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Unrepeatable. This is the first adjective that could be associated with Rick Rubin’s Festival of the Sun which took place in Tuscany for the summer solstice on June 21-22. The famous producer had an idea: turn an old village – with its narrow alleys, churches and amphitheatre – into a location for live shows, film previews and talks on the future of economics and technology.
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This was the secret festival in Casole d’Elsa, announced by surprise just a couple of days before. A huge part of it was the Italian pop star Jovanotti, who worked with Rubin in the past and also performed live on a small stage set up in the main square of Casole d’Elsa.
The festival was based on the concept of surprise. When will it ever happen again that you are waiting to watch a free secret show where you don’t know who will be there but then you discover that the names include James Blake, Arcade Fire, Gossip and Rhye?
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The name of the creator of the festival could have made it clear, anyway. Hundreds of people gathered in Casole d’Elsa on Friday (June 21) and knew nothing except that there would be some kind of concert. (It’s hard to imagine that a much larger crowd won’t arrive next year.)
Not even the invited press really knew what would happen. And that was the beauty of it. On Friday, in front of the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Casole d’Elsa, a crowd waited to enter. The name of James Blake began to circulate, which until then most of the spectators had never heard. But for those who had, the idea of listening to him in a church seemed like a dream.
The first performance was that of Krishna Das, an American artist who presents his kirtans, or Hindu devotional prayers, in musical form. The objective was to immediately involve the audience, making them repeat the mantras and allowing them to enter another dimension far from everyday reality. Among the church pews there was Rubin, looking satisfied with this first taste of the event. There were Italian artists such as Jovanotti and Dario Mangiaracina of La Rappresentante di Lista, the actors Riccardo Scamarcio with Benedetta Porcaroli and the artist manager Paola Zukar. Régine Chassagne and Win Butler from Arcade Fire were also there — calm, listening, ready to be carried away by the flow.
Next to the festival locations, the event program only said “live,” “show” and “film” without specifying anything else. We returned to the church and this time James Blake was there for real. In front of him were his piano and a loop station. After a while, “Limit to Your Love” started. Sunlight filtered through the painted gothic windows and blended with “Mulholland” and “Retrograde.” Blake couldn’t hear himself or his instrument well, so he started over, then stopped again. Everything seemed so real, but above all profound.
Meanwhile, Paolo Nutini was wandering around in the cloister. Maybe he too would like to play in such a particular context, but he couldn’t because he had to perform officially at the La Prima Estate festival, also in Tuscany. After a break, Jovanotti came on stage, telling people about the responsibility of having made Rubin fall in love with his homeland, Tuscany.
“A few years ago, Rick, my absolute legend, who later also became a friend, and I rented a villa near Florence to transform it into a studio and to work on my album. We were there for about a month. Every morning, he and I went around the villages and hills, so Rick fell madly in love with the region. He even bought a house right in the municipality of Casole d’Elsa: he’s one of us now!”
Jovanotti talked about how many houses they saw together to find one that was right to be renovated without distorting its old spirit — a bit like in his albums, where Rubin reduces the sound to the bare bones to maintain the essence of the artists.
“In the United States there is practically no concept of ancient,” says Rubin. “A 40-year-old house is considered as such. This is why I am so fascinated by your country.” Then there was another important source of inspiration: director Terry Gilliam’s film festival in Umbria. “When we were there together, we saw an incredible gem and thought we should do everything we could to do something like that.”
After Jovanotti, Beth Ditto’s Gossip arrived on stage, and the force of nature we all knew seemed to have returned. She apologized for her cough and her voice, but she seemed anything but unmotivated. Rubin himself invited the audience not to miss the “Heavy Cross” band for anything in the world.
Meanwhile, other Italian artists arrived backstage such as Levante, Madame, gIANMARIA, Birthh, Veronica Lucchesi of La Rappresentante di Lista. Everyone was relaxed and happy with the shows they got to see. The next day, Ghali, Frah Quintale and Måneskin’s Thomas Raggi and Ethan Torchio arrived. Everyone met up in the cloister transformed into a backstage, with tech gurus such as Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, who held a panel titled ‘Tech and Freedom’ on Saturday (on June 22).
