Music News

29 Jun 2024

Taylor Swift Sports Irish Flag Colors, Performs New Surprise Song Mashups at First Night in Dublin

Taylor Swift is showing her Irish pride in Dublin.

On Friday (June 28), the 34-year-old pop superstar rocked a sparkly outfit with the country’s flag colors during the opening concert of her Eras Tour stop at the city’s Aviva Stadium.

While delivering the 1989 segment of her set, Swift rocked a shimmery jewel-encrusted orange crop top with a matching green skirt. The section featured popular songs from the 2014 album, including Billboard Hot 100 hits “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off” and “Bad Blood.”

Friday’s concert also found the “Anti-Hero” singer performing two fresh mashups during the surprise songs portion of the set.

For her first surprise track of the evening, Swift performed a mashup of “State of Grace,” from her 2012 Red album, and “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” from Midnights in 2022. This marked the first time the songstress has played “You’re On Your Own, Kid” on the acoustic guitar.

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For her second surprise song, Swift delivered a medley of Midnights‘ “Sweet Nothing” and “Hoax” off Folklore. The latter was her first performance of the 2020 track on the Eras Tour.

Elsewhere during the show, Swift also paid tribute to her boyfriend Travis Kelce by reenacting the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s signature archer pose while performing “Midnight Rain,” from her 2022 Midnights album.

Ahead of her three-night stint in Ireland, Swift got some love from the country’s most famous rockers. On Friday, she shared on her Instagram Stories a photo of the flowers and a sweet note that she received from iconic rock band U2.

Alongside a bouquet of white, pink and purple roses and lilies was a card that read, “Dear Taylor, welcome back to our hometown…leave some of it standing?!!!!” The note was signed, “Your Irish fan club, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry.”

On her Instagram Stories, Swift responded by captioning her post with “Already feeling that Irish hospitality!! @u2, thanks for always being the classiest & coolest.” Swift also included an Irish flag emoji.

The superstar singer’s Eras Tour is set for three shows at Aviva Stadium from June 28-30. Paramore is the special guest for all three concerts.

29 Jun 2024

Teyana Taylor Accepts Innovator of the Year at 8th Annual Culture Creators Awards Brunch in L.A.

Teyana Taylor, BET’s Connie Orlando and more were honored at the eighth annual Culture Creators Innovators & Leaders Awards Brunch on Friday (June 28) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Hosted by journalist Gia Peppers, the exclusive fête brought industry icons, influencers and thought leaders together to pay tribute to extraordinary individuals who have left an indelible mark on Black culture across various sectors, including technology, business, sports, fashion, music and more.

It also benefitted The Culture Creators Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to bridging the gap between high school and college as well as college to graduation for underrepresented students in industries lacking diversity. The foundation empowers these students to thrive academically and professionally by providing resources, curriculum supplementation and membership. Funds raised during the brunch will support the 2024 Academic School Year Scholarship Program for the Campus Changemakers, the foundation’s inaugural cohort of students across 35 colleges and universities.

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Taylor was honored as Innovator of the Year with a celebratory video montage that highlighted her incredible career in entertainment, from choreographing Beyoncé‘s “Ring the Alarm” music video and signing to Pharrell Williams‘ Star Trak Entertainment when she was only 16 years old (when the world also watched her epic birthday bash on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16) to later signing to Ye‘s GOOD Music when she was 21. Since then, the multihyphenate star has earned eight gold-certified singles from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while “Gonna Love Me” from her 2018 album K.T.S.E. is certified platinum. She’s creative directed shows and tours for Usher, Latto, Summer Walker, Diddy, Glorilla, Lil Durk and Lil Baby.

She also won the video director of the year award at the 2020 and 2023 BET Awards. While Taylor’s gearing up for her directorial debut, Get Lite, she’s also had a successful run in front of the camera: Her starring role in A Thousand And One earned her the best breakthrough performance award at the 2023 National Board of Review Awards and 2023 Critics Choice Awards, and she’s set to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest untitled feature and Tyler Perry’s Straw film.

