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Stevie Wonder speaks out in support of Ukraine: “We must stand up to hate”

Stevie Wonder has spoken out in support of the Ukraine, which he says is “in a battle for the soul of the world” due to it ongoing conflict with Russia. In a video statement shared on Friday (March 4), the Motown legend condemned Russia’s “evil” invasion and called for people to rise up in order to “prevent World War III”. “Can we survive if Ukraine does not? That is the question that all of us should ask,” Wonder began. “Are we surprised that the forces of evil are alive and aggressive in today’s world? I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either. I write and sing about it because I can feel it. You should know about it because you can see, unless you have a blind eye to it and don’t want to do anything about it, you should see it.” Advertisement “This is not just a Ukrainian war,” he continued. “Today, Ukraine is in a battle for the soul of the world. As we speak, they’re fighting forces of evil. We have seen what evil has and can do. Doesn’t matter what country or color. Now, evil threatens the sovereignty of one country and the sanctity of all others. What… Read More →

05MARNews

The Game says he’s a better rapper than Eminem

The Game has thrown down the gauntlet, claiming he’s a better rapper than Eminem, and he’s said he would happily go up against him in a VERZUZ battle. READ MORE: The Big Read – The Game: “Me and 50 Cent should have died in that beef” The Compton rapper is the latest artist to appear as a guest on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s popular Drink Champs podcast. During the chat, Game talked about how he wasn’t a fan Eminem busting out of the courthouse building during his Super Bowl performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. Advertisement He then added that he feels he’s a better rapper than Eminem, even though he used to think otherwise. “I like Eminem, he’s one of the fucking good MCs, great MCs,” Game said. “I used to think Eminem was better than me,” he admitted. Game was then asked how he feels now, to which he replied: “He not. He not. He’s not. Challenge it.” N.O.R.E then told Game he’s “doesn’t wanna go VERZUZ against Eminem”, but Game disagreed. “Yeah I do,” he confidently stated. You can watch the full episode of Game’s Drink Champs below: Last year,… Read More →

04MARNews

Eurovision spin-off ‘American Song Contest’ unveils line-up

The new American version of the Eurovision Song Contest has unveiled its inaugural line-up. Initially announced in 2020, the new contest was due to appear on TV in February but was delayed by NBC. It will feature “original musical performances representing all 50 states, five US territories and the nation’s capital, with artists competing to win the title of Best Original Song in a grand spectacle”. READ MORE: Eurovision 2021 was a giddy reminder of the joys of live music (and that no one likes us) While Eurovision is known for giving up-and-coming new artists a chance to shine, the American Song Contest contains some more well-known artists on its line-up, including Macy Grey, Sisqó, Michael Bolton and Jewel. Advertisement Jordan Smith, who won The Voice in 2015, will be also be performing at the event, representing Kentucky. The show will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson. The 56 artists competing in the #AmericanSongContest have been revealed! ??@mbsings, @MacyGraysLife and @OfficialSisQo are among the totally awesome lineup hoping to take the title of Best Hit Song ??https://t.co/tCWpnQFxa0 — Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 3, 2022 SAVE THE DATE! ? I’m representing Baltimore, MD on @NBC's #AmericanSongContest, kicking off March 21!… Read More →

04MARNews

Bop Shop: Songs From Avril Lavigne And Machine Gun Kelly, Haim, And More

The search for the ever-elusive “bop” is difficult. Playlists and streaming-service recommendations can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new? Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection doesn’t discriminate by genre and can include anything — it’s a snapshot of what’s on our minds and what sounds good. We’ll keep it fresh with the latest music, but expect a few oldies (but goodies) every once in a while, too. Get ready: The Bop Shop is now open for business. Haim: “Lost Track” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX7pXjZHT_4 At the risk of hyperbole, the run Haim are on right now rivals that of the ’90s Chicago Bulls. They released their best album two years ago and have spent the time since becoming somehow even more endearing. Alana also became an award-winning movie star. That connection with director Paul Thomas Anderson also yielded “Lost Track,” their latest song/video that, even at a mere 122 seconds, is a gentle banger. Like “Sunday Morning” but in the Valley, “Lost Track” is both lullaby and heartbreaker, as Danielle sings, “I’ll never get back what I lost track of.” The band… Read More →

