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Nina Nesbitt Unveils New Track, “I’m Coming Home” & Announced As Stevie Nicks Support For London BST Hyde Park On 12th July

By
Jimmy Mavroudis
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Nina Nesbitt - Photo Credit: Wolf James

Acclaimed Scottish singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Nina Nesbitt today releases yet another soul-stirring track from her forthcoming album, Mountain Music. “I’m Coming Home” is a rousing Springsteen-inspired, journey back to the places and people she loves. Listen HERE.

The single release is accompanied by the news that Nina Nesbitt will support Stevie Nicks at London BST Hyde Park on 12th July 2024.

Speaking about the track, Nina reveals, “’I’m Coming Home’ is a song for rolling down the windows, driving up the dirt roads on your way back home. I was inspired by some old Bruce Springsteen songs and a lot of the US folk music I was listening to when making the album but I’d never heard a song about growing up in a Scottish village, so I wanted to add my own narrative to all the classic ‘coming home’ folk songs. It’s an ode to my Scottish roots.”

“I’m Coming Home” follows previous releases, “Pages” ,“On The Run,” and most recently, “Mansion”, a spectral, gossamer track that arrived this past spring, alongside the exciting news that her forthcoming fourth studio album, Mountain Music is to be released on September 27, via her own record label—Apple Tree Records. The album is now available to pre-order.

In addition to the digital release, Nina has announced exclusive Roadtrip Bundles, available to pre-order now on her official online store. The bundles include a signed copy of the new album on CD or vinyl, cassette, bumper stickers as well as a run of specially commissioned Mountain Music maps, designed by artist Sarah Obtinalla. For more information and to pre-order a Roadtrip Bundle, please visit Nina’s official store.

Having risen to fame at a young age with her disarming, candid pop – championed by stars including Taylor Swift – with her new album, the Scottish musician is now found in an entirely new realm. Mountain Music is inspired in part by the two years she spent touring the States in support of her second studio album: the critically acclaimed Top 40, The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change, which has now accrued over a billion streams.

The songs on Mountain Music are permeated with gorgeous nods to US folk and Americana. Produced by Peter Miles and Nesbitt, and mixed and mastered by Miles at his studio MiddleFarm in South Devon, in the UK. It will be released via her own label, Apple Tree Records, which Nina launched earlier this year with her longtime manager, Vicky Dowdall. The name, a playful nod to her 2012 debut EP, The Apple Tree, this marks the start of an exciting new era for Nina Nesbitt, both personally and creatively.

Talking about her new body of work, Nina says, “I’m beyond excited to be releasing my new album, Mountain Music, on 27th September. To me, it feels like the most authentic and honest piece of work I’ve created so far. I was inspired by a lot of the American folk music I grew up listening to, and revisiting it made me fall back in love with writing music again. I knew I wanted to take inspiration but to also write my own story. That being, someone with a female perspective who grew up in a Scottish village and spent her turbulent twenties in London. This album celebrates that small town girl, puts an arm around the big city twenty-something and looks back at the view with me now from the calm and the quiet. It’ll be the first release on my own record label, Apple Tree Records, which I’m delighted about. It feels like the perfect time to take full control of my career and put my stake in the ground as the artist I’ve always dreamed of being. Mountain Music held my hand through some of my hardest moments and I hope it can hold yours too.”

Last month, Nina played a SOLD OUT show at London’s Camden Assembly, debuting some new tracks from the album for the very first time. Thanking her fans on social media after the show, Nina shared “Thank you so much for last night, London. For selling this show out in under a minute, singing along to even the unreleased songs, listening so intently to the ones you haven’t heard .I’m even more excited for ‘Mountain Music’ after that. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.” Days before her headline show, Nina graced the stage at London’s iconic O2 Arena, joining American singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes as a special guest, an experience which Nina described as “magical.” Stay tuned for more music and live dates, to be announced soon.

Nina Nesbitt – Mountain Music

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The View Announce Winter UK Headline Tour to Celebrate Their Greatest Hits

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Staff Writer
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The View

The View have been enjoying the warm response of sold out arenas around the country, serving as Liam Gallagher’s support on his 30 Years Celebration of Definitely Maybe. With reviews strong and fans displaying their enthusiasm for hits like ‘Same Jeans’ and ‘Superstar Tradesman’, The View have decided to celebrate with their Winter 2024 ‘The Greatest Hits’ tour.

