Browsing Tag pop
Dopha – The Game
In her homeland Denmark, Sofie Daugaard Andersen is a rising artist who performs as Dopha. Since she moved from her town of birth, Romalt, to the country’s capital Copenhagen, she released two popular songs. Her debut single September Till June (November 2019) was followed by the radio hit Happy For Me (last April).
But I’m pretty sure she’ll be third time lucky. For me, her new indie-pop single The Game hits the jackpot. It’s mesmerizing and convincing, and proves she has a talent to write songs that could travel well beyond the Danish borders. The Game is the title song of her upcoming debut album.
This is how I would love Lana Del Rey to sound. Until then, I’m a fan of Dopha instead!
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 Le Lann – Portofino
Lola Le Lann is the daughter of French actress Valérie Stroh and trumpet player Eric Le Lann. In 2015, at the age of 19, she entered the French cinema world herself. In the film Un Moment D’égarement (‘a wild moment’) she played one of the leading roles.
A few films later, she decided to return to her first love: music. She’s been playing the piano as of a young age. Le Lann just released her debut EP Glaz. It features 5 different songs (and an acoustic version of its first single Lola À L’eau).
One of those songs is Portofino, which fits perfectly in a great tradition of French songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Soft beats, perky percussion, a funky guitar, Caribbean sounds, they’re all there. And then of course, there are Le Lann’s seductive Vanessa Paradis-like vocals.
Portofino was co-written and co-produced by Yohann Malory, whose great single Morceaux De Toi (feat. Yseult) I featured here last January.
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.
Francesco Gabbani – Il Sudore Ci Appiccica
Summer hits are often tunes that people have taken home from their holidays. That way, songs from popular holiday countries like Spain, Italy and France spread all over Europe in the past. But 2020 is another year altogether. After the recent developments, many people won’t spend their holidays abroad. Luckily, Carte Blanche Music brings the best and sunniest music to your doorstep. I’ll do so in the safest of ways: via your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile screen.
Each year, Italian artist Francesco Gabbani releases a summer hit contender. This year is no different. His new single Il Sudore Ci Appiccica (which means ‘sweat sticks to us’) is sure to bring out the sun. But on a deeper level, it’s meant to bring out hope.
Gabbani: “The term sweat takes on a double meaning in the song. Sweat is what unites us in fatigue and need. In this regard, I think of the real commitment made by everyone during the epidemic. But sweat is also the desire for light-heartedness and fun that we must be able to find in the coming months. Sweating stands for getting closer, sharing and reducing distances as well. Of course, as soon as all this will be possible.”
Recommended as well:
Francesco Gabbani – È Un’altra Cosa
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.
Gordi – Unready [aO2Sk Mix]
26 June, Gordi will release her sophomore album Our Two Skins. For the record: Gordi is Sophie Payten. She’s from Australia, like so many recommended artists on this blog.
Unready is the fourth song to be unveiled ahead of the album. The aO2Sk Mix, especially, is tastefully produced around Gordi’s emotive voice. Featuring prominent drums and vocal samples, it’s an electro-organic pop tune, reminiscent of Haim. Co-producers John Congleton, Chris Messina, and Zach Hanson did a lovely job! Lyrically, it’s about being caught off-guard by your life while you stand in the middle of it.
This track is made for the radio. But if I were you, I’d put it on my own playlist as well, just to be sure.
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.
Alex The Astronaut – Banksia
I’m very much looking forward to Alex The Astronaut’s upcoming debut album The Theory Of Absolutely Nothing. Can’t wait ‘til 21 August! Australian singer-songwriter Alexandra Lynn (her real name) is a natural born storyteller, depicting everyday experiences in her folk-inflected pop songs. The album is said to explore friendship, love, loss, pain and change. Funny observations, but deeply personal ones as well.
New single Banksia falls in the latter category. Banksias are a native Australian flower that lines lots of the suburban streets, including the street Alex was walking down when she found out her friend passed away. “It’s a song about my friend, Maddie Clarke, who was a beautiful person who passed away too young”, Lynn notes. “She was always smiling when I saw her, no one always feels like that but that’s what she showed me.”
Recommended as well:
Alex The Astronaut – Split The Sky
Alex The Astronaut – I Think You’re Great
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.
Tally Spear – Already Gone
Describing pop music can be a difficult task and often ends up inaccurate. The best you can do is hit the play button below. But for those who need a little encouragement: Tally Spear says she creates pop music with a punk attitude. Me, I hear some gothic elements in it. All in all, I’d say she sounds like a less electronic version of Billie Eilish. Should we file it under the catch-all term ‘alt-pop’, then? Just hit that play button, will you?
Already Gone is the 24-year-old Londoner’s third single of this year, her fourth altogether. “The track tackles feelings of detachment and distance”, Spear explains. “It is kind of the opposite of all the happy ‘honeymoon phase’ songs out there. I wanted to explore the sometimes negative thought processes surrounding new beginnings, and a desire for independence.”
The song was produced by Max Marlow (Kodaline, Declan MeKenna) and is the latest song to be taken from her debut EP, due out later this summer.
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 24):
Julie Bergan – Commando
As a daughter of two music teachers, it came as no surprise Norway’s Julie Bergan pursued a music career herself. In 2018, she featured on Alan Walker’s global smash Ignite. Yet, her solo career has so far been mostly successful in the Scandinavian countries. Massively successful, that is. She already amassed 450 million streams on Spotify alone from a catalogue including two domestic #1 singles. Her debut album Turn On The Lights went 2x Platinum, while she collected several prestigious awards.
Without a doubt, Bergan’s new single will be the launch pad for well-deserved worldwide success. Commando is a great party anthem with a monster of a beat, acoustic guitars and samples aplenty. It sounds like an updated version of the Max Martin sound that made Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears world stars.
As of today, Julie Bergan takes command of Carte Blanche Music. Her bouncing single Commando is the new Wildcard, which means it will feature here prominently for a full week.
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 24)
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:
- Certain Animals – TV (Wildcard this week)
- Håkan Hellström – Alla Drömmar Är Uppfyllda (Wildcard last week)
- Jake Bugg – Rabbit Hole
- Bloxx – Thinking About Yourself
- Tones & I – Ur So F**king Cool
- The Unlikely Candidates – High Low
- Sweater Curse – Close
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: Alex The Astronaut, Alma, Travis, 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 Zolas – Energy Czar
Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski were part of Canadian rock band Lotus Child from 2003 to 2008, before starting their own project. The Zolas are a based in Vancouver. In 2020, the band consists of Gray (vocals, guitar), Cody Hiles (drums) and Dwight Abell (bass).
Two years after the band’s fun cover of the Travelling Wilburys’ Handle With Care (with Yukon Blonde), The Zolas have a new single out. As the title suggests, Energy Czar is an energetic, driving song, made for road trip playlists. The band call it ‘a four-minute moment where you’re allowed to feel all the fun narcissism and self-loathing that comes with being a human being in the 21st century’.
Energy Czar is the first single to be shared from their forthcoming new album Come Back To Life. “We thought it was hilarious to make a Britpop record at a time when nobody but us is listening to that”, says Gray.
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.
