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Rina Sawayama Says Mercury Prize Eligibility Rules Are Like ‘Border Control’
The British-Japanese singer Rina Sawayama released her debut album, Sawayama, in April. The LP, which had been in the works since 2019, is a collection of gritty electro-metal tracks polished with lyrics that dissects the concept of family — both blood and chosen — to cathartic ends. And with its release, which garnered high praise from critics and fellow artists alike (Elton John called it “the strongest album of the year”), Sawayama had one goal: “I want to win a Mercury Award,” she told her label, Dirty Hit, per Vice. The Hyundai Mercury Prize, formerly known as the Mercury Prize, is an annual award given to the best British or Irish album of the year. Past winners have included Arctic Monkeys, James Blake, PJ Harvey, and Portishead, and this ...
Marshmello Cancels Forthcoming “Joytime: Into the Melloverse” Tour Due to COVID-19 Concerns
With no ostensible end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, Marshmello has decided to bite the bullet and cancel his forthcoming “Joytime: Into the Melloverse” tour. He announced the tour back in March 2020 along with its dates and supporting cast, which included NGHTMRE, Galantis, and SVDDEN DEATH. Those dates, however, are now moot and Marshmello will be issuing full refunds to those who purchased tickets. The masked EDM superstar took to Facebook to share an official statement. “I’ve decided to cancel my tour,” he wrote. “Up until a few months ago, pandemics were just something I thought existed in movies and the history books that we all read in school. little did any of us ever imagine we’d be living through one as I type thi...
Watch Boys Noize Throw Down a Rare Modular Industrial Set
Just last week we learned that new Boys Noize music was on the way and would be debuted during a special fully modular set via The FADER’s “Digital Fort 2.0” virtual show. The famed producer and DJ did what he does best and the result was nothing short of spectacular. The 10-minute set felt as if the viewer was transported to an exclusive party inside a spaceship. The impressive hardware was reflected through his unique production, seamlessly melding tracks with the grace of a true virtuoso. The music he played has the look of a continuation of his analog series, STRICTLY BVNKER. The set begins and ends with a vocal refrain chanting “we’re all in this together.” It falls in line with his chosen charity, The Innocence Projec...
Kasbo Announces Sophomore Album With Release of Video and Lead Single “Play Pretend”
Get ready to float away on a cloud of dreams with Kasbo‘s new song “Play Pretend,” featuring Ourchives. Out today via Counter Records and Foreign Family Collective, ODESZA‘s flagship imprint, it is the lead single from the blossoming producer’s upcoming sophomore album, The Making of a Paracosm, due October 23rd. Known for his soft and emotive indie-electronic style, Kasbo reaches new depths with “Play Pretend,” taking an edgier approach from the track’s outset with muted synths reminiscent of Bob Moses and drum machine reverb layered underneath Ourchives’ smoky vocal tones. At the same time, Kasbo seamlessly integrates this fresh approach with his signature ethereal soundscapes, building gently into ...
Watch Shaquira McGrath Perform Jaw-Dropping Cover of Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” on America’s Got Talent
The best songs tend to be the ones that inspire in situations outside of the artist’s original intent. That notion proved to be the case with “Wake Me Up,” one of Avicii‘s most beloved tracks, which hits a little different during the COVID-19 lockdown. A rising star on America’s Got Talent has taken on the iconic track, originally sung by Aloe Blacc, giving it new life during a time when many want to be woken up when the pandemic is over. Shaquira McGrath stunned the judges during a socially distanced version of the famed competition show after singing her heart out before a picturesque forest backdrop for Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. Her performance is more of an acoustic version of Avicii’s original, st...
MOTÖRHEAD: Unboxing ‘Ace Of Spades’ Collector’s Box Set (Video)
Upon its release in 1980, MOTÖRHEAD‘s “Ace Of Spades” album was nothing short of a gamechanger for all forms of hard rock. Like lightning in a bottle, it perfectly captured everything great about hard rock, heavy metal, and punk, amped it all up to 11, and came racing out of the gates at what felt like a million miles an hour, pushing at every musical boundary. Nothing was harder. Nothing was faster. And certainly nothing was louder. Now, following on from last year’s fan and media acclaimed anniversary editions of the seminal “Overkill” and “Bomber” albums, comes the record that launched MOTÖRHEAD into the stratosphere and carved their name into the walls of rock n’roll history forever: “Ace Of Spades”. To celebrate the 40t...
