The Clean – 10 of the Best
The Clean, formed in Dunedin in 1978, pioneered a lo‑fi DIY sound that fused West Coast psychedelia, post‑punk, and garage rock. Their 1981 EP "Boodle Boodle Boodle" reached No.5 on the New Zealand charts and lingered in the Top 20 for six months, despite no commercial airplay. Over the decades they released genre‑bending tracks such as "Slug Song," "Diamond Shine," and the literary‑laden "Franz Kafka at the Zoo," collaborating with Rough Trade and producer Alan Moulder. Their low‑budget debut single, recorded for the equivalent of about US$30, helped launch New Zealand’s independent music scene.
New Music on Our Radar This Week: Oppidan, DJ Seinfeld, TOMORA
This week’s Mixmag roundup spotlights several high‑profile releases in electronic music. Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers and Norwegian singer‑songwriter AURORA debut as TOMORA with the 12‑track album “Come Closer” on Capitol Records, while Nine In Noize pairs Nine Inch Nails with Boys Noize for...
Ruth Garbus Readies New Album Profound
Ruth Garbus is set to release her sophomore solo album *Profound* on June 12 through the indie label Orindal, following the debut *Alive People*. The campaign kicks off with the new single “I Think I’m Ready Now,” which showcases her...
Billy Bob Thornton Says He's Been Writing Country Music
Billy Bob Thornton, famed actor from *Landman*, has turned his attention to country songwriting, collaborating with longtime friend Mark Collie. He estimates having written 18‑20 songs, five of which appear on the *Landman* soundtrack alongside artists like Flatland Cavalry and...
The Unlikely Friendship Between Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard
Gram Parsons’ 2026 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reignited debate over his country‑music credentials. In 1968 he traveled to Bakersfield to secure Merle Haggard’s blessing for the Byrds’ cover of “Life In Prison,” and the two later plotted...
Anthony Fantano Trolls DJ Akademiks & Drake Again Over “ICEMAN”
Music reviewer Anthony Fantano reignited the hype around Drake’s unreleased album ICEMAN by claiming an inside source said it would drop within 36 hours—a prediction that never materialized. The missed deadline sparked backlash from fans and DJ Akademiks, who accused Fantano of...
Weyes Blood Goes Back Into the Mystic
Natalie Mering, known as Weyes Blood, is finalizing her most personal album yet after a year of geographic and emotional upheaval. A power outage in Big Sur, a month in Spain, and the loss of her home in the Eaton...
Loved Ones Of BO LUEDERS Bring Him On One Last Ride In "A Sacred Wrestling Artifact" & Pro-Wrestler CM PUNK Pays...
Bo Lueders, guitarist for Harm's Way and co‑host of the HardLore podcast, died earlier this month, prompting an outpouring of tributes across the hardcore music community. Within minutes, a GoFundMe campaign set a $60,000 target and quickly surpassed $167,000, with...
Sean Solomon’s ‘The World Is Not Good Enough’ Is An Act Of Catharsis
Sean Solomon, former Sub Pop artist, has released his solo album *The World Is Not Good Enough*, a stark indie‑folk record that doubles as a personal catharsis. The album’s tracks recount his teenage psych‑ward stay, drug addiction, a pandemic‑era car...
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Bring Out Grahame Lesh In Oakland
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings continued their Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning Tour at Oakland's Fox Theater, joined by Paul Kowert and guest guitarist Grahame Lesh. The trio performed a setlist drawn from the Dead's 1975 *Reckoning* album to mark its...
Guns N’ Roses Perform Rare Sex Pistols / Runaways Song “Black Leather” Live for First Time: Watch
Guns N’ Roses finally performed the 1993 cover "Black Leather" live on Saturday at Arena Castelão in Fortaleza, Brazil. The track, originally written by Sex Pistols members and popularized by The Runaways, had never been played in concert despite appearing on *The Spaghetti Incident?*. Bassist Duff McKagan...
Classic Rock's Tracks Of The Week: April 20, 2026
Classic Rock’s weekly roundup spotlights eight new rock releases, from Erik Grönwall’s contest‑winning video “Born to Break” to Skindred’s dance‑hall‑infused single “My People.” Veteran acts King Kraken and Des Rocs return with fresh tracks, while emerging bands such as The Karma Effect and Marisa & The Moths gain YouTube exposure....
