Music
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A post-Bangles (the first time) Susanna Hoffs already had one solo album, When You’re a Boy, behind her and was starting to conceive her second when she got a call from David Baerwald, Dan Schwartz and some of the other musicians involved in Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club — and began a long path to The Lost Record, a collection of those songs and their subsequent recordings that comes out Oct. 18 on Baroque Folks Records.
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“They were just reaching out to me; I went to David Kitay’s studio and we kind of created our own version of something along the lines of what they had done with Tuesday Night Music Club,” Hoffs recalls for Billboard via Zoom. “It was, like, meeting together weekly. We would sit around, working on songs. There was one day when Joni Mitchell showed up; I have a recording of David Baerwald, me and Joni singing ‘Love Potion No. 9.’ She really loved that song.”
That’s not one of the 10 tracks on The Lost Record, but it would actually be another few years before Hoffs actually recorded those songs — during 1999, in the garage of her home on Blythe Avenue in west Los Angeles, where she was living with husband Jay Roach and their two young children. “Dan Schwartz reached out to me and said, ‘You want to make some music? Should we continue where we left off from the David Baerwald sessions?’” recalls Hoffs, who had reunited with the Bangles a year prior to record “Get the Girl” for Roach’s film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. She would tour with the group in 2000, but at the time of The Lost Record sessions considered herself in “a non-Bangles chapter.”
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“I told Dan, ‘Yeah, but can we do it in my garage. I have a new baby and I’m kind of staying at home right now.’ He said, ‘Yeah,’ and we had all these great people — Jim Keltner, Dan, Brian MacLeod, all these people. It was a true garage band situation, which I loved. The Bangles were formed in the garage of my childhood home, so I’ve had a lifetime of recording in garages.”
The Lost Record hardly sounds slapdash however. The songs — including the psychedelic-flavored “Under a Cloud,” which surfaced the Bangles recorded for its 2011 album Sweetheart of the Sun — is dominated by nuanced singer-songwriter fare such as “I Don’t Know Why,” “Grateful,” “November Rain,” “As It Falls Apart” and “Who Will She Be,” and orchestrated pieces like “I’ll Always Love You (The Anti-Heartbreak Song),” “I Will Take Care of You” and “Life on the Inside,” the latter a co-write with Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s.
“I grew up in the Bangles but the Go-Go’s had come before that and they had really inspired me, the idea of an all-girl band,” Hoffs notes. “So to write with Charlotte and Jane was really special. It was just a very creative time. I was reaching out to all the people that I’d known and loved during the ’80s into the ’90s. It was like a friend group, a creative friend group.”
Lyrically, Hoffs acknowledges that The Lost Album‘s songs found her grappling with “this sort of identity crisis. I was a mom and married to a filmmaker and living this so-called grownup-life and finding myself at a crossroads, like, ‘How do I juggle all this stuff?’ and trying to figure out how to ‘Do it all.’” The deceptively uptempo “Living Alone With You” in particular was inspired by how, with Roach’s filmmaking career taking off, the couple “were like ships crossing in the night.”
“It was such a reflective time, a really emotional time,” she remembers. “I think when your emotions are right up at the surface like that it’s a great time to write songs.”
Hoffs does not remember why The Lost Record became, well lost. “I think it became a little bit fraught,” she says. “There was some discourse between some of the personalities, I think, and maybe it was because the Bangles wanted to get back together and I felt that I had to park this, somehow, for the greater good. It was so long ago. It was just, like the stars were not aligning or something, and I had to shelve it.
“But I’ve always loved these sessions. I had such a fondness for the material and for these recordings because they were so honest and sort of basic and stripped down. It was so much the spirit of creativity in that garage. I’m so glad it’s coming out, finally.”
Hoffs is hoping to play some of the songs live; she mentions the possibility of returning to playing regularly at the Largo nightclub, as she’s done in the past. She has other project in motion, too, including a Bangles documentary and second book to follow-up her 2023 novel This Bird Has Flown, which Universal has optioned for a film adaptation. And Hoffs is working on a new album of her own to follow last year’s The Deep End, which she says will combine new songs with re-recordings of Bangles favorites accompanied by New York’s YMusic string ensemble and should be out next year.
“I’m bounding around, doing music and my next book and whatever,” Hoff says. “I live for art, and art and music has always driven me. I think when I put my mind to something and have such a passion for it, I can’t stop myself. I’m so grateful I’ve had that ability in my life.”
Wizkid has partnered with Brent Faiyaz on his new single “Piece of My Heart,” which was released on Friday (Oct. 18). It’s the lead single from Wizkid’s upcoming sixth studio album Morayo, which will be released on Nov. 22 via Starboy/Sony Music International/RCA Records. The two artists were recently spotted in London together, with Wiz […]
Morgan Wallen has teased fans with the promise of new music over the past few months, sharing photos of himself in the studio. Now, as his third studio album One Thing at a Time reaches RIAA certified 7x multi-platinum status, Wallen is offering up an early glimpse of his upcoming new album, with the release of his new song, “Love Somebody.”
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He wrote the song with John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Elof Loelv and Ryan Vojtesak, with production from Joey Moi and Charlie Handsome. Together, they crafted a song about someone seeking a lover who “won’t leave a hole in my heart.” Elsewhere, in the song, Wallen sings, “And I’ll be lucky if I ever find a somethin’ more than just a crazy night.”
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“‘Love Somebody’ is a little bit of a new approach lyrically and sonically,” Wallen said in a statement. “I wanted to try something different, with what I wanted to talk about, how I wanted it to sound, and we were inspired by Latin-leaning influences. I’m really excited about this song and pumped that it is out.”
Wallen initially previewed “Love Somebody” on his TikTok account back in May, then performed the song during the European leg of his One Night at a Time Tour. He announced the song’s release during his double-shot of headlining shows at UT Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, and also performed the song during the TJ Martell Foundation Gala event honoring Big Loud partner/CEO Seth England last month.
Wallen’s One Night At A Time Tour concludes this weekend with two nights at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 18-19. The tour spanned two years, 87 shows, 10 countries, and 51 stadium plays, in addition to festivals and arenas and was named Billboard’s country tour of the year in 2023.
Listen to “Love Somebody” here.
It’s a superstar pop crossover! ROSÉ has officially launched her new solo era by teaming up with Bruno Mars on a new single called “Apt.,” which arrived on Friday (Oct. 18). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The song arrives just a day after the duo announced it, […]
Halsey is ready to bring her brand-new music to an up-close-and-personal crowd. On Thursday (Oct. 17), the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter announced a concert for Nov. 21 at the 1,400-capacity Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, exclusively for Wells Fargo Autograph Credit cardholders. “I’m so excited to perform new music in such an intimate venue,” Halsey said in […]
As the last rays of sunlight illuminated the facade of CasaSur Palermo Hotel on Wednesday night, the first fans began to arrive. News spread like wildfire on social media: Liam Payne, former member of the boy band One Direction, had died after falling from a third-floor hotel room. The shock was immediate, and within hours, dozens of followers gathered at the makeshift shrine in front of the place where the 31-year-old British singer met his tragic end. Buenos Aires, the city that embraced him in life, was now bidding him farewell in death.
Payne, one of the voices that defined a generation of pop music, had arrived in Argentina to attend former bandmate Niall Horan‘s concert at the Movistar Arena, amid a resurgence of fame following his recent solo musical projects. However, no one could have imagined that this trip would become his final goodbye. The fateful fall from his hotel room left his followers engulfed in collective grief, which most are trying to process from the sidewalk on Costa Rica Street, where candles, flowers and letters have filled the scene.
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A vigil that never ends
“I can’t process it; I’m still in shock. He was a fundamental part of my childhood, he meant everything to me,” says 22-year-old Martina, one of the first fans to arrive at the makeshift shrine. With a trembling voice, she recalls the moment she first heard the British band: “I was in the car with my dad when I heard ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ for the first time, and from that day, I never let them go. From that moment on, their music became an essential part of my life. Every song accompanied me through different stages, from happy moments to the hardest times. It was as if they always had the exact words for what I was experiencing,” she continued. “One Direction was much more than a band for me; they were my refuge.”
The area in front of the hotel transformed into a space of catharsis for Payne’s followers. The pain is palpable, but so is the sense of camaraderie. Twenty-five-year-old Felicitas, wearing a Harry Styles shirt, arrived with flowers to pay tribute: “When I found out, I couldn’t process it. I felt like the world stopped for a moment. Everything he had meant to me crumbled in seconds. The idea that someone so present in my life was no longer here was devastating,” she says, tears streaming down her face. Like her, dozens of young fans gathered to remember the singer’s life, singing his songs and sharing anecdotes that connect them to the British artist.
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The Impact of His Death
Payne’s sudden death shook the entertainment world, especially among One Direction fans who had grown up listening to their songs. The group, formed on The X Factor in the U.K. in 2010, quickly became a global phenomenon. Their music became the soundtrack to the adolescence of millions of young people worldwide. According to Spotify, One Direction has more than 40 million monthly listeners on the platform, even years after their breakup. Songs like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Story of My Life” continue to be anthems defining a generation.
Twenty-three-year-old Ludmilla explains it succinctly: “Every song was part of our story, a reflection of what we were living. They helped us feel understood, find comfort, and above all, connect with each other. They were not just a band; they were the thread that united us and accompanied us as we grew and discovered the world.”
The latest police report revealed disturbing details about the state of the room where Payne died. According to sources, pills, a nearly empty whiskey bottle, and other substances suggesting possible drug abuse were found. Investigations are ongoing, but these details have added another layer of tragedy to an already painful loss. The exact circumstances of his fall remain a subject of debate, but for the fans gathered at the shrine, the details matter less than the void he left behind.
