State Champ Radio Pop
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Last week, pop star Conan Gray released his vibrant third album Found Heaven — and soon before, he stopped by Billboard News to discuss everything from falling in love for the first time to working with Max Martin to bring that feeling to life.
“It very much affected how I made the music,” says Gray, who also shares that “this whole album is highs and lows.”
He says he started the ideation process during his Superache Tour nearly two years ago. As he recalls, after each performance he would retreat to the basement “because there’s always a piano in the basement of these theaters I was playing… that’s when I would notice these different themes I was writing about.”
He later tapped the MXM songwriting and production crew of Max Martin, ILYA and Oscar Holter to help flesh those various themes out, saying they “really opened up my eyes and wings to all of the different sides of myself that I could try out. … They wanted to push me to do something that was the whole array of me.”
And while Found Heaven does boast power-pop hits like “Never Ending Song” and “Lonely Dancers,” the album also features more intimate songs like “Forever With Me,” album closer “Winner” and standout track “Alley Rose.” As Gray says, “When I first recorded [‘Alley Rose’], I recorded it in the same voice as the rest of the album, a bit more energetically. And then I was like, ‘Wait, I need to not do that. I need to sing it as calm and tender as possible — each song requires a different part of me. … I feel lucky that people give me the space to do both.”
Gray also opened up about the love that inspired much of this album — and the heartbreak he had to process soon after. As he tells it, after flying to London for their scheduled meet-up, he landed to a text ultimately ending the relationship. And yet, he wouldn’t change a thing about his experiences surrounding Found Heaven — and his necklace of a star cutout inside a teardrop is a reminder of exactly that.
“In all the things that make you cry, the happiest moments of your life and the saddest moments of your life, there is a magic in the fact that you even got to experience it at all,” says Gray. “I’ve spent so many years of my life hiding in my room and not doing anything and being so afraid of ever getting hurt or rejected or feeling bad, that I ended up living no life. I kept this on my neck the whole time I was making this album [as a reminder] that I have to live my life.”
To hear what else Gray said of his latest album, watch the full interview above.
Jessica Simpson enjoyed a relaxing beach vacation with her family in Los Cabos, Mexico, and the star took to Instagram on Monday (April 8) to share a photo dump from the trip. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “2024 Spring Breakin’ with the fam was EPIC! Thank […]
Billie Eilish is about to hit fans with her most sustainable release yet. On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are joined by Billboard deputy editor Lyndsey Havens, who has interviewed Eilish twice ahead of the announcement of her third full-length studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, out May 17. Both […]
Sabrina Carpenter is giving fans a bit of an energy boost. Just days ahead of her upcoming set at Coachella 2024, the rising pop star announced that her next single “Espresso” is on track to arrive later this week, sharing its release date and cover on social media Monday (April 8). The song’s retro-looking artwork […]
Just two weeks after Olly Alexander rejected calls for him to withdraw from and boycott the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s inclusion, the European Broadcast Union has issued a statement denouncing the “harassment” of Eurovision artists for the same reason.
The statement, which was delivered by Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the EBU, began with an acknowledgment of “the depth of feeling and the strong opinions that this year’s Eurovision Song Contest – set against the backdrop of a terrible war in the Middle East – has provoked.”
De Tender then turns his attention to the “targeted social media campaigns” launched against certain Eurovision artists, saying, “The decision to include any broadcaster, including the Israeli broadcaster Kan, in the Eurovision Song Contest is the sole responsibility of the EBU’s governing bodies and not that of the individual artists. These artists come to Eurovision to share their music, culture, and the universal message of unity through the language of music.”
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Earlier this year (Jan. 30), several Swedish artists signed an open letter calling for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision, writing, “Allowing Israel’s participation undermines not only the spirit of the competition but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences.”
That same month (Jan. 11), more than 14,000 Finnish artists joined Icelandic artists in signing a petition calling for Israel to be banned from the competition. “It is not in accordance with our values that a country that commits war crimes and continues a military occupation is given a public stage to polish its image in the name of music,” read the petition, which all threatened the absence of a Finnish delegation at this year’s Eurovision should the EBU not weigh in on the matter.
Directly addressing the controversy, the EBU’s statement reads, “While we strongly support freedom of speech and the right to express opinions in a democratic society, we firmly oppose any form of online abuse, hate speech, or harassment directed at our artists or any individuals associated with the contest. This is unacceptable and totally unfair, given the artists have no role in this decision.”
The EBU has explanations for the reasoning for the inclusion of Kan, Israel’s eligibility and their response to potential protests available on their website.
“The EBU is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants, staff, and fans of the Eurovision Song Contest,” the statement continued. “We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to promote the values of respect, inclusivity, and understanding, both online and offline. We urge everyone to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue and support the artists who are working tirelessly – on what is a music and entertainment show – to share their music with the world.”
The 2024 edition of Eurovision is slated to take place in Malmö, Sweden between May 7-11. Last year’s victor was Sweden’s Loreen, who sang her way to the winners’ circle with “Tattoo,” which hit No. 2 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart.
Click here to read the EBU’s full statement.
Louis Tomlinson just got real about those Harry Styles conspiracy theories, which have been following both stars since their days in One Direction. In a Monday interview with the Brazilian news outlet G1 ahead of the Latin American leg of his Faith in the Future World Tour, the singer was asked point-blank about “Larries” — […]
It’s been more than eight years since Rihanna’s last album, Anti, and the Navy is starving for any signs of life when it comes to R9.
