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Miguel is celebrating 15 years of All I Want Is You. The singer shares stories about some of his favorite tracks on the album, his experience working with J. Cole on “Power Trip” and their friendship, the re-emergence of “Sure Thing” among the younger generation, collaborating with j-hope on “Sweet Dreams,” how he plans to incorporate his roots into his new music and more!
Are you excited for Miguel’s new music? Let us know in the comments!
Carl Lamarre:Yo, what’s going on? Y’all I’m deputy director of R&B and hip-hop, Mr. Carl Lamarre, and welcome to Billboard News In Conversation. We got a Grammy Award winner, R&B heavyweight, Mr. Miguel. My brother, how are you feeling?
Miguel:I’m all right, man. How are you doing?
It’s a blessed day. It is a blessed day because we’re gonna do something special here. One of your albums has a special anniversary this year. All I Want Is You 15. What did that number mean to you? Because that’s a whole ninth-grade album I was telling you before.
It’s a journey, you know, you think about, you know how much time it took to get that album out, right? You know, on what it took to get there, just in terms of cycles and growth and challenges and failures and learning experiences, and then to kind of have all of the blessings in between that point and this point in my career. It’s beautiful. This is a trip, man.
Walk us back to when you met, of course, the big homie record, exact extraordinaire, Mark Pitts, because you played them some records, which I saw was originally meant for Usher and that dude was like, “Uh uh, we gonna keep this. We gonna keep Miguel. We gonna build.” Talk about that.
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Australian musician and director Kimble Rendall has passed away at the age of 67, it has been confirmed.
Rendall’s passing was officially announced on Sunday (April 20) by publicist and friend Melissa Hoyer, who described the late figure as a “musician, advertising guru, film director, husband, devoted dad & a very good friend to many.”
“One of the very, very good men – Kimble was married to the ‘first lady of music television’, the late Basia Bonkowski & carved out a huge reputation in music (he was in the XL Capris & the Hoodoo Gurus); a leading figure in the advertising world (what award didn’t he win?) and went onto became a mega successful film director,” Hoyer wrote.
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“Thank you for being in our lives Kimble. You were a compassionate, constantly creative, funny, clever & perennially entertaining one-off … & the time had come to join your beloved Basia.”
Rendall was born in Sydney in 1957, and showed interest in the world of films at a young age. Completing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media, he later trained as a film editor with the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
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In 1978, Rendall co-founded the Sydney punk outfit XL Capris alongside Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott, and Julie Anderson. Their debut single, a cover of Tommy Leonetti’s “My City of Sydney,” was released the following year and has since become regarded as an influential snapshot of Australia’s then-burgeoning punk scene.
Rendall would depart XL Capris in 1980 and co-founded the Hoodoo Gurus alongside guitarist and vocalist Dave Faulkner, guitarist Roddy Radalj, and drummer James Baker the following year. While Rendall and Radalj would depart the group in 1982 before the release of 1984’s Stoneage Romeos debut, they would appear on the band’s debut single, “Leilani,” for which Rendall also directed the music video.
The Hoodoo Gurus would later top the Alternative Airplay chart in 1989 with “Come Anytime,” and hit No. 3 in 1991 with “Miss Freelove ’69.” In 2007, they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in their native Australia. On February 1 of this year, Rendall reunited with his former bandmates in Brisbane to join them for a performance of “Hoodoo You Love” as part of their Back to the Stoneage Tour.
After departing the Hoodoo Gurus, Rendall concentrated on his directorial career, producing music videos for groups such as Cold Chisel, Mental As Anything, Paul Kelly, and Johnny Diesel & The Injectors. In 1987, he would be nominated for best video at the ARIA Award for his work on Boom Crash Opera’s “Hands Up in the Air.”
Elsewhere in his career, Rendall would also work on a number of high-budget films as a second unit director, working on titles such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions; I, Robot; and the Nicolas Cage films Ghost Rider and Knowing.
Rendall was also married to television presenter Basia Bonkowski from 1982 until her passing in 2022. Alongside presenting numerous music-based television programs, Bonkowski was also immortalized by Melbourne band Painters and Dockers, whose 1985 debut single “Basia!” was named in her honor. Together, they adopted two children, William and Camille.
