Browsing Tag rock
Wildcard (week 8):
Bailen – Call It Like It Is
Twin brothers Daniel and David and sister Julia Bailen were born and raised in New York. The rising indie-pop trio just announced their sophomore album Tired Hearts will be out on 5 May.
While they recorded their debut album after testing the songs on the road tirelessly, they took another approach on this follow-up. This time, many of the songs were honed in the studio as opposed to live. This resulted in 12 original songs that are centred around Bailen’s radiant harmonies and adventurous arrangements. Lyrically, they wrestle with an uncertain future where ethics and morality – both communal and personal – are constantly shifting. In their own words, it’s a set of songs that ‘navigates the space between the heart’s expectation and the head’s sober reality’.
Bailen co-produced their new album with Brad Cook, who worked with Bon Iver, Waxahatchee and Snail Mail before.
Alt-pop anthem Call It Like It Is is the first single off Tired Hearts. It was co-written by Bailen and X Ambassadors’ Adam Levin and Sam Harris. It’s ‘an anthem for anyone who refuses to be taken advantage of’, the band stated. “It unmasks the ugly truth behind shiny veneers.” The beat-driven, bass-heavy track comes with a cult classic thriller style video.
Call It Like It Is by Bailen is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Bailen on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 8)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Gabrielle Aplin – Be Yourself
(Wildcard this week)
- Dolores Forever – When I Say So
(Wildcard last week)
- beabadoobee – Glue Song
- Black Honey – OK
- Desirée Dawson – Lonely
- Bea Miller – Cynical
- Jason Mraz – I Feel Like Dancing
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 7)
The best from a crazy amount of new releases. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Anna Of The North – Swirl
indie | pop
- Bailen – Call It Like It Is
indie | pop | rock
- Nessa Barrett – Bang Bang!
pop | rock
- beabadoobee – Glue Song
indie | pop
- Black Honey – OK
indie | rock
- Cole Bleu – Heartbreakers
indie | rock
- Gia Darcy – I’ll Never Drink Again
indie | pop | rock
- Desirée Dawson – Lonely
indie | pop | r&b
- Death Of The High Street – Not Fair
indie | rock
- FloodHounds – Psychosemantics
indie | rock
- James Gittins feat. Sophie Naglik – What You Want [Dance Remix]
dance | indie | pop
- Tara Hack – Bounce
disco | electronic | funk | indie | pop
- The Hengles – Flashes Of Green
indie | pop | rock
- Tycho Jones – Risk To My Reward
indie | pop
- Daimy Lotus – Friends 😉
indie | pop | rock
- Melle – Can’t Come Home
indie | pop
- Bea Miller – Cynical
indie | rock
- Jason Mraz – I Feel Like Dancing
indie | pop
- noelle – Mars
indie | pop
- Lo Noom – Too Much For Me
acoustic | indie | pop
- Giovany Revelle – Time
indie | pop | rock
- Rews – Misery
indie | rock
- Bebe Rexha – Heart Wants What It Wants
pop
- Bartees Strange – Tisched Off
indie | pop | rock
- Temples – Cicada
indie | pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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 (week 7)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Dolores Forever – When I Say So
(Wildcard this week)
- Nell Mescal – Homesick
(Wildcard last week)
- Eddie Benjamin – All For Nothing
- Django Django feat. Self Esteem – Complete Me
- Harm & Ease – Meet Me At The Riot
- Kezra – Insane
- Hannah Scott – Into Your Grief
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 6)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Gabrielle Aplin – Be Yourself
indie | pop
- Eddie Benjamin – All For Nothing
pop
- Bitter Kisses – Pr*y
indie | pop | rock
- Crystal Cities – I Should Have Known That This Was War
indie | pop
- Depeche Mode – Ghosts Again
electronic | pop
- Django Django feat. Self Esteem – Complete Me
indie | pop
- Harm & Ease – Meet Me At The Riot
indie | pop | rock
- Kezra – Insane
indie | pop | rock
- Naia Lika – Gas Station Bouquet
funk | indie | pop | soul
- Little Green – Dinner With The Moon
indie | pop
- Mal Fantôme – Higher
indie | pop | rock
- Manning – Hearts On Fire
indie | pop
- Peking Duk feat. Darren Hayes – I Want You
pop
- Roe – My Greatest Fear
indie | pop | rock
- Hannah Scott – Into Your Grief
acoustic | indie | melancholic | pop
- Super Ghost – Don’t Talk About It
indie | pop | rock
- Tired All The Time – One Big File
indie | pop | rock
- Joshua Ziggy – Can’t Go Back
indie | pop | rock
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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 (week 6)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Nell Mescal – Homesick
(Wildcard this week)
- Altered By Mom – Dive In
(Wildcard last week)
- Dead Anyway – Big Foot
- Paddy Echo – Butterfly Kissing
- Hannah Grae – I Never Say No
- Rori – Encore
- The Utopiates – Making History
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.

