Music News

27 Aug 2024

Hot 100 First-Timers: Gigi Perez Debuts With Queer Love Ballad ‘Sailor Song’

Gigi Perez is officially a Billboard Hot 100-charting artist, thanks to her breakthrough viral hit, “Sailor Song.”

The track, which Perez self-released on July 26, debuts at No. 98 on the Aug. 31-dated chart from its streaming sum: 5.6 million official U.S. clicks (up 20%) Aug. 16-22, according to Luminate. It also rises 10-9 on Hot Alternative Songs, 12-9 on Hot Rock Songs and 16-13 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.

Perez first began teasing the song on TikTok in April, helping generate hype leading up to its official release. The initial clip shared on her TikTok has since soundtracked over 40,000 clips on the platform, while the official audio has been used in over 75,000. Fans liken her sound to such alt-folk favorites as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Hozier.

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While many have raved about the song’s lyrics detailing queer love and longing, Perez has received backlash from some religious TikTokers due to its lyric, “I don’t believe in God / But I believe that you’re my savior.” In response to users asking her to remove the line, she shared a TikTok last week, writing via caption, “I never had to consider whether or not I was going to change my song cause it was never up for discussion … My songwriting is not a democracy and that applies to every artists [sic] work.”

The New Jersey-born, Florida-raised singer-songwriter first achieved a taste of stardom in 2021 with her song “Sometimes (Backwood),” which has since racked up 57.9 million official U.S. streams. She released her debut eight-track EP, How To Catch a Falling Knife, in 2023 (via Mogul Vision/Interscope Records) and two more songs this year: “Normalcy,” in March, and “Please Be Rude,” in May.

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27 Aug 2024

Hozier Postpones Two Shows Due to Vocal Issues: ‘It Breaks My Heart To Do This’

Hozier is taking a brief break from the road to rest and recuperate. The “Too Sweet” singer informed fans on Monday (August 26) that he’s been forced to postpone tonight’s (August 27) planned show in Billings, MT at the First Interstate Arena and Wednesday’s (August 28) gig at Casper, WY’s Ford Wyoming Center due to vocal issues.

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“I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to a show during this run, and in particular those of you who have shown such kind support over the last number of nights while I’ve struggled vocally getting over a recent virus,” the singer wrote in a message on X.

“Although I’ve still really enjoyed getting to connect with you all from the stage, my voice just isn’t getting the chance it needs to recover properly,” he continued. “It breaks my heart to do this, but I’m going to have to postpone the next two shows…. to give my health and vocal chords every chance of recovery for the sake of the rest of the the tour.”

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While the 34-year-old singer did not provide additional details about his what is ailing him, he did tell ticketholders that information on the rescheduled shows will be announced soon; fans are encouraged to hold on to their tickets, which will be honored on the new dates, or to apply for a refund from the point of purchase if they are unable to attend the rescheduled gigs.

Hozier recently released the three-track Unaired EP, which features songs recorded during the sessions for his 2023 Unreal Unearth album. Assuming his vocal issues clear up, the singer’s next slated tour date is on Friday (August 30) at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, CO.

See Hozier’s post below.

27 Aug 2024

You Weren’t the Only One: DNC Exec Producer Says Even His Staff Thought Beyoncé Was Going to Pop Out

It was the rumor that everyone wanted to believe but nobody could confirm: the final night of the Democratic National Convention was going to feature a very special appearance by Beyoncé. The fantasy was that the singer was going to shock the world and cap the coronation of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat party’s 2024 presidential nominee by performing her Harris campaign theme song, “Freedom” in Chicago’s United Center as the balloons and confetti rained down on Harris and her VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Only it wasn’t true and never was. It was, however, such a compelling manifestation that even some of the event’s staff were convinced it was happening.

“We never put out anything about Beyoncé. We denied it every time the media asked us — even though, by the way, people on my staff didn’t believe me,” DNC executive producer Ricky Kirshner told The Hollywood Reporter. “I kept getting texts from news organizations saying, ‘When is Beyoncé coming out?’ But come on, we have the biggest star, the Democratic nominee for president. Why would we overshadow that?”

It’s a fair point. Plus, Kirshner, an Emmy-winning veteran of 14 Super Bowl halftime shows and a raft of other live events, who worked with Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss (Tony Awards, Kennedy Center Honors) to design the four-night spectacle, said they already had a huge task ahead of them after Harris swapped in just four weeks before the event following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race. Coming off a muted 2020 convention that was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weiss said they were looking for a “big-energy experience,” after throwing out the original script and pivoting to focus the event around Harris.