News of Rendall’s death comes only days after the Hoodoo Gurus were also affected by the passing of their manager, Dominic “Mick” Mazzone OAM. Mazzone’s promotion to the top job came after longtime manager Michael McMartin stepped down from the role in February 2024, ultimately passing the following month.
ENHYPEN delivered a sizzling performance at Coachella 2025, and we got a glimpse of the boys during their rehearsal process, as well as before and after their festival performance. They shared what it was like to prepare for one of the world’s biggest music festivals — and more! What was your favorite part of ENHYPEN’s […]
If there’s one act that might’ve seemed unexpected at this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, it’s Los Mirlos, the iconic Peruvian group whose distinct blend of psychedelic cumbia conjures the mysticism and vibrant energy of the Amazon jungle.
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In their native country, Los Mirlos (named after the blackbirds of the Peruvian jungle) are legends, who have carved out a legacy that transcends generations. Today, founder and lead vocalist, Jorge Rodríguez Grández, plays alongside his two sons, Jorge L. Rodríguez (musical director, pianist and guitar) and Roger Rodríguez (vocalist and guiro), who joins occasionally. They are joined by Danny Johnston (lead guitar), Dennis Sandoval (bass), Carlos Rengifo (percussion), Genderson Pineda (drums) and Junior Soto (second vocalist).
Beyond Peru’s borders, the seven-member group remains relatively unknown, much like many folk-rooted acts around the globe that thrive primarily within “world music” circles. Yet, the band took to the Sonora tent at Coachella in Indio, California, for two consecutive weekends, captivating a crowd of nearly 5,000 fans with electrifying performances that seamlessly fused echo-laden keyboards and hypnotic electric guitar riffs into their signature psychedelic cumbia sound.
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“It’s been extraordinary,” a tired Rodríguez Grández tells Billboard from Washington D.C., hours after the group’s second Coachella set. “We are so happy that they reached out to us, because we have been promoting our Amazonian cumbia vigorously, it’s what we represent. We come from Moyobamba in Peru, then moved to Lima, and have been recording since 1973. We never stopped.”
After the Coachella announcement, a furor followed: Los Mirlos had made history as the first Peruvian band to perform at the festival, bringing Amazonian cumbia to the global stage. It was a testament to the unwavering support from their dedicated fanbase over the years for the group’s untamed and profound echo of the jungle spirit.
Hailing from the lush landscapes of Moyobamba in Peru’s San Martín region, with a population of approximately 120,000 citizens (about the same as the Coachella capacity per day), Los Mirlos emerged in the 1970s as trailblazers of Amazonian cumbia, not only introducing this pulsating style to the world 50 years ago but also cementing their status as cultural pioneers.
Although Los Mirlos are well-known in neighboring countries, they have sporadically played in the U.S. Conversations to play at Coachella began after the festival’s team sought them out, tracking down the group’s manager to initiate the collaboration in 2023. “They were looking for us,” Rodriguez Grández remembers. “They wanted us to perform in 2024. They reached out to Javier, my son, our manager, in 2023, but we didn’t have enough time to get our working visas. So, we were on standby and resumed the conversation in 2024.”
Months before the initial Coachella conversation, the documentary La Danza De Los Mirlos — the directorial debut of Peruvian Álvaro Luque, written by Jorge Ossio Seminario and Emanuel Giraldo Betancur, which preserves the soul of the Amazon in its every beat through rare archival footage and intimate interviews — was released in August 2022.
“It was chosen by the board of filmmakers for the 26th Lima Film Festival, presented at the Gran Teatro Nacional,” Rodriguez Grández shares. “Of course, the director was very flattered that out of 300 films, they chose ours.”
The timing proved to be a boon, with a call from Coachella coming just after. “Alvaro Luque spent close to four years traveling and documenting Los Mirlos,” Mario Giancarlo Garibaldi, Artist Relations for Los Mirlos tells Billboard. “He finally released the documentary in late 2022, and it has been the catalyst for this new era. It made public the true story of the group and how charismatic and relentless Jorge Rodriguez, its leader and founder, has been.”