04MARHit Singles

Various Artists – Ocean Child: Songs Of Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono has long inhabited a particular space between her reputation as a musical figure and her actual work as a songwriter and performer. She’s a visible and influential woman in music who has often, unjustly, been relegated to the framework of her outsized male partner John Lennon, much like Linda McCartney or June Carter Cash. The wives of rock stars have often been seen in a diminished role – he the universe, she one of its twinkling stars – but at least most of them aren’t also blamed for breaking up The Beatles. ORDER NOW: Kate Bush is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut John Lennon’s belief in his wife was met with endless misogynistic reverberations, unsurprising in the hippie era and later, considering the conversative pivot of many of its boomers in the 1980s. And so, in the years since Lennon’s untimely death, Ono’s work has largely lived by the lips of insiders – the cultural cognoscenti who have namedropped the Plastic Ono Band and repressed her records – in our broader sonic consciousness. Her music, both groundbreaking and emotionally rich, has certainly been rediscovered and reappraised in the 21st century, but a look at… Read More →

04MARHit Singles

The Weather Station – How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars

Early last year, Tamara Lindeman released Ignorance, her fifth album as The Weather Station, and the most celebrated of her career. It was forlorn, and it was furious; a lyrically arresting, synth-rich take on man’s desecration of the natural world. Uncut named it album of the year. ORDER NOW: Kate Bush is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut At the time, Lindeman gave no hint that up her sleeve she kept a sister record – a collection of songs written in the same period as those on Ignorance, many near-contenders for that album. But these 10 songs she regarded as too soft and too internal to stand among their fierce, percussive siblings, and so she filed them away in her notebook, under the title ‘Ballads’, and wondered how, if ever, they might take shape. Two springs ago, just before Covid placed the world on pause, Lindeman decided she would self-fund the recording of her ballads. There was no commercial end; in fact she was uncertain whether anyone would ever hear them, but she believed in the songs and it felt important to set them down. Advertisement Over three days, Lindeman played piano and sang, while a handful… Read More →

04MARNews

Pusha T teams up with Nigo on disruptive new song, ‘Hear Me Clearly’

Pusha T and Nigo have shared a new collaboration together, ‘Hear Me Clearly’ – listen to it below. The track, which comes in at just under two-and-a-half-minutes, features a chorus that interpolates Jay-Z’s verse on Rick Ross‘ 2010 track ‘Free Mason’. Pusha T took to Twitter to share the artwork for the track. It’s a simple polaroid shot of the rapper signed by Nigo with the words ‘Day Uno Family’ written in the corner. Advertisement ‘Hear Me Clearly follows the previously-released singles ‘Want It Bad’ with Kid Cudi and ‘Arya’ with A$AP Rocky. All are taken from Nigo’s upcoming new album, ‘I know NIGO’, which is set for release on March 25. You can listen to the new track here: “Is you looking for me or are we looking for Meech?” – Self #IKnowNigo #HearMeClearly pic.twitter.com/jXwRctICuC — King Push (@PUSHA_T) March 2, 2022 Back in December, fashion icon Nigo took to Instagram to announce details of his new album. He revealed that the album would feature guest appearances from Pharrell Williams, Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, Pusha T, Tyler, the Creator, Fam-Lay and Teriyaki Boyz, with more to be announced. Advertisement Nigo first announced the forthcoming album on December 4,… Read More →