Weiss said the Beyoncé rumor — which kicked into high gear by the anonymous @Angry_Staffer X account writing, “If you thought the Oprah surprise was big, just wait” — was a perfect example of an internet whisper taking on a life of its own. “And people taking something as fact — literally to the point that people in my booth are saying, ‘Is she coming? You can tell me.’ And I would say, ‘I have no knowledge she’s coming.’ And they would say, ‘No knowledge? So there’s something to know?,’” he said. “It was pretty crazy. But she wasn’t coming. In the end even TMZ [which first reported it] had to issue an apology.”

The rumors spun up so quickly and fervently that a spokesperson for the singer stressed to THR on the day of Harris’ convention-ending acceptance speech on August 22 that “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there… The report of a performance is untrue.”

While Queen Bey was not in the house, her presence was definitely felt, including on night one when a moving a cappella video cued to her Lemonade track “Freedom,” with narration from Oscar-nominee Jeffrey Wright, was played to help kick-off the proceedings. After Harris unexpectedly jumped into the race last month, the campaign rolled out “Freedom” during the veep’s walk-out at her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters. A full-band album version of the song was also featured in an early campaign video.

Unlike Trump, who has been sued, issued cease & desist orders and strongly-worded requests from artists who don’t agree with his divisive, name-calling rhetoric and who want him to stop using their music during his campaign stops, Beyoncé gave the Harris campaign full approval to use “Freedom.”

In another nod to how important music was to the DNC, Kirshner said that the instantly viral Georgia roll call moment with Lil Jon performing “Turn Down For What!” in the room even took producers by surprise. “It took on a life of its own,” Kirshner said of the high point of the innovative, music-heavy recitation of the delegate count, which had a much more traditional, staid roll-out at the RNC weeks before. “We were just trying to energize the room and we woke up the next morning and it was like, ‘holy crap!’ We actually asked a couple of people from other states if they might want to do something and they didn’t get into it. But Lil Jon just really leaned in.”

27 Aug 2024

Benson Boone, RAYE Join Lineup For 2024 Global Citizen Festival

Benson Boone and RAYE have been added to the already star-studded line-up for the 2024 Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park. The pair join a previously announced roster of acts that includes Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro.

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“Ending extreme poverty is a responsibility we all share,” said Boone in a statement. “I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen’s mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world.” 

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The festival hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman will also feature special appearances by primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. As part of its portfolio of environmental sustainability efforts, this year’s even will also become one of the first major U.S. festivals to be powered entirely by hybrid energy.

According to a release, the Central Park stage will be powered by the same kind of SmartGrid battery system used to power Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour, including all audio, lighting, video and stage production. Working with Showpower Global B.V. and CES Power, Global Citizen Fest will become one of the first major U.S. festivals to move away from using diesel generators in order to reduce the event’s carbon emissions.

Among the confirmed presenters scheduled to take the stage on Central Parks’ Great Lawn on Sept. 28 are: Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Bridget Moynahan, Charlamagne Tha God, Danai Gurira, Eric Adjepong, Gavin DeGraw, Jordan Fisher, Kal Penn, Liza Koshy, Doctor Mike Varshavski, Nomzamo Mbatha, Osi Umenyiora, Rachel Brosnahan, Rhett & Link, Sophia Bush and Vladimir Duthiers.

The group leading the international push to end extreme poverty is once again offering fans free tickets, which can be earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or on the organization’s site here in an effort to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity. 

“Global Citizen Festival has always been about using the power of music and activism to drive real, tangible change. This year, we’re taking bold steps to protect our planet, from powering our stage with clean energy to advocating for Indigenous-led projects that preserve the Amazon and calling for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty,” added Global Citizen co-founder Michael Sheldrick in a statement. “These efforts are about ensuring that the transition to a sustainable future leaves no one behind – whether it’s communities in the Global South or right here in New York. We’re calling on world leaders, businesses, and citizens alike to join us in mobilizing action towards a just transition to clean energy and a safer planet for all.”

Global Citizen will also mark the start of Climate Week with a beach clean-up on Sept. 21 in partnership with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Fans can also earn free tickets the the festival by removing trash and marine debris from the shores of Jamaica Bay and documenting the year’s “Dirty Dozen” most commonly found trash items; click here to register and for more information.

