Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 127
March 28, 2025
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt Release Album 'Loose Talk' Today
'LOOSE TALK'
NEW MUSIC BY BRYAN FERRY
SPOKEN TEXTS BY AMELIA BARRATT
LISTEN
“LOOSE TALK” (ALBUM)
Loose Talk , the new collaborative album of music by Bryan Ferry with spoken texts by performance artist, writer and painter Amelia Barratt, is released today. Download, stream, or purchase HERE.
Offering first insights into the rich and complex world of Loose Talk , the stellar ‘Orchestra’, ‘Florist’ and the record’s title track ‘Loose Talk’ hit the airwaves earlier this year and gave fans a first peek behind the curtain of what is today unveiled in full, including focus track ‘Cowboy Hat’.
Loose Talk has already seen an incredible reception from critics, with The Guardian calling the project "intriguing and impressively original", SPIN Magazine hailing it as “captivating,” Uncut Magazine naming it "a remarkable new collaboration with painter and spoken-word artist Amelia Barratt returns Bryan Ferry, elegantly, to the vanguard of the avant-garde", Mail On Sunday describing it as "the most intriguing release of the year so far". Elsewhere, artnet posed "who wouldn’t love a cross-disciplinary collaboration between a contemporary artist and a rock ‘n’ roll icon?" and AnOther Magazine proclaimed that “Even now, with such a vast back catalogue, Bryan Ferry is still experimenting with new ways to make people feel grand soaring feelings. In a collage of music, poetry and art, his collaboration with Amelia Barratt takes this into a thrilling new realm.”. Additionally, ‘Orchestra’ was called “a bold, uncompromising duet” by CLASH Magazine and "intriguing" and packed with “unresolved tension and hyperreal detail" by MOJO.
Loose Talk signals the beginning of a new creative chapter for Bryan Ferry, blurring the lines between music, poetry and art. Fifty-three years since Roxy Music’s iconic debut album arrived like a bolt-from-the-blue, his latest project is just as startlingly unexpected. The sounds and shapes, and the spoken words they are set to, are unlike any previous Bryan Ferry album. At the same time, the mood that Loose Talk captures is rooted in Ferry’s past half-century of work.
Loose Talk marks the first time Ferry has created new music for another writer’s words. The album consists of eleven texts, composed by Amelia Barratt, creating fascinating micro-fictions, simultaneously fragmentary and self-contained.
The album balances refined minimalism and abstraction with an experimental and youthful energy. Ferry’s music and Barratt’s texts each hold their own codes. As those codes pulse as one, the album discovers its own language – two monologues begin a conversation that becomes a duet.
Discussing Loose Talk, Bryan Ferry said:
“The whole experience of making Loose Talk has had an interesting newness about it. It seems to have opened a whole new chapter in my work. There’s a really strong mood to the work that Amelia does and I was very conscious of not getting in the way of her words. Hopefully, together, we’ve created something neither could do on our own.
The nearest I ever got to doing pieces like this before would maybe be back in Roxy with “In Every Dream Home A Heartache,” and “Mother Of Pearl”. To some extent, those are kind of spoken monologues. I’m pleased that when we’ve played Loose Talk to people, they’ve said, “Oh, this sounds really different.” That’s what I’ve always wanted with everything I’ve done, or been involved in, to be: different. Different to what you’ve heard before, or seen before. That’s the whole point of being an artist: trying to create a new thing, a new world.”
Amelia Barratt said:
“Loose Talk is a conversation between two artists: a collaborative album of music by Bryan Ferry with spoken texts by me. It’s cinematic; music put to pictures.
There’s possibility for experimentation within a frame. And there’s a freedom in knowing exactly what my part to play is, then being able to pass a baton, stretching out creatively and knowing there is someone on the other side to take it further. Nothing feels off limits.”
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt were first connected via their separate involvements in the art world. The collaboration began with a chance meeting at an exhibition opening, where Ferry grew intrigued to learn Barratt had started working with writing and performance in parallel with her painting. Both artists share an art school background – Bryan Ferry studied painting at Newcastle University in the 1960s, Barratt at Glasgow School of Art and the Slade School of Art, where she received an MFA in 2016 – but it’s the differences between them that animate Loose Talk and create unmapped territory.
Bryan Ferry’s collaboration with Amelia Barratt was first teased with the release of ‘Star’ in 2024 - presented as the latest composition on the newly released 81 track career-spanning collection, Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023 . ‘Star’ was described with "smouldering brilliance" by Uncut Magazine, “a sinister sequel to Dance Away” by MOJO, “remarkable, crunching, frosted, sub-zero electronics” by CLASH Magazine and “a trippy new single” by the NME.
Loose Talk is available now digitally, on CD, Black Vinyl, Green Vinyl and Clear Vinyl. Listen here .
