music
The VMAs Are Returning To Barclays Center — And Hitting All Five Boroughs In New York City
It’s 2020, and the Moon Person is once again touching down in New York City. Yes, this year’s MTV VMAs will take place at the Barclays Center on Sunday, August 30, MTV announced today (June 29), aided by a quick shout-out from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at his live video briefing. It’s the first time the show has hit the iconic Downtown Brooklyn venue since 2013. But this time, the action isn’t contained just to the arena, or even the borough in which it sits. For the 2020 show, the VMAs are going wide, featuring performances from various iconic locations throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, to honor the spirit and resilience of New York. The 2020 VMAs will be the first event to take place at Barclays Center since the COVID-19 pa...
Thom Yorke Reveals Second Sonos Radio Mix: Stream
In the past, Thom Yorke has provided the BBC with sleepy bedtime music, as well as more experimental playlists. Lately, the Radiohead frontman has been lending his curatorial skills to Sonos Radio, where he’s in charge of a 24-hour station called “In the Absence Thereof”. Last month, we got a taste of his first Sonos Radio mix, an expansive collection featuring everything from Iggy Pop and James Blake to Duke Ellington and Oneohtrix Point Never. A playlist for his second Sonos Radio mix has now arrived, and it promises a similar wide-ranging selection of material “that fascinates or moves” Yorke. Among the highlights on Yorke’s latest list of “influences and obsessions” are Sonic Youth rocker Kim Gordon, elusive R&B connoisseur Jai Paul, Maryland rappers JPEGMAFIA and Rico Nasty, and e...
Unlocking the Truth Break Up as Frontman Malxolm Brixkhouse Launches Solo Career
Unlocking the Truth, the young metal sensations who first created a buzz playing the streets of New York City, have broken up. In turn, frontman Malcolm Brickhouse has started a solo career as Malxolm Brixkhouse, and is supported by his bandmates one final time on his new single “Phantom”. The young band first made a name for itself when a video of one of its street performances went viral on YouTube. The trio, made up of young teenage and pre-teen musicians, went on to play Coachella and Warped Tour, and opened for such acts as Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, and more. In 2014, Unlocking the Truth inked a $1.8 million record contract with Sony, but negotiated their release from the contract a year later. They eventually released the album Chaos independently in 2016, but never qui...
Orville Peck and Rina Sawayama Cover Pop Hits for Pride Month: Stream
Queer artists Orville Peck and Rina Sawayama have contributed two new cover songs to a Pride-themed installment of the Spotify Singles series. The releases come as the end of Pride month draws near, and just one day after the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. For his entry, alternative country artist Peck chose to take on “Smalltown Boy”, the 1984 chart-topper from British synthpop trio Bronski Beat. All three members of the group were openly gay and their music was known for taking a stance on LGBTQ+ issues. As for Sawayama, our former Artist of the Month, she reworked Lady Gaga’s “Dance in the Dark”. The original 2010 Fame Monster single talked about body image issues and the importance of being comfortable with one’s own sexuality. Editors’ Picks Musicians usually record th...
R.I.P. Benny Mardones, “Into the Night” Songwriter Dies at 73
Benny Mardones, the soft-rock songwriter known for the ’80s smash hit “Into the Night”, has died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He passed away Monday (June 29th) in his home in Menifee, California, as confirmed by Billboard. He was 73 years old. Mardones, real name Ruben Armand Mardones, was born November 9th, 1946 in Cleveland, though he was raised in Savage, Maryland. After high school, he signed up for the US Navy and served during the Vietnam War. Following his discharge, Mardones decided to relocate to New York City to pursue a career in music. It was there in the Big Apple that Mardones composed multiple songs with help from writing partner Alan Miles. This period also birthed “Into the Night”, which he penned alongside fellow songwriter Bobby Tepper. The 198...
Spoon Announce Telephono and Soft Effects EP Reissues as Part of “Slay on Cue” Archival Campaign
Last year, Spoon revisited their most seminal tracks with the Everything Hits at Once compilation. Now, the indie rock greats are giving their entire catalog another look with a new archival reissue campaign called “Slay On Cue” The series will see Matador Records reissuing most of Spoon’s albums on vinyl and CD for the first time in years. In particular, the band’s Telephono debut and Soft Effects EP haven’t been available in individual physical formats since they were originally released in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Those two efforts will be repressed on July 24th, with the latter available in red and blue vinyl editions with silkscreen covers limited to 500 each (pre-order are now ongoing). A reissue of 2001’s Girls Can Tell will then arrive on August 14...