Official Global Citizen 2024 merch is available now, with responsibly sourced items made in collaboration with Doja Cat, Alejandro, Aviator Nation and more; click here to see the items.

Among the calls to action for this year’s event is one asking the G7 nations — Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the U.K. and the U.S. — to increase support for anti-poverty programs worldwide, as well as one calling for businesses, governments and philanthropic organizations to protect and restore the Amazon rainforest by investing $1 billion to help support indigenous communities and pledge to set timelines for phasing out coal, oil and gas to ensure a transition to green energy. The third action point is Global Citizen’s plea for world governments to commit at least $5 billion to equitable access to nutritious food, stronger health systems and quality education around the world.

27 Aug 2024

Ex-Megadeth Guitarist Says KISS Rejected Him for His Height: ‘I Was So Bummed’

Marty Friedman, the former lead guitarist of Megadeth, recently shared a surprising story about how he missed out on a chance to join KISS because he was “too short”.

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In an interview with Sam Ash Music, Friedman, best known for his decade-long tenure with Megadeth from 1990 to 2000, was asked if there was any KISS song he would have liked to play guitar on.

His response revealed a fascinating piece of rock history: “I would’ve wanted to be on any KISS song. I’ll give you a quick story about that – when they were changing guitar players a long time ago, I got a call from KISS’ people.”

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The conversation quickly took an unexpected turn when KISS’s management started asking Friedman a series of questions, seemingly unrelated to his guitar skills.

“They say like, ‘Do you think you’d be interested in auditioning for KISS?’ I’m like, ‘Tell me when and where.’ They came back and were like, ‘We’ve got a couple of questions for you. You don’t have any facial hair, do you?’ No. ‘You got long hair right?’ Right. ‘You’re skinny right?’ Right. ‘And you’re over 6 feet tall?’ and I’m like, ‘What? I’m 5’7 but I’ll have an operation, I’ll do something.’”

Unfortunately for Friedman, his height proved to be a deal-breaker. “They were like, ‘I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out.’ I was so bummed.”

Despite the disappointment, Friedman acknowledged the importance of image for a group like KISS. “I get why they did it. KISS is meticulous about their image, and having a height difference wouldn’t fit the band’s aesthetic.”

This attention to their image was crucial for KISS, one of rock’s most theatrical and elaborate bands. Formed in 1973 in New York City, KISS quickly became known for their blood-spurting, fire-spitting, face-painted performances. The group have delivered numerous hits to the Billboard Hot 100, including classics like “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975).

This year, the band made headlines again when Pophouse, a Swedish company known for its work with ABBA’s Voyage show, acquired KISS’s publishing, recording royalties, and trademarks. This includes the band’s iconic logo and makeup design.

“We have a lot of plans for KISS,” Pophouse CEO Per Sundin told Billboard in April. Although Sundin says the company bought out the rights owned by frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, they will work with the company to develop the show, which is expected to open in 2027 in a U.S. city that Sundin declined to name.

“We want to keep to the legacy,” Sundin says. “We want to extend it and amplify it for new generations.”

27 Aug 2024

Fans Speculate: Could Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley Be Linkin Park’s New Frontman?

The rock community is alive with speculation that Deryck Whibley, the lead singer of Sum 41, might be stepping into one of modern rock’s most iconic roles as Linkin Park’s new lead vocalist.

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The rumor has gained major traction this week following cryptic social media posts from both bands, setting fans on high alert.

Sum 41 lit the fuse on Aug. 25, teasing a “Deryck Whibley announcement” scheduled for Wednesday morning (Aug. 28) PST.

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Intriguingly, Linkin Park had launched a 100-hour countdown on their website just a day earlier, set to conclude simultaneously with Sum 41’s reveal. The highly coincidental timing has, of course, fueled intense speculation about a possible connection.

Linkin Park is one of the most successful rock groups from the 2000s, having sold more than 29.4 million albums in the United States, according to Luminate. The band has charted 24 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including three top 10 hits: “In the End” in 2003, “What I’ve Done” in 2007 and “New Divide” in 2009.

However, since Chester Bennington’s tragic death in 2017, the band has been without a full-time lead vocalist.

Earlier this year, Billboard reported that the band was eyeing a 2025 reunion tour, with sources hinting at the possibility of a female vocalist taking the helm.

Orgy’s Jay Gordon fueled the whispers earlier this year when he mentioned hearing that the band might be bringing on a female singer. However, Gordon later clarified that his comments had been taken out of context, saying, “With regards to this Linkin Park singer thing. I know nothing about any of that.”

