Peter Shep

Kep1er’s agency WAKEONE announces in-person Los Angeles ‘One Planet’ auditions

South Korean entertainment agency WAKEONE has announced in-person auditions at KCON LA for its upcoming boy group set to debut next year. READ MORE: HallyuPopFest London 2022 review: K-pop festival’s UK debut suffers some hiccups but emerges triumphant On August 2, the K-pop agency shared on social media that it will be holding in-person auditions in Los Angeles, California later this month. Titled the ‘One Planet Audition’, WAKEONE will be scouting for members of an upcoming boyband preparing to debut in 2023. The auditions will take place over the weekend from August 19-21, at the LA Convention Center West Hall, at the same time as KCON LA. Advertisement According to WAKEONE, there are no limitations on gender, nationality or age of applicants. Applicants can either audition as a solo act, or in a team of two. Online pre-registration for the auditions are now available until August 11. However, applicants can also opt for on-site registration at WAKEONE’s Global Audition booth at KCON LA 2022 between 12-5pm on August 19, and 11am-5pm on August 20 and 21. Additional details and instructions can be found in WAKEONE’s Instagram post below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WAKEONE 웨이크원 신인개발팀… Read More →

01AUGNews

Jazzie Martian announced as the winner of Amex Gold Unsigned

NME and American Express have announced that Nottingham artist Jazzie Martian is the winner of the American Express Gold Unsigned initiative. After making it onto the final shortlist of unsigned acts, Jazzie’s victory was confirmed following a recent live showcase in London. As the winner of Amex Gold Unsigned, the musician will now soundtrack and feature in a forthcoming American Express advertising campaign, with the single in question set to be released globally on streaming services. Advertisement The Nottingham musician will also receive a £10,000 sync fee, mentoring from music industry professionals and a slot at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire on August 5. Having built a “vivid, genre-fluid sound that explores the layered, everyday musings of a spiritually curious young man”, Jazzie’s music primarily invokes elements of R&B and rap to soundtrack his storytelling vocal style which “weaves stories around growing up, love and the highs and lows of ambition”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JAZZIE (@jazziemartian) Writing on Instagram recently about his “life-changing” Amex Gold Unsigned win, Jazzie said: “Actually kinda speechless. I’ve been chosen as the American Express Gold Unsigned artist! “If you know me you know what this means to me, and if… Read More →

01AUGNews

Beyoncé to remove offensive album lyric following backlash

Beyoncé is set to remove an offensive album lyric which uses an albeist slur from her new album ‘Renaissance’. READ MORE: Beyoncé’s new song ‘Break My Soul’ is a confidence-oozing comeback that embraces nu-disco The star faced a backlash over the use of an offensive term on her new track ‘Heated’, where she sings: “Sp***in’ on that ass, sp** on that ass,” towards the end of the song. While used colloquially in the United States with a similar meaning to “freak out” or “go crazy”, the term emerges from the word “spastic”, which is used medically to describe the spasms one might experience from a condition like cerebral palsy. The term is often used in a derogative manner to describe those with disabilities, especially cerebral palsy. Advertisement Now, following the backlash, the star’s publicist told Sky News the lyric is now set to be replaced and that it was not “used intentionally in a harmful way.” Disability equality charity Scope had described the use of the “deeply offensive term” as “appalling”, while disability advocate Hannah Diviney said the singer’s status as one of the most famous musicians in the world did not “excuse her use of ableist language”. “So @Beyonce used the word ‘sp**’ in… Read More →

01AUGNews

Beyoncé faces backlash over ableist slur on new ‘Renaissance’ track ‘Heated’

Beyoncé has been criticised for using an ableist slur on her new album ‘Renaissance’. READ MORE: Beyoncé’s new song ‘Break My Soul’ is a confidence-oozing comeback that embraces nu-disco The star faced a backlash over the use of an offensive term on her new track ‘Heated’, where Beyoncé sings: “Sp***in’ on that ass, sp** on that ass,” towards the end of the song. While used colloquially in the United States with a similar meaning to “freak out” or “go crazy”, the term emerges from the word “spastic”, which is used medically to describe the spasms one might experience from a condition like cerebral palsy. The term is often used in a derogative manner to describe those with disabilities, especially cerebral palsy. Advertisement It comes just weeks after Lizzo also received a backlash over an ableist lyric in her single ‘Grrrls’, which she has since addressed and altered. So @Beyonce used the word 'spaz' in her new song Heated. Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disabled community & the progress we tried to make with Lizzo. Guess I'll just keep telling the whole industry to 'do better' until ableist slurs disappear from music ? — Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney)… Read More →

01AUGNews

Muse’s NFT album of ‘Will Of The People’ will be first new format in the charts for seven years

Muse have announced plans to release an NFT version of their new album ‘Will Of The People’. READ MORE: Muse on the cover: “There’s gonna be a big shift. We’re dealing with a disruptive transition” The non-fungible token edition of the band’s ninth LP will become the first release of its kind to qualify for the charts in the UK. It is the first new format to be added since album streams in 2015. The Muse NFT album will retail for £20 and will be limited to 1,000 copies globally when it is released on August 26. It will be sold via the “eco-friendly” NFT platform Serenade. Advertisement Buyers will get a downloadable version of the album – complete with a different sleeve – as high-res FLAC files and Muse will digitally sign it, while each of the 1,000 buyers will have their names permanently listed on the linked roster of purchasers. Muse CREDIT: Nick Fancher The UK’s Official Charts Company made NFT albums eligible for the charts several months ago but this is the first release where the vendor is approved as a chart-return digital retailer. “Just as vinyl, 8-track, cassette tapes, CDs and even MiniDisc, DCC and DAT have… Read More →

01AUGNews

Lil Durk recovering after being blasted with pyrotechnic during Lollapalooza set

Lil Durk will taking a brief hiatus to “focus on [his] health”, he’s announced, after an incident that occurred during his Lollapalooza 2022 set left him injured. READ MORE: Lil Baby & Lil Durk – ‘The Voice Of The Heroes’ review: legends-in-the-making unite The rapper was midway through his verse on the Pooh Shiesty joint ‘Back In Blood’ when he inadvertently walked into a pyrotechnic cannon, taking two explosive blasts of smoke directly to the face. The song was immediately stopped as Durk stumbled backwards, holding his face in his hands as crew members rushed to his aide. Page Six reports that Durk nevertheless continued his performance, declaring after a brief pause: “Fuck it, no more smoke, let’s do it.” Have a look at footage of the incident below: Lil Durk got hit in the face by a stage explosion during his set at Lollapalooza pic.twitter.com/GSTBWbW8Un — No Jumper (@nojumper) July 31, 2022 Advertisement Durk has now updated fans on his recovery, posting a photo of himself sitting on a hospital bed with a patch covering his right eye. “Due to the incident that happened at Lollapalooza in Chicago on stage, I’ma take a break [and] focus on my health,”… Read More →

31JULNews

Brix Smith announces first UK headline tour with new band

Brix Smith has announced her first UK tour with her new band – check out the dates below. READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Brix Smith The post-punk icon who was a member of The Fall and founder of The Extricated and The Adult Net, will play a headline UK tour later this year with her new band. That band is made up of My Bloody Valentine duo Deb George (bass) and Jen Marco (keyboards and guitar), along with Vas Antoniadou (drums) and Ros Cairney (guitar) from rising London duo deux furieuses. Advertisement Speaking about the upcoming tour with her all-female supergroup, Smith said: “I’m so excited to be playing these iconic intimate club shows in October with my amazing supergroup of phenomenal women players. “Come feel the power, noise, energy and love. We will take you on a full spectrum ride.” Smith’s new band played their first major show as guests to Killing Joke before embarking upon a nationwide tour with Public Image Ltd. Tickets for the shows, listed below, are on sale here now. OCTOBER 16 – Leeds, Key Club 17 – Liverpool, Arts Club (Loft) 18 – Guildford, The Boileroom 19 – London, The Lexington Earlier this… Read More →

