If you like pop-punk bands such as Jimmy Eat World, make sure not to miss out on Waxflower. Their hooks and melodies are just as catchy, they’re only less well-known. But that’s about to change.

When the Brisbane quartet had to halt their touring plans, they headed straight back into the studio. With producer Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Yours Truly) they recorded their debut EP, which will be out by mid next year.

The first single to be released ahead of the EP is Again. Frontman Tristan Higginson describes it as ‘a mantra of hope’. “It’s a reminder of my capacity to heal when times inevitably get tough. Although it does touch on those times, there is a vein of optimism running through the song that’s new for us.” 

The powerhouse vocals you hear in the second half of the track are courtesy of Caitlin Henry. She’s the singer of fellow Aussie band Eat Your Heart Out. “Working with Caitlin and Stevie on the shared vocals at the end of the track was an amazing experience”, says Higginson. “Their talent really shines through in all of their parts.” 

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Ahead of the release of their debut album Pressure (out on 27 November), Scabz put out its title track. Fierce and furious, it’s a frantic garage punk anthem. Punk may not be the first genre that springs to mind thinking of Australian music, but the country does have a vibrant punk scene.

Lead singer Siobhan Poynton elaborated about the track in a press statement. “Pressure is about what it actually feels like to live in a world where you have no power and no control. Not necessarily the anger but the actual feeling of being under pressure to understand and fix something you didn’t choose.” More to the point, the track deals with the pressure of expectations.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Good old punk never dies. Just ask Smarts, an Aussie band comprised of members of Ausmuteants, Parsnip and The Living Eyes. Mid-October, they’ll launch their debut album Who Needs Smarts Anyway? Good question, in the best punk tradition.

The long-player, recorded in just one weekend, contains 13 tracks. Four of those are re-recorded versions of the tracks on the band’s 2018 EP Smart World, which was recorded by the band’s Billy Gardner (bass, vocals) and Mitch Campleman (guitar). Since then, drummer Jake Robertson, synth player Sally Buckley and saxophonist Stella Rennex were added to the line-up.

A saxophonist? Yes, that’s right. Smarts deliver fast-paced, sax-fuelled punk. That already sounds wicked on paper, so wait ‘til you hear the music for yourself. Cling Wrap is the band’s new single. A raucous, playful, tight, thrilling, dynamic adrenaline rush, which clocks in at just under 2 minutes. Just like a good punk song should.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

Only two studio EP’s and one live EP into their career, Sydney punk rock band Yours Truly just announced their first long-player. Dubbed Self Care, the debut album will be out on 18 September. Thanks to the two singles that preceded it so far, I circled the date in red on my calendar.

Following the single Composure, Yours Truly released the equally strong Together as the album’s second teaser track. Filled with stomping beats, a groovy bass and soaring guitars, it sounds like an upbeat feelgood anthem. Lyrically however, it’s a different story, vocalist Mikaila Delgado explains.

“Together is about feeling the stress and uneasiness of imposter syndrome. I had a lot of fear and anxiety coming into this album, having this expectation to exceed what we did with [second EP] Afterglow. (….) I remember telling myself ‘you need to write the best songs of your life’ and getting upset about the possibility of not being able to prove ourselves. One night I turned to Lachlan [Cronin, guitar] and said, ‘I just feel all the colour has been drained from my brain’. We both looked at each other with wide eyes, and that’s how the idea of Together came about.”

Recommended as well:
Yours Truly – Composure

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl

This one is for all of you who think ‘they don’t make decent guitar music any more’. East London foursome On Video are currently building a reputation for their fast-paced punky garage rock. After listening to their new single Bête Noire, your appetite for hooks and guitar riffs will be fully satisfied.

Frontman Hassan Anderson says about the track: “Bête Noire is a song inspired by our bassist George Williams. He was very misbehaved in his early days at school and was told by a teacher: “You, boy, have a bête noire inside of you.” Since then, George has made minimal improvements. This song aims to document that.”
More generally, the track is about the experience of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and the stigmas that come with that.

Bête Noire (French for ‘black beast’) comes ahead of On Video’s new EP Stuntman.

For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.

Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.

www.carteblanchemusic.nl