“Teyana Taylor is a one of one. She’s a person who helps us mark time, a time in culture and different times of our lives. We’ve Googled her, we’ve celebrated her Sweet 16, we’ve watched her be our favorite baby mama next door, we’ve watched her slay rap battles (some of y’all remember that?), we’re watched her conquer choreography that would even make Janet Jackson blush,” said Emmy-winning screenwriter, producer and actress Lena Waithe while she was presenting the award to Taylor.

“She’s given us timeless music videos, unforgettable performances like the one she beautifully delivers in A Thousand And One. I’ve gotten a front row seat to her journey in becoming a serious actress. I’ve watched her break down both in front of and behind the camera. She let us watch her tears fall so others wouldn’t be afraid to cry.”

Taylor held back tears as she began her acceptance speech, which took the form of a prayer.

“Heavenly Father God, I thank you for who you are. All-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful. Let me tell you something about your favor. Father God, your favor cannot be stopped, you hear me? I know you’re hear me, so let your daughter cook. Let me cook. Lord, you told me in John 8:12 that you are the light of the world and if I followed you, I wouldn’t have to walk in darkness because you would have the light that leads to life,” she said.

“Thank you for wiping away every tear away when I thought the weight was punishment, ’cause you’ve made it very clear now that it was just preparation. Thank you for never letting my crown fall because you keep my head high. Thank you for teaching me the power of grace as I walk in it.”

She thanked her 8-year-old daughter Junie, who stood on stage beside her, for her “protection” and “being so pure. Thank you for loving me the way that you do. Thank you for teaching me how to be fearless,” Taylor said. And to her 3-year-old daughter Rue, “she knocked out in the green room,” Taylor revealed, which was met with roaring laughter. “I love you too, girl! …. One thing Rue gon’ do is never make it to the table, you hear me. My girl be knocked out like she work five jobs.”

After thanking her parents, her longtime friend and The Aunties production company co-founder Coco Gilbert, “Auntie” Natina Nimene, executive vp of promotion and artist relations at Def Jam and the rest of her team, Taylor returned to her prayer.

“I want to thank you for having me in this room full of amazing, talented innovators and leaders. Thank you for using me as an affirmation to everybody and every hardworking person in this room today that we are here because we belong here in this moment, it was already written in the palm of your hand…. And thank you for telling us ‘yes’ when naysayers told us ‘no.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.” But right before she left the stage, Junie took the microphone for a precious scene-stealing moment. “And I love my mom! I love my mom!” she exclaimed.

Former BET Networks CEO/chairman Debra Lee presented presented an award to her former colleague Orlando, BET’s EVP specials, music programming & music strategy.

“I don’t think anyone in this room would disagree with the statement that everybody loves Connie,” said Lee, who collected proof in the form of a four-page document filled with responses from Orlando’s friends and business contacts about why everyone loves her. “Jesse Collins, her producing partner on many BET specials, says, ‘Words that describe Connie: integrity, her word is her bond; patience, in a world of folks seeking instant gratification with very little effort, she stands out as someone who puts in the work in order to make sure whatever she is working on is perfect; style, just look at her; love, Connie is love. Her heart is always open for anyone that needs it. And that is probably her greatest talent because, please know, she is not to be taken lightly or toyed with and will gladly let you see the girl from Queens if she has to. But after she pops out and shows you, she will always send you on your way with a hug and a smile. And you gotta give her credit for the BET Awards and all the moments she creates.’”

After Lee continued singing her praises, Orlando took the stage and choked back tears while crediting Lee as the reason why she was there in the first place.

“I’m honored to accept this year’s Culture Creator Award and to receive your generous recognition of my contributions to the world of television and film. I stand before you filled with so much gratitude. It is a blessing to do the work that I love,” she said while addressing Culture Creators founder Joi Brown and the Culture Creators Advisory Council. “Working in the mediums of television and film, I am keenly aware of how much time the average person spends watching the screen of some kind, at any given moment. With billions of people consuming content everyday, there lies a unique opportunity to foster meaningful discussions, to create pathways of understanding, to uplift and to educate countless numbers of viewers. Though entertainment is at the core of what we do, we can use the power of media to speak life into our audiences, to tell authentic stories and ignite a light in the darkness that exists in our world today.”