Loose Talk
Tracklisting1. Big Things
2. Stand Near Me
3. Florist
4. Cowboy Hat
5. Demolition
6. Orchestra
7. Holiday
8. Landscape
9. Pictures On A Wall
10. White Noise
11. Loose Talk
Follow Bryan Ferry on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok
Follow Amelia Barratt on Instagram
Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo's New Album 'Golden Mirrors (The Uncovered Sessions Vol. 1)' Is Out Today On Mute
MICK HARVEY & AMANDA ACEVEDO
GOLDEN MIRRORS (THE UNCOVERED SESSIONS VOL. 1)
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR
“THE NIGHT OF THE BLUES”
Photo credit: Matthew Ellery
Today Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo have released a new album, Golden Mirrors (The Uncovered Sessions Vol. 1), the first in a series of projects investigating songwriters for whom Harvey and Acevedo have a particular predilection. Golden Mirrors (The Uncovered Sessions Vol. 1) is out digitally on Mute, with an exclusive gold vinyl Australian edition (via Impressed Recordings) available today. A series of live dates across Europe start on 3 April – full details below.
The new album sees the duo cover 11 songs by the American songwriter Jackson C. Frank, who passed March 3, 1999, and whose sole album release was produced by Paul Simon and who counted Laura Marling, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Mark Lanegan and Fairport Convention as fans.
Watch the video for “The Night of the Blues” HERE.
Harvey explains, “Amanda and I recorded ‘Milk & Honey’ for our first album together, Phantasmagoria in Blue. By complete coincidence, in the week of the single release, I was contacted by my friend, Guanluca, from Italy who was putting together a tribute to Jackson C. Frank for his ‘Love & Thunder’ collective project. We were more than happy to record a few more songs, Amanda in particular being a big fan of Frank’s work. We initially recorded three songs for the tribute project but we just kept going and eventually realised we could make our own album. The whole process was so enjoyable and the ideas just flowed. All the original recordings are just one or two guitars with singing and Frank’s later songs are only available as home recordings, non-studio demos or live. So the possibilities of expanding the songs through arrangements were huge, and that process was very rewarding and enjoyable.”
The pair will continue working on the Uncovered Sessions while producing an album of original material for release in 2026. This new album follows the duo’s 2023 release Phantasmagoria in Blue and Harvey’s 2024 solo outing Five Ways to Say Goodbye.
The album was recorded in Harvey’s music room in North Melbourne and mixed by Alain Johannes in LA, Spain and Chile, the tracks exude brooding, dark atmospheres with Harvey’s trademark stylings and Acevedo’s floating, expressive vocalizations.
Purchase or stream Golden Mirrors (The Uncovered Sessions Vol. 1) HERE.
Listen to Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo’s debut, Phantasmagoria in Blue HERE.
Mick Harvey is renowned as a musician, record producer and composer who has been active for the last 45+ years and is perhaps best known as a member of The Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds and for his long term collaborative work with PJ Harvey and Nick Cave. Aside from scoring 10 feature films and numerous short films and documentaries, split almost evenly between Australia and Europe, Harvey has also released 10 solo albums in the last 2 decades and been the recipient of several Australian Music Industry Awards. He won the AFI Best Original Score for Suburban Mayhem in 2006 and in 2011 took out British Producer of the Year for his (co)production on PJ Harvey's Let England Shake.This is Mexican artist Amanda Acevedo’s second project in collaboration with Mick Harvey. After spending 2020/21 studying film in her home town of San Luis Potisí, Acevedo teamed up with one of her heroes to create a thematically-rich collection of duets and continues that work into 2025 with this new release. She is currently studying and working in Melbourne, Australia
MICK HARVEY & AMANDA ACEVEDO LIVE:
4/3/2025 - Ioaninna (GR) - Route 664/4/2025 - Ptolemaida (GR) - Mandrakoukos
4/5/2025 - Thessaloniki (GR) - Mylos
4/6/2025 - Athens (FR) - Tiki Bar
4/9/2025 - Vienna (AT) - Rote Bar
4/10/2025 - Bologna (IT) – Binario69
4/11/2025 - Savona (IT) - Raindogs (with screening of Mutiny in Heaven: The Birthday Party at 8.30ppm)
4/12/2025l - Como (IT) – Joshua – tickets available on the door
4/13/2025 - Pordenone (IT) - Capitol
Track listing:
1. Golden Mirror
2. My Name is Carnival
3. The Night of the Blues
4. Cover Me with Roses
5. The Visit
6. Marcy’s Song
7. Blues Run the Game
8. I Want to be Alone (Dialogue)
9. Have You Seen the Unicorns
10. October
11. Juliette
Purchase or stream HERE.