GODSMACK’s SULLY ERNA To Be Joined By STAIND, SHINEDOWN, PAPA ROACH Members For ‘Live From The Living Room’ Charity Fundraiser
Sully Erna of GODSMACK has gathered some of rock’s top voices for his “Live From The Living Room” marathon fundraiser to benefit The Scars Foundation, which he founded. The Thursday, August 6 benefit will stream on his YouTube channel and the Foundation‘s Facebook page at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m PT and will feature special sets from GODSMACK and Sully solo (accompanied by Chris Lester and Máiréad Nesbitt), plus performances from Aaron Lewis (STAIND), Brent Smith and Zach Myers of SHINEDOWN, PAPA ROACH, Mike Mushok and Adam Gontier of SAINT ASONIA, Nuno Bettencourt of EXTREME and Clint Lowery (SEVENDUST). “I had always looked for ways to give back and help others in some way after reaching certain levels of success in my life,” Erna said. “But I cou...
TOUCHÉ AMORÉ To Release ‘Lament’ Album In October
Los Angeles post-hardcore band TOUCHÉ AMORÉ will release its fifth studio album, “Lament”, on October 9 via Epitaph. Since its formation in 2007, TOUCHÉ AMORÉ has been burrowing through angst, alienation, cancer, and death throughout four adored studio albums. After over a decade of working through darkness, “Lament” finds the light at the end of the tunnel. The album arrives as the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2016 release “Stage Four”, which found vocalist Jeremy Bolm mourning and paying tribute to his late mother. “Lament” shines a light on what life for the band has been like since then, tackling themes of fragility, empathy, politics, and love while pushing forward a newfound sense of hope. Late last year, the band ...
DEEP PURPLE’s IAN PAICE Unboxes ‘Whoosh!’ Box Set (Video)
Legendary rockers DEEP PURPLE will release their new album, “Whoosh!”, on August 7 via earMUSIC. The LP was once again helmed by Canadian producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, ALICE COOPER), who also worked on the band’s last two studio albums, 2017’s “Infinite” and 2013’s “Now What?!” Together they created the most versatile album in their collaboration. DEEP PURPLE “stretched out in all directions” without any limitation, letting their creativity go. “Whoosh!” will be available as limited CD+DVD mediabook (including the one-hour feature “Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation” and, for the first time, the full live performance at Hellfest 2017 as video), 2LP+DVD edition, limited box set and digi...
Neil Young Rips Trump in New Version of ‘Lookin’ for a Leader’
Neil Young hasn’t held back from unleashing his anger on President Donald Trump in recent weeks. First, there were tweets, then several letters, and now, an updated version of a fiery song. The Godfather of Grunge released a new version of “Lookin’ for a Leader,” a track that, in its original form, appeared on 2006’s Living With War. At the time, that record was a sharp rebuke of the George W. Bush administration. Now, well, it seems pretty obvious who he’s targeting. The song praises Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement, urges Americans to get out and vote, and expresses hope that change is around the corner. A video for the song was directed by Daryl Hannah. You can watch the clip here on Young’s website. The lyrics for the song were posted here. On Monday, Young wrote i...
The Mail Man: Bfb Da Packman Is the USPS’ Greatest Rapper
Days before our interview, Bfb Da Packman texts to say that we can talk, “any day any time.” When the 25-year-old rapper answers the phone, it’s clear he wasn’t kidding. His voice cuts in and out as he moves a recently delivered table inside his Houston home. From there, he hits Chick-fil-A for some french fries, yelling to the cashier, “Be smoove, baby!”, before pulling away. Then, he heads to the grocery store to buy some “pop” (soda) for his manager at the post office. Confident and polite, Bfb convinces the woman cashier to stream his music and follow him on Instagram. On the phone, his jovial personality and disarming, unabashed honesty make him endearing immediately. There doesn’t seem to be any artifice. If nothing else, he knows his audience. “I don’t know how other artists treat y...
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Adds Details Of Encounter With Hating Ass Ted Yoho
Source: Stephanie Keith / Getty Ever since unseating the 10-term Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley in an unforeseen upset during the 2018 midterm election primaries, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endured a hateful smear campaign from her Republican colleagues fueled by their fear that she could inspire more minorities to run for office and push a liberal agenda that would benefit the have-nots for decades to come while holding the haves accountable. Still, Republican representative Ted Yoho decided to call her out her name earlier this week after what some say was a spirited exchange over police reform and called her a “f*cking bitch” on the steps of Capitol Hill after calling her “dangerous.” A woman who wants to fight global warming, calls for health insurance for the poor and wants pol...
