Browsing Tag indie
Werner’s Weekly (week 42)
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:
- Little Quirks – Florence’s Town (Wildcard this week)
- Boo Seeka – Days Get Better (Wildcard last week)
- Monta – All These Goods Are Gone
- Don Diablo – Invincible
- Sarpa Salpa – Stick To What You Know
- Skia – Pocket
- Sidonie with Delaporte – Mi Vida Es La Música
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: Anderson .Paak, Royal Blood Travis, Yungblud, and 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.
A Girl Called Eddy – Been Around
Are you familiar with the expression ‘a long time coming’? A Girl Called Eddy’s second solo album Been Around has been just that. In 2004, Erin Moran (her real name) released her first, eponymous album. She made it with former Longpigs and Pulp musician Richard Hawley. After first teasing her second album in an interview as early as 2014, it has now finally seen the light.
Moran doesn’t hide her love for the likes of Burt Bacharach, The Carpenters, and Prefab Sprout. No surprise then, the album has a sophisticated soul sound. Title track Been Around is the set’s first single. Brimming with soulful horn sections and background vocalists, it sounds like a classic already. It’s timeless, to say the least.
A Girl Called Eddy made an album the old-fashioned way. But real quality will always be fashionable. Good to have her back!
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.
Lauran Hibberd – Boy Bye
Slacker pop princess Lauran Hibberd’s releases go from strength to strength. Her new single Boy Bye, which draws from the likes of Pixies and Weezer, is her boldest yet. Created during a lockdown session with producer Suzy Shinn (Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, Dua Lipa), it shows great progression and growing confidence. Both explosive and obsessive, Boy Bye is a charming tune, even though it’s about an unhealthy relationship.
“Boy Bye IS co-dependency”, the Isle Of Wight native says. “It has a scarily obsessive nature about it and is based on the need to ‘feed’ someone to keep them around. I sort of battle with myself throughout the whole track, the same way you would in your brain when stuff like this happens and you try and justify it to yourself. There’s an odd strength in it though, and I think it’s noticing it and being able to say it out loud that gives it that balls to the wall sort of ‘get lost’ momentum. Also BYE BOYSSSS!!!!”
Recommended as well:
Lauran Hibberd – Bang Bang Bang
Lauran Hibberd – Sweat Patch
Lauran Hibberd – Hoochie
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.
May-a – Apricots
19-year-old Sydney-based artist May-a’s been writing songs as long as she can remember. Yet, she only released her first single Fool’s Paradise 13 months ago. Apricots is her fourth single to date, and arguably the most overtly personal one thus far. It’s a cool, honest and nonchalant indie pop song about queer desire, which she wrote this time last year.
May-a says: “This song is super important to me because I wrote it around the time that I was coming to terms with my sexuality and realising I had feelings for a girl for the first time. I originally started writing it about a relationship, but as it evolved it became more about my current self talking to my past self. The song is ultimately a letter to my younger self, helping her come to terms with the fact that she is looking for something ‘she doesn’t even know she wants’ and letting her know that that’s ok.”
Recommended as well:
May-a – Green
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.
Dancer – Show Me The Way
Exactly a year ago, in October 2019, I travelled through Australia for a month. Facebook reminds me of that trip on a daily basis, and it fills me with nostalgia. One of the reasons to spend the holiday there, was the musical climate. In Australia, musical talent is as widespread as eucalyptus trees and koalas.
Dancer (Chris Quinton, Ben Graham, Bryce Crocombe and Josh Rea) are a good example. Even though they’ve only just begun, one can hear the quality in the few songs they’ve released so far. And the diversity, as well.
Less than two months ago, I introduced you to the band’s first proper single Dreamer. A euphoric and uplifting song with huge choruses. With their new single, Dancer show us their softer side. Show Me The Way is a subtle song, that builds up to an epic high, before cutting back again. Both Dreamer and Show Me The Way will appear on their upcoming first EP, which will contain two up-tempo and two mellow tunes.
Note from their label: ‘Dancer have just been away on a writing retreat and have come out with a bunch of brilliant demos’. In other words: the future looks bright for this promising new band!
Recommended as well:
Dancer – Dreamer
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.
Genes – Super Single
In recent times, the funky, slapping bass made its full return in pop music. We’ve got the comeback of ‘80s influenced disco to thank for that. As you could’ve guessed, here’s another one!
