Cindy Choek

Travis Scott’s first major show since Astroworld tragedy to take place in London

Travis Scott will perform in London later this summer, marking his first major solo show since the 2021 Astroworld tragedy. A crowd crush at the Houston festival, which is run by the rapper, left 10 people dead last October. Since the tragedy, Scott has performed on a handful of occasions, including a private pre-Oscars party in March and a private Coachella afte-rparty the following month. He also appeared at the Billboard Music Awards 2022 in May. It’s now been announced that Scott will be playing at London’s The O2 on August 6. Tickets for the event go on sale this Friday (July 1) at 9am here. Travis Scott CREDIT: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for MRC Scott was also recently announced as one of three headliners at this year’s Day N Vegas, which is set to run between September 2 and 4 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. SZA will headline night one while J. Cole will top the bill the following evening. Elsewhere on the bill are the likes of Playboi Carti, Summer Walker, Trippie Redd, 21 Savage, H.E.R., Baby Keem, Jhené Aiko and Pusha T. Scott had been booked to headline Day N Vegas last year, but withdrew from the line-up following the… Read More →

28JUNNews

Cardi B will release ‘Hot Shit’, featuring Kanye West and Lil Durk, this week

Cardi B has announced the release of a new single titled ‘Hot Shit’, which will feature guest spots from Kanye West and Lil Durk. READ MORE: Cardi B’s team-up with Megan Thee Stallion for ‘WAP’ is a truly filthy return The song was confirmed in an advert that screened during the 2022 BET Awards last Sunday (June 26). Cardi later posted the ad to her own social media, revealing that the song would be released this Friday (July 1). You can take a look at that ad – as well as the single’s cover art – below, while pre-saves for ‘Hot Shit’ are available here. My new single “Hot Shit” available everywhere THIS FRIDAY 7/1 ?? Tomorrow 8pm I got another surprise for yall, tune in ? pic.twitter.com/tMHJcAteum — Cardi B (@iamcardib) June 27, 2022 Hot Shit featuring Lil Durk & Kanye West ??? THIS FRIDAY JULY 1 ??? pic.twitter.com/Ff7GJJ6xmU — Cardi B (@iamcardib) June 28, 2022 Advertisement ‘Hot Shit’ will be Cardi’s third release for the year, though the first to list her as the lead artist. The rapper collaborated with Summer Walker and SZA for ‘No Love’ back in March, and joined Kay Flock, Dougie B and Bory300… Read More →

27JUNNews

Depeche Mode thank fans for “outpouring of love” following Andy Fletcher’s death

Depeche Mode have thanked their fans and friends for the “outpouring of love” they’ve showed following the death of Andy Fletcher last month. READ MORE: Forget the singer – take a moment to appreciate your favourite band’s secret weapons “We wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the outpouring of love for Andy that we’ve seen from all of you over the last few weeks,” remaining members Martin Gore and Dave Gahan wrote on Instagram. “It’s incredible to see all of your photos, to read your words, and to see how much Andy meant to all of you.” “As you can imagine, it’s been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least,” they continued. “But we’ve seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy’s family has too.” Advertisement Elsewhere in the post, the band revealed that Fletcher died of natural causes. “A couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy’s family asked us to share with you now. Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26. So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering.”… Read More →

27JUNNews

Watch the making of Hellfest’s giant Lemmy statue

A huge new statue of late Mötörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister was unveiled at French metal festival Hellfest earlier this month – see how they made it below. READ MORE: Lemmy: seven legendary stories the pre-Motörhead biopic should include The new sculpture, which is the brainchild of artist Caroline Brisset, replaces an existing Lemmy statue at the event, which has been erected for six years. The second statue, a gigantic and imposing metal creation, was unveiled to signal the start of Hellfest 2022, which was held across two weekends (June 17-19 and 23-26) in Clisson, France. Advertisement Surviving Mötörhead members Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell paid tribute to Lemmy at the unveiling ceremony for the statue, after performing at the festival. Dee, now a member of Scorpions, performed with the German band, and Campbell joined to play ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’. The two Motörhead members then headed to the base of the statue to pay their respects to Lemmy and Hellfest. “It was magic, thank you Hellfest for making this happen, me and Phil are very proud, and proudest of all is of course Lemmy!” Dee told the crowd. “Now he is part of a great festival forever, and hopefully there will be… Read More →