Whibley’s connection to Linkin Park runs deep. He performed at Bennington’s tribute concert in October 2017 and later, Mike Shinoda joined Sum 41 on stage at the 2018 Reading Festival for  a cover of Linkin Park’s “Faint.”

However, when asked in 2022 about potentially filling Bennington’s shoes, Whibley was hesitant.

On The Jasta Show, he remarked, “I think that’s an impossible task… I think those are impossible shoes to fill. I don’t know if [Linkin Park is] ever gonna do anything. I have no idea what that’s gonna look like, or who that could be.”

Asked if he would join the band if the opportunity arose, he added, “That is such a non-possibility that it’s too weird to even, like, sort of joke-think about it.”

“I don’t know how someone could fill those shoes,” he added “I think it would be tough.”

Fan reactions to the possibility of Whibley joining Linkin Park have been mixed. On Reddit, one fan expressed concern: “I just worry he’ll be too similar to Chester that he’ll fall short.” Another offered a more optimistic view: “He couldn’t do the super screaming songs but could handle most of the setlist.”

However, there’s also optimism among fans, with one user noting, “Deryck honestly sounds pretty good on [Faint]… interesting.”

Whibley’s life and career are at a pivotal moment, not just due to the speculation about Linkin Park but also because of his recently announced memoir, Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell, set to be released on Oct. 8 via Gallery Books.

The memoir chronicles the rocker’s journey through the highs and lows of his life, both personally and with Sum 41.

“Ten years ago, I found myself on the brink of death in a hospital bed,” Whibley said in a statement about the book’s release.

“Surviving that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would fight harder than ever for this band and strive to become the best version of myself. Today, I’m proud to say that Sum 41 is experiencing the greatest success in our career, with our biggest hits on the radio and performing at the largest shows of our lives.”

He continued, “This book is the story of that journey—through the good, the bad, and the really fucking ugly. It’s about how I fought my way back, the battles I faced along the way, and how I turned those struggles into the fuel that powers everything I do now.”

To promote the memoir, Whibley will embark on a U.S. book tour in October, making stops in cities like Jersey City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

In addition to his memoir, Whibley and Sum 41 are currently on their final tour, Tour of the Setting Sum, which kicked off earlier this year. The band will perform their largest show to date in Paris this November, followed by their final hometown shows in Toronto in January 2025.

Their latest and final double album, Heaven :x: Hell, has been a commercial success, featuring singles like “Landmines,” which topped Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, marking the band’s first No. 1 single since “Fat Lip” in 2001.

As the clock ticks down to the anticipated announcements, the rock community is on edge. Whether Whibley is about to join Linkin Park or something entirely different is in the works, fans are ready for the reveal.

See Linkin Park’s countdown post on YouTube here.

26 Aug 2024

Lea Michele Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Husband Zandy Reich

Congratulations are in order for Lea Michele, who is officially a girl mom.

The actress took to Instagram on Sunday (Aug. 25) to announce that that she and husband Zandy Reich welcomed their second baby, a girl named Emery Sol. “Our hearts are so full ? Emery Sol Reich ?,” Michele captioned a photo holding the newborn bundle of joy’s foot.

The Glee actress — who is already Mom to four-year-old son Ever Leo — revealed that she was pregnant back in March with a sweet Instagram post. In the pictures, Michele posed with a silky white shawl draped over her shoulders, cradling her baby bump as it peeked through the fabric.

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“Mommy, Daddy and Ever are overjoyed,” she captioned the post. Michele and Reich tied the knot in 2019. The couple became first-time parents the next year, welcoming Ever in August 2020.

The Funny Girl actress recently appeared on Katherine Schwarzenegger’s podcast BDA Baby, where she shared that the process of her second child’s conception was “completely not what [they] expected” and that she had “two back-to-back very early failed pregnancies.”

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26 Aug 2024

Paramore Thanks Taylor Swift for Eras Tour Supporting Slot: ‘We Love You’

Paramore is celebrating their Eras tour trek with Taylor Swift.

The band took to their Instagram page on Monday (Aug. 26) to share appreciation for Swift, posting a photo in which frontwoman Hayley Williams and the band smile alongside the pop star, who is giving a thumbs up to the camera. “Thank you for asking us to be part of such an incredible moment in your life and career,” the caption reads. “We loved playing for the Swifties, we loved watching you tell your life story through this show. And we truly fell in love with your whole crew. Congrats on one more leg of this giant, history making tour! We love you!”