03MARNews

Arcade Fire appear to be teasing new music with cryptic postcards sent to fans

It looks like Arcade Fire might be teasing the arrival of new music if cryptic postcards they’ve started to send to fans are anything to go by. READ MORE: Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ at 15: the album that killed indie rock as we knew it Earlier today (March 3), a fan took to Reddit to share an image of a postcard featuring what appears to be the band’s logo. “Received this in post today,” wrote user BordonGrown. “Black box covering my address. Logo at the bottom looks like the band… Anyone else received one?” I’ve received a postcard. from arcadefire Advertisement The front of the postcard features a musical stave filled with notes, and above it a message that reads: “We missed you.” One fan has already tried to decipher the notes using an acoustic guitar, playing what they think the song could sound like and sharing it on SoundCloud. Elsewhere, stickers with the same design have been spotted around London. “Saw u/BordonGrown’s post about the postcard this morning,” wrote Reddit user Chapperdeemus, sharing a snap of a sticker on a bridge railing with Tower Bridge in the background. “I just walked past this sticker in London! Looks like something is happening!!… Read More →

03MARNews

Brix Smith at the BandLab NME Awards 2022: Liam Gallagher’s free gig for NHS workers “was absolutely fantastic”

Brix Smith was at the BandLab NME Awards 2022 to accept the Music Moment Of The Year award on behalf of Liam Gallagher for his “absolutely fantastic” free gig for NHS workers. READ MORE: BandLab NME Awards 2022 – see full list of winners The Fall legend was speaking to NME in the winner’s room after accepting the award for Gallagher, who was unable to attend the ceremony at the O2 Academy Brixton. Gallagher, Smith revealed, DJed her wedding in Italy 22 years ago with Alan McGee as a wedding present. “I’m a big fan of his,” Smith said of Gallagher. “I’ve known him for a long time and what he did for the NHS was absolutely fantastic. “With the years that we’ve been through, the last two years and what’s going on now, there’s definitely one thing that will keep us united and uplift us, and that’s music,” she said. Smith added: “Music can help us get through anything, it really really can. So what he did for the NHS and the care workers was an amazing thing and I hope to continue doing things with my music to get us through these hard times ahead of us now.”… Read More →

02MARNews

BandLab NME Awards 2022: Bring Me The Horizon say their Malta festival will be “like Fyre Festival but with better sandwiches”

BandLab NME Awards 2022 award winners Bring Me The Horizon are due to stage their own festival in Malta in May – an event they’ve said will be “like Fyre Festival but with better sandwiches”. READ MORE: BandLab NME Awards 2022 – see full list of winners The Sheffield band were speaking to NME from the winner’s room after picking up the trophy for Best Band From The UK Supported By Pizza Express. Bring Me’s Malta festival, announced last November, will take place from May 26-30 and feature a full live show and an exclusive retrospective set from the band. Discussing what to expect from the event, drummer Mat Nicholls promised “bingo with Jordan Fish [BMTH keys player]. It’s called ‘Bringo’.” “It’s like Fyre Festival but with better sandwiches,” frontman Oli Sykes added. Bring Me The Horizon on the BandLab NME Awards 2022 red carpet. Credit: Eva Pentel The festival’s line-up, handpicked by the band, includes Bullet For My Valentine, Beartooth, PVRIS, Motionless In White, Spiritbox, Nova Twins and Wargasm. There will also be a host of club nights, pool party takeovers and boat parties. Find more info here. Besides Best Band From The UK Supported By Pizza Express, Bring… Read More →

01MARNews

Louis Tomlinson, HEALTH among latest to cancel Russian performances

As the Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, more artists have cancelled their scheduled appearances in the former nation. Louis Tomlinson and HEALTH are among the latest to pull their Russian gigs, joining the likes of Yungblud, Green Day and Russian rapper Oxxxymiron. READ MORE: Louis Tomlinson – ‘Walls’ review: Oasis-inspired album is the foundation for a rewarding future Tomlinson was due to perform in both Ukraine and Russia this year, with a show at Kyiv’s Stereo Plaza slated for Monday July 4, and at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall on Wednesday July 6. Advertisement In a statement shared to social media overnight, the former One Direction singer wrote: “Due to the recent events in Ukraine, I have to sadly announce that my tour shows in Moscow and Kyiv are canceled until further notice. The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Louis Tomlinson (@louist91) HEALTH, on the other hand, were booked in to play two shows in Russia next month, taking to St. Petersburg’s Mod Club on Friday April 29, and Moscow’s Aglomerat on Saturday… Read More →

