Suki Benjamin

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett added as last-minute Emmy nominees for concert special

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have been added as last-minute Emmy nominees for their work on the 2021 CBS concert special One Last Time. The pair were initially left off the list for the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) category, but have now joined the producers of the project, which includes Bennett’s son, Danny, and Gaga’s long-time manager, Bobby Campbell. READ MORE: Lady Gaga live in London: a thrilling, high-concept return from pop’s finest Advertisement One Last Time was filmed at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall in the summer of 2021, in celebration of Bennett’s 95th birthday. The performance capped off an 11-year partnership between Gaga and Bennett, having first worked together on the latter’s Duets II album in September 2011. Their performance also prompted the release of their latest jazz album, ‘Love For Sale’, which was billed as Bennett’s final release as he battles Alzheimer’s disease. Bennett has previously won two Emmys for similar TV specials: one for 1996’s Tony Bennett Live by Request: A Valentine’s Special, and another for the 2006 show Tony Bennett: An American Classic. Gaga, meanwhile, previously picked up Emmy nominations for her 2011 concert film Lady Gaga Presents: The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden… Read More →

03AUGNews

New report shows major gender disparity in UK dance music

A new report has highlighted a major gender imbalance in UK dance music. The Progressing Gender Representation in UK Dance Music report, spearheaded by BBC Radio 1 DJ Jaguar Bingham, found that only 5 per cent of dance hits are by women. It also found that less than one per cent of dance music played on UK radio was made by a female solo artist or all-female band and they were under represented at music festivals. The study analysed 22 festival line-ups from 2018-2022 and found the gender split considerably favoured male artists, with the average percentage of female and non-binary acts comprising just 14 per cent of the line-ups in 2018. According to the report, this has since increased to 28 per cent but women are often relegated to warm-up slots at the bottom of the bill. DJ Jaguar Bingham CREDIT: Getty “You can’t be what you can’t see. And if you look at the line-ups and you’re seeing these headliners and majority of the line-up is men, you’re not going to see yourself represented,” Jaguar told Sky News. “And it’s the same as in hearing tracks on the radio or in streaming or in the charts [which are… Read More →

03AUGNews

Demi Lovato explains using both she/her and they/them pronouns

Demi Lovato says she has begun using both she/her and they/them pronouns, after the singer and actor came out as non-binary last year and started going by the latter terms. In a recent interview on the Spout podcast, Lovato told host Tamara Dhia how she had recently started to use feminine pronouns in addition to neutral ones as time had progressed. “For me, I’m such a fluid person when it comes to my gender, my sexuality, my music,” she said. “Especially last year, my energy was balanced in my masculine and feminine energy. “When I was faced with the choice of walking into a bathroom and it said ‘women’ and ‘men,’ I didn’t feel like there was a bathroom for me,” Lovato continued. Advertisement “I didn’t feel necessarily like a woman. I didn’t feel like a man. I just felt like a human. “And that’s what they/them is about for me. It’s just about feeling human at your core,” they added. “Recently, I’ve been feeling more feminine, and so I’ve adopted she/her again.” Lovato first discussed her fluid identity in May of last year, saying that their decision to begin using non-gendered pronouns “best represents the fluidity I feel in my… Read More →

02AUGNews

Deftones announce third annual Dia De Los Deftones

Deftones have announced their third annual Dia De Los Deftones event. READ MORE: Deftones: “Even in our worst moments, we persevere” It’s back after a two-year hiatus following the pandemic and will take place November 5 at Gallagher Square at Petco Park in San Diego. The line-up will see the Deftones perform alongside Turnstile, Phantogram, Freddie Gibbs, Audrey Nuna, Destroy Boys, Provoker, and Cold Gawd. Advertisement Tickets for the event go on sale August 5 at 10am PST. Speaking about the event, Deftones’ singer Chino Moreno said: “We’re hyped to be bringing back Dia de Los Deftones this year. “We take a ton of pride in curating it; it’s a chance for us to put forth and showcase some artists that we love and respect, and putting on an amazing day of music and culture for our fans. We’re excited to see everyone again out at Petco in November.” We are thrilled to announce our 3rd annual #DiaDeLosDeftones – taking place Saturday, 11/5 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. Joining us this year is Turnstile, Phantogram, Freddie Gibbs, Audrey Nuna, Destroy Boys, Provoker & Cold Gawd. Tickets on sale Friday, 8/5 at 10AM PST. pic.twitter.com/voIxMmUZC4 — Deftones (@deftones) August 2,… Read More →