31JULNews

Tomorrow X Together make history as first K-pop act to perform at Lollapalooza

Tomorrow X Together made history tonight (July 30) as the first K-pop group to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago, appearing on the Solana x Perry’s stage. The K-pop group recently completed the US leg of their first world tour, ACT: Lovesick, and performed at Lollapalooza as the final stop of their itinerary in the States. READ MORE: Tomorrow X Together: “Our fans are always there by our side. That’s why they’re our heroes” Tomorrow X Together’s festival set also featured a live band, helping bring the five-piece’s songs to life. They kicked off the performance with their recent title track ‘Good Boy Gone Bad’, before launching into the ‘The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE’ song ‘Frost’. Advertisement Shortly after, the group invited rapper iann dior on stage with them to perform their recent collaboration, the English-language single ‘Valley Of Lies’. It was only the second time the two acts had performed the track together, following an appearance by dior at the band’s second LA concert last weekend (July 24). TXT MAGIC NEVER FAILS SOOBIN ATE #TXTPALOOZA #Lollapalooza #txt @TXT_members pic.twitter.com/rmw1nohtZZ — Yesy༄‧₊˚. (@___yesenia____) July 31, 2022 YALL LOOK HOW MANY MOAS WERE DANCING AND SINGING TO THURSDAY CHILD ?? #TXT #TXTPALOOZA #Lollapalooza @TXT_members… Read More →

30JULNews

Watch the moment Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino sings the US National Anthem

Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino has sung the National Anthem at an LA Dodgers home game – you can see the moment below. READ MORE: Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino: “I questioned whether I would ever be able to make music again” The band tweeted about the moment, pointing out that Cosentino had been a life-long fan of both baseball and the team. “Who wants to tell her?” they captioned a photo, which saw a young Cosentino playing baseball. Advertisement You can check out the moment Cosentino sung the US National Anthem here: who’s gonna tell her????? ????????????????? pic.twitter.com/qCpXJgPoWU — Best Coast (@BestCoast) July 26, 2022 CRYING. SWEATING. SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rvIYnopwBb — Best Coast (@BestCoast) July 27, 2022 Last year, Best Coast teamed up with The Linda Lindas on their new track ‘Leading’. The song was a bonus track on the deluxe release of Bethany Cosentino and co.’s 2020 album ‘Always Tomorrow’, which arrived on January 7. Advertisement ‘Leading’ was just one of several new bonus tracks that featured on the expanded edition of the record along with ‘All Alone’, ‘Sweetness’ and ‘Birthday’ as well as a cover of Sheryl Crow’s ‘If It Makes You Happy’. “Not being able to tour and having an… Read More →

30JULNews

Sports Team postpone US tour as they delay second album ‘Gulp!’

Sports Team have postponed their US tour as they delay the release of second album ‘Gulp!’. READ MORE: Sports Team live in London: connection amid the confetti cannons The record was originally scheduled for release July 22 before being pushed back to August 26 due to “production issues”. It’s now been confirmed that the follow-up to ‘Deep Down Happy‘ will be released September 23, with both their upcoming US headline tour and a string of record store appearances also postponed. Advertisement Taking to Instagram, Sports Team wrote: “Hey pals, bit of chaos for you. Album is moving to 23rd September.. So…that means the in-store dates are gonna move. Venues will get in touch about the new dates or refunds if you can’t make them. US tour is going to move too, probably to 2023. A long way from ideal but sadly there’s not much we can do about it with vinyl delays. Can’t wait for you to hear these tracks, sorry to anyone that’s had to change plans, stick with it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sports Team (@sportsteam) Sports Team were set to play a string of UK record shows in August, before heading to… Read More →

30JULNews

My Chemical Romance lead tributes to producer Doug McKean who has died aged 54

My Chemical Romance have paid tribute to producer Doug McKean, who has died aged 54. According to an obituary shared by the band, McKean passed away yesterday (July 29) from a brain haemorrhage. In 2001, McKean moved to Los Angeles to work with producer Rob Cavallo, and went on to receive two Grammy Awards for his engineering work on Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’. McKean also had a longstanding relationship with My Chemical Romance, engineering 2006’s ‘The Black Parade’ and its follow-up, 2010’s ‘Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys’. He also engineered and produced Gerard Way’s solo album ‘Hesitant Alien’ (2014); Way later said that “there would be no album without Doug”. McKean went on to work with Way on a majority of the standalone solo singles that followed the release of ‘Hesitant Alien’. His most recent work was on My Chemical Romance’s comeback single ‘The Foundations Of Decay’, with Way saying the pair had been working together throughout lockdown. Paying tribute to McKean, My Chemical Romance wrote: “My Chemical Romance lost Doug McKean, a dear friend, a collaborator, a partner, a brother, a problem-solver, a genius, an integral part of our music. Doug was someone who made… Read More →

29JULNews

Famous Ibiza beach club Bora Bora to close after 40 years

Bora Bora has announced that it will permanently close after 40 years. READ MORE: “We wanted togetherness and community”: how gigs came back with a bang post-COVID The famous party spot, which was notable for being the first beach club to open on the island of Ibiza, will shut later this year with a farewell event scheduled for October 15. No specific reason has been given for its closure. A report in Diario de Ibiza [via DJ Mag] has referenced the redevelopment of Playa d’en Bossa, where Bora Bora is located (and is also home to other venues like Ushuaïa and HÏ), and the beach’s surrounding area. Advertisement Bora Bora’s final season has been announced on social media, titled ‘The Last Chance to Dance’. Several high profile residencies including The Zoo Project and Nic Fanciulli’s Dance! have been confirmed. “Because as goodbye, we want a big party. It’s the end of many stages and we want to celebrate it in style, just like in the old days, without filters.⁠ That’s right, this time it’s true.⁠ This is the last chance to come and dance with us,” the venue’s organisers said in a statement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MORE… Read More →

29JULNews

Watch Slipknot perform ‘The Dying Song (Time To Sing)’ live for the first time

Slipknot played their new single ‘The Dying Song (Time To Sing)’ live for the first time at a show in Prague last night (July 28). Watch fan-shot footage below. READ MORE: Slipknot: “I’m just going to tell you the facts: ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ is a masterpiece” The masked metal band were performing at the O2 Arena in the Czech Republic capital as part of their current European headline tour, which began earlier this month. Midway through the main set, Corey Taylor and co. treated the crowd to the debut airing of ‘The Dying Song…’. “We thought we would give you some new Slipknot music here tonight,” the frontman said to introduce the tune. Advertisement “Is that what you want up there you crazy motherfuckers?!” Then my friends, it’s time to sing… ‘The Dying Song…’. Check out the performance here: Before playing the single, Taylor took a moment to “clear up” any rumours that the title of the band’s upcoming seventh album – ‘The End, So Far’ – could suggest Slipknot are breaking up. “That could not be further from the fucking truth, my friends,” he told those in attendance. “The reason the name is ‘The End, So Far’ is… Read More →

28JULNews

Psy’s ‘Summer Swag’ concerts could be under investigation for audience transmission of COVID-19

Psy’s ongoing ‘Summer Swag 2022’ series of concerts in South Korea could be under investigation from the authorities for transmission of COVID-19 among audience members. READ MORE: PSY’s ‘Gangnam Style’ at 10: how the viral hit pushed K-pop forward in the west South Korean news outlet Korea JoongAng Daily reported on July 27 that South Korea’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters shared that it has received multiple reports from people who claim to have “contracted COVID-19 after attending a music concert that ‘sprays water’”. “We have launched an investigation to see what kind of actions are taking place during the event that could be risk factors in transmitting the virus,” an unnamed representative of the department told Korea JoongAng Daily. Advertisement Psy’s ‘Summer Swag’ concert series is known for drenching the audience with water during the show, which the Korea Herald reported could use around 300 metric tonnes of drinking water in one event. This year’s series began with a three-day run in Seoul at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium earlier this month. Audiences at the Seoul kickoff received disposable raincoats and waterproof face masks, the Herald reported. Psy is currently touring South Korea for the ‘Summer Swag’ concert series, which will visit… Read More →