CAA account executive Lorrie Bartlett — whose client roster includes Andra Day, Fantasia, Regina King, Rachel Zegler, Michael Keaton, Travis Kelce, Jeymes Samuel and more — received the Icon Award for her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the entertainment industry, while spearheading initiatives promoting equity within Hollywood. Additional honorees included Reign Venture Capital’s co-founder Monique Idlett; Brown Girl Jane CBO and media personality Tai Beauchamp; FashionBombDaily CEO/founder Claire Sulmers; social impact and brand engagement strategist Alencia Johnson; WME Sports agent and executive Cecil White; celebrity stylist duo Wayman + Micah; AI innovator and immersive technology expert Alton Glass; and The Doux haircare brand creators Maya and Brian Smith.

29 Jun 2024

Cardi B, Gunna, Sexyy Red & Davido Light Up L.A. For 2024 BET Experience Concert Series

On Friday night (June 28), The BET Experience Concert Series returned to the West Coast. L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena hosted a bevy of superstars, including Cardi B, Gunna, Sexxy Red, and Davido. With The BET Awards kicking off Sunday night (June 30), the iconic Black network aimed to leave an indelible impression on concert-goers and skeptics, considering this was the first BET Experience in four years.

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After burgeoning singer Jordan Ward brought the R&B vibes to open up the nearly six-hour long marathon, Sexxy Red cranked the intensity with a category-five caliber performance. With a SexxyRed4President.com plastered on the big screen, Big Sexxy strolled onto the stage with “Bow Bow Bow” reverberating through the speakers. She, along with her ravenous fanbase, taunted the men in the crowd as they howled “F— My Baby Daddy” in unison, giving Sexxy the extra jolt of confidence she needed.

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Sexxy raced through her newest project, In Sexxy We Trust, ripping through B-sides like “Fake Jammin” and “Boss Me Up.” Her performance peaked when she captivated the crowd during a four-song stretch of “Rich Baby Daddy,” “Skee Yee,” “Get It Sexyy,” and her breakout record “Pound Town.” Littered with catchy ad-libs and eye-popping twerks, Sexxy’s performance proves why she’s one of the hottest female rappers today.

It was Davido’s turn shortly after, and his mission was clear: Take everyone to The Motherland. The Afrobeats superstar shifted the raucous energy with a jazzy live band and his crew of break dancers. The triumphant production was the catalyst in bringing Davido’s set to life as he skated through his biggest hits like “If,” “Fall,” “Risky,” and “Unavailable.” He also veered into some of his features, most notably Chris Brown’s “Sensational,” which added more flare to his high-octane set.

Up next to bat was Gunna. Fresh off The Bittersweet Tour, he showed little rust. Opening his set with “one of wun,” Gunna, sporting a bejeweled jean jacket and shorts, was dialed in, looking to woo fans with cuts from his latest album. Though he spoon-fed songs like “whatsapp” and “prada dem,” he shifted into the deep cuts, tapping Leon Bridges to join him for a performance of “clear my rain.” Gunna didn’t stop there, as he tagged in IDK for their new collaboration, “TiFFANY,” before delving back into his vintage hits. He satiated the hunger pangs of his day-one supporters, revisiting songs like “Dollaz on My Head” and “Top Off.” He also peppered his set with songs for the ladies, rapping “Banking on Me” and “P Power,” to much of their delight.

As he commanded the crowd, Gunna leaned on his cheat code to seal the deal. “Drip Too Hard,” “Pushin P,” and the YSL heater “Hot” sans Young Thug perked everyone’s ears and revved up Gunna as he pressed the right buttons during those prime moments. To punctuate his performance, Gunna wrapped things up with his newly-minted classic, “fukumean,” before setting the stage for the night’s final performer, Cardi B.

