Today's Music Pulse
Drake Nears Record‑Breaking Billboard 200 Streak
Drake is closing in on Morgan Wallen’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to The Source. Forbes adds that this also matches Adele’s historic tally of debut‑at‑number‑one singles.
Chance the Rapper Just Announced the Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour for 2026
Chance the Rapper announced a 37‑date North American tour to mark the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking 2016 mixtape Coloring Book. The itinerary launches on August 11 in Cleveland and wraps on October 11 in Pittsburgh, covering major U.S. and Canadian markets. Each concert will feature the full Coloring Book set plus selections from his broader catalog. Ticket presales start May 19, with general sales on May 21, and tickets are also sold on StubHub’s secondary market.
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Watch the Rolling Stones De-Age Themselves for “In the Stars” Video
The Rolling Stones have unveiled a deep‑faked, de‑aged version of themselves in the short video “In the Stars,” starring actress Odessa A’zion. Directed by François Rousselet, the clip shows the band at a house party while A’zion dances and even licks a...
Leah Senior – “Softly, Once Again”
Australian folk songwriter Leah Senior returns with “Softly, Once Again,” the second single from her forthcoming album Pt. Roadknight. The track swaps the baroque textures of her previous work for stripped‑back strums, flute, and pillow‑soft harmonies, positioning itself as a...
Daddy Yankee Drops By Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Stop In Puerto Rico
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour made a stop at San Juan’s Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, marking his first performance in Puerto Rico in nine years. The concert featured a surprise appearance by reggaeton icon Daddy Yankee, who joined Sheeran for the...
ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Fondness, Etc.,’ Shakey Graves Reembraces His Lo-Fi Roots
Shakey Graves, the moniker of Alejandro Rose‑Garcia, drops his latest album "Fondness, Etc." as a deliberate return to the lo‑fi, garage‑style sound that launched his career. The record contrasts sharply with the polished production of his 2023 effort "Movie of...
My Chemical Romance Announce Deluxe Edition Of ‘Danger Days’
My Chemical Romance announced a deluxe edition of their 2010 album Danger Days, slated for release on July 10 through Reprise/Warner Records. The package includes the fully remastered original tracklist plus nine bonus songs that are appearing on streaming services and vinyl...
Northern Lights – “Morning Comes”
Swedish folk‑rock duo Northern Lights released their new single "Morning Comes" on May 14, 2026. The track mixes porch‑side guitar, piano, and brass to create an Americana‑infused sunrise vibe. It is available for purchase and streaming on Bandcamp, allowing the...
ALBUM REVIEW: Ramsey Thornton’s Debut LP 'I Called It' Reveals a Fully-Formed Folk Fusion Songwriter and Composer
Ramsey Thornton’s debut album *I Called It* showcases a fully formed folk‑fusion style, blending fingerstyle guitar, jazz‑informed percussion, and banjo‑derived textures. The record’s circular song structures reinforce lyrical themes of relational tension, creating a cohesive artistic statement. Drawing on his...
Rilo Kiley Announces Encore Reunion Tour with Original Lineup
Rilo Kiley confirmed an encore reunion tour featuring the original quartet—Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder and Jason Boesel. The band will play additional U.S. venues this month before heading to London and Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, reigniting a fanbase...
No Expectations 146: Wild World
The No Expectations newsletter’s 146th issue spotlights a curated playlist and five standout 2025 albums spanning indie rock, experimental rap, folk‑pop, and garage‑rock. The author shares a jam‑packed personal calendar of Chicago shows, recaps recent gigs, and promotes the reader‑supported...
Billy Idol Set For American Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Honor
Billy Idol, newly announced as a 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd American Music Awards. The ceremony, hosted by Queen Latifah, airs live from Las Vegas on May 25 via CBS and...
Steep Canyon Rangers – Next Act
Steep Canyon Rangers’ new album *Next Act* is billed as a return to their bluegrass roots while simultaneously pushing the genre forward. The record opens with modern‑leaning tracks like “Rumble Strips,” featuring drums and electric bass, before settling into more...
Touch Girl Apple Blossom
Touch Girl Apple Blossom, an Austin‑based indie pop quartet, debuted its first album "Graceful" in 2026. The record mixes jangly C86‑era twee with a punchy punk undercurrent, highlighted by Olivia Garner’s airy vocals and John Morales’s distorted guitars. The band...
