Across the Terrain of the Mind: Alex Zhang Hungtai Announces Double Album Orion/Mother
Alex Zhang Hungtai announced a double album, Orion/Mother, slated for release on June 19 through the American Dreams label. The project fuses home recordings made with New York improvisers and new trumpet improvisations, employing a Butch Morris‑style conduction approach. Two preview tracks, “Sidewinder” and the title piece “Mother,” illustrate the album’s exploration of the unconscious mind. This is Zhang’s second release of 2026, following his shift from the Dirty Beaches moniker to a broader experimental palette.
Gov’t Mule & Larkin Poe Honor Dave Mason In Nashville
Gov't Mule closed their Nashville tour with a joint performance alongside Larkin Poe at The Pinnacle, delivering a 10‑minute rendition of Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright?” as a tribute to late co‑founder Dave Mason. Mason, who died at 79 on April 19,...
ALBUM REVIEW: Terry Allen Brings a Family Full of Blood Sucking Maniacs on Latest Album
Terry Allen, the legendary Texas songwriter and visual artist, releases his first family‑band record, *Blood Sucking Maniacs*. The album weaves five generations—from great‑grandson Lucky’s prenatal heartbeat to late mother Pauline’s 1970s piano—into a 20‑track tapestry of reimagined classics, spoken‑word interludes,...
The Art of the Libretto: A Conversation with Nilo Cruz
Metropolitan Opera will debut *El último sueño de Frida y Diego* on May 14, a new opera that imagines Frida Kahlo returning from the underworld to meet Diego Rivera on the Day of the Dead. The libretto, written by Pulitzer‑winning...
Inside Baz Halpin’s Spectacular Visions for Taylor Swift, No Doubt, and More
Irish producer Baz Halpin, CEO of Silent House Group, is designing No Doubt’s immersive residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, opening May 6, 2024. Known for high‑profile visual work on Taylor Swift’s Red and Eras tours, the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, and Super Bowl halftime...
These Are Spotify’s Most Streamed Artists, Songs and Albums of All Time
Spotify marked its 20th anniversary by publishing its all‑time most streamed artists, albums and songs. Taylor Swift tops the artist list, Bad Bunny’s 2022 release ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ leads the album chart, and The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ remains the most streamed track. The...
The Amity Affliction, ‘House Of Cards’ | The Album Story
Australian metalcore veterans The Amity Affliction released their ninth album, “House Of Cards,” amid personal loss and a near‑breakup. Frontman Joel Birch’s mother died in 2024 and founding vocalist Ahren Stringer left in 2025, prompting the band to confront grief...
Retracing Belgian New Beat’s Accidental Explosion
Belgian new beat emerged in the mid‑1980s when DJs accidentally slowed records by pitching them up, creating a hypnotic, slowed‑down sound that ignited clubs across Belgium. Pioneers like Dikke Ronny and Marc Grouls sparked the trend at venues such as...
MARIUSZ DUDA Quits RIVERSIDE Citing Internal Tensions, Doesn't See The Band Continuing Without Him
Founding bassist and vocalist Mariusz Duda announced his exit from Polish progressive‑rock band Riverside after a 25‑year tenure, citing internal tensions that stifled his creative drive. In his statement, Duda said the band’s current atmosphere forced a false, smiling image...
Taylor Swift Is Most-Streamed Artist Of All Time, Says Spotify; Bad Bunny, Drake Also Make Grade
Spotify marked its 20th anniversary by publishing its first ever all‑time most‑streamed rankings across music, podcasts and audiobooks. Taylor Swift emerged as the platform’s most‑streamed artist, while Bad Bunny’s 2022 album *Un Verano Sin Ti* claimed the top album spot and The Weeknd’s...
Keith Urban Teases New Music: 'Something Extra Smooth'
Country star Keith Urban posted a beach‑side video on April 22, hinting at a new release slated for April 29. He described the upcoming work as "something extra smooth" and linked it to a yacht‑rock concept, featuring mostly cover songs with a...
Keith Urban Teases New Music: 'Something Extra Smooth'
Country star Keith Urban posted a beach‑side video on April 22, hinting at new music with the tagline “something extra smooth.” He announced a launch date of April 29, 2026, and described the project as a yacht‑rock album featuring mostly cover songs...
