Browsing Tag melancholic
Soak feat. Gemma Doherty – I’m Alive
To be honest, I don’t often listen to song lyrics. I like a song when I like the whole package: instruments, rhythm, voice, melody… all of the elements that make the song at first listen. But one way or another, for me the lyrics come at a later stage (if at all).
Don’t ask me why, but that’s all different with spoken word songs. These appear to draw my attention directly to the lyrics. You want examples? Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann, for instance. Or Car Radio by Twenty One Pilots. And now, there’s this new one…
I’m Alive is a collaboration between Soak (Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson) and Gemma Doherty (of alt-pop duo Saint Sister). It’s based upon a poem written and performed by Monds-Watson, with gentle and gripping backing instrumentals provided by Doherty.
The collaboration was overseen by Irish photographer Ellius Grace, who also directed the accompanying short film. He explains: “I’m Alive is a short film about being mindful of the small joys and blessings around you. It’s about slowing down and taking stock of the things that often go unnoticed. (…) I hope to remind you of the beautiful experiences that anyone can have no matter their situation.”
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 31)
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:
- Crimer – Eyes Off Me (Wildcard this week)
- Doves – Prisoners (Wildcard last week)
- Ferraro – Fool’s Paradise
- Gracie Abrams – Friend
- Oscar Lang – Apple Juice
- Sam & Sounds – Cloud 9
- The Go! Team – Cookie Scene
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: Anne-Marie feat. Doja Cat; Inge van Calkar; mercy, merci 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.
Gracie Abrams – Friend
Never heard of LA singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams? Then you’re probably not on Instagram. The 21-year-old has over 310.000 followers on the platform, including Billie Eilish. Also, her five singles so far have been streamed over 90 million times globally. Time to catch up if you hadn’t already.
Minor is Abrams’ first EP. It contains her three latest singles and four new songs. Each of the seven tracks on this collection of breakup songs sounds like a page out of her diary. The lyrics are raw and personal in an introspective way, with heartbreak as their central theme.
Friends is her new single. Musically, it’s stripped back to the point the lyrics stand out even more. ‘And I hate the way you love me / And I hate that I still care’. Haven’t we all been there?
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:
- Baxtr – Bloom (Wildcard this week)
- Hoshi feat. Corine – Larmes De Croco (Wildcard last week)
- Friday – Hey Mama
- Harper Bloom – Walk My Way
- Mads Langer – Life In Stereo
- Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ?
- The Allergies (feat. The Cuban Brothers) – Let Them Know
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: Moby, Nothing But Thieves, Prince, Smith & Burrows, 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 26)
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:
- Hoshi feat. Corine – Larmes De Croco (Wildcard this week)
- Julie Bergan – Commando (Wildcard last week)
- Dopha – The Game
- Francesco Gabbani – Il Sudore Ci Appiccica
- Gordi – Unready [aO2Sk Mix]
- Lola Le Lann – Portofino
- Lova – Black Converse
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: Annie, Halsey, The Killers, Yello, 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.
Mélodie Lauret – À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ?
If you like a speak-singing delivery (where the artist alternates speaking with singing), French music has a lot to offer. Grand Corps Malade, for instance, is renowned for this characteristic style. So is Mélodie Lauret.
I’ve been a fan of Laurets ever since she debuted with her single 23h28, less than a year ago. In the meantime, she put out her first EP, and a second EP is slated for release in the autumn.
À Quoi Tu Penses Quand Tu M’adores ? (‘what do you think about when you make love to me?’) is the 20-year-old singer’s new single. As always, Lauret doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. This time, she narrates about the hazardous feelings that can affect a romantic relationship. The instrumentation is sparse, but very effective, pointing all your attention to the tormented lyrics. But even when you don’t understand a word, it’s a beautiful song, with a tangible melancholy.
Recommended as well:
Mélodie Lauret – 23h28
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.
Lova – Black Converse
When Lova Alvilde debuted with You Me And The Silence, early in 2018, I was immediately impressed. Two EP’s later, the Swedish talent is working on her debut album.
Black Converse is the third single off this first long-player. Starting off with an emotive piano melody, it holds a relatable theme. The singer explains: “This song is about a breakup and how it feels when you’re watching your ex move on in front of your eyes. It sucks, it hurts, you feel replaced and like you’re worth nothing anymore. But it gets better. Time heals everything.”
Lova means ‘promise’, and I’m sure she’ll live up to her name sooner rather than later. This beautiful, timeless track is another step closer to unescapable stardom.
Recommended as well:
Lova – You Me And The Silence
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 19)
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:
- MisterWives – Rock Bottom (Wildcard this week)
- Grand Corps Malade – Effets Secondaires (Wildcard last week)
- Austra feat. Cecile Believe – Mountain Baby
- Carmanah – Best Interests
- E^ST – Maybe It’s Me
- Mxmtoon – No Faker
- The Haggis Horns – Haggis Express
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: Dagny, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sea Girls, 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 18)
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:
- Grand Corps Malade – Effets Secondaires (Wildcard this week)
- Dive In – Give Me A Reason (Wildcard last week)
- Inge van Calkar – Spinning Around
- Julian Velard – Half Done
- Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions – Victory!
- Picture This – Troublemaker
- Smallpools x morgxn – Slowdown
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: The 1975, Hayley Williams, Maria Mena, Pet Shop Boys, 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.
Wildcard (week 17):
Grand Corps Malade – Effets Secondaires
Frenchman Fabien Marsaud originally wanted to become a basketball pro, but an accident prohibited him from fulfilling that ambition. This is reflected by his artist name Grand Corps Malade, which means ‘large sick body’. Now that a virus turned the whole world into a large sick body, the singer recorded a charity song. All of its proceeds will be donated to two French hospitals.
Effets Secondaires (‘side effects’) features Grand Corps Malade’s characteristic speak-singing style. It sits on top of an impressive composition by Swiss DJ/producer Quentin Mosimann, who also produced GCM’s upcoming album.
Obviously, the song applauds the real heroes of the Corona crisis, the healthcare workers. But it also points at other global disasters taking place. It warns that if Corona showed us one thing, it’s that we’re all in this together. Sooner or later, the problems of total strangers will become your problems as well. We’re all in the same boat, fighting the same threats.
A universal message that transcends the current pandemic. It’ll feature on top of this blog for a whole week as the Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 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.
