Browsing Tag pop
Werner’s Weekly (week 32)
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:
- The Magic Gang – Make Time For Change (Wildcard this week)
- Crimer – Eyes Off Me (Wildcard last week)
- Alfie Templeman – Things I Thought Were Mine
- Bloxx – Off My Mind
- Everything Everything – Violent Sun
- Machine Gun Kelly – Bloody Valentine
- Yours Truly – Together
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: Bastille feat. Graham Coxon, Biffy Clyro, Semisonic, Snow Patrol & The Saturday Songwriters 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.
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.
Black Honey – Beaches
Black Honey are a Brighton 4-piece with plenty bravado, swagger and talent, fronted by energetic front lady Izzy Bee. Not to be confused with Izzy Bizu, by the way. I played their early singles Corrine, All My Pride and Hello Today often in my then radio show Carte Blanche.
In my opinion, their new single Beaches is their finest moment. Its hand clap beat gives it a distinct glam rock feeling. Elsewhere, bursts of horns further fuel the already powerful chorus.
On writing the song, Izzy B. Phillips says: “Beaches is cheeky twisted collage of all things weird, set to a playground clapping song. It’s all eye rolls, punk gigs & girls in polka dot bikinis. A nonsense filled retro world I wanna disappear into at times like these.”
Three minutes of sun-kissed seaside fun!
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.
Leoniden – L.O.V.E.
If you’ve been following Carte Blanche Music for some time, you may remember me praising Leoniden’s singles Kids and People. Both featured on the German band’s sophomore album Again, which enabled the band’s breakthrough.
In the two years since its release, the band grew considerably. Not only in popularity, but also in sound. New single L.O.V.E. is an energetic song with a stadium-sized chorus, playful Wurlitzer, driving bass line and subtle string and brass sections.
Listening to it, I wouldn’t know why Leoniden’s success should be limited to their own country. Great track!
Recommended as well:
Leoniden – People
Leoniden – Kids
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.
Lola Lennox – Back At Wrong
Some names in pop music are truly unique. I mean, the first names Janet, Whitney and Kylie only point at one person each, don’t they? Likewise, when I put forward last name ‘Lennox’, I’m sure you’ll think about Annie. Well, maybe that’s about to change…
Enter Annie’s daughter Lola Lennox. Obviously, music has been in her blood from as long as she can remember. She has played the piano and sung from seven years old, written songs from the age of fifteen, and earned a place at the Royal Academy of Music. Now, Lola is a singer, songwriter and musician in her own right, and her third single Back At Wrong is an absolute banger.
Produced by Dan Muckala (Echosmith, Tiesto), with additional production by Annie Lennox and Braeden Wright, it features an infectious, pounding beat from the start. Along the way, adding a playful piano and a surprise organ, the song builds into a mighty soundscape.
Back At Wrong draws on Lola’s own experience of a toxic relationship. She says about it: “The ones that hurt the most can be the hardest to let go of. I wrote Back At Wrong about a relationship that was fraught with dysfunction. I knew I had to end it but the spell of our togetherness was so hard to break. We felt either ecstatic highs or heart wrenching lows, and the drama was fuel for passion and co-dependency. This song is a statement where I take the power back.”
Lola spent time in the studio over the past year with the likes of Eg White (Florence & The Machine, Sam Smith) and Semisonic’s Dan Wilson (Adele), and will be releasing more singles throughout the year.
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.
Delta Spirit – It Ain’t Easy
Delta Spirit consists of Matthew Vasquez (vocals, guitars), Jonathan Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (drums), William McLaren (guitar) and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich. The band, described by Vasquez as ‘five contrarians trying to agree on an idea’ was formed in California in 2005. Following their 2014 album Into The Wide, they took an extended break. During the six years that followed, some band members released solo albums, while others joined other bands.
11 September, Delta Spirit will release their fifth long-player. The 10-song set was produced by the band and mixed by Tchad Blake (U2, The Black Keys). As a follow-up to its first single How Bout It, the quintet just put out second track It Ain’t Easy. The song features a simple but prominent piano part, acoustic guitars and a sturdy rhythm section. Already infectious at first listen, it grows with every spin.
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.
Sycco – Dribble
Emerging Australian singer-songwriter Sasha McLeod goes by the stage name Sycco, which is pronounced as ‘psycho’. Her new single Dribble is only her fifth since she came to the scene with her debut track Starboard Square in 2018. From that moment on, her songs have kept evolving, just like the number of streams, as well as her sound.
Dribble is an irresistible, easy-going pop tune with an electronic arrangement at its core. It also flirts with neo-soul, while Sycco’s smooth vocals flow on top of the beat. The Brisbane artist explains: “This track was written in four hours. [Producer] Ed and I were tired and hungover, which maybe explains why it sounds a little dark. The guitar synth was added at the last minute but I can’t imagine the song without it now”.
Sycco enjoys massive support from Australia’s alternative radio station Triple J. Earlier this year, she was one of 17 talented artists from all over the country to win a Triple J Unearthed ‘Level Up’ grant. The prize comes with $7.000, to be spent on ‘things that will level up their music career’, like musical instruments, home studio recording equipment or software, mixing and mastering costs, music video production, etc.
Money well spent by Triple J, I’d say. It’s quite clear this girl, only 18 years old, has a bright future ahead of her.
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 31):
The Magic Gang – Make Time For Change
Brighton quartet The Magic Gang offer a wide range of musical styles. Personally, I like them best when they enter The Style Council territory. In other words: when they revisit the Northern Soul sound. The band did so with recent single Think, and they’re back at it with their new track Make Time For Change.
Lead vocalist Gus Taylor explains, “Make Time For Change is a song about self-care. It’s a reminder to look after yourself and to encourage yourself to do the things that make you feel good.”
28 August, The Magic Gang will release their second album Death Of The Party. This horn-driven new single will feature on the vinyl Bonus Edition and digital formats of that long-player. It was recorded in Atlanta with producer Ben H. Allen (Deerhunter, Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley).
This week, Make Time For Change will feature prominently on Carte Blanche Music. It’s the new Wildcard!
Recommended as well:
What Have You Got To Lose
Think
How Can I Compete
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 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.
Bloxx – Off My Mind
A month ahead of its release we can already conclude Bloxx’ debut album Lie Out Loud will be a banger. How could it not be, when all four previously released singles so far are absolute belters?
And it gets even better, for fifth single Off My Mind doesn’t disappoint. And that’s an understatement. It’s another great pop-rock song with a chorus as catchy as they come. The track is accompanied by a clever video that sees singer Ophelia Booth jumping around between her band mates, who are all social distancing in their own, ehm, booths.
Recommended as well:
Bloxx – Thinking About Yourself
Bloxx – Lie Out Loud
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.