CONNECT WITH MUTE:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLUESKY | INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | WEB
Eartheater and Shygirl team up for new A / B single
EARTHEATER AND SHYGIRL TEAM UP FOR
NEW A / B SINGLE
“SHARK BRAIN / DOLPHIN” OUT NOW
VIA CHEMICAL X
AVAILABLE ON LIMITED EDITION 7” VINYL
“Shark Brain / Dolphin”
LISTEN: https://chemicalx.ffm.to/sharkbrain
VINYL PRE-ORDER: https://chemicalx.ffm.to/sharkbrainvinyl
(March 28, 2025) - Producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Eartheater teams up with London’s breakout star Shygirl for the new A / B single “Shark Brain / Dolphin,” out now via Chemical X. Despite the longtime friendship and collaborative relationship between the two luminaries, “Shark Brain / Dolphin” is the first official collaborative release from the pair outside of remixes. The concept of “Shark Brain / Dolphin” came together due to the symmetry of the human anatomy with that of sharks and dolphins, which is reflected on the cover artwork, pictured below. Additionally, “Shark Brain / Dolphin” will be available in a limited 7-inch pressing on glow-in-the-dark vinyl and feature lenticular cover artwork – shifting between shark brain image and female reproductive system image depending on the angle it is viewed – and is available for pre-order now HERE. “Shark Brain” was produced by Eartheater alongside Andy Morin, while “Dolphin” was produced by Eartheater alongside Tony Seltzer and Inef Coupe.
Speaking about the evolution of the new songs, Eartheater shares, “I made ‘Shark Brain’ 5 years ago and played it live enough times that my fans would ask for it, however, it was just one of those songs I didn’t know if I’d ever release. Eventually it even got leaked which is why, I assume, my fans seem to know all the words already. I was originally inspired to write the song when I discovered the uncanny resemblance a hammerhead shark brain has to the female reproductive system. Years later I found out that a dolphin’s bones in their fins highly resemble those of a human hand. I was in the studio with Shy one day and she was very into my idea to pair these songs together as an A / B side and quickly put down her verses.”
Eartheater practices her own strain of poetic alchemy. Shapeshifting between electronic experimentation and acoustic texture, the Queens-based artist has long delved into themes of erosion and lithification, along with the infinite possibilities of metamorphosis. Along with her solo output, Eartheater has collaborated with various artists, including writing and producing on FKA twigs most recent album Eusexua, contributing guitar to Caroline Polachek's single "Ocean of Tears", working with the duo LEYA on the EP Angel Lust, and composing a six movement work for renowned contemporary classical orchestra Alarm Will Sound which they performed at Juilliard. She also served as the executive producer for Lourdes Leon's debut EP, Go, released on Chemical X in November 2022 under the moniker Lolahol.
Since 2015, Eartheater, born Alexandra Drewchin, has blended experimental electronic sounds with folk elements, creating her unique sonic palette. In 2018, she released IRISIRI through the Berlin-based label PAN, further solidifying her reputation for pushing musical boundaries. In 2019, she released Trinity independently on her own imprint Chemical X. Her 2020 album, Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin, was conceived during a ten-week artist residency in Zaragoza, Spain, exemplifying her ever-sharpening lexicon and her acute sense for world-building. “Shark Brain / Dolphin” marks the first offering from Eartheater since the release of her lauded 2023 album Powders, which received praise from Pitchfork, who noted the album “takes amorphous elements and alters them into something rare and precious.”
Check out “Shark Brain / Dolphin” above and stay tuned for more from Eartheater coming very soon.
“Shark Brain / Dolphin”
Eartheater feat. Shygirl
Chemical X
March 28, 2025
1. Shark Brain
2. Dolphin
“Shark Brain / Dolphin” 7” vinyl
Connect with Eartheater:
Instagram | (X) Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Connect with Shygirl:
Instagram | (X) Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
KALI UCHIS DEBUTS NEW SINGLE “SUNSHINE & RAIN”
KALI UCHIS DEBUTS NEW SINGLE
“SUNSHINE & RAIN”
STREAM HERE
FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM SINCERELY,
RELEASING MAY 9TH
PRE-SAVE HERE
March 27, 2025 – Today, GRAMMY®-winning global recording artist Kali Uchis kicks off a new era of music with “Sunshine & Rain,” the first single from her widely anticipated fifth studio album, Sincerely,. Stream “Sunshine & Rain” HERE, pre-save Sincerely, HERE.
“This record is about embracing a life of enjoyment despite the world or your circumstances…” says Kali on the meaning behind the track, “an existential piece focusing on the vulnerability and romanticism of life.”
“Sunshine & Rain,” which was teased just last week and met with massive fan excitement, sets up a lush soundscape, which Uchis’ rich vocals coast over with ease. In the first verse, she unpacks the stabilizing effect of good love on her life. In the second, she wishes the same for the world – one she recently welcomed her first child to – vowing to be a source of peace for those that depend on her. “Through sunshine and rain, as seasons change, we all need somebody that makes the earth feel heavenly… baby I’ll be that somebody because you’re that someone to me.”
The new record follows appearances on a pair of freshly buzzing singles: JENNIE’s “Damn Right,” also featuring Childish Gambino; and d4vd’s “Crashing,” which came with a video co-starring Uchis.
