Browsing Tag soul
single track
pop | r&b | rock | soul
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 wouldn’t survive his various drug addictions. So, it was quite a surprise to see Ryder – in fairly healthy shape – 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 ‘Kermit’ Leveridge (not the green one).
Black Grape’s debut album It’s Great When You’re Straight… Yeah was nothing less than a master piece and, although commercially less successful, I love 1997’s follow-up record Stupid Stupid Stupid as well. No link there, as it’s officially missing from streaming services, but *cough* YouTube *cough*. Worth the effort, though…
You can imagine that after 20 years of silence, the announcement of a new Black Grape album was even a bigger surprise than the band’s debut in 1995. But you’d better believe Pop Voodoo will be out 17 July. And since it’s 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 trackjazz | pop | r&b | soul
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 Women’s Day and she also featured on two tracks on Drake’s 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 song…
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 weeklyfunk | indie | jazz | pop | rock | soul
Werner’s Weekly (week 26)
Music is good, new music is great and the tracks in Werner’s Weekly are the greatest 😉 . Werner’s Weekly contains the best songs that were added to my 2017 container playlist Carte Blanche Music last week (including new tracks by Beth Ditto, Rat Boy, Haim, Blondie and Vant).
These are the ones that made it to the final round…
- IX – Difference (this week’s Wildcard)
- Nana Adjoa – The Resolution (last week’s Wildcard)
- Dangers Of The Sea – You And I
- Julian Velard – Don’t Ask Me About Hamilton (Anymore)
- Pimpy Panda feat. Alana & NiCo Gomez – Don’t Give Up
- School Of X – Words
The links will bring you to more information about each song and if you want to listen to any of them, please check the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar of this blog.
If you like what you hear, you might consider subscribing to one (or both) of these playlists…
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 trackfunk | pop | soul
Pimpy Panda feat. Alana & NiCo Gomez – Don’t Give Up
If you dig Tower Of Power, be sure to check Pimpy Panda. You’re not going to believer they’re actually from Germany. I can hear you think: ‘funk and soul from Germany? Yeah right…’. But don’t judge before you heard it, they’re groovy!
Pimpy Panda just released their new album Pandrenalin as well, although it’s not yet available on streaming platforms. Schade… Don’t Give Up is the new single!
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 trackpop | soul
Tiggs Da Author – Fragile
Tiggs Da Author was born in Tanzania, but moved to London at a young age. The subsequent culture clash made him an allrounder, who is able to melt African jazz, Dizzee Rascal-like hip hop and Detroit soul into swinging contemporary funk and soul.
In 2015, he broke through with Georgia, that sounded a little like John Newman and contained a sample from the Northern Soul classic Shoes by Bobby Bland. His new single Fragile is an even more danceable affair.
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 trackpop | soul
Kat Eaton – The Joker
Being raised in Sheffield, Kat Eaton came across a lot of music. The Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Richard Hawley are all from the steel city, but she was mostly influenced by Joe Cocker. The heart felt emotions in her songs can be traced back to him.
After moving to London, Eaton launched ‘Blue Sundays’ in October 2014; a weekly music night hosted by herself, featuring a new up and coming artist every week. But now, her priority is to raise her own voice. Quite literally, because her voice is her main asset. You can hear it shine on her new single The Joker, the first track off her debut EP When You’re Not Around, which was produced by Neros (Jack Savoretti, Foster The People).
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 trackpop | soul
Samuel Jack – Let It All Out
Some tracks need more time than others, for not all tracks are released in every territory simultaneously… On 23 September 2016 I played Let It All Out by Samuel Jack in my Carte Blanche radio show for the first time and only now it’s officially released in the Netherlands.
Samuel Jack was born in London, moved to Johannesburg when he was 12 and has now settled down in Dorset. He describes himself as ‘a poor man, with a rich mind’ and he writes and records in a caravan. The first fruit of those sessions was his debut EP Live From My Caravan (I’m not making this up), followed by the EP Let It All Out. The title track of the latter is a great soulful pop song. It’s never too late to discover…
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 trackjazz | pop | soul
Rex Orange County – Sunflower
18-year-old Surrey teen Alex O’Connor, a.k.a. Rex Orange County, started out as a drummer, but over time he also learned to play keys and guitar. Add to this his sugar-coated voice and you have a one-man band.
He makes the kind of sophisticated, soul and jazz infused pop, that The Style Council produced in the 80’s and The Cardigans in the 90’s. As its title gives away, Sunflower is the perfect tune for the sunny days that lie ahead of us, meteorologically speaking.
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 weeklydance | electronic | melancholic | pop | rock | soul
Werner’s Weekly (week 13)
On Sunday evenings, when you presumably finish your weekend with a nice glass of wine, a relaxing playlist or a good book (or all three of them), I make hard choices. What songs that made my container playlist Carte Blanche Music last week, deserve to be in my alphabetically sorted ‘best of the best’ playlist Werner’s Weekly?
The hardest part is not putting songs in the list, but taking songs out. In the end, each week I’m very proud of the result. This time as well. It’s as varied as ever. A damn fine selection of brand new music, if I may say so myself ?. Follow both playlists to never miss out.
You can listen to the songs by clicking the Werner’s Weekly player in the sidebar. The links below take you to my short and snappy commentaries on each track.
- TANA – Leave Away (Live) (this week’s Wildcard)
- John Adams – Things That Make You Beautiful (last week’s Wildcard)
- Blas Cantó – In Your Bed
- Cold War Kids (feat. Bishop Briggs) – So Tied Up
- Rilan & The Bombardiers – Supernatural
- Soulwax – Do You Want To Get Into Trouble?
- Ten Tonnes – Silver Heat
- The Gift – Big Fish
Apart from the selection above, I added great tracks by Circa Waves feat. Pvris, The Cranberries, Lizzo and Depeche Mode (and many more) to my daily updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Sounds like an interesting list to follow if you’d ask me… (but hey, it’s a free world!)
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 trackpop | soul
Rilan & The Bombardiers – Supernatural
Rilan & The Bombardiers is a Dutch collective that knows how to blend soul, funk, hip hop, disco and jazz into a steamy cocktail. After a few singles and debut EP Walking On Fire they are now working on their first long player.
First single Supernatural is a must listen for fans of Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars and Pharrell. Rilan Ramhane turns 30 mid-April. This track already gets the party going, but wouldn’t a bona fide hit be a marvellous birthday present?
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.