On Saturday there were other surprises. DJ Cosmo Gonik arrives in Piazza della Libertà for his ecstatic dance, then another church hosted the cellist Lucinda Chua, Rhye and the Armenian pianist Marie Awadis. But it was with Win and Regine of Arcade Fire that the climax was reached. The two Canadians performed first in the church of Santa Maria Assunta for a concert and then on the stage in Piazza della Libertà with a DJ set.
The places convey a timeless charm. Not to mention the superlative location of the amphitheatre for the film about Nick Cave, This Much I Know to Be True, presented by the director Andrew Domini, with contrasting purple lights, clear sound and Arcade Fire and Blake in the audience. How can the same magic be repeated next year?
Festival of The Sun
Kimberley Ross/Stefano Mattea/Billboard Italia
Kylie Kelce is serving up two things: beer and Taylor Swift karaoke. At Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce‘s second annual New Heights Beer Bowl Wednesday (June 26), the former field hockey player — who is married to the retired Eagles center — cheerfully belted along to the “Anti-Hero” singer’s iconic 2008 smash, as captured in a sweet video from the charity event.
Posted to the podcast’s official X account, the video finds Kylie holding three full pitchers of beer like a pro while grooving along to Swift’s hit playing through speakers. As the song progresses, the Philadelphia native gets more and more into her performance, nailing every lyric.
“You were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles/ And my daddy said, ‘Stay away from Juliet,’” she sings in the video. “And I was crying on the staircase/ Begging you, ‘Please don’t go.’”
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The Beer Bowl is part of a two-day event in Sea Isle City, N.J., benefiting the Eagles Autism Foundation. Though Travis wasn’t in attendance, Jason held down the fort on the first day by passing out Jello shots and playing games with guests. The brothers’ mom and dad, Donna and Ed Kelce, were also there to support the cause.
The Beer Bowl comes just a few days after Jason and Kylie got to sing along to “Love Story” and 44 other songs live at Swift’s London Eras Tour shows last weekend. Fan cameras captured the couple — who share three young daughters — trading friendship bracelets and enjoying the show alongside Travis in a VIP tent.
“I’ve never cried at a f–king concert, and I was literally tearing up,” Jason later raved about the show on New Heights, revealing Swift’s “22” hat exchange with a young fan made him emotional. “It was f—ing so special.”
“That was my favorite part,” he added of the pop star’s surprise song section. “It’s just her, a guitar and 90,000 people. To be good in front of 90,000 people with just that, I think you have to be amazing … It feels like you’re in a bar just listening to somebody play on a piano.”
Watch Kylie Kelce sing T-Swift’s “Love Story” below.
Justin Timberlake and John Legend had a sweet reunion at the former’s concert in New York City Wednesday night (June 26). In a clip posted to Chrissy Teigen’s Instagram Story the night of the Madison Square Garden show, the “SexyBack” singer greets fans on the floor of the venue before spotting his friend in the […]
Cyndi Lauper loves Taylor Swift‘s true colors. In a recent interview with the BBC’s The One Show, the 71-year-old pop star had nothing but praise for the “Anti-Hero” singer, revealing exactly which of the latter’s albums made her a fan.
“Look, I like her,” Lauper began when the topic of Swift came up. “I think she’s terrific. As an artist, she writes some wonderful songs.”
“I first started listening during the pandemic … when she went and hibernated and did that wonderful folk record,” she continued, referring to the 14-time Grammy winner’s Billboard 200-topping Folklore. “It was wonderful. I’m proud of her.”
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Lauper also gave a shout-out to the 34-year-old superstar’s boyfriend, making a joke about Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s large stature. “Don’t mess with her, ’cause …,” the “Time After Time” singer quipped, miming how the football player might throw a punch to defend his girlfriend from any threats.
The ’80s icon’s comments come shortly after the May release of her new compilation album Let the Canary Sing. Shortly after the interview clip was posted, she announced a string of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour shows in Europe.
