Browsing Tag indie
Lucy Spraggan – Animal
The public first got to know Lucy Spraggan in 2012, when she participated shortly in ‘The X Factor’. But before that, she already had her self-released debut album out (which got wings after the TV show). It also resulted in the young singer-songwriter becoming a well-known female champion for the LGBTQ community.
Nine years later, Spraggan is about to put out her sixth long-player Choices, due for release on 26 February. As always, the songs were inspired by her own experiences, and the humourous lyrics breathe her personality. Choices gives an insight in an artist who has matured and grown, both musically and personally.
After the release of Flowers, Sober, Roots, and Run (in 2020), Spraggan starts the new year with a new single. Animal is a song with Indian influences. Speaking on the track, she says: “I do a lot of skipping, ‘cause I do a lot of working out and do a lot of weight lifting. My favourite thing to skip to is Bollywood music. It’s fucking sick! Bollywood music, bhangra music – we don’t have a Western rhythm like that. There’s so much energy and it makes me feel so passionate and alive. I was skipping and came in and just started writing that little guitar riff.”
Recommended as well:
Lucy Spraggan – Today Was A Good Day
Lucy Spraggan – Modern Day Frankenstein
Follow Lucy Spraggan on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
L’Impératrice – Peur Des Filles
L’Impératrice is a group of six musicians, founded in 2012 by keyboard player Charles de Boisseguin. Only three years later, the current frontwoman, vocalist Flore Benguigui, joined the band. Her soft and sensual way of singing – typically French – largely defined the sound of their 2018 debut album Matahari.
Its follow-up is on its way: L’Impératrice’s sophomore album Tako Tsubo will be out on 26 March. Tako Tsubo is the official name for broken-heart syndrome, which manifests itself by a deformation of the heart due to an intense emotion – a negative or positive one. The album contains 13 songs, four of which have already been released as singles: Fou/Exit, Voodoo?, and Anomalie Bleue.
The fifth single just came out: Peur Des Filles, which translates as ‘afraid of girls’. It’s a witty and sarcastic ode to femininity, including all of the elements the group is known for. It sits somewhere halfway disco and chanson, with a touch of funk. And of course, there’s Benguigui’s voice.
Peur Des Filles comes with an absurd and colourful video, directed by Aube Perrie (Angèle). The clip references ‘Mars Attacks’ as well as ‘60s horror movies.
Follow L’Impératrice on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
The Vices – Looking For Faces
Dutch band The Vices are gaining momentum in their home country. To prevent the attention from slacking, they’re quick to follow up their most recent single. Hot on the heels of In And Out, they now release Looking For Faces. A fierce and sharp rock song, which opens with a drum beat that sounds like a future sample staple. What follows is the band’s trademark mix of indie-pop and garage-rock, stuffed with catchy melodies.
Looking For Faces is the title track off the band’s first full album, out on 12 March. Frontman Floris van Luijtelaar says of their debut: “Looking For Faces is about finding your own face, and the journey that comes with it. The album is like a diary of a person observing life. It consists of raw thoughts and honest conversations that never lead to an easy solution. But are there answers at all in a world that keeps changing? Expect sharp contradictions, addiction in the broadest sense, and deep friendship, which might as well be the answer to all questions.”
Recommended as well:
The Vices – In And Out
The Vices – Life Grows
Follow The Vices on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
The Awkward – Back
In 2019, Dutch band Some Day announced their split, citing ‘creative differences’ as the main reason. Funny then, that three members (Jeroen Mooi, Brian Groot and Sen Caris) are now together in a new project: The Awkward. A fitting name, in that respect. Rashid Beltifa completes the quartet. In true DIY fashion, they do everything themselves, including their video clips.
As soon as Summer 2019, the four started writing and recording songs in their home studio. Scrapping their touring plans freed up their agendas and as a result, The Awkward were able to finish their debut album instead. Back is the third single to be released ahead of it. A smart mix of synth-pop and indie-pop, including random sounds they taped between recording sessions. The ‘80s meet the ‘90s.
The aerobics clip has little to do with the lyrics, but fits the energy of the song perfectly. Bring on that album!
Follow The Awkward on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Crooked Steps – Catherine
2020 was off to a good start for Belgian rock band Crooked Steps. They were one of three winners of radio station Studio Brussel’s talent competition De Nieuwe Lichting (‘the new class’). They didn’t fully benefit from it though, because… well, you know. But I’m convinced their music will take them where they’d like to be, eventually.
New single Catherine is further proof of Crooked Steps’ infectious song-writing. It’s a classic rock song in every sense. It starts with a nostalgic guitar melody, which is quickly accompanied by a driving drum beat. Thanks to the added surf guitar, it ends up being an energetic, summer-y tune.
