MAHALIA’S SECOND ALBUM WILL BE ARRIVING SUMMER 2023!
April 6th 2023 – Further to announcing that her highly-anticipated second album is complete, today, GRAMMY-nominated R&B star Mahalia has returned with her brilliant and bold new single ‘Terms and Conditions’ – available now, globally via Atlantic Records.
“I’m quite emotional about this release finally being everybody else’s!” says Mahalia on the release of her luminescent new single. “It’s almost like a love letter to myself whilst being a warning to others. It’s all about setting boundaries and deciding what things I would no longer compromise on. I made this song with my wonderful friend and artist, Raye and two of my favourite producers – The Elements. This record is just the first taste from my upcoming second album and I can’t wait to see if people like it!”
Having teased the single to fans across her social platforms over the last month, the highly-anticipated release marks her first of 2023, and follows on from her previous release ‘Bag Of You’ which landed in November 2022.
Making a triumphant return with this up-tempo ode to knowing your worth and implementing boundaries; Mahalia hones in on her signature style as she writes about the nitty gritty of relationships, respect and compromising.
The last few years have marked many achievements for the Leicester-born star. Beginning 2020 with her second BRIT nomination, Mahalia featured on up-and-coming fellow Midlands rapper Pa Salieu’s debut mixtape, ‘Send Them To Coventry’, whilst also gracing the tracklist of Headie One’s #1 album ‘Edna’. Subsequently, Mahalia also received a GRAMMY nomination for ‘All I Need’ – Jacob Collier’s single of which she features alongside US rapper, Ty Dolla $ign. Shortly after, Mahalia concluded the year with three MOBO nominations for ‘Best Female Act’, ‘Best R&B/Soul Act’ and ‘Album Of The Year’ for her debut album, ‘Love and Compromise’, winning in the first two categories. In 2021, Mahalia was also nominated for her first ever Ivor Novello award for her 2020 collaboration with UK lyricist Pa Salieu for his single ‘Energy’ and subsequently concluded the year with an incredible headline show at London’s prestigious venue, O2 Brixton Academy. Adding to her long list of achievements Mahalia opened for Adele at her 2022 BST shows in Hyde Park last Summer whilst also joining Alicia Keys during her o2 Arena shows in London – she then concluded the year on a high, winning her third MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act.
Besides the awards and nominations, it’s also been a time of deep personal growth, one that Mahalia describes as a real rollercoaster in her personal and professional life. Reflection has been the thread running through Mahalia’s writing and while the current global situation offers little more than uncertainty, the singer hopes that her music will encourage her listeners to carve out time to also look back and re-evaluate: “We’re all fixated on how we can make ourselves better but I want people to also reminisce on lovely or painful situations they’ve lived through and how they’ve helped shape the people they are now.”
Stay tuned for news on the release of Mahalia’s highly-anticipated second album which will be arriving this summer.
Bebe Rexha has once again proven herself as a force to be reckoned with, sharing an anthemic new single ‘Call On Me’ from her upcoming album ‘Bebe’, arriving April 28. Pre-Save Here.
The propulsive and empowering track follows her recent ‘70s-inspired single, ‘Heart Wants What It Wants’ with the same unapologetic confidence that has become something of a signature across the multi-platinum hitmaker’s catalogue.
“God only knows how long I’ve waited for this, it’s been the longest time,” Rexha sings over cascading synths, chugging guitar, and tinkling piano keys. “If I need a lover, someone to save me, someone to set me free—I call on me.”
Charlie Puth Teams Up With Dan + Shay For Powerful New Track ‘That’s Not How This Works’
High-profile collaboration arrived with an official music video featuring actress Sabrina Carpenter.
Multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer, Charlie Puth has joined forces with three-time Grammy Award-winning duo Dan + Shay for an emotional new track titled ‘That’s Not How This Works’.
Known for giving a glimpse of his creative process to his more than 21 million followers on TikTok, Puth has been building anticipation for the release in recent months, sharing teasers of the track and fueling fan speculation about the song’s collaborators.
Produced and written by Puth and co-written with Dan Smyers, ‘That’s Not How This Works’ with Puth’s soft solo vocal accompanied by only his piano, narrating the back-and-forth of a relationship at its end, building with soft momentum as it integrates the soulful vocals and harmonies of Country duo Dan+ Shay.