RiRi provided a concise update regarding her current relationship with creating music in her Interview mag cover story while chatting with former stylist Mel Ottenberg.
“I have a lot of visual ideas,” she said, which typically isn’t the start of her creative process. “It’s weird. My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all of these visual opportunities, and now I’m having all of these visuals.”
Unfortunately, Rihanna admitted she doesn’t have the songs to accompany the visual ideas just yet, but hopefully they eventually come to fruition.
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“I don’t have the songs for them yet, but maybe that’s the key, this time,” the “Work” singer teased. “Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make.”
She surreptitiously added: “Random ideas, quirky ideas, things that have nothing to do with me at all.”
Back in February, A$AP Rocky teased that the nine-time Grammy winner — with whom he shares two young sons — is “working” on herlong-awaited album, but Rihanna has remained tight-lipped on the matter. “She’s working on it,” he said while out for Paris Fashion Week.
Billboard‘s Heran Mamo penned an essay in March about the sobering idea that Ri’s Navy may need to come to grips with the fact she may never release another album, and that’s perfectly fine after delivering eight in about a decade’s time.
However, Rihanna did make her return to the stage for her first performance in eight years in March for a pre-wedding celebration for Anant Ambani, who is the son of Asia’s richest man, and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, India.
The 36-year-old’s most recent musical output came with a pair of singles in late 2022 for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. “Lift Me Up” served as a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman, along with “Born Again.” The former earned Rihanna a Grammy nomination for best song written for visual media, and an Oscar nod in the best original song category.
Anti arrived in January 2016. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboad 200 in its first full week of tracking with 166,000 units in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 4.
Check out some photos from Rihanna’s Interview cover shoot below.
Lizzo‘s got some tips that’ll leave you feeling good as hell this summer. In a satirical video posted on Instagram Tuesday (April 9), the 35-year-old hitmaker hilariously demonstrates three of her best tips for building a perfect “bod” ahead of next season — no gym membership required.
The “Truth Hurts” singer-rapper starts the video in a colorful swimsuit, taking a stroll on a treadmill. “Here’s three exercises to help you get that summer bod,” she tells the camera after serving up a sassy hair flip.
Step one? “Block your ex,” Lizzo says, smiling as she tosses her cellphone into a swimming pool behind her.
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“Remember to hydrate excessively,” she says next, doing a bicep curl with a bottle of white wine.
“And remember,” she adds, introducing her third tip while lounging in the sun. “You can never be too extra.”
“Cus EVERY D–N BODY is a Summer Body in @yitty,” she added in her caption, tagging her own shapewear company.
The post comes less than two weeks after the Grammy winner made headlines for ambiguously declaring “I quit” in a message on Instagram, leading some to assume that she was stepping away from the music industry in light of her recent legal turmoil with a group of her former backup dancers. A few days later, however, Lizzo once again took to social media to clarify her remarks, telling followers in a video: “When I say I quit, I mean, I quit giving any negative energy attention.”
“What I’m not gonna quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting with people,” she’d added. “I know I’m not alone. In no way, shape or form am I the only person who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive … I’m going to keep moving forward, I’m going to keep being me.”
See Lizzo’s summer body post below.
Award-winning artists Josh Groban, Andra Day and Rhiannon Giddens have been chosen as the 2024 honorees for the upcoming Music Will benefit. The nonprofit music education program for U.S. public schools, formerly known as Little Kids Rock, will present its 16th annual event on April 24 at The Novo in Los Angeles.
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In a statement announcing the benefit, Music Will CEO Mike Wasserman said, “Music Will brings innovative and engaging programming, resources and instruments to a community of thousands of music teachers and more than 600,000 students across the country every year. We can’t wait to celebrate on April 24 with such generous and talented artists like Josh Groban, Andra Day and Rhiannon Giddens, as well as student bands from local Music Will partner schools. For one night, our community of educators, corporate sponsors, industry partners and everyone who believes in the power of music will come together for an amazing celebration of music. All proceeds will support Music Will’s programs for students and teachers across the country. Together, we’re changing lives through music.”
Five-time Grammy Award nominee and Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor Groban tells Billboard, “I deeply admire Music Will’s commitment to enacting meaningful, systemic change in music education by meeting kids where they are and prioritizing equity and tangible access in schools. Having had the privilege of working with Music Will and witnessing their dedication to enriching students’ lives firsthand only reinforces my admiration for their impactful work.”
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“Music Will’s commitment to changing the landscape of music education and expanding access to underserved communities is truly inspiring,” adds fellow singer-songwriter Day in comments shared with Billboard. “I believe in the transformative power of music, and I’m excited to collaborate with Music Will to bring that power to even more students.”
Grammy winner Day is also an Academy Award-nominated actress. Giddens, a MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient, has won two Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize for her work as a singer, instrumentalist and composer. She, Day and Groban join a circle of prior Music Will honorees that includes Babyface, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, Steven Van Zandt, Usher and Wiz Khalifa. Music Will was founded by Dave Wish in 2002.
Michael Bearden (Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston) will serve as music director for Music Will’s upcoming benefit, which is being presented by the Hot Topic Foundation and produced by MBM Entertainment. Additional information about tickets is available on the Music Will website.
Fans in Brazil are going to great lengths to get Beyoncé‘s attention, and they just got the next best outcome. After a group of admirers used a light show projected on the biggest Ferris wheel in Latin America to ask the superstar to come to São Paulo on her next tour, Queen Bey’s mother — […]