27JUNNews

Fiona Apple responds to Roe v. Wade repeal: “It’s not about life. It’s about control”

Fiona Apple has shared her thoughts about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying that the repeal is “not about life. It’s about control”. READ MORE: Fiona Apple – ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’ review: an intoxicating and excoriating listen that will cut deep Last week, the US Supreme Court made the decision to overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade. This means abortion will no longer be protected as a federal right in the US for the first time since 1973, and each state will be able to decide individually whether to restrict or ban abortion. On Sunday (June 26), Apple shared a video online in which she discusses how unacceptable the new ruling is and says that it’s important people talk about how they feel. Advertisement “We have to talk about how we feel about this, how unacceptable this is, have to keep expressing ourselves because this is all about control. You know that,” Apple says at the start of her video message. “It’s all about control,” she continues. “It’s not about life. It’s about control. It’s about control of women, about control of our bodies, about taking our control of our own bodies away, about taking our… Read More →

27JUNNews

Cyndi Lauper shares rerecorded version of abortion rights song ‘Sally’s Pigeons’ in wake of Roe v. Wade reversal

Cyndi Lauper has shared a rerecorded version of her 1993 abortion rights anthem ‘Sally’s Pigeons’ in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. READ MORE: Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam and more react as Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade In a series of tweets that accompanied the new, more stripped-back and plaintive version of ‘Sally’s Pigeons’ on June 25, Lauper wrote, “In my childhood, women didn’t have reproductive freedom and 50 years later we find ourselves in a time warp where one’s freedom to control their own body has been stripped away.” She continued, “When I wrote this song with Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1991, we wrote about two little girls who dreamt of stretching their wings like the pigeons they watched that flew above them. Advertisement “They dreamt of being free. But freedom then for women and unfortunately now comes at a big price. If we don’t have control over our own bodies then we have no real freedom. We are second class citizens. We need to mobilize. We need to let our voices be heard.” ‘Sally’s Pigeons’ was famously inspired by a childhood friend of Lauper’s who had gotten pregnant in her teens… Read More →

27JUNNews

Jack Johnson announces ‘Meet The Moonlight’ 2022 Australian and New Zealand tour

Jack Johnson has announced he’ll be embarking on a run of Australian and New Zealand shows later this year. The tour comes in support of his latest album ‘Meet The Moonlight’, which arrived last Friday (June 24). It’ll see Johnson and his band arrive in Australia in late November, playing shows in Perth, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, before heading to New Zealand’s Auckland and Napier. He’ll be supported by Emily Wurramara and Ziggy Alberts for the Australian dates, with The Black Seeds joining him in New Zealand. Advertisement Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday July 1 at 10am local time, and will be available to purchase here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jack Johnson (@jackjohnson) It’ll be the first time the singer has visited Australia since 2019’s Byron Bay Bluesfest, and his first New Zealand shows since 2017. ‘Meet The Moonlight’ marks Johnson’s eighth studio album and his first LP release in five years. He collaborated with producer and guitarist Blake Mills on the record, previewing it with singles ‘One Step Ahead’ and the titular track. “I really, really can’t say enough about the guy, Blake,” Johnson told Apple Music 1’s… Read More →

26JUNNews

Jack White live at Glastonbury 2022: guitar hero literally smashes his secret set out of The Park

“KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHERFUCKERS,” comes that classic call to action from MC5 over The Park Stage’s speakers as thousands fill the field for Jack White’s somewhat less-than-secret set. Crawling up the hill while missing out on the diva tones of Diana Ross‘ legends’ slot to get a decent spot, these Glastonbury-goers don’t seem to need telling. These surprise Park show sets are the stuff of legend, with the likes of Pulp, Foals and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood having previously made history on this stage. As White kicks into gnarled up opener ‘Taking Me Back’, it’s clear that he’s hell-bent on rocking his way into Glasto history as well. The title track of recent record ‘Fear Of The Dawn’ sizzles with an acidic Zeppelin ferocity, before a full-bodied outing of ‘Dead Leaves On The Dirty Ground’ gets a reaction as strong as when The White Stripes played it here back when they headlined the Pyramid Stage back in 2005. Jack White’s secret set at Glastonbury 2022. Credit: Eva Pentel for NME Advertisement The blue-haired troubadour adds a touch of spice and jazzy flirtations to these classics – giving ‘Love Interruption’ more of a bounce in the chorus, laying… Read More →

26JUNNews

ArrDee at Glastonbury 2022: “I’m here to try and build a legacy”

ArrDee spoke to NME backstage at Glastonbury 2022 about performing at the festival for the first time, representing his hometown and giving the rock star lifestyle “a run for its money”. The Brighton rapper made his debut appearance on the Lonely Hearts Club yesterday (June 25), where he previewed his new single ‘Hello Mate’. READ MORE: The story of Glastonbury 2022 in glorious photos Speaking to NME before the set, ArrDee described playing at Worthy Farm as a “monumental part of every legend’s career”. “Obviously, I’m here to try and build a legacy, not like here today, gone tomorrow,” he said. “I want my name to live on many years whilst I’m here and many years whilst I’m gone. So Glastonbury is definitely one of those sets, or those festivals, that, ‘Yo! When he done this at Glastonbury!’ [those moments live on].” Advertisement The 20-year-old also discussed representing his hometown at events like Glastonbury. “There are so many cold – not necessarily rappers from Brighton – just musicians, in general,” he said. “Brighton is one of the most musical towns that I’ve ever seen – and I’ve been to a few towns in the UK now. I’ve been about, and it’s… Read More →

25JUNNews

UK drill music videos can now be used as evidence in court to link gang-affiliated suspects

Music videos from UK drill artists can now be used as evidence in court, it has been reported. READ MORE: Move over, Chicago: how the UK made drill its own – and then sold it back to the world The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced yesterday (June 24) that UK drill music videos can be submitted as “admissible evidence for a jury to consider” if they can link gang-affiliated suspects to crimes. Max Hill, QC – the Director of Public Prosecutions – added that music videos can serve as a form of evidence if it helps prove the “modus operandi” of violent cases such as gang attacks. Advertisement Per a Complex UK report, Hill said: “Drill music, by its nature, is supposed to shock, but it is not a crime and you have to put proper weight on that. What police officers, if anything, are [telling the court] is, ‘I’ve listened to it many times over, I can tell you what is being said; I can make a suggestion to what drug is being referred to.’” In January, the CPS announced that it was going to review its guidance on the use of drill lyrics as evidence against defendants in… Read More →

25JUNNews

Metronomy on creating “the perfect hour of power” for their Glastonbury 2022 set

Metronomy’s Joe Mount spoke to NME backstage at Glastonbury 2022 and told us how the festival stalwarts have distilled seven albums into the perfect “hour of power” for fans. Watch our interview above. READ MORE: Indie survivors Metronomy: “I like the idea that we stealthily succeeded in our own way” After a two-year hiatus, Glastonbury has returned to Worthy Farm this weekend (June 23 – 26). Mount, whose band has played multiple stages of the fest over the years, said he was looking forward to taking the Other Stage today (June 25), and playing new songs for fans. “It feels really brilliant,” he said. “Everyone is saying how nice it is to be playing in front of crowds again but I think there’s [also another] difference I see now. People who come to see us, they really want to. Everyone’s been starved of going to see gigs. Now, if someone comes to see your gig they really want to be there and that feels quite special.” Advertisement Metronomy CREDIT: Burak Cingi Now that the band are seven albums in, having released their most recent record ‘Small World’ in February, Mount told us how the band fits their expansive discography into… Read More →

