entertainment blog
Must-Hear Indie Artist of the Month: Lava La Rue
The Project Lava La Rue’s new EP, High Fidelity, is out now via Marathon. The Origin Growing up, Lava La Rue was always playing in bands. “When I was 13, I wanted to be in an all-girl version of The Clash. Very West London, ska-punk inspired. The intersection of Caribbean culture and British punk.” But as they grew older, the costliness of rehearsal space drew the young creative to freestyling “because you just need a microphone.” At college in London, La Rue met the group of artists who would soon change their life. “I think people assume we met at some really established music school but it wasn’t like that at all, it was a bit rundown. The music equipment was falling apart,” La Rue explains, but the lack of proper equipment didn’t stop the group of friends, who would soon call themselve...
Raymond Raposa, Who Recorded as Castanets, Dies at 41
Raymond Raposa—the singer-songwriter who recorded under the name Castanets—has died at the age of 41. Raposa’s longtime label Asthmatic Kitty confirmed the news earlier today (July 30) via a post on Twitter. The statement was provided to the label by Raposa’s family. “It is with great sorrow that the family of Raymond Raposa announce his passing today,” they wrote. “Raymond was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, friend, and musician. He will be greatly missed.” A cause of death was not revealed. Find the full post below. Born Raymond Byron Magic Raposa on January 22, 1981, Raposa released six studio albums under his Castanets moniker. All of his LPs were issued by Asthmatic Kitty—the label founded in 1999 by Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Raposa’s debut Castanets LP, 20...
Watch Metallica and Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn Play “Master of Puppets” Backstage at Lollapalooza 2022
Joseph Quinn, the actor who portrays guitar-shredding metalhead Eddie Munson in the new season of Stranger Things, paid a visit to Metallica at Lollapalooza on Thursday (July 28). Quinn joined the band backstage ahead of their headlining set at the Chicago festival, where he chatted and jammed with the group. They obviously played “Master of Puppets,” Metallica’s 1986 single that Eddie Munson plays in the upside down during a the season finale of the series. Metallica also gifted Quinn a custom red and black electric guitar and signed it. Watch it all happen below via Netflix. Prior to jamming, Metallica frontman James Hetfield expressed love for Stranger Things, calling himself “a big fan.” He added: “My kids and I, it’s a bonding experience for us.” Quinn then told Metallica about the pr...
Watch Drake and Nelly Furtado Perform “I’m Like a Bird” at October World Weekend
On Thursday (July 28), Drake kicked off his new Toronto-based concert series October World Weekend at local venue History. During his set, the rapper brought out fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado, who joined Drake for live renditions of “Promiscuous” and “I’m Like a Bird,” as TMZ points out. Watch it all happen in the clip below. “I like to deal with people the right way,” Drake told the crowd before bringing out the fairly reclusive Furtado. “Because that’s the only way that you can get this next person out of the house to come do what they’re going to do right now.” He continued: I don’t care how loud you sang tonight…right now I need you to sing as loud as you possibly can because this right here took a lot… This next person’s music changed my life so much. I love her with all my heart, so ...
The First Week Projections for Beyoncé’s ‘RENAISSANCE’ Are Here
Beyoncé‘s seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE, is gearing up to make a big splash on the charts in its first week. According to Hits Daily Double, RENAISSANCE is projected to move between 275,000 and 315,000 equivalent album units in its first week. Additionally, the record is expected to collect upwards of 170 million plays in the United States, which is much higher than early predictions. The outlet reports that those projections are strong enough to place the album in the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The projected figures would place RENAISSANCE among the largest releases of this year. Harry Styles‘ Harry House currently holds the title for the biggest debut, with 521,000 equivalent album units. Kendrick Lamar previously had the largest opening for&nbs...
