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The xx’s Romy Combines Two Covers with “You’re Not Alone in the Rhythm of the Night”: Stream
The xx broke out with indie rock so sparse it sounded black and white, but their last album I See You (2017) introduced bright neon techniques cribbed from hip-hop and EDM. Now, co-founder Romy has combined the approaches with “You’re Not Alone in the Rhythm of the Night,” a simple acoustic performance that remixes two songs together. Built from parts of Olive’s “You’re Not Alone” and Corona’s “The Rhythm of the Night,” Romy’s new cover is a stirring statement to those feeling lost and afraid. She recorded the track for Apple Music’s Home Session for Pride, and in a press release she said she chose these tunes because they remind her of “when I was about 17 and started going to Gay bars in London.” She explained, “I’ve combined two songs into this cover, Olive – ‘You’re Not Alone...
Jeff Tweedy Covers Japanese Breakfast’s “Kokomo, IN” on The Tweedy Show: Watch
Jeff Tweedy has been hosting an Instagram Live performance series called The Tweedy Show, which mostly consists of him playing original tracks and putting his own spin on music he likes. During yesterday’s show, he played a cover of Japanese Breakfast’s “Kokomo, IN”. As it turns out, Michelle Zauner is a huge Wilco fan and she’s geeking out — like any of us would! For his rendition, Tweedy stayed rather faithful to the original version of “Kokomo, IN” as heard on Jubilee, Japanese Breakfast’s new album and third full-length LP under the moniker. Armed with an acoustic guitar and seemingly a lyric sheet off screen, the Wilco singer went about playing a stripped-down version of the sweet violin-laden track. If there was any doubt that Tweedy genuinely loves this song, it’s made clear during ...
11-Year-Old Nandi Bushell Rocks Arctic Monkeys Cover with Matt Helders: Watch
Nandi Bushell is 11 now, and like any self-respecting wunderkind with a massive online following, she’s hosting jam sessions with some of the brightest stars of today. Bushell has shared a new instrumental cover of “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” by Arctic Monkeys, and her performance is accompanied by actual Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders. “Matt Helders came to my house for a cup of Tea and a Jam with me,” Bushell wrote on Instagram. “We had the best time! We jammed loads of songs together and had a lot of fun improvising drum beats.” They also played Arctic Monkeys songs, which begs a question: if you play a band’s songs with members of the band, is it still a cover, or is it more of an audition? Asking for Alex Turner. The new performance of “I Bet You Look Good on the Dan...
Wanda Jackson Announces Final Album Encore Produced by Joan Jett
Wanda Jackson, who has been called the Queen of Rockabilly and the first sex symbol of country music, has announced her final album Encore. Produced by Joan Jett, this curtain call for an iconic career will bow on August 20th. Jackson announced her retirement from touring in 2019, a decision that was said to be based on “health and safety.” But she always left the door open for a recorded return, and as it turns out, she was already hard at work on Encore. The eight-track studio set includes covers and originals, all recorded around the time she was pulling out of the spotlight. She called it “one of the most personal pieces I have ever released.” Via Exclaim!, the album will offer “a picture of my early life and have a peak into the closeness that my late husband ...
Foo Fighters Cover Queen’s “Somebody to Love” During Agoura Hills Concert: Watch
Foo Fighters performed a rousing cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” at their recent concert at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California. It was the band’s first show since the start of the pandemic. Drummer Taylor Hawkins traded places with frontman Dave Grohl for the number, taking on Freddie Mercury’s iconic lyrics while the former Nirvana member stepped behind the drum kit. “Somebody, ooh somebody/ Can anybody find me somebody to love?” Hawkins howled over his bandmates’ hard-charging instrumentation. Before kicking off the classic, the long-haired drummer reminded the enthusiastic crowd he’s actually performed lead vocals on a number of Foo Fighters’ tracks over the years, including “Cold Day in the Sun” (off 2005’s In Your Honor) and “Sunday Rain” (from 2017’s Concrete and Gold). This ...
Iconic Nirvana Songs to Receive House and Techno Makeovers on Upcoming Cover Album
While Nirvana may have never imagined their music being played amidst CO2 cannons and rave lasers, that’s all about to change with an upcoming cover project produced by Jonathan Hay, Cain McKnight and 41X. Out June 4th via R.U.S.H. Music, Come as You Are: Nirvana Reimagined as House Techno will feature electronic reworks of 12 of the band’s most iconic tracks. To pay homage to the Nirvana’s fabled frontman, Kurt Cobain, a portion of the project’s proceeds are designated for initiatives supporting suicide prevention, mental health and the LGBTQ+ community, of which Cobain was an outspoken ally. Kurt Cobain performing with Nirvana at Reading Festival in 1991. Ed Sirrs/Camera Press/Redux A cover of “Something In The Way” with Daniel...