02AUGNews

Mystikal arrested on rape, domestic abuse and robbery charges

Mystikal has been arrested on charges of first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery, simple robbery and simple criminal damage to property. The New Orleans rapper was apprehended on Sunday (July 31) after deputies interviewed a suspected survivor of sexual assault at a hospital late on Saturday night (July 30), the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed. TMZ reports that Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, is under arrest without bond. The alleged victim at the hospital in Louisiana is reported to have sustained minor injuries. Tyler is yet to have made a public statement following his arrest. The rapper was previously indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in 2017, which were eventually dropped. The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. In 2003, Tyler pleaded guilty to other crimes. He had forced his then-hairstylist to perform sex acts on him and two bodyguards. He was released from prison in 2010 after serving six years for sexual battery and extortion. In 2012 he spent three months in jail for violating the terms of his probation. This is a developing story – check back for updates For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape… Read More →

01AUGNews

Stray Kids drop surprise music video for new single, ‘Time Out’

K-pop boyband Stray Kids have unveiled a brand-new song and music video titled ‘Time Out’. READ MORE: Stray Kids live in Anaheim: K-pop aces’ ‘Maniac’ tour is anything but ordinary On August 1 at Midnight KST, the boyband surprised fans with the digital single and its summery new visual to wrap up their ‘2022 STAYweeK’ fan event, which saw the release of several behind-the-scenes clips. The yearly event marks the anniversary of the Stray Kids’ fan base, which were named Stay on August 1, 2018. The ‘Time Out’ music video sees the eight-member group enjoying a summer getaway by the ocean, singing along to the new track as they lounge and play in a nearby beach house. Advertisement “So come on / Let’s go, leave everything behind / Wherever it may be, somewhere far from here / Run to (run to), run to (run to) / Somewhere refreshing and wide open, oh oh,” Stray Kids sing on the upbeat new pop-rock track. ‘Time Out’ is the latest of the boyband’s surprise “mixtape” tracks, following June 2021’s ‘Oh’. Stray Kids’ last official release had been their March 2022 mini-album ‘Oddinary’, which was led by the single ‘Maniac’. That album had simultaneously… Read More →

31JULNews

Chance The Rapper says being yelled at by Kanye West made him “evaluate” their friendship

Chance The Rapper has opened up about last year’s leaked footage of himself being yelled at by Kanye West, saying the interaction made him “evaluate” their friendship. Last January, a video emerged of Chance and West in the studio together for a ‘DONDA’ recording session. It appeared to show West — now legally known as Ye — growing increasingly agitated before lashing out at Chance, telling him to sit his “ass down and listen to the album or leave.” READ MORE: Kanye West – ‘DONDA’ review: some gems among lots – and lots – of filler Speaking to The Morning Hustle about the exchange in a recent interview, Chance said it was a clip of “a larger moment, like no one’s ever gonna get the full story of what’s going on.” Advertisement “I saw people put fake captions under the video to make it look like he was talking about my music or something like that. But in all honesty, this is real life. I have real friends and they go through real problems.” The clip was part of a ‘DONDA’ documentary being made by Dame Dash. In his narration of the scene, Dash said Chance had come out to see West… Read More →