Los Mirlos
Jason Sullivan for DUPLA
Beyond the documentary release, however, the Los Mirlos brand was already firmly established. “We’ve performed at many festivals before,” Rodriguez Grández states. “We’ve been at Vive Latino in Mexico, the Luminato Festival in Toronto and the Cordillera Festival in Bogotá last year. But before the pandemic, we were at the Pitoonkatonk festival in Pittsburgh. We’ve even made it to Ruido Fest in Chicago. Plus, Los Mirlos’ record productions have been widely promoted in Latin America. This is in addition to social media and Spotify, which has been a strategic ally in helping our music spread worldwide.”
With their unmistakable sound, Los Mirlos brought their psychedelic cumbia (or chicha) beyond borders, solidifying their place as one of Peru’s most iconic bands. Their beats continue to resonate far and wide, inspiring a new wave of artists who draw from their pioneering melodies to keep the vibrant tradition of Amazonian cumbia thriving.
“We’ve collaborated with Renata Flores, Hit La Rosa, and other emerging acts,” Rodriguez Grández adds. “It’s a joy to team-up with young acts who have a different fanbase but who identify with Los Mirlos. There are also many established groups, orchestrated bands such as Agua Marina, Grupo 5, Armonía 10 from the north, other groups from the Amazon that are outstanding. We’re paving the way for other bands to have the opportunity to get to Coachella like us. That’s what happened in 1980 in Argentina, the first country we traveled to with our Amazonian cumbia. We spread our music throughout the country during the decade of 1980-1990, even until 1993, when other musical groups arrived.”
But to get to that next level of stardom is not just about availability, presence and collaborations — artists in Latin America, especially emerging bands, face insufficient resources and struggle due to lack of government financial support to help them access resources and build their presence and audience reach.
“Governments in Latin America provide financial support, through the Ministry of Culture like in Mexico,” Rodriguez Grández says. “In Peru, there is support, but lacks a bit. Outreach is as important, which is now happening more, where artists need to register to receive financial support. But it needs to be expanded further, as many groups don’t have the opportunities that Los Mirlos have. Our brand is recognized and well-positioned in the market, but emerging bands need more government support.”
Los Mirlos
Jason Sullivan for DUPLA
While Los Mirlos have built a strong reputation, it’s taken time to create pathways for their development, something achieved through dedication and a deep connection to their cultural roots. Their signature style is a clear subgenre of cumbia that blends hypnotic tropical rhythms with the rawness of the traditional Amazonian sounds, infused with psychedelic undertones.
“Our legacy is to maintain the original style of psychedelic Amazonian cumbia that emerged in ’73, which we continue to enjoy,” Rodriguez Grández adds. “The day I step aside, my children will continue with that style, because the world has shown me it is what it likes: the sound of the guitars that identifies the group, its personality, its identity. My grandchildren will come later, too; that’s my wish.”
It’s a true family affair, with even grandkids coming together to take part in rehearsals and share in the musical tradition. “My grandchildren are already attending rehearsals, playing the guiro — a Latin American percussion instrument — and the drums, and are learning to play the guitar too, and that’s nice, because one can rest easy knowing that this will continue: that’s the wish. Many along the way have asked me, ‘Don Jorge, why don’t you add trumpets, trombones, or saxophone? It would give it more weight…’ But no, I’ve kept it that way, buoyed by the synthesizer to vary some songs, but the essence is based on that bewitching guitar that gives our music its charm.”
In between the double-boiler Coachella sets, clad in flashy Amazonian-urban-styled uniforms co-designed with Adidas, Los Mirlos packed The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on April 14. As part of their Ayahuasca Tour 2025, they delivered a sold-out intimate show, serving as opening act for Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, one of the many renowned acts within their growing orbit. Adding to the desert energy, they met Camilo Lara of the Mexican Institute of Sound, and a handful of impassioned DJs who have included The Mirlos’ songs in their sets. “My joy would have been completed had I met Lady Gaga, at least for a photo,” Rodriguez Grández jokes.
Los Mirlos
Jason Sullivan
As for why “Ayahuasca Tour”: “We represent the jungle, and Ayahuasca is an ancient medicinal plant from our Amazon region,” explains Rodriguez Grández. “It’s a bark with healing properties, that guided by a shaman, extracts all the negativity of the body. Our song ‘Un Traguito de Ayahuasca’ has a positive message that conveys this.”