The official video, directed by Phillip R. Lopez, stars singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Carpenter as Puth’s love interest. The story is told through a series of flashbacks that see the pair navigate the highs and lows of a young toxic relationship.
AND “DEATH,” WHICH DEBUTED ON THE HOT 100 THIS WEEK
“After diving into various past life regression hypnotherapy books over the course of a few years, I was inspired to create a concept album revolving around one of the most taboo subjects known to man. DEATH. The mission of this record is to offer a perspective of true togetherness and immortality. The album starts at death and ends at womb but loops into itself meant to be played as a forever loop. The same way that our lives are on loop. Dying as an old person to be born all over again anew.
Encountering the same familiar faces and patterns for our highest growth. Crybaby as you know it may have died, but she’s evolved into her newest form.” – MELANIE MARTINEZ
Melanie Martinez has unveiled her eagerly-awaited third studio album, PORTALS, available today via Atlantic Records. PORTALS includes the official first single “VOID,” written and produced by Martinez, as well as the album’s opening track, “DEATH,” the latter of which recently made history as Martinez’s first-ever original song to debut on Billboard’s “Hot 100” and her biggest first week streams to date. “DEATH” is joined by a cinematic companion video – directed, conceived, and costume designed by Martinez herself – which trended #1 on YouTube’s Trending “Top Music Videos” chart with over 8.1M views in just one week following its official premiere viewed by a live audience exceeding 80K.
“DEATH” was first teased last month with a series of otherworldly clips revealing the rebirth of Martinez’s character “Cry Baby,” quickly sparking a frenzy of theories and garnering over 115M views across all socials. The track and its compelling companion visual earned praise from the likes of Billboard, who raves “The avant-garde pop auteur creates bold, expansive worlds with each project…While the dramatic five-minute track can be connected to her artistic reawakening, the kinetic drums and electronic elements will also make listeners feel reborn, too.”
The multi-Platinum, 12 billion-streaming Martinez made her live debut as the new creature over a series of extraordinary festival performances heralding PORTALS this month including Lollapalooza Argentina, Lollapalooza Chile, Bogota, Columbia’s Estéreo Picnic, and Lollapalooza Brazil.
PORTALS marks Melanie Martinez’s first full-length release in nearly four years following her 2 billion-streaming, RIAA Gold-certified second album, K-12, which proved a sensation upon its September 2019 release, entering the Billboard 200 at #3 – the 27-year-old NYC-born singer-songwriter-filmmaker’s highest chart placement thus far – with further debuts at #1 on the Alternative album chart, and #1 on the Soundtrack album chart. K-12 also serves as a soundtrack companion to an eerily enchanting musical film, written, directed, and starring Martinez, now with over 106M views to date via YouTube alone HERE and was the 6th highest grossing film in the US upon release, with one-night-only screenings in over 425 cinemas in 32 countries.
Martinez truly set forth on what has proven a remarkable creative journey with her 2015 debut album, CRY BABY. An unforgettable collection of provocative alt-pop framed as a modern fairy tale, complete with storybook illustrations and a dramatic structure that takes listeners through the life of its title character, the album instantly affirmed the multi-talented Martinez as an irrefutable artistic icon, thanks in part to a phenomenally popular series of hit singles and imaginative self-directed visuals that have amassed over 6 billion total streams and 1.5 billion video views. CRY BABY made its Billboard 200 debut at #6 upon its initial release while also entering the “Top Alternative Albums” chart at #1. In addition to its own 2x RIAA Platinum certification, all of the album’s 13 original tracks – as well as three further songs featured on the CRY BABY (DELUXE EDITION) – have now been certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA.
Penned by the rapper himself ‘If I told You (Lady)’ follows on from KidWild’s latest release, DND (Part 2) Ft Nemzz, and samples the French dance pop duo Modjo’s 00’s hit ‘Lady (Hear Me Tonight)’. The upbeat track with its snappy base, sees Kid deliver his bars as an ode to woo his dream girl, whilst including his notable trait of obligatory stand out one liners.