30JULNews

The new Paramore album is influenced by Bloc Party, says Hayley Williams

Hayley Williams has revealed that the upcoming Paramore album has been influenced by Bloc Party. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Hayley Williams: “Women’s rage has been such a catalyst for beautiful things” Speaking on her Everything Is Emo podcast, Williams started by praising Bloc Party’s 2005 record ‘Silent Alarm’. “We loved this band, me and all my friends, we were really into that album and it always reminds me of getting my driving licence. I paid my mom money that I got from a publishing advance we got from our first album to buy out the remainder of the car notes that she had for this old Mazda 626. I think I paid $3000, I named her Miss Anne, I covered her in stickers. Bloc Party’s ‘Silent Alarm’ was always on in the car. It was a favourite, and there’s really not a bad track on it.” Advertisement Later in the episode, Williams revealed that Paramore have been writing new music over the last 18 months and Bloc Party has been a constant influence. Bloc Party at The Garage. CREDIT: Burak Cingi/Redferns “From day one, Bloc Party was the number one reference because there was such an urgency… Read More →

30JULNews

Courteeners debut new song ‘Lie Back And Think Of England’ during intimate London gig

Midway through their intimate headline show in London last night (July 29), Courteeners debuted a new song titled ‘Lie Back And Think Of England’. READ MORE: Courteeners’ Liam Fray: “The band is my life. When it’s not going great, my life’s not going great” According to Setlist.fm, the Middleton trio delivered a set of 17 songs for their performance – a warm-up show ahead of their headlining set at the Y Not? festival tonight (July 30) – treating 1,500 fans at the Electric Ballroom to cuts from all six of their studio albums. It was mostly a throwback affair, though, as 2020’s ‘More. Again. Forever.’ was only represented with one song – ‘Hanging Off Your Cloud’. After playing the first 10 songs of the setlist – which also included hits like ‘Not Nineteen Forever’, ‘You Overdid It Doll’ and ‘Acrylic’ – frontman Liam Fray delivered a trio of acoustic numbers. ‘Lie Back And Think Of England’ was the first of those songs, while ‘Please Don’t’ and ‘Smiths Disco’ rounded out the lowkey detour. Footage of the new tune is yet to emerge, but you see photos and footage from the show – as well as the full setlist – below: View this… Read More →

29JULNews

Listen to Bullet For My Valentine’s new single ‘No More Tears To Cry’

Bullet For My Valentine have returned with ‘No More Tears To Cry’, the latest preview of an upcoming deluxe reissue of their self-titled 2021 album. READ MORE: Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with Bullet For My Valentine In a statement, the band described ‘No More Tears To Cry’ as “a dark but colourful story about dealing with mental health struggles”. They also noted that it’s “very different from the other tracks on the album and has a lot of surprises on there”, with one particular anomaly being the inclusion of slide guitar. Have a listen to ‘No More Tears To Cry’ below: Advertisement ‘No More Tears To Cry’ comes as the third new song shared from Bullet’s self-titled reissue, following the release of ‘Omen’ back in April and ‘Stitches’ in May. The record itself is due out on August 5 via Spinefarm, and will also feature the previously unreleased tracks ‘Step Out From The Inside’ and ‘This Means War’ – find pre-orders here. Bullet For My Valentine initially released their self-titled album last November – it was due out a month earlier, but got knocked back due to manufacturing delays – with singles including ‘Knives’, ‘Parasite’ and… Read More →

29JULNews

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus pays tribute to England’s Lionesses after 4-0 win over Sweden

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus has shared a message of support for the English women’s football team (aka the Lionesses) after they celebrated a 4-0 win over Sweden earlier this week. READ MORE: ABBA Voyage’s creators tell us how they made the show, and what’s next The Lionesses dominated Sweden, where ABBA hail from, in the semi-final match of the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro Championship. The game took place at Milton Keyes’ Stadium MK on Wednesday (July 27) and is to be followed by the final match this Sunday (August 31). There, the Lionesses – who are currently eighth in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings – will face off against Germany at London’s Wembley Stadium. Advertisement As reported by the Evening Standard, the Lionesses celebrated their semi-final victory with a singalong to ABBA, who feature prominently in the team’s dressing room playlist. When asked what she and her team listened to after scoring the final goal, forward Alessia Russo told journalists: “It was a little bit of ABBA – there’s always ABBA – but also Proud, West Virginia, a couple of old songs.” Leaning into the irony that the Lionesses marked their win over Sweden by singing along to Swedish music, Björn… Read More →