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.
Wildcard (week 5): Nell Mescal – Homesick
Just 19 years old, Nell Mescal makes an impressive entrance into the entertainment world. Homesick is only her second official release, but a very promising one.
Hailing from Maynooth in Kildare, Ireland, the young emerging singer-songwriter has been singing all her life and has been performing in groups and choirs for as long as she can remember. During the pandemic, she decided to make music her career. She moved to North London, where she’s surrounded by other young creatives and kindred spirits.
Mescal wrote her charming new single with Jamie N Commons and Cameron Montgomery whilst in Los Angeles. However, it was inspired by her move from the cosy country side to the big city. She explains: “It’s about when I first moved to London from Ireland and really missed home, but also being determined to stick it out so it doesn’t look like I failed at moving away. The lyrics give a bit of insight to how hard it is to move away at a young age and the loneliness that comes with it, while the music is upbeat and hopeful to show that you can do hard things and that you can make a home wherever you go if you give it time.”
Homesick by Nell Mescal is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Follow Nell Mescal on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards 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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 5)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Altered By Mom – Dive In
(Wildcard this week)
- Luude & Issey Cross (feat. Moby) – Oh My
(Wildcard last week)
- Bloodhype – On And On
- Boxteles – Harry And Bruce
- Clea – Easy To Forgive
- Fulminacci – Tutto Inutile
- Cailin Russo – Psycho Freak
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.

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.
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 4)
Not all, but only the *best* new music. Added this week (alphabetically):
- Blackbird – Down Down Down Down
indie | pop
- Bloodhype – On And On
indie | pop
- The Boo Radleys – Seeker
indie | pop
- Boxteles – Harry And Bruce
indie | pop | rock
- Vince Chinaski – Eat Your Peas!
indie | pop
- Clea – Easy To Forgive
pop
- dEUS – 1989
indie | pop
- Le Flex – Into You
indie | pop
- Fulminacci – Tutto Inutile
indie | pop
- Rose Gray – Sun Comes Up
indie | pop
- Trunky Juno – Tidal Wave Of Milk
indie | rock
- Zara Larsson – Can’t Tame Her
electronic | pop
- Leathers – Highrise
dance | electronic | indie | pop
- Weston Loney – We Get On
indie | rock
- MaeLeigh – Waiting For Your Love
dance | electronic | indie | pop
- The Man Who – Lose My Mind
indie | pop | rock
- Nell Mescal – Homesick
indie | pop | rock
- New Pagans – There We Are John
indie | rock
- PVRIS – Goddess
indie | rock
- Quietlove – Honest
indie | pop
- Lauren Ray – 24
indie | pop
- Cailin Russo – Psycho Freak
dance | electronic | indie | pop
- Stephen Sanchez – Evangeline
pop | soul
- Wild Horse – Cougar
indie | pop
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Follow (click ‘♥’) to hear the best new music first.

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.
Wildcard (week 4):
Altered By Mom – Dive In
I consider myself a huge Altered By Mom fan. 2020 was an extraordinarily prolific year for the Canadian duo; they released one song every week, resulting in a massive, truly great album, aptly titled 52 Songs. Two hours and 30 minutes very well spent.
Unsurprisingly, Gina Kennedy and Devon Lougheed eased down after fulfilling that project. They participated in a Christmas single at the end of 2021 and were completely off the musical radar last year. Now, thankfully, they’re back! Diving head first into the new year, Altered By Mom just released a beautiful new single.
Dive In is a classic power pop song, with a hooky psychedelic sound which the duo describe as ‘St. Vincent and Lenny Kravitz racing Lamborghinis’. Lyrically, it’s a call to action to chase after the things that scare you the most. A relatable tune that clocks in just under the 3 minute mark.
Altered By Mom’s comeback single Dive In is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll be featured prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
More from the band @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow Altered By Mom on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2023 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards 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.