Multi-Platinum, Emmy Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Andy Grammer Launches New Podcast: “Showing Up with Andy Grammer
Multi‑platinum singer‑songwriter Andy Grammer is debuting a new weekly podcast, “Showing Up with Andy Grammer,” on April 15, 2026. The show pairs long‑form, unscripted conversations with a live songwriting segment that honors a listener‑nominated “hero.” Co‑produced with Companion Arts, the series will...
Death Lens Team Up With Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton For Powerful Single ‘Waiting To Know’
Death Lens has teamed up with Ian Shelton of Militarie Gun for the new single “Waiting To Know,” a hook‑laden track that wrestles with the fear of the unknown. The song will appear on the band’s forthcoming album What’s Left Now?, slated for release on...
Neo Geodesia, “Oknha Stamina”
Neo Geodesia’s new album Oknha Stamina fuses traditional Khmer court music with aggressive powerviolence and hardcore, creating a sonic portrait of Cambodian heritage under siege. The title track draws on the ancient Kun Khmer boxing tradition, while songs like Phalanx...
A Place to Bury Strangers Discuss Their Resurrected Songs
Oliver Ackerman’s noise‑rock project A Place to Bury Strangers has issued a new rarities compilation titled *Rare and Deadly*, covering unreleased material from 2015‑2025. The 25‑track set arrives on his Dedstrange label and is offered on CD, cassette, vinyl, and digital formats. Ackerman, also...
Why Is Tori Amos Thanking Rival Courtney Love?
Tori Amos’ upcoming 2026 album In Times of Dragons opens with the six‑minute track “Shush,” a blunt critique of patriarchy that directly thanks Courtney Love. The song weaves references to Donald Trump, Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, echoing Amos’ recent turn toward political commentary....
Don Felder’s Curious Pre-Fame Connection
Don Felder, a Gainesville‑born guitarist who later helped shape the Eagles' sound, spent his teenage years embedded in Northeastern Florida’s vibrant rock community. While teaching at Lipham Music, he crossed paths with future legends such as Tom Petty, Duane Allman, Stephen Stills, Bernie Leadon...
BTS at MetLife Stadium: How to Get Tickets for Sold-Out New York Shows
BTS’s ARIRANG World Tour will hit MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on August 1‑2, 2026, the largest U.S. venue on the leg with over 82,000 seats. Both dates sold out instantly during the January presale, driving a hot secondary market. Resale listings...
BINA.’s ‘Zombies’ Explores The Perils Of Capitalism
South London artist BINA. has dropped her new single “Zombies,” pairing her expressive R&B vocal style with a grunge‑infused backdrop crafted by producer Jonathan Quarmby. The track’s lyrics lament the hollow, repetitive nature of late‑stage capitalism, echoing the artist’s broader...
ZAYN – KONNAKOL
Zayn Malik returns with his 2026 album KONNAKOL, reuniting with longtime producer Malay. The record blends alt‑R&B, trip‑hop, and rock influences while drawing on his Pakistani heritage and recent fatherhood. Critics note it as his strongest solo effort since his debut,...
From ‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’ to ‘Michael’: Evolution Of MJ’s Cinematic Power
The 1992 ABC miniseries *The Jacksons: An American Dream* set a benchmark for music biopics, earning an Emmy for choreography and featuring 38 songs that mixed original recordings with cast performances. Decades later, Antoine Fuqua’s *Michael*—starring Jaafar Jackson—revives the story...
Jaafar Jackson Steps Into Legacy Role as Epic ‘Michael’ Biopic Approaches Release
Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, has been cast to portray his late uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic *Michael*, slated for theatrical and IMAX release on April 24, 2026. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by...
Akademiks Claims ‘ICEMAN’ Rollout Will Redefine How Albums Are Released
Drake’s forthcoming album ICEMAN is generating buzz as a potential blueprint for album rollouts in the streaming era. Media personality DJ Akademiks highlighted Drake’s recent Instagram story confirming the album’s delivery and suggested the release could redefine how major projects...
Today In Hip Hop History: ‘Who’s The Man’ Movie Soundtrack Released 33 Years Ago
On April 20, 1993, Uptown/MCA released the *Who’s the Man?* movie soundtrack, assembling a roster of East Coast hip‑hop heavyweights. The album featured the debut appearance of The Notorious B.I.G. with “Party and Bullsh*t” and contributions from House of Pain,...
Former WHITESNAKE And NIGHT RANGER Guitarist JOEL HOEKSTRA To Join STEPHEN PEARCY's Solo Band For 2026 Tour
Renowned guitarist Joel Hoekstra, known for stints with Whitesnake, Night Ranger and Cher, will join Stephen Pearcy’s solo band for the 2026 “Undercover” tour. The tour marks the 40th anniversary of RATT’s 1986 album “Dancing Undercover” and will hit venues...
Calvin Harris in Mumbai Showed That Production Can Make or Break a Show
Calvin Harris' April 18 concert in Mumbai drew a large crowd but stumbled over logistics and production. Attendees reported confusing entry points, poor signage, and a dry‑venue policy that dampened crowd energy. While Harris delivered his classic hits, the lighting,...
‘MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’ Soundtrack Is Available to Stream Ahead of Vinyl Release
Fumi Games’ new indie title *MOUSE: P.I. For Hire* launched on April 16 and quickly earned an “overwhelming positive” rating on Steam. The game fuses 1930s rubber‑hose animation with fast‑paced first‑person shooter mechanics, drawing comparisons to *Doom* and *Max Payne*. Composer Patryk...
Live Report: Manchester Punk Festival 2026
Manchester Punk Festival marked its tenth edition with a wildly eclectic roster, ranging from DIY grindcore outfits to legacy punk figures like Laura Jane Grace. The event blended raw, vintage sounds with overt political provocation, exemplified by incendiary on‑stage statements...
Portrayal of Guilt Drop Pummeling Single ‘Total Black’
British hardcore outfit Portrayal of Guilt has released the single “Total Black” as a final preview of their upcoming fourth album, Beginning Of The End, slated for April 24, 2026. The track showcases the band’s increasingly experimental approach, joining a...
Club Duo PPJ Unleash New ‘Joker’ EP
French duo PPJ has released their new EP "Joker" on Paris‑based label Recherche & Développement. The record blends neoperreo, Miami bass and live instrumentation, creating a hybrid indie‑electronic sound. The EP follows the club‑ready single "Coeur," which received regular spins on...
Watch Ninajirachi Debut New Porter Robinson Remix with Underscores at Coachella
Australian hyperpop star Ninajirachi closed Coachella’s second weekend by debuting a new Porter Robinson remix alongside indie‑electronic act Underscores. The surprise set featured a live rework of Robinson’s 2024 track “Perfect Pinterest Garden,” which the producer later hailed on X...
Paramore’s Hayley Williams Responds to Rumours She’s on Beyoncé’s ‘Act III’ Amid Rock Rumours
Hayley Williams, frontwoman of Paramore, addressed fan speculation that she will appear on Beyoncé’s upcoming “Act III” album during a concert in Silver Spring, Maryland. Beyoncé’s second act, “Cowboy Carter,” wrapped a $407.6 million, 32‑show tour, intensifying rumors that Act III will shift...
Kris Drever – Doing This For Love
Kris Drever released his tenth solo album, Doing This For Love, on April 10, 2026. The record features ten songs that meditate on early‑morning labor, love, and change, blending traditional Scottish folk with industrial‑noise textures. Drever collaborates with a roster of vocalists...
Beth Orton Announces New Album ‘The Ground Above’
British singer‑songwriter Beth Orton will issue her self‑produced album *The Ground Above* on June 26 through Partisan Records. The record features collaborations with New York’s Nick Hakim and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner, and is split into a fragmented first half that...
How ‘Event Cinema’ Is Bridging India’s Global Concert Gap
Indian cinema chain PVR INOX turned concert films into "event cinema," screening BTS's Arirang live viewing across more than 20 cities on April 11, 2026. The debut achieved an average 54% seat occupancy, prompting a second Tokyo‑based screening a week...
Live Gallery: Miguel – O2 Academy Brixton, London
Miguel, the LA‑born R&B pioneer, returned to the stage at London’s O₂ Academy Brixton, delivering a performance that blended his new material with classic hits. The show followed the release of *Caos*, his first studio album in eight years, which...