29JULNews

Watch Gorillaz’ trippy new ‘Cracker Island’ video featuring Thundercat

Gorillaz have shared the official video for their latest single ‘Cracker Island’. READ MORE: The NME Big Read: Gorillaz: “I could feel in my bones that we were due this current trouble” Released last month, the Thundercat-featuring track marked the experimental cartoon band’s first new music since last summer’s ‘Meanwhile’ EP. It’s said to signal “a new dawn” for the Damon Albarn-led project. Yesterday (July 28) Gorillaz dropped a psychedelic visual for ‘Cracker Island’ that begins with 2-D – Albarn’s animated alter-ego – being carted off to hospital in the back of a police car. Advertisement Handcuffed to a chair in the A&E waiting room, the worse for wear character has an hallucinatory vision of a hologram-style Thundercat who sings and plays guitar on the seat beside him. The LA artist later takes over a hospital ward before a ghostly figure stalks the hallways. At the end of the video, the patients catch TV coverage of a “major incident” unfolding at the Hollywood Sign. “Think of it as the final scene in the movie, the bit after the grand finale when the hero (me) is about to stride into the sunset, credits rolling,” explained Gorillaz bassist Murdoc in a statement…. Read More →

29JULHit Singles

Andrew Tuttle – Fleeting Adventure

Andrew Tuttle’s fifth album begins with a sense of being untethered and adrift, washes of abstract sound floating through the mix, a feeling of disorientation dominating. You might be reminded of the famed opening sequence of Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, The Wrath Of God, with Popol Vuh’s uncanny soundtrack accompanying the misty visuals of 16th-century conquistadors trudging through a treacherous Amazon rainforest. Where are we? How did we get here? Tuttle isn’t one to let his listeners drown in a whirlpool of confusion, however. After a minute or so, his resonant, reassuring five-string banjo appears like a beacon in the night, grounding us, guiding us safely down to earth. For this particular adventure, we can rest easy. We’re in good hands. ORDER NOW: Wilco are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut The banjo is a tricky instrument, one so associated with specific strains of folk, bluegrass and country music that it can come across as a cliché –an all-too-familiar signifier of rootsy flavours and faux-downhome vibes. But some musicians have risen to the challenge of finding fresh new possibilities, from stars like Béla Fleck and Rhiannon Giddens to somewhat more obscure iconoclasts like George Stavis (whose 1969 solo… Read More →

28JULNews

Orla Gartland on viral ‘Heartstopper’ sync: “It was a match made in heaven”

Orla Gartland has discussed the use of her track ‘Why Am I Like This?’ in Heartstopper, describing it as a “match made in heaven”. READ MORE: Here’s what we know about ‘Heartstopper’ season two The 2019 track found success after it was featured in the Netflix series during a pivotal scene where Nick (Kit Connor) questions his feelings for best friend Charlie (Joe Locke) and searches on Google: “Am I gay?” As Nick hits the return key, the screen cuts to black and the song’s chorus – which repeats the title of the track – plays over the credits. Advertisement Speaking to NME backstage at Truck Festival about the scene, Gartland said: “I could not have asked for more. It’s so interesting I’ve never had anything like that, where I feel like I’m used to putting out music and trying to induce an excitement that isn’t there. “You’re trying to get other people to form a connection with your song in any way that you can, building a visual world around it, whatever it is. That was the first time I’ve had where there’s already people connecting with it and they’re connecting with the show. “I got really lucky that… Read More →

28JULNews

Hayden Thorpe unveils deluxe edition of second album and shares new song ‘Polygod’