Henry Parker – The Dark Peak
Yorkshire guitarist Henry Parker released his self‑produced album The Dark Peak on May 1, 2026. The record captures eighteen minutes of solo acoustic guitar recorded on the Peak District moors, interwoven with ambient wildlife sounds. The CD/LP adds a bonus track, extending...
Soltera & Sonido Sex, “Soltera Y Su Sonido Sexual”
Los Angeles duo Soltera & Sonido Sex released their debut album *Soltera y Su Sonido Sexual*, a 9‑track blend of punk, techno and drum‑and‑bass that foregrounds queer and Latine perspectives. The record, issued through their Casa/Teca collective, revisits earlier songs and adds high‑profile collaborations with...
Discussing Yu Su’s Groundbreaking Album ‘Foundry’
I had a fantastic time talking to Yu Su (@yuyuyvr) about her incredible new album Foundry, on Short Span https://t.co/okJ44mKCmk
Track Premiere: Fimbul Winter – “Crowned In Ash”
Swedish supergroup Fimbul Winter, featuring three former Amon Amarth members, has dropped the single “Crowned In Ash,” the follow‑up to their 2025 debut EP *What Once Was*. The track showcases aggressive melodic death metal with soaring leads, thunderous drums, and Clint Williams’...
Track Premiere: Getting Cosmic with The Conflux Collective’s “In the Wake of Saturn”
The Conflux Collective, a Montreal‑based supergroup of technical death‑metal veterans, announced the June 19 release of its debut full‑length, In the Wake of Saturn. The band unveiled the album’s lead single, “Reincarnation,” accompanied by a lyric‑visualizer video. Featuring guitarist Chase Fraser...
INTERVIEW: Basement On Biding Time, Handling Virality & New Album ‘WIRED’
British rock trio Basement has broken an eight‑year silence with their new album “WIRED,” a record that blends their classic sound with fresh grit and tenderness. Vocalist Andrew Fisher describes a creative process rooted in honest collaboration, deliberately shunning trend‑chasing...
KPop Demon Hunters Set to Tour Arenas Globally
AEG Presents and Netflix announced the KPop Demon Hunters World Tour, bringing the hit Netflix film to arena stages worldwide. The movie, the platform’s most‑watched release, and its soundtrack, which topped the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy, have generated...
Forbidden Fruit 2026 Is Sold Out - Here's the Full Festival Lineup, New Acts and Night Info
Forbidden Fruit 2026, Dublin’s flagship electronic music festival, sold out ahead of the May 30‑31 bank‑holiday weekend at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The 14‑year‑old event unveiled a packed lineup featuring headliners Kaytranada, Kettala, Nia Archives and Joy Crookes, alongside new...
Life Share Wild Grasses Single
Life’s newest single, “Wild Grasses,” marks a stylistic shift for the post‑punk outfit, marrying an acoustic‑ballad intro with synth‑laden, thumping drums. The track showcases stretched, stomping vocals and a bobbing bass that give it an off‑kilter, dynamic feel. It serves...
Paul Simon Live at the Royal Albert Hall – Classics Old and New, Stunningly Reimagined by a Band of Light-Touch...
Paul Simon, 84, continues his world tour with a 12‑piece ensemble at London’s Royal Albert Hall, delivering two full sets that blend new material from his 2023 album Seven Psalms with re‑imagined classics. Despite significant hearing loss in his left...
Saapato – Willow
New York‑based composer Brendan Principato, performing as Saapato, will release his latest ambient album *Seasons Turn Like Pages* on May 22. The record, issued by Window Sill Records with a limited cassette run from Aural Canyon, chronicles a year’s worth of...
The War on Drugs Nears New Album Release and Announces 2026 U.S. Tour
Frontman Adam Granduciel revealed that The War on Drugs is "almost done" with a new, largely homemade album, their first studio LP since 2021, and announced a 2026 North American tour with dates in Wilmington, Asheville, Birmingham, Las Vegas and...
Bleeker Announce New Album ‘ELEPHANT’
American rock band Bleeker announced their upcoming album ‘ELEPHANT’, set for release on September 4 via indie label Known Accomplice. The record follows 2024’s ‘Messed Up’ and features a heavyweight title track that frontman Taylor Perkins calls the band’s heaviest song yet....
Bella Alubo’s “Abo Le (How Are You?)” Is a Love Letter to Jos
Bella Alubo’s new single “Abo Le (How are you?)” is a heartfelt tribute to her hometown of Jos, Nigeria, blending personal memory with a broader cultural portrait. The song deliberately sidesteps political rhetoric, instead foregrounding the everyday lives of Jos...
First Floor #312 – The Seductive Embrace of Cultural Status and Institutional Power
Shawn Reynaldo’s First Floor #312 blends cultural critique with industry news, opening his Eurovision‑Biennale essay to all readers and spotlighting the clash between avant‑garde rhetoric and institutional power. The newsletter announces his participation in Lyon’s Nuits Sonores Lab, where a round‑table...
AE MAK - 'Last Night You Cried to Bach'
Irish singer‑songwriter AE MAK drops “Last Night You Cried to Bach,” the fourth and final single ahead of her debut album Folk Songs For Mama & Papa, arriving on May 29 via Spacer Records. The track pairs a theatrical piano waltz with...
Daisy Rickman & Magpahi: Ceremonial County Series Vol. XXIII – East Sussex | Lancashire
Folklore Tapes released the penultimate installment of its Ceremonial County series, Vol. XXIII, featuring two region‑specific psych‑folk compositions. Daisy Rickman’s “Salamander Salamandr” draws on East Sussex bonfire‑night myths, with the artist performing every instrument herself. On the flip side, Magpahi (Alison Cooper)...
Lila Drew Displays Poetic Flair On ‘Same Old Song’
London‑born, New York‑based singer‑songwriter Lila Drew released her new single “Same Old Song.” The track, co‑produced with longtime collaborator Sachi DiSerafino, reflects a year of songwriting and draws on her background in American poetry. Drew describes the song as a...
Tommy WÁ Has Returned with Soul-Baring New Single ‘Alleluya (Another World)’
Tommy WÁ, the Nigerian‑born, Ghana‑based singer signed to Dirty Hit, has dropped his first 2026 single, “Alleluya (Another World).” The track follows his 2025 EP “Somewhere Only We Go” and showcases a deeper blend of African folk and soulful, spiritual...
Julieta Venegas, a Mexican Pop Hitmaker, Is Looking Homeward
Julieta Venegas, the Mexican‑American pop veteran, releases her ninth studio album “Norteña,” a deep dive into regional norteña sounds and personal migration narratives. The record blends rancheras, polkas, corridos and cumbias, echoing the border that has shaped her life. After eight...
Yas Island Reveals Celebratory Eid Al Adha Musical Release Ft. Emirati Voices, Khaleeji Talent
Yas Island Abu Dhabi has launched a new Eid Al Adha anthem in partnership with Abu Dhabi Media Company. The song features Emirati singers Aryam and Faisal Al Jasem, lyrics by Ali Al Khowar and composition by Kuwaiti Bashar Al Shatti. Its music video showcases...
Kenyan Hip-Hop Auteur tg.blk Charms With New Single ‘So Bad’
Kenyan hip‑hop artist tg.blk has dropped her new single “So Bad,” a breezy, lo‑fi track that leans into melodic pop sensibilities. The song follows her 2024 EP *It’s Not That Deep*, which earned praise from U.S. rapper Vince Staples and...
Jon McClure On The Past, Present, And Future Of Reverend & The Makers
Jon McClure, frontman of Reverend and the Makers, balances music, football and entrepreneurship in Sheffield. He recently released the band’s eighth studio album, “Is This How Happiness Feels,” a deeply personal project recorded after his father’s death. McClure also runs Sheffield FC, the world’s...
Shame Are Dork's Night Out's Secret Headliners at The Great Escape Closing Party, with August Also Joining the Bill
British post‑punk outfit Shame will close The Great Escape festival on May 16, headlining the official closing party at The Deep End on Brighton’s TGE Beach. They are joined by rising act August, alongside previously announced Tooth, Orchard and hometown dream‑pop...
Shakira, Madonna and BTS Are First World Cup Final Halftime Show
FIFA announced that Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the inaugural halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final. The performance is set for July 19 at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, coinciding with a tournament spanning 16 cities across the...