Meanwhile, Swift is currently midway through the European leg of her global Eras Tour, most recently performing three back-to-back shows at Wembley Stadium in London. She’ll spend the rest of the summer traveling throughout the continent before returning to North America for a final lap this fall.
And while Lauper is just one of numerous legendary stars to praise Swift over the course of her career, the “Fortnight” musician recently caught joking criticism from Dave Grohl. At a Foo Fighters concert last weekend, the Nirvana alum appeared to jest that the pop star doesn’t perform live at her own shows. “I tell you, man, you don’t want to suffer the wrath of Taylor Swift,” he cracked. “We like to call our tour the Errors Tour. We’ve had more than a few eras, and more than a few f—ing errors as well. That’s because we actually play live. What?! Just saying. You guys like raw, live rock n’ roll music, right? You came to the right f—ing place.”
Watch Lauper praise Swift below.
Paris Hilton will forever be synonymous with 2000s pop culture. Long before the days of Instagram models and TikTok influencers, Hilton was a pioneering influencer — when society didn’t even have a word for it yet.
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Tuesday night (June 25) represented a full-circle moment for the “Stars Are Blind” singer. 20 years after first introducing the world to the Razr, Hilton partnered with Motorola once again to help unveil the new family of Razr phones.
A flashback to paparazzi photos from the mid-2000s would often find Paris showing off her pink Razr — typically bedazzled in Swarovski crystals — which she’d use as a fashion accessory to go with her trendy outfit.
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“When you think [of] Y2K and fashion, the Motorola Razr was an accessory, and I made it that way. I would literally have low-waist jeans and have it just clipped in there,” Hilton tells Billboard in her greenroom. “Anytime I was walking through a crowd and I’d pretend to be on the phone, I’d have my cute pink Razr — and it brings back so many nostalgic memories.”
Rocking a glittery pink and silver plaid dress with matching bedazzled gloves, Paris Hilton looked like royalty while taking the stage to close the House of Razr event in Brooklyn out with a DJ set. The partying didn’t last long for Hilton, though — who jetted to Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning (June 26), where she delivered a candid testimony in front of congress about child welfare.
The Simple Life alum revealed to Billboard that her years-in-the-making Infinite Icon album is finished, and will be released on Sept. 6, coinciding with New York Fashion Week’s kick-off.
Hilton continued the project’s rollout last week with the release of her “I’m Free” single featuring Rina Sawayama. Sia is onboard as the LP’s executive producer, and fans can expect a collaboration with Meghan Trainor as well.
Check out the rest of our conversation with the multi-hyphenate heiress, who dishes on being the original influencer, working with Meghan Trainor and Sia and her “Stars Are Blind” anthem turning 18.
How did the partnership with Motorola and the Razr come together?
Paris Hilton: I first launched their pink Razr 20 years ago, so this is a full-circle moment, being back introducing the new pink Razr. It’s iconic and I love Motorola. They always have had the best parties for 20 years.
When I Googled back then I saw you with pink, black and other colors. Were you just running through [Razr] phones?
Yeah, lots of phones — and constantly thinking of ones for different-colored outfits. Then I would bedazzle them all. All my Razrs were covered in Swarovski crystals. I can’t wait to do that to my new one.
What was life like for you back then using it as a fashion accessory?
I’ve always been an undercover nerd, and obsessed with technology — so even before a phone would come out, they would send it to me, because I was the original influencer. When I got the phone, everyone got the phone. It was cool to see the impact that I could make on pop culture, and showing off my love of gadgets. The phones [are] even better now.
What other memories come back there? For me, I think Paris running around with Kim [Kardashian] and The Simple Life.
It was just so much fun. The 2000s, there was nothing like it. The energy, vibes, fashion — it’ll never be like that again. It was about everything I wore. I invented Y2K fashion.
What can you tell us about your new single “I’m Free?” How was working with Rina [Sawayama]?
I love Rina. She’s just so brilliant and talented. Her voice is so beautiful, and just recording this whole album with Sia this whole year — she’s an executive producer of the album. She’s the greatest songwriter of her time. One of my best friends. She took my voice to another level, which I didn’t even know I had in me. She brought out so much in me, and she made me feel so comfortable in the studio.
