Today's Music Pulse
Oliver Tree dies at 32 in Rio de Janeiro helicopter crash
Singer‑songwriter Oliver Tree was killed in a helicopter accident in Rio de Janeiro at age 32. The tragedy was reported by multiple outlets, confirming the location and cause of death.
Ryan O’Reilly Explores Introspection and Transience on New Album Native Companion Feat. Poetic Focus Track “Fear of Flying”
Berlin‑based songwriter Ryan O’Reilly has issued his fourth studio album, *Native Companion*, entirely independent of label support. The record weaves Canadian, Irish and English alt‑folk textures while exploring themes of collaboration, movement and perspective. Its lead focus track, “Fear of Flying,” was born from a winter cabin session and later refined in studios across Toronto and Berlin, featuring guest pianist Anna Vaverková. Atmospheric details, such as rain recorded through an open studio window, underscore the album’s introspective tone.
Satya Channels Grief Into Strength on Empowering Pop Single “Won’t Let Go”
Indie artist Satya released the pop single “Won’t Let Go” on May 10, 2026. Inspired by the death of her grandfather, the track blends polished pop production with raw lyrics about grief, resilience, and enduring love. Accompanied by artwork showing Satya and...
ARK IDENTITY Captures the Feeling of Chasing Your Dreams on Euphoric New Single “Closer”
Toronto‑based dream pop artist ARK IDENTITY, aka Noah Mroueh, has dropped the euphoric single “Closer,” marking his first fully self‑produced release. The track fuses synthwave, indie pop and dream pop, using analog synths and spacious reverbs to create an expansive...
Kendrick Lamar Reflects on What He Believes To Be His Musical ‘Superpower’
Kendrick Lamar told SZA in a Harper's Bazaar interview that his greatest musical asset is the ability to tap into both masculine and feminine energies. He describes this balance as his "superpower," allowing him to communicate authentically with a wide...
SKID ROW's RACHEL BOLAN Reflects On Experience Of Recording Backing Vocals For ACE FREHLEY's 'Trouble Walkin'' Album
Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan reminisced about his 1989 backing‑vocal stint on Ace Frehley’s solo album “Trouble Walkin’,” recalling a studio session that featured KISS legend Peter Criss and producer Eddie Kramer. In the same interview he announced his own debut solo record, “Gargoyle...
How LL Cool J Stayed in the Game After He Felt Like Giving up Due to Multiple Label Rejections
LL Cool J recounts how a string of label rejections in the mid‑1980s nearly drove him to quit rap. His mother intervened, buying a $300 rhythm machine that enabled him to record a demo of “I Need A Beat.” The...
DEVIN TOWNSEND: 'The Hardest Part About Being A Singer Is That You Can't Hide'
Canadian musician Devin Townsend announced the May 29 release of his ambitious rock opera “The Moth” via InsideOut Music, a 24‑track project split into a core album, an orchestral‑choral “Afterlife” version, and a live “War” recording. In a Home Studio podcast...
Calling All Readers: The Greatest Covers List
The Lessons blog published a reader‑driven "Greatest Covers" list, inviting subscribers to nominate and rank cover versions of popular songs. Over 200 suggestions poured in, revealing a diverse mix of genres and eras. The post generated lively debate about artistic...
Lou Gramm Kicks Off 2026 Solo Tour: Set List and Video
Veteran rock vocalist Lou Gramm launched his 2026 solo tour on May 9 at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, Indiana. The 15‑song set leaned heavily on Foreigner classics, opening with “Feels Like the First Time” and closing with “Hot Blooded.” Gramm...
A Taste of the Met’s Coming Women
The Metropolitan Opera is set to premiere two new operas by women composers: Gabriela Lena Frank’s "El Último Sueño" opens this week and Missy Mazzoli’s "Lincoln in the Bardo" will debut in October. Frank, a recent Pulitzer winner, reimagines the mythic love of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, while Mazzoli...
Wax Motif Drops 14‑Track ‘House of Wax II’ with North American Tour
Wax Motif released his sophomore 14‑track album House of Wax II on May 8, 2026, and announced a 20‑date North American headline tour. The record blends house, hip‑hop, Brazilian funk and R&B, signaling a broader push toward genre‑fluid dance music.
Charli XCX Drops New Song “I Keep On Thinking Bout You Every Single Day and Night”
Charli XCX released a new B‑side titled “I Keep On Thinking Bout You Every Single Day and Night,” available only on limited‑edition vinyl and her Instagram B‑sides feed. The track serves as a slower, softer counterpart to her recent single...
Chance The Rapper Candidly Opens up About Living in His Hometown of Chicago: ‘It’s More Than Just a City’
Chance The Rapper opened up about his hometown Chicago, describing it as a "situation" where gun violence is normalized. He highlighted the city’s rich musical lineage while condemning the daily reality of shootings, citing Chief Keef and Kanye West as...
JOHN 5 On His Approach To Performing MÖTLEY CRÜE Songs: 'I Wanna Play It Exactly, Exactly Like How It Was...
John 5, the newly appointed guitarist for Mötley Crüe, insists on playing the band’s classic tracks exactly as recorded, a stance he also applied while touring with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. He spent months mastering every solo note‑for‑note, treating the original recordings as...
Read Southall Wrote a Song About His Family Losing Their Farm. He Says It Saved His Future
Oklahoma country‑rock outfit Southall returns with *Kinfolk*, their first album in three years, after rebranding from the Read Southall Band. Recorded at Norman’s 115 Recording with producer Wes Sharon, the nine‑track record adopts an “anything goes” studio philosophy, blending electric...
Watch: GODSMACK's New Lineup Headlines 2026 MMRBQ In Camden, New Jersey
Godsmack headlined the 2026 MMRBQ festival in Camden, debuting new drummer Wade Murff and confirming guitarist Sam Koltun as a full‑time member. The band’s live album “Live At Mohegan Sun” captures the final performance of original members Shannon Larkin and Tony Rombola, who have retired after...
MORGAN ROSE Confirms That SEVENDUST Had A Blueprint To Calling It Quits: "It Was Absolutely Discussed"
Morgan Rose confirmed that Sevendust had a concrete plan to retire after their fifteenth album, but a strong European fan response prompted the band to continue. The group has scheduled a 16‑date European headline tour, its first in eight years,...
Review: Asake’s ‘M$NEY’
Nigerian star Asake released his fourth album *M$NEY* under his new Giran Republic imprint, following a high‑profile split from Olamide’s YBNL label and a relocation to Los Angeles. The record leans heavily on Magicsticks’ lush, cinematic production, while Asake’s lyrics...
Molly Johnson Drops EP ‘Long Time Running’ with Notable Collaborations
Molly Johnson releases the new EP ‘Long Time Running,’ featuring collaborations with Haviah Mighty and Jim Cuddy, alongside the original composition “Slipped Away.” https://t.co/PduhiOpLTi
Asthma Kids Drop Anthem for Unity and Class Resistance
Ontario punk duo Asthma Kids release “The People United and Strong,” a blistering new anthem about solidarity, class inequality, and turning anger into collective action. https://t.co/EMU14HftC6
Two Kinks Super Fans Wrote a Book So Exhaustive That It Apparently Pissed Off Ray Davies
Andrew Sandoval and Doug Hinman have published "The Kinks – All Day and All of the Night: The Day‑By‑Day Story Pt 1: 1940‑1971," an exhaustive chronicle that logs every recording session, concert, TV spot and songwriting moment for the band. The volume...
Silka Weil Drops Seductive New Single Ahead of EP
Montréal alt-pop and folk-rock artist Silka Weil releases “Make Me Lose Control,” a bold and seductive new single from her upcoming EP ‘Midnight Blue,’ arriving July 3. https://t.co/w5joxpgPr1
Mixtape Sparks Heated Debate, Enrages Online Trolls
Mixtape—which I loved, because I’m a paid off journalist—is both producing a lot of interesting discourse (90s exhaustion, assumptions about “collective” experiences, etc.) and making the absolute worst people online extremely mad. Helluva game.
Blxst Sets June 12 Release for Self‑Produced Album “Labor of Love”
West Coast artist Blxst announced his next album, Labor of Love, will arrive on June 12, 2026 via EMPIRE. The fully self‑produced record shifts from his previous narrative style to a personal look at balancing fame and fatherhood, and he will host a community...
Uncle Trent Honors Late Father with Grief‑Filled Anthem
Cowessess First Nation singer-songwriter Uncle Trent Agecoutay releases “The Foundation,” a deeply personal song about grief, family, and generational strength co-written with his late father Jim Agecoutay. https://t.co/4n0lCSe2G7
New Progressive Rock Meditation Tackles Anxiety and Healing
Martin Larose and Anaïs Vanessa release “Breathe In Breathe Out,” a progressive rock meditation on anxiety, resilience, and healing from their collaborative album ‘The Solivagant Tales,’ out now. https://t.co/BqY3N6w8jf
BRANN DAILOR Confirms New MASTODON Studio Album Is Finished: 'It Was A Hard Record To Make'
Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor confirmed the band’s ninth studio album is finished, marking the first record without co‑founding guitarist Brent Hinds. Hinds left the group in March 2025 and died in a motorcycle crash five months later. Touring guitarist Nick...
Phantasia's 9-Year Dream Song Recorded Live, No Clicks
Toronto indie rock trio Phantasia release ‘I’ve Been Here Before,’ led by "King Of All My Dreams," a song nearly 9 years in the making and recorded live off the floor with no click tracks. https://t.co/otTDEERoXg
Now & Then: Hiss Golden Messenger’s I’m People and the Reach of Veedon Fleece
American singer‑songwriter M.C. Taylor’s new album I’m People arrives as a road‑woven Americana record that balances gospel‑inflected doubt with everyday hope. The review pairs it with Van Morrison’s 1974 Veedon Fleece, noting both use travel as a spiritual map while...
Chuck Leavell Will Join Randall Bramblett Band Featuring Nick Johnson in Georgia
Chuck Leavell, longtime Rolling Stones keyboardist and former Allman Brothers member, will join the Randall Bramblett Band featuring Nick Johnson for a one‑off concert on June 6 in Roswell, Georgia. The show is part of From the Earth Brewing Company’s Back...
The Crawling Eye – Let A Sister Be
The Crawling Eye released the single “Let A Sister Be,” a lush, orchestral‑pop track that channels the melodic charm of 1990s indie bands. Critics highlight the song’s dramatic arrangement and an innocent‑yet‑emotive vocal delivery that feels both nostalgic and fresh....
So, Jonas Kaufmann, What’s with the Microphone?
World‑renowned tenor Jonas Kaufmann, age 57, performed at Lucerne’s acoustically celebrated KKL hall using a microphone, sparking a backlash from Swiss media. Critics argue the electronic aid smooths over vocal imperfections but creates a uniform, bland sound that diminishes dynamic...
Dave Matthews Band Bust Out Rarities at Tour Opener
Dave Matthews Band launched its first full 2026 tour in Texas, playing two back‑to‑back shows at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion. The band surprised fans by resurrecting several long‑shelved tracks, including the unreleased "Cha Cha,"...
Jay-Z Shuts Down MSG Courtside in Virgil Abloh Archive Air Jordan 1 “Alaska”
Hip‑hop mogul Jay‑Z turned heads at Madison Square Garden during Game 2 of the Knicks‑76ers Eastern Conference semifinals by wearing the coveted Virgil Abloh Archive Air Jordan 1 High OG in the “Alaska” colorway. The sneaker, part of a limited‑edition archive drop, has...
Steph G Never Understood the Meaning of Failure
Steph G, a Brooklyn‑born rapper from Brownsville, is gaining momentum as a fierce female MC who blends street grit with polished confidence. Her streaming catalog, including hits like “Feelin Myself,” has amassed millions of plays, while radio rotation on 99.7 DA HEAT MIAMI adds mainstream...
The Black Keys Reveal 'Gut Instinct' Creative Process for New Album 'Peaches!'
Rock duo The Black Keys detailed the making of their forthcoming album 'Peaches!' on NPR, saying they relied on gut instinct and turned to studio sessions as therapy after Dan Auerbach’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The conversation highlights...
He Went Platinum at 18. He Just Re-Recorded the Whole Album.
In 1995 teenage blues‑rock prodigy Kenny Wayne Shepherd released his debut album Ledbetter Heights, which went platinum despite the dominance of grunge. Thirty years later he has re‑recorded the entire album, bringing decades of experience to the original material. The...
Sleep Token Surprise-Release Instrumental Version of ‘Even In Arcadia’
Sleep Token surprised fans by releasing an instrumental version of their fourth album, Even In Arcadia, on all major streaming services, with a limited‑edition coloured vinyl slated for August 7. The album previously debuted at No. 1 on both the UK Albums...
Grammy Hall of Fame Gala at Beverly Hilton Highlights Hotel’s Event Power
The 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala was staged at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, featuring 14 inductees, live performances by Janet Jackson, Josh Groban and others, and a Warner Records label tribute. Organizers and artists praised the venue, reinforcing its reputation for...
Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ Inducted Into Grammy Hall of Fame
Janet Jackson’s 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame on May 8, with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis presenting the honor. The album was recognized alongside iconic works by 2Pac, Radiohead, Alice Coltrane and others....
Better Days – Song by Naomi Sharon
Naomi Sharon, an emerging R&B vocalist known for high‑profile co‑signs, released her new single “Better Days” on May 8, 2026. The track is a heartfelt, introspective ballad that highlights her powerful vocal range and lyrical depth. While not attached to a full...
Top Of The Hill – Song by DDG
DDG dropped his new single “Top Of The Hill” on May 8, 2026, adding another entry to his hip‑hop catalog. The track showcases his trademark high‑energy flow and braggadocious lyrics, with references to luxury fashion and personal escapades. While the song doesn’t...
COCONUT WATER – Song by Trim
Trim, a rising hip‑hop artist likened to Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and the City Girls, dropped the single “Coconut Water” on May 8, 2026 as the lead track from her album Pass the Tiara. The song quickly went viral, generating polarized reactions but confirming Trim’s knack...
Raghu Dixit Fans (And Their Mothers) Are Moved to Tears in ‘Amma’ Video
Bengaluru folk‑fusion star Raghu Dixit unveiled a Kannada rendition of his 2013 track “Amma” to mark Mother’s Day, adding new lyrics by Pramod Maravante while retaining the original arrangement. The music video, directed by Rahul Rajeev, captures fans and their...
“We Thought He Was Copping Out Joining AC/DC, Cos They Were a Pretty Simple Rock Band”: Before He Joined One...
Bon Scott’s brief stint with the Adelaide‑based Mount Lofty Rangers in early 1974 ended abruptly after a drunken motorbike crash that left him in a coma. The accident forced him to abandon the 12‑gig, country‑rock gig and eventually move to...
Ocean Light (Phase 1: Prelude) – Song by Navy Blue
Navy Blue released the two‑minute single “Ocean Light (Phase 1: Prelude)” on May 8, 2026, marking the latest entry in his catalog of introspective hip‑hop. The track pairs a guitar‑driven instrumental with densely poetic verses, showcasing the rapper’s literary flair. Critics describe...
Noah Kahan Performs ‘Doors’ and ‘The Great Divide’ on ‘SNL’ in Second Musical Guest Appearance
Noah Kahan returned to Saturday Night Live on May 9, performing the new tracks “Doors” and “The Great Divide” from his fourth studio album. The album, released April 24 via Mercury Records, entered the charts at No. 1 in both the United States...
Lawrence Brownlee & Erin Morley Headline Newport Classical Music Festival 2026
The Newport Classical Music Festival unveiled its 2026‑27 season, opening with Apollo’s Fire’s Baroque evening on July 10, followed by British vocal ensemble VOCES8 on July 11. The headline act is a “Golden Age” concert featuring celebrated tenor Lawrence Brownlee...
Teatro Alla Scala to Stream ‘Nabucco’ with Luca Salsi & Anna Netrebko
La Scala TV will livestream Verdi’s Nabucco on May 29, featuring a new Alessandro Talevi production conducted by Riccardo Chailly. The performance stars Luca Salsi as Nabucco and Anna Netrebko as Abigaille, with additional roles filled by Francesco Meli, Michele Pertusi and Veronica Simeoni. The production opens May 16 and...
Caravanserai
Santana’s 1972 album *Caravanserai* marked a dramatic turn from their blues‑rock roots toward a jazz‑rock, spiritually driven sound. After the breakthrough Woodstock performance and three commercially successful albums, Carlos Santana and drummer Michael Shrieve recruited new musicians, including percussionist James...