New Find: Celeste’s ‘Strange’ Seraphina Simone makes a great first impression with a dreamy, gently acidic song about consumerism called “Cherry.” The Brit, who is the daughter of Terrence Trent D’Arby, proves to be something of an alchemist on her debut — mixing modern alt-pop with a synth-sensibility grounded in the ’80s. “Coat me in […]
Paul McCartney on George Floyd Protests: 'Saying Nothing Is Not an Option'
Always one to use his platform as far back as in the ’60s, Paul McCartney has issued a statement in support of the George Floyd protests. Starting with a story about the Beatles’ show in Jacksonville in 1964, McCartney described the band’s reaction to it being a segregated venue and how they decided to cancel […]
Shabazz Palaces – “MEGA CHURCH” (Feat. Stas THEE Boss)
Seattle art-rap mystics Shabazz Palaces just released their latest album, The Don Of Diamond Dreams, in April. And today, on Bandcamp’s third revenue-waiving day, they’re already back with “MEGA CHURCH,” a new single featuring their fellow Seattle musician and old collaborator Stas THEE Boss of THEESatisfaction. Listen to the zonked-out track below. MEGA CHURCH by […]
Astrid S Launches Debut LP With “Dance Dance Dance”
Astrid S Drops ‘Down Low’ EP Astrid S has been tinkering away at her debut LP since at least 2018 (and probably for a lot longer), but it looks like the Norwegian pop star is finally ready to unleash it upon the world. The 23-year-old joins an unusually barren New Music Friday lineup with a […]
Billie Eilish Says She's 'Trapped' by the Persona She Created
Even before she swept at the Grammys and recorded the theme song for the upcoming James Bond movie, Billie Eilish has long been the subject of conversations about body image due to how she dresses. In an interview with British GQ, Eilish described how she feels “trapped” by the self-image she created. “Sometimes I dress like a […]
Run the Jewels’ <i>RTJ4</i> Is Driving Music for a Cop Car on Fire
Run the Jewels don’t make a reviewer’s job easy because everything that’s great about them is the stuff we’re supposed to ignore to get to the bottom of the hype. They began as the best kind of “supergroup”: An unlikely pairing of beloved talents who still had plenty of room to peak higher. El-P’s fantastic […]
Serj Tankian Questions If System of a Down Fans Listen to Their Lyrics
The past few weeks in the U.S. have seen many people’s opinions crystallized, including musicians. System of a Down’s Serj Tankian and John Dolmayan shared completely contrasting opinions on the protests and Donald Trump in the past few days, with the former in support of protests and the latter approving of the president. On the Side […]
Sunami Release Self-Titled Debut EP
Right now, a whole lot of people hate cops. But I don’t know how many people hate cops as much as the San Jose band Sunami. Last year, Sunami, whose ranks include members of bands like Gulch and Hands Of God, released a Bandcamp demo that immediately made them a favorite among those of us […]
Kendrick Lamar, James Brown, 2Pac Protest Songs See Huge Growth
Streams of protest songs both old and new have had a huge jump in streaming numbers this week. As protests continue to take place in the United States and throughout the world, song streams from Kendrick Lamar, James Brown, 2Pac, Childish Gambino and more have increased by 15,740%, according to Billboard’s Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The biggest jumps […]
Snoop Dogg 'Brainwashed' That He Couldn't Vote
Snoop Dogg will be voting in his first U.S. election this year. “I ain’t never voted a day in my life, but this year I think Imma get out and vote because I can’t stand to see this punk in office one more year, ” Snoop said in an interview with 92.3’s Big Boy on […]