Bartees Strange Covers Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love”: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-21T17:43:01+00:00“>April 21, 2021 | 1:43pm ET Bartees Strange has shared a tender new cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” for SiriusXMU Sessions. Strange put himself on the map last year with his spectacular debut album Live Forever, one of our favorite records of 2020. For his appearance on SiriusXMU Sessions, he turned to the breakthrough single from Bon Iver, from a time when Justin Vernon’s project was a one-man band based in a cabin in the Wisconsin woods. Vernon is a master of melody and mood, but if there’s one flaw that’s dogged him throughout his career, it’s a style of enunciation that makes the adults in Peanuts sound like Henry Higgins. Enter St...
Dua Lipa Covers Arlo Parks’ “Eugene”: Watch
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-20T02:53:12+00:00“>April 19, 2021 | 10:53pm ET During a recent appearance at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, Dua Lipa brought down the lights and turned up the temperature for a cover of “Eugene” by Arlo Parks. Lipa and Parks are both young (25 and 20, respectively) and both ascendent in different ways. Parks is our former Artist of the Month, and “Eugene” appeared on her excellent debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams. Meanwhile, Lipa is fresh off her Grammy win for Best Pop Vocal album for Future Nostalgia. The pop star reveled in the intimate setting of the Live Lounge, also performing a stripped-down version of her own song “Hallucinate”. For “Eugene”, Lipa sang without pe...
Fiona Apple Covers Sharon Van Etten’s “Love More”: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-15T14:55:11+00:00“>April 15, 2021 | 10:55am ET Sharon Van Etten’s Epic Ten anniversary reissue arrives on digital platforms tomorrow, and now she’s shared the final advance single: a cover of “Love More” by recent Grammy winner Fiona Apple. The double-disc Epic reissue has already spawned several thrilling updates to old songs: Big Red Machine’s “A Crime”, IDLES’ “Peace Signs”, Shamir’s “Dsharpg”, and Courtney Barnett and Vagabon’s “Don’t Do It”. “Love More” is the closing track to both Epic and Epic Ten, and Apple puts her mark on the song right from the beginning with newly-added claps and hand drums. Where the original derived its atmospheric...
YouTuber Covers Daft Punk’s “Around The World” Using “Singing” Tesla Coils
While we’re still reeling from the news of Daft Punk‘s shocking breakup, the musical tributes have continued to roll in. Now, YouTuber Fabricio H. Franzoli may have just published the most innovative Daft Punk cover todate. It turns out one unintended use of Tesla coils is that they have the ability to produce music. That’s precisely what Franzoli has revealed anyway, and his Franzoli Electronics channel now has over 270,000 subscribers to show for it. By carefully managing the phase, pulse width, and firing frequency of the lightning-like energy emanating from the coils, the structures emit various pitches. Franzoli takes this phenomenon further, generating entire arrangements, with his latest cover being Daft Punk’s “Around The World.” A...
Pillows Opens Up About Industry Hurdles, Female Empowerment and New Music
Just six years ago, electronic musician Pillows was bouncing from couch to couch with nothing but a dream. Today, she’s penning official covers of globally celebrated tracks like Travis Scott‘s “Goosebumps” and TLC‘s “No Scrubs.” It’s a glow-up story in the truest sense, with a pathway that was anything but roses. Born in Hungary, Pillows cut her teeth as a singer and songwriter on electronic instrumentals. But after immigrating the the States in 2014, she decided to take her career into her own hands, exhausted by the complex relationships between topliners and producers. What followed was an intense curriculum of professional training, including a sound engineering and vocal production degree from UCLA and virtual and in-per...
Brandi Carlile Covers John Prine’s “I Remember Everything” for New Tribute Album: Stream
At the 2021 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Brandi Carlile participated in the In Memorium segment by covering John Prine‘s final song “I Remember Everything”. That turned out to be the first taste of Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine Vol. 2, the sequel tribute album to the original Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows released last June. Vol. 2 is expected some time this fall. Vol 1. was headlined by covers from My Morning Jjacket, Conor Oberst, and Justin Vernon. So far only Carlile has been announced from Vol. 2, and she’ll be taking on what has become one of Prine’s most lauded cuts. In addition to being among our favorite songs of 2020, Prine posthumously won two Grammys for “I Remember Everything” for Best Americ...
