Browsing Tag funk
Nona – Liar
Nona is an up and coming pop/soul singer from a small town in the Netherlands. She has yet to break out of her home country, but thatâs just a matter of time. My recommendation for her 2018 debut single Itâs Alright remains one of the best-read Carte Blanche Music posts.
Now, four years later, some of her singles have done great on the radio, attracting millions of Spotify plays in the slipstream. Since the release of her eponymous first album, she put out multiple new songs. So hopefully, a second long-player is on its way. âtil then, hereâs her new single.
Liar is still a soulful tune, but with a more modern sound. This is largely thanks to a breakbeat kind of drum part. The trumpets add extra excitement to the song. Apart from its sound, its length is very modern as well: Liar clocks in at 2â16, leaving us begging for moreâŚ
Recommended as well:
Last To Know
Itâs Alright
Follow Nona on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

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.
Wildcard (week 2): Iris Gold – Piece Of Mine
With Indian and Jamaican roots, Mercedes Seecoomar was born in London and raised in Copenhagen. During her nomadic youth, she was surrounded by free thinkers growing up in hippy communes and squats that celebrated â60s and â70s counterculture. All of these elements made her the unique, charismatic artist she is today.
Using the stage name Iris Gold, she calls her music âhippie hopâ. This is a colourful and infectious mix of retro hip hop, soul and power pop with a generous sprinkle of flower power. Having shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in the world (like Robbie Williams, Blur and Taylor Swift), she developed into a great live artist herself.
Gold is currently operating under the wings of Eurythmicsâ David A. Stewart, who co-wrote and produced her most recent tracks. The same goes for her new single Piece Of Mine. Itâs a retro-flavoured funk tune with huge horns, squelchy synths and a catchy chorus. A song with attitude in every possible way. Sounding like Uptown Funk for 2022, this one is for fans of Lizzo, Janelle MonĂĄe, Mark Ronson, Ameriie and Sheila E.
This week, Piece Of Mine by Iris Gold is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means itâll proudly feature at the top of the blog for seven full days.
Follow Iris Gold on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 2)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Superbird – Elevation Airways
(Wildcard this week)
- Our Propaganda – Essential Love
(Wildcard last week)
- Emmy – Stupid Big Teeth
- Peter Stone – Cold
- Smash Into Pieces – Not Waiting For Heaven
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Aurora, Elbow, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Weeknd, and more.

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.
Wildcard (week 1):
Superbird – Elevation Airways
In a situation where real-life traveling is different from before, imaginary travels are the next best thing. Enter our British funk friends Superbird, who just established Elevation Airways.
Released on the last day of 2021, the trioâs single invites us to get on board and fly away to a happy place. In fact, that doesnât take a long flight, for their track Elevation Airways is a happy place in itself. It combines the bandâs trademark funky guitar licks, retro vibes and catchy vocals to full effect.
What a fun tune to kick off the new year! 2022 promises to be a year Superbird will fly higher than ever. I think itâs best to fasten your seat beltsâŚ
This week, Elevation Airways is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
Recommended as well:
Operate
Think You Got Me
Super Superior
Year On String Along
Cola Bottle Fizz
Follow Superbird on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 51)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Yuke – Stranger Still (Wildcard this week)
- Miles Kane feat. Corinne Bailey Rae – Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough (Wildcard last week)
- Ally Cribb – Bigger
- Angèle – Libre
- Kinishao – Always In My Head
- Lou Ella & Shae Brock – Snake In The Garden
- Pipin – Maybe Itâs Me
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Ana Mena, Davina Michelle, MisterWives, and more.

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.
Wildcard (week 50):
Yuke – Stranger Still
I donât know why, but songs which open with a drum fill always catch my attention. Always have. Enter Stranger Still by Yuke, a five-piece band from Hackney, the birth ground of Marc Bolan, Mel & Kim, William Orbit and Paloma Faith. They like to blend different genres, from jazz to soul to French house. Their debut single however, is full-on funk-pop. Try it if youâre curious what it would sound like if Robert Smith would be joined on stage by Funkadelic!
Over the next six to eight months, Yuke plan to release six singles. If the very first of these is anything to go by, itâs going to be a fun-filled half year. Apart from some serious bass slapping, Stranger Still features plucked violins, a full brass section, catchy choruses and happy handclapping. Guaranteed to make you dance, this is the sound of a band full of ambition. Thatâs always a good thing to start with, but itâs even better to fulfil the promise at first listen.
This week, youâll be able to listen to the single as often as you like. Stranger Still by Yuke is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard, so itâll feature here prominently for seven full days!
Follow Yuke on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2021 playlist youâll find all of this yearâs 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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 49)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Coral Palms – Something In The Air (Wildcard this week)
- Laura Mac – Garage Full Of Dreams (Wildcard last week)
- Anish Kumar & Barry Canât Swim – Blackpool Boulevard
- Blonde Diamond – Red Flags
- Dead Anyway – Space Dust
- Deap Vally – Phoenix
- Highasakite – Love Him Anyway
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Angèle, RoseeLu, The Sherlocks, and more.

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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 47)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Carla Wehbe – Hurts To Love You (Wildcard this week)
- Foals – Wake Me Up (Wildcard last week)
- Archie X – Fight Me
- Blu DeTiger – Blondes
- G Flip feat. Upsahl – Scream
- Lizzie Esau – Bitter Weather
- NilĂźfer Yanya – Stabilise
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Alessia Cara, David Bowie, Sea Girls, and more.

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.
Anish Kumar & Barry Canât Swim – Blackpool Boulevard
This oneâs for the dance floor. Last summer, Anish Kumar and Barry Canât Swim were sending ideas, early demos and voice notes back and forth, which resulted in this banger. Blackpool Boulevard is a sample-heavy, funky disco tune with a great piano part and a Communards-like beat.
Kumar is not only a veterinary medicine student, but also a promising producer, fond of samples, Motown and Northern Soul. Meanwhile, Barry Canât Swim is a rising artist with a knack for putting a summertime spin on jazz-inflected house. When you listen to their great collab, you can hear both their influences in it.
Blackpool Boulevard is an instrumental for now, but I can imagine someone putting vocals to it. That would be interesting, but not strictly necessary. Itâs great in its current form as well.
Follow Anish Kumar on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Follow Barry Canât Swim on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

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.
Wernerâs Weekly (week 46)
This is Wernerâs 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:
- Foals – Wake Me Up (Wildcard this week)
- Smith & Thell – Pixieâs Parasol (Wildcard last week)
- Dual – Wipe Your Tears Away
- Teenage Dads – Piano Girl
- The Ramona Flowers feat. Nile Rodgers – Up All Night
- Thunder Fox – Head In The Clouds
- Who Parked The Car – Candle Dance
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerâs Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Johnny Marr, Stereophonics, The War On Drugs, and more.

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.