About Kali Uchis:
Kali Uchis has been hailed as a rare talent since she emerged, but ORQUÍDEAS launched her career to new heights. Her highest charting album to date (debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200), the critically adored record — which was her fourth album overall and second in Spanish — was led by crossover singles like the Platinum-certified “Igual Que un Ángel”with Peso Pluma (#1 on Hot Latin Songs, #23 on the Hot 100) and Gold-certified “Labios Mordidos” with KAROL G (#10 on Hot Latin Songs, #97 on the Hot 100). ORQUÍDEAS was nominated for Best Latin Pop Album at the 2025 GRAMMY® Awards, Best Pop Vocal Album at the Latin GRAMMYs, and took home trophies from the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Latin American Music Awards. The set closed the year on numerous “Best Albums” lists, racking up glowing praise from countless outlets including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Complex, and The New York Times.
With artful forays into R&B, alt-pop, reggaeton, and Latin strains, Uchis has released several of the most lauded albums of the past decade: from her 2015 mixtape Por Vida, to her 2018 debut LP Isolation, her 2020 Spanish set Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), and 2023's Red Moon in Venus, which features the 2x Platinum-certified “Moonlight,” and was regaled by TIME Magazine as the ‘Best Album of the Year.’ Amid consistent acclaim and honors — including nine GRAMMY®-nominations and a 2021 win in the category of Best Dance Song for her appearance on Kaytranada’s “10%”— Uchis’ major breakthrough came with her own 2021 smash hit “telepatía,” which has been streamed more than 2 billion times to date and was the Hot 100’s longest running Spanish-language song by a solo act this decade with a 23-week streak. Uchis is now on the way to reaching the Spotify Billions Club three times over with the smash success of songs “telepatía,” Tyler, The Creator’s “See You Again” (featuring Kali Uchis),” and soon to be “Moonlight.” Raised between Virginia and Colombia, Uchis has gone on to collaborate and share the stage with the likes of SZA, Tyler the Creator, Lana Del Rey, Gorillaz, Snoop Dogg, Rauw Alejandro, and her longtime partner Don Toliver, with whom she welcomed her first child last year. Uchis has toured the world over on multiple sold-out headlining runs, the most recent of which saw her playing arenas, as well as celebrated sets at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Austin City Limits, Tropicalia, Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and many more.
Credit Amaury Nessaibia.
# # #
Follow Kali Uchis:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | X | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE
Yukimi releases debut solo album 'For You'
YUKIMI OF LITTLE DRAGON RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM FOR YOU
SHARES MUSIC VIDEO FOR “MAKE ME WHOLE”
HEADLINE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINS IN APRIL
Yukimi by Fredrik Egerstrand
“she sings about an uncertain but determined step forward.”
NEW YORK TIMES
“love letters to hope in uncertain times.”
THE GUARDIAN
“The latest offering from her album, it melts together joyous notes of digitalism with uplifting aspects of soulful pop.”
CLASH MAGAZINE
“The R&B-rooted record quietly astounds and blossoms with each listen.”
FLOOD MAGAZINE
“a laid-back jazzy-folky rumination.”
STEREOGUM
For You
LISTEN: https://yukimi.lnk.to/for-youPR
“Make Me Whole”
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRFefcAfY78
(March 28, 2025) - Yukimi, the celebrated vocalist and co-founder of Grammy-nominated band Little Dragon, releases her highly anticipated debut album, For You, via Ninja Tune. Alongside the album release, she shares the music video for “Make Me Whole,” directed by Fredrick Egerstand. Stepping into a new creative realm, Yukimi embarks on a deeply personal and sonically rich journey, fusing elements of jazz, soul, electronic pop, hip-hop, and psychedelia to craft an album that is both intimate and universally resonant.
For You marks a new chapter for Yukimi, exploring themes of love, loss, maternal prowess, and resilience. The album includes previously released singles such as “Sad Makeup,” a song about navigating emotional vulnerability that Stereogum calls “a laid-back jazzy-folky rumination”; “Winter Is Not Dead,” inspired by the stark beauty of Scandinavian winters, which Stereogum also describes as “an expansive minimal pulse” and “Break Me Down,” a self-empowering anthem created in collaboration with Lianne La Havas and Little Dragon bandmate Erik Bodin. “Break Me Down” as well as “Stream of Consciousness” marks Yukimi’s first time writing and creating music with another woman, allowing her to fully delve into her feminine energy while also highlighting Yukimi’s creative synergy with La Havas.
Reflecting on For You, Yukimi shares: “I want this music to really be a force to connect people to each other, and step away from the madness of everything on the planet right now. And I’m excited about embarking on that journey on my own – the expression really feels pure.”
To celebrate the album’s release, Yukimi will embark on a full North American tour beginning in April, making stops in major cities including New York, Toronto, Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Full tour details and ticket information can be found at https://yukimi-music.com/.