The vigil on Costa Rica Street continues. Television channels broadcast live, but for the young women who remain there, the focus is on remembering the good times and bidding farewell to their idol with the music that united them. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this,” says 25-year-old Candela, a Chilean fan living in Buenos Aires. With a notebook in hand, she wrote a letter now resting at the makeshift altar alongside flowers and photos. As the candles burn low and the noise of the city begins to envelop the scene once again, the words of one fan resonate in the air: “With his absence, he took a part of our existence.”
Billboard Argentina
CRSSD started closing out the 2024 festival season when it brought the event’s fall edition back to its longtime home at Bayfront Park in San Diego on Sept. 28-29.
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Now in its ninth year, the lineup for this autumnal iteration of CRSSD included Disclosure, Gesaffelstein, Blond:ish, Four Tet, Boris Brejcha, Skream and many others. Produced by FNGRS CRSSD, the event has been a mainstay on the Southern California dance festival circuit since its launch in 2015 and is attended by roughly 15,000 fans per day.
Whether you where there or simply wish you were there, open up your ears to four hours of exclusive music from the festival from Idris Elba, Kerala Dust, Tinlicker and Confidence Man.
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Idris Elba
The DJ/producer/actor/noted good-looking person played 75 minutes of driving house, tech house, Afrobeat and more, with key selections including his take on Inner City’s 1998 classic “Good Life,” an extended mix of Mau P’s essential “Gimme Dat Bounce,” The Bucketheads’ ever-ravey 1995 hit “The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind)” and of course, his own 2023 Solardo collab “Big Talk,” an extended edit of which ends the set.
Kerala Dust
The London-based foursome played a jammy and frequently psychedelic set that leaned heavy into live instrumentation, with the performance’s frequent guitar solos and a generally mystic mood bringing desert ambience to the waterfront fest.
Tinlicker
The Dutch duo wove progressive house and melodic techno into grandly cinematic soundscapes, with the set going to an especially hypnotic place at its climax. If you were there, you were likely dancing with your eyes closed and maybe tearing up a little.
Confidence Man
The Australian foursome are simply just A+ party starters, whipping up a breezy, blissful set heavy on energy and big singalong moments. The group — Grace Stephenson and Aidan Moore along with producers Lewis Stephenson and Sam Hales — packed a lot of heat into a tight 45 minute set, building to a euphoric place and giving classic ’90s U.K. rave vibes throughout.
There was a little bit of drama as inductees began arriving and rehearsals started in Cleveland on Thursday (Oct. 17) for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony as word spread that two original members of Foreigner – including founder Mick Jones – will not be attending this weekend.
Jones, who founded Foreigner during 1976 in New York, is battling Parkinson’s disease, which will keep him away from the festivities.
Drummer Dennis Elliott posted a note to Facebook that he would also not be attending the event, where the band will be inducted after receiving its first nomination this year. Elliott – who was with the band from 1976-1993 – wrote, “Dear Foreigner Fans & Friends. Don’t look too hard, we will not be there. We were finally given the schedule last night, and it is not to our satisfaction. So we are staying home. We have been asking for weeks, and they have waited until the very last minute to send it knowing we were all packed and going to bed. Totally unacceptable to us. Hope you have a good time.”
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Sources in Cleveland tell Billboard that one specific point of contention was that only band members were to walk the red carpet before the show, without their spouses.
The group did issue a statement via its social media saying, “FOREIGNER is greatly looking forward to Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The band will be joined by Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar, and Kelly Clarkson in a set celebrating the induction of the guys who started it all almost fifty years ago. Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, and Rick Wills will be there to accept the awards on behalf of the band’s leader and founder Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliot, and Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi who are no longer with us.”
Members of the current Foreigner lineup are expected to perform during the ceremony on Saturday at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which will be streamed live on Disney+.
Fans responding to Elliott offered support, with one writing “this is very sad news” and another calling it a “travesty.”
Foreigner, eligible since 2002, was long considered one of the Rock Hall’s greatest slights over the years. The group has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, with hits such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Foreigner finished third in the fan vote, with 528,000.
Foreigner will be part of a class of 2024 that also includes Mary J. Blige, Cher, the Dave Matthews Band, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest in the performer category.
Kaskade‘s wife, Naomi Raddon, has filed for divorce from the electronic music producer after nearly 28 years of marriage. A petition filed on October 16 in Los Angeles and reviewed by Billboard cites irreconcilable differences as the grounds for divorce. The couple married in August of 1996, with the filing listing July 22, 2024 as […]
Ryan Murphy is a Swiftie. The TV creator and writer recently cast Taylor Swift‘s NFL champion boyfriend Travis Kelce in his latest FX series, Grotesquerie, as the flirty but helpful hospital employee Ed “Eddie” Laclan. While chatting with The The Hollywood Reporter recently, Murphy revealed that he’s reached out to Swift’s team a number of times […]