Netflix Sues ‘Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’ Creators Days After Sold-Out Live Show
Days after musicians Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear performed their Grammy-winning Unofficial Bridgerton Musical to a sold-out audience at the Kennedy Center, Netflix is suing them for “blatant infringement” of the company’s rights to the popular period drama. In a complaint filed Friday (July 29) in D.C. federal court, Netflix accused the duo of piggybacking on “the creative work and hard-earned success” of hundreds of artists and staffers behind Bridgerton – using the company’s copyrights and trademarks without permission to build a “brand for themselves.” “Netflix owns the exclusive right to create Bridgerton songs, musicals, or any other derivative works based on Bridgerton,” the company wrote. “Barlow & Bear cannot take that right—made valuable by others’ hard work—for th...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (July 30)
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week. An Esteman Proposal This week, Colombian singer-songwriter Esteman popped the big question to his boyfriend Jorge in Paris and captured the heartfelt moment on Instagram. “I share this moment with you, that although I was dying of nerves and could hardly sing with emotion, it was very special for us,” he wrote on the post. As a result, Esteman released his new single, inspired by his real-life love story, called “Un Dia en Paris.” The Latin Grammys Return This week, the Latin Recording Academy announced that the 23rd annual Latin Grammys will take place Nov. 17 and will return to L...
Taylor Swift Tops List of Celebs With Highest Private Jet Carbon Emissions: Study
Taylor Swift has topped a list of celebrities whose private jets have produced the highest amount of carbon dioxide so far this year, according to a new study. U.K.-based sustainability marketing firm Yard shared a report on Friday (July 29), revealing that the pop superstar’s jet flew 170 times between Jan. 1 and July 19, totaling almost 16 days in the air. The aircraft’s total flight emissions were 8,293.54 tonnes of carbon, which is 1,184.8 times more than the average person’s total annual emissions, the study says. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals,” a spokesperson for Swift told Rolling Stone. “To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect.” For the study, Yar...
The Real-Life Location of Game of Thrones’ Astapor Will Host Moga Festival’s 2022 Edition
Moga Festival is returning to the real-life Astapor, but unlike in Game of Thrones, there’ll likely be no dances with dragons here. Instead, the port city of Morocco’s Essaouira, where scenes from the fictional Game of Thrones location Astapor were filmed, will host more than 50 artists at the SOFITEL Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa. Taking to the decks in Africa’s Windy City are Polo & Pan, DJ Tennis, Lee Burridge, Alyssa & Gia and many more DJs from the worlds of techno and house music. Moga 2022’s lineup features DJ Tennis, Lee Burridge, and Polo & Pan, among other producers. Moga Festival Scroll to Continue Recommended Articles In A Dance With Dragons, George R. R. Martin wrote, “Brick and blood built Astapor, and...
Fred again.. and Swedish House Mafia Unite for Super-Collab, “Turn On The Lights again..”
Fred again.. called an audible on the release of his upcoming album Actual Life 3—and turned on the lights. A week ago, Fred again.. announced that his upcoming full-length would be taking a backseat to instead spotlight one of the project’s hotly anticipated singles, a collaboration with Swedish House Mafia and Future. The ascendant producer’s savvy switch just paid off. With “Turn On The Lights again..” Fred again.. and Swedish House Mafia gin up a multi-genre infused hit that’s sure to land at the warehouse rave and the club alike. The artists tap into an energizing house groove and top it off with a vocal-based lead that echos ghost-like throughout the sonic spectrum. Scroll to Continue Recommended Articles Swirling in reverb and ...
There’s a 360° Daft Punk-Inspired Show Coming to Los Angeles’ Largest VR Dome
In virtual reality, anything is possible—even a live performance from electronic music’s most legendary robot duo. Sadly, fans around the world were robbed of the opportunity to ever experience Random Access Memories in a live setting given Daft Punk‘s shocking breakup in 2021. However, in Los Angeles’ Wisdome, a sprawling, 12,000-square foot VR venue, there’s an opportunity to experience what alternatively could have been if history played out differently. “CONTACT” is a special Daft Punk tribute unlike any other. The show marks an opportunity to experience a unique performance played within a 3D LED cube stage, similar to the iconic pyramid the duo famously played in during their Alive 2007 tour. The 360° show is complete with immersive visua...
There’s No Calming This Creepy, Light-Sensitive Baby Synthesizer
If you’re a music producer looking to give your sound some edge, perhaps the frenetic “wails” of this baby-shaped synth will do just the trick. The crimson Baby Bot Light Theremin: Powland Edition is the brainchild of Moon Armada and Powland. And consistent with its unique appearance, this synthesizer is certain to produce some sounds that will turn heads. As one might expect, there’s certainly no hope of calming this vocal child. “The best way to play it is to just start turning knobs until you find combinations you like,” Moon Armada says of operating the synth. “Generally, having the knobs turned higher will result in more abrasive, noisy sounds, while having them turned down will yield more beep-boop type sounds.” In addition to the Frank...
