Neal

Metallica give ‘Stranger Things’ and Eddie Munson shoutout during Lollapalooza performance of ‘Master of Puppets’

Metallica gave Stranger Things a shoutout at Lollapalooza, playing a clip of season four’s Eddie Munson on screens during ‘Master of Puppets’. READ MORE: Here’s what we know about Stranger Things season five The rock legends headlined day one of the Chicago festival Thursday night (July 28). They shredded through a setlist comprising ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and a cover of AC/DC’s ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)’, before returning for an encore. Closing their set with ‘Master Of Puppets’, they paid homage to the Duffer Brothers’ cult Netflix show and its metalhead character Munson (played by Joseph Quinn) with footage of him onscreen. The clip is taken from season four’s final episode, where Munson plays the Metallica classic in the Upside Down. Advertisement Watch NME’s footage from the performance below. Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’ has seen a surge in streams since its Stranger Things inclusion, which featured additional guitar parts from Robert Trujillo’s son, Tye. Initially released in 1986, the track’s newfound popularity saw it crack the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and UK Top 100 Singles Chart for the first time, peaking at Number 35 and 26, respectively. Riding the track’s momentum, the band duetted a… Read More →

29JULNews

BLACKPINK explore virtual worlds in music video for special single ‘Ready For Love’

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK have dropped their new single ‘Ready For Love’, as part of their ongoing collaboration with PUBG Mobile. READ MORE: STAYC – ‘We Need Love’ review: the momentum falters as fourth-gen K-pop group play it safe On July 29, BLACKPINK unveiled the new single alongside a music video for the new special single released in collaboration with PUBG Mobile. ‘Ready For Love”s accompanying visual features footage from the girl group’s virtual performance of the song during the mobile game’s in-game concert ‘THE VIRTUAL’, featuring virtual avatars of Rosé, Jennie, Lisa and Jisoo as they traverse vast new worlds, ride motorcycles and take to the skies on pink clouds. “There’s no need to wait now / No need to be afraid / Show me the colour of your heart / I really need you in my world / Open your eyes, here I am in front of you,” Jennie and Rosé harmonise on the pre-chorus of the EDM-inspired pop number. Advertisement The clip arrived just days after their virtual show ‘BLACKPINK X PUBG Mobile 2022 In-Game Concert: [THE VIRTUAL]’, which took place on July 23 and 24. The recent concert will also be available for all-day replays this… Read More →

28JULNews

Calvin Harris unveils star-studded track list for new album

Calvin Harris has revealed the star-studded track list for his new album. READ MORE: Calvin Harris live at Glastonbury 2022: Fans amplify the hit-fuelled Arcadia set His new album, ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2’, is released on August 2 and features the likes of Dua Lipa, Young Thug, Stefflon Don, Charlie Puth, Shenseea, Normani, Tinashe, Offset, Busta Rhymes, Jorja Smith, Justin Timberake, Halsey, Lil Durk, Snoop Dogg, Latto, Swae Lee, and Pharrell and Pusha T – and many more. You can see the full list of collaborators here: pic.twitter.com/zc6izeXpxv — Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) July 27, 2022 Advertisement Earlier this month, Harris shared an official video for his new single ‘Stay With Me’ featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey and Pharrell Williams. ‘Stay With Me’ followed the tracks ‘New Money’ featuring 21 Savage and ‘Potion’ (feat. Dua Lipa and Young Thug) which have been released from the album so far. Back in January Harris released his latest Love Regenerator track, ‘Lonely’, which featured Sananda Maitreya. Last year, Harris collaborated with Tom Grennan on the song ‘By Your Side’. Harris played a special set at last month’s Glastonbury, DJing from inside the awe-inspiring Arcadia spider. Reviewing the late-night set, NME said: “Blame it on the ley lines, or the otherworldly experience of standing shoulder to shoulder… Read More →

28JULNews

Tove Lo drops high energy new single ‘2 Die 4’

