Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 119
April 10, 2025
Kokoroko announces new album due July 11th + shares lead single "Sweetie"
KOKOROKO ANNOUNCES SECOND STUDIO ALBUM
TUFF TIMES NEVER LAST DUE OUT JULY 11TH
SHARES NEW SONG “SWEETIE”
ANNOUNCES HEADLINE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Kokoroko by Liz Johnson Artur
What the press is saying about Kokoroko:
“a beauty that draws in a casual listener with a catchy, heartfelt harmony or memorable riff, but also provides a rich melange of inspirations for a trained ear, from afrobeat to jazz, soul, funk, and beyond.”
HYPEBEAST
"an entrancing, groove-rooted concoction informed equally by jazz, Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and the larger Black music diaspora."
SPIN MAGAZINE
“a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come for British music.”
THE GUARDIAN
“Kokoroko are harnessing the transformative nature of Afrobeat for a new generation.”
CRACK MAGAZINE
“Sweetie”
LISTEN: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/sweetie
Tuff Times Never Last
PRE-SAVE: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/tufftimesneverlast
(April 10, 2025) - Kokoroko, the London-based contemporary jazz collective, announces the release of their forthcoming second studio album Tuff Times Never Last. The announcement is accompanied by their lead single “Sweetie,” a first taste of the new record that bridges the gap between where the band has been and where they’re going. A tribute to the playful bond between lovers, “Sweetie” is a horn-led and wonky-sounding tune saluting West African disco. It expands upon the band exploring more electronic sounds and toying with obscure drum notes and synth sounds.
Set for release on July 11th via Brownswood Recordings, Tuff Times Never Last is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11 songs, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss, and above all, perseverance.
Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although we’re reflecting on joy and celebration, you realize that a lot of that beauty comes out of challenges and difficulties. It felt like a natural truth that we discovered whilst writing.”
The accompanying artwork was painted by Luci Pina, the acclaimed illustrator whose work has been sought and commissioned by the likes of The Cut, Soho House, DICE, Apple Music and It’s Nice That. Embedded within the image is Kokoroko’s ode to London in the summer. Speaking on its design, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “The remit was summer in London, family and sense of everyone being in a congregation-like audience, and us being the musicians”.
The artwork’s imagery and color was inspired by feelings of innocence and nostalgia – coming of age in London and those rare summer nights where everything felt full of hope. The cityscape also pays homage to Spike Lee’s 1994 film Crooklyn and films like Rick Famuyiwa’s 1999 opus The Wood. The band saw these movies as heartwarming representations of black family, community and resilience that served as a balm for them as Londoners. Speaking further on this, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said: “‘Crooklyn’ is very emotional, but also very uplifting. It felt like how I grew up. This album is us sharing our own feelings, hopes and dreams. We didn’t always have those stories in the UK”
Three years on from their debut album Could We Be More which peaked at No.30 on the UK Albums Chart and received acclaim from The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Jazzwise, CRACK Magazine, and Downbeat Magazine, Tuff Times Never Last sees the London band with careless abandon expand their wide-ranging palette and influences.
While the afrobeat jazz of their previous work is still a core part of the record’s sonic design, the new album largely pulls from British R&B from the 80s, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, lovers rock and funk. Sonically taking cues from the likes of Loose Ends, Don Blackman, Common, Sly & Robbie, William Onyeabor, Patrice Rushen, Ofori Amponsah and Cymande. Throughout this instinctive evolution, the septet's seasoned musicianship preserves the essence of who Kokoroko are as masterful jazz artisans.
Speaking on the band’s progression in sound, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “Innately, we’re jazz musicians but we've tried not to kind of box ourselves into one sound. So there is a level of freedom we're starting to feel. We want to continue being as creative as possible without feeling any boundaries”.
“Sweetie” marks Kokoroko’s first dose of new music since their EP Get The Message. Released last November, the project spawned “Three Piece Suit” featuring Azekel - their honouring of Nigerian elders contemplating home, lineage and ancestry in 1960s London. The band delivered a unique performance of songs from Get The Message live on KEXP as well as acclaim from HYPEBEAST, SPIN Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan and more.
To coincide with the release of Tuff Times Never Last, Kokoroko will be heading on a full North American tour beginning in July. The tour starts in Philadelphia before heading to Brooklyn, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and more. See full tour routing below and purchase tickets at www.kokorokomusic.co.uk.
Listen to “Sweetie” above and see tour details below. Stay tuned for more from Kokoroko coming soon.
Upcoming Live Dates
7/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
8/01 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
8/02 - Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival
8/03 - Washington, DC @ 930 Club
8/05 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
8/08 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
8/10 - Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival
8/12 - La Jolla, CA @ UCSD Ampitheatre
8/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
8/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
9/25 - London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
North American tour flyer
Tuff Times Never Last artwork by Luci Pina
Kokoroko
Tuff Times Never Last
July 11, 2025
Brownswood Recordings
1. Never Lost
2. Sweetie
3. Closer To Me
4. My Father in Heaven
5. Idea 5 (Call My Name) (feat. LULU)
6. Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel)
7. Time and Time (feat. Demae)
8. Da Du Dah
9. Together We Are
10. Just Can’t Wait
11. Over / Reprise
Kokoroko Full Band Personnel:
Sheila Maurice-Grey (co-bandleader, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals)
Onome Edgeworth (co-bandleader, percussion)
Anoushka Nanguy (trombone, vocals)
Tobi Adenaike (guitar, vocals)
Yohan Kebede (keyboards, synthesizers, vocals)
Duane Atherley (bass, vocals)
Ayo Salawu (drums, vocals)
Additional Personnel:
Chelsea Carmichael (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute)
Connect with Kokoroko
Watch Scowl make their Late Night TV debut
SCOWL MAKE LATE NIGHT TV DEBUT ON THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT
WATCH THE BAY AREA HARDCORE BAND PERFORM “TONIGHT (I’M AFRAID)”
Photo Credit: @skpnyc
Bay Area hardcore stalwarts Scowl released their critically acclaimed Dead Oceans debut Are We All Angels just last Friday (April 4), and last night they made their late-night TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, performing “Tonight (I’m Afraid)” off the new record. The band’s profile has exploded over the past few months, with support from The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, FADER, and more.
They head out for a string of headline dates starting July 16 in Las Vegas and hitting cities like Portland, Seattle, and Denver before wrapping August 1 in Iowa, with Glixen providing support. These dates come in addition to previously announced shows across the EU, UK, and Mexico, with more to be announced soon. Full dates below.
Listen to the new album HERE
SCOWL TOUR DATES
April 2025
4.12.25 – Indieplaza @ Rockefeller Center, New York, NY, USA – Hives
May 2025
5.5.25 – Rebellion, Manchester, UK ^
5.6.25 – Newgate Social, Newcastle, UK ^
5.7.25 – Cathouse, Glasgow, UK ^
5.8.25 – Thekla, Bristol, UK ^
5.9.25 – The Dome, London, UK ^
5.10.25 – Kavka, Antwerp, Belgium ^
5.11.25 – Tivoli Pandora, Utrecht, Netherlands ^
5.13.25 – Hole 44, Berlin, Germany ^
5.14.25 – Gebäude 9, Köln, Germany ^
5.16.25 – L’Boat, Bordeaux, France ^
5.17.25 – Stage Live, Bilbao, Spain ^
5.18.25 – LAV 2, Lisbon, Portugal ^
5.20.25 – Mon, Madrid, Spain ^
5.21.25 – La2, Barcelona, Spain ^
5.22.25 – Marché Gare, Lyon, France ^
5.23.25 – Trabendo, Paris, France ^
5.24.25 – Slam Dunk, Hatfield Park, Hatfield, UK
5.25.25 – Slam Dunk, Leeds, UK
June 2025
6.6.25 – Gato Calavera, Mexico City, Mexico
6.7.25 – Día Libre Festival, Monterrey, Mexico
6.8.25 – Foro Independencia, Guadalajara, Mexico
6.11.25 – Black Box, Tijuana, Mexico
6.14-15.25 – Warped Tour, Washington, DC, USA
6.16.25 – Warehouse, Richmond, VA, USA $
6.17.25 – Eulogy, Asheville, NC, USA $
6.19.25 – Ottobar, Baltimore, MD, USA $
6.20.25 – Camp Punksylvania, Gilbert, PA, USA
July 2025
7.16.25 – Grey Witch, Las Vegas, NV, USA #
7.17.25 – Strummers, Fresno, CA, USA #
7.18.25 – Cypress, Reno, CA, USA #
7.20.25 – Hawthorne Theater, Portland, OR, USA #
7.22.25 – Barboza, Seattle, WA, USA #
7.23.25 – Shredder, Boise, ID, USA #
7.24.25 – Soundwell, Salt Lake City, UT, USA #
7.26.25 – Unhinged Festival, Denver, CO, USA
7.28.25 – Reverb, Omaha, NE, USA #
7.29.25 – Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN, USA #
7.30.25 – X-Ray, Milwaukee, WI, USA #
August 2025
8.1.25 – Hinterland Music Festival, St. Charles, IA, USA
September 2025
9.20.25 – Shaky Knees Festival, Atlanta, GA, USA
October 2025
10.2-5.25 – Aftershock Festival, Sacramento, CA, USA
November 2025
11.14-15.25 – Warped Tour, Orlando, FL, USA
* ^ = w/ Modern Color Support
* # = w/ Glixen
* $ = w/ Drain Support
Are We All Angels Tracklisting
Special
B.A.B.E.
Fantasy
Not Hell, Not Heaven
Tonight (I’m Afraid)
Fleshed Out
Let You Down
Cellophane
Suffer The Fool (How High Are You?)
Haunted
Are We All Angels
For More on Scowl
April 9, 2025
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM NEW 2025 NORTH AMERICAN DATES ANNOUNCED
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
NEW 2025 NORTH AMERICAN DATES ANNOUNCED
General On Sale Friday, April 18 at 10am Local Time
Pre-Sales and Additional Information at www.lcdsoundsystem.com
LCD Soundsystem has added 13 shows to the band’s 2025 North American run. The new LCD headline dates will begin with an August 7-8 two-night stand at Seattle’s Remlinger Farms, with stops including Bend, OR August 9-10, Salt Lake City August 12, Red Rocks in Morrison, CO August 13, Milwaukee August 15-16, Columbus August 17, St, Louis August 19, and Detroit August 21 before concluding August 22-23 in Toronto.
TV On The Radio will support in Seattle, Bend, and at Red Rocks.
Tickets for the new shows will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 18 at 10am local time. Register now at www.lcdsoundsystem.com for first access to tickets before the artist presale goes live Wednesday, April 16 at 10am local time.
LCD Soundsystem is James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, Nancy Whang, Al Doyle, Tyler Pope, Korey Richey, Nick Millhiser and Abby Echeverri.
LCD Soundsystem
North American Tour 2025
* New Dates in BOLD
April 22 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 23 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 24 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 26 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 27 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 30 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 1 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 3 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
August 7 – Seattle, WA – Remlinger Farms *
August 8 – Seattle, WA – Remlinger Farms *
August 9 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
August 10 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
August 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
August 13 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
August 15 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
August 16 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
August 17 – Columbus, OH – Kemba Live! Outdoor
August 19 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
August 21 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre
August 22 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
August 23 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
September 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl **
September 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl **
* TV On The Radio supports
** co-headline with Pulp
STEREOPHONICS @ The Wiltern Tuesday 04.08.25 // THE PORTABLE INFINITE
All photos taken by Martin Worster
Juanita & Juan (Alice Bag & Kid Congo Powers) West Coast Dates Continue This Week / 'Jungle Cruise' Album Out Now On In The Red Records
ALBUM OUT NOW ON IN THE RED RECORDS WEST COAST DATES CONTINUE THIS WEEK
Photo: Christopher Carlone Juanita and Juan is a dynamic musical duo formed by Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers, two influential figures in the punk and alternative music scenes who first crossed paths in 1977 during the early days of the Hollywood punk movement. Their friendship, rooted in a shared passion for raw, boundary-pushing music, has led to a new creative partnership that transcends genres and defies labels, although the two refer to their sound as “Loud Lounge.”Alice Bag, a founding member of the pioneering punk band The Bags, is known for her fierce stage presence and unapologetic, feminist approach to punk music. She has spent decades championing the voices of women in rock and advocating for social justice, both through her music and activism. Kid Congo Powers, an original member of The Gun Club, and a key player in The Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, as well as his own band, Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds, brings his audacious blend of noisy, psych-infused rock with a touch of glam. His unique guitar playing and distinctive style have made him a beloved figure in underground music circles.Together, Juanita and Juan blend their influences—Bag's fiery vocals and penchant for dark melody with Powers’ atmospheric, reverb-laden guitar tones—creating a musical landscape that is both nostalgic and fresh-sounding. Their collaboration captures the adventurous spirit of their punk roots while embracing new sonic territory.The duo’s chemistry is undeniable, with their musical partnership serving as both a testament to their enduring friendship and the spirit of musical exploration that began for the pair in 1976, proving that punk is not just a genre, but a lasting, ever-evolving attitude.VIDEOS:AftertastePut Down Your Weapons LIVE SHOWS:April 9 - The Casbah, San Diego, CAApril 10 - El Cid, Los Angeles, CAApril 11 - The Sardine, San Pedro, CAApril 12 - Thee Stork Club, Oakland, CAApril 22 - Clock Out Lounge, Seattle, WAApril 23 - Polaris Hall, Portland, ORApril 24 - Capitol Theater, Olympia, WAMay 31 - Féria De la Frontera, Juarez, Chihuahua, MX 
Album artwork by Larry Hardy /FOLLOW:Alice Bag:Website / Instagram / FacebookKid Congo Powers:Website / Instagram / Bluesky
Garbage reveal brand-new single "There's No Future In Optimism" with accompanying video // First taken from highly anticipated album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
April 9, 2025—Garbage have today revealed the single There’s No Future In Optimism - accompanied by a gorgeous cinematic video, shot and directed by Benjy Kirkman. This is the first single from the band’s forthcoming new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light , out May 30. Speaking about There’s No Future In Optimism, Shirley Manson says: “I love the title. The band sent it me and I was like, “This is great. I’m keeping that.” But the lyrics are an action against that title. Because if we allow our fatalism or our negativity to really take over, we will crumble. It’s about a city, in my case, Los Angeles, but it could be anywhere where bad stuff is happening. After the George Floyd murder, which is one of few things in my life that I wish I’d never seen: I was changed entirely by seeing the footage of that cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck. In Los Angeles there were huge protests and a lot of upheaval after that. Above our house in Hollywood, there were helicopters all day long, for days on end. It was precarious, chaotic and terrifying.” Garbage will embark on a 31-city tour across North America this Autumn, in support of the new album. “Happy Endings”, Garbage’s forthcoming tour, will stop at New York’s Brooklyn Paramount, Washington D.C.’s The Anthem, San Francisco’s The Warfield and more, with tickets on sale from April 4. For over thirty years, Garbage’s powerful live show has captivated audiences and continues to inspire worldwide adoration and this year’s shows are the band’s first extensive headline tour dates in the U.S. in almost ten years. For more information on Garbage’s live dates, visit their website. Garbage’s new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light was recorded at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Butch Vig’s studio Grunge Is Dead, and Shirley Manson’s bedroom. The record was produced by the band and longtime engineer Billy Bush. The album is unmistakably Garbage and all the hallmarks and signatures for which they are known are present. Big angular guitars, precise, propulsive beats and cinematic soundscapes all lurk beneath Shirley Manson’s unmistakable voice, her lyrics bristling with attitude. This is the sound of a group at the peak of their creative powers - characteristically harnessing sonic juxtapositions and moods to create an album that thrums equally with both light and shade. Speaking about the album, Manson adds: "This record is about what it means to be alive, and about what it means to face your imminent destruction. It’s hopeful. It’s very tender towards what it means to be a human being. Our flaws and our failures are still beautiful, even though we’re taught that they’re not. This is a tender, thrilling record about the fragility of life." Garbage consists of all four original band members, Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. Over the 30 years since their inception in 1995 they have sold over 20 million albums. Their unique sound, songwriting and electric live performances have inspired worldwide adoration, chart success and critical acclaim. They are considered one of the most influential bands of their generation. Garbage’s new single There’s No Future In Optimism is out now and their new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is released on May 30, pre-order here. Let All That We Imagine Be The Light tracklistThere’s No Future In OptimismChinese Fire HorseHoldHave We Met (The Void)SisyphusRadicalLove To GiveGet Out My Face AKA Bad KittyR U Happy NowThe Day That I Met God
Suzanne Vega debuts new song "Chambermaid;" new album "Flying With Angels" out 5/2 on Cooking Vinyl
ALL-NEW SONGS IN A OVER A DECADE, OUT
MAY 2 ON COOKING VINYLTOUR INCLUDES DATES IN NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, D.C. AND MORE
photo credit: Ebru YildizApril 9, 2025—Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation or any other, Suzanne Vega is debuting the new song “Chambermaid” from her forthcoming record Flying With Angels . Stream/share the track HERE .Speaking about “Chambermaid,” Vega notes, “In my adaptation of Bob Dylan’s ‘I Want You,’ I imagine what the character of the Chambermaid would say about her own aspirations, and her relationship with the great man himself.”Vega’s first full-length album of new music in over a decade, Flying With Angels is due May 2 on Cooking Vinyl. The record is produced by Vega’s longtime collaborator and guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Duncan Sheik), see below for a complete track listing. Flying With Angels is available for pre-order HERE .“Each song on the album takes place in an atmosphere of struggle,” notes Vega. “Struggle to survive, to speak, to dominate, to win, to escape, to help someone else, or just live.”Vega also recently shared the album’s second single “Speakers’ Corner,” acknowledging the increasingly political nature of communication today, when the ability to speak one’s mind is easier than ever on social media, and yet that privilege is often misused. Vega elaborates, “That’s something you don’t want in democracy: the shutting down of the Speakers’ Corner where people get a say. This is a moment in time when people are saying a lot, but sometimes they’re not making sense or not telling the truth. People should be accountable for what they say. They can’t just lie. One would think that that would be self-evident.” The single is accompanied by an animated lyric video directed by artist/animator Michael Arthur; stream/share the single HERE and watch/share the video HERE .In celebration of the forthcoming album Vega will tour throughout North America and Europe, performing an evening of career-spanning songs as well as showcasing material from the new album. Newly announced shows include New York’s Town Hall with special guests Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche as well as the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., World Café Live in Philadelphia and the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh. Vega and Leonard will be joined on stage by cellist Stephanie Winters. See below for a list of dates; tickets for all upcoming shows are available for purchase at suzannevega.com/tour.Of Vega’s performances The New York Times notes that she “is attentive to the realm of the unseen.” Finding Connecticut lauded a recent concert as “nothing short of mesmerizing, weaving tales through her soulful songs in a cozy setting that allowed for a deep connection with the audience.”Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has written and recorded numerous songs that have become part of the contemporary music vernacular, including “Luka,” “Marlene on the Wall” and “Tom’s Diner,” an a cappella piece that was remixed by U.K. electronic dance duo DNA and became a major club hit. It remains an oft-sampled and covered standard by artists across the musical spectrum. Her albums, including her self-titled debut, follow-up Solitude Standing and 99.9F have sold millions of copies worldwide.
album artSUZANNE VEGA
FLYING WITH ANGELS1. Speakers’ Corner
2. Flying With Angels
3. Witch
4. Chambermaid
5. Love Thief
6. Lucinda
7. Last Train From Mariupol
8. Alley
9. Rats
10. GalwaySUZANNE VEGA TOUR DATESJune 8—Pittsburgh, PA—Three Rivers Arts Festival
June 10—Washington, DC—Lincoln Theatre
June 11—Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live
June 13—Amagansett, NY—The Stephen Talkhouse
June 14—New York, NY—Town Hall*
June 15—Ridgefield, CT—Ridgefield Playhouse
September 30—Amsterdam, NL—Royal Theater Carré
October 2—Rotterdam, NL—Nieuwe Luxor
October 4—Munich, DE—Isarphilharmonie
October 6—Hamburg, DE—CCH Saal Z
October 8—Berlin, DE—Kammermusiksaal Philharmonie
October 10—Brussels, BE—Bozar
October 12—Antwerp, BE—Queen Elisabeth Hall
October 13—Esch-sur-Alzette, LU—Rockhal Club
October 15—Offenbach, DE—Capitol
October 16—Koln, DE—Theater am Tansbrunnen
October 19—Gateshead, UK—Sage Gateshead (The Glasshouse Int’l Centre for Music)
October 20—Manchester, UK—Bridgewater Hall
October 21—Glasgow, UK—Royal Concert Hall
October 23—Edinburgh, UK—Usher Hall
October 25—Liverpool, UK—Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
October 27—Cambridge, UK—Corn Exchange
October 28—Brighton, UK—Dome
October 30—Bristol, UK—Bristol Beacon
October 31—Birmingham, UK—Symphony Hall
November 1—Stoke, UK—Regent Theatre
November 3—London, UK—Royal Albert Hall*with special guests Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche
HAAi Shares New Track "Shapeshift (feat. KAM-BU)" || Upcoming Live Dates Include Coachella, Movement, NYC & More
HAAi SHARES NEW TRACK
“SHAPESHIFT (FEAT. KAM-BU)”
OUT NOW ON MUTE
UPCOMING US LIVE DATES INCLUDE, NYC, COACHELLA, MOVEMENT & MORE
Photo credit: Doberman Ltd
Today London-based, Australian-born producer, songwriter and DJ, HAAi (aka Teneil Throssell) has released a new track, “Shapeshift” featuring KAM-BU. This is the follow up to her recent track “Can’t Stand To Lose,” which was accompanied by a rework by HAAi and Tom VR that soundtracked a groundbreaking visual which premiered on the Outernet’s digital exhibition space for Women’s History Month. HAAi has upcoming US live dates that include both weekends of Coachella, Movement Festival, and Knockdown Center in New York.
Watch the video to the new track, directed by Dobermann Ltd., where the unholiest of sub-bass flips into lo-fi rave breaks HERE.
“Shapeshift” continues the very personal themes of “Can’t Stand To Lose” and is, explains HAAi, about the “duality of being both the person you are onstage and the person you are at home, in the normal world.”
Talking about the track, KAM-BU explains: "Shapeshift is a reflection of personal and societal struggles of feeling confined yet striving for freedom. The lyrics touch on the tension between living a “dream” and feeling trapped by the realities of the world, especially the pressures of society and authority (“No love for cages”). I wanted to create a sense of restlessness, of wanting to break out of limitations, whether external or internal."
Teneil and KAM-BU previously collaborated alongside Jon Hopkins on “Always Ascending,” which launched her acclaimed DJ-Kicks mix. Talking about the new track, which she shares today, Teneil explains, “I wanted the track to start with a laidback spoken word section that, as the tension builds up in the track, develops into something that has much more intention and is more rhythmic,” before adding, “KAM-BU really rose to the challenge.”
“Shapeshift” and “Can’t Stand To Lose” are the first new HAAi tracks since 2023, and the release of her DJ-Kicks compilation (described by RA as “a thrillingly eclectic journey through sound, where industrial beats meet warm melodies with finesse”). The compilation, which includes her collaboration with Jon Hopkins and KAM-BU, “Always Ascending,” came hot on the heels of her debut album, Baby, We’re Ascending, which opened up her boundary pushing blend of psychedelia, techno and powerful beats to new avenues, prompting Dazed to say: “[HAAi] transcends to new planes of existence on her full-length debut” and NME to praise her “high-flying, vibrant electronic wonderland.” 2023 also saw the release of “Lights Out,” her collaboration with Fred again.. and Romy, a single that solidified HAAi’s place at the forefront of electronic music.
Outside of her own productions, HAAi is known for her dynamic, tempo-shifting DJ sets. In 2024 HAAi played over 100 shows across 5 continents, 30 countries, and 91 cities. She took to the biggest stages at festivals like Glastonbury, Sonar, and EDC Las Vegas, while also delivering sets at local parties including Japan’s Rainbow Disco Club, Berlin’s RSO and Paris’ Iconic Rex Club, where she performed a year-long residency. In-between, HAAi was playing b2b’s with friends like KI/KI, Jennifer Cardini, The Blessed Madonna and Solomun.
2024 also saw the launch of UNiSON, her community focused party that is a platform for HAAi to uplift rising talent while creating an inclusive and boundary-pushing space for club culture. HAAi’s DJ dates continue apace, with a series of festival dates that include Timewarp and Coachella in April, Detroit’s Movement Festival in May and Glastonbury and Primavera in Porto in June.
“Shapeshift” feat. KAM-BU is out now across all digital platforms. Listen to it HERE.
TOUR DATES:
4/12/2025 – Indio, CA - Coachella Music & Arts Festival at Empire Polo Field
4/19/2025 – Indio, CA - Coachella Music & Arts Festival at Empire Polo Field
5/24/2025 - 5/26/2025 - Detroit, MI - Movement Festival
6/7/2025 - Queens, NY - Knockdown Center
6/15/2025 – Porto, PT - Primavera Sound at Parque da Cidade
6/21/2025 - Barcelona, ES - Razzmatazz
6/28/2025 - Glastonbury, UK - Levels (b2b Romy) on the Silver Hayes stage
6/29/2025 - Brussels,BE - Paradise City (b2b The Blessed Madonna), Domein van Perk
7/5/2025 - Kraggenburg,NL - Wilde Weide Festival at Netl Park
7/11/2025 - Athens, GR - BICEP presents CHROMA, 260 Playground
7/12/2025 - Aulnoye Aymeries, FR - Les Nuits Secrètes
7/17/2025 - Castellon, ES - FIB Benicassim
7/18/2025 - Brighton, Bonobo presents OUTLIER (b2b Special Request), Brighton Beach
7/19/2025 - Lancashire, UK - Beat Herder Festival
7/20/2025 - Boom, Tomorrowland, Provinciaal Recreatiedomein De Schorre
7/26/2025 - Malta, MT - Mochakk Calling, UNO
8/29/2025 - Chicago, IL - Arc Festival
PRAISE FOR HAAI:
"...something bigger, something that transcends the club without turning its back on it. More than any individual standout tracks, what’s most compelling is the album’s journey.”– PITCHFORK
“HAAi transcends to new planes of existence on her full-length debut” – DAZED
“...truly a triumph…There’s no one really doing it like HAAi right now.”
– THIS SONG IS SICK
“Both on and beyond the dancefloor, [Baby, We’re Ascending is] an ascension alright”
– DJ MAG
“Creator of a high-flying, vibrant electronic wonderland” – NME
"…reach the astral plane, rinse and repeat." – NYLON
“Shapeshift (feat. KAM-BU)” single art:
Stream or purchase “Shapeshift (feat. KAM-BU)”
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Watch the video for "Baby, We’re Ascending”
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THOM YORKE & MARK PRITCHARD ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM 'TALL TALES'
MARK PRITCHARD & THOM YORKE SHARE NEW SINGLE “GANGSTERS”, STREAM SONG / WATCH THE VIDEO
DEBUT COLLABORATIVE ALBUM AND VISUAL EXPERIENCE TO BE SCREENED ONLY IN THEATRES/CINEMAS ON MAY 8
TALL TALES IS A FILM BY JONATHAN ZAWADA
ALBUM OUT MAY 9 ON WARP RECORDS
Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke photo credit Pierre Toussaint
Pioneering electronic musician and producer Mark Pritchard and The Smile / Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke have shared a new single titled “Gangsters.” The track is taken from their highly anticipated forthcoming record Tall Tales (out May 9 via Warp Records), and follows the recent announcement of a special global cinema event on May 8 at which fans will be able to experience the album alongside its accompanying feature film a day ahead of release - dates may vary for certain locations.
Two previews from the film have been released in the form of music videos over the past couple of months. These came alongside the first two singles from the album "Back In The Game" and "This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice.” The new single “Gangsters,” which premiered on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show this morning, is paired to a video offering a third insight into visual artist Jonathan Zawada’s surreal and uncanny world, alongside Yorke’s pitch-shifted vocals and Pritchard’s borderless synth work.
Watch the video for “Gangsters”
An effective third member of the group, Zawada - whose multi-faceted approach to melding analogue and digital techniques have seen him work alongside the likes of Coachella, Flume, The Avalanches, Royksopp, and Dua Lipa – directed, animated, and edited the Tall Tales visual experience.
The groundbreaking production was developed over the past few years in tandem with the evolution of the music, juxtaposing it with uneasy landscapes of natural beauty and the brutal aesthetics of a dystopian world. Through Yorke’s lyrics, Pritchard’s atemporal compositions and Zawada’s visuals, Tall Tales questions where our insatiable appetite for ‘progress’ might have landed us. A prophetic cinematic experience, Tall Tales has been years in the making, but delivered right on time. More info and tickets are available from Tall-Tales.info.
Some lucky fans that attend the screenings will also receive a zine compiled and designed by Zawada, which gives a unique insight into the concepts and inspirations running through the film and album – read an excerpt HERE.
Pre-order Tall Tales
Find tickets for May 8 screening of Tall Tales film
Watch the trailer for Tall Tales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mFe9znS9hI
Watch the video for “This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKaei11LulE
Watch the video for “Back In The Game”
https://youtu.be/s4Ta7n_Eyjo?si=lSdByZbDNeYTfTXO
Pritchard is a luminary of 90s UK electronic music with his projects Reload, Link and as one half of the production duo Global Communication alongside Tom Middleton. In 2011 he released two remixes of Radiohead's "Bloom" and across an eclectic career that has incorporated many styles and various guises, he has remixed further material from the likes of Aphex Twin, Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, and Slowdive.
Tall Tales, Yorke's first release on Warp Records, is a multi-layered, richly textured record that channels both multiple narratives and multiple genres. Across its eclectic 12 song runtime, the record showcases Pritchard's mastery of archaic machines unearthed in synthesizer archives, guiding the music down unexpected and experimental paths. Yorke meanwhile delivers a haunting and expansive vocal performance, delving into dark, introspective storytelling.
As well as digitally, the album will be available in a standard black vinyl 2LP gatefold edition and as a limited special black vinyl 2LP edition including a 36-page booklet featuring a wealth of images from the project and lyrics to all the tracks, carefully designed by Jonathan Zawada. There will also be both a standard CD edition and a limited special CD accompanied by the 36-page booklet.
Nashville hardcore/metal forerunners Orthodox release "Sacred Place" off new album on Century Media, out June 6. Headlining US tour.
ORTHODOX RELEASE NEW SINGLE / VIDEO “SACRED PLACE”
OFF FORTHCOMING ALBUM A DOOR LEFT OPEN
OUT JUNE 6 VIA CENTURY MEDIA
DATES ADDED: HEADLINING SUMMER U.S. TOUR
Photo By Ryan Johnson
Orthodox’s fusion of frenetic rhythms, pushed-to-the-breaking-point riffing and explosively emotive vocals have progressed on their intricate, expansive fourth studio album, A Door Left Open which sees its release June 6 via Century Media. Today the hardcore / metal forerunners share their monolithic crowd pleaser “Sacred Place” which is about when “home isn’t home anymore.” Vocalist Adam Easterling tells, “Every now and then, if you’re lucky, you end up writing a song that you’ll be stuck playing for the rest of your career. I have a strong feeling that ‘Sacred Place’ could be ours. We knew once we put a bow on what was then called ‘Chameleon’ (the working title), that we had something special on our hands. We immediately started playing it live, and have been for nearly a year, which cemented that feeling.”
Listen / Watch / Playlist “Sacred Place"
On A Door Left Open, the Nashville five capture the sense of unease and full-on dread one would feel having their comfort and routine violated. What got in—or what got out?
A Door Left Open’s barrage of riffs (a New Wave of American Heavy Metal string skipper picks up the pace in “Godless Grace”), a shredding solo (in “Searching for a Pulse,” courtesy of newest member Ben Touchberry), and countless breakdowns construct a sonic sense of unrest across the album’s 12 tracks. At the center of it all is guitarist Austin Evans, whose upside-down, lefty way of playing is as unorthodox as his writing, which is littered with harmonics, squeals and borderline laser noises.
The contrast between those and crushing chugs—accentuated by diverse rhythms from drummer Mike White and bassist Shiloh Krebs—ensures the whiplash-laden listen never gets comfortable. Atop that, Easterling’s brash bellow is even more powerful here—resulting in new dynamics that had producer Randy LeBoeuf (Jesus Piece, Kublai Khan TX, Dying Wish) exclaiming he could hardly believe it’s coming from the same man.
Easterling matches life’s throes on the mic, which helps him stand strong amongst the album’s stable of guest vocals. Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld emotes in one of hardcore’s most diverse and recognizable voices on pre-launch single “Commit to Consequence,” while Matt McDougal of best friend band Boundaries brings brutality to straight edge anthem “Blend in with the Weak.” A gang vocal shout of “WHAT THE FU*K?!” at the start of “One Less Body” sums up the guest who brings ethereal musings to the song’s epic closing: Mastodon’s Brann Dailor.
Orthodox have confirmed a headlining U.S. Summer which kicks off with a special hometown release show with fellow straight edge bands Year of the Knife and Inclination in Nashville. Mugshot, Omerta and fromjoy will join them as support for the entirety of the tour. Easterling says, “‘A Door Left Open was created to deliver the feeling of chaos, and we know the people who love us will help us bring that feeling to life this summer.” See below for a full list of dates and tickets.
Pre-Order / Pre-Save A Door Left Open
A Door Left Open Tracklist:
01 - Can You Save Me?
02 - Body Chalk
03 - Dread Weight
04 - Blend In With The Weak (feat. Matt McDougal)
05 - Godless Grace
06 - Keep Your Blessings
07 - Sacred Place
08 - Step Inside
09 - One Less Body (feat. Brann Dailor)
10 - Searching For A Pulse
11 - Commit To Consequence (feat. Andrew Neufeld)
12 - Will You Hate Me?
Orthodox Live Dates:
Tickets On Sale Here | Hi Res Tour Posters Here
May 13: Asheville, NC - Eulogy !
May 14: Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern !
Jun 21: Nashville, TN - Basement East ^*
Jun 22: Pensacola, FL - Handlebar ^
Jun 24: Orlando, FL - Conduit ^
Jun 25: Miami, FL - Grimz ^
Jun 26: Tampa, FL - Crowbar ^
Jun 27: Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Purgatory) ^
Jun 28: Raleigh, NC - Kings ^
Jun 29: Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery ^
Jul 01: Buffalo, NY - Rec Room ^
Jul 02: Albany, NY - Empire Underground ^
Jul 03: Boston, MA - Middle East (Upstairs) ^
Jul 04: Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Monarch ^
Jul 05: Pittsburgh, PA - Preserving Underground ^
Jul 06: Columbus, OH - Aces of Cups ^
Jul 08: Detroit, MI - The Sanctuary ^
Jul 09: Indianapolis, IN - Black Circle ^
Jul 10: Chicago, IL - Subterranean ^
Jul 11: Milwaukee, WI - X-Ray Arcade ^
Jul 12: St. Paul, MN - Legion Hall (Basement) ^
Jul 13: Kansas City, MO - The Rino ^
Jul 15: Denver, CO - Marquis ^
Jul 16: Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court ^
Jul 18: Sacramento, CA - Goldfield Midtown ^
Jul 19: Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction ^
Jul 20: Las Vegas, NV - American Legion Post 8 ^
Jul 22: Mesa, AZ - The Nile Underground ^
Jul 24: Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective ^
Jul 25: Houston, TX - The End ^
Jul 26: San Antonio, TX - The Rock Box ^
Jul 27: Dallas, TX - Texas Tea Room ^
Oct 04: Birmingham, AL - Furnace Fest
! w/ Harms Way
^* Album Release Show w/ Year of the Knife, Inclination
^ w/ Mugshot, Omerta, and fromjoy