28FEBNews

Tinie Tempah is launching his own fried chicken delivery service

Tinie Tempah is launching his own fried chicken delivery service. READ MORE: Tinie Tempah: “I don’t know how many people thought I was gonna be a one-hit wonder… but I’m still here” The service, called ‘Raps’, will begin with a four-month pop-up at Willows on the Roof, which is located at the top of John Lewis on Oxford Street, London. The food will also be available via Deliveroo in areas including Shoreditch, Hackney, Dalston, Brixton, Queen’s Park and Camberwell from March 11. Advertisement In a statement, Tempah said: “Raps just felt right. Food is an exploration of culture through its ingredients and flavours and London, the city I’m from, is rich with diversity and culture.” He continued: “It was really exciting to work on something where I was able to combine the food I love and grew up on (both in the home and on the high street) and the music that inspired me to be who I am today.” Save the date ? @tinie will be taking over Willows on The Roof, on top of our Oxford Street store, from Friday 11th March. We can't wait to hear what you think of 'Raps' fried chicken, brought to you by Tinie Tempah… Read More →

28FEBNews

Midnight Oil announce London show as part of ‘Resist’ tour

Midnight Oil have announced a London show as part of their ‘Resist’ tour, which kicked off at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Australia last week. The tour, which is reported to be the band’s last, sees them playing dates Australia in February, March and April, before heading to New Zealand in May. UK, European and North American dates have now been added to the schedule, with the band playing the Camden Roundhouse on July 9. Other dates in Europe include Berlin (July 4), Leipzig (July 6) and Paris (July 12). See the full schedule below. Advertisement The Australian band have been performing together since the late 1970s, but had previously gone on hiatus in 2002 before reforming in 2016. According to a press release, all members of the band “remain open” to working together and recording new music in the future, as well as uniting to support causes that they believe in, but this will be the last time they tour. Wonderful to play on Wiradjuri land for the people of Orange and the Central West. W’gong and Rod Laver shows over coming weeks are sold out. Limited tickets remain for Mt Duneed and Rutherglen – https://t.co/mTNkXhuPaw. North American and… Read More →

28FEBNews

NCT Dream drop teaser for sophomore studio album ‘Glitch Mode’

NCT Dream have announced the details of their highly-anticipated comeback with a brand-new teaser. READ MORE: Taeyeon talks Girls’ Generation: “It always feels like home when we’re all together” Today (February 28) at midnight KST, the boyband shared a striking new teaser for their upcoming release, titled ‘Glitch Mode’. The record, which be their second full-length album, is due out on March 28. NCT DREAM The 2nd Album〖Glitch Mode〗➫ 2022.03.28 (KST)#NCTDREAM #GlitchMode#NCTDREAM_GlitchMode pic.twitter.com/RTDSegNjNj — NCT DREAM (@NCTsmtown_DREAM) February 27, 2022 Advertisement The forthcoming ‘Glitch Mode’ record will also mark the NCT sub-unit’s first release of 2022. It comes nine months after their last release, ‘Hello Future’, which was a repackaged version of their May 2021 debut studio album ‘Hot Sauce’. ‘Hot Sauce’ also notably marked the return of Canadian-Korean member Mark Lee, who had not been featured in the group since 2018’s ‘Candle Light’. As part of the unit’s previous rotational graduation system, Mark had left the NCT Dream in December that year upon turning 20. SM Entertainment later removed the rotational system in April 2020 in favour of a fixed group consisting of the boyband’s seven original members, completed by Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, Renjun, Jeno and Jisung. Earlier this… Read More →