Tove Lo has released another cut from her upcoming album, ‘Dirt Femme’, hook-laced single, ‘2 Die 4’. READ MORE: Tove Lo on new album ‘Dirt Femme’, ‘True Romance’ and getting candid about love Out today (July 28), ‘2 Die 4’ is a fiery, fierce and nostalgic dance anthem, sampling Hot Butter’s iconic 1972 hit ‘Popcorn’. The track dropped alongside an official music directed by Kenny Laubbacher. Watch it below. Advertisement In a press statement, the artist said of the song: “With ‘2 Die 4’ I wanted ‘instantly iconic’ energy. I’ve never sampled anything before, and this feels like the perfect first moment. “At first, it’s like a warm hug, then you shake it off, let out a scream and start dancing!” On the music video, Lo said: “I wanted to make something nostalgic, sexy and iconic. The character for this scene is Wonder Woman with big dick energy, and I just love it.” Upon its release on October 14, ‘Dirt Femme’ will serve as the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Sunshine Kitty’. A four-star review by NME‘s Hannah Mylrea noted how the album “features some of her best work in years as she boldly embraces new sounds and unusual collaborators. “Exhilarating and… Read More →

27JULNews

Sycklone Shares His Truths In New Banger “Label Me King”

Sycklone shares his truths in a brilliant latest single and music video “Label Me King.” His confidence and ability to channel raw and authentic messages through music is undeniable, The Everett, Massachusetts-based artist’s new track sees him at his prime creative shape, pairing a meticulous performance with a sharp vision for the genre. The creator extraordinaire has worked with his long time producer Mors Beats, who also happens to be the producer of his upcoming album to be titled The Green Files, of which “Label Me King” is the first reveal. In 2012, Sycklone dropped a highly-acclaimed debut album, Self Made, with Bentley Records, shortly followed by his second album On A Wave. “Label Me King” is released alongside fantastic visuals that give a powerful dimension to the promising artist’s new hit. Sycklone: Instagram – Spotify – YouTube – SoundCloud

26JULNews

Pixies’ Black Francis says the world has become “very dystopian”

Pixies frontman Black Francis has admitted that a collection of recent world events has led to “rippling tension everywhere”. READ MORE: Pixies: “This is the most grim and dystopian it’s ever been in my lifetime” Speaking to NME in a new interview, the singer – AKA Frank Black – said he worried about the world being left behind for his children and their generation. “Some of the events of the last few years, with the Presidential election in the United States and Donald Trump and all that other nonsense, and then the coronavirus pandemic and now worldwide recession, amid these extreme weather patterns, add together all this stuff and it starts to feel very dystopian,” he said. Advertisement “There’s an economic strain on people and you see it when you go to Aldi and realise, ‘Shit, there are four security guards in this fucking discount grocery store to make I don’t run off with too many cans of tuna fish for free!’” Francis cited a number of factors – including “the United States banning abortion but not guns, despite the mass shootings” and “the hottest day of the year” – for creating the feeling that “we’re going to hell in… Read More →

26JULNews

Ticketmaster respond after some Bruce Springsteen tickets sold for up to $5,000

Ticketmaster have responded to complaints from gig-goers regarding their “dynamic pricing” model. READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen – ‘Letter To You’ review: a powerful synthesis of past and present Last week, when tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 world tour dates went on sale, fans were asked to pay up to $5000 (£4152) for some tickets. The model allows Ticketmaster to charge more for tickets when they first go on sale. The dynamic pricing system responds to demand and so increases or decreases prices in line with what “scalpers” – a person who re-sells a ticket for profit – would sell them for, keeping the money in-house for the seller and artist. Advertisement The system also sees increase with demand for certain “platinum tickets”, which are placed throughout each venue. Ticketmaster defended the model saying that only 11.2 per cent of the Springsteen tickets sold were platinum, and only 1.3 per cent were $1000 (£830) or more. They also said the average price for a Springsteen ticket was $262 (£217). As per Variety, it was reported that “Ticketmaster says [the most expensive tickets] represent only 11 per cent of the overall tickets sold. By the ticketing service’s calculations, that left the other 88.2… Read More →