25JUNNews

Phoebe Bridgers chants “fuck the Supreme Court” during Glastonbury set

During her set at this year’s Glastonbury festival, Phoebe Bridgers addressed the US Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade with a short, but powerful chant: “Fuck the Supreme Court!” READ MORE: Phoebe Bridgers live at Glastonbury 2022: a triumphant – and powerful – victory lap In early May, leaked documents showed that the US Supreme Court voted privately to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case that made abortion legal on a federal level. That decision was officially ruled into place yesterday (June 24), meaning US states will be able to set their own laws regarding the legality of abortions. As Politico reports, 23 states are expected to make abortion illegal – at the time of writing, five already have, and a further 11 are in the process of finalising anti-abortion laws. Taking to the John Peel Stage last night – just hours after the ruling was confirmed – Bridgers told her Glastonbury crowd: “This is my first time here and, honestly, it’s super surreal and fun, but I’m having the shittiest day.” An outspoken advocate of abortion rights, the frustrated singer-songwriter asked if any Americans were among her crowd, before instructing them to chant, “Fuck the Supreme Court!” Following… Read More →

25JUNNews

Watch a drummer nail a cover of Slipknot’s ‘Eyeless’ with just one hand while sipping on soda

TikTok drumming sensation El Estepario Siberiano has shared a flawless drum cover of Slipknot’s ‘Eyeless’, while holding a can of soda in one hand. READ MORE: Slipknot: “I’m just going to tell you the facts: this album is a masterpiece” Siberiano posted the video to his TikTok and YouTube accounts earlier this week. Responding to a challenge that read “Play ‘Eyeless’ by Slipknot with ONE HAND if you’re a man,” Siberanio replied: “Now that request right there, that’s crazy talk, son. But I’m 99 per cent sure it can be done, so we’re going to find out.” While several snare hits from the original track were omitted to accommodate Siberanio’s challenge, he went on to play the track seemingly effortlessly, all while sipping on a can of Coca-Cola No Sugar. Advertisement Watch the cover below. @elestepariosiberiano Reply to @ribsbely Sounds similar! #foryou #xyzbca #fypシ #drums #epic ♬ original sound – elestepariosiberiano Earlier this year, seven-year-old drummer Caleb Hayes performed a cover of the band’s ‘Sulfur’ on Ellen. For his stunning performance, he gifted a signature snare from Slipknot’s own Jay Weinberg, as well as praise from the internet. Slipknot recently wrapped up their Spring and Summer legs of the Knotfest… Read More →

25JUNNews

Original Sugababes line-up return with their first-ever Glastonbury performance

Sugababes played for a live audience for the second time in over 20 years tonight (June 24) at Glastonbury‘s Avalon stage, after taking a break from the limelight in 2012. READ MORE: The story of Glastonbury 2022 in glorious photos This performance featured the original Sugababes line-up of Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Siobhan Donaghy, and they sang their greatest hits including tracks from periods when Donaghy and Buena were not in the band. Keisha Buchanan lead most of the talking during the set. “We were so nervous to come out here today, and I don’t know why because you’re not scary,” she said. “I know it’s been crazy being out of lockdown and all of that. And I guess I say that to say that, in life, there’s ups and downs but there’s one thing for sure, it’s just a season. Whether it’s [laughs], it’s gonna come either way and you’ll always have to push through.” Advertisement Set to a live band, the crowd clambered onto each other’s shoulders and the tent frame to catch a glimpse of the ‘00s pop sensations back in action. The girl group open up their set with their platinum-selling UK Number One ‘Push… Read More →