Luise Volkmann's Été Large Feat. Wallis Bird - Été Large and Wallis Bird (Self-Released, 2026)
German jazz composer Luise Volkmann’s large ensemble Été Large has issued a self‑released EP featuring Irish singer‑songwriter Wallis Bird. The two‑track record, titled “Été Large and Wallis Bird,” showcases contrasting moods: the atmospheric “Chorale, my quiet Pal” and the narrative‑driven...
Aircraft – “Navkolo Nich”
Ukrainian musician Daniel Merkulov, under the moniker Aircraft, dropped the new single “Navkolo Nich,” accompanied by a striking video. The track shifts from a spoken‑word intro into a hypnotic, trip‑hop‑tinged rock anthem that celebrates friendship and night‑time revelry. Its title...
Locust Share New Song “Long Distance Lover” (Feat. Slowdive’s Neil Halstead)
British electronic veteran Mark Van Hoen’s project Locust has released a new single titled “Long Distance Lover.” The track features Slowdive guitarist‑vocalist Neil Halstead and Irish singer‑songwriter Natasha Morrow. Originally recorded in 2020 as a Van Hoen‑Halstead collaboration, the song was revived after...
Luke Bryan Announces Concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Sept. 24
Country star Luke Bryan announced a one‑off "Luke Bryan & Friends" concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for Sept. 24, timed to coincide with the Sept. 18 release of his new "Signs" album. Tickets go on sale May 15, with a fan‑club presale ending May 14 at 5 PM...
Warner Music Q2 2026 Beats Forecast as U.S. Streaming Share Rises 1.1 Points
Warner Music Group posted a better‑than‑expected Q2 2026, with U.S. streaming share up 1.1 percentage points and new‑release share up 2.7 points. The results highlight the label’s focus on emerging talent, catalog revitalization and AI‑driven marketing.
24 New Songs Out Today
BrooklynVegan’s daily roundup spotlights 24 freshly released songs spanning indie, electronic, metal and pop, from collaborations like Locust’s "Long Distance Lover" with Slowdive’s Neil Halstead to solo debuts such as MMJ’s "Nobody Knows." The list also flags major album announcements,...
JOHN BUSH Says About ARMORED SAINT Writing Process: "The Last Thing We Want To Do Is Use Technology In A...
Armored Saint’s ninth studio album, Emotion Factory Reset, is set for release on May 22 and is produced by guitarist Joey Vera with mixing by Jay Ruston. Frontman John Bush explains that the band’s writing and recording workflow still mirrors their...
Brian Fallon Has Shared His First Solo Songs in More than Five Years with ‘Not Bad For New Jersey’ and...
Brian Fallon, frontman of the Gaslight Anthem, has broken a five‑year solo hiatus with two new songs, “Not Bad For New Jersey” and “Better Before.” Both tracks were produced by longtime collaborator Butch Walker, with “Better Before” co‑written by Donovan...
Sincere Engineer Have Compared New Single ‘Fast Forward, Rewind’ to “the Adam Sandler’s ‘Click’ of Songs”
Chicago pop‑punk band Sincere Engineer released the single “Fast Forward, Rewind,” the lead track from their upcoming fourth album Probable Claws. Frontperson Deanna Belos describes the song as a musical take on the Adam Sandler “Click” premise—fast‑forwarding bad moments and...
Creekbed Carter Hogan – Cutbank of Cleves
Creekbed Carter Hogan is set to release their most ambitious album yet, *Peasants Revolt*, on July 24 through Gar Hole Records. The record follows a period of personal transition for Hogan, including gender‑affirming treatment and geographic moves, and expands the...
K Sensei Releases 'Le Monde' Animated Music Video, Remixes, and Book
Multi‑dimensional artist K Sensei has wrapped his EP *From Ashes and Tears* with a three‑part release titled *Le Monde*. The project pairs a 2D animated music video, co‑directed with singer‑songwriter Malika Whitaker, two fresh remixes from Chaos Studio and Michel Cires, and...
FKA Twigs Faces Counterclaim in Trademark Fight with Indie Band The Twigs
Indie sisters Laura and Linda Good of The Twigs filed a May 11 counter lawsuit against FKA Twigs, claiming the star leveraged her fame to dilute their trademark. The filing revives a legal battle that began in 2014 and raises fresh...