What’s next for Los Mirlos? “Well, we haven’t been to Japan, we want to visit Australia also,” muses Rodriguez Grández. “We are dropping a mastered version of our album El Milagro Verde on May 2nd, with new and classic songs produced by us. Also, a larger project is on the works, with very well-known artists, collaborations of new and classic songs. That’s going to be a bomb worldwide, I hope.” The album will be released via the independent label Revancha, founded by Peruvians Gino Pezzia and Alejandro León, with Marthin Chan as their new business A&R.
Rodriguez Grández says he would like Los Mirlos to be remembered with love, in every corner of the world: “The affection people have for us is great, and I feel very grateful to God because he gives us the opportunity to reach other generations; because their parents, grandparents, uncles danced to our music, now the youth is dancing as well.”
Los Mirlos
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Coachella is officially wrapped for 2025, and we’re taking you through the highlights of everything that happened during weekend 2. From Tyla’s outfit inspo speculation to ENHYPEN revealing a new mini-album, keep watching for everything you missed! Stay tuned for our All Access Tour Stop with ENHYPEN dropping later today! What did you think of […]
Alex Warren moves up in the top 10. Tetris Kelly:This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated April 26. Morgan Wallen falls to 10, while Benson bounces to No. 9 after Coachella. BigXthaPlug’s country collab slips to eight. Teddy Swims is up to seven. Shaboozey is locked at No. 6. Alex […]
XG is lighting up Coachella again this weekend, and we’re taking you behind the scenes of how they prepped for the big night. From exclusive footage of them in rehearsals to an interview about what their favorite part of Coachella has been, keep watching for an exclusive sneak peek! What did you think of XG’s […]
LE SSERAFIM teamed up with Jade, TWICE nabbed Coldplay, and Morgan Wallen is back with Post Malone. Keep watching for the latest and hottest music collabs that have dropped this week! What’s your favorite collab? Let us know in the comments below! Tetris Kelly: There are so many epic collaborations this Friday, and we’re breaking […]
Post Malone is one of Coachella’s headliners for 2025, and we’re breaking down his journey to Coachella. Keep watching to learn more! Tetris Kelly:Post Malone is heading back to Coachella, but this time he’s a headliner! This isn’t Post’s first time at the fest — he performed back in 2018 and again in 2023 as […]
Close to two decades on from his exit from New Order, bassist Peter Hook hasn’t wavered in his animosity toward his former bandmates, labeling the group a “bad cover version” of themselves.
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Hook was one of the founding members of New Order, who formed in 1980 following the death of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Hook, along with Joy Division bandmates Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris, completed their initial lineup with the addition of keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. New Order would go on to receive widespread acclaim in the ensuing decades, with their biggest success in the U.S. arriving by way of 1993’s Republic, which hit No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
In 2007, New Order would split, though Hook would not return for their 2011 reformation, instead choosing to continue with his new band Peter Hook & The Light. A long-running legal battle related to the reunion would eventually be settled in 2017.
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However, in a new interview with British publication The i Paper, Hook says he retains a sense of animosity towards his former band, noting he hasn’t spoken to vocalist and guitarist Sumner in 17 years. “As most reconciliations do, once you get over the euphoric honeymoon, you soon realise why you couldn’t f–king stick them – and they, you,” he explains. “I’m not saying I’m Mr. Perfect.”
“I don’t think they’re New Order. They don’t sound like anything like them,” he continued. “I’ve watched them play songs [online] recently, and they’ve dropped the basslines and play it like some weird, bad cover version of a New Order track. So the animosity is obviously still there now.”
Hook also claimed that his thoughts are shared by audience members of contemporary New Order shows, with fans reportedly contacting him to complain about current gigs. “They’re like, ‘You can’t hear the bass!’” he noted. “Obviously, there is a certain smugness one could adopt. But I’m, obviously, way above all that.”
Hook’s comments come as he launches a series of shows with The Light in which they perform New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready in full alongside a selection of hits from both Joy Division and New Order. Launched in the U.K. this week, Hook will bring his tour to North America in May.