Browsing Tag ska
Wildcard (week 13):
The Spitfires – (Just Won’t) Keep Me Down
Nothing is as effective in beating negativity – even in these trying times – as a ska song. This great new single by The Spitfires, for instance. Even the title, (Just Won’t) Keep Me Down, sounds like a message of hope (and a middle finger to COVID-19). It’s a powerful, infectious, brass-infused stomper of a song.
Frontman Billy Sullivan, bassist Sam Long, and drummer Matt Johnson formed The Spitfires five years ago. When playing live, the three-piece is augmented by three more musicians. Listening to their music, it isn’t hard to imagine their concerts being one big party.
The band recently signed to the legendary Acid Jazz Records label and just announced their upcoming album. Life Worth Living is set to be released on 5 June. It was produced by Simon Dine, who was behind the desk for several Paul Weller albums.
(Just Won’t) Keep Me Down, The Spitfires’ new single, is this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2020 playlist you can 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 3)
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:
- Overcoats – The Fool (Wildcard this week)
- Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness (Wildcard last week)
- Beverly Girl – I’m Your Girl
- Charmplay – Hurry
- Pet Shop Boys – Monkey Business
- Rat Boy – Victim Of A System
- Set It Off – So Predictable
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: Ash, Circa Waves, Deacon Blue, Georgia, Halsey, Selena Gomez, Tame Impala, The Wombats, and many more.

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.
Rat Boy – Victim Of A System
Rat Boy (Jordan Cardy’s alter ego) doesn’t keep his critical views to himself. He has the courage to stick out his neck. In that respect, the title of his new EP Government Vacation is self-explanatory. Musically, his driving cocktail of rap, rock, and grooves adds fuel to the fire.
Victim Of A System is the EP’s new single. On it, Rat Boy enhances the aforementioned formula with infectious horns and a pinch of ska. Another track that screams for the volume to be pumped up.
Recommended as well:
Rat Boy – Public Identity
Rat Boy – Turn Round M8
Rat Boy – Revolution
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 47)
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:
- The Mowgli’s – Fighting With Yourself (Wildcard this week)
- Halie – Good Kids (Wildcard last week)
- Deva St. John – The Information Age
- Dubioza Kolektiv & Manu Chao – Cross The Line
- Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
- Lauran Hibberd – Sweat Patch
- Vant – Mary Don’t Mind
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: Angèle, Fall Out Boy, Neon Trees, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Pet Shop Boys, Sam Fender, The Veronicas, and many more.

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.
Dubioza Kolektiv & Manu Chao – Cross The Line
Dubioza Kolektiv are a must-see live act from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their live performances are characterized by power, energy and high-spirited flamboyance. Meanwhile, they balance heavy melodies and important statements.
Their new single Cross The Line is no exception. Musically, it contains their signature blend of traditional Balkan flavours, ska, punk, reggae, electronics, hip hop and rock. Lyrically, it holds an empowering message of freedom. It’s an ode to the determination, courage, and strength needed to leave one’s homeland and face all challenges of an uncertain future. Not for the first time, Dubioza Kolektiv team up with their friend Manu Chao (of Mano Negra fame).
Cross The Line is the band’s first new single ahead of their ninth studio album #fakenews, out in January 2020.
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 39)
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:
- Mélodie Lauret – 23h28 (Wildcard this week)
- Devon – I Don’t Want 2 B Ur Friend (Wildcard last week)
- Ali Barter – January
- Elsa Birgitta Bekman – Desire Lines
- Grace Potter (feat. Lucius) – Back To Me
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair
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: Stereophonics, Sunset Sons, Tove Lo, and many more.

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.
Sitting On Stacy – Chest Hair
Hoyt Yeatman (lead vocals/guitar) and Kyle Hart (bass/vocals) met when they were in elementary school. In 2013, they formed a band named Paper. However, searching the internet for “Paper” gave people a great deal at Office Depot, but made it hard to find the band. Hence they renamed it to Sitting On Stacy, a name that occurred in a dream of Hoyts. Leland Schenck (drums) joined the duo soon afterwards.
Sitting On Stacy is a San Diego, California based rock/alternative band with a ska/surf vibe. Their new single Chest Hair could be a last salute to the summer of 2019.
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.
Werner’s Weekly (week 29)
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:
- Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta (Wildcard this week)
- Miki Núñez – Celébrate (Wildcard last week)
- Imani Coppola – Lying To My Therapist
- Lizzo (feat. Gucci Mane) – Exactly How I Feel
- Pyro – F.O.M.O.
- Skunk Anansie – What You Do For Love
- Wyke van Weelden – Make You Mine
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:, The Brand New Heavies feat. N’Dea Davenport, Emeli Sandé, K.Flay, New Order, The Rembrandts, and many more.

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 28)
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:
- Miki Núñez – Celébrate (Wildcard this week)
- Videoclub – En Nuit (Wildcard last week)
- Ali Barter – Backseat
- The Black Keys – Shine A Little Light
- Flay – Not In California
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: Belle & Sebastian, Ed Sheeran with Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars, Ride, and many more.

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 27):
Miki Núñez – Celébrate
By winning Spanish TV talent show Operación Triunfo, Miguel ‘Miki’ Núñez Pozo was selected to represent his country at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. With the song La Venda he only ended 22nd, but all of that could be forgotten if his new single becomes the international (summer) hit I think it should be.
Celébrate is an ode to good, healthy living, but if you don’t speak Spanish, it’s still a great, uplifting ska-pop anthem. A well-produced song with horns, acoustic guitars and all of the other elements that bring out the sun.
Miki Núñez’ new single is the best way to celebrate the summer. Therefore, it’s this week’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can 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.