27JULNews

Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler: “It doesn’t matter where music comes from – it’s supposed to last forever”

Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler have spoken to NME about being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2022 – and the secret to good songwriting and a magic collaboration. Watch our video interview with the pair above. READ MORE: Mercury Prize 2022: why each nominee deserves to take home the coveted award The Irish actor/singer-songwriter and the former Suede guitarist turned solo star and record producer were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their collaborative album ‘For All Our Days That Tear That Tear The Heart’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more. Asked what spirit of the times the shortlist captured, Butler replied: “I don’t think it says anything about music in 2022. I don’t think there are any effective soundbites that work. Advertisement “Music is supposed to last forever. It’s supposed to go past its time, it can represent the times in some way – but it also needs to work for people in future times as well. I never look for what works as a zeitgeist. I don’t think… Read More →

26JULNews

Barack Obama shares summer 2022 playlist including Wet Leg, Burna Boy, Harry Styles and more

Barack Obama has shared his summer playlist for 2021, featuring tracks by the likes of Wet Leg, Burna Boy, Harry Styles, Sampa The Great, and more. The former president of the US began sharing his recommendations for music, books and films and TV shows during his time in the White House and has continued the tradition since. Posting his latest playlist earlier today (July 26), Obama wrote: “Every year, I get excited to share my summer playlist because I learn about so many new artists from your replies – it’s an example of how music really can bring us all together.” Advertisement The list includes Wet Leg’s ‘Angelica’, Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’, Maggie Rogers’ ‘That’s Where I Am’ and Sampa The Great’s ‘Energy’. In terms of older tracks, Obama selected the likes of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’, Miles Davis’ ‘Blue In Green’ and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Save Me’. Stream the full playlist below. In December, Obama shared his favourite music of 2021, including tracks by The War On Drugs, Little Simz and Mitski. As is customary in the run-up to Christmas, the former US President posted personal picks from the prior 12 months on social media. He also revealed highlights from the… Read More →

26JULNews

Neil Young says he won’t perform at Farm Aid because of COVID concerns

Neil Young has said he won’t perform at this year’s Farm Aid event because of his ongoing concerns over COVID-19. Young confirmed the news in response to a fan letter on his Neil Young Archives site that said: “I am not ready for that yet. I don’t think it is safe in the pandemic,” he wrote, adding, “I miss it very much.” The veteran artist co-founded the yearly benefit concert to support American farmers. He also pulled out of last year’s event due to his ongoing concerns about the pandemic. Advertisement This year’s event takes place on September 24 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The line-up includes the likes of Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, and more. Neil Young. Credit: Matthew Baker/Getty Images Young has not performed in public since 2019. His latest comments echo ones made in December of last year, when he said he wouldn’t be returning to touring until COVID-19 was “beat” and the pandemic was over. “I don’t care if I’m the only one who doesn’t do it,” he said during an interview with Howard Stern. Last year, Young also called on promoters to cancel “super-spreader” gigs while a pandemic was still… Read More →

26JULNews

Miya Folick shares new single ‘Nothing To See’ and announces EP

Miya Folick has announced she’ll release a new EP titled ‘2007’ on September 9 via Nettwerk. To coincide with the announcement, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has shared new single ‘Nothing To See’. It arrives alongside a video in which Folick drinks milk from a bowl in a restaurant and eats an ice cream while walking on a treadmill in a gym. Watch the Noah Kentis-directed video for ‘Nothing To See’ below: Advertisement “This song is about falling in love with someone emotionally unavailable,” Folick explained in an accompanying statement. “Someone whose feelings and desires were so obscured to me and themselves, that I had to become a detective. I studied their life for clues and tried to play the role of the person I thought they’d like. “Eventually we broke up and I realized that I’d lost the plot on my own life. My body and personality and life were so populated by the interests of this person, that once they were gone, there was nothing left to see. But, to me, this song isn’t bleak. I think there’s power in being brave enough to say, I was made a fool by you.” ‘Nothing To See’ is the third single… Read More →

