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02 Oct 2023

10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Oliver Tree, Voxtrot, Ally Brooke & More

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

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These 10 tracks from artists including Oliver Tree, Voxtrot, Ally Brooke, Mae Muller and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Mae Muller, “Nervous (In a Good Way)”

On the back half of Mae Muller’s debut album Sorry I’m Late is the sort of scintillating songwriting showcase that demonstrates the North London native’s skill set: “Nervous (In a Good Way)” features a workout tempo and a sighing hook, but really shines in the blurted-out verses, in which Muller recounts the breathless, exciting jitters of young infatuation. “Better Days” nodded at Muller’s crossover appeal, but “Nervous (In a Good Way)” hints at the storyteller she could become. — JASON LIPSHUTZ

Ally Brooke, “Gone to Bed”

“Gone to Bed” simmers with temptation, as Ally Brooke declares, “Ain’t no point is could’ve would’ve should’ve,” while still ruing the decision not to just call it a night before giving in to poor choices; her voice dances around the thumping percussion and electronic atmosphere, with longing in each extended syllable. As she continues her post-Fifth Harmony solo output, Brooke is more than equipped to imbue a club track like “Gone to Bed” with proper emotion. — J.L.

Eaves Wilder, “Freefall”

Beneath its crunchy shoegaze exterior, Eaves Wilder’s “Freefall” contains bright streaks of hedonistic pop, with the power chords soundtracking coos of, “Hey, I want everything/ I want it all/ Never ever ever ever ever ever ever less.” Wilder lets go of pretense on “Freefall,” but remains in control of its layered sound and uncompromising point of view, resulting in an anthem that sneaks up on you. — J.L.

Presley Regier, “Have Your Way”

A teenage producer who’s already rubbed elbows with the likes of Ryan Tedder, Louis Bell and Frank Dukes, Presley Regier makes a compelling opening statement with his newly released Run EP, highlighted by the strolling, subtly affecting “Have Your Way.” Regier’s light, yearning vocals are paired well with the snappy percussion, but the vocals arranged on top of one another stand out — you can tell that “Have Your Way” is being driven by a savvy studio tactician. — J.L.

Voxtrot, “Another Fire”

The blog-rock era wouldn’t have been the same without the soothing indie-pop of Voxtrot, and after last year’s reunion tour, “Another Fire” represents the band’s first new song in 14 years. Fortunately, the formula still works: Ramesh Srivastava’s voice remains warm and animated, the group still specializes in heartfelt arrangements, and when that second chorus (complete with strings!) hits, you’ll feel like it’s 2006 all over again. — J.L.

Diljit Dosanjh, “Feel My Love”

Diljit Dosanjh — an Indian singer-songwriter and actor — has been a staple in punjabi music for over two decades. His 14th studio album, Ghost, arrived Sept. 29 and included the dance-pop track “Feel My Love,” on which Dosanjh questions over a gleaming beat, “Can you feel my love for you?” The album follows a one-off collaboration with Colombian star Camilo, perhaps indicating more exploration to come. — LYNDSEY HAVENS

Oliver Tree, “With You”

To coincide with the release of his third studio album, Alone in a Crowd, Oliver Tree is promoting the retro-sounding “With You,” complete with a self-directed music video. And while the on-brand visual leans into his humor, when taken on its own the song sees the artist at his most sincere as he sings about “staring in your eyes, losing track of the time” and wanting this love to last forever, making it easy to see this song soundtracking the pivotal change of heart seen in a coming-of-age film. — L.H.

Julie, “Catalogue”

Grunge-pop trio Julie is taking its time building a catalog but considering how hard each of its few songs hit, fans seem perfectly fine to wait for more. The latest from the Los Angeles based act, “Catalogue,” is no exception, with its whirring, fuzzy riffs and racing, full-bodied drumming — all of which vocalist-guitarist Keyan Zand commands with a steadying, almost monotonous tone, creating a captivating contrast of sounds and tempers. — L.H.

Two Door Cinema Club, “Sure Enough”

Just one year since the release of their 2022 effort, Keep On Smiling, Two Door Cinema Club is back and keeping the energy as high as the clouds with new single “Sure Enough.” Recalling the ’80s-inspired, angular synths of the band’s 2019 release, False Alarm, and the plucky guitar work of debut with Tourist History, members Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday and Kevin Baird sound tighter than ever as they leap and bound into a potential new era. — STARR BOWENBANK

Empress Of feat. Rina Sawayama, “Kiss Me”

Empress Of enlists Rina Sawayama on “Kiss Me,” and the choice is a sound one — the track’s instrumental straddles the line between bubbly and ethereal, a choice that allows both vocalists to shine. Sawayama feels like a breath of fresh air as she floats over the second verse, asking the object of her affections to “Just touch my lips and pull my hair/ To come with you, I’d go anywhere,” before rejoining Empress to plead for intimate kisses. — S.B.

02 Oct 2023

Hugh Jackman Snaps Selfie With Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively at Chiefs-Jets Game

A key part of Taylor Swift’s image during the original 1989 album campaign involved her “squad” of famous friends, so it’s only right that she bring that back as she gears up for the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) — albeit in a configuration that more closely reflects where she’s at in her life right now. On Sunday (Oct. 1), the “Cruel Summer” singer was spotted a few members of the squad during the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium — and one of them was none other than Hugh Jackman.

In Swift’s second NFL appearance to show some support for her rumored new boo — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — she was joined by A Simple Favor actress Blake Lively, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and Academy Award nominee and Tony winner Hugh Jackman in a suite. The Wolverine star — who made his Billboard Hot 100 debut with “The Greatest Show” from his 2017 film The Greatest Showman — shared a cute selfie of the four megastars to his Instagram Stories early Monday morning (Oct. 2), simply tagging his three fellow attendees. In the snap, the four are gathered close and smiling — though Swift has an “oh!” expression on her face — with the field below them in the background.

Other stars spotted with Swift in the suite as she cheered on Kelce to the Chiefs’ 23-20 victory over the Jets included Sophie Turner, who is in the midst of a divorce from Joe Jonas, and Brittany Mahomes, who is married to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The pop superstar was also spotted hugging Sabrina Carpenter as she entered the stadium.

The week before, on Sept. 24, the “August” singer rooted on Kelce alongside his mother, Donna, as the Chiefs annihilated the Chicago Bears 41-10. The rumored pair left Arrowhead Stadium together in the NFL star’s convertible after the game.

02 Oct 2023

Ed Sheeran ‘Let’s Get It On’ Copyright Case Isn’t Over Quite Yet

Ed Sheeran’s years-long copyright battle — over whether he copied “Thinking Out Loud” from Marvin Gaye’s iconic “Let’s Get It On” — isn’t over just yet.

Although one of Sheeran’s accusers dropped their case last month, a separate set of plaintiffs filed their opening salvo at a federal appeals court on Friday (Sept. 29), setting the stage for years more litigation and a ruling that could revive the case against the pop star.

“The district court’s erroneous decisions should be reversed, and appellant’s case restored so that it can proceed to trial,” Sheeran’s accusers wrote in their opening brief to the appeals court.

Sheeran was first sued over “Thinking Out Loud” by the daughter of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the famed 1973 tune with Gaye. It was that long-running case that culminated in a May jury verdict that cleared Sheeran of any wrongdoing. Last week, Kathryn Griffin Townsend’s lawyers dropped their efforts to overturn that verdict, ending that leg of the legal battle.

But Sheeran has long faced a separate, closely related case filed by an entity called Structured Asset Sales (owned by industry executive David Pullman) that controls a different one-third stake in Townsend’s copyrights. In May, weeks after the big jury verdict, a federal judge tossed out that case, too, ruling that it was seeking an “impermissible monopoly over a basic musical building block.”

Unlike Griffin, however, Structured Asset Sales seems ready for a long appellate battle.

In their opening brief Friday at the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit, Structure Asset Sales’ lawyers cited a wide range of supposed errors by Judge Louis Stanton in that May ruling dismissing the case, including his decision about “musical building blocks.”

But they mostly focused on what they said was a far more basic error: that Judge Stanton refused to let them cite the famous recorded version of “Let’s Get It On” in making their case. Instead, the judge ruled that Structured Asset Sales owned only the rights to a “deposit copy” — the basic notation filed at the Copyright Office decades ago to secure a copyright registration. That erroneous holding, the company’s lawyers said, “severely” limited their rights and unfairly hurt their ability to win the case.

“Musical notation is a way of trying to capture the ephemeral in the physical, but it is and has always been limited in its ability to capture every nuance of the work,” Structured Asset Sales’ lawyers wrote. “Deposit copies do not, and were never meant to be, a limitation on the scope of the copyright they represent.”

Structure Asset Sales’ lawyers also called into question the timing of Judge Stanton’s ruling, which came just weeks after the jury verdict in the Griffin case and seemingly reversed his own previous decision that the case would need to go to trial. In an unusual flourish, the company’s lawyers said the judge’s logic was “a mystery.”

An attorney for Sheeran did not immediately return a request for comment. Sheeran’s legal team will file their own appellate brief in the months to come.

02 Oct 2023

Mariah Carey Reveals Merry Christmas One & All! 2023 Tour Dates

Forget Halloween and Thanksgiving. Mariah Carey is ready for Christmas, and to celebrate all things holly and jolly, the pop star announced on Monday (Oct. 2) that she will be embarking on her Merry Christmas One And All! Tour starting in November.

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“Yes, the actual defrosting has begun!” the singer shared via Instagram. “Announcing the MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL Tour!”

The Queen of Christmas’s 13-date trek will kick off in California’s Yaamava Casino in Highland on Nov. 15, and will make stops in Los Angeles, Denver, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia and more before concluding in New York on Dec. 17, just a week shy of Christmas Day, at Madison Square Garden.

For those looking to purchase tickets early, Live Nation’s presale begins on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. local time. American Express card members will have early access to the presale Wednesday through Thursday, Oct. 5, at 10 p.m. local time. General on sale for the shows begins on Friday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. local time.

Last year, the five-time Grammy winner performed four Christmas shows — two each in Toronto and New York City — in mid December. She also launched the Merry Christmas to All! holiday special, which was filmed in the Big Apple’s Madison Square Garden and aired on Dec. 20 on Paramount+ and CBS.

See the full list of dates for this year’s Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas One And All! Tour, as well as the singer’s announcement, below:

02 Oct 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Cleo Sol, Paul Wall, Armani White, Kenyon Dixon & More

Even in the midst of the announcement of Beyoncé’s imminent Renaissance World Tour documentary concert film, there was still an onslaught of new music unleashed upon the world over the weekend. From marquee mainstream rappers to British crossovers, there’s a whole lot of material to sort through.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most exciting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — including Cleo Sol’s gospel-informed affirmations and Paul Wall’s sleek synthesis of Southern and East Coast hip-hop.

Make sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: Cleo Sol, “There Will Be No Crying”

On this gospel-steeped opener to Gold — her second new album in as many weeks — British singer-songwriter Cleo Sol blends gospel, soul, jazz and ambient music for a transformative rumination on the vitality of emotional resilience. Obviously a nod to Revelations 21:1-4, the song’s lyrics are a practice in affirmation, a paean for freedom and release in a world desperately in need of it. “There will be no fighting/ In a river full of dreams/ Make it better, one thing that I need, is to be free/ Life’s a battle that don’t scare me,” she coos in one of the song’s verses. The Inflo-produced track — which completely eschews typical song structures — delicately balances plaintive piano, bass, guitar, and drums for a serene yet intentional reclamation of inner strength.

Paul Wall & Termanology feat. Bun B & Deandre Nico, “No Apologies”



Southern hip-hop icon Paul Wall is currently readying his forthcoming collaborative album with Billboard-charting rapper and producer Termanology — due Oct. 13 — and this latest taste from the record promises a set that celebrates Southern hip-hop traditions while pushing the scene in a few new directions. “No Apologies,” which features Grammy-nominee Bun B and Texan musician Deandre Nico, finds Paul and Termanology blending elements of drum-heavy East Coast-nodding production with the slower, more languid vibe of Hoston rap production. The result is a lush ode to the power of ambition, set against of backdrop of Static Selektah’s soulful keys and DeAndre Nico’s commanding chorus.

No Guidnce, “Spicy”

Something of an all-male counterpart to FLO — the British girl group who broke through in 2022 and currently prepping their debut studio album — No Guidnce is seeking to solidify themselves in a similar manner with their new Spicy EP. Three of the tracks on the EP have already been out for months, but their new single — the groovy, bed squeak-touting “Spicy” — is their strongest attempt at a proper radio single. On the new song, the quartet not only showcases their impressive blend, but they also sell a level of camraderie that’s necessary to sell the idea of a boy band. Moreover, the song’s production keeps them in line with most of the contemporary pop&B landscape without threatening to be a sound that casts an insurmountable shadow of their future releases.

Kenyon Dixon feat. RL, “2000s R&B”

Grammy nominee Kenyon Dixon released his new The R&B You Love album last Friday (Sept. 29), and the record is a nuanced, heartfelt tribute to an era of R&B that prioritized soul music above all else. Tucked away in the back half of the album is a duet with RL of Next titled “2000s R&B,” a prime encapsulation of all the histrionic no-holds-barred journey through the throes of a romance rollercoaster. “Since you left, ain’t been the same/ Got me singin’ 2000s R&B, all in this f–kin’ rain like/ I wish I never met her, no/ D–n, I wish I never met her,” he croons in the chorus.

Sha EK, “Last One Left”

This standalone EMRLD & Wizical Beats-produced track finds Bronx rapper Sha EK turning down the bombast and opting for a more introspective vibe. Over an instrumental that’s closer to G-Unit’s luxurious street anthems than his usual dynamic take on New York drill, the “New Opps” rapper reflects on his rise to prominence and pledges to put longevity before cheap thrills. “I be going through s—t, but I’m never gonna fold/ N—a, my momma happy cause she see me growin’ ol,” he spits.

Sexyy Red, “No Panties”

After making the round-up last week, Sexyy Red returns with a fiery new track for the forthcoming second season of Issa Rae’s acclaimed Max series Rap Sh!t. “I ain’t got no panties on, gotta let this coochie breathe/ Bend that shit over, touch them toes, grab your knees,” the “SkeeYee” rapper spits over YA & Snacks-produced banger that leans more Southern rap than her Midwestern comfort zone. From a booming bassline to steady handclaps, Sexyy delivers a bevy of memorable NSFW one-liners throughout this ode to going commando.

Philly Goats, PGS Spence & Armani White, “Buckle Up (Remix)”

Before its official release to streaming services, Philly Goats’ “Buckle Up” garnered over one million posts on TikTok. Now, the runaway Jersey club snippet hit has grown into a full-fledged smash, complete with a new remix featuring “Billie Eilish” rapper Armani White. Sometimes, songs that gain their popularity through TikTok snippets can become beholden to those thirty seconds — but luckily, this new remix allows “Buckle Up” to feel like a solid standalone song, instead of a track that you’d only encounter while watching TikToks explicitly participating in the accompanying dance trend. “Man, now cuz all on his lawn and I can’t say I’m not in the car / It’s fully, damn / Now I’m in a jawn with a jar and my jawn don’t know I be drawin’ / You feel me? Damn,” Armani raps over the danceable beat.

02 Oct 2023

The Power of the Latin Catalog at Latin Music Week 2023: ‘It’s Like the Housing Market’

In the past few years, a number of Latin artists such as Shakira, Maluma and Ozuna, have been selling their catalogs, but when is it the right time to sell or buy?

“Everyone sees everyone selling and the big deals, and think they can do that, but those catalogs have to have matured already, at least have been five years since produced or recorded,” explained panelist Angela “Angie” Martinez, Esq., attorney at law, AngieLaw, during the Power of the Latin Catalog panel — presented by HarbourView — at Latin Music Week 2023.

