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There is so much pressure on pop stars to simultaneously evolve as artists while retaining what made them a beloved musician in the first place. And somehow, in that unforgiving landscape, Lady Gaga managed to thread the needle with her seventh studio album, Mayhem, and create a project that both honors the past and moves […]
Tina Knowles revealed that Beyoncé is stepping away from the film world, and we’re running through her biggest blockbusters. What do you think of Beyoncé being done with the film world? Let us know in the comments below! Tetris Kelly: Beyoncé said she is done with movies! Her mama, Tina, broke it all down as […]
New Breaking Benjamin material is on the way — but the band hasn’t been in a rush. “We still have the attitude [that] you’re only as good as your next album,” guitarist Jasen Rauch tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast. “We’re still trying to dodge the sophomore slump going into record [No.] 7.”
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It’s been a long break since record No. 6. Breaking Benjamin’s last album of new material, Ember, came out in 2018; Aurora, an album with new versions of old material, came out in 2020. At this point in the band’s two-decade-plus career, Rauch says, they can take their time to get things right.
The recently released song “Awaken” is a case study in Breaking Benjamin’s deliberate pace. Rauch says the first demo for “Awaken,” released in October 2024, was recorded in either 2020 or 2021. The lyrics were changed “three or four times.” The song’s key changed. The band tried out different tempos. And the verses were written twice. “Sometimes you’ve got to put brakes on it and be like, ‘It’s just not ready. It’s not there,’” he explains.
As for a new full-length album, Rauch says a new Breaking Benjamin album will be released in 2025. After six albums for Hollywood Records, the next album will be released through BMG, just as the band’s recent single, “Awaken,” came out through Benjamin Burnley Recording — Burnley is the band’s founder and singer — and was licensed to BMG.
Working with BMG has also given the band the freedom to not rush through writing and recording new material. And with three platinum and two gold albums since 2002, Breaking Benjamin is at a point in its career where it doesn’t need a label to invest the kind of resources required for a younger, developing band. “They’re already walking into an established product,” says Rauch. “They’re helping us get to the next step — whatever that is — with new music. And that’s been a cool, refreshing experience for us.”
Breaking Benjamin is co-headlinging the Awaken the Fallen Tour with Staind from April 26 to June 1. The band will also perform this summer at Rocklahoma in Prior, Okla., on Aug. 30, and Louder Than Life in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 19.
Listen to the entire interview with Jason Rauch using the embedded Spotify player below, or go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Podbean or Everand.
Kidd Voodoo shares his experience of being on the panel for Viña Del Mar, how he went from making rock music to reggaeton, why he chose Kidd Voodoo as his stage name, his feelings about Chilean music starting to spread, defining Chilean slang and more!
Leila Cobo:David, welcome to Billboard!
Kidd Voodoo:Thank you.
Well, for the people that don’t know, David is Kidd Voodoo. So here in Chile, you guys know him by his artistic name, Kidd Voodoo. He’s one of the biggest trap rappers in Chile at this moment, but his real name is David León. In other words, why Kidd Voodoo?
Because I needed to start releasing music and I wanted to give myself a name. In that moment in Chile, it was really trendy to put a prefix like it was in the United States, putting “Lil” or “Kid,” too. So I preferred to put “Kid” because there were a couple of artists that I really liked that had it and I needed to upload the song in that moment because I had already announced it.
So you didn’t have a lot of time to think about this?
No, I thought about it a lot, but I said, “If I never get this song out, I’m never going to start this.” So I said, “OK let’s go through with this,” and I looked at the pedals of the guitar and someone said, “Kidd Voodoo — it doesn’t sound too bad.”
So because of a guitar pedal that had nothing to do with rap, truthfully–
Exactly.
Well, it was a song about what? Was it rock, or was it rap?
Rap. It was a rap song, trap. Yep, and from there the name stuck and now I’m here.
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A year after the release of ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ Ariana Grande has announced ‘Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Better Days Ahead’ with six new tracks. Keep watching for the full story! Are you excited for the deluxe? Let us know in the comments! Tetris Kelly: Yes, and we are getting more music from Ariana Grande as she just […]
Billboard Women In Music for 2025 keeps on getting juicer. Doechii is named as the Woman of the Year, and so many more have been added to the powerhouse night. Keep watching to find out who! Watch the live event on March 29th at 10PM ET/7PM PT on the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel […]
Rihanna posted her delivery pictures of her sons RZA and Riot Rose, and when one critic had something to say about the boys’ names, the singer clapped back. Keep watching for the full story! What did you think of her delivery pictures? Let us know in the comments! Tetris Kelly:Rihanna claps back at a comment […]
After performing at Viña del Mar, Bacilos sits down to talk about how they feel about their performance, being huge Carín León fans, how their career has changed since they first started, releasing Pequeños Romances as independent artists and more!
Ingrid Fagardo:Hi, friends at Billboard, we’re here at Viña del Mar, finally. Today, we’re here with Bacilos. How are you?
Bacilos:Really good, thank you. What a great invitation, and it’s great to be considered for Viña, thank you.
Ingrid Fagardo:We’ve really enjoyed this week in different forms. We’ve seen you guys as judges. How do you feel about Bacilos:this week being a judge and being a fan?
Bacilos:Because we’ve also had the opportunity to see artists that we admire on the stage, and obviously we admire the guys to have the courage to come here, to this novelty of a stage, and to be able to come to this monster. It requires a lot, it inspires a lot, and there’s a lot of respect.
Ingrid Fagardo:It’s the first time you’re judging right?
Bacilos:Yes, the first time.
Ingrid Fagardo:I know that the night when you guys were performing, you guys made us dance. It was a really, I don’t know, it was a night full of partying. It didn’t matter how cold it was, the time didn’t matter, it was literally a Bacilos party.
Bacilos:Yes, it was beautiful. The people were great. After Marc performed … Well to sing and perform after Marc felt like a responsibility, a challenge almost, but the people stayed. They stayed outside on a cold night.
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This is partner content. “Brilla Conmigo” is a short-form video series featuring Latin artists Elena Rose, Mariangela and Joaquina, showcasing how beauty, health and wellness fuel their creativity. Through candid conversations, they discuss how self-care, cultural pride and personal empowerment nurture confidence, which plays a key role in their artistry. Partnering with Invisalign to enhance […]
Will Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga take No. 1 from Kendrick Lamar and SZA? Tetris Kelly:This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated March 15. Back in the top 10 is “Nokia.” At nine is Teddy Swims. Chappell Roan holds on to eight, as does Billie Eilish to No. 7. “APT.” to […]