Browsing Tag r&b
single track
Kara Marni – Golden
Just 19 years old, London native singer-songwriter Kara Marni was discovered after posting covers of her favourite artists – like Minnie Riperton, Roberta Flack, Anita Baker, Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill and Angie Stone – online. Her choices already reflect her musical tastes. Marni describes her music, which has a modern R&B sound, as a fusion of soul music and current music.
After the covers that got her noticed, itās this debut single that will really spark the flame. Think Alicia Keys singing to a Kraftwerk kissed R&B backdrop. The video, completely filmed on Super 8 camera, adds even more vintage feel to the song.
Kara Marni is certainly one to watch for 2018 (and beyond).
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.
werner's weekly
Wernerās Weekly (week 33)
Are you following my 2017 container playlist Carte Blanche Music already? Itās my most comprehensive collection of great new music, updated on a daily basis. Last week, I added Ella Eyre, Liam Gallagher, Ozark Henry, The Horrors, Kesha, Otherkin, Sparks, and many more. On the blog I can only recommend a few of them. And the very best of the songs I reviewed last week, are now listed alphabetically in Wernerās Weekly, below:
- Ridsa – Avancer (Wildcard this week)
- Skott – Mermaid (Wildcard last week)
- Broken Social Scene – Vanity Pail Kids
- Francesca Michielin – Vulcano
- Jimi Charles Moody – Shame
- My Baby – Make A Hundred
- Skinny Living – Why
Listen via the Wernerās Weekly player in the sidebar and click the links for more info.
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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 32):
Wildcard (week 32):
Ridsa – Avancer
The holidays are a great moment to pick up music that you donāt usually hear at home. Especially songs by local acts from the country that youāve travelled to. Here in France, Avancer by Ridsa is on the radio a lot and to me it sounds like it could be a hit abroad as wellā¦
Ridsa (born in 1990 as Maxence Boitez) is a French rapper/singer. He became an internet phenomenon after posting his songs on YouTube. His channel now counts 879.000 subscribers and his clips have been viewed around 300 million times altogether.
Avancer is a single that was released last April from his most recent album Libre. Since then 14 million (I suppose mostly French) viewers saw the clip. When released throughout Europe, I predict an even greater successā¦
Let me start by making the single this weekās Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. Hopefully this will help the song āavancerāā¦
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.
werner's weekly
Wernerās Weekly (week 30)
For those of you who are not on holiday, Iāll pretend not to be as well. On the other hand: why would you stop listening to new music when youāre not at home? The stream of great new releases doesnāt run dry either.
The last seven days I enriched my 2017 container playlist Carte Blanche Music with Armstrongs, Nothing But Thieves, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Ride, among others. And as always, the crĆØme de la crĆØme of this fine bunch if brand new songs is listed alphabetically in my Wernerās Weekly playlist below. Please allow me to bring you up to speed in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1ā¦
- Aloe Blacc – King Is Born (Wildcard this week)
- Alice Merton – No Roots (Wildcard last week)
- Chase & Status feat. Emeli SandĆ© – Love Me More
- Last Train – Between Wounds
- Tom Grennan – Found What Iāve Been Looking For
- Young Gun Silver Fox – Midnight In Richmond
Through the links above you can read my recommendations for each track, and while reading, you can listen to all of the songs via the Wernerās Weekly player in the sidebar.
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.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 29):
Wildcard (week 29):
Aloe Blacc – King Is Born
If Aloe Blacc were to be remembered for his vocals on Aviciiās Wake Me Up only, it would be a bloody shame. Letās at least also recall him for his wonderful real name: Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III. And needless (I hope) to remind you of his own hits I Need A Dollar and The Man.
Last year he released three tracks (one of them being the great Broke), all of which havenāt yet appeared on an album (thatās a more or less coherent collection of songs, kids). The same goes for his new single, King Is Born. A new classic, as far as Iām concerned. Most literally so, because it uses a sample from The Ides Of Marchās 1970 hit Vehicle. Pop quiz question: in what hugely popular rock band did The Ides Of March singer Jim Peterik show up in the 1980ās?(*)
Talking about boxing, this brings me back to Aloe Blaccās new single. King Is Born is the theme song to the upcoming boxing match between titans Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, on 26 August. Itās also scheduled to appear on Blaccās new album, that he is currently finishing.
King Is Born is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard and will feature here prominently the whole week long!
(*) Survivor, best-known for their Rocky-related hits Eye Of The Tiger and Burning Heart.
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.
werner's weekly
Wernerās Weekly (week 29)
Summers used to be slow-moving as far as new music was concerned, but that has changed in recent years. Why would you wait to release your great new track until after the holidays, when all other artists release their great new tracks as well? Radio and streaming playlists (or listeners in general) are in need of good content the whole year round. No wonder then, that I could add new music from the likes of The Allergies, Arcade Hearts and Foster The People to my 2017 container playlist Carte Blanche Music last week.
