Browsing Tag indie
Wildcard (week 31):
Kula Shaker – Waves
Kula Shaker have reformed before, but things are different now. This time around, all four original members of the band’s classic line-up reunited for the first time since 1999. Yes indeed, keyboard wizard Jay Darlington has returned from a decade with Oasis and various Gallaghers. His comeback signals a restoration of the band’s classic sound as well. A very, very welcome return!
Waves is the first single from Kula Shaker’s upcoming 7th studio album. A relentless burst of excitement, it’s an upbeat song of optimism, with a stadium-ready na-na-na part. Unmistakably, it features Darlington’s swirling Hammond organ riffs from the get-go. The track is further powered by the band’s legendary rhythm section, Alonza Bevan (bass) and Paul Winter-Hart (drums). Obviously, the euphoric lyrics are written and sung by front man Crispian Mills.
All in all, this tune brings the band’s best-known hit Hush to mind. It deserves to score big, like the band did so many times in their early years, circa 25 years ago..
This week, Kula Shaker makes Waves on Carte Blanche Music as our new Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Kula Shaker on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 31)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Belot – VIP
(Wildcard this week)
- Beach Riot – Tell Me I’m Wrong
(Wildcard last week)
- Elle Coves – Summer
- Lapel – I Lose Myself
- Middle Kids – Highlands
- Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers – I Used To Be Fun
- Wet World – Wassup
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 30)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Bash! – Captain Sensible
indie | pop | rock
- Cheap Escape – Come Clean
indie | rock
- The Coral – That’s Where She Belongs
indie | pop
- Elle Coves – Summer
indie | pop
- Noga Erez – Quiet
hip hop | pop
- Kula Shaker – Waves
indie | pop | rock
- Lanks – Floating
electronic | indie | pop
- Lapel – I Lose Myself
indie | pop
- Matilda Lyn – Wait For Me
indie | pop
- Middle Kids – Highlands
indie | pop | rock
- Moving Into Tucson – Moving Into Tucson
indie | pop | rock
- Päter – Nicotine Hallelujah
indie | pop | rock
- Philippine – Bleu
disco | indie | pop
- Grace Potter – Lady Vagabond
indie | pop | rock
- Rêve – Contemporary Love
electronic | pop
- Romy – The Sea
indie | pop
- Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers – I Used To Be Fun
indie | punk | rock
- Zia Victoria – ‘05 Baby
indie | pop
- Wet World – Wassup
indie | pop | rock
- Yonaka – By The Time You’re Reading This
rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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 30):
Belot – VIP
Maya Belot, professionally known as Belot, doesn’t only like huge glasses. More importantly, she’s fond of big tunes. Following her debut EP Electric Blue (2020) and last year’s EP Harmless Fun, she’s entered phase 3 of her career.
This year, the London-based talent released Cool Whip and Get This (co-written by Oscar Lang). But third time’s definitely the charm. VIP is an energetic example of her ‘awkward pop’ sound, and the title might as well prove to be prophetic. Influenced by the likes of Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Eminem, VIP is an upbeat fun track. Belot explains it’s about ‘glitz, glamour, success, redemption. It just had to be. The story of becoming the biggest artist one could be’.
Clocking in under the 2-minute mark, it’s quirky, bright, catchy and groovy. Following support slots with CBM favourites Ellie Dixon, Pip Millet, Caity Baser and others, this is the track that’ll have her stand on her own feet. Sounds like a hit to me!
VIP by Belot is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Belot on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 30)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Beach Riot – Tell Me I’m Wrong
(Wildcard this week)
- Grace Potter – Good Time
(Wildcard last week)
- The Beaches – Me And Me
- Gayle – Butterflies
- Shannen James – Headlights
- Lime Garden – Nepotism (Baby)
- Mackenzie – Ordinary
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 29)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Akine – Colours
indie | rock
- The Beaches – Me And Me
indie | pop | rock
- Belot – VIP
electronic | indie | pop
- Gayle – Butterflies
rock
- Shannen James – Headlights
indie | pop
- Lime Garden – Nepotism (Baby)
indie | pop | rock
- Mackenzie – Ordinary
indie | pop
- Speak Easy Circus – Gros Michel
indie | pop | rock
- Hayes Warner – Dead To Me
indie | pop | rock
- Holly Wild – Hard To Love
indie | pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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 29):
Beach Riot – Tell Me I’m Wrong
Cami Menditeguy and Rory O’Connor are Brighton fuzz pop band Beach Riot. They released their debut album Sub Atomic Party Cool in 2021. Since then, they built up steady radio support and played major festivals like Reading & Leeds and The Great Escape. Now, it’s time for the next chapter.
This year, the band started releasing their first new material. Previous single Tramlines is now followed by an even stronger song, Tell Me I’m Wrong. As fuzzy as ever, this is an infectious, heavyweight power-pop track, made to jump along to. It was engineered by Peter Hutchins (Royal Blood, Foals, Gang Of Youths).
Commenting on the single, the band said: “All we wanna do is take this song onto the stage and be the soundtrack to people’s summer. It’s such a fun, hooky singalong song to play and we can’t wait to join everyone in the sun for this one.”
Tell Me I’m Wrong by Beach Riot is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Beach Riot on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 29)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Grace Potter – Good Time
(Wildcard this week)
- Goodnight Sunrise – This Is Yours (To Make)
(Wildcard last week)
- Birdy – Paradise Calling
- Dead Anyway – Don’t Stop, Go!
- ellakate – Dry
- Renée Rapp – Talk Too Much
- Shed Seven – Kissing California
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 28)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- Beach Riot – Tell Me I’m Wrong
indie | rock
- Birdy – Paradise Calling
pop
- Rye Catchers (feat. Nikki Simmons) – Creeping On Me
indie | pop | rock
- Cyn – Where Do All The Diamonds Go?
indie | pop
- Dead Anyway – Don’t Stop, Go!
indie | industrial | pop | spoken word
- Deadletter – Degenerate Inanimate
indie | rock
- ellakate – Dry
indie | pop | soul
- The Horn – Too Many Moments
indie | pop
- Katherine Nora – Church Lane
indie | pop
- Renée Rapp – Talk Too Much
pop | rock
- Shed Seven – Kissing California
indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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 28):
Grace Potter – Good Time
American singer-songwriter Grace Potter took four years to come up with a worthy follow-up to her 2x Grammy-nominated album Daylight. The new long-player, her third, is titled Mother Road and will come out on 18 August. Just like it’s predecessor, it was produced by her current partner Eric Valentine. He worked with the likes of Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth, Queens Of The Stone Age, Good Charlotte and The Wombats before.
If that wasn’t enough name-dropping, the album features contributions from a host of top-of-the-bill musicians. How about guitarist Nick Bockrath, bassist Tim Deaux, drummer Matt Musty, pedal steel guitarist Dan Kalisher and keyboardist Benmont Tench? They drenched the 10 original songs in soulful rock, roots, funk, country, and R&B.
Are you a fan of Sheryl Crow and do you still listen to Rocks by Primal Scream and Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters on repeat? Make sure not to miss out on Grace Potter’s new single Good Time then. It melts all of the ingredients above into an anthemic new, groovy tune.
Now a 40-year-old, she says about her latest track: “When I was writing Good Time, I was thinking about all the times when there were no boundaries between me and the world at large. As you get older, there’s this expectation that you need to fall in line, that you can’t keep living a fantasy your whole life. But I don’t know about that – maybe we can.”
Good Time by Grace Potter is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Back To Me (feat. Lucius)
Follow Grace Potter on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 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.