“I’m Free” was the perfect song [to introduce] my new album Infinite Icon, because it’s Pride Month and “I’m Free” is all about expressing who you are and being who you want to be and living how you want to live. I think that’s something important to celebrate.
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When does the album come out?
The album is out Sept. 6. During Fashion Week. I’m gonna be recording some music videos this summer. First one will be “Bad B—h Academy,” which is sick. I have some amazing surprise features on that one as well. Just getting ready for a tour.
Who else do you wanna get on the album? Is it done?
It’s done. One of my favorite features is with Meghan Trainor. She’s just so sweet and amazing. We met years ago during New York Fashion Week. She just came up to me, like, “I’m the third Hilton sister.” Then I immediately just loved her so much and we became best friends.
On the new single you say, “Infinite Icon, I am the blueprint.” I feel like you are the OG celebrity influencer. If you could speak to that and how [celebrity] has transformed with everyone else following in your path.
It makes me really proud. I was an influencer before there was a name for it. Everyone was like, famous for being famous. Now, 20 years later, I was ahead of my time … as [essentially] the first person to get into reality television, the first person to get into social. And it just really makes me proud to see how many people were inspired by that. This whole generation. It’s pretty sick.
“Stars Are Blind” turned 18 earlier this month. What a time.
“Stars Are Blind” is the anthem of my life. I’m just so proud of how timeless and iconic it is. People just love it. It’s the ultimate summer bop. I loved re-recording it with Kim Petras. She’s so talented and so amazing. The perfect person to do that [with]. It’s just amazing to see so many people love it and [are still] raging with it almost 20 years later.
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Taylor Swift is working to leave the cities on her Eras Tour route a little better than she found them.
As the 34-year-old pop star has taken her global trek to Europe this summer, she’s continued her trend of donating to food banks along the way. And according to one charity in Liverpool — where Swift performed three nights at Anfield Stadium earlier this month — a recent contribution from the singer will take care of crucial gaps in their fundraising efforts, providing for a full year’s worth of meals.
“It’s the most incredible gift,” Rich Jones, chief executive of St. Andrew’s Community Network, told The Guardian in an interview published Tuesday (June 25). “Because of rising prices, rising need and falling donations, we’ve been having to subsidize our food ourselves for a long while.”
“But it’s fair to say that Taylor Swift has essentially paid our food bill for 12 months – and that gives us the breathing space to focus on fundraising efforts going forward,” he added on behalf of St. Andrew’s, which runs 11 food banks and offers long-term support to eight community pantries.
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Shortly after performing in Liverpool, the “Anti-Hero” singer brought her Eras showcase to Wales. According to Rachel Biggs, chief executive of Cardiff Foodbank, Swift also covered 10,800 meals with a discreet donation to the organization in honor of her single performance at Principality Stadium June 18.
“We’re going to buy an articulated lorry full of food and other most-needed items to supplement our emergency food parcels,” Biggs told the publication. “This will provide the weight equivalent to feeding 1,200 people three meals a day, for three days … This will be 2.5 weeks of what we typically distribute.”
Though Swift doesn’t publicize her donations, Liverpool and Cardiff are only two of the latest cities to report receiving generous donations from the 14-time Grammy winner over the course of her Eras Tour. When she was on the North American leg, food banks in Arizona, Nevada and Florida all revealed that she had sent funding their way.
Following three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium last weekend, Swift is next slated to perform three shows in Dublin June 28-30. She’ll spend the rest of the summer traveling throughout Europe before returning to North America for a final lap this fall.
“Wembley Stadium round one was so surreal,” she wrote in a recent Instagram post. “Looking out into crowds of 90,000 fans each night and hearing that VOLUME… Those were some of the loudest crowds I’ve ever heard … Never going to forget these shows.”