26JULNews

Mercury Prize 2022 shortlist revealed

This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist for 2022 Album Of The Year has been revealed. READ MORE: Mercury Prize 2022: why each nominee deserves to win At 11am today (July 26), the Mercury Prize – in partnership with mobility app FREE NOW – confirmed that the 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award include Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’. You can find the entire list of albums shortlisted for the coveted award below. The shortlist for the 2022 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Albums Of The Year are: Fergus McCreadie – ‘Forest Floor’ Gwenno – ‘Tresor’ Harry Styles – ‘Harry’s House’ Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler – ‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’ Joy Crookes – ‘Skin’ Kojey Radical – ‘Reason To Smile’ Little Simz – ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ Nova Twins – ‘Supernova’ Sam Fender – ‘Seventeen Going Under’ Self Esteem – ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ Wet Leg – ‘Wet Leg’ Yard Act – ‘The Overload’ Advertisement The awards show for the event will take place on September 8 at London’s Eventim Apollo… Read More →

26JULNews

JAY B and Sik-K leave H1GHR MUSIC following contract expiration

GOT7 singer JAY B and South Korean rapper Sik-K have parted ways with H1GHR MUSIC. READ MORE: JAY B on finding his voice: “I can’t stop doubting myself until I’m fully satisfied” On July 25, H1GHR MUSIC announced via its social media accounts that both artists have departed the agency following the expiration of their respective contracts. “Our contracts with Sik-K and JAY B have expired and we have agreed that it is best to continue their careers on a different path,” wrote the agency on Twitter. “We will always support them as family forever.” Hello. This is H1GHR MUSIC.Our contracts with Sik-K and JAY B have expired and we have agreed that it is best to continue their careers on a different path. We will always support them as family forever. ㅤ#SikK @younghotyellow #JAYB @jaybnow_hr#H1GHRMUSIC #하이어뮤직 pic.twitter.com/QXRLtGLQvJ — H1GHR MUSIC (@H1GHRMUSIC) July 25, 2022 Advertisement Following H1GHR MUSIC’s announcement, newly established label CDNZA Records shared that it had since signed a contract with JAY B. “Welcome to CDNZA Records’ new family, JAY B! Please look forward to CDNZA Records and JAY B’s various activities,” it said. The GOT7 singer appears to be the agency’s first artist. [?] CDNZA Records의… Read More →

25JULNews

Fred Again.. says collaboration with Swedish House Mafia will arrive this week

Fred Again.. has announced that he will release a collaboration with Swedish House Mafia this week called ‘Turn On The Lights Again’. READ MORE: Fred again.. – ‘Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)’ review: acclaimed producer turns despair into hope The song is expected to be part of his forthcoming, though not officially announced ‘Actual Life 3’ album, which is thought to feature collaborations with Romy, HAAi, Headie One, Skrillex and others [via Mixmag]. The DJ and producer told fans on his Discord channel that ‘Turn On The Lights Again’ is the reason why he has delayed his third solo album, revealing that he wanted things to be perfect. Advertisement “Arite so parrrrt of the reason I had to push back AL3 is cos of the nuts reaction to turn on the lights that jus made me wanna finish it and get that shit ouuutttttt,” he later wrote on Instagram. Last week Fred Again.. posted a TikTok explaining that he needed to push back ‘Actual Life 3’ by “about three weeks”. His post said: “It’s my favourite thing I’ve made so I don’t want to rush the end you know. @fredagainagain AL3 is my favourite thing I’ve… Read More →

25JULNews

Pronto Drops Third Single Of The Year Called “I’m Done”