Hayden Thorpe has today (July 28) unveiled details of a deluxe edition release of his second album, ‘Moondust For My Diamond’, along with new song ‘Polygod’. READ MORE: Wild Beasts frontman Hayden Thorpe goes solo: “It’s like playing chess against yourself…” The collection, titled ‘Moondust For My Diamond – Every Piece Of Dust’ edition, contains four new songs and four new remixes. It will receive a digital-only release on August 19. One of the new tracks from the collection, ‘Polygod’, has also been shared. Watch the video for that below. Advertisement Produced by Nathan Jenkins (aka Bullion) and Richard Formby, the four new tracks hear Thorpe explore “a deeper, and more seductive side to his song writing”, according to a press release. Speaking about the origins of the new tracks, the former Wild Beasts frontman said: “‘Every Piece of Dust’ brings into the family all of the stray songs that were written alongside ‘Moondust For My Diamond’. “I think of this release as a Director’s Cut – indulging some of the choices that went unmade up until now. There’s a mini-grief that happens when you finish off and move on from a record – you almost have to say, ‘I’m moving on… Read More →

28JULNews

Watch Foals’s dizzying new video for ‘Life Is Yours’

Foals have shared the new video for their latest single ‘Life Is Yours’ – check it out below. The song appears on the Oxford band’s acclaimed seventh album of the same name, which came out last month. READ MORE: Foals on fanboying over Deftones and Dan Carey remixing their album Arriving today (July 28), the official visuals for the title track – which see the group perform in a circular configuration – is described as “quite unlike any Foals live experience you have witnessed before”. Advertisement The core trio – comprising Yannis Philippakis, Jack Bevan and Jimmy Smith – are joined in the studio space by their touring band members (Kit Monteith, Jack Freeman and Joe Price) as different coloured lights cast their silhouettes onto the walls. As ‘Life Is Yours’ breaks down, the camera cuts and lighting effects become more intense. A final, birds eye view of Foals in their unique set up concludes the video. You can tune in here: The visuals were directed by Toby L, who helmed the band’s 2019 documentary Rip Up The Road. He’s also previously worked with the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Damon Albarn. Last weekend saw Foals headline Latitude Festival 2022. In… Read More →

28JULNews

Listen to Rosalía’s summery new single, ‘Despechá’

Rosalía has today (July 28) shared a summery new single called ‘Despechá’ – check it out below. READ MORE: Rosalía – ‘Motomami’ review: an electrifying serve from a left-field mastermind The song has been performed by Rosalía live during her ongoing world tour and has now been released as a one-off single. Speaking about the track and its meaning, Rosalía said: “There are many ways to be Despechá, in this theme it is from the freeness or the craziness, moving without reservations or regrets. Advertisement “This is the place from where I make music, from where I did it when I first started and where I will continue to until God says so. “I’m grateful for having been able to travel in recent years and have learned from music from other places including the DR, where artists like Fefita La Grande, Juan Luis Guerra and Omega have inspired me and without them this song would not exist.” Check out the song here: The current ‘Motomani World Tour’ marks Rosalía’s first global run of concerts and sees her travel to 15 countries across a 46 dates. Advertisement The tour began earlier this month in Almería, Spain at Recinto Ferial de… Read More →

28JULNews

Zico braves the apocalypse in music video for ‘Freak’

Zico has dropped his new mini-album ‘Grown Ass Kid’, marking his first music in over two years. READ MORE: STAYC – ‘We Need Love’ review: the momentum falters as fourth-gen K-pop group play it safe The EP was released on July 27 alongside an accompanying video for its lead single, ‘Freak’. The song’s visual begins with Zico seated on a couch at home as he watches a news report announcing the end of the world. He and his friends begin freaking out, before they head outside to get themselves to safety. But what awaits them instead is a catastrophe – burning skyscrapers, looting, rioting and fighting ensue as they drive away from the city. Advertisement “Woo eh, Republic of Korea / This is the final destination of your algorithm / Who cares, everyone’s on the same side / A ruckus has been made / Enjoy, we’re freaks,” he sings on the song’s pre-chorus. Aside from ‘Freaks’, ‘Grown Ass Kid’ also includes four other B-side tracks. Both ‘Trash Talk’ and ‘Nocturnal Animals’, which feature Changmo and Zior Park respectively, along with ‘OMZ Freestyle’ have been written, composed and arranged by Zico himself. Zico’s latest release marked his first in over two years,… Read More →

