Browsing Tag pop
Werner’s Weekly (week 36)
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:
- Lush Puppy – Ms. Grey (Wildcard this week)
- Nicolah – Holiday (Wildcard last week)
- Ana & The Changes – Differences
- beabadoobee – She Plays Bass
- Raffaella – Ballerina
- Union Duke – 123
- Zuzu – Get Off [2019 Version]
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below. Only Differences by Ana & The Changes is not available on Spotify yet.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Cigarettes After Sex, Sheryl Crow & St. Vincent, Beth Hart, Alphabeat, Sløtface, 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.
The Griswolds – Nice To Meet Ya!
Following The Griswolds’ 2013 debut EP Heart Like A Lion, their fanbase gradually spread out from their home in Australia. So much so, that they relocated to the US.
Three years went by since The Griswolds released their second full album High Times For Low Lives. Do yourself a favour and check its stand-out track YDLM (featuring the now famous Lizzo). In the meantime, the band featured on tracks by Prince Fox and Max Styler, and they released a remix of their 2014 hit Beware The Dog. But they didn’t put out any really new music. Until now…
As playful and catchy as ever, Nice To Meet Ya! is The Griswolds’ new single. Alas, this is the kind of indie-pop that is sadly overlooked by most radio programmers, nowadays. But never mind, for you’re the boss of your own streaming playlist, aren’t you?
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.
Superbird – Super Superior
Superbird are a British trio, consisting of Joe Sin (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Ash (drums, vocals), and Freddy Sidero (bass, vocals). Their music is as colourful as their suits. But let’s just stick to the music, shall we?
If you like disco, funk and/or the ‘80s in general, these lads are your new best friends. They already surprised with songs like Cola Bottle Fizz and Year On String Along. The former, their very first single, has even been chosen by British TV host Sara Cox as the theme tune for her new show. It may have been useful that drummer Alex worked with her as a soundman, but still… 😉
Super Superior is Superbird’s fifth single and arguably their best yet. It’s funky, with disco flavours, handclaps, and tons of energy. The first few bars remind me of Kool & The Gang’s Celebration, but then the bass kicks in. This is a real mood booster. If its uplifting guitar and infectious hook don’t make you feel good, please call 911.
Recommended as well:
Superbird – Year On String Along
Superbird – Cola Bottle Fizz
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.
Skylar Grey – Shame On You
Skylar Grey (born Holly Brook Hafermann), performed in a folk duo with her mother as a child. She broke through as featured vocalist on Fort Minor’s hit Where’d You Go in 2006. That same year, she released her debut album Like Blood Like Honey as Holly Brook. Soon after, she adopted the stage name Skylar Grey.
On her upcoming fourth album Angel With Tattoos, she goes back to her folk roots. Grey explains: “With Shame On You and the rest of the songs that will follow for my Angel With Tattoos concept project, I committed to a sound that pays homage to the artists from the 70’s I grew up listening to. Producer and co-writer Dave Bassett and I got together frequently last year at his serene Malibu home atop a mountain overlooking the ocean, and we created this music almost effortlessly. I was newly in love and inspired, and together Dave and I stumbled upon this very specific sound that felt simply authentic.”
Shame On You is the album’s first single. Fleetwood Mac is the obvious influence here, and it’s simply beautiful.
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.
The Vices – Life Grows
Only nine months after changing their name from Ten Years After, The Vices give birth to their debut EP. Life Grows will see the light on 20 September. They wrote the songs in between their first ever shows supporting Yungblud, a gig at Eurosonic and a UK tour. The band make an accessible mix of surf, rock and garage, a bit like The Strokes.
Title track Life Grows may sound like a happy tune, but The Vices went deep for this one. Frontman Floris van Luijtelaar explains: “Life in the city, where everything you do and say is seen and heard, can be confusing and frustrating. They always try to tell you if it’s right or wrong, ain’t there nothing in between? Sometimes self-reflection is being blocked by all the noise of others’ opinions….”