Appearing at nearly midnight, Cardi brought a laundry bag of hits and humor to the L.A. crowd. Donning a custom-made football jersey emblazoned with the No. 11, the Bronx bombshell used Friday night’s performance to show us what a potential Cardi Tour would like. The “Cardi Party” was fun. Her signature wit and grit shined through as she sprinted with avidity through her 2018 opus, Invasion of Privacy. Though the project remains her lone gold star on the album front, it still holds, as proven by the roars on songs like “Get Up 10” and “Bartier Cardi.”

Though Cardi’s headlining set was under 40 minutes, she applied pressure once she wrangled in her features. Arguably one of the best feature artists of all time, Cardi went inside a time chamber and revisited verses from G-Eazy’s “No Limit,” Blueface’s “Thotiana,” GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2” and more. And when Cardi wasn’t enjoying her hellacious features run, she ran up the scoreboard with her solo hits with “I Like It,” “Up,” and the steamy “WAP,” which found her spilling water on herself. Though she joked about being winded and needing a quick breather, she pushed through and stamped her New York swagger on the West Coast by closing out her set with “Bodak Yellow.”

28 Jun 2024

Celine Dion Announces Montreal Canadiens’ First-Round Pick at 2024 NHL Draft: ‘Like a Movie’

Being selected in the first round of the NHL Draft is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Being announced by one of the most talented singers of all time is one in a million.

At the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night (June 28), the Canadiens welcomed Celine Dion to the stage — described by Montreal general manager Kent Hughes as “our No. 1 fan” — to announce the night’s fifth overall draft pick.

Dion was accompanied to the stage inside Las Vegas’ Sphere by her 23-year-old son René-Charles Dion Angélil, who is also a singer and goes by RC Angélil. After a bilingual greeting toggling between French and English, Dion got down to business. “With the fifth overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to select Ivan Demidov.”

Thanks to Dion’s tense pause ahead of saying the 18-year-old Russian hockey player’s name, the NHL announcers called it “the most dramatic draft announcement of all time.” (The announcers also suggested that “Montreal is saying ‘merci’ to the Anaheim Ducks for not picking him,” after the California club had shown interest in choosing Demidov third overall.)

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In his post-draft press conference. reporters asked Demidov what it was like to have Dion announce his name. “It’s unbelievable. It’s like a book. Like a movie. It’s… me,” he laughed.

The reporters suggested he might be too young to know Dion’s music, but the Russian teen assured them, “No, I know. I watched the Titanic.” Dion, of course, performed “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the 1997 James Cameron epic Titanic, which spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Dion was born about 15 miles outside Montreal in Charlemagne, Quebec, and has been a vocal fan of the Canadiens for years. She has also called Las Vegas home for the past two decades, mounting a pair of residencies at Caesars Palace spanning 16 years.

The NHL Draft appearance comes just a few days after Prime Video released the new documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles Dion’s health battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder.

Watch Dion’s NHL Draft announcement and Demidov’s post-draft press conference below.


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28 Jun 2024

Dua Lipa Performs ‘The Less I Know the Better’ With Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker

Dua Lipa brought the heat to Glastonbury on Friday night (June 28) — thanks to the pyrotechnics and fireworks, as well as her slew of back-to-back hits — but her headlining set had a fun surprise as well.

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During her performance, the pop superstar brought out Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker for a duet of the band’s 2015 hit, “The Less I Know the Better.”

As seen in clips circulating social media, the duo traded verses before coming together on to sing and dance around onstage during the chorus.

“I have written this moment down, I’ve wished for it, I’ve dreamt it,” Lipa told the crowd of what headlining Glastonbury means to her. “When I wrote it down, I said I really want to headline the Pyramid stage on a Friday night so I can party the next two days at the best place on earth.”

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Parker worked with Lipa as a co-producer and co-writer on seven tracks off her recently released album, Radical Optimism. “Dua had this focus on finding this sound, which was so elusive,” Parker previously said in an interview with Elle. “But it was nice to be in the engine room of the creative process, rather than worry about being the face of it. It was the experience that I’ve been waiting for.” He described the origins of the first single, the bouncy “Houdini,” as starting with a bass line he plunked out weeks before their session that he realized could work once the singer added a “moody,” post-disco melody. 