During the discussion moderated by Hannah Karp, editorial director of Billboard, panelists Sherrese Clarke Soares, founder/CEO, HarbourView; Denny Marte, founder/consultant, MPA Advisors; and Martinez broke down opportunities for both artists looking to sell their catalogs and buyers who are interested in purchasing.

“There are plenty of opportunities for artists who want to sell and buyers who want to buy,” added Marte. “When it’s the right time to sell depends on the earnings of the catalog. There’s a lot of misinformation of names who are selling their catalogs and assume theirs would sell, [but] every catalog sells differently.It also depends on the buyer — everyone has a different criteria of what they’re looking for. It’s like the housing market and understanding when is a good time to sell your home.”

On their interest in purchasing in the Latin space, HarbourView is “really a genre-agnostic company,” explained Clarke Soares. “As a person of Caribbean descent, it was easy for me to see how important and impactful Latin music is to the communities that it serves. We saw so much growth in the underlying market, from the usage perspective … It was a no brainer for us. People who come from communities that are not mainstream are just as important.”

Latin music in general is more attractive now, hence the increase of interest on the buyers side. Compared to other genres, Latin music is catching up in terms of buyers interested in the Latin market “The numbers don’t lie,” said Marte. “Latin music is where it’s at and it has been for now some time. I already felt it was going to start happening. Latin would catch up, now it’s like we have to turn away clients because it’s too much, or their catalog is too young.”

Celebrated for more than 30 years, the 2023 edition of Latin Music Week includes a Superstar Q&A with Shakira; the Legends on Legends chat with Chencho Corleone and Vico C; Making the Hit Live! with Carin León and Pedro Capó; a panel with RBD’s Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, and Maite Perroni; Superstar Songwriter discussion with Edgar Barrera and Keityn, among many other panels, Q&As and workshops. See the ultimate Latin Music Week guide here.

This year’s Latin Music Week, taking place Oct. 2-6, also includes showcases by Peso Pluma, Mike Bahía and Greeicy, DannyLux and Fonseca, to name a few. Check out the dates and times for the showcases throughout the week here.

Official partners of the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week include AT&T, Cheetos, CN Bank, Delta Air Lines, Lexus, Netflix, Michelob ULTRA and Smirnoff.

Latin Music Week coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony, which will broadcast live from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla., on Thursday (Oct. 5), and will air on Telemundo. It will also broadcast simultaneously on Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

02 Oct 2023

Doja Cat’s ‘Paint the Town Red’ Holds Atop Billboard Global Charts

Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” tallies a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 songs chart and a second frame atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. ranking (both dated Oct. 7).

Elsewhere, Tate McRae’s “Greedy” bounds 11-4 on the Global 200 and Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” surges 12-5 on the survey, while cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” jumps 11-8 on Global Excl. U.S.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Fourth Coat of ‘Paint’ Atop Global 200

Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” adds a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, with 90.6 million streams (up 1%) and 11,000 sold (down 5%) worldwide Sept. 22-28.

Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, keeps at No. 2 on the Global 200, after spending its first seven weeks on the chart at No. 1 beginning in July, and Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” returns to its No. 3 high, from No. 5.

Tate McRae’s “Greedy” roars 11-4 in its second week on the Global 200, led by 38.8 million streams (up 17%) worldwide. The singer-songwriter from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, achieves her first top 10 on the chart, surpassing her prior No. 16 best with her first entry, “You Broke Me First.,” in 2020.

Plus, Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” blasts 12-5 on the Global 200, with 39.9 million streams (up 14%) and 3,000 sold (up 21%). TikTok has been a big factor in the growing profile of the South African-born, British-raised singer-songwriter’s breakthrough song, as a portion of its audio has been used in over 700,000 clips on the platform; she also has over 530,000 TikTok followers. Three weeks earlier, Grace became a first-timer on Billboard’s charts.

Global Excl. U.S. Dons ‘Red’ & ‘Prada’

Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” concurrently rules the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a second week, with 64.9 million streams (essentially even week-over-week) and 4,000 sold (down 4%) outside the U.S. Sept. 22-28.

Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, holds at No. 2 after spending its first nine weeks on the Global Excl. U.S. chart at No. 1; Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” pushes 4-3 for a new high; Myke Towers’ “LaLa” slips 3-4, after it led for a week in July; and Karol G and Peso Pluma’s “Qlona” climbs 6-5, up 3% to 38.4 million streams outside the U.S., becoming Karol G’s fifth top five hit and Peso Pluma’s fourth.

Plus, cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” sashays 11-8 on Global Excl. U.S., with 23.6 million streams (up 14%) and 2,000 sold (up 15%) outside the U.S. RAYE, from England, adds her second top 10 on the chart, after “Escapism,” featuring 070 Shake, hit No. 6 in January. U.S.-born cassö and Britain’s D-Block Europe each reach the top 10 with their first title on the tally.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Oct. 7, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 3). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

02 Oct 2023

Takanashi Kiara of hololive English Talks Expressing Her Real Self on Debut Album ‘Point of View’

Takanashi Kiara, a virtual YouTuber belonging to the English division of Japan‘s VTuber agency hololive production, dropped her first album Point of View last month. Her debut set displays the various faces of the English-speaking VTuber, with songs ranging from the lead track “Pineapple,” a tropical summer song accompanied by a music video featuring the VTuber dancing brightly by the poolside, to tracks such as “The Great Wanderer” and “Retrospective” that highlights her inner conflicts, sadness and negative emotions.

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Takanashi — her name is in Japanese order, surname first — debuted in 2020 as a member of the early hololive English group called Hololive English -Myth-, and made her 3-D debut in February of this year. The pioneering English-language VTuber talks about her passion for music and the ways she infuses it with feelings for her fans in this new interview.

Could you tell us some of the things that were going through your mind around the time you kicked off your career as an English-speaking VTuber?

I never thought it would be such a success. Japanese hololive VTubers were well-known at the time, but not so much outside of Japan yet. As a comparison, Japanese anime is popular everywhere now, and many people prefer watching it in the original Japanese instead of English dubs. Hololive English -Myth-inking at the time was, if people enjoy watching anime in Japanese, then VTubers who speak English might come across as odd.

Which VTubers do you admire or draw inspiration from?

I first discovered hololive through Shirakami Fubuki. I was intrigued by the concept of VTubers and was hooked from the moment I checked her out. That was when I was living in Japan on a one-year visa, then the pandemic broke out. I was watching UsadaPekora’s videos to cheer myself up during that time and then the hololive English auditions began. It felt like destiny to me and I applied.

What kind of music did you grow up on?

I started listening to the Black Eyed Peas because of my parents. I also listened to Paramore and Kelly Clarkson. Like, mainstream artists on the radio that everyone knows. Paramore was one of my inspirations for the song “Retrospective” on this album. Right now I’ve been hooked on K-pop artists like TWICE and NewJeans. Today’s K-pop is influenced by American music but still has its own unique flavor. I wanted my songs to be like that.

What’s the concept of your debut album, Point of View?

My previous singles “HINOTORI” and “Heart Challenger” were Japanese-language tracks in the vein of J-POP, anime songs, and idol songs. I personally love that kind of music, too. But since we’re hololive English, some fans preferred that I sing in English. Also, there were many other hololive VTubers singing similar stuff, so I decided to try making songs that were different from that kind of music and also suited me. I tried to include elements such as my gratitude for my past history and activities and tried to create a collection of songs from Kiara’s various “points of view.”

I’d like to ask you about some of the songs off your new album. First, “Love Rush,” the second track on the set. It has a really positive mood.

The lyrics express my gratitude to all my listeners. I’m moved by it when I sing it, and it has a really profound meaning to me. Kai Gojo, who is also the songwriter for “HINOTORI” and “Heart Challenger”, wrote it for me, and he’s someone I can completely rely on because he can write both cool and cute numbers. I told him I wanted to try my hand at a cute song like “Heart Challenger” again for this project. But I also wanted a different vibe, so I asked him to include some elements reminiscent of the J-pop group fhána, like sounds of a violin.