Bob Spitz Proves the Rolling Stones Are Rock's Greatest Band in Magnificent New Biography
Bob Spitz’s new 704‑page biography, "The Rolling Stones: The Biography," chronicles the band’s evolution from a 1963 London blues act to their 2024 "Hackney Diamonds" tour. The book revisits iconic moments like the creation of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"...
75,000 AI-Generated Tracks Now Flood Deezer Daily, Representing 44% of All New Music Uploaded to the Platform, Says Streamer
Deezer reports that it now receives roughly 75,000 AI‑generated tracks each day, accounting for 44% of all new uploads. The daily influx has risen from 60,000 in January and 50,000 in November, pushing monthly AI uploads past 2 million. While AI...
Cream Announce a Super Deluxe Edition of Wheels Of Fire
Cream’s iconic 1967 album Wheels of Fire will be reissued on June 12 as a 5‑CD super deluxe box set and a 3‑LP expanded‑in‑the‑studio edition through UMR/Polydor. The collection restores the original mono tapes thought lost, adds a phase‑corrected stereo mix, alternate mixes,...
The Monday Morning Brew #151 (Playlist)
Monday Morning Brew #151 presents a curated indie‑folk playlist anchored by Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell’s cover of the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Ab’s Song.” The mix spans veteran songwriters like Meg Baird and Sam Amidon to newer voices such as Rozi Plain, highlighting Appalachian‑inspired...
Thrown Return With Blisteringly Urgent Single ‘Split’
Swedish metalcore outfit Thrown has returned with the single “Split,” their first new release since the 2024 debut album Excessive Guilt. The track delivers some of the band’s tightest breakdowns yet, pairing blistering aggression with lyrics about self‑doubt and losing...
ADÉLA’s ‘KGB’ Is An Avowal Of Her Pop Credentials
Slovak singer‑songwriter ADÉLA has dropped her first 2026 offering, the single “KGB,” through Capitol Records. The dance‑pop anthem, infused with tech‑house flair, serves as a preview of her upcoming debut album. Co‑produced by industry heavyweights Blake Slatkin, Dylan Brady and The Dare, the...
Karol G Brings Out J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Peso Pluma at Coachella — and Announces Tour
Karol G closed her second Coachella set by announcing a world tour supporting her fourth album, Tropicoqueta, after becoming the first Latina to headline the festival’s weekend one. The finale featured surprise guests J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Peso Pluma and Becky G, underscoring her...
"It Was an Embarrassment, but We Were Desperate for the Cash."How Thin Lizzy Saved Their Career by Recording an Album...
In late 1972 Thin Lizzy faced contract termination after two commercial flops. To stay afloat, they accepted a £1,000 (≈$1,250) offer from budget label Stereo Gold Award to record four Deep Purple covers under the pseudonym Funky Junction. The album, priced at 50p and sold...
Twin Strings, Premanjali, Inayat, Chaos and All The Songs to Know This Week
Rolling Stone India’s weekly roundup spotlights a surge of new Indian releases, ranging from heavy‑metal anthems to experimental pop. Notably, thrash veterans Chaos unveil “It’s Time for War,” a teaser for their forthcoming album *Bane of Humanity*. Kochi’s Aprils Away...
Eurovision 2026: Estonia
Estonia’s entry for Eurovision 2026 is the veteran pop‑rock trio Vanilla Ninja, performing the new single “Too Epic To Be True.” The band, formed in 2002, previously scored chart hits across Central Europe and represented Switzerland in 2005, finishing eighth....
Naná Rizinni – Epiblast
Brazilian drummer‑producer Naná Rizinni is set to release her new album *Epiblast* through Bridge The Gap. The record, co‑produced with London saxophonist Mark Cake over two years, reflects her move from São Paulo to London, new parenthood, and the grief of...
"I've Got a Couple of Ideas I've Been Working on for Quite some Time": Fred Durst Wants to Set up...
Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst announced plans to launch a new music gathering aimed at artists who never receive Coachella invitations. The idea emerged in a public reply to Lil Wayne’s tweet about being consistently excluded from major events. Durst hinted at multiple...
Blur’s Alex James Bringing ‘Britpop Classical’ Tour to Australia
Blur bassist Alex James announced his ‘Britpop Classical’ tour will land in Australia this November, featuring orchestral renditions of iconic Britpop tracks. The six‑city run will start on the Gold Coast and travel through Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth....