Bloc Party have shared their new upbeat single, ‘High Life’ – released midway through their extensive tour with Paramore. Check out the track belowEarlier this month, the band teased fans by confirming that new music was on the way.
05.04.2023 - 19:09 / nme.com
Poppy has released a haunting video for her new single ‘Church Outfit’ as she embarks on a new chapter with her music.This release marks a new era for the singer – straying away from her previous metal sound and into the world of electro-dance. The black and white video for the track features Poppy in a white ensemble with back-up dancers dressed in black veils and black vinyl trousers dancing in an empty room.On the shift in musical direction, Poppy shared: “It’s an artist’s responsibility to always change.
I don’t think I’d want to be in my body if I was repeating the same thing over and over again. I’m only competing with myself.
I will continue to write the story until I get tired of the book. Then, I’ll write another one.”In an interview with GRAZIA, she revealed that this new era “started because I wanted to have videos that incorporated my dance background”, seemingly moving on from her rock-based 2021 album ‘Flux‘.She added that she worked in a backwards way focusing on specific aesthetic elements and created the music around those ideas.‘Church outfit’ is her first taste of music since her 2022 EP ‘Stagger’.A post shared by Poppy (@impoppy)Last year, Poppy caught up with NME at Reading Festival where she opened up about feeling like an outsider, and letting that shine during her performances.“I don’t think you need to necessarily find your place in life to be happy, and I think always having a seek, search, exploration, exploratory mentality about it is the journey,” she said.
“Steps are a part of the picture, and you don’t need to find one specific place. You can be in many places.”In a four-star review of her 2021 album ‘Flux’, NME described it as “a rare glimpse of the ‘real’ Poppy, doing so would stumble
.Bloc Party have shared their new upbeat single, ‘High Life’ – released midway through their extensive tour with Paramore. Check out the track belowEarlier this month, the band teased fans by confirming that new music was on the way.
The Weeknd and Future have released the new collaborative single k ‘Double Fantasy’ for the soundtrack to new HBO drama The Idol.The track is the first to be released from the official soundtrack of the new HBO Max series The Idol. The Weeknd co-created the show with Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim, and is said to be “one of HBO’s most provocative” shows yet.‘Double Fantasy’ is a darkened space pop track where The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – sings about a toxic relationship.
Florence + The Machine have shared the moody new track ‘Mermaids’, which explores the grey English weather and society’s darker side.The new single arrived today (April 21), and sees the band pair dark and dance-inspired instrumentals with the ethereal vocals of frontwoman, Florence Welch. It also captures the same essence as seen with their latest full-length effort, 2022’s Dance Fever.Produced by Dave Bayley, the densely layered song references mermaids with “sharp teeth” who appear late at night to drink, dance and “sacrifice a human heart”.With lines including: “I remember falling through these streets / Somewhat out of place, if not for the drunkenness /It makes my chest hurt to think of it,” and “shining under lights from shitty clubs and doing shitty drugs / And hugging girls that smelt like Britney Spears and coconuts,” it’s possible that the track hints at Welch’s nine years of sobriety, and explores a darker side of society.The single comes after several weeks of the band teasing new music on social media.
Ed Sheeran has released a new single, ‘Boat’, taken off his upcoming album, ‘-‘ (‘Subtract’).The new track – out today (April 21) – comes alongside an accompanying music video that sees the singer submerged in the sea with waves engulfing him. ‘Boat’ serves as the opening track to ‘-‘, which is due out on May 5 via Asylum/Atlantic.
The Japanese House has shared their new single ‘Sad To Breathe’ and announced her forthcoming second album ‘In The End It Always Does’.The track, a bright yet heartbreaking ballad, is co-produced by The Japanese House (real name born Amber Bain) along with The 1975‘s George Daniel and Chloe Kraemer (Rex Orange County, Lava La Rue, Glass Animals).“I wrote ‘Sad To Breathe’ some time ago, it’s one of the oldest songs on the record,” said Bain. “It was very different back then. It’s gone from being solely electronic to what it is now, mostly live/acoustic instrumentation.“It’s about that desperate feeling when someone leaves you and the disbelief that they could.
Sufjan Stevens has announced his new album ‘Reflections’ along with new single ‘Ekstasis’.The album is a studio recording of his score for the ballet by choreographer Justin Peck, and was performed by pianists Timo Andres and Conor Hanick. The record is set for release on May 19 via Asthmatic Kitty Records.Speaking about how ‘Ekstasis’ captures the mood of ‘Reflections’, Stevens said: “It is about energy, light and duality.
The Lemon Twigs have shared their latest single ‘Every Day Is The Worst Day Of My Life’ from their forthcoming album ‘Everything Harmony’.The brand-new single is the fourth to be debuted ahead of the band’s upcoming album. With its melodic 70s-style bright guitar and harmonies, the song only features one single line “Every day is the worst day of my life.” The video, directed by Hilla Eden, features performance footage of the band in New York City as well as clips of zoo animals and The Lemon Twigs’ brother duo themselves, Brian and Michael D’Addario.The release comes after three previous singles: the ’60s-inspired ‘Corner Of My Eye’, KISS inspired ‘Any Time Of Day’ and ‘In My Head’.According to a recent press release, the album arrives as a “distinct blend of pop vocals”, featuring “sophisticated acoustic-folk melodies and rich textures”, heavily influenced by artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, Arthur Russell and Moondog.Written, recorded, produced and engineered solely by the band ‘Everything Harmony’ is set for release on May 5 and will tackle a range of motifs through its lyricism too – exploring themes of depression and isolation, and euphoria.‘When Winter Comes Around’‘In My Head’‘Corner Of My Eye’‘Any Time Of Day’‘What You Were Doing’‘I Don’t Belong To Me’‘Every Day Is The Worst Day Of My Life’‘What Happens To A Heart’‘Still It’s Not Enough’‘Born To Be Lonely’‘Ghost Run Free’‘Everything Harmony’‘New To Me’In the support of ‘Everything Harmony’, The Lemon Twigs are set to play a series of shows across the UK and EU starting in Amsterdam on May 20.
Jessie Ware has released a groovy new video for her latest single ‘Begin Again’ from her upcoming album ‘That! Feels Good!’.‘Begin Again’ was one of the first songs Ware wrote for her album – inspired by her time spent in South America encompassing the heat, sweat and sensuality of Brazil.“’Begin Again’ is where this album started,” said Ware. “On a miserable afternoon during lockdown, James Ford [Arctic Monkeys producer] zoomed Shungudzo and Danny Parker in Los Angeles.
Sarah Kinsley has shared a new single – listen to ‘Oh No Darling!’ below.The upbeat, electro-flecked track marks the New York artist’s first new release of 2023, following last year’s ‘Cypress’ EP. It arrives with the announcement that Kinsley has signed with Verve Forecast/Decca Records UK, with more new music to follow later this year.“‘Oh No Darling! is a massive rush of chaos, unashamed irony, a distinct rejoice in the stupidity and silliness of youth,” said the 22-year-old.
The Washboard Union recently released the new single “I Run for Country”, and now they’ve unveiled a music video for the hard-driving track with an outlaw country feel.
K-pop girl group IVE have released their first studio album ‘I’ve IVE’ and a visual for its lead single ‘I AM’.Today (April 10), the six-member group unveiled their powerful music video for ‘I AM’, the lead single of their debut studio album ‘I’ve IVE’, which arrived at the same time.The new visual features the IVE members strutting confidently through a lavish mansion and flying in a private jet, showing off their luxury bags and shoes. Later, they take to a fashion runway and perform the choreography to ‘I AM’.“That’s my life, a beautiful galaxy / Be a writer, the genre is fantasy / A big big stage will open for me tomorrow / So that is who I am,” they sing in the powerful chorus.In addition to ‘I AM’, IVE’s new album includes the pre-release single ‘Kitsch’ and nine other tracks.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been released, starring Jack Black.Released via the Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel, ‘Peaches’ sees Jack Black dressed in a shiny green suit with a red headdress, paying tribute to Bowser, the character he voices in the Super Mario Bros. animated film.Watch the music video below.Directed by Cole Bennett, the music video for ‘Peaches’ places Black in a peach-coloured mushroom hut as he belts out his ballad for Princess Peach, portrayed in the film by Anya Taylor-Joy.In a statement, per Rolling Stone, the film’s co-director Aaron Horvath revealed: “Jack Black is an incredible singer and musician, so we spent a night writing the song and sent the demo to Jack.
Rising pop artist Cyn released the video for her new single “Losing Sleep”!
Apink have made their long awaited return with the single ‘D N D’.‘D N D’ dropped alongside a whimsical music video, which sees the girl group – who take on various jobs, from a housekeeper to an office worker – trying to escape the boredom of life. “Just D-N-D now / Always live it like you’rе twenty-two / Better, bеtter, better move / Trust yourself for who you are,” they sing on the fun-loving song.‘D N D’ is the lead single of Apink’s tenth mini-album ‘SELF’, which dropped at the same time as the single.
ALMA has released a heartwarming video for her new single ‘Tell Mama’ from her upcoming album ‘Time Machine’.Alma-Sofia Miettinen, also known as ALMA, shared that the single was inspired by being on a plane from LA to Helsinki after “COVID forced her to come back home”.“When COVID happened, I really realised that throughout my career I’ve been living for others,” she said. “I’ve been trying to make people around me happy and proud but not myself.
Paris Texas have shared the music video for their new single ‘PANIC!!!’ from their upcoming debut album.The duo made up of Louie Pastel and Felix, previously took to social media a preview and trailer for the song as well as what they call a “season 2” of Paris Texas music.The video for ‘PANIC!!!’, directed by Bradley J. Calder & Neema Sadeghi, follows the band into a raucous mosh pit.
Weyes Blood took to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert earlier this week (March 30) to perform ‘God Turned Me Into A Flower’ – check out the haunting clip below.The song is lifted from Weyes Blood (aka Natalie Mering)’s 2022 album ‘And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow’.Speaking about ‘God Turn Me into a Flower’, Mering told Genius that in the track, “I relay the myth of Narcissus, whose obsession with a reflection in a pool leads him to starve and lose all perception outside his infatuation. In a state of great hubris, he doesn’t recognize that the thing he so passionately desired was ultimately just himself. God turns him into a pliable flower who sways with the universe.”Check out Weyes Blood performing on Colbert below: Following her performance, Mering took to Instagram and wrote: “Oh boy.
Canadian singer Amanda Marshall is back.
Stella Rose has shared details of her debut album, as well as unveiling new single ‘Faithful’ – check it out below.‘Eye Of Glass’ will be released on May 19 via KRO Records. To coincide with the announcement, Rose has released the video for ‘Faithful’, which was directed by Ben Howley.The New York-based musician worked on the new album over a two-week period in late 2020 with Yves Rothman, who has also recently produced records for Blondshell and Bartees Strange.Rose’s breakout single ‘Muddled Man’ arrived in October 2022, swiftly followed by ‘Angel’ the following month. Both tracks, alongside ‘Faithful’, will appear on ‘Eye Of Glass’.
A Certain Ratio have shared their fourth single ‘Holy Smoke’ from their upcoming 11th album, ‘1982’.The new album is set for release on March 31 via Mute, with the Manchester indie legends sharing a final taste of what to expect with the old-school funk of ‘Holy Smoke’. The new single finds the band paying tribute to the genre’s forefathers, from James Brown to Chaka Khan and Prince.‘Holy Smoke’ follows their previous singles ‘SAMO’, ‘Afro Dizzy’ and ‘Waiting on a Train’ – the latter three all featuring neo-soul musician Ellen Beth Abdi.Guitarist Martin Moscrop shared that the album title is “called ‘1982’ but I wouldn’t say this album sounds anything like ‘Sextet’,” referring to their third album that was released that year.Drummer Donald Jonson added: “The title is just playful.