26JULNews

J-Hope’s ‘Jack In The Box’ debuts within top 20 on Billboard 200

BTS rapper J-Hope’s first solo album ‘Jack In The Box’ has made the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. READ MORE: The life-changing magic of falling down the BTS rabbit hole On July 26, Billboard shared on Twitter that the idol’s debut solo effort ‘Jack In The Box’ debuted at Number 17 on the album chart dated July 30. It is J-Hope’s highest charting solo entry yet after his 2018 mixtape ‘Hope World’, which debuted at Number 63 and later peaked at Number 38. Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2): #2, @lizzo Special#7, @realstevelacyy Gemini Rights#8, @ITZYofficial Checkmate#11, #VariousArtists Gangsta Art#17, #JHOPE Jack In The Box#23, @SabrinaAnnLynn Emails I Can't Send — billboard charts (@billboardcharts) July 25, 2022 Advertisement ‘Jack In The box’, which was released on July 15, is also ranked Number Five on Billboard’s weekly top-selling albums chart, while its title track ‘Arson’ is the second top-selling song of the week. The single also debuted at Number 96 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, marking J-Hope’s third solo entry after 2019’s ‘Chicken Noodle Soup’ and ‘Jack In The Box’ pre-release track ‘More’. In a five-star review of the record, NME’s Rhian Daly wrote: “Thought-provoking and full of fresh new… Read More →

25JULNews

Imagine Dragons named ambassadors of Ukraine humanitarian aid project

Imagine Dragons have been named ambassadors of UNITED24, a platform initiated by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to fundraise for humanitarian aid. READ MORE: Open’er Festival 2022 recap – Polish party makes passion-filled return with the help of some global superstars The rock band have collaborated with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska on one of their first projects: a fundraiser for ambulance vehicles. Each van costs around £83,000, with vital stocks at the ready to provide lifesaving help to those in need during the war. Imagine Dragons met virtually with Zelensky virtually to discuss their future collaborations. Advertisement “We love the people of Ukraine and want to help in any way possible,” singer Dan Reynolds said in a statement. “Injustices like this can only be conquered when people around the world come together. We stand by the beautiful people of Ukraine and their courageous leader President Zelensky. Imagine Dragons CREDIT: Dominika Scheibinger “We will work with UNITED24 and local leaders to continually find ways to raise awareness and funds for the people until this unjust war ends. We look forward to the day when we can play a concert again in Kyiv and celebrate freedom, life and music with… Read More →

25JULNews

Rolling Loud addresses Kid Cudi bottle-throwing incident: “Share the love and be respectful to everyone”

Rolling Loud has issued a statement after Kid Cudi cut his headline set short on Friday (July 22) due to people throwing bottles and other objects at him. READ MORE: Kid Cudi – ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’ review – an art piece of epic highs and honest lows The rapper, who filled in for Kanye West at the last minute, was so angered by some fans’ behaviour that he walked off stage approximately 30 minutes into his set. “Rolling Loud is a family,” the festival’s statement read. “Our fans, the artists, and everyone involved need to look out for each other. Share the love and be respectful to everyone. We love you, Cudi. Please take care of each other and let’s have an amazing day 2!” Advertisement West pulled out of Rolling Loud Miami with less than a week’s notice and with no public explanation. Rolling Loud is a family. Our fans, the artists, and everyone involved need to look out for each other. Share the love and be respectful to everyone. We love you, Cudi. Please take care of each other and let’s have an amazing day 2! — Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) July 23, 2022 Ye… Read More →