28FEBNews

BLACKPINK member Rosé diagnosed with COVID-19

Rosé of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has tested positive for COVID-19. READ MORE: Taeyeon talks Girls’ Generation: “It always feels like home when we’re all together” Today (February 28), YG Entertainment shared in an official statement to Star News that the Korean-Australian musician has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a flight she had scheduled later the same day. The agency added that Rosé is currently asymptomatic. According to YG Entertainment, the singer had taken a PCR test prior to departure, and later received a positive result. Rosé did not board her flight, and her upcoming overseas activities have since been cancelled. Advertisement “The other three members [of BLACKPINK] have tested negative, and all of them, including the confirmed Rosé, have not shown unusual symptoms,” wrote the agency. It added that all four members of the girl group have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and that it would “spare no effort to support the health of our artists”. “We would be grateful if you could support Rosé’s speedy recovery, as well as the BLACKPINK members, who are active on the world stage,” the agency stated. It also noted that it would provide further updates if the situation changes. Rosé’s… Read More →

27FEBNews

Dave Grohl says he would never leave Foo Fighters to go solo

Dave Grohl has said he would never go solo because he “actually like[s] being in the Foo Fighters“. READ MORE: Inside Foo Fighters’ gory new horror film: “It’s Scooby Doo meets Spinal Tap meets The Evil Dead” The frontman is currently busy promoting the band’s new gross-out splatter horror Studio 666, and in a recent interview about the film he talked about never wanting to split from the Foos to go it alone. Describing the new movie, he told Sky News: “The premise is based on a lot of really hilarious rock and roll cliches and stereotypes, right? The lead singer that wants to go solo and is at a creative war with his own band – and some lead singers do exactly that.” Advertisement He then added: “That’s something I would never wish to do because I actually like being in the Foo Fighters.” Grohl formed Foo Fighters in 1994 as a one-man project following the dissolution of his former band Nirvana. The band have won 12 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album four times, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. Meanwhile, Grohl told NME in a new interview that he thinks Liam Gallagher is “one of the… Read More →

27FEBNews

Johnny Marr opens up about recent Morrissey spat: “You have to defend yourself”

Johnny Marr has opened up about his recent spat with Morrissey, saying that he felt he had to “defend [himself].” READ MORE: Swift vs Albarn, Morrissey vs Marr and Young vs Spotify: dissecting pop’s Beef Week Back in January, the former Smiths frontman asked Marr to stop mentioning him when giving interviews, in reference to an interview that Marr did with Uncut magazine where he mentioned Morrissey. Morrissey posted a lengthy open letter in which he asked Marr: “Would you please, instead, discuss your own career, your own unstoppable solo achievements and your own music? If you can, would you please just leave me out of it?” Advertisement Marr responded at the time with his own Instagram post, writing: “An ‘open letter’ hasn’t really been a thing since 1953, It’s all ‘social media’ now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down. Also, this fake news business… a bit 2021 yeah?” Now, in a new interview with The Times, Marr was asked about his response to Morrissey to which he replied: “When you’re attacked out of the blue, particularly in public, you have to defend yourself. “The letter was designed to be insulting, wasn’t it? That has to have been the idea. If it’s something that’s not… Read More →

26FEBNews

Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen shares ‘Unpeopled Space’ from debut solo album

Grizzly Bear‘s Daniel Rossen has shared a new song from his upcoming debut solo album – listen to ‘Unpeopled Space’ below. ‘You Belong There’ is due out on April 8 via Warp, and was announced last month alongside first single ‘Shadow In The Frame’. Alongside the release of ‘Unpeopled Space’, Rossen has also detailed a huge US and UK tour behind the album, which will feature four UK shows in late May. Advertisement Listen to ‘Unpeopled Space’ and see the artwork and tracklist for ‘You Belong There’ below. 1. ‘It’s a Passage’ 2. ‘Shadow in the Frame’ 3. ‘You Belong There’ 4. ‘Unpeopled Space’ 5. ‘Celia’ 6. ‘Tangle’ 7. ‘I’ll Wait For Your Visit’ 8. ‘Keeper and Kin’ 9. ‘The Last One’ 10. ‘Repeat the Pattern’ See details of Rossen’s three UK shows, and a Dublin date, for later this year below. US dates flank the short UK jaunt, beginning in late May and running until the end of June. MAY 2022 19 – Leeds, Left Bank 20 – London, Union Chapel 23 – Dublin, Pepper Canister 25 – Glasgow, St Luke’s Advertisement Elsewhere, Grizzly Bear recently announced a 15th anniversary reissue of their beloved album ‘Yellow House’. The record,… Read More →