See the post here.

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Paramore opened for the “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” superstar throughout her UK and European tour dates. Swift announced the news in July 2023 in the form of a post featuring a picture of the two old friends with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders. “Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour,” she wrote. “And I get to travel the world doing shows with @paramore!! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m screaming???”

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Most recently, Swift and Williams teamed up for “Castles Crumbling” off of 2023’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Back in April, Williams took to her Instagram Stories following the release of her longtime pal Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, to name the project as one of her favorites in honor of Record Store Day. “Had me from the storytelling alone, my friend,” Williams wrote alongside the cover art. “Every one of us knows this kind of grief! It’s so impressive to me how specific and colorful Taylor’s words get without ever losing the universal thread. I’m so ready to be tour-mates.” 

26 Aug 2024

Nicki Minaj Reveals ‘Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded’ Deluxe Album Release Date

Barbz, September is going to be your month. After several teasers, Nicki Minaj has announced the release date for her Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded deluxe album.

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The Queens legend revealed on Monday (Aug. 26) that the deluxe edition will hit streaming services on Sept. 23 while she’s on the road for the second North American leg of her tour.

“9.23.24 #GagCityRELOADED THE DELUXE ALBUM,” Minaj captioned the photo dump featuring several pictures loving on her hubby Kenneth “Zoo” Petty.

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The Barbz were understandably ecstatic to hear the news that Nicki would be dropping again with her tour coming up.

“love these types of posts! It feels like a mini documentary from you. Thank you for this #GagCityReloaded album! I can’t wait to hear the new songs,” one fan wrote.

Another chimed in: “GAG CITY RELOADED IS GONNA GE THE BIGGEST MOVIE IN GAG CITY HISTORY!!!!”

Nicki has been tight-lipped about the deluxe, but divulged that a Sunday night (Aug. 25) studio session produced what she thinks will be fans’ favorite on the project.

“Well, Barbz- Didn’t really want to have to speak on this but I just can’t stay quiet about it any longer,” she tweeted. “Last night, I recorded what will probably be your favorite song on the deluxe. It will immediately go into your TOP 5 of the entire PF2 era. OH MY FREAKING GOODNESSWDRFFHJKGV.”

Nicki’s Pink Friday 2 World Tour is slated to kick off once again in Philly on Sept. 4. She’ll be making stops in NYC, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Miami and more on the 22-city trek.

PF2 was originally released in December 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 228,000 album units sold in the first week.

26 Aug 2024

Big Sean Announces ‘Better Me Than You’ Album Release Date During Emotional Instagram Live

After a brief delay, Big Sean’s Better Me Than You has a new release date. Sean Don confirmed in a vulnerable Instagram Live session on Monday (Aug. 26) that his sixth studio album will arrive on Friday (Aug. 30).

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“The album is dropping this week,” he said. “I appreciate my mom for being that guardian angel always giving me that advice. She really talked me through it for real. Like I said, I haven’t been sleeping a lot. I been giving this s–t my all. I’m burned the f–k out. I’m tired. I do do this s–t for the people that f–k with me.”

Sean got teary-eyed throughout the cathartic session while revealing he had some creative apprehension when it came to putting the project out, but his mother helped reinstill that confidence in him to move forward with the LP.

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“I’m excited. That’s one thing my mom said, ‘Get excited! Drop — Your album is fire!’ Everyone around me keep saying that,” he added before explaining that there will be listening parties on both coasts in New York City and Los Angeles as well as something for his hometown of Detroit.

Big Sean has heated up with a handful of singles in 2024 including The Alchemist-helmed “Together Forever” as well as “On Up,” “Yes,” “Ya Don’t Stop” and “Precision.” He also appeared on Eminem’s “Tobey” single alongside BabyTron.

The Detroit native has three consecutive No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 with his most recent coming in 2020 with Detroit 2.

Sean Don will be in conversation with Billboard Deputy Director of Hip-Hop/R&B Carl Lamarre as part of the Samsung Presents series on Tuesday night (Aug. 27) at the Samsung 837 location in NYC.

Better Me Than You was originally slated to land on Aug. 9 before being pushed to the end of the month following a leak. Sean revealed the project’s cover art on Monday which features a version of him being summoned by a higher power of sorts.

Find the artwork below. Stream Better Me Than You on Friday (Aug. 30).