Devonté Hynes is well-known as a musical collaborator, songwriter and producer who’s worked with a diverse and ever-expanding group of artists (Solange, Mariah Carey, Harry Styles and Carly Rae Jepsen, to name a few) and a composer for film, television, dance and classical ensembles. Now, Billboard can exclusively reveal that the artist also known as […]
Behind the social media fame, the songs, the movies, the red carpets and the philanthropy, Selena Gomez just wants to make her family proud.
Martin Short is part of that expanded family.
Gomez stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night (June 26) for a catch-up with Short, her co-star on Only Murders in the Building, that felt like old buddies picking up where they left off.
Gomez is, according to Short, never a second late on set, knows every line, a total pro.
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Deflecting praise, she remarked, “I do what I can with what I have. And I’m so grateful. And I mean, my grandparents are here, I just want to make my family proud.”
The pop culture icon has a busy schedule. Having bagged the best actress award and a rousing standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival following a screening of Emilia Pérez, Gomez is looking ahead to a string of small screen projects. Among them, season four of Only Murders in the Building, which starts Aug. 27 on Hulu, and a reboot of Wizards of Waverly Place, for which she is on board as executive producer and appears in episode one.
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“It brings me to tears because that is the beginning of where I started,” she says of the 2000s sitcom, “and to honor it in this way has truly been a blast.”
Gomez also confessed her crush on Paul Rudd, and the “dream” that was working with Meryl Streep on Only Murders. “As an actress you can only dream to work with someone as great as her,” she recounts “But she would just dally around as if she was just a part of our family. She would sing songs barefoot. And talk to everyone and…that was elegant to me. That was true class.”
Away from the spotlight, Gomez helms the Rare Beauty cosmetics brand, which has a commitment to raise awareness and increase access to mental health services for young people. Gomez, who explored her own mental health struggles in the Alek Keshishian-helmed documentary My Mind & Me, hopes to raise $100 million for good causes. “It’s got meaning and it’s practical,” she explains.
Short is guest host, standing-in (or rather, sitting) for Kimmel this week. Watch the interview below.
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Happy birthday, Ariana Grande! The pop superstar turned 31 on Wednesday (June 26), and she took to Instagram to share a sweet throwback video from her childhood. In the clip, she’s seen in a multi-colored swimsuit with her curly hair on full display, belting various songs and dancing for her family. “Why don’t you sing […]
Breakups are hard, but being permanently tied to your ex through a smash hit song can be even harder.
In a new Complex cover story published Wednesday (June 26) ahead of her new album C,XOXO, Camila Cabello got candid about her feelings toward “Señorita,” which she released in 2019 with Shawn Mendes just before they started publicly dating — and suffice to say, it’s not necessarily her favorite song in her discography now that the two stars are split up.
When asked whether she ever tires of hearing the Billboard Hot 100-topping duet or “Havana” — which also reached No. 1 on the chart in its heyday — the Fifth Harmony alum said yes, but especially “Señorita.”
“I think there’s always a worry when a song becomes so massive that it’s going to be bigger than you,” she told the publication. “I obviously love that they were so massive and successful. But it does get people attached to you in a certain light. I was in a really public relationship and as a woman, you’re like, ‘I don’t want this couple thing to be my new identity.’”
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Cabello and Mendes first sparked romance rumors in July 2019, one month after “Señorita” dropped. The pair went on to date for about two years before announcing their breakup in November 2021, sharing a joint statement that read: “Hey guys, we’ve decided to end our romantic relationship but our love for one another as humans is stronger than ever. We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends.”
The pair appeared to reunite in April 2023 when fans spotted them packing on PDA at Coachella; however, their rekindling was short-lived. Earlier this year, Cabello confirmed on Call Her Daddy that she and the “Stitches” singer had temporarily gotten back together but quickly decided to end it.
“It was a fun moment,” she said on the podcast. “I think you’re just kind of like, ‘Yeah, this doesn’t really … it’s not a fit — it doesn’t feel right. Luckily, I was in a place in my life where … it took us both less time to be like, ‘This doesn’t feel right and we don’t really need to try so hard to make it work. It’s all good, let’s move on.’”
See Cabello’s Complex cover below.
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