The next song, “The Great Wanderer,” has a different, more serious tone.

When I first heard the instrumental, I felt a touch of loneliness, so I decided to have the lyrics written about such feelings. We all have moments in our lives when we feel lonely or sad, so I thought the song would resonate with people. There’s actually another angle to this song. VTubers are virtual beings so we can’t meet our fans in real life. It’s pretty sad, you know? Of course, the fact that you can only interact with them online is one of the good things about VTubers, but sometimes I want to break down that barrier. I tried to express such dilemmas specific to VTubers in this song.

You mentioned Paramore as an inspiration for the next song, “Retrospective.”

“Retrospective” is the song that contains the most of my negativity on this album. There’s no positive ending, only my hang-ups about failures in the past that I want to redo but can’t, or the things I lack and so on. But I think those kinds of songs are good to have once in a while. When I’m sad, sometimes I just want to listen to a song that makes me wallow in my sadness, not one that cheers me up.

Incidentally, the melody of the song was originally completely different, but I wanted something more Western-sounding so I could sing it more naturally in English. So I asked monii, who wrote the lyrics, to come up with a new melody. It ended up being really Evanescence-like and dramatic. When we were recording the song, even the expression on my face looked like I was in pain and I enjoyed singing with so much emotion.

Music might be a unique way of detoxing because negative emotions and experiences can be expressed as they are instead of having to convert them into positivity.

Yes, exactly. It’s a way of letting it all out. I think VTubers exist to give people comfort, but I figured this album was a good opportunity to show my real self, so I went ahead and tried it. I’m the type of person who wears my emotions on my sleeve, but it’s still hard to show these feelings. But people seem to like songs like “Retrospective” and I realized that it’s okay to talk about such feelings in music, so I hope I can keep expressing my personal story in the future.

The fourth track, “Sleep Talking,” is completely different in that it’s a song where you can let the sound wash over you without thinking too hard about it.

After releasing “DO U” on my second anniversary, I asked my team of creators if I could sing something with more of a K-pop feel, and they sent me several demos. One of them was “Sleep Talking.” I was like, “Whoa, I really like this one!” and asked to sing it as the keystone of this album. The album leads with “Pineapple,” but I consider “Sleep Talking” as another leading track in a way, and we plan to release a music video for it as well.

“Pineapple” is the first song of the album, a really fun pop number.

It’s a summer party song, the kind you’d want to listen to at the beach. The music video is also based on the theme of a beach party, and for the dance scene, I went to the U.S. to shoot motions at the studio of my colleague, Watson Amelia. The choreography was pretty hard and I had a lot of trouble with it. I shared a short video of the chorus dance for YouTube Shorts, so I hope people enjoy it.

We’re also looking forward to your live performances.

I would really like to do solo live performances in real life and not just on YouTube. All my songs are choreographed and I’m ready to perform any time, so I’ll keep doing what I can to stand on stage someday. But first, I want everyone to listen to the album, even those who aren’t really into VTubers. I hope I can reach as many people in the world as possible.

–This article by Takuto Ueda first appeared on Billboard Japan

02 Oct 2023

Metro Boomin Reveals His Dream Collaborators

Metro Boomin is Billboard‘s latest cover star, and in his wide ranging interview, the hip-hop producer opened up about his musical process and the creation of the Spider-Verse soundtrack and his 2022 album, Heroes & Villains.

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And while the album is jam-packed with A-list collaborations with everyone from Travis Scott, Future and A$AP Rocky to John Legend and The Weeknd, there are plenty of stars that Metro still wants to work with in the future. “I still really want to do something with Justin Timberlake,” he shared in Billboard‘s cover profile. “I need to work with Miguel. I still haven’t worked with Jay-Z.”

With an extensive musical production career under his belt, Metro teased that he’s channeling his talent for artist discovery and development into a more executive role so he can start signing artists. As a result, he’s starting his own production company that will allow him “to do stuff for screen.”

“The amount of grind and effort I put in my 20s into the music, I’mma put into the business aspect through these 30s,” he revealed. “I watched my music seeds grow from 20 to 30. I can watch the rest of these grow from 30 to 40.”