“She started singing, and it just immediately made sense,” he added. “This feeling of early-’80s sleaze, in some strange, dark, sweaty club. Gloriously suffocating. Hypnotic.”

Of the songs Parker collaborated on, three became U.K. top 10 singles including “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion.”

28 Jun 2024

Eminem Recruits Fellow Detroit Natives Big Sean & Babytron for Ominous ‘Tobey’ Single: Watch the Trailer

Eminem fans will have more reason to celebrate Independence Day after Slim Shady announced plans for his second album single, out next week.

The Detroit native is connecting three different generations of rappers out of The D with Em recruiting Babytron and Big Sean to hop on the menacing “Tobey.” Eminem gave fans a glimpse into the track’s horror theme with a trailer on Friday (June 28).

“TOBEY@babytron @bigsean new music 7/2 video 7/5 by @colebennett,” Em captioned the clip revealing “Tobey” will arrive on Tuesday, July 2, with a Cole Bennett-helmed music video coming two days later, on Friday, July 5.

The clip finds Em in a Jason Voorhees goalie mask revving a chainsaw and gushing blood while slicing up a body. Babytron and Big Sean watch Eminem’s gruesome butchering in tow without batting an eye.

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The ticking ominous production begins and Big Sean gets off the only Spider-Man referencing bar heard in the clip. “Tobey Maguire got bit by a Spider, but me, see it was a goat,” he raps.

Fans had plenty to say about the upcoming single in Em’s comment section. “We got Eminem x Baby Tron before GTA6,” one wrote while another added: “Baby ft big sounds hilarious!”

“Tobey” marks Em’s first collab with Babytron and fourth with Big Sean following their team-up in 2017 on I Decided’s “No Favors,” Detroit 2‘s “Friday Night Cypher” and ShadyXV‘s “Detroit Vs. Everybody.”

Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) will serve as his 12th studio album and is slated to arrive at some point this summer.

The 51-year-old kicked off the album rollout with his nostalgic “Houdini” single, which gave Em his highest-charting track of the decade when it debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100.

Watch the “Tobey” trailer below. Look for the single to hit streaming services on July 3.

28 Jun 2024

Lil Nas X Drops New Song for ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Sequel: Listen to ‘Here We Go!’

You have the right to remain silent, but you may be tempted to sing along now that Lil Nas X‘s catchy new single “Here We Go!” for Netflix’s upcoming Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has dropped.

Featuring a prominent sample of the brassy “Axel F” theme song originally written by Harold Faltermeyer, “Here We Go!” finds the 25-year-old rapper flexing his top-dog status over intense bass drums and a trap beat. “And tell them don’t die tryna catch us/ Could go a million miles wouldn’t catch up,” he sings on the track, which arrived Friday (June 28). “Move, tell ’em just move/ Tell ’em just move, move, move.”

“Axel F” was a top five Billboard Hot 100 hit for Faltermeyer in 1985, peaking at No. 3.

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Lil Nas X’s first solo release since January’s “Where Do We Go Now?,” the new song will both serve as Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F‘s main theme as well as play over the end credits. The film premieres on Netflix July 3 and marks the Eddie Murphy-led franchise’s fourth installment following Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994.

“It was actually kind of insane,” the “Old Town Road” artist said of being asked to provide the track in a recent sit-down with the Axel F cast. “I was a bit emotional … I’m happy to do it. I hope I’m not slaughtered by people who love the original.”

“Nah, your track is bananas,” Murphy assured him, as captured in a video posted to Netflix’s Instagram.

The actor added, “I’m excited to have some new music and have this brother be the one that’s on it.”