Justin Bieber More Than Doubles His Hits On One Billboard Chart
Justin Bieber dominated Billboard’s Top Streaming Albums chart this week, occupying four spots after his Coachella headline set. His surprise 2025 album *Swag* vaulted from #50 to #5, while three older projects—*Purpose*, *Believe* and *My World 2.0*—debuted at numbers 30, 31...
SLAYER Adds Second Reign In Blood Celebration Show In Los Angeles
Slayer announced a second Los Angeles concert at the Kia Forum for September 14, adding to the two‑night celebration of the 40th anniversary of their 1986 classic, Reign In Blood. The band will perform the entire album live, mirroring the...
Blue Lab Beats Share Double-Single ‘Slow Heart’, ‘Fire Up’
UK production duo Blue Lab Beats has dropped a double‑single comprising “Slow Heart” and “Fire Up,” signaling progress toward an upcoming album. “Slow Heart” showcases a moody horn‑driven arrangement with Chicago vocalist Jamila Woods, while “Fire Up” delivers an upbeat,...
David Byrne Teaches FKA Twigs His Signature Moves in Coachella’s New ‘Artist on Artist’ Series
Coachella launched a new YouTube series called Artist on Artist, pairing musicians for in‑depth conversations and creative exchanges. The debut episode features DJs Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer discussing post‑COVID EDM trends. Next week, the series will showcase FKA Twigs...
PLTFRM: David Armada
London‑born rapper David Armada has evolved from a 2017 bedroom producer to a rising voice in UK rap, gaining traction after his 2020 collaboration "Hash Brown" with Deema. His 2024 project southerngothic showcased a hybrid of digital playfulness and modern...
Arborist Maps Belfast’s Late-Evening Ghost Town on New Single “Looking 4 Love”
Belfast‑based songwriter Mark McCambridge, under the moniker Arborist, has dropped the new single “Looking 4 Love,” the lead track from his forthcoming fourth album of the same name. The accompanying video, filmed in a Belfast Holiday Inn without AI or green‑screen, captures the...
Surusinghe Details New EP ‘Cutting Thread’
London‑born producer Surusinghe is releasing a new EP titled “Cutting Thread” on the dh2 imprint, a club‑focused offshoot of Dirty Hit founded by The 1975’s George Daniel. The six‑track collection arrives this summer and revisits the gritty, system‑driven sound that...
Jazz Trumpeter Dave Douglas Discusses His Latest Music
Jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas is set to release his new album *Transcend* on April 24, expanding his core quartet into a quintet with cellist Tomeka Reid. The record revisits Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert repertoire, adding original pieces inspired by visual...
NEQUIENT Streams Brutal New Album Avarice
Chicago grindcore outfit Nequient is set to drop its third full‑length album, Avarice, on Friday, April 24 through Nefarious Industries. The record channels frustration with corporate greed and algorithmic culture, delivering relentless riffs and aggressive drumming. Produced by Sanford Parker...
BandPitch Platform Aims to Streamline Artist Discovery
VIP Booking, a Danish live‑music services firm, launched BandPitch, a new artist‑discovery platform that taps its global network of over 22,000 verified agents, managers and bookers. The site lets musicians create detailed pitch profiles and matches them with relevant industry...
Hurray For the Riff Raff Are at a Vibrant, Outspoken Peak
Indie rock collective Hurray for the Riff Raff released the live album *Live Forever*, recorded over two sold‑out nights at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. The double‑disc set presents the entire 2024 studio album *The Past Is Still...
Public Opinion Announce New Album ‘The Curse Of Public Opinion’
British punk outfit Public Opinion announced their next full‑length, “The Curse Of Public Opinion,” slated for an August 7, 2026 release on SideOneDummy. The record runs a tight 23 minutes across ten tracks, promising a fast‑paced, furious listening experience. Lead vocalist Kevin...
The Moss Choose Their Own Path on ‘Big Blue Moon’
The Moss release their third full‑length album *Big Blue Moon*, a nine‑track record that shifts from their nomadic, surf‑rock/emo blend to a more grounded, self‑reliant sound. Frontman Tyke James, known for a restless lifestyle, anchors the record with lyrical themes of autonomy...
Smerz Announce New EP ‘Easy’
Norwegian electronic duo Smerz will drop their follow‑up EP “Easy” on May 15, 2024, after the critical success of their debut album “Big City Life”. The new record is described as more diaristic and open‑ended, originating from a song written...
Does Stephen Emmer Share George Harrison’s DNA?
Dutch composer Stephen Emmer releases *Asymmetrical Dot*, a 14‑track ambient instrumental album that weaves Indonesian percussion, Germanic piano, and global vocal textures. The work draws a thematic line to George Harrison’s 1979 self‑titled record and his 1968 *Wonderwall Music* soundtrack,...
Alan Osmond, Who Led His Brothers in Song, Dies at 76
Alan Osmond, the eldest Osmond brother and original leader of the 1970s pop group, died at 76 in Salt Lake City. His brother Merrill announced the death on Facebook; cause was complications of multiple sclerosis, according to collaborator Debbie Ihler...
Dublin Risers Cable Boy Share New Album ‘Forever’
Dublin‑based indie outfit Cable Boy has released their sophomore album “Forever,” a self‑described “time‑capsule” of the band’s evolving sound. The five‑member lineup—original school friends Semilore Olusa and Liam Murray plus Corneille Tshibasu, Jason Aikhionbare and Fionn McLoughlin—melds shoegaze, indie, electronics...
Newly-Launched Ivors Composers Awards Will Honor Video Game Composers
The Ivors Academy announced the inaugural Ivors Composers Awards, set for November 17, 2026 in London. The ceremony will honor composers across film, television, video games and streaming music, expanding the historic Ivor Novello brand. Entries open June 1, 2026 and are limited to...
Lainey Wilson Has a First Planned for Stagecoach - and It’s Big!
Country star Lainey Wilson will headline the 2026 Stagecoach Festival with her biggest show yet, featuring pyrotechnics and surprise guest appearances. The performance is slated for Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 9:30 PM PDT on the Mane Stage, where she expects around 100,000...
Pan•American – Fly the Ocean in a Silver Plane
Chicago‑based composer Mark Nelson, performing as Pan•American, has issued his latest solo album “Fly The Ocean In A Silver Plane” on the Kranky label. The record unfolds as a series of cinematic soundscapes that evoke air travel, memory, and personal...
Koyo Share Infectious New Single ‘You Hate Me’
Koyo released their third single, “You Hate Me,” ahead of the May 8 launch of their second album, Barely Here, on Pure Noise Records. The track’s catchy hooks have already sparked buzz on alternative‑rock playlists and streaming services. Earlier singles “What...
Did This 90s Art Film Actually Inspire Beyoncé’s ‘Hold Up’ Music Video?
Beyoncé’s 2016 “Hold Up” video, part of the Lemonade visual album, features the singer in a yellow gown smashing car windows with a baseball bat, echoing the 1997 Swiss video‑art piece Ever Is Over All by Pipilotti Rist. Both works...
Court Grants Injunction Suspending Contracts Of 9 THE BOYZ Members With ONE HUNDRED
A Seoul court granted an injunction that suspends the exclusive contracts of nine THE BOYZ members with agency ONE HUNDRED. The members had filed in February alleging unpaid settlement earnings and other breaches, and the court ruled the contracts were...
The Weeknd Run Showcases Mexico’s Stadium Momentum
The Weeknd's three‑night run at Estadio GNP Seguros highlighted Mexico's booming stadium concert market. The shows attracted fans from 74 countries, with 43% traveling from outside Mexico City, and Gen Z made up 42% of attendees. Promoters say demand has...
The Sound of Destruction: Jim Ghedi Shares “The Hungry Child”
Jim Ghedi returns with the single “The Hungry Child,” released on Basin Rock, marking a deliberate shift toward a heavier, chaotic folk sound. The track draws on an early‑19th‑century German poem, reinterpreted as a commentary on current global turmoil, and...
On Being
London‑based electronic composer Max Cooper released his new album "On Being," built on a crowdsourced pool of audience‑submitted "unspoken words" that answered personal prompts. He turned these raw emotions into music, partnering with French musician Félix Gerbelot for the title track...
Siamese Announce New Album ‘Dissolution’
Siamese announced their sixth studio album, “dissolution,” slated for release on June 26 via Long Branch Records. The record, described as the band’s most personal and heaviest work yet, incorporates the previously issued single “drown” and the fresh track “dark.”...
Hear the New Solo Single From Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien
Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien has unveiled "Incantations," the opening track of his forthcoming solo album Blue Morpho, slated for release on May 22 via Transgressive Records. The new single showcases O'Brien’s experimental guitar work alongside music director Dave Okumu. A...
INTERVIEW: Holy Wars On New Album ‘Shadow Work/Light Work’ & Learning To Find The Light Inside The Darkness
Holy Wars have unveiled their sophomore album, Shadow Work/Light Work, a two‑part record that juxtaposes darkness and illumination. Written amid vocalist Kat Leon’s grief after her sister’s death, the album blends heavier, grunge‑inflected riffs with richer melodies to create their most...
"I Wrote a Lot of the Tracks Envisioning Powerful Live Drumming – Enter Dave Grohl." How the Former Nirvana Drummer...
In 2005 Trent Reznor enlisted former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl to play live drums on Nine Inch Nails' album With Teeth. Grohl’s powerful, human‑feel drumming replaced much of the programmed percussion, shaping the record’s harder‑rock edge. The collaboration prompted Reznor...
Yes Reschedule Postponed UK Fragile Tour to May 2027
Yes has shifted its postponed Fragile tour to May 2027 after guitarist Steve Howe required urgent surgery. The nine‑date UK run will feature the full 1971 album plus additional material, with tickets from the original 2026 schedule remaining valid except for...
Is 1990s Alternative Rock the New Country?
Stagecoach Festival, originally billed as the "country Coachella," is expanding its roster to feature 1990s alternative‑rock icons like Counting Crows, Bush, the Wallflowers and Third Eye Blind alongside its country headliners. The move reflects a strategic blend of legacy rock acts...
Bad Seeds Legend Conway Savage Honoured with New Anthology
Conway Savage, longtime member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, will be celebrated with a new anthology titled "Too Dark To See: Solo & Collaborative Recordings 1992 – 2010." The double‑LP, curated by fellow Bad Seed Mick Harvey, compiles...
Maramfa Musick Pro: Serokolo 7 Resurrects the Frenetic Pulse of Mapanta
South African producer Serokolo 7’s new album, *Maramfa Musick Pro*, resurrects the hyper‑local Mapanta genre from Limpopo’s Ga‑Sekhukhune district. Issued on the Kampala‑based Nyege Nyege Tapes, the record embraces lo‑fi, cassette‑tape grit and field‑recorded village ceremonies, positioning traditional Bapedi chants alongside...
Tickets for Punjabi Pop Concerts Are Selling Fast — Especially in Canada
Two Punjabi superstars, Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla, are launching Canadian legs of their Aura World and P‑pop Culture tours, with venues ranging from B.C. Place to Scotiabank Arena. Ticket sales are moving at a pace comparable to top‑40 hip‑hop acts, and some seats...
"One of the Year’s Most Instantaneous, Joyous, Technicolour Listens." Mixing Reggae, Heavy Metal, Punk, Hip Hop and Pop and Never...
Skindred’s ninth studio album, You Got This, drops on Earache Records, delivering the band’s signature ragga‑metal blend while leaning heavily into pop, ska and electro‑reggaeton. The record opens with the instantly catchy title track and follows with the bright, summer‑ready...
"I Was Really Glad that She Never Asked Me What I Thought of Her Singing." What Happened when Gregg Allman...
Gregg Allman appeared on Cher’s inaugural CBS variety show in May 1975, performing a duet of "Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing" and his solo hit "Midnight Rider." His booking was driven solely by Cher’s insistence, despite CBS executives and...
Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers Throw a Disco Party on New Single ‘Free To Love’
Duran Duran unveiled “Free To Love,” their first new music of 2026, featuring longtime collaborator Nile Rodgers. The disco‑infused single is billed as an anthem for peace, hope and freedom, and arrives with a Jonas Åkerlund‑directed video starring British broadcaster...