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

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

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 →

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 →