Megan Thee Stallion Went Full Freedom-Fighting Road Warrior In Her BET Awards Medley
Megan Thee Stallion‘s “quarantine girl summer” is turning out to be the hottest season of all. The Houston rapper had her first No. 1 single, as well as an EP reach the top 10. It was all capped on Sunday (June 28), when she delivered a sexy performance for the socially distant BET Awards. Megan’s pre-recorded performance began with her newest single, “Girls in the Hood,” which released on Friday (June 26). She appeared out of a Mad Max fantasy: Rolling up in a desert scene on the back of a stripped-down motorbike, she wore knee-high lace-up boots and an S&M bralette decked out with silver O-rings; her shoulders were covered with red and black feathers, while her long hair streamed behind. As the lyrics to the song ...
Megan Thee Stallion Went Full Freedom-Fighting Road Warrior In Her BET Awards Medley
Megan Thee Stallion‘s “quarantine girl summer” is turning out to be the hottest season of all. The Houston rapper had her first No. 1 single, as well as an EP reach the top 10. It was all capped on Sunday (June 28), when she delivered a sexy performance for the socially distant BET Awards. Megan’s pre-recorded performance began with her newest single, “Girls in the Hood,” which released on Friday (June 26). She appeared out of a Mad Max fantasy: Rolling up in a desert scene on the back of a stripped-down motorbike, she wore knee-high lace-up boots and an S&M bralette decked out with silver O-rings; her shoulders were covered with red and black feathers, while her long hair streamed behind. As the lyrics to the song ...
Chloe x Halle Take On Chloe x Halle In Resplendent BET Awards Dance-Off
As two early cuts on Chloe x Halle‘s latest endearing collection Ungodly Hour, “Forgive Me” and “Do It” capture the album’s essential R&B vibe — a deep, rich sonic warmth complete with the sister’s lilting voices floating on top. It’s a mood that the pair put on full display in a dazzling, Destiny’s Child-referencing medley during the (virtual) BET Awards Sunday night (June 28), where each song got its own moment. And then Chloe x Halle squared off in a winner-take-all dance-off against none other than… Chloe x Halle. The twist, of course, is that both win. “Forgive Me” opened with them delivering the smooth tune in shiny black dresses with magnificently high-pointed shoulders, close to nature inside a barn. A dirt...
Chloe x Halle Take On Chloe x Halle In Resplendent BET Awards Dance-Off
As two early cuts on Chloe x Halle‘s latest endearing collection Ungodly Hour, “Forgive Me” and “Do It” capture the album’s essential R&B vibe — a deep, rich sonic warmth complete with the sister’s lilting voices floating on top. It’s a mood that the pair put on full display in a dazzling, Destiny’s Child-referencing medley during the (virtual) BET Awards Sunday night (June 28), where each song got its own moment. And then Chloe x Halle squared off in a winner-take-all dance-off against none other than… Chloe x Halle. The twist, of course, is that both win. “Forgive Me” opened with them delivering the smooth tune in shiny black dresses with magnificently high-pointed shoulders, close to nature inside a barn. A dirt...
Public Enemy Perform “Fight the Power” with Nas, The Roots, and More: Watch
Public Enemy joined forces with Nas, The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought, YG, and Rapsody for a special performance of “Fight the Power” to kick off the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night. The all-star collaboration, which was filmed remotely, was interspersed with protest footage and other powerful imagery to go along with updated lyrics referencing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brook. Elsewhere during the BET Awards, Lil Wayne revisited his 2009 track “Kobe Bryant” in tribute to the late NBA legend; Megan The Stallion delivered a post apocalyptical performance of her new single “Girls in the Hood” and her remix of “Savage”; and DaBaby referenced George Floyd’s murder in a powerful visual for his performance of “Rockstar”. You can replay all of these performances below. ...
James Blake Covers Nirvana Classic “Come As You Are” from Quarantine: Watch
James Blake fans have been treated to a number of special covers during this quarantine season. Over the course of just the last few months, the UK crooner has tackled originals by Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean, and Joni Mitchell. For his newest reimagining, Blake ambitiously rolled out his take on the Nirvana classic “Come As You Are”. The performance was part of an hour-long “piano improv concert” streamed on Instagram Live on Saturday. As requested by a fan, Blake’s rendition of the Nevermind single was “soft” in tone. However, though it was without the angst and volume of the 1992 original, Blake’s cover was still urgent in its own fragile, ivory-tinged way. Watch video of the Nirvana cover below, followed by the full concert (come for the tunes, stay for a glimpse of Blake’s a...