2022’s Heroes & Villains topped the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart in December. Read Billboard‘s full cover story with Metro Boomin here.

02 Oct 2023

Fuerza Regida’s Jesús Ortiz Paz & Live Nation Talk the Rise of Mexican Music Touring at Billboard Latin Music Week

The hottest genre on the charts is the hottest genre on the road. In the panel called The Rise of Mexican Touring, held on Monday (Oct. 2), Fuerza Regida’s frontman Jesús Ortiz Paz and Latin Nation’s Hans Schafer (svp of Latin touring) and Jorge García (global promoter of tours) talk how to book, market and sell out Mexican music shows, moderated by Billboard Latin’s senior writer, Griselda Flores.

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In the midst of his ambitious tour Otra Peda (meaning Another Drunken Party), the Fuerza Regida lead singer shares his experience from starting out performing at flyer parties six years ago to now selling out American arenas and stadiums across the nation. Meanwhile Schafer and García spoke about how they’ve been helping amplify, within the live music space, the música mexicana movement internationally.

In many candid moments, Jesús, who also goes by JOP, shared how Otra Peda was conceived. “I was my own Live Nation. I was the waiter, the one who charged you for your beers, and sing,” he said. “I would throw my own flyer parties, it was like 20 to 50 people, then 50 to 100. Now we’re doing this on a greater scale. [Since the beginning of our shows] people got extra drunk, that’s where Otra Peda came from.”

“Several years ago, taking these [música mexicana] bands to the club it made sense. Years before you were lucky to sell 2,000 to 3,000 tickets,” recalls García. “Now this generation of Latinos are growing up [with the genre]. The same kind of people that buy the Drake tickets, buy the Fuerza Regida tickets.”

“We are American so we have that flow, we started dressing different, and took Mexican music to the next level,” says Jesús about connecting with this new generation of Latinos. “Back in the day, you had to lower the music; we were shy that we liked regional Mexican, you had to change it to hip-hop. We love the legends, John Sebastian, Luis Mi, Vicente Fernández, but that was all tío‘s music. We made it cool,” he adds and the audience chuckles.

Flores’ asks about the steps to get a club act to an arena level. “It can’t feel forced. You’re just trying to tighten that bond that they have with their fans,” explains Schafer. “Nothing can be cookie cutter, everything that we do starts with inception, what is this tour about, Otra Peda…developing ideas and the concepts you’re doing with the tour.”

Jesús recalls a time in his career with Fuerza Regida that he had to stop the 10 freeway in L.A., and perform in front of the traffic, with the venue serving as a backdrop. That led to the band selling out the show at the time.

The discussion surrounding Mexican music is about going global, reaching as far as Australia and New Zealand. Schafer elaborates on how European countries have warmly embraced this movement, with both the Latino demographic and new non-Latino fans developing a fondness for the Mexican style.

But now that it’s reaching unprecedented heights, “There needs to be greater representation because it’s going to keep growing,” adds Schafer. “We have the responsibility in the industry to set the tone with the space that it deserves.”

Celebrated for more than 30 years, the 2023 edition of Latin Music Week includes a Superstar Q&A with Shakira; the Legends on Legends chat with Chencho Corleone and Vico C; Making the Hit Live! with Carin León and Pedro Capó; a panel with RBD’s Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, and Maite Perroni; Superstar Songwriter discussion with Edgar Barrera and Keityn, among many other panels, Q&As and workshops. See the ultimate Latin Music Week guide here. This year’s Latin Music Week, taking place Oct. 2-6, also includes showcases by Peso Pluma, Mike Bahía and Greeicy, DannyLux and Fonseca, to name a few. Check out the dates and times for the showcases throughout the week here.

Official partners of the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week include AT&T, Cheetos, CN Bank, Delta Air Lines, Lexus, Netflix, Michelob ULTRA and Smirnoff.

Latin Music Week coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony, which will broadcast live from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla., on Thursday (Oct. 5) and will air on Telemundo. It will also broadcast simultaneously on Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.