The View achieved their highest chart position in over a decade last year when their album ‘Exorcism of Youth’ went into the UK Albums Top 10 at #6 . In 2007,The View’s debut album ‘Hats Off To Buskers’ went straight to #1 and soon reached Platinum status. Further buoyed by critical acclaim including a Mercury Prize nomination and NME making glowing comparisons with The Stooges and The Libertines, ‘Hats Off To Buskers’ also took The View into the singles charts with the #3 smash and instant indie classic ‘Same Jeans’ plus the Top 20 hits ‘Wasted Little DJs’ and ‘Superstar Tradesman’. Two of their subsequent four albums – ‘Which Bitch?’ and ‘Cheeky For A Reason’ – also reached the Top 10, while their previous album, ‘Ropewalk’, was produced by Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes.

The band is enjoying a fruitful summer. As well as supporting Liam Gallagher, they are set to play a string of festivals including Sign Of The Times, Forest Festival, Monument Festival, Askern Music Festival, Tramlines, Summer Sundays, Y Not and Summer Sessions. They will round off their summer with Liam Gallagher’s Biblical Weekender in Malta.

‘The Greatest Hits’ tour will offer fans a chance to let loose and chant along to all of The View’s most memorable belters. As nostalgia for the 00’s continues to run rampant across the country, the band are set to celebrate the undeniable musical impact they had on this era. Tickets will be available via the artists presale on Friday 14 June; with general sale on Monday 17 June at 10am.Tickets for Manchester’s New Century Hall on 28 Nov and London’s Electric Ballroom on 04 Dec can be found here.

NOVEMBER – HEADLINE TOUR
28 Nov – New Century, Manchester
29 Nov – Academy 2, Birmingham
30 Nov – Network 2, Sheffield

DECEMBER – HEADLINE TOUR
01 Dec – Academy 2, Liverpool
03 Dec – The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
04 Dec – Electric Ballroom, London
05 Dec – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
06 Dec – The Wardrobe, Leeds
07 Dec – Tapyard Studios, Newcastle

The View – Exorcism of Youth

Listen to Exorcism of Youth by The View.

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Culture Club announce 2024 UK & Ireland arena tour

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Staff Writer
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Music icons Boy George and Culture Club are thrilled to announce a major UK and Ireland arena tour this December, celebrating their first two monumental albums, ‘Kissing to Be Clever’ and ‘Colour by Numbers’.

Culminating at London’s The O2, the prolific band will perform these landmark albums in their entirety. Fans can expect to hear all the classic hits, including “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Karma Chameleon,” “Time (Clock of the Heart)”, “Church of the Poison Mind,” right up to their current releases.

‘Kissing to Be Clever’, Culture Club’s chart-topping 1982 debut, propelled the band to international stardom. This Grammy-nominated album established their signature sound, a captivating blend of new wave pop and reggae, further enhanced by Boy George’s soulful vocals. Thematically, the album explored universal themes of love, loneliness, and societal pressures.

Following the phenomenal success of their debut, Culture Club returned in 1983 with ‘Colour by Numbers’, solidifying their place as pop icons. This critically acclaimed sophomore album, which garnered multiple awards and sold over 10 million copies worldwide, featured the band’s biggest hit to date, “Karma Chameleon.” The infectious song topped charts globally and became the biggest-selling UK single of that year.

On this brand-new tour Boy George and Culture Club will be joined by very special guests, synth-pop legends Tony Hadley and Heaven 17. Tony Hadley will perform tracks to commemorate the two classic albums ‘True’ and ‘Parade’, whilst Heaven 17 will perform tracks from their first two renowned albums ‘Penthouse and Pavement’ and ‘The Luxury Gap’.

Excited for the new dates Boy George says: ‘I am calling this ‘The Zero Arguments Tour’ because we are performing our first two albums ‘Kissing To Be Clever’ and ‘Colour By Numbers’ exactly as they were made and in exact order. I love the idea of this because some of these songs are fan favourites and have never been performed. I think it will be really special for the fans.’

Don’t miss this unmissable opportunity to see Boy George and Culture Club relive these defining albums live. Tickets go on sale Friday 14th June at 9.30am via www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk / www.ticketmaster.ie

DECEMBER 2024
TUESDAY 03 DUBLIN 3ARENA
THURSDAY 05 LIVERPOOL M&S BANK ARENA
FRIDAY 06 LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA
SATURDAY 07 NEWCASTLE UTILITA ARENA
MONDAY 09 CARDIFF UTILITA ARENA
TUESDAY 10 NOTTINGHAM MOTORPOINT ARENA
WEDNESDAY 11 MANCHESTER CO-OP LIVE
FRIDAY 13 GLASGOW OVO HYDRO
SATURDAY 14 BIRMINGHAM RESORTS WORLD ARENA
SUNDAY 15 LONDON THE O2

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Zara Larsson & Cat Burns to Headline The Hundred Cricket This Summer

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Staff Writer
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Zara Larsson
Zara Larsson

One of pop’s most exciting stars, Zara Larsson, will help celebrate the culmination of another summer of unmissable sport and entertainment with her headline performance at The Hundred Final at Lord’s on 18 August. Fresh off the release of her latest album Venus, the record-breaking star is behind massive global hits like Lush Life, Never Forget You, Symphony and Can’t Tame Her tops a thrilling line-up featuring some of the most exciting artists in UK music.

Speaking of her performance at The Hundred Final, Zara Larsson said: “I’m so excited to have been invited to perform at The Hundred Final this year. I love what the competition stands for and the platform it’s giving women’s sport. I can’t wait to perform and entertain the Lord’s crowd this summer! I’ll be singing some of my favourite songs live and will be pulling out all the stops to put on an unforgettable show.”

Multi-BRIT-nominee and BBC Sound of 2023 artist Cat Burns, who burst onto the scene with her breakthrough single, go, and is set to release her eagerly anticipated debut album, early twenties, will perform at The Hundred Opener at the Kia Oval on Tuesday 23 July.

Speaking of her performance at The Hundred Opener, Cat Burns said: “Performing for a home South London crowd is always so much fun and the Kia Oval is an amazing venue – I can’t wait. I’m honoured to kick off a line-up of some truly incredible artists and I encourage fans to get down to their nearest match and check them out!”

Cat Burns

For the fourth year running, fans will enjoy unforgettable music performances at each fixture of The Hundred, with an exciting mix of established acts and true rising stars completing the line-up, which has been co-curated with BBC Music Introducing. Other acts appearing at stadiums across the country this year include Issey Cross, Only The Poets, Nell Mescall, Poppy Ajudha, Another Sky and Nxdia.

In its first three years, The Hundred has played host to some of the biggest names in music including previous headliners Rudimental, Bastille and Jax Jones, as well as Raye, Becky Hill, Everything Everything and Self Esteem.

The Hundred Final and The Hundred Opener will be broadcast live on BBC 2 and Sky Sports, meaning fans at home can catch the unmissable performances from both Zara Larsson and Cat Burns.

A record 580,000 fans were in venues across The Hundred in 2023, including over 300,000 in the women’s competition. The Hundred’s blend of high-quality sport and entertainment saw 41% of all tickets sold to families, 23% to juniors and 30% to women.

This is the fourth year that The Hundred has curated its music line-up in collaboration with BBC Music Introducing. The partnership gives BBC Music Introducing artists a platform to perform live in front of crowds at some of the UK’s biggest cricket grounds, including Lord’s (London), The Kia Oval (London), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Emirates Old Trafford (Manchester), Sophia Gardens (Cardiff), Headingley (Leeds), Utilita Bowl (Southampton) and Trent Bridge (Nottingham).

London Spirit women’s player Sarah Glenn said: “The live music at The Hundred is one of my favourite things about playing in the competition. It just brings the vibes! And now this year Zara Larsson will be performing at the Final! I’ve followed her for years, I never thought I’d see her at a cricket game. I’ll absolutely be fighting for a spot in the Final to see her performance.”

To view The Hundred’s 2024 music line-up, visit www.thehundred.com/music/live-acts.

As well as the line-up of live music, 2024 sees the return of The Hundred’s resident DJs at each venue, including familiar faces from previous years such as BBC Radio 1’s Sam & Danni (Welsh Fire), Jess Iszatt (London Spirit), Charlie Burley (Trent Rockets), Steph Nieuwenhuys (Southern Brave) and DJ Roesh (Manchester Originals).

The full line-up of DJs can be found here: www.thehundred.com/music/team-djs.

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Luvcat Announces Debut Headline Show Following Debut Single ‘Matador’

By
Jimmy Mavroudis
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Luvcat has announced her debut headline show at Paper Dress Vintage in London on Wednesday 3rd July. The announcement follows the success of debut single, ‘Matador’, which after gaining over 2 million views on TikTok, received over 200,000 streams within its first week.

Matador

Listen to Matador on Spotify. Luvcat · Single · 2024 · 1 songs.

After performing to a packed crowd at The Great Escape, Luvcat will now perform her viral hit and other songs in London this summer. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 12th June, here.

Born in Liverpool with a longing for mischief, Luvcat ran away with a Parisian circus on the eve of her sixteenth birthday. There she became a magician’s assistant for many years. After a secret, ill-fated affair with the ringmaster, Luvcat performed a final disappearing act and fled on a train through the ocean to the heart of London. She slinked back into society, and, inspired by the dark, playful romance of Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave & The Cure, Luvcat began penning songs of her travels and all the lovers and libertines she met along the way.

Wednesday 3rd June – Paper Dress Vintage, London

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Maisie Peters, Alec Benjamin, NMIXX, and KIRE Announced For Stray Kids At BST Hyde Park

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Staff Writer
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Stray Kids - Credit: JYP Entertainment

BST Hyde Park have announced that South Korean megastars Stray Kids will headline on London’s most iconic stage on Sunday 14 July. The globally loved K-pop group Stray Kids are set to captivate their UK fans with their highly-anticipated debut headline performance at London’s iconic Hyde Park for a UK exclusive show in 2024.​ Today the first special guests have been revealed: Maisie Peters, Alec Benjamin, NMIXX, and KIRE. Tickets on sale now, visit www.bst-hydepark.com

Maisie Peters

Rising pop singer-songwriter Maisie Peters has an innate gift for storytelling, crafting relatable, diary-entry songs, which have racked up over half a billion global streams. She spent years honing her craft in sessions across London, LA and Nashville, creating songs for her 2021 debut album You Signed Up For This, alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, Fred again.. to name a few. With her knack for transforming everyday experiences into vividly written diary-style songs, You Signed Up For This was both Maisie’s coming of age story and a love letter to girlhood; penned with the wit, charm and quiet confidence that has seen her ascend from busking on the streets of Brighton, to selling out Wembley’s OVO Arena. Her second album, 2023’s The Good Witch, reached No.1 in the UK, making Peters the youngest solo British female artist in almost a decade to chart number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Having come a long way from the days of promoting his music in parking lots of concert venues, singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin ended 2021 by playing to sold-out crowds across North America. With him, Alec brought on the road an already impressive resumé having reached 4B+ global streams, 10M+ social media followers across his platforms, 70M+ in playlist reach, and 1B+ YouTube views on his channel. Following successes such as ‘Let Me Down Slowly’, ‘Water Fountain’, and ‘Oh My God’, the self-made storyteller looks to continue to prove himself as, what TIME called “a pop storyteller for the next generation.” Alec released his sophomore album (Un)Commentary in April 2022, with tracks such as ‘The Way You Felt’, ‘Older’, ‘Shadow Of Mine’, and ‘Speakers’ having a combined 100 million+ streams. Last month Alec dropped his most recent record, 12 Notes, including new songs such as ‘Sacrifice Tomorrow’, ‘Pick Me’, ‘In a Little’ and ‘By now’.

NMIXX is a South Korean girl group formed by SQU4D, a sub-label of JYP Entertainment. Consisting of LILY, HAEWON, SULLYOON, BAE, JIWOO and KYUJIN, NMIXX debuted in February 2022 with AD MARE that featured the title track ‘O.O’. Their debut introduced a new genre called MIXX POP, packed with the confidence and ambition of a new group ready to take on the world. The music video for ‘O.O’ surpassed 20 million views in the first 24 hours of its release, and AD MARE sold over 220K copies in the first week, the highest debut album sales recorded by a girl group ever in K-pop history. Their second single album Entwurf followed, before releasing their first official EP Expérgo in 2023, before touring across the US and Asia. A third single album, A Midsummer Nmixx’s Dream, arrived, with their sophomore EP Fe3O4: Break coming out earlier this year. The name NMIXX combines the letter “N”, which stands for “now”, “new”, “next” and the unknown “n”, and the word “mix”, which symbolises combination and diversity, altogether meaning “the best combination for a new era”.

Evolving from a member of the popular hip-hop idol band BOI!, KIRE is a multifaceted artist and music producer. Before venturing into his solo career, KIRE dedicated himself to honing his craft by writing and producing for a diverse range of esteemed artists, and then in 2020 took a bold step forward by unveiling his debut single, ‘Beautiful’, which quickly gained widespread acclaim, accumulating over 5.5 million streams on Spotify within just two years. His talent not only resonated with audiences in Taiwan but also found a global following. In 2024, KIRE embarked on a new venture by launching his own brand, ‘The Kid Who Flew’. Drawing inspiration from his personal journey, he aims to forge meaningful connections with others who resonate with his story. Through ‘The Kid Who Flew’, KIRE seeks to inspire and unite a community that embraces the spirit of boundless creativity and the pursuit of dreams.

South Korean boyband Stray Kids were formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name, and are composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. They released their debut EP Mixtape in 2018, planting them at the top of the Korean charts, and as they climbed the charts around the world, the group scored a pair of No.1s in South Korea for 2020’s GO LIVE and its repackaged version IN LIFE. The group’s second full-length studio album Noeasy arrived in August 2021 – buoyed by the singles ‘Thunderous,’ ‘Wolfgang’, and ‘Mixtape: Oh’, they topped the South Korean album charts again, and reached No.5 on Billboard’s World Albums chart.

There has been no slowing down since then. In the years that followed Stray Kids have secured four number 1 spots on the Billboard 200, and in 2023 picked up an MTV Video Music Award for ‘Best K-Pop’; as well as a Billboard Music Award for Top K-Pop Album for their latest record 5-Star.

Sharing the 2024 edition of their annual ‘Step Out’ video series earlier this year, which saw them look back at what they achieved in 2023 and outline their plans for the year ahead, Stray Kids teased the release of two new albums in 2024 and also hinted at embarking on a massive world tour. Last month they released their new single ‘Lose My Breath’ with Charlie Puth.

Performing a blend of big bass, electronic dance music, rap and R&B-inspired vocals, fans can expect Stray Kids to deliver an electrifying full live set, showcasing all their chart-topping biggest hits on the iconic Great Oak Stage.​ They will be curating a day of incredible music, inviting some of today’s top artists to join in crafting an unforgettable experience.

Jim King, CEO of European Festivals at AEG Presents, says, “We’re so excited to welcome international superstars Stray Kids to BST Hyde Park in July for the first time! We’re honoured to bring Stray Kids to the stage in 2024, as this genre only continues to grow from strength to strength.”

The lineup for American Express presents BST Hyde Park 2024 is set to be truly spectacular, with headliners SZA (29 June), Kings of Leon (30 June), Morgan Wallen (4 July), Andrea Bocelli (5 July), Robbie Williams (6 July), Shania Twain (7 July), Stevie Nicks (12 July), Kylie (13 July) and Stray Kids (14 July), with the full line up for each day to be announced, and All Things Orchestral on 28 June.

www.bst-hydepark.com | @bsthydepark

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Sabrina Carpenter announces album ‘Short n’ Sweet’ out 23rd August

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Staff Writer
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Following her global #1 hit ‘Espresso’, debut Saturday Night Live performance, and buzzy Coachella set, Sabrina Carpenter releases her new single and music video entitled ‘Please Please Please’. The release accompanies the announcement of her highly anticipated new album, Short n’ Sweet, out on August 23, 2024 via Polydor Records.

Teaming up with GRAMMY-Award-winning collaborators Jack Antonoff and Amy Allen, ‘Please Please Please’ highlights her razor-sharp lyrics and signature conversational delivery over buoyant production as she begs, “Please Please please don’t prove I’m right. Please please please don’t bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice!” Directed by Bardia Zeinali and co-starring Barry Keoghan, the cinematic video seamlessly projects this vibe on screen, continuing a tradition of bold visuals by the songstress.

The song lands in the wake of her bona fide summer smash ‘Espresso’. Scaling charts worldwide, the Platinum-certified hit is her fourth to land on the Billboard Hot 100 and her first Top 5 on the chart, currently earning her a career peak at #4. It captured the #1 spot on the Spotify Global, US, and UK charts, hitting #1 on the UK Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks. The single’s success only increased the incredible momentum generated from the platinum hit ‘Feather’, which scored her first #1 at Top 40 Radio.

In addition to an acclaimed turn supporting Taylor Swift on the Era’s Tour in Mexico, South America, Australia, and Singapore, she was the talk of Coachella with a superstar-making set. Los Angeles Times cited her among “The 15 Best Things We Saw at Coachella 2024,” going on to profess, “Carpenter already had put more effort into her set than some past Coachella headliners”. Billboard applauded her for delivering one of the “Best Moments From Coachella 2024 Day 1,” attesting, “Carpenter was resplendent during her Coachella debut”.

Already generating over half a billion streams, ‘Espresso’ has received unanimous critical applause. Pitchfork declared, ‘‘Espresso’ is currently in pole position to be this year’s song of the summer,” and Rolling Stone hailed it as a “sugary-sweet, intensely caffeinated new single.” The New York Times predicted, “‘Espresso’ is a cheeky, summary tune that just might propel her to the next level.”

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RAYE Unveils Genre-Defying New Work ‘Genesis’

By
Jimmy Mavroudis
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RAYE - Credit: Simon Jones PR

Fresh from her record-breaking wins at The BRITs, global sensation RAYE returns with the genre-defying ‘Genesis.’, a work that doesn’t sit within the usual confines of the word “single.”

Produced with multiple GRAMMY Award winner Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, SZA), ‘Genesis.’ is a new three act opus from RAYE and a masterclass in disrupting music as we know it. Drawing a parallel through storytelling the origins of her universe, RAYE elevates her emotionally raw and vulnerable lyrics with triumphant strings and horns, dulcet harmonies and emboldened snare, into a pitch perfect performance that is a divine battle cry. ‘Genesis.’ is a confrontational acknowledgement of a chapter not yet closed but with a set intention for a new beginning, drawing inspirations from big band, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, gospel and contemporary pop. Out of darkness comes light and with this new chapter, a musical renaissance is on the horizon.

RAYE says: “There is a Nina Simone quote, ‘It is an artist’s duty to reflect the times’. This quote is everything to me and I believe the best way I can try to do this is through my art and my music. There is so much darkness and pain in this world we live in, and I wanted to create something both as deeply personal and as raw as I could find myself to be about my own mind and the world I see around me. The song is a 7-minute piece that I have crafted and scrutinized over the last year and a half, experimenting with different genres and sonic expressions, beneath all the layers and the lyrics, the underlying message is ‘Let There Be Light’. It is a prayer and a plea and a cry for help and I really hope this song will be able to bring some hope, the way this music does for me, to those who need it most.”

RAYE made history by clinching an unprecedented six BRIT Awards this year – the record for the most wins of any artist in a single year – marking a groundbreaking achievement for the independent singer-songwriter at Britain’s biggest night in music. In addition to becoming the first female to ever win Songwriter of the Year, she also took home accolades, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best R&B Act. RAYE gave a career-defining performance at the ceremony, performing a medley of songs off her critically acclaimed debut album.

RAYE also recently picked up the prestigious Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards 2024 and three awards at this year’s The Global Awards, including Best Pop and Best British Act, while her collaboration with Cassö and D-Block Europe on ‘PRADA’ won Best Song. This spring also saw RAYE make her lauded debut at Coachella, attend her first MET Gala wearing custom Fendi, be named to TIME Magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders” list, and earn a Best International Act nomination at the upcoming BET Awards 2024. Additionally, RAYE gave a breakthrough rendition of ‘Genesis.’ on Saturday Night Live, which saw My 21st Century Bluesskyrocket into the Top 10 of US iTunes.

British singer-songwriter RAYE shines as one of the brightest stars in music today, boasting eight Top 20 UK singles, 5 Billion global Spotify streams, and a track record of writing for the industry’s biggest names. Since her debut in 2014, RAYE has undergone a remarkable journey to stardom. Her long-awaited independent debut album, My 21st Century Blues, made an immediate impact reaching No. 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart. As a welcome result of her self-fulfilling work, RAYE unknowingly created the song that became synonymous with 2023 ‘Escapism.’

‘Escapism.’ not only became the largest selling single by a female British artist in 2023, but it also earned RAYE her first UK No.1 and entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US where it’s since been certified Double Platinum. Following support tours with Lewis Capaldi, Kali Uchis, and SZA, RAYE performed 130 headline shows including a rousing set at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. Her career-defining turn at Royal Albert Hall – accompanied by a 50-person orchestra and gospel choir – received a televised BBC special for the ages with critics heralding RAYE as “the most talented artist since Adele and Amy Winehouse” (The Telegraph). This year, RAYE again performed her ‘My 21st Century Symphony’ to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 at The O2 Arena. After playing and owning the pop game, RAYE bet on herself and won.

In the last year, she has also graced the cover of magazines such as Elle, Sunday Times Culture, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Wonderland, Bricks, Euphoria, Time Out and DIY and been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, TIME Magazine, Pitchfork, V Magazine, NPR Music, People, Vulture, and many more. Globally, RAYE’s season of high profile television performances this year include Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Later… with Jools Holland, and The Graham Norton Show, in addition to a captivating appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.

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Never-Before-Seen Footage of John Lennon And Yoko Ono Lennon Filmed At John’s 1968 ‘You Are Here’ Art Show

By
Jimmy Mavroudis
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John and Yoko in California

Incredible, never-before-seen footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon, filmed in July 1968 at John’s first major art show You Are Here (To Yoko From John Lennon, With Love) at London’s Robert Fraser Gallery, has been paired together with the brand new Ultimate Mix of “You Are Here,” from his 1973 album Mind Games, for a fascinating new video that offers a rare glimpse into the Lennon’s lives.

Directed by John Lennon and filmed by William Wareing and Dick Lorriemore, the beautifully restored video from the Lenono Film Archives captures a 27-year-old John on June 30, 1968, as he, Robert Fraser and their team make last minute preparations for the art show, culminating with the festive opening the following day, July 1. At the time, John would have been in the midst of writing and recording The Beatles’ eponymous album, more popularly known as The White Album, which released just a few months later in November 1968.

“It consisted of a bare gallery and a big white canvas that was round and it just had my writing on it: ‘you are here’ and I dedicated it to Yoko,” said John of the “You Are Here” exhibition which also contained an assortment of charity collection boxes. “I wrote to a lot of charities telling them about the exhibition,” he said at the time. “I had a lot of nice letters and a lot of charity boxes back. There are no hidden secrets. My art is in fact displaying these boxes for charity.”

The film crew, which was set up behind a dark window in the style of the hidden camera “Candid Camera” TV show, filmed people’s honest and at times humorous reactions as they walked through the gallery and encountered the various donation boxes which led up to the huge circular canvas with John’s handwritten message: “you are here.” Next to the minimalist artwork was a hat to put money in for “the artist” and a large jar filled with small white badges so attendees could take the poignant proclamation with them.

A wonderful time capsule of London in the late ‘60s, the video for “You Are Here” shows John and Yoko, dressed in white to match the art exhibit, and a fashionable crowd of hundreds, which included various guests, reporters and such Beatles and Apple Corps associates as Derek Taylor, Jill Johnston, Kevin Harrington, Neil Aspinall, Richard DiLello, gallery owner Robert Fraser, artist Richard Hamilton (who designed The Beatles’ White Album cover and inserts), and actor Victor Spinetti, as they release 365 helium-filled balloons into the London sky. Attached to each balloon was a printed card with the words “you are here” on one side and a message to write John Lennon via the gallery if they found a balloon on the other. John then sent back a signed letter with one of the badges.

“’You Are Here’ – that’s more than just a joke, I suppose,” said John about the mindfulness mantra. “People read it and suddenly realise it’s true. ‘Yes, I’m here,’ they think. ‘So are these other people. We’re all here together.’ And that’s where the vibrations start being exchanged. Good and bad ones according to who is sending out and how they feel. A lot of people went to India to find out they were here. Like [Timothy] Leary’s friend Richard Alpert [Ram Dass] went to India and saw all the gurus, chasing all over the place, and all the gurus said to him was, ‘Remember, be here now’. That’s all them gurus will ever tell you. Remember this moment now.”

Written by John about his love for Yoko, whom he met in 1966 at London’s Indica Gallery, “You Are Here,” is a tranquil, poetic song with heartfelt lyrics about their love: “From Liverpool to Tokyo… what a way to go.” Newly mixed from the original tapes by producer Sean Ono Lennon with triple Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Paul Hicks and engineering by Sam Gannon, the winsome track sounds better than ever as the instrumentation, previously buried in a muddy and thin treble-heavy mix, has been made more prominent, allowing the playing of John Lennon (vocal, acoustic guitar, various percussion) and his sensational band of David Spinozza (electric guitar), Gordon Edwards (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), Ken Ascher (piano, organs), “Sneaky” Pete Kleinlow (pedal steel guitar) and background vocals by Something Different (Angel Coakley, Christine Wiltshire, Jocelyn Brown, Kathy Mull) to shine through like never before. The new mix is truly a revelation.

“You Are Here,” which is also available stream now everywhere, is the second track to be released from the forthcoming Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection suite of releases, due July 12 via Capitol/UMe, celebrating and exploring John’s pivotal and intensely personal 1973 album, Mind Games. Available in a variety of formats, including 2CD, 2LP, a 6CD/2-Blu-ray audio Standard Deluxe Edition and an eye-popping, multi-format Super Deluxe Edition, limited to 1100 copies worldwide, John’s fourth solo record, Mind Games, has been completely newly remixed and expanded to offer an immersive, deep listening experience and in-depth exploration of this classic, yet under-appreciated record.

MIND GAMES – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Fully authorized by Yoko Ono Lennon and produced by Sean Ono Lennon, who oversaw the production and creative direction, the Ultimate Collection is from the same audio team that worked on the critically acclaimed Imagine and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collections, including the aforementioned Paul Hicks, and mixers/engineers Sam Gannon and Rob Stevens, with production researched and managed by Simon Hilton.

The definitive Ultimate Collection puts listeners in the center of the studio and explores the album’s 1973 recording sessions at the Record Plant in New York City, from inception to the final master, through scores of unreleased outtakes, unadulterated versions, instrumentals, stripped down mixes, studio chatter and more, revealing how these fan favorite songs evolved and came to life.

Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection offers six different unique listening experiences that are at once immersive and intimate, ranging from the brand new Ultimate Mixes of the timeless album, which put John’s vocals front and center and sonically upgrade the sound, to the Elements Mixes, which isolate and bring forth certain instruments from the multitrack recordings to highlight playing previously buried in the original mix, and the Raw Studio Mixes, which allows listeners to hear the recording that John and The Plastic U.F.Ono Band laid to tape, mixed raw and live without vocals effects, tape delays or reverbs.

The Evolutionary Documentary is a unique track-by-track audio montage that details the evolution of each song from demo to master recording via demos, rehearsals, out-takes, multitrack exploration, and studio conversations. The Out-Takes allow listeners to hear compelling different takes of each song while the Elemental Mixes, a new set created especially for the Mind Games – Ultimate Collection, inhabit a world between the minimalism of the Elements Mixes and the Ultimate Mixes, stripping the songs back to simpler, lean-back arrangements with John’s voice to the fore, and without drums. An array of listening options, including High-Definition, studio quality 192kHz/24bit audio in stereo and enveloping 5.1 Surround and Dolby Atmos mixes, are available on Blu-ray.

All of the tracks have been completely remixed from scratch from the 15 original two-inch multitrack session tapes using brand new 192-24 digital transfers. The Ultimate Collection includes previously unreleased out-takes and stems plus additional never-heard-before audio from archive ¼” reel-to-reels, cassettes, and videotapes.

Truly a work of art and in a class of its own, the Super Deluxe Edition box set is, in essence, a time capsule into John and Yoko’s world around the writing and recording of Mind Games, including the times leading up to and after its release in 1973. As innovative as it is elaborate, the Super Deluxe is presented in a 13-inch cube, a perspex reproduction of Yoko’s 1966 artwork “Danger Box.” Once lifted, four sides, featuring artwork from Mind Games on shiny Mirror Board, fall to reveal nine individual boxes of various shapes and sizes interlocked together, each with its own look and focus. Hidden throughout the comprehensive and creative set are many Easter Eggs, some of which can only be revealed by using other items in the box to see them, along with loads of other hidden secrets, surprises, puzzles, and “mind games”. The box is housed inside a striking 13” packing container cube adorned with custom art.

Among many of the unique elements included in the Super Deluxe Edition is a limited edition, 12-inch circular canvas reproduction of John’s artwork, You Are Here, 1968, with a Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a replica “You Are Here” badge.

For more information about all the Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection formats available or to pre-order, visit: https://johnlennon.lnk.to/MindGames50PR

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Pet Shop Boys Release Video For Latest Single ‘A New Bohemia’

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Pet Shop Boys - A New Bohemia Video

Pet Shop Boys release the video for their latest single, ‘A new bohemia’, today. Watch the video below.

Directed by acclaimed British filmmaker Andrew Haigh (‘All of Us Strangers’), the video was shot on location in Margate, Kent. Artist Tracey Emin and actor Russell Tovey make cameo appearances in the video alongside the people of Margate.

Pet Shop Boys said: “We had a lovely sunny day in Margate filming this video with Andrew Haigh, fresh from his success with ‘All of Us Strangers’. Thanks to Andrew and all concerned, in particular the many local residents who took part, including Russell Tovey and Tracey Emin.”

Andrew Haigh said: “I have loved the Pet Shop Boys since the release of ‘Please’. I have every album and have seen them play live many times over the years. Getting to make a music video with them has been a dream come true.”

The ‘A new bohemia’ single is available now as a five-track digital bundle which includes a radio edit and the original demo of the track, plus an Alex Metric remix. Two further tracks are also included, previously unreleased Pet Shop Boys songs – ‘It’s not a crime’ and ‘I’ve got plans (involving you)’ – which were originally written by Chris and Neil in 1982 and re-recorded in 2022. A CD single will also be released on Friday 5 July and is available to pre-order now.

The full tracklisting for the single digital bundle/CD is –

1. A new bohemia (radio edit)
2. It’s not a crime
3. I’ve got plans (involving you)
4. A new bohemia (Alex Metric remix)
5. A new bohemia (demo version)

Earlier this week the BBC announced that Pet Shop Boys will headline the Sunday night (8 September) at this year’s Radio 2 in the Park. The three-day event will take place in Preston with the duo set to perform a ‘Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live’ production – featuring classic hits and the latest singles from their best-selling new album ‘Nonetheless’. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records, have released 70 hit singles spanning five decades and are the most successful UK duo of all time. Prestigious awards have been numerous across their career including the BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2009 and the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 2000.

In April they released their latest album, ‘Nonetheless’, on Parlophone Records – their first with producer James Ford. The record includes the singles ‘Loneliness’ and ‘Dancing star’ and reached Number 2 in the UK album chart in its first week of release – their highest-charting studio album since 1993. Also in April, the BBC screened a special ‘Imagine’ documentary about Pet Shop Boys presented by Alan Yentob. New European and UK tour dates for ‘Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live’ kicked off in May and will include a headline set at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival plus a special sold-out residency at London’s Royal Opera House from 23-27 July. For more information on tickets for the tour visit petshopboys.co.uk.

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