Prolific rapper Pronto comes back with a sensational follow-up on his previous release and the touching single “I’m Done” marks as the artist’s finest work to date in his career. With already well-over 100k streams in a short period of time, Pronto is looking and sounding better than ever on his way to establishing himself as a household name in the hip-hop scene. Pronto has been releasing music since 2017. His debut release came with a strong EP called The Start, setting off his incredible run while maintaining his signature style throughout the years. Born and raised in Tennessee, Pronto is also known for his fusion style that doesn’t fall under a specific genre. The rapper strives to inspire his listeners and give a promising perspective through his music, a therapeutic approach, both for him and his loyal listeners. “I’m Done” by Pronto is now available across platforms so make sure to check it out and enjoy the artist’s unique expressions in a brilliant composition. You can follow Pronto on: Spotify – Instagram – YouTube

25JULNews

BBC agree to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the UK

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have confirmed that the BBC will be hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the UK on behalf of this year’s winners, Ukraine. READ MORE: Ukrainian Eurovision entry Kalush Orchestra: “This is the highest responsibility possible” Organisers revealed last month that they were in talks with the BBC to bring the event to the UK. The winning country of the annual song competition usually hosts the following year’s event and despite Ukraine’s folk-rap entry Kalush Orchestra topping the table, it was announced earlier this month that the EBU would be looking for a different country to host the event in 2023. In a lengthy statement, EBU explained the reasons why Ukraine couldn’t host the 2023 event. “The EBU fully understands the disappointment that greeted the announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest cannot be staged in Ukraine, this year’s winning country,” the statement began. Advertisement “The decision was guided by the EBU’s responsibility to ensure the conditions are met to guarantee the safety and security of everyone working and participating in the event, the planning of which needs to begin immediately in the host country.” The UK’s Sam Ryder came second in the competition and as a result of discussions, the… Read More →

25JULNews

StevenCharles Is On Cloud Nine After Two Hit Singles “Stay” & “Love You Still”

StevenCharles is a one of a kind artist with an instantly recognizable voice that holds the power to instantly soften the listener’s heart. His graceful voice has been the highlight of his two debut singles, “Stay” and “Love You Still.” His first song “Stay” introduced audiences to StevenCharles’ energetic aura that saw everyone dancing around with the song’s funky and groovy melodies. However with “Love You Still,” the talented artist showcased his emotional side while conveying a personal story that resonated with tens of thousands of his loyal listeners. The Canadian-born singer-songwriter had been adamant about being a professional musician since the age of six years old. He first began expressing his singing talent by performing in church groups and local bars, where he became a local star. Ever since StevenCharles launched his solo career, he has been dropping nothing but pure gems with “Stay” and “Love You Still” as he emerges to be one of the biggest prospects in the scene. You can follow StevenCharles on: Instagram – Facebook – Spotify – YouTube

24JULNews

Watch Maggie Rogers and Rina Sawayama join Phoebe Bridgers on stage at Latitude 2022

Phoebe Bridgers was joined on stage by Maggie Rogers and Rina Sawayama during her set at Latitude this weekend. READ MORE: Phoebe Bridgers live at Glastonbury 2022: a triumphant – and powerful – victory lap The ‘Punisher’ singer-songwriter played a 12-track headline slot on the BBC Sounds Stage at the Suffolk festival on Friday night (July 22). Footage has since emerged of Rogers and Sawayama – who were both also playing at Latitude that same day – contributing to a live airing of ‘I Know The End’, which served as the final song of Bridgers’ show. Advertisement Elsewhere, the LA artist shared an image of herself backstage with the pair. Rogers posted the same photo on her Instagram, captioning it: “ur new favorite band.” Additionally, Bridgers uploaded a clip that sees her crowd surfing at the end of her set. You can see the posts below. ? | Rina Sawayama, Maggie Rogers and Charlie Hickey joined Phoebe on stage during "I know the end" yesterday at Latitude festival ?: lamarshian pic.twitter.com/gRecR4G4vB — PHOEBE BRIDGERS UPDATES (@ThePhoebeRoom) July 23, 2022 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Phoebe Bridgers (@phoebebridgers) Bridgers has also recently collaborated on stage with The Killers, Clairo, Arlo… Read More →

24JULNews

Watch Blossoms cover The Human League’s classic hit ‘Don’t You Want Me’