27JULNews

Rina Sawayama shares anthemic new single ‘Hold The Girl’

Rina Sawayama has shared the third single and title track from her highly-anticipated second album ‘Hold The Girl’. READ MORE: Rina Sawayama at the BandLab NME Awards 2022: an exhilarating performance of extremes The artist has already previewed the new album – the follow-up to 2020’s ‘SAWAYAMA’, which NME awarded five stars – with the singles ‘This Hell’ and ‘Catch Me In The Air’, with the latter premiering as Zane Lowe’s New Music Daily pick on Apple Music 1. The new single is a typically ambitious, multi-faceted pop song, addressing both the trauma and catharsis of moving forward in life. “Sometimes I just wanna run away, leave behind that old me, start again/ Then I’ll remember who I’m really made of/ And she’s been hide-and-seeking, waiting all alone,” she sings on the track. Advertisement Speaking about the songwriting process, Sawayama said: “‘Hold the Girl’ was the first song I wrote for the record at the end of 2020 – I had gone to therapy and had a revelation, so I decided to write this song… that was the start of it. I was crying before going into the studio to write about it.” ‘Hold The Girl’ is now due out September 16 –… Read More →

27JULNews

Lollapalooza announces expansion into India in January 2023

American festival franchise Lollapalooza has announced its upcoming venture into India with a festival scheduled to run in late January next year. READ MORE: NME Radio Roundup 25 July 2022: Steve Lacy, Channel Tres and Mabel Announced via Lollapalooza’s official accounts on social media, the inaugural edition of Lollapalooza India is currently scheduled to run on January 28 and 29 in “the heart of Mumbai”. A firm location has yet to be announced. We're thrilled to announce the newest addition to the #Lolla family: Lollapalooza India! ?? @LollaIndia will take place this upcoming January 28-29, 2023 in the heart of Mumbai.⁣⁣ Stay tuned and sign up, their 2023 Lineup + tickets will be coming soon: https://t.co/octxU2FMY3 https://t.co/KdH9WV615W — Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) July 27, 2022 Advertisement Per a Billboard report, Lollapalooza India will feature around 45 acts on its lineup, which has yet to be announced. 60 per cent of the performers being booked will reportedly be international acts, while the remaining 40 per cent will be local performers. A lineup is expected to be announced by the end of August, Billboard reports. Early-bird tickets will be available from August 1 onwards for festival-goes who register on the official Lollapalooza India website…. Read More →

26JULNews

Ex-BBC employee reportedly raised “bullying” complaints against DJ Tim Westwood

An ex-BBC employee has reportedly alleged that they raised concerns about “bullying” by DJ Tim Westwood but felt they were “warned against taking further action” (via The Guardian). Earlier this year, sexual assault allegations were made against Westwood by multiple women, leading him to step down from his Capital Xtra radio show. The alleged victims also gave testimony as part of a new 30-minute documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse Of Power, which aired on BBC Three in April. In response to the documentary, a spokesperson for the DJ said: “Our client confirms that there has never been any complaint made against him, whether officially or unofficially, relating to claims of inappropriate behaviour of the nature described.” Now, in the latest accusations against the DJ, an ex-BBC employee said they raised concerns about the DJ’s bullying behaviour but was “warned” about taking further action. According to The Guardian, a former employee worked with Westwood in the early 2010s and alleged he took part in “unacceptable bullying”. After raising concerns, they allege that the responses they received suggested they “be quiet, don’t say any more, be careful what you say.” Another former employee, who The Guardian describe as having “worked with Westwood for a number of years in the 2000s”,… Read More →