Each Monday morning, I put my personal recommendations out of all new releases in Wernerās Weekly, an alphabetically sorted playlist, kicking off with the Carte Blanche Music Wildcards of this and last week. Itās in full below. Follow the links for more information and listen to the songs via the Wernerās Weekly player in the sidebar!
- Alice Merton – No Roots (Wildcard this week)
- BC Unidos (feat. Shungudzo) – Bicycle (Wildcard last week)
- Black Grape – Nine Lives
- Jain – Dynabeat
- Kesha feat. The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman
- Kideko – Dum Dum
- Urban Cone – Pumping Up Clouds
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.
single track
Kesha feat. The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman
Kesha (who has ditched the dollar sign from her stage name) has a new goal: female empowerment. That became clear last week already, when she released the emotive ballad Praying, but even more so on the quick follow-up: the soulful Woman; a song that features the fantastic Dap-Kings horn section. Both tracks will be on Keshaās forthcoming album Rainbow, due out on 11 August. Itās her first album in five years and we all know what kept her busy in the meantimeā¦
It looks like Rainbow is an ambitious project all along the line. Lyrically, obviously, but also because of its collaborations. You can expect the Eagles Of Death Metal,Ā Dolly PartonĀ and Kesha’s mother,Ā Pebe Sebert, on it. But personally, Iām looking out most for the appearance of Ben Folds.
Kesha has stated the album was influenced by the likes of Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, T-Rex, James Brown, The Beatles and The Sweet. Not the first names that popped into my mind when I first heard Woman, but what a great song that is! This is the fun video to go with itā¦
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.
single track
Black Grape – Nine Lives
When The Happy Mondays fell apart in 1992, no-one expected to ever hear from Shaun Ryder again. It was commonly accepted that he (or at least his career) probably wouldnāt survive his various drug addictions. So, it was quite a surprise to see Ryder ā in fairly healthy shape ā return to the top of the charts three years later, with a new band: Black Grape. A band he formed with ex-Ruthless Rap Assassins frontman Paul āKermitā Leveridge (not the green one).
Black Grapeās debut album Itās Great When Youāre Straightā¦ Yeah was nothing less than a master piece and, although commercially less successful, I love 1997ās follow-up record Stupid Stupid Stupid as well. No link there, as itās officially missing from streaming services, but *cough* YouTube *cough*. Worth the effort, thoughā¦
You can imagine that after 20 years of silence, the announcement of a new Black Grape album was even a bigger surprise than the bandās debut in 1995. But youād better believe Pop Voodoo will be out 17 July. And since itās 2017, new tracks off it are being released each week now, to give the album release as much momentum as possible. Nine Lives is my favourite so far!
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.
single track
Jorja Smith – Teenage Fantasy
Jorja Smith is a young British neo soul singer, who turned 20 last month. She released her debut EP Project 11 only at the end of 2016. Earlier this year, she released the single Beautiful Little Fools on International Womenās Day and she also featured on two tracks on Drakeās More Life playlist.
According to a press release Smith wrote her new single four years ago. The intro features humming she recorded while babysitting when she was 16 years old. Teenage Fantasy is a laid back track, jazzy and soulful at the same time. Bonus points for keeping the blooper at the end as a part of the songā¦
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.
border breaker, ebbchart, single track
Alma – Dye My Hair
One week before the start of this blog, Almaās Dye My Hair was the last Wildcard of 2016. Now that Iāve seen her perform at showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag, last Thursday, I feel the urge to bring it to your attention as yet. Consider it my present to her, because today, 17 January, itās her birthday. Happy 21st anniversary Alma!
Alma is Finnish singer-songwriter Alma-Sofia Miettinen. A few years ago, when she was 17, she participated in television talent show Idols, where she finished fifth. Last summer, at the age of 20, she released her debut single Karma. A great track with equal parts deep house, r&b and pop, that went on to become a huge hit in the European Border Breakers Charts. Actually, it was this one track that landed her at Eurosonic Noorderslag; there simply was nothing more to judge at the timeā¦
The festival bookers did a good job giving Alma this platform. She has a great voice, that is even enhanced on stage by her sister, who doubles pretty much all vocals. Their voices go very well together. Behind the singing pair, the beats are produced by three musicians behind launch pads, one of whom also plays guitar.
And now, there is this second single, Dye My Hair. It contains the same infectious ingredients as her debut, and deserves to become her breakthrough hit. Once that has happened, a re-release of Karma would be a great idea!
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.