Aside from “Here We Go!,” LNX has so far released the solo single “J Christ” as well as collaborations with Camila Cabello (“He Knows”) and Kevin Abstract (“Tennessee”) in 2024. He hasn’t released an album since his 2021 debut LP Montero, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

The Georgia native also opened up about his new film feature in a since-deleted Instagram post earlier this week, writing: “so excited to release the best song of all time this friday! also sorry I’ve been so scared with my art lately. I’m coming around to myself again. I will make you guys very proud.”

Listen to “Here We Go!” below.

28 Jun 2024

Donald Glover Debuts Trailer for New Movie ‘Bando Stone and the New World’ Before ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Screening

Back in April, Donald Glover revealed on a livestream of his GILGA radio show that he would be releasing two more albums under the Childish Gambino before he retires it for good. He already dropped the first of the two with Atavista, which is essentially the a more polished version of his 3.15.20 album that he released in 2020. The second — and last as Childish Gambino — will be Bando Stone and the New World, which will double as the soundtrack to the upcoming movie of the same name.

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Last night, the rapper-slash-actor posted a picture of ticket stubs to an advance IMAX screening of A Quiet Place: Day One with the caption, “Bando Stone trailer is coming tonight @imax.”

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The trailer hasn’t been released online yet, but one fan took it upon themselves to record the trailer and put it on the Internet in the name of civic duty. It opens with a confused Bando Stone wondering where all the people are until he runs into a mother and her kid. What comes next is a bunch of dystopian things happening like washed up sea monsters and alien lasers trying to trap them. While all this is going down, the trailer poses the question, “What are you when the world ends?”


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The film also stars English actress Jessica Allain and is produced by Glover’s creative studio GILGA in association with RCA. There’s no release date yet, but the movie and its soundtrack will be dropping this year.

Bando Stone and the New World will screen exclusively in IMAX theaters.

28 Jun 2024

Tinashe Recalls Feeling Starstruck When Christina Aguilera Used ‘Nasty’ in a Video: ‘I Screamed’

Tinashe is cleaning up with her hit “Nasty,” from chart success to celebrity praise. And in a new interview with People, the 31-year-old star opened up about all the good things the track is sending her way, including a bucket-list shout-out from Christina Aguilera.

When asked about how A-listers have been posting videos set to “Nasty” on social media, Tinashe revealed which person’s use of the song has made her the most starstruck: “Christina Aguilera, for sure.”

“She was a hero of mine growing up,” Tinashe added of Xtina, who paired a fierce OOTD video with “Nasty” on Instagram last month. “Her and Britney [Spears] were absolute queens when I was younger. So I think just having that co-sign was pretty epic. I screamed.”

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At the time, Tinashe ecstatically commented on Aguilera’s post: “OMFGGGGGGGGGH”

After 10 years in the industry and several Billboard Hot 100 entries via collabs with Spears, ScHoolboy Q, Kid Ink and Usher, the Kentucky-born singer finally earned her first solo hit on the chart with “Nasty” earlier this month. So far, the song has peaked at No. 62.

“It’s just so exciting,” Tinashe, whose new single “Getting No Sleep” dropped Friday (June 28), said of the feat. “I feel like every day, it gets better, and so I’m just trying to live in the moment because it’s still going up. It’s still peaking in streams. It’s just climbing and climbing and climbing. At first, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I’ve evolved past that, and now I’m just enjoying it, having so much fun and being so excited.”

“I mean, it’s pretty f—ing fun,” she added to the publication. “It’s exciting. I never expected that this record would just pop off like this, so that’s very much fun. I’m having a great summer so far, to say the least.”

28 Jun 2024

Friday Dance Music Guide: The Week’s Best New Tracks From Channel Tres, LP Giobbi, Tycho & More

This week in dance music: A new album by Sophie, overseen by the late producer’s brother, is coming in September. Kygo, the human music producer, met a terminally ill dog also named Kygo at the former Kygo’s Palm Tree Music Festival in the Hamptons. Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful announced a new name, a new format and a September lineup with LCD Soundystem, Peggy Gou and Justice. We took a look at how the the Grammys’ new rule tweaks affect the dance/electronic categories and why DJs are playing so many dance covers. Deadmau5 expressed his displeasure over recent comments by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, Diplo was hit with a new “revenge porn” lawsuit and ADE 2024 added execs from Empire, Spotify, SoundCloud and more to the program for its event this October.