24JUNNews

Paul McCartney plays Frome warm-up gig ahead of Glastonbury

Paul McCartney has played a warm-up gig at Frome’s Cheese & Grain this evening (June 24), ahead of his Glastonbury headline set tomorrow. READ MORE: The Beatles: every song ranked in order of greatness The 800 capacity Somerset venue took to Twitter yesterday (June 23) to announce that it would be hosting the legendary Beatle for a surprise gig, writing: “@PaulMcCartney Live in Frome? Tomorrow night at 5pm? Ok then!” Tickets could only be purchased at the venue and were available on a strictly first come first served basis. Advertisement A statement on Cheese & Grain’s website read: “What an incredible opportunity to watch Paul warm up for his Glastonbury headlining performance this weekend. What an amazing treat… we are told this won’t be his normal set either so should be an afternoon full of wonderful surprises.” McCartney arrived on stage in Frome just after 6pm, playing to an audience that included Olivia Harrison, Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann, Brian Johnson from AC/DC and Olivia Rodrigo. His set included ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Let It Be’. Before ‘Out Of College’ he told the crowd: “Here’s a song that we’ve never done live in England until tonight, so… Read More →

24JUNNews

Idles’ Joe Talbot dedicates ‘Mother’ to “every woman” following overturn of Roe v. Wade

Joe Talbot of Idles has spoken out against the overturn of Roe V. Wade today (June 24) during the band’s Glastonbury 2022 performance. The supreme court overturned the landmark case earlier today, which granted women in the US the right to terminate a pregnancy 50 years ago. Right before the band played ‘Mother’ during their festival set, Talbot shared a dedication speaking out on the ruling. “Of course, this is for every mother and every woman and her right to choose whether she is a mother or not,” Talbot said. “Long live the open-minded long live my mother and long live every single one of you.” Joe Talbot of @idlesband calling out the overturn of Roe v. Wade during the bands #Glastonbury2022 set#NMEGlasto pic.twitter.com/nIPe5XdWA9 — Erica Campbell (@ericacxmpbell) June 24, 2022 Talbot’s call out follows multiple artists peaking out about the ruling. Fellow Glastonbury performer Phoebe Bridgers, who is also set to perform Friday, recently wrote an open letter about abortion rights. Taking to her Instagram stories and Twitter, she shared her own experience before asking fans to donate. “I had an abortion in October of last year while I was on tour,” she wrote. “I went to planned parenthood… Read More →

24JUNNews

John Williams to retire from scoring films after ‘Indiana Jones 5’

John Williams, famed composer behind the film scores for Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter and more is set to retire scoring films after completing his work on the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 film. READ MORE: 10 Elvis songs for people who think they don’t like Elvis In an interview with Associated Press, Williams, 90, revealed, “At the moment I’m working on Indiana Jones 5, which Harrison Ford – who’s quite a bit younger than I am – I think has announced will be his last film,” “So, I thought: If Harrison can do it, then perhaps I can, also.” Advertisement AP notes that Ford has yet to make such a public statement. Williams did leave himself room for a return, however, telling the outlet he didn’t want to be seen as “categorically eliminating any activity” from his future plans. While Williams is moving away from scoring film, the five-time Oscar winner has stated that he will still be involved in music. He is reportedly currently writing a piano concerto for Emanuel Ax following his release of the album ‘A Gathering of Friends’ with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Released on May 20, the album consisted of cello concertos and new arrangements… Read More →

24JUNNews

Trixie Mattel’s Love Letters To Small Towns And Big Stars

By Heather Beattie Trixie Mattel is at the airport — again. After wrapping up a five-week tour across Europe, the multi-talented drag icon is briefly headed home to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before plunging back into a relentless schedule that includes launching her TV series Trixie Motel, embarking on the second leg of the Trixie & Katya Live tour, and releasing her fourth studio album. “It’s been Strugglina Aguilera,” Mattel tells MTV News over the phone. Anyone would be worn out by what Mattel has on her plate, but mere minutes into listening to her discuss her double LP The Blonde & Pink Albums, it’s evident that Mattel’s love for creating music is limitless. The Blonde & Pink Albums, out June 24, is Mattel’s biggest musical venture to date. “It’s twice the music as usual, twice the songwriting, and it’s because I was home twice as much the last two years.” Mattel says. The album, which follows her 2020 release Barbara, is a step away from the folk-heavy offerings for which Mattel has become known. The production is massive, with sounds reminiscent of new wave icons The Go-Go’s and witty, evocative lyrics that make it clear Mattel herself is holding the reins…. Read More →