Catherine is about keeping your distance from someone you like. A good advice, not only in times of corona, but also after a difficult relationship. More new music will follow this Spring.
Follow Crooked Steps on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Daði Freyr & Ásdís – Feel The Love
If 2020 wouldn’t have been dominated by an unexpected inconvenience, Daði Freyr would have easily won the Eurovision Song Contest for Iceland. Although the competition didn’t take place after all, Freyr’s star has been rising throughout the year. He continued to release ultra catchy and uplifting nu-disco tracks and took the world by storm.
His new single Feel The Love is probably the best and most accessible song he put out so far. It’s sung almost entirely by another hidden gem from Iceland: Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir. The production, although handled by Freyr himself, sounds very Scandinavian, which – as you know – is pop heaven. While ‘80s synths, tights beats, funky guitars and handclaps alternate, Ásdís’ voice cuts like a knife through butter.
If this is Freyr’s submission for the 2021 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, it’ll undoubtedly be a strong contender for the victory. If it isn’t, he’ll have to settle with a worldwide hit.
Recommended as well:
Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Where We Wanna Be
Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið – Think About Things
Follow Daði Freyr on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Follow Ásdís on Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
You Me At Six – Adrenaline
In recent years, You Me At Six changed their sound more than once. Not ready to become predictable, the British band embraced experiments. Although they continued their working relationship with Dan Austin (Biffy Clyro, Massive Attack, Pixies), who produced their 2018 album VI, they pushed themselves even further while recording their upcoming seventh album Suckerpunch, which will be out on 15 January.
Adrenaline is the band’s fourth new song to be released ahead of the long-player. It’s big, bold and bombastic. Driven by saturated bass, it adds electronic elements to their rock sound. For reference, think Awolnation or Imagine Dragons.
Lead vocalist Josh Franceschi says of the track: “Adrenaline is about understanding and accepting the capacity we all have as humans to have split personalities. Coming to terms with the idea of co-dependency.”
Recommended as well:
What’s It Like
Back Again
3AM
Follow You Me At Six on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Päter feat. Alexandra Willett – MTL
Iran-born, Canada-based singer-songwriter Päter is a young artist with currently only nine songs on her repertoire. But by the sound of them, she has a bright career ahead of her. If that might not happen, she can always look back upon being a good person. For instance: she makes a habit of doing fundraisers, giving away her modest income from music to good causes like the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources. This social attitude is also reflected in her lyrics, like the ones for her recent single Earth In Revolt.
MTL (which is short for Montreal) is Päter’s new single. She recorded it with fellow Canadian artist Alexandra Willett, who adds a francophone element to the song. MTL is a joyful and catchy track. A great way for Päter to end the year 2020, which saw her deservedly grow her audience.
Recommended as well:
Päter – Earth In Revolt
Päter – Sleep
Follow Päter on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Follow Alexandra Willett on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
Graham Colton – Let’s Spend The Night
Graham Colton is a talented American singer-songwriter. His second album Pacific Coast Eyes was his first I came across. I played much of its tracks in my then radio show Carte Blanche, especially the title track and 1981. I also visited one of the many living room sessions he played by then. But he also shared stages with artists like Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson, Counting Crows, and Maroon 5.
Since his most recent album Inside Out, released earlier this year, Colton put out two brand-new songs. Well, not quite, for Everybody’s Talkin’ was a cover of the Harry Nilsson classic. But Let’s Spend The Night is an original, and a damn fine one. Both lyrically and musically, it’s a light-hearted song that sounds like it was made for the radio.
Follow Graham Colton on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
† † † (Crosses) – The Beginning Of The End
At the end of the 1980s the American electro-pop band Information Society came up. I was a huge fan of their (US) hit What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) and of later singles like Think. Shortly after, another American band fished in the same musical pond: Cause & Effect. Their 1991 debut album Another Minute is another favourite of mine from that period. The following year, the two bands were to go on a club tour together. The remainder of that trek was sadly cancelled after Cause & Effect frontman Sean Rowley died of complications from an asthma attack during a soundcheck.
One of the ten songs on Another Minute was The Beginning Of The End. This track has now been covered by an unlikely act: † † † (Crosses), a side project of Deftones frontman Chino Moreno’s. This band had been on hiatus since their eponymous 2014 debut album.
Moreno recently indicated their were some ‘unreleased’ songs he’d like to finish. This cover is the first fruit of these intentions. † † † (Crosses) kept the original composition mostly intact. This results in a beautiful, Depeche Mode-like rendition of The Beginning Of The End.
Follow † † † (Crosses) on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
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. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