Life Grows’ was written in a night of insecurity, where Van Luijtelaar realised that as long as you’re behind your own decisions, it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks.
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.
Citizen Kay – Ego
At the age of six, Citizen Kay and his family migrated from Ghana to Australia. He made it his mission to make music that blended traditional hip hop with soul, jazz, blues and rock. He refined this task with each new album, developing into a seasoned songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.
Following his debut mini album Demokracy (2014), With The People (2015) and Belly Of The Beast (2017), he has now written brand-new material. The first of these songs is his new single Ego. A true vibe-starter with its funk-filled guitar and bassline, and swirling keys and strings.
Citizen Kay explains the motivation behind the song: “Ego might seem like a song about me chasing a long lost love or something. But it’s my love/hate relationship with money.”
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.
beabadoobee – She Plays Bass
There’s nothing wrong with Bea Kristi’s real name. But her artist name beabadoobee is genuinely swinging. So far, the 18-year-old London singer-songwriter’s musical style has mostly been pigeon-holed as ‘bedroom pop’. A description that relates more to technical issues than to content, in my opinion. Nevertheless, more and more artists pop up in this category. Time for beabadoobee to move on…
Her new single is called She Plays Bass, so you’re right when you presume it to feature a dominant bass line. This, along with a shift towards ’90s indie-rock, gives the song a nostalgic, New Order kind of vibe. However, according to a press release, it was inspired by Sleater-Kinney and The Breeders. No complaints 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.
Zuzu – Get Off [2019 Version]
In 2016, I spent as much time looking for great new music as I do now. By then, however, I didn’t post those songs on this blog, but I played them in my Carte Blanche radio show. Almost exactly three years ago, I discovered Zuzu, a singer-songwriter from Liverpool with a rough edge to her voice. I instantly liked her debut single Get Off, which she said was influenced by Pavement and Courtney Barnett.
She was quickly signed by Virgin/EMI, part of major record company Universal Music. They just released a new version of Get Off as Zuzu’s next single. By the sound of it, it’s clear there was more money available than the first time around. It all sounds much fresher and this mix leaves more room for all of the instruments. As if a blanket was pulled off of the song.
That doesn’t mean the first version was bad though. I’d still fall for it if it wouldn’t have been remixed. Therefore, I think it’s a little bit daft that the original version has now been removed from streaming services, like it never existed. Because it did, and it still does 😉. Great song, which should finally signal her break-through!
Recommended as well:
Zuzu – How It Feels
Zuzu – Beauty Queen
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.
Feeder – Guillotine
Following their 50(!) track Best Of album in 2017, and after spending the year 2018 making old B-sides available online for the first time, Feeder are back with brand-new material in 2019. They just put out their tenth studio album Tallulah.
Guillotine, which addresses social media witch hunts and climate crisis-era malaise, is my favourite track on the long-player. An epic rock ballad with bells and strings, and an overall Smashing Pumpkins vibe.
Recommended as well:
Feeder – Youth
Feeder – Bruised
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.
Raffaella – Ballerina
Raffaella was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She spent the early days of her career collaborating with the band Bråves, but relocated to Southern California to study at the University. This proved to be a noteworthy experience. Joining a sorority, especially, was something of a social experiment. It inspired her debut single Sororicide. After moving back home to New York City, Raffaella attended Columbia University, where she continued to build her musical persona. Billie Holiday, St. Vincent and Regina Spektor became her biggest influences.
Sororicide was followed by the singles Bruce Willis, NASA’s Fake, Hell Yeah and Balaclava. All five of them now feature on Raffaella’s first EP Ballerina, complemented with the beautiful title track. The latter, another clever and catchy dream pop song, is also her new single.
Like many other artists nowadays, Raffaella is critical about social media in her lyrics. The talented singer-songwriter says about that: “Suddenly we’re all competing for the best fake life, pretending we’re fulfilled. This EP is my best attempt to combat that.”
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.