Renowned for her distinct and graceful voice, Yukimi has captivated audiences since co-founding Little Dragon in 1996. With the band, she has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, from Coachella and Glastonbury to NPR’s Tiny Desk—while collaborating with an impressive roster of artists, including Mac Miller, Kali Uchis, Gorillaz, JID, KAYTRANADA, Flume, and De La Soul. Her ability to transcend genres and craft deeply moving music has cemented her status as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music.
Listen to For You and find full tour routing below.
North American Tour Dates:
4/16 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
4/18 - Washington, DC @ Atlantis
4/19 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
4/22 - Toronto, CA @ The AXIS Club
4/24 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
4/25 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
4/27 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
4/29 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
4/30 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
5/2 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
5/3 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
5/4 - Los Angeles @ The Fonda
For You album artwork
Yukimi
For You
Ninja Tune
March 28, 2025
1. Prelude For You
2. Make Me Whole
3. Break Me Down
4. Runaway
5. Elinam
6. Steam of Consciousness (feat. Lianne La Havas)
7. Rules Of School
8. Sad Makeup
9. Peace Reign
10. No Prince
11. Winter Is Not Dead
12. Jaxon (feat. Pos from De La Soul)
13. Feels Good To Cry (feat. Yusuke Nagano)
Connect with Yukimi
Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok
Mumford & Sons release fifth album "RUSHMERE," confirm 32-date North American tour
album cover artMarch 28, 2025—Today, Mumford & Sons release their fifth album, RUSHMERE , and detail an extensive North American tour for later this year. Stream the album HERE. Rushmere is the spot where Mumford & Sons first met in Wimbledon. And RUSHMERE is the beginning for Mumford & Sons’ next phase, and it follows an intense period of creativity for the trio.RUSHMERE was produced in collaboration with the nine-time Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb and recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, in Savannah, GA, and in Devon, U.K.To coincide with the release, the band are excited to announce an arena and amphitheater tour of North America for later this year. The tour commences on June 5 in the city Bend, Oregon, and concludes a second leg at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska on October 26. The support acts include Japanese Breakfast, Gregory Alan Isakov, Michael Kiwanuka, Sierra Ferrell, Gigi Perez, Margo Price, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, Good Neighbours and Divorce. For a full list of dates and corresponding support artists, please see below.Tickets for the North American tour go on-sale from Friday, April 4. For complete pre-sale and on-sale information, please visit www.mumfordandsons.comMumford & Sons have partnered with PLUS1 to support War Child. $1 from every ticket sold will help War Child to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children affected by war. www.warchild.org.uk. The band’s U.K. arena tour this autumn sold out in under two hours, with two additional shows in Newcastle and Leeds added this week to meet fan demand. The trio will headline Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool in May. Through four albums, Mumford & Sons have accumulated various awards for their work, notably two BRIT Awards, two Grammy Awards (including the prestigious Album of the Year), multiple chart-topping, multi-platinum album successes right across the globe, a string of festival headlining performances (including Glastonbury), and selling out arenas tour after tour (including their biggest numbers to date in the U.S. in conclusion of the Delta tour back in 2019). A distinctively Mumford & Sons sound has since influenced and inspired recent artists to find huge success in their own right. You’d be hard pressed to find too many acts that follow a similar career trajectory.Since the band’s last album release, they’ve explored solo passions and reconnected with friends and past collaborators. During a particularly prolific run of recent songwriting inspiration, it’s led them back to the magic of where it all started for them in a leafy suburb of London. Mumford & Sons are Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane.
MUMFORD & SONS LIVEMay 25—Liverpool, U.K.—Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025June 5—Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater*June 9—Berkeley, CA—The Greek Theatre*June 12—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl†June 14—West Valley City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre†June 17—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center†June 18—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center†June 20—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center†June 21—Saratoga Springs, NY— Broadview Stage at SPAC‡June 22—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion†June 24—Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage†July 4—Dublin, Ireland—Malahide Castle (SOLD OUT)July 7—Verona, Italy—Arena di Verona July 18—Quincy, WA—The Gorge Amphitheatre§July 19—Whitefish, MT—Under The Big Sky FestivalJuly 21—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre^July 22—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre^July 24—Bonner Springs, KS—Azura Amphitheater#July 26—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre#July 27—Charleston, SC—Credit One Stadium#July 29—Raleigh, NC—Coastal Credit Union Music Park||July 31—Huntsville, AL—Orion Amphitheater||August 8—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium~October 8—Chicago, IL—United Center**October 9—St. Paul, MN—Xcel Energy Center**October 11—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum**October 12—Columbus, OH—Nationwide Arena**October 14—Philadelphia, PA—Wells Fargo Center**October 16—Buffalo, NY—KeyBank Center**October 17—Montréal, QC—Centre Bell**October 19—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena**October 20—Detroit, MI— Little Caesars Arena** October 22—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena††October 24—Austin, TX— Moody Center††October 25—Tulsa, OK—BOK Center††October 26—Omaha, NE—CHI Health Center Arena††November 6—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena November 8—Copenhagen, Denmark—Royal ArenaNovember 10—Berlin, Germany—Uber Arena November 12—Cologne, Germany—Lanxess Arena November 13—Antwerp, Belgium—Sportpaleis November 14—Paris, France—Adidas Arena November 16— Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg—RockhalNovember 17—Amsterdam, Netherlands— Ziggo DomeNovember 19—Bologna, Italy—Unipol ArenaNovember 20—Zurich, Switzerland—Hallenstadion November 21—Milan, Italy—Unipol ForumNovember 23—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi November 25—Lisbon, Portugal—Sagres Campo PequenoNovember 29—Newcastle, U.K.—Utilita Arena†† (NEW DATE ADDED)November 30—Leeds, U.K.—First Direct Arena†† (NEW DATE ADDED)December 2—Glasgow, U.K.—OVO Hyrdo†† (SOLD OUT)December 3—Manchester, U.K.—Co-op Live†† (SOLD OUT)December 5—Sheffield, U.K.—Utilita Arena†† (SOLD OUT)December 7—Birmingham, U.K.— Utilita Arena†† (SOLD OUT)December 8—Cardiff, U.K.—Utilita Arena†† (SOLD OUT)December 10—London, U.K.—The O2†† (SOLD OUT)December 11—London, U.K.—The O2†† (SOLD OUT)*with special guest Divorce†with special guest Good Neighbours‡with special guest Gigi Perez§with special guest Japanese Breakfast^with special guest Madison Cunningham#with special guest Gregory Alan Isakov||with special guest Margo Price~with special guest Lucius**with special guest Michael Kiwanuka††with special guest Sierra FerrellSOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR SHARES FIRST NEW MUSIC OF 2025 WITH NEW TRACK “RELENTLESS LOVE”
LISTEN HERE
Photo Credit: Bekky Calver
“Disco Queen” – Evening Standard
“Pop Icon” – NME
“The queen of disco-pop” – DIY
“Sophie’s much-anticipated return to the dancefloor” – AnOther
“A return to Ellis-Bextor’s signature disco-pop sound” – DORK
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 28TH, 2025 – After returning with disco-pop anthem “ Freedom of the Night ” last year, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has shared her first new music of 2025 with joyous new song “Relentless Love” out now—listen HERE !
“Relentless Love” is a buoyant disco-infused funk-pop track that builds through catchy grooves and luminous synths to an energetic and euphoric chorus. A fresh take on Sophie’s distinctive sound, the track was written and produced by Karma Kid [Rudimental, Shygirl] and Baz Kaye [Jessie Ware, The Blessed Madonna], alongside writing from Sophie and JinJin [Raye] and mixing by David Wrench [Jamie xx, Hot Chip].
Sophie says, “‘Relentless Love’ came from my love of fun fairs and the way that falling in love and going on a ride can be a similar thrill. Ferris wheels, roller coasters... all of them can make your perception of reality a little wonky and give you a rush. They are sometimes unpredictable but also an exciting way to shift your perspective for a little minute. Plus, it’s a great place for a date... hence the line ‘you know it’s sweet as caramel, sitting beside you on this carousel.’ There’s definitely a romance in getting on a ride together and seeing where it will take you.”
The glittering anthem “Freedom of the Night” signalled a new era for Sophie with a confident return to her iconic and esteemed disco-pop sound, embracing her musical roots across pop, disco, and dance. The Radio 2 A-listed single saw Sophie back together with longstanding collaborator Sophie Muller on the music video, which celebrated the renowned “ Murder on the Dancefloor ” video.
With an impressive musical career that spans over an amazing 25 years, Sophie has achieved five Top 10 albums and eight Top 10 singles. With hits including “Murder on the Dancefloor,” “Take Me Home,” “Get Over You,” “Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer),” and many more. Most recently, after featuring in the epic final scene of Emerald Fennell’s film Saltburn , Sophie’s beloved 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” saw a huge resurgence, garnering a Platinum Certification in the US and 2x BRIT Platinum in the U.K., climbing to #2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, #51 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on Billboard Global 200 Chart, Top 5 on Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart, and #1 on the Spotify Viral 100 Chart, and amassing over 13 billion global streams across all streaming and social platforms. It was the 16th biggest song of 2024 and the biggest song of 2024 for a British female artist. Not to mention, she performed the track in New York’s Times Square on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve .
Sophie has recently toured sold-out headline shows across Europe and the U.S., supported Take That, Nile Rodgers and The Human League, and appeared at festivals across the world, including performing with Peggy Gou during her set at Glastonbury, following her own set on the legendary Pyramid Stage in 2023. She will embark on her biggest ever U.K. headline tour in May and June, taking in 16-cities in total, including a sold-out headline show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Full dates are below.
“Relentless Love” Artwork
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
May 21st – Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre
May 22nd – Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre*
May 24th – Glasgow – Armadillo
May 25th – Newcastle – O2 City Hall
May 26th – York – Barbican
May 28th – Nottingham – Royal Concert Hall
May 29th – Liverpool – Philharmonic Hall
May 31st – Manchester – Apollo
June 1st – Cardiff – Millenium Centre
June 2nd – Birmingham – Symphony Hall
June 4th – Brighton – Dome
June 5th – Bournemouth – BIC
June 7th – Oxford – New Theatre
June 8th – Bristol – Beacon
June 9th – Plymouth – Theatre Royal
June 11th – Sheffield – City Hall
June 12th – London – Royal Albert Hall*
* SOLD OUT
ABOUT SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor released her 7th studio album HANA in 2023, which charted at #8 on the U.K. albums chart, giving Sophie her 5th Top 10 record, and was the third in a trilogy of records made with long-time collaborator and friend Ed Harcourt. Following her much-loved Kitchen Disco parties shared on Instagram over lockdown, Sophie released two albums, Songs from the Kitchen Disco and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco: Live from the London Palladium, which followed her sold-out Kitchen Disco Live Tour, which she continued in 2023 with her Christmas Kitchen Disco Tour.
Alongside music, Sophie has also released her first book Spinning Plates, which is in her 15th series of the successful podcast of the same name, has released her first cookbook Love. Food. Family: Recipes from the Kitchen Disco with her husband and The Feeling bassist Richard Jones and has a much-loved, successful weekly show “Sophie’s Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco” on BBC Radio 2. Sophie also completed an impressive 24-hour Danceathon for Children in Need in November 2021 where she raised over £1M.
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
Pleasure Pill releases potent new single “Line Up The Stars” & announces debut studio album ‘Hang A Star’ (June 17)
SO SORRY, BUT YOU ARE NOW ADDICTED TO:
PLEASURE PILL
ANNOUNCE DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM HANG A STAR
OUT JUNE 27 VIA À LA CARTE RECORDS
LISTEN TO TIMELESS NEW SINGLE “LINE UP THE STARS” OUT NOW
A CRISP, HARMONY-DRENCHED TRACK SWIRLING IN A MIX OF POWER-POP EXUBERANCE AND BAGGY SWAGGER
BE TRANSPORTED BACK TO 1992 WITH THEIR AWESOME MUSIC VIDEO HERE
COURTED THEN SHUNNED BY MAJOR LABELS, PROBABLY FOR BEING JUST TOO GOOD, PLEASURE PILL, UNDETERRED SET OUT TO MAKE AN ALBUM TO RECAPTURE THE SOUND OF THE SEMINAL ‘90S BANDS LIKE PRIMAL SCREAM AND THE STONE ROSES.
THEY ARE NOT PASTICHE BUT LIVE IN THE CURRENT UNDERGROUND OF CONTEMPORARY INDIE ROCK AND HIT YOU LIKE AN INTRAVENOUS SHOT OF DOPAMINE IN YOUR EYEBALL
SPRING / SUMMER 2025 U.S. TOUR ON SALE NOW
OPENING FOR SID SIMONS IN APRIL + BENCHES IN MAY-JUNE
(credit: brandon mosquera)
“Like a Millennial Oasis”
SPIN Magazine
“pairing Beatles-esque harmonies with a rollicking rhythmic core and anthemic sheen”
Under the Radar
“evokes such a magnetic melody that any vintage aspirations are outmuscled by a pure, stone-cold, sonic hypnosis”
Paste Magazine
Friday, March 28 - We regret to inform you that you have now a life-long fandom of the most dangerous band in San Diego, Pleasure Pill - a moody indie rock band with stadium-sized ambition, who today announced the release of debut studio album Hang A Star. Showcasing timeless brit pop with indie rock swagger it’s set for release on June 27 via à La Carte Records – pre-order here.
Further your reckless purist of hedonistic abandon with their new single “Line Up The Stars,” a crisp, harmony-drenched track swirling in a mix of power-pop exuberance and baggy swagger. Pleasure Pill’s introspective lyrics depict adolescent wanderlust, a curious combo destined to launch them to the stars.
“With it’s bright and upbeat nature, ‘Line Up The Stars’ was always meant to be the lead single,” says frontman Jonah Paz. “Meant for the dance floor at midnight, it’s our take on club meets rock’n’roll.”
Listen to “Line Up The Stars” here.
Watch the music video here
download hi-res album cover here
Pleasure Pill picks up where Brit-pop left off, but this time with better haircuts, and sound designed to entangle you from the very first note. Following in the footsteps of Britpop brother bands of the ‘90s, lead singer Jonah Paz and brother Ethan (rhythm guitar) formed the band in mid-2021 with friends they grew up with in San Diego’s underground scene. Together, they overcame their sibling rivalries and dreamed of big success and world domination, in between skating, going to DIY punk gigs, and putting on shows in their community centers. Within a few years, the band has already captured the attention of tastemakers and media, and received high praise on previous releases including the psych-infused single “Wonder How” and their blazing full-length live album Heaven Can Wait, which was recorded during a buzzy NYC club residency last year. All of this helped the band to quickly build a local following and turn it into national music industry buzz.
They were courted by every major record label, who initially blew hot and then cold when the pandemic hit and fewer chances were taken on bands without a viral social moment to show proof of concept. Undeterred they decided to stay true to their indie roots and wrote songs inspired by British music from the invasion era classic pop to seminal ‘90s bands like Primal Scream and the Stone Roses. While clear sonic reference points, their songs never become pastiche but live in the current underground of contemporary indie rock and hit you like an intravenous shot of dopamine.
If you dare, watch this band on upcoming tour dates supporting Sid Simons and Benches, as well as headline dates in New York (soon to be announced.)
(credit: brandon mosquera)
U.S. TOUR DATES
WITH SID SIMONS
Apr 25 Fri - Los Angeles, CA - Permanent Records Roadhouse
Apr 26 Sat - Carlsbad, CA - Gonzo! Ramen
Apr 27 Sun - Pomona, CA - The Haven
Apr 30 Wed - San Francisco, CA - Popscene @ Brick & Mortar
WITH BENCHES
May 29 Thu - Portland, OR - Polaris Hall
May 31 Sat - Seattle, WA - Barboza
Jun 1 Sun - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
Jun 4 Wed - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Jun 5 Thu - Denver, CO - Lost Lake
Jun 6 Fri - Colorado Springs, CO - Vultures (NO BENCHES, PLEASURE PILL ONLY)
Jun 7 Sat - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
Jun 8 Sun - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar
March 27, 2025
Juanita & Juan (Alice Bag & Kid Congo Powers) 'Jungle Cruise' Out April 4th / West Coast Dates Begin April 5th
ALBUM OUT APRIL 4TH ON IN THE RED RECORDS WEST COAST DATES BEGIN APRIL 5TH IN LAS VEGAS
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 4-6 - The Punk Rock Museum, Las Vegas, NV (as tour guides)April 5 - Triple Down Bar, Las Vegas, NVApril 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 HardyFOLLOW:Alice Bag:Website / Instagram / FacebookKid Congo Powers:Website / Instagram / Bluesky
CHIME OBLIVION (ft John Dwyer of OSEES + David Barbarossa of Bow Wow Wow/Adam + The Ants) Share "Kiss Her or Be Her" Single | LP Due 4/18 via Deathgod
Self Titled LP Due for Release April 18th via Deathgod
CHIME OBLIVION Self Titled Album CoverLISTEN & SHARE: CHIME OBLIVION - "KISS HER OR BE HER"YouTube
LISTEN & SHARE: CHIME OBLIVION - "NEIGHBORHOOD DOG"
YouTubeCHIME OBLIVION began out of the blue. David Barbarossa reached out to John Dwyer saying he was a fan, and he was quickly invited to an OSEES show in London. The two hung out and hit it off, "then I rabbit holed on Bow wow wow too…," Dwyer recalls. "I reached out to David and suggested that we try and write some songs together... I flew David out, we met at my studio and spent five days writing basin drums ideas." The two got to know each other and had a lot of laughs.
Dwyer then brought in Weasel Walter, knowing that he would be perfect "to add all that legitimate old-school weird proto-punk no wave guitar scratch to it, which of course he did masterfully." Next came Tom Dolas to play fuzzy marimba, and the fabulous H.L. Nelly, "as I knew her from a record I’d put out back in the day for a band called Naked Lights from Oakland. I knew that she could pull off the vocal style I had in mind."
Together, the group created their debut self titled album, due for release via Deathgod on April 18th. CHIME OBLIVION will be released as a 45 rpm 12" vinyl, CD & on digital. Today, they're sharing the album's second single, "KISS HER OR BE HER"
"For fans of Adam & the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Crass, The Slits and any other wierdo punk we fell in love with as youths." CHIME OBLIVION is due for release on April 18th via Deathgod.
CHIME OBLIVION - "KISS HER OR BE HER"CHIME OBLIVION isDAVID BARBAROSSA - DRUMS (ADAM & THE ANTS, BOW WOW WOW, FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS)
JOHN DWYER - BASS, SYNTH, VOCALS (OSEES, DAMAGED BUG)
WEASEL WALTER - GUITAR (FLYING LUTTENBACHERS, LYDIA LUNCH'S RETROVIRUS)
TOM DOLAS (OSEES, MR ELEVATOR)
H.L. NELLY - VOCALS (NAKED LIGHTS, FKA SMILEY)
BRAD CAULKINS (BENT ARCANA, WITCH EGG)
CHIME OBLIVION TRACK LISTING:
INCIDENTAL SYNTH 5NEIGHBORHOOD DOGKISS HER OR BE HERTHE FIENDINCIDENTAL SYNTH 4HEATED HORSESTHE UNINVITED GUESTAND AGAIN THE MYTHOMANIACSMOKE RINGINCIDENTAL SYNTH 7I'M NOT A MIRRORGRASSCOLD PULSETHE CATALOGUE