26FEBNews

Ukrainian artists on the Russian crisis: “Now is the time to push for change”

Artists from Ukraine have spoken to NME about the ongoing conflict with Russia, and what the rest of the world can do to help. Ukraine has officially severed diplomatic ties with Russia, and declared martial law, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the neighbouring nation on Thursday (February 24). In the time since the invasion launched, 198 Ukrainians – including three children – have been killed at the time of writing, according to Health Minister Viktor Liashko. A further 1,115 people have reportedly been wounded, including 33 children (via Al Jazeera). Russian authorities have not released casualty figures for their forces. Speaking to NME from London, where they have lived for nine years, electro-pop duo Bloom Twins described the situation as “terrifying”. “It has really affected us,” said singer Anna Kuprienko. “We’re talking to our family, we have a lot of friends and our second manager living there. We go back to the Ukraine quite a lot. We were only there two months ago. We were hopeful that this situation with Russia wouldn’t go where it has and that it would resolve. “I literally spoke to my dad and our manager like six hours before everything happened. I… Read More →

26FEBNews

John Mayer has contracted COVID-19 for a second time

John Mayer has tested positive for COVID-19 a second time, leading to the next four shows on his ‘Sob Rock’ tour being pushed back to May. READ MORE: John Mayer – ‘Sob Rock’ review: guitar hero mines nostalgic gold The songster shared his diagnosis overnight (February 25), confirming that alongside himself, several members in his band have also wound up with the virus. It comes just days after Mayer’s touring drummer tested positive, with Questlove stepping in to fill his role at the band’s New York City gig. Whelp. More members of the band tested positive for Covid today, and I was one of them. This means we have to reschedule the next four shows, which we’ve already rescheduled and posted above. I’m so sorry to make you change your plans. https://t.co/60SzykxPK3 pic.twitter.com/KiGvO8tQGc — John Mayer (@JohnMayer) February 25, 2022 Advertisement Thus far, the affected dates include shows in Pittsburgh and Belmont Park, as well as two gigs in Boston. They’ve been knocked back to May 5, 9, 9 and 10, respectively; tickets for the old dates will remain valid, with remaining sales available via Ticketmaster. As it stands, the rest of Mayer’s ‘Sob Rock’ tour is unchanged – he… Read More →

25FEBNews

Snoop Dogg asks court to dismiss “implausible” sexual assault lawsuit

Content warning: this article discusses allegations of sexual assault. Snoop Dogg has asked a federal judge to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit brought against him earlier this month, claiming the allegations are “implausible and false”. In a new 17-page dismissal filed on Thursday (February 24) and obtained by Rolling Stone, the rapper (real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) has denied that he cornered an unidentified woman in a recording studio bathroom nearly nine years ago and forced her into a sex act. Snoop also claims that the allegations are too “threadbare” to support a claim under the federal sex trafficking statute listed in the complaint and too old to prosecute under state law. “Nothing remotely resembling plaintiff’s story about defendant Calvin Broadus ever happened. He vehemently denies ever engaging in any sex act with plaintiff or assaulting or battering her,” the new filing states. “She provides no allegations of any statement by defendant that he would help her career, and no allegations of any statement about how defendant might advance her career,” the filing continues. “Instead, the only allegation plaintiff makes is that [co-defendant Donald] Campbell – not defendant – said going to the studio where defendant was would be ‘a career move.” Snoop Dogg…. Read More →