Peter Shep

News

Is Nicki Minaj dropping a new album this year?

Nicki Minaj has teased that she may release a new album by the end of the year following her recent record-breaking success. Back in August, the rapper debuted at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 with her latest single, ‘Super Freaky Girl’, making her the first solo female rapper to achieve the feat in almost a quarter of a century. READ MORE: Nicki Minaj: every album ranked and rated It’s one of two major feats Minaj accomplished with her first solo track in more than two years, as ‘Super Freaky Girl’ also became her first Number One hit as a lead artist. The rapper has three to her name altogether, having topped the Hot 100 twice in 2020 – first alongside Doja Cat with their collaborative ‘Say So’ remix, then with her 6ix9ine joint ‘Trollz’ (notably, though, the latter suffered the biggest-ever chart fall for a Number One debut). Advertisement Now, in a new conversation with Interview Magazine, Minaj says the success of the song has made her consider pushing her new album forwards and releasing it before the end of 2022. “I wasn’t sure how I was even feeling about having to put out an album this year, but that song happening and people liking it, that made… Read More →

News

Liam Gallagher says there’ll be no Oasis songs in ‘Knebworth 22’ because “angry squirt” Noel Gallagher “blocked them”

Liam Gallagher has claimed that there will be no Oasis songs in his upcoming Knebworth 22 documentary because Noel Gallagher “blocked them”. Announced earlier this week, Knebworth 22 will document Liam’s return earlier this summer to Knebworth, where he performed 26 years on from Oasis’ pair of 1996 shows at the Hertfordshire site. READ MORE: Liam Gallagher live in Knebworth: rock’n’roll star takes a leap of faith – and somehow pulls it off Asked by a fan on Twitter earlier this morning (October 19) whether Knebworth 22 will feature any Oasis songs, Liam claimed that his “angry squirt” brother Noel had blocked him from using them in the film. Advertisement “No Oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them,” he replied. “[Noel] also blocked the Oasis [song] I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute[,] he’s a horrible little man.” No oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute he’s a horrible little man — Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) October 19, 2022 Another fan then replied to Liam’s tweet, saying “[Noel] was praising u on [sic] his last interview. This is maddening. The doc will still be excellent tho.” In reply,… Read More →

News

Music world reacts to Little Simz’ Mercury Prize victory: “Doing London proud”

The world of music and politicians have been reacting to Little Simz‘ 2022 Mercury Prize victory for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’. READ MORE: Little Simz – ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ review: stunning introspection from a true great The rapper was declared the overall winner of the prestigious award earlier tonight (October 18) after beating off competition from fellow favourites Self Esteem and Wet Leg at a live ceremony at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Mayor Of London Sadiq Khan was one of the first to congratulate Simz. “Huge congratulations to the inspiring and incredible @LittleSimz on winning the @MercuryPrize. Doing London proud,” he wrote. Huge congratulations to the inspiring and incredible @LittleSimz on winning the @MercuryPrize! ?? Doing London proud. #MercuryPrizepic.twitter.com/xM0Tm5YJdG — Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 18, 2022 Advertisement Laura Mvula also hailed her victory writing: “Congratulations @LittleSimz on your Mercury Prize win!!!” Congratulations @LittleSimz on your Mercury Prize win!!!!!?????????? — LAURA MVULA (@lauramvula) October 18, 2022 The Roundhouse in Camden congratulated Simz and spoke about how the rapper once entered an emerging artist competition at the venue. “Back in 2010 16 year-old Simbi Ajikawo entered an emerging artist competition that was held at the Roundhouse. Tonight, @LittleSimz wins the #MercuryPrize! Huge congrats… Read More →

News

Kate Bush pays tribute to late actor Robbie Coltrane: “We’ve lost one of our great treasures”

