Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
^(*)       album track

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Happy New Year from ‘all of us’ (that’s me) at Carte Blanche Music! Like the past year, 2019 will undoubtedly be full of musical surprises. Especially when you’re open to let some new sounds into your life. And if you don’t have the time to find them yourself, please let me help! Simply follow the Carte Blanche Music playlist on Spotify for daily updates of great new music, or bookmark this blog.

Carte Blanche Music doesn’t intend to list all new releases. On the contrary: I make a strict selection and only give you the best new music, twice a day. Since last year, I restrict the number of recommendations to two per day: one around 9AM, and the other around 7PM (CET). This limitation provided for a 35% increase of the number of views per post in 2018.

This brings us to the question: which of my recommendations have been viewed the most throughout the year? In other words: what are your favourites of 2018? The answer is: a totally different set of songs than my year-end list, the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018 😉 and that’s totally fine!

Just a few statistics to kick things off:

• Your Favourites (2018) contain nine songs that were in Your Favourites (2017) already, and apparently stuck with you
• The full Top 3 of your list contains Dutch artists (in total, there are 21 tracks by acts from the Netherlands. Dutch fans are the best)
• 36% of the visitors are Dutch (like myself… Hi mom!)
• 19% of the visitors are Americans, 16% are from the UK; a total of 87 nationalities have come by in 2018 (dank je wel, thanks, merci, obrigado, danke schön, etc.!)
• 26% of all traffic comes from direct searches for specific titles, so Carte Blanche Music also seems to have an archive function
• Other important referrers are Facebook (22%), and Twitter (13%)
• Impressive: the relatively high position of Mokono’s debut single Signs, the final Carte Blanche Music Wildcard of 2018

Okay, I can hear you thinking: ‘Don’t bore us, get to the chorus’, so here they are… Just two more things: all of these great songs (plus 1.000 more) are in my Carte Blanche Music 2018 playlist, and the links below direct you to my original recommendations for more information. Now, enjoy the music! Read More →

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Ahead of your favourites among this year’s Carte Blanche Music recommendations, which I publish on New Year’s Day, I round off 2018 with my personal choice.

The last year, I introduced you to 1104 great new songs via my container playlist Carte Blanche Music; over 65 hours of music. Exactly 500 of those translated into a written endorsement through this blog. In other words: only one out of each 11 suggestions (and one fifth of all of my posts) made it onto the Carte Blanche Music Top 2018.

I’m very proud of this year-end list, as it differs largely from the majority of charts you’ll find. Just a few statistics:

• 58% of the tracks feature female lead vocals (up from an already impressive 43% in the Carte Blanche Music Top 2017)
• 43% of the tracks are guitar-based (rock is dead? Think again!)
• Apart from British and American acts, my list contains artists from Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, Hungary and South Korea
• By consequence, you’ll not only hear lyrics in English, but also in French, Hungarian, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean
• Needless to say, my year-end list contains no proper hits whatsoever 😉

The Carte Blanche Music Top 2018 features 100 tracks by 100 different artists. As making that choice was hard enough, the songs are sorted alphabetically. Just use the shuffle button if you prefer another order 😉.

I hope you enjoy listening to the list via the Spotify player. Meanwhile, you can read my original recommendations through the links below.

Read More →

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

After a radio career of nearly 30 years, I decided to continue my mission (bringing new music and bands to the attention of as many people as possible) through a blog. You’re staring at it right now… Carte Blanche Music started on 1 January 2017, and exactly one year later, I have dedicated 650 posts to the thing I love the most: great new music.

I can hear you think: ‘Good for you’. But you know what? Apparently , it’s good for you as well! 😉 .

Each month in the past year, I posted Your Favourites: my blog posts that you read the most. So now, inevitably, it’s time for the ultimate round-up. The result? A Top 100 that’s more fun and less predictable than any other chart you’ll see this year. What’s especially funny, is that you picked a totally different set of songs as your highlights as I did in my own Carte Blanche Music Top 2017.

Isn’t that the best thing about music? I can make a selection, but ultimately, you make your own choices. Based on taste, mood, weather, feelings… Or, when I look at it less romantically, perhaps the artists below are the ones with the largest families, the most active fan bases, or the best promotion teams. Whatever the reasons, the result is the same: a great list of 100 songs. Your Favourites of 2017.

All of them (and 840 more) are in my Carte Blanche Music 2017 playlist, and once again, each link below corresponds with my original blog post, obviously including the recommended song. Enjoy! May 2018 be as musically diverse and interesting as last year was.

Read More →

Werner Schlosser

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.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl