Japanese Breakfast dismisses perceived similarities with Machine Gun Kelly album cover

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn the day before Thanksgiving 2021, Variety interviewed Michelle Zauner about her close friend Sasami and her new album “Squeeze” for our “Up Next” series — and since Zauner had just received two Grammy nominations two days before, we asked her about those as well, along with the success of her moving memoir about the death of her mother, “Crying in H Mart” and its forthcoming film, her songwriting process, and what might be coming next.We’d originally thought that we’d be publishing this article just a few weeks later, in advance of the Grammys Awards that were then scheduled for January 31, but the pandemic had other plans; the awards are now taking place this Sunday, April 3, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Regardless, Zauner’s comments on all of the above are relevant and a revealing look at her creative and craft processes and inspirations — and check out our “Up Next” video on Sasami here.

Japanese with updates from their country that bring the harsh realities of war closer to Japan.The Russian invasion of Ukraine began just after the duo, Sava Tkachov, 26, and his younger brother Yan, 20, celebrated the second anniversary of their YouTube debut with subscribers exceeding 2 million for their Sawayan Channel and Sawayan Games that Sava hosts.The first word of war came from their father, a business consultant who had returned to Kyiv two months ago just before Russian troops rolled in and has stayed since to help defend his country. The siblings’ YouTube content, which used to be full of pranks, jokes and action videos, has become more serious.Worried about their 53-year-old father and friends in Ukraine, the brothers in early March announced on their channel that they planned to volunteer as defenders too.

Japanese Breakfast has shared a cover of Bon Iver‘s ‘Skinny Love’ as part of the Spotify Singles series, highlighting this year’s Best New Artist Grammy nominees. Listen to the track below.“We decided to record Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’ because it felt like a very surprising cover for Japanese Breakfast,” Michelle Zauner said.

Doubling down on investment and expanding its offer in Japan, Prime Video has unveiled a slate of new Japanese originals including a reboot of iconic game show Takeshi’s Castle and a local adaptation of anthology series Modern Love. The streamer revealed the lineup at a showcase event in Tokyo today, where it also announced it will livestream the World Bantamweight title fight between Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire on June 7.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFlorence + the Machine are set to play an extended run of headline dates later this year, kicking off September 2 in Montreal with further stops including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl and many more. One dollar from every ticket sold will benefit Choose Love to aid refugees worldwide.The group has assembled a formidable array of up-and-coming support acts at select dates on the tour: Arlo Parks, Sam Fender, King Princess, Yves Tumor, Japanese Breakfast and Wet Leg will join as support on select dates throughout the tour.

Florence + the Machine, the celebrated British pop act helmed by Florence Welsh, will tour across the United States later in 2022. Each show will be opened by one of the following acts: Japanese Breakfast, Yves Tumor, Arlo Parks, Wet Leg, Sam Fender, and King Princess.

Florence + The Machine have announced an expansive North American tour kicking off this September in Montreal – tickets will be available here.The tour, which includes arena stops at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, will be joined by Arlo Parks, Sam Fender, King Princess, Yves Tumor, Japanese Breakfast and Wet Leg on select dates. See the full tour schedule below.The run of massive gigs are in support of the Florence Welch-led band’s forthcoming album ‘Dance Fever’, which drops on May 13.

Not surprisingly, the most celebrated film of the year took one of the most coveted Oscars in the world. No, this isn’t about “Power of the Dog” or the Best Picture race.

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s wedding is going to be everything you expect it to be. A source near to the couple, who got engaged earlier this year in Puerto Rico, says that wedding planning is officially underway.Megan Fox laughs as she is called MGK’s wife at NBA gameMachine Gun Kelly says he and his ‘wife’ Megan Fox moved out because their house was hauntedA post shared by Megan Fox (@meganfox)The source, who has a connection to Fox, spoke to E! News and explained that the couple is taking it slow and enjoying their engagement. “Megan and MGK are not in a huge rush to tie the knot, but have been starting to engage in the planning process,“ they said.

Shinji Aoyama, the Japanese film director, writer and composer known for the film “Eureka,” which won him two prizes at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, died March 21 in Tokyo after a battle with esophageal cancer, according to local reports. He was 57.Aoyama made waves in the international film community when he premiered “Eureka” at Cannes.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“Dexter” and “The Blacklist” producer Daniel Cerone has boarded the U.K. adaptation of Japanese crime drama format “Connected,” Variety can reveal.The veteran producer is overseeing the U.K.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.From sound engineers and screenwriters to celebrity makeup artists and stylists, Variety’s new series “Ask an Insider” will ask top professionals within the entertainment industry to share their must-have essentials, for work… and for play. In this installment, Michelle Zauner, the lead singer and songwriter behind the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast, shares her love for the Fender electric guitars she plays on stage, as well as her other tour essentials.Japanese Breakfast’s third studio album “Jubilee,” as the name would suggest, is about joy — a thematic departure from Michelle Zauner’s distinctly somber, melancholic music that lends itself to an entirely new sonic landscape.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefScripted formats are enjoying increasing success in Asia. But what makes them successful varies from case to case.French producer, Harold Valentin of Mother Production (“Call My Agent”), Akehi Yuki (“Mother”), business director at Japan’s Nippon Television, and Hong Kong’s Tommy Lo, executive producer and script supervisor of the Hong Kong version of “Ossan’s Love” joined Content Asia’s Janine Stein on Tuesday at FilMart to discuss.Valentin: “We were very surprised that [‘Call My Agent’] began travelling really after season two, because initially Netflix didn’t know what to do with the strategy. The mixture of drama and comedy had disappeared a bit in U.S.

Red Velvet have shared teasers and details of their debut Japanese-language studio album ‘Bloom’.On March 12, the quintet unveiled the promotional schedule for ‘Bloom’.

Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner has shared an update on the film adaptation of her 2021 memoir, Crying In H Mart.As announced in June last year, the musician is writing the screenplay for the film adaptation and the soundtrack under the moniker, Japanese Breakfast.Speaking to Consequence about her progress on the film, Zauner said: “So I actually just finished the first draft of the screenplay.“My producers really like it, so hopefully the revision process won’t be too brutal. And yeah, hopefully that will come out sometime in the next couple years.

A mysterious ancient rock said to have an evil demon trapped inside has cracked open - sending believers into meltdown.

Machine Gun Kelly has said that he wants BTS to perform at his wedding to Megan Fox.The Ohio artist – real name Colson Baker – appeared as a guest on yesterday’s episode (March 7) of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he was congratulated by the titular host on his recent engagement to Fox.Baker was asked by DeGeneres which boyband he would want to play as he ties the knot. “Which boyband am I gonna know the most songs of? For sure NSYNC,” Kelly replied.“But which band do I surprisingly know all these facts about? BTS… I think I have a better chance of getting BTS to come.”MGK said he met BTS at the Billboard Music Awards 2021, adding that the K-pop group were “stoked to meet me”.