Blossoms covered The Human League‘s classic single ‘Don’t You Want Me’ during their headline set at Truck Festival earlier this week – check out the footage below. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Blossoms: “We don’t see a limit to what we can achieve” The Stockport band topped the bill at the four-day Oxfordshire event on Thursday night (July 21). Towards the end of their 18-track set, Blossoms treated the crowd to their own spin on the 1981 anthem ‘Don’t You Want Me’ and have since shared footage of the cover on Instagram. “Crowd was boss!!!” they wrote in the caption. Advertisement The group’s rendition of The Human League’s biggest hit came ahead of their main set closer ‘My Favourite Room’, which was followed by a two-track encore of ‘There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’ and ‘Charlemagne’. You can watch Blossoms perfoming ‘Don’t You Want Me’ in the posts below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by B L O S S O M S (@blossomsband) Blossoms covering ‘Don’t You Want Me’ by The Human League at Truck Festival last night What a crowd ? pic.twitter.com/lmnUtdadtF — The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevivaI) July 23, 2022 Earlier… Read More →

23JULNews

Twenty One Pilots play mash-up of ‘Stranger Things’ theme and ‘Heathens’

Twenty One Pilots have shared a mash-up of the Stranger Things theme tune and their 2016 song ‘Heathens’ – check out the performance below. The Ohio duo – comprising Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun – were playing a headline set at the Electric Castle festival in Romania last Friday (July 15) when they paid homage to the Netflix sci-fi series. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Twenty One Pilots: “I hope our fans will hang on for the ride” To introduce their 19-track set, the band aired a montage of pivotal scenes from Stranger Things 4 on the big screen behind the stage. It showed Max (portrayed by Sadie Sink) being tormented by the sinister villain Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Advertisement The video was soundtracked by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s official theme tune for the show. After walking out, Twenty One Pilots incorporated the iconic synthy instrumental into a live airing of ‘Heathens’ from the Suicide Squad soundtrack. Dramatic moments from Stranger Things‘ fourth season continued to play out as the pair performed. Responding to the footage on the group’s official Twitter feed, the official Stranger Things account tweeted the message: “This performance could save me from Vecna… Read More →

23JULNews

Kid Cudi walks off stage at Rolling Loud after crowd throws objects at him

Kid Cudi walked off during his headline set at Rolling Loud last night after crowd members repeatedly threw items onto the stage. The rapper/singer – real name Scott Mescudi – replaced Kanye West on the bill at the Miami event last weekend (July 17) when Ye simply “decided that he [would] no longer be performing”. It marked the ‘DONDA’ star’s second festival cancellation of 2022, following Coachella. READ MORE: Kid Cudi – ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’ review: an art piece of epic highs and honest lows West and Cudi were previously close friends and collaborators, but have had a tumultuous relationship since the mid-2010s. They fell out again earlier this year, supposedly due to Cudi’s friendship with Pete Davidson, the current partner of West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Advertisement The ongoing feud appears to have spilt out into last night’s crowd. According to Consequence, people in the audience repeatedly interrupted Cudi by chanting West’s name and throwing objects toward the stage. It’s said that Cudi ended his headline performance after just 30 minutes as a result. Per Setlist.FM, he played four songs: ‘Tequila Shots’, ‘She Knows This’, ‘Marijuana’ and ‘REVOFEV’. In one fan-shot video, Cudi told the crowd (via… Read More →

22JULNews

Nova Twins cancel Les Nuits Secrètes show due to queues at Dover

Nova Twins have cancelled their planned appearance at Les Nuits Secrètes tonight (July 22) due to travel issues. The London duo were scheduled to perform on the first evening of the three-day festival, which is taking place in Aulnoye Aymeries, northern France. READ MORE: Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with Nova Twins However, the band took to social media this afternoon to confirm that they’ve now pulled out of the event. Advertisement “We’re so sorry to say that due to extreme queues leading to the ferry at Dover, we are no longer able to make it to Les Nuits Secrètes in time for our performance later this evening,” Nova Twins wrote in a statement. “We’re so gutted to be missing the festival but have been in standstill traffic at the port since 8am and the situation is completely out of control.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nova Twins (@novatwinsmusic) They added: “We miss our French family and can’t wait to return as soon as possible. À bientôt! [See you soon!].” The group also shared a screenshot of a BBC News article on the current situation in Dover, Kent. Per the report,… Read More →

22JULNews

Nick Cave says parents of ‘Love Island’ contestant helped him through tragedy of son’s death

Nick Cave has opened up about how the parents of Love Island contestant Luca helped him and his wife through the “unspeakable” tragedy of losing their son. Arthur Cave died after he fell from a cliff in Ovingdean, East Sussex in 2015. He was 15 years old. READ MORE: Warren Ellis on nearly 30 years with Nick Cave – “I’m there for him, whatever he wants” For the latest entry into his long-running Q&A site Red Hand Files, Cave was asked what the “major difference” is between him and his wife, Susie. In response, the Bad Seeds frontman explained that “Susie watches Love Island, and I don’t”. Advertisement He went on to talk about the couple’s connection to a current contestant on the ITV2 reality series, Luca Bish. “Luca was a school friend of our twins, Arthur and Earl,” Cave wrote. “As a consequence, Susie and I became friends with Luca’s parents, Maria and Michael. Maria is an antique dealer. Michael is a fishmonger. Luca is a fishmonger too. “After Arthur died, in the early days of that terrible, chaotic first week, Maria turned up on our doorstep with a tray of lasagne and basically looked after us. She barely said anything… Read More →

22JULNews

Beyoncé shares a capella and instrumental versions of ‘Break My Soul’

Beyoncé has shared new a capella and instrumental versions of her recent single ‘Break My Soul’ – you can listen to both below. READ MORE: Beyoncé’s new song ‘Break My Soul’ is a confidence-oozing comeback that embraces nu-disco The original track is the first taste of the singer’s seventh studio album ‘RENAISSANCE’, which comes out next Friday (July 29). This week, Bey’s revealed the full tracklist and composer credits for the record. Today (July 22), the pop star has released both a capella and instrumental takes on ‘Break My Soul’. Tune in here: Advertisement Released last month, Beyoncé’s dance-influenced comeback tune samples the songs ‘Show Me Love’ by Robin S and ‘Explode’ by Big Freedia. The star’s husband Jay-Z is credited as S. Carter on ‘Break My Soul’ as well as on the ‘RENAISSANCE’ cuts ‘Alien Superstar’ and ‘America Has A Problem’. Other credited artists across the album include Nile Rodgers (on ‘Cuff It’), Pharrell Williams and Skrillex (both on ‘Energy’), Drake (‘Heated’), A.G. Cook (‘All Up In Your Mind’) and BloodPop (‘All Up In Your Mind’ and ‘Pure/Honey’). Additionally, the BeyLegion Twitter account notes that ‘RENAISSANCE’ includes samples of songs by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, James Brown and Teena Marie. Beyoncé posted a… Read More →

21JULNews

Ed O’Brien talks Radiohead’s future plans, says they “might happen… might not”

Ed O’Brien has discussed Radiohead’s future plans in a recent interview. Speaking to The Line-Up Podcast O’Brien answered whether or not the band would eventually come back together. READ MORE: Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien on going solo: “If I don’t do this, a part of me will die” “It might happen, but the other thing is… it might not” the guitarist said. “And does that matter?” Advertisement Elsewhere in the interview, he said “There’s no Radiohead at the moment.” “There’s a truth to what we do,” he went on to say. “So we’re not going to be one of those bands that gets together for the big payday.” O’Brien continued: “The thing with Radiohead, we could do something in a couple years. We might not. But I think what it has to be, it has to be five people going, ‘I really want to do this again with you.’ And I think at the moment, because we’ve done it for so long, we’re all reaching out and having different experiences. And that should be allowed, and that should be encouraged.” Radiohead play New York CREDIT: Jeff Kravitz Although he didn’t share a specific timeline, Ed also implied the band could potentially play… Read More →