If you’re into the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen and Dagny, do yourself the favour to listen to Genes as well. Only four singles into her career, she already sounds like one of the revelations of Australian pop. Her fourth track so far is easily her best. It’s a Super Single. But that’s not what the song is about.
She says: “It’s fun, it’s not taking itself seriously, and it’s carefree – exactly how my life has been the last year. I’ve had the best 12 months of my life, and they’ve been spent completely single. I love having crushes and mutual fun with no commitment. I love the independence.”
With its punchy beat, groovy rhythms, and electronic touches, Super Single by Genes is an infectious and upbeat ditty. Sure to make even the stiffest amongst us move.
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.
Creature Comfort – Woke Up Drunk
Creature Comfort produce music that sits somewhere between country and americana. Although both are not my favourite genres, their new single is simply beautiful. Woke Up Drunk drips with melancholy, courtesy of a gorgeous string arrangement, wonderful choirs and acoustic fingerpicking. These ingredients make this one of the band’s most intimate tracks.
Woke Up Drunk is the latest cut that Creature Comfort are sharing from their upcoming album. Titled Home Team, it’s set to be released on 30 October.
Lead singer-songwriter and guitarist Jessey Clark tells PopMatters: “This is probably the most personal of all the songs on the record. It’s about when you break up with someone, even if you’re the one who ended the relationship, there’s still like that curiosity of whether or not that was the right decision.”
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.
Teenage Dads – Thank You For The Honey, Honey
Angus Christie, Connor McLaughlin, Jordan Finlay and Vincent Kinna are four Australian lads who met at High School. DIY is their middle name. They do everything themselves, including recording, producing, and mixing. Meanwhile, they are their own managers and produce the artwork and videos to their self-penned songs. Drawing from bands like The Strokes and Phoenix, Teenage Dads created a driving indie-pop sound of their own.
With two EP’s and an album under their belt, the quartet is ready for the next step. They just released their new single Thank You For The Honey, Honey. Apparently, it was inspired by ABBA’s Honey, Honey, although I can’t think of another connection than the juxtaposition of those two identical, sugar sweet words.
Musically, it’s an upbeat pop-rock song, full of infectious melodies, intricate synth lines, hooky guitars and unconventional chords. Shoegaze, played by a band in a hurry.
Lyrically, it’s about having feelings of being deserted by someone close to you. Drummer Vincent explains: “It’s about being left in the lurch by someone and the struggles of coping with that, and that while you’re thankful for ‘the honey’, you fear the prospect of living an unfulfilling life.”
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 41):
Little Quirks – Florence’s Town
What sparks the magic that often happens when family members sing together? Is it the genes that make their voices blend so beautifully? Anyhow, Little Quirks are another fine example of my ‘theory’. The trio was formed in 2015 by Australian teenage sisters Abbey and Mia Toole, and their cousin Jaymi Toole. While singing in blissful harmony, Mia drums, Jaymi plays mandolin and Abbey guitar.
Little Quirks started by busking at farmers markets. It didn’t take long though, before they took the stage, supporting (upcoming) local heroes like Alex The Astronaut, Jack River, and Xavier Rudd. Soon, they developed themselves a sound that sits comfortably between those three acts, but is still very much their own. Or think of as them a folky version of The Cranberries, if you’re looking for further reference.
After Corona wiped their agendas clean, the girls recorded their upcoming 4th EP in their home studio. Finally, Nashville mix wizard Ryan Hewitt (The Lumineers, Vance Joy) sprinkled his magic dust over the songs. Florence’s Town is the first single to be released off the project. Abbey Toole describes it as an ‘anthem of empowerment’. She explains: “In a world where unfortunately everything and everyone can be judged, I wanted it to be an anthem of empowerment for everyone feeling like they don’t fit into the social ‘norm’.”
This week, Florence’s Town by Little Quirks is the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you’ll 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 41)
I started recommending great new music on a daily basis in January 2017. Today marks my 2000th post. It’s a pleasure to write them, and a privilege to see in the statistics you read and like them. Thanks so much for that!
As always on Monday mornings (CET), this is Werner’s Weekly, your compass to the music that matters. It contains the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Boo Seeka – Days Get Better (Wildcard this week)
- Pixey – Just Move (Wildcard last week)
- Red Rum Club – The Elevation
- Sacropolis – For You
- Semisonic – Basement Tapes
- Tessa Dixson – How High
- The Neighbourhood – Lost In Translation
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: Dua Lipa (feat. DaBaby), The Posies, Tom Petty, and 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.