24JUNHit Singles

Joan Shelley – The Spur

Earlier this year, speaking to Uncut about her love of Nick Drake, Joan Shelley expressed a preference for “the more intimate recordings, that stripped-downness. When somebody is that good at being the whole band, I want to be as close to the guitar as possible. It has certainly had an influence on my own record making.” ORDER NOW: The Beatles are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut The heart of Shelley’s music since her 2015 breakthrough, Over And Even, is located in the warm, unshowy, close-mic’d interplay between voice and acoustic guitar. So compelling is that sound, any additional textures can feel like minute calibrations, delicate but inessential brushstrokes. Yet like all good minimalists, Shelley recognises the value of the sharp, subversive intervention. Though her music is cool and calm at the centre, a continuous and compelling tension tugs away at the edges. “I always want there to be a landscape in my music,” Shelley tells Uncut some months later. “It’s not overly done, but I want to be haunted by some weird thing. I think of it as a tiny orchestra, the ghost of Frank Sinatra’s studio band. A little swell.” It’s this shimmering luminosity, this… Read More →

24JUNHit Singles

Arthur Russell – Calling Out Of Context / Instrumentals (reissues, 2004, 2017)

Thirty years after his Aids-related death, aged just 40, Arthur Russell’s music still has a luminous freshness and richly emotional power. The cult composer, cellist and downtown New York scene-hopper amassed a vast body of work spanning avant-classical chamber pieces, disco and dub, experimental electronica, folksy Americana and Buddhist bubblegum pop, but he released very little solo material in his lifetime. Russell’s radical queerness and genre-blurring musical promiscuity confounded peers and record labels, but he also stifled his own potential with painstaking perfectionism, endlessly hoarding and reworking pieces that deserved a public airing. ORDER NOW: The Beatles are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut Russell’s posthumous reputation has blossomed over the last two decades, his legacy celebrated in books and films, his songs sampled by Kanye West and covered by Tracey Thorn, Hot Chip, Sufjan Stevens and more. This resurgence is largely thanks to the meticulous efforts of his former partner Tom Lee, designer Melissa Zhao Jones and Steve Knutson, boss of Portland-based boutique label Audika, who have assembled an ongoing series of mostly glorious anthologies excavated from Russell’s massive tape archive. In partnership with Rough Trade, these Audika albums are finally receiving a full physical launch… Read More →

24JUNNews

Jessi steps down as host of ‘Showterview’, Sunmi to take over

Jessi has stepped down as the host of digital talk show Showterview, with Sunmi set to take her place. READ MORE: LOONA – ‘Flip That’ review: an understated but subtly addictive return South Korean news outlet Sports World reported today (June 24) that the Korean-American singer-rapper has officially stepped down from her role as a host for the popular online SBS talk show. Jessi’s run as the host of Showterview first began in June 2020, and has featured a total of 155 guests throughout her nearly two-year-long stint. In replacement of Jessi, the outlet quoted insider sources in claiming that former Wonder Girls member Sunmi is set to take over as the host of Showterview. Sports World also claimed that the singer recently wrapped up filming on her very first episode, which is currently slated to premiere sometime in July. Advertisement Meanwhile, Sunmi is also in the midst of gearing up for her upcoming summer single album ‘Heart Burn’, set to include a title track of the same name as well as a B-side titled ‘Childhood’. The new record is due out next week on June 29 at 6pm KST, and will mark her first release of the year, since her August mini-album ‘1/6’. Jessi,… Read More →