Browsing Tag electronic
Hemliga Klubben – Asshole
Most people reading this won’t understand a word of this track, apart from its title. However, music is an international language, that can also be enjoyed when you don’t get the lyrics. Let me introduce to you: Hemliga Klubben (which means ‘the secret club’) from Sweden.
Hemliga Klubben features four talented songwriters, who met in 2017 during a songwriter session in a music studio. A year later, they formed a band. All of the members are involved in every aspect of the song crafting process, and they sing alternately on their tunes. Musically, most of the tracks they write and produce are energetic and up-tempo. Just listen to their new single Asshole for an example.
I’m sure Hemliga Klubben are huge Pet Shop Boys fans, like me. This could explain why Asshole’s chorus sounds very much like the Boys’ banger Pandemonium, off their 2009 album Yes.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Wildcard (week 30):
Baker Grace – Sad Summer
How is your summer, so far? Is it a time of joy where you go to the beach, hang out with friends, travel or just have a jubilant time in the sun? Or is it less exciting, and is that only made worse by what we see on social media? If you’re in the latter group, Baker Grace is with you.
The 18-year-old New Jersey pop songstress wrote a song that speaks to the introvert in all of us. “Sad Summer is an anthem for the people who need a break from social media”, she shares. “The pressure to be happy all the time, to look good all the time, and to always be doing something cool.”
The intro sounds like the theme song of an ‘80s TV series. Then, Baker starts singing in a staccato style, reminiscent of Lizzo’s performance in Juice. Next, she comes up with a hook that’s unlikely to leave your brain anytime soon: “Gonna be a sad sad summer, such a bummer / I could be falling in love but baby I don’t give a fuck.”
Eventually, Sad Summer is the ultimate anti-summer anthem. A colourful tune for the introverted Instagram generation of today. Also, it is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard! So maybe it isn’t such a sad summer for Baker Grace, after all.
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Charli XCX feat. Christine & The Queens – Gone
When two pop powerhouses join forces, what can go wrong? Well, quite a lot in fact, but in this case, it works out brilliantly. The audience first witnessed this collaboration when Christine & The Queens singer Héloïse Letissier joined Charli XCX during her show at the Primavera Sound festival. The studio version is out now.
Gone is a song with ‘pop’ written all over it. Its pulsating rhythms are built with ’80s drums and ’90s synths, but still manage to have a futuristic sound. Charli XCX reveals: “This song is about feeling isolated and alone in crowded rooms, the feelings of anxiety and learning to be comfortable with who you truly are. It’s about breaking down and breaking free. It feels like one big external scream.”
Her third studio album Charli, out in September, is bound to be a star studded affair of Ed Sheeran-like proportions. You have been warned…
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Werner’s Weekly (week 30)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Call Me Loop – Self Love (Wildcard this week)
- Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta (Wildcard last week)
- Casey Lowry – Boyfriend
- Inspired & The Sleep – Getting Through
- Lily Moore – Over You
- Nix Dadry (feat. Julie Claire) – Station Street East
- The Bird & The Bee (feat. Beck) – Hot For Teacher
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Angèle, Jonas Brothers, Kraak & Smaak, The Pale White, Rita Ora, and many more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
The Bird & The Bee (feat. Beck) – Hot For Teacher
Inara George is the daughter of Little Feat’s Lowell George, and Greg Kurstin produced everyone from Lily Allen, Sia and Adele to Beck, Kendrick Lamar and Foo Fighters. In 2004, Kurstin contributed piano to several tracks on George’s solo debut. It was then they laid the foundation for The Bird & The Bee, a jazz-influenced electro-pop project.
Since their 2006 debut EP Again And Again And Again And Again, they released four full albums. One of them was Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall & John Oates. No need to explain the concept of that album, I presume?
As you could also have guessed from the title, The Bird & The Bee intended to give more acts their re-interpretation treatment. Well, on 2 August, Interpreting The Masters Volume 2: A Tribute To Van Halen will see the light of day. Ahead of it, they already released their versions of Panama and Ain’t Talking ‘bout Love, but I like their new single Hot For Teacher the best. Not in the least because of the teacher, impersonated by Beck. The original version is from Van Halen’s album 1984.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Wildcard (week 29):
Call Me Loop – Self Love
Brixton-based British singer-songwriter Georgia would rather have you call her Loop. Her alias came about from nicknames her mum gave her: Georgie-Lou, then Loopy-Lou, then Loop.
Describing her sound as ‘sassy, emotive electronic pop’, I’d like to summarize it with one word: ‘cool’. But ‘infectious’ would do as well. To give you a hint of what to expect, she names Rihanna, Amy Winehouse and Christina Aguilera as some of her influences. But Loop adds an extra touch of freshness to it all.
On her new pop banger Self Love, she proclaims she has a ‘new lease of life’ after letting go of a toxic relationship. I’m glad she wrote this tune about it! Self Love by Call Me Loop is this week’s new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard.
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Au/Ra – Dance In The Dark
Born on Ibiza, raised on Antigua, 17-year-old Au/Ra (real name: Jamie Stenzel) is an island girl with German roots. Her father is a famous German dance producer. Kickstarted when British DJ duo CamelPhat remixed her track Panic Room, she now stands on her own feet. So much so, that she didn’t just release one new track, but two: Medicine and Dance In The Dark.
The latter is my favourite. It’s a rather experimental, sample- and beat-heavy, up-tempo electro-pop track. Au/Ra explains: “Dance In The Dark is about the acceptance of the dark times that will inevitably be part of our lives. Life will never be perfect, and without the bad, there’s no good either.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Werner’s Weekly (week 28)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Miki Núñez – Celébrate (Wildcard this week)
- Videoclub – En Nuit (Wildcard last week)
- Ali Barter – Backseat
- The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
- Flay – Not In California
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Belle & Sebastian, Ed Sheeran with Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars, Ride, and many more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
K.Flay – Not In California
The ‘10s are the era where constantly keeping yourself in the picture is almost more important than giving your songs the time to grow into hits. Just weeks after K.Flay’s great single Sister was the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, she already drops a new tune. Not In California is the fourth and final instant grat track to be taken off her forthcoming album Solutions, due out on 12 July.
The song bears all of K.Flay’s trademarks, like her raspy voice, the Weezer-like guitars, and a huge sing-along chorus. Speaking about Not In California, the singer says: “We’re not in Kansas anymore. I think we all know that sensation. Of being in a place that resembles the world you know, but feels different somehow and the difference is unsettling and disorienting and scary. Kinda makes you wanna click your shoes together and go back home to how it used to be.”
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
Werner’s Weekly (week 27)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Videoclub – En Nuit (Wildcard this week)
- Flay – Sister (Wildcard last week)
- Alex Lahey – Isabella
- Alfie Templeman – Tragic Love
- Annie Hamilton – Kitchen
- Ariana & The Rose – True Love
- Maggie Lindemann feat. Travis Barker – Friends Go
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Álvaro Soler, Heather Nova, Sigrid, Two Door Cinema Club, and many more.
Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.