Speaking on ‘If I Told You’ KidWild comments;
“The inspiration to use the Modjo sample initially came from a session with my producers The Elements. When I arrived at the session they had already made half the beat and insisted that I jump on it. I knew the sample from playing GTA back in the day, as well as it hearing it on the radio and the Modjo track is such a dope track that I was eager to put my spin on it. ‘If I Told You’(Lady) is about finding the right girl, expressing your feelings to her and she not believing a word, even though you know you’re being genuine”.
At 18 years old KidWild is one of the freshest young rappers to emerge on the scene having only decided to focus on music within the last two years. Originally starting out as an actor on the popular CBBC football drama series Jamie Johnson, KidWild played the character of Freddie Seyo. Whilst filming, Kid began posting behind the scenes content from the show which expanded his YouTube platform and subscribers. As a result Kid became a familiar face online, regularly featuring on YouTuber’s chat shows sparking a flurry of KidWild fan accounts.
Growing up to the sounds of Chip, Stormzy, Jhus and Mo stack Kid knew that music was a passion he wanted to explore, from writing bars in his room to playground rap cyphers with friends which further ignited his musical desire.
With co-signs from Brit nominated, chart busting duo A1 x J1 and named by Complex UK as one of the rappers to watch in 2023, Kidwild is one of the hottest young rappers who’s set to make his mark on the UK scene.
FOALS SHARE THE NEW DAN CAREY VERSION OF ‘2AM’ – LISTEN HERE
‘LIFE IS DUB’ TO BE RELEASED ON RECORD STORE DAY, APRIL 22ND
PRAISE FOR ‘LIFE IS YOURS’:
“Foals manage to delight with invigorating innovation while simultaneously keeping their unique identity deeply engrained in a style that is as fresh as it is warm.”9/10 – The Line of Best Fit
“Joyous, hedonistic…. Foals are still peaking, so let’s come up together.”4/5 – NME
“’The sound of the band less emerging blinking into the post-pandemic light than bounding back into the saddle.”4/5 – DIY
“This record is purpose-built for our first full unrestricted summer and the summers beyond.”9/10 – Clash
“Party-starting soundtrack to a glorious summer.” 4/5 – Rolling Stone UK
‘’The best of their career… full of sunny, motorik disco/house-influenced dancefloor fillers.” – The Guardian
Foals today unveil a thrilling new twist on their sound as they release the new Dan Carey version of ‘2am’.The track is the first to be taken from their eagerly anticipated new project ‘Life Is Dub’, which follows on Record Store Day, April 22nd. ‘Life Is Dub’ sees Dan Carey rework the entire critically acclaimed ‘Life Is Yours’ album through a heavyweight dub prism.
Originally an exuberant pop-focused flood of melody full of sparkling synths and chiming guitar, Carey’s fresh take on ‘2am’ takes it somewhere altogether different. Dropping the tempo, ‘2am’ now pummels rather than swings, with swampy, tremulous bass, thudding beats and all manner of reverbs, echoes and filters establishing a looming, hypnotic intensity.
Yannis Philippakis says, “To me Dan’s dubs are like nocturnal photo negatives of the original; the colours and sounds have been inverted, subverted and sent sideways. Their new groove and swagger has been pushed through analogue circuitry into a night-time companion to ‘Life Is Yours’.”
Dan Carey approached the ‘Life Is Dub’ project using two core approaches. Some follow the half-time, deep bass style heard in ‘2am’, while for the up-tempo tracks he would program a new beat around the original kick and snare drums. This would be synced with a modular system, feeding and processing elements from the original – usually guitars and keyboards – to create twisted new takes for the new multitrack, often then adding Jupiter-8 synths too. He would then pick his favourite elements from three different live dubs and edit them together.
‘Life Is Dub’ casts the ‘Life Is Yours’ album in a new light. The original record established an exuberant party-starting new twist on Foals’ sound as it ignited scintillating summer festival headline sets at Glastonbury’s Other Stage and Latitude, and saw them sell more than 40,000 tickets over the course of five London headline shows.
‘Life Is Dub’ will be available exclusively via local independent retailers for this year’s Record Store Day. Please see here for a list of participating venues. The limited-edition album will be pressed on gold 12” vinyl, and the beautifully designed package will feature gold pantone artwork and lettering on a black backdrop.
Foals recently added shows in Mexico and across Europe to their busy summer touring schedule. Highlights include headline sets at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, a major North American tour as special guests to Paramore, and a sold-out intimate UK record store tour. Please see here for a full list of all international dates and accompanying ticket details.
(For fans of Frank Ocean/Phoebe Bridgers/ Bon Iver)
what started as a night became a morning under the southern sun became a citrus kiss became a crickets click became a cows howl behind the slaughterhouses door you spun the car keys took your shirt off chewed two apples to the core turning red turning west tipping the switchblade to roswell trucking through tucson my california called us in the distance i saw your shadow i held your cross i felt your heart i tasted your tongue in my teeth and it became the perfect carnage of my feelings for you – Ryan Beatty
American singer/songwriter Ryan Beatty announces his third full-length album Calico, arriving on 28th April via Atlantic Records UK/Elektra US. In celebration of his announcement, Ryan has released his new single, ‘Ribbons’ out now.
An excellent introduction to Ryan’s upcoming record, ‘Ribbons’ is a warm and delightful listen, showcasing his exquisite emotive vocals and a delicate piano melody. The lyric “It’s brave to be nothing to no one at all.” from the song is what Ryan refers to as the proverb of Calico.
Set for release on 28th April, Calico rings in a new era for Ryan Beatty. Co-produced by Ryan and Ethan Gruska, Calico matches Ryan’s lyrical revelations with a luminously detailed sound that inspires endless fascination despite its great subtlety. The result is a timeless and transportive body of work, providing abundant space for the transformation and healing that led to its creation.
Calico moves further into the free-form, yet gracefully sculpted sound Ryan explored on 2020’s Dreaming of David. In bringing the album to life, he and Gruska mainly recorded at historic L.A. spot Valentine Recording Studios and at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La, working with a lineup of musicians including guitarist Dylan Day (Jenny Lewis, Laura Veirs), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Lorde, Brandi Carlile), saxophonist Sam Gendel (Sylvan Esso, Perfume Genius), string arranger Rob Moose (FKA twigs, Laura Marling), and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, who contributed additional production and instrumentation.
Ryan also collaborated with revered Belgian artist Peter De Potter to bring the visuals around the upcoming album to life. Peter’s unique method of blending his photography and video with graphics resonates in art, fashion and contemporary online culture. The addition of the Antwerp-based creative’s work on Ryan’s upcoming album compliments the poetic atmosphere he’s created for Calico.
An elegant body of work, Calico is the superb outcome of two devoted years of exploration, writing and recording. Sharing the endless nuances of his interior life on his upcoming album, Ryan quietly explores the tension between protecting our hearts and longing for the type of connection that can only come from true vulnerability.
The album – which goes back to his singer-songwriter roots to reveal his most personal, vulnerable, and honest album to date – will be released 5th May 2023.
“I had been working on Subtract for a decade, trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording hundreds of songs with a clear vision of what I thought it should be. Then at the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art.
Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.
Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety.
I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.
As an artist I didn’t feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It’s opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I’m not trying to craft an album people will like, I’m merely putting something out that’s honest and true to where I am in my adult life.
This is last February’s diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract.”
Ed has teamed up with Aaron Dessner (The National) to write and produce the album – after the pair were introduced by mutual friend Taylor Swift.
Writing over 30 songs during their month-long studio stint, the album’s fourteen tracks are seamlessly tied together by exquisite production from paired back, folk-leaning textures to bolder, full-band/orchestral arrangements.
‘-‘ (Subtract) Tracklisting [Standard Album]
Boat
Salt Water
Eyes Closed
Life Goes On
Dusty
End Of Youth
Colourblind
Curtains
Borderline
Spark
Vega
Sycamore
No Strings
The Hills of Aberfeldy
There is also a Deluxe product with between 4-8 bonus tracks (varying with format)
Ed has also partnered with world-class creatives in photography, Annie Leibovitz, and film, Mia Barnes, to create a visual world around the album.
The campaign photography has been shot by world-renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz. See the first two images released today below, with more to come throughout the campaign.
Coldplay was the first band to perform on the first Jimmy Kimmel Live show 20 years ago. Yesterday, they returned to celebrate the 20th anniversary with a stunning rooftop performance of Clocks, alongside an interview with Chris Martin.