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And last but never least, these are the best new dance tracks of the week.

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Channel Tres, Head Rush

“The new music I’m making now is just on another level,” Channel Tres told Billboard last year about the output that would become his debut album. And in fact, he was right — with the release of his Head Rush project demonstrating all the inventiveness and easy cool we’ve come to know, love and respect about the Los Angeles-based artist since he broke through circa 2018. Deftly folding in influences from gospel (“Joyful Noise”) to funk (“Candy Paint”) to industrial (“Berghain”), the 17-track album feels like Channel Tres throughout, and features a cool kid assemblage of collaborators including Toro y Moi, Ty Dolla $ign, Estelle, Ravyn Lenae, Thundercat, Teezo Touchdown and Barney Bones.

Out through RCA Records, it comes ahead of summer/fall festival performances at events including HARD Summer, Outside Lands, All Points East and III Points. “A lot of emotion went into this one,” Tres wrote about the LP release. “From it being my first album and then fighting the feelings of imposter syndrome. We here, I’m with you, ill be dancing on tour soon much love.”

LP Giobbi, “Bittersweet”

LP Giobbi’s latest release “Bittersweet” is as it sounds, with the brightness of the vocals (sung by Portugal. The Man’s John Gourley) met with a current of melancholy played out in the simultaneously lush-yet-restrained production. Combined the track gives the feeling of dancing through the tears — especially following the key change in the track’s jammy final third. “Bittersweet” is the first taste of Giobbi’s just-announced second album Dotr, coming this October via Ninja Tune, and written through (and about) the waves of grief the producer experienced after the loss of her mother in law, her longtime piano teacher and a close family friend. Named for the way the producer used sign notes to her parents, Dotr will feature collabs with Brittany Howard, Danielle Ponder, Panama and more artists.

“This album is a lot about what it is to be a daughter, have a daughter and love a daughter, as well as a way of honoring some of the most important women in my life,” the producer says in a statement. “There are also a lot of themes tied to home (the ones we create or the ones we were born into) which, for me, are reflected through my identity as a daughter.”

Isoknock & RL Grime, “Smack Talk”

It makes perfect sense for bass Jedi RL Grime to collaborate with genre phenoms Knock2 and Isoxo (working here together as Isoknock) with their long-awaited collab “Smack Talk” also being perfectly executed and predictably large. Together, the three SoCal-based artists raise an army of sound, with hip-hop influences, a church choir, air horns and straightforward headbanding drops altogether taking shape into the heavy, cinematic style that’s generating so much excitement around Isoxo and Knock2, and which has defined much of Grimes’ catalog.

Tycho, “Phantom”

Low-key legend Tycho returns with the lead single from the forthcoming Infinite Health, the oufit’s sixth studio album. “Phantom” gives ’80s synth pop filtered through a lens of AM radio, hitting the clean, cerebral vibe that’s defined so much of Tycho’s work, but with a slightly darker edge.

“I wanted ‘Phantom’ to feel like a blend of lights in a nightclub with some unknown entity; a moving and shifting intelligence that served as a conduit to a deeper understanding of what’s beneath the surface of existence,” says Tycho leader Scott Hansen. “It’s also about coming to terms with mortality, with the phantom being the ever-present specter. I spent more hours on this song than any other on the record.” Coming August 30 via Mom+Pop, Infinite Health will see the first North American tour from Tycho in five years.

Folamour, “Pressure Makes Diamonds”

On the tenth anniversary of the project, French producer Folamour offers a treatise about the challenges of a career in music, with the song’s title also functioning as its thesis statement. “Pressure Makes Diamonds” is cut from the same sonic cloth as previous tracks like “Poundland Anthem,” with the track made from layers and layers of bright synth, piano stabs, a swell of percussion and the artist’s own vocals, purred with a thick French accent.