Kate Bush has paid tribute to the late Robbie Coltrane. The actor, who was widely known for his role as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, passed away on Friday (October 14) at the age of 72. He also starred in the video for Kate Bush’s 2011 single ‘Deeper Understanding’, taken from her ninth studio album, Director’s Cut. Advertisement “I was very upset to hear the news about Robbie,” said Bush in a statement posted on her official website. “I’m really grateful that he agreed to star in a video that we made some years ago. It was incredibly exciting to watch him at work and to be in the presence of his deeply profound intelligence and earthy wit. “He was so much fun. I’m really going to miss him. I had so much respect for his many talents and his generosity of spirit. We’ve lost one of our great treasures.” Coltrane’s cause of death has not yet been revealed, but the news of his passing was confirmed by his agent Belinda Wright. In a statement, she said: “My client and friend Robbie Coltrane OBE passed away on Friday October 14. Advertisement “Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the… Read More →

News

Nicki Minaj and Latto get into heated exchange on Twitter

Nicki Minaj and Latto have gotten into an online feud following a dispute about their hit songs. Over the weekend, Nicki took to social media to voice her disapproval about her single, “Super Freaky Girl”, reportedly being considered for the 2023 GRAMMYs’ pop categories, despite submitting the song to be included in the rap categories. In making her point, she said that Latto’s “Big Energy” should also be removed from rap categories. Advertisement “I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated fairly,” she tweeted. “If SFG has 2B moved out then so does Big Energy!” I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY. If SFG has 2B moved out RAP then so does Big Energy! ANY1 who says diff is simply a Nicki hater or a troll. I’d actually LUV 2 c a more street record win- male OR female! IJS rightIsRight ? — Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 13, 2022 Shortly after Minaj’s tweet, Latto tweeted: “Damn I can’t win for losing… all these awards/noms I can’t even celebrate.” A private conversation was had between the two rappers in… Read More →

News

Kelly Clarkson and Dwayne Johnson pay tribute to Loretta Lynn with ‘Don’t Come Home A Drinkin” duet

Kelly Clarkson has enlisted Dwayne Johnson for a duet, with the pair paying tribute to the late Loretta Lynn on The Kelly Clarkson Show. READ MORE: Loretta Lynn: A trailblazer for women in country music who did it her way Johnson was a guest on the show to promote his new movie Black Adam, and joined Clarkson for her popular ‘Kellyoke’ segment – where she covers a song to open the episode. Clarkson and Johnson sang ‘Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)’, Lynn’s 1967 single that was also the first of hers to top the Billboard country chart. Watch the duet below: Advertisement The duet is the latest in a string of tributes that have come in for Lynn, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 90. Among those that paid tribute to the Country Music Hall of Famer include Jack White, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire. While primarily known for his acting and professional wrestling, Johnson has occasionally dabbled in music across his career. He featured on Wyclef Jean‘s 2000 single ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ – itself named after one of Johnson’s catchphrases as The Rock. This was followed a year later with ‘Pie’,… Read More →

News

EXO’s Kai, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon among K-pop artists missing KAMP LA over visa issues

Nearly half of the KAMP LA festival lineup on October 15 and 16 were unable to attend the event due to problems with their visas. READ MORE: BLACKPINK live in Seoul: K-pop superstars bring power and playfulness as their massive ‘Born Pink’ world tour lifts off On the evening of October 14 local time, the concert organisers released a statement sharing that several artists — namely BamBam, Jeon Somi, EXO’s Kai, LAPILLUS, Taeyeon and Zion.T — would not be present at the festival due to “unforseen US work visa issues and circumstances outside of the artists’ and promoters’ control”. Most of these artists were scheduled to perform on the first day of the festival on October 15. A statement from KAMP Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/BTeaIx8dHa — KAMP GLOBAL (@kampfestivals) October 15, 2022 Advertisement While KAMP LA’s initial statement had not given an update on MONSTA X, who were due to perform on the festival’s second day (October 16), their agency Starship Entertainment later announced that the boyband would not make the show due to visa issues. This brought the total number of absent acts to seven, out of the fifteen originally scheduled to perform. ?안녕하세요. 스타쉽엔터테인먼트입니다. pic.twitter.com/oyRh1czrN2 — 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) October… Read More →

News

Frank Turner’s touring band The Sleeping Souls release first single ‘Liar Lover’

The Sleeping Souls — Frank Turner‘s touring band — have debuted their first single, titled ‘Liar Lover’. READ MORE: Frank Turner on losing Scott Hutchison and finding “acceptance” on his new album The four-piece outfit released the track on Friday (October 14), featuring Turner’s guitar technician Cahir O’Doherty on vocals. It’s a tender acoustic cut that captures a soft rock sound, with lyrics that reflect on a relationship breakdown. “We lie to ourselves and each other as easy as drawing breath,” the band commented in a statement. “Every lover lies. Liar Lover is about that moment in the breakdown of a relationship when you accept that there’s no repair: only ownership of your own part in its failure.” Advertisement Give ‘Liar Lover’ a listen below. The cut was released via Xtra Mile Recordings and comes as the first single from an as-yet-untitled album. The band haven’t provided a release date or tracklist for the record, though it is expected to arrive in 2023. The Sleeping Souls have long been a staple accompaniment for Frank Turner, as both his touring and recording band. They’ve made six albums with Turner, including his latest release ‘FTHC’. ‘FTHC’ arrived in February this year, previewed… Read More →

News

Syd Barrett to be subject of new documentary, ‘Have You Got It Yet?’

Syd Barrett is to be the subject of a new documentary titled Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd. According to Deadline, the upcoming film was co-directed by Roddy Bogawa and the late graphic designer Storm Thorgerson. The latter was the co-founder of Hipgnosis, the London-based firm that specialised in creating album cover art for rock acts. READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason The company made the iconic artwork for Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ (1973), ‘Wish You Were Here’ (1975) and more. Thorgerson had known Barrett – who died in 2006 – since the ’60s, and went to high school with him and Roger Waters. Advertisement Thorgerson passed away in 2013 at the age of 69. Per a statement, Have You Got It Yet?… “was completed by Bogawa with StormStudios photographer Rupert Truman and producer Julius Beltrame after Storm’s untimely death”. The documentary will feature interviews with Pink Floyd’s Waters, Nick Mason and David Gilmour, as well as Barrett’s sister Rosemary Breen, and Pink Floyd managers Peter Jenner and Andrew King. The Who’s Pete Townshend, Blur’s Graham Coxon, and MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden are also set to appear, among others…. Read More →

News

Watch The 1975’s slick performance video for ‘Oh Caroline’

The 1975 have shared an official live performance of ‘Oh Caroline’ – check it out below. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – The 1975: “I’d rather be a pretend supervillain than some pretend hero” The song appears on the Manchester band’s fifth album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, which came out yesterday (October 14) via Dirty Hit. To mark the record’s arrival, Matty Healy and co. have released the first of three exclusive performances in partnership with Vevo. Advertisement The suave clip begins with ’75 frontman Healy sparking up a cigarette with an ‘Oh Caroline’-branded match. We then see the suited-up group playing the track in a turquoise-coloured set. Tune in here: It’s not yet known when the remaining two live videos in the series will drop. In the meantime, you can watch a preview clip – soundtracked by the single ‘Part Of The Band’ – here. In a four-star review of The 1975’s new album, NME wrote: “‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ feels like the right next step after pushing experimental excess to its logical conclusion, and is comparatively lean with just eleven tracks to its name. “The 1975: At Their Very Best – the lofty,… Read More →

News

Stormzy recalls “beautiful” experience of making new album on secluded island

Stormzy has spoken about the “beautiful” and “spiritual” experience of recording his new album on a secluded island. The rapper is due to release his third studio record ‘This Is What I Mean’ on November 25 via 0207 Def Jam (pre-order/pre-save here). It’s already been previewed by the single ‘Hide & Seek’. READ MORE: Stormzy live at Reading Festival 2021: festival return is another rockstar moment During a recent interview on Capital XTRA, Stormzy opened up about the collaborative process of making the album on Osea Island in the Blackwater Estuary near Maldon, Essex. Advertisement “That was the most beautiful, spiritual coming-togethers I’ve even been involved in,” he explained. “It was one of those things… you kind of had to be there. Even if I describe it, I won’t really do it justice.” Stormzy continued: “It was my favourite musicians, my favourite producers, my favourite artists just in this big house, with different rooms where you might have Kassa on the top floor making music and then you got Jacob Collier in the room over there. “It was very surreal but then when you marry that with the fact that it wasn’t just musicians, we became family on that trip, like… Read More →

News

M.I.A. says she’s “not really” an anti-vaxxer after Sandy Hook comments

M.I.A. has clarified her stance on COVID vaccines, saying she’s “not really” an anti-vaxxer after she was criticised earlier this week. Yesterday (October 13), the singer faced a backlash for a tweet which compared alt-right figure Alex Jones’ falsehoods about the Sandy Hook shooting to celebrities “pushing” vaccines. Jones was this week ordered to pay nearly $1billion in damages after falsely claiming for years that the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School never happened. Advertisement “If Alex Jones pays for lying shouldn’t every celebrity pushing vaccines pay too?” M.I.A. wrote, before comparing Jones’ misinformation to “Pfizer lying” in a follow-up tweet. In a new interview with The Guardian about her new album ‘MATA’, out today (October 14), M.I.A. was asked about her vaccine stance, to which she responded: “The language they use to attack anybody is to say: ‘Oh, she’s an anti-vaxxer’ or blah blah blah. And it’s like, no, not really. “I know three people who have died from taking the vaccine and I know three people who have died from COVID. This is in my life, in my experience. If anyone is going to deny that experience and gaslight me, saying: ‘No, that’s not your experience,’ then what… Read More →

News

Matty Healy on The 1975 being a “post-Arctic Monkeys” band

The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has spoken to NME about his group being “post-Arctic Monkeys” – and how they could “still be the most important band” of the decade ahead. READ MORE: The 1975 on the cover: “I’d rather be a pretend supervillain than some pretend hero” Speaking to NME for this week’s Big Read cover story to mark the release of their fifth album, ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, Healy discussed the legacy and future of The 1975, as well as how he feels about being labelled as a ‘band’. Speaking in 2018, Healy hailed Arctic Monkeys as “the band of the 2000s” with The 1975 the defining band of the 2010s. Asked today about how he felt about his group’s standing for the decade ahead, Healy replied: “I think we could still be the most important band of the ‘20s, – I’ve got a prediction that we will be, but we’re starting to get into a semantic argument”. Advertisement The 1975’s Matty Healy on the cover of NME Healy then admitted that “Arctic Monkeys are still relevant and making amazing records and are still a band” who could “always be around if they wanted to” (as well as… Read More →

Bill Callahan – YTI⅃AƎЯ

Increasingly bold in saying his cosmic quiet bits out loud, Bill Callahan drifts into reverie on the woozy “Planets” – one of the many spaced-out songs on his new LP – after having stared “at the sky so long I forgot how to talk”. As trumpeter Derek Phelps and regular guitarist Matt Kinsey whip up a suitably galactic storm, the one-time Smog man hears the spheres singing something “vaguely Hawaiian”. “Kilakila Malu”, they chorus. “Kilakila Malu”. ORDER NOW: Bob Dylan is on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut The one-time deadpan king of dysfunction is continuing to follow a slightly yoga-pants-and-Birkenstocks path on his 20th studio LP. Having established himself as a career outsider with 1997’s prowler’s charter “Ex-Con”, the lo-fi Marylander has long-since stretched out from scratchy songs of desperation into more expansive terrain, 2003’s Supper and 2009’s Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle including some of the era’s most acute songs of love. However, if their extensive leafings from his dream diary had some precedent in his earlier work, the themes of marriage and fatherhood that dominated 2019’s Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest and 2020’s Gold Record felt like a betrayal for those who liked Callahan… Read More →

Brian Eno – ForeverAndEverNoMore

The first public taste of FOREVERANDEVERNOMORE could hardly have transpired in more extraordinary circumstances. As Brian Eno sang menacingly of “rock and fire” and “gas and dust” amid an ominously swelling storm of distorted synths, smoke lingered in the nighttime air and ash rained down from the heavens. He was standing on the ancient stage of Athens’ Odeon of Herodes Atticus, in the shadow of the Acropolis, and these were not special effects. Wildfires were ravaging the Greek countryside, and when he cautioned that “these billion years will end”, his voice dropped in a potent mix of angry admonition and desperate resignation. The song felt like a warning from the gods. ORDER NOW: Bob Dylan is on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut The occasion was the inaugural live performance last summer by Brian and younger brother Roger, in celebration of their debut full-length collaboration, Mixing Colours. Its timely release in March 2020, as the UK’s initial Covid lockdown began, allowed its gentle solo piano instrumentals to recast our sudden, alien emptiness as a welcome opportunity for a breather. That premiere a year later of “Garden Of Stars” – and “There Were Bells”, which engages with similar themes –… Read More →

News

Lil Yachty officially releases viral song ‘Poland’

Lil Yachty‘s viral hit track ‘Poland’ has been officially released, along with an official music video. READ MORE: Lil Yachty – ‘Michigan Boy Boat’ review: Atlanta rapper heads to Michigan to showcase inter-state rap unity Following several leaks last week, Lil Yachty shared the new song to SoundCloud, where it quickly went viral. Denzel Curry, Wiz Khalifa and more celebrities quickly reacted to the cut’s now-famous hook: “I took the Wock to Poland.” Today, Yachty has officially released the song – produced by F1lthy, Lucian and Lukrative, and still just over 80 seconds long – on digital streaming platforms. Advertisement ‘Poland’ marks Yachty’s first official solo track of this year, following several features on songs including Fivio Foreign‘s ‘Slime’ and Diplo‘s ‘Humble’. The rapper’s last full-length release was 2020’s ‘Lil Boat 3’, though last year saw the rapper share his ‘Michigan Boat Boy’ mixtape and ‘Birthday Mix 6’ EP. Listen to ‘Poland’ below. Earlier this year (January 22), Yachty teased an “alternative” album with “psychedelic” elements that won’t exhibit his usual rap music. The rapper made the comments while picking up new custom pieces at the Atlanta-based jewellery store Icebox, which released a clip from his visit. “My new album… Read More →

News

SWMRS respond to sexual misconduct allegations against Joey Armstrong

SWMRS have issued a statement regarding the accusations of sexual misconduct levied against their former drummer Joey Armstrong. In a statement shared on Instagram in July 2020, Lydia Night – singer of LA band The Regrettes – detailed her experiences with Armstrong (son of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong) during a one-year relationship that began in mid-2017. Night said in the message that the relationship began when she was 16, and ended “right before my 18th birthday”. Armstrong was 22-years-old during that period. “Every time we took a step sexually it was because he wanted to and made it clear by either putting my hand on his crotch, shaming me for saying I wasn’t comfortable, gaslighting me or ignoring me when I didn’t my consent,” part of Night’s post read. She explained that she’d taken the decision to make the claims publicly after SWMRS “released an unbelievably hypocritical statement on social media”, adding: “This band’s delusional positioning of themselves as woke feminists is not only triggering for me as a victim, but is complete bullshit and needs to be called out.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by lyd (@lydianight) Elsewhere in Night’s statement, she wrote that… Read More →

News

Kanye West makes further anti-Semitic claims in unaired footage from Fox News interview

In newly revealed, unaired footage from Kanye West‘s recent Fox News interview, the rapper makes a string of anti-Semitic comments, attacks Planned Parenthood, and shares other inflammatory sentiments. READ MORE: With his “White Lives Matter” stunt, has Kanye West finally hit the point of no return? In the footage – obtained and shared by Vice – West describes Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger as a “known eugenics” [sic] who created the organisation with the Ku Klux Klan to “control the Jew population”. Sanger has long been criticised for allying herself with eugenicist organisations and sharing some of their views – which Planned Parenthood nowadays denounce as “objectionable and outmoded”. West added: “When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are. This is who our people are. The blood of Christ. This, as a Christian, is my belief.” Advertisement In another part of the interview, while discussing Black people judging one another, West said: “Us judging each other on how white we could talk would be like, you know, a Jewish person judging another Jewish person on how good they danced or something.” He conceded that was… Read More →

News

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor explains why band left Roadrunner Records

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has opened up on the band’s decision to part ways with Roadrunner Records after 22 years at the label. READ MORE: Slipknot: “Nobody created us except us – we have always drawn our own map” In a new interview for NME’s The Big Read, Taylor spoke on the group’s decision to leave Roadrunner in 2021 having fulfilled their contract, citing changes within the record label as the band’s main reason for leaving. “It’s such a different label than it was when we first signed with it,” he said. “Once you’re in the hands of people who don’t care, it’s just a fucking business. And that’s what happened.” Advertisement He added: “We’ve had to fight for every fucking release that we’ve had because the people who now work for Roadrunner think they know what they’re doing and they just don’t. They’ve tried to give us fucking advice, and we’re just like, ‘What are you talking about? What band do you think we are?’” In the interview, Taylor also reveals the end of Slipknot’s deal with Roadrunner Records inspired the title of their latest album ‘The End So Far’, which earned the band their third UK Number One last Friday… Read More →

Uncut – December 2022

HAVE A COPY SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR HOME Bob Dylan, Robyn Hitchcock, Flaming Lips, Davy Graham, L7, Weyes Blood, Alan Parsons, Misty In Roots, Alabaster DePlume, Peter Frampton and Willy DeVille all feature in the new Uncut, dated December 2022 and in UK shops from October 13 or available to buy online now. This issue comes with an exclusive free 15-track CD of the month’s best new music. BOB DYLAN: As Bob Dylan live fever reaches its peak, Uncut travels to Stockholm to experience the Rough And Rowdy Ways Tour up close. First, though, Uncut’s writers – and some close associates – relive their own legendary encounters with Bob from his past seven decades of challenging, constantly evolving live music. Take your seat alongside us at Sheffield City Hall in 1965, Madison Square Garden in 1974, the Spokane Opera House in 1980 and beyond, down 50 transformative years, in our definitive, eye-witness report on Dylan in concert. OUR FREE CD! CONTAINS MULTITUDES: 15 tracks of the month’s best new music This issue of Uncut is available to buy by clicking here – with FREE delivery to the UK and reduced delivery charges for the rest of the world. Inside the issue,… Read More →

News

EXO’s D.O. to release original song ‘Bite’ for K-drama ‘Bad Prosecutor’

EXO member D.O. will be contributing a new song to his ongoing K-drama series Bad Prosecutor next week. READ MORE: Every EXO song ranked in order of greatness On October 7, SM Entertainment announced that the idol-actor is set to release the OST song ‘Bite’ for Bad Prosecutor, which he currently leads, on October 19. Although D.O. has recorded original tracks for his films in the past, this marks his first time contributing a song to a television drama soundtrack as a soloist. According to SM Entertainment, per The Fact, ‘Bite’ is a song with a dynamic melody, accompanied by an air of mystery and a “heart-racing rhythm”. The track is also said to contain a strong meaning of biting into something and refusing to let go no matter what. Advertisement Bad Prosecutor aired its first two episodes last week via South Korean television network KBS2, and will air on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for a total of 12 episodes. D.O. stars as the lead character Jin Jung in the series, a hot-headed but effective prosecutor known for his poor manners and unconventional methods. Starring opposite him is actress Lee Se-hee (Hospital Playlist 2), as his professional, cool-headed colleague Shin… Read More →