The Volcano Lover: An Anarchic Young Composer’s Masterpiece
Simon Hanes, a leading figure in New York’s downtown music scene, has released “Gargantua,” a 15‑musician composition that fuses heavy‑metal funk rhythms, classical excerpts, and experimental sound collage. Inspired by the February eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, the work premiered in 2024 and was issued last month on the indie label Pyroclastic Records. Its seven‑minute movement “Submit to the Fabulosity” features backward‑sequenced motifs and genre‑bending pastiches that have attracted a devoted following at Brooklyn venues like the Lava Club and Barbès. Hanes calls himself a “composer who plays,” underscoring the blend of composition and improvisation.
.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C596%2C0%2C596)
‘He Stands for Something We Really Need Right Now’: Inside an Immersive New David Bowie Exhibition at Lightroom
The immersive exhibition "David Bowie: You’re Not Alone" opens at London’s Lightroom on 22 April 2026, curated by Mark Grimmer with direct involvement from Bowie’s estate. It blends archive footage, handwritten lyrics, fashion pieces and mixed‑media installations to reveal the artist’s true...
BTS Break New Ground for K-Pop with Billboard Chart Performance
BTS became the first K‑pop act to hold the No. 1 spot on the US Billboard 200 for two straight weeks with their March 20 album Arirang. The record moved 187,000 equivalent album units in its second week, down 71% from a debut...
‘It Was a Way of Processing Violences I’ve Survived’: How Iconoclastic Musician Arca Beat Burnout with Frenzied Painting
Venezuelan‑born electronic pioneer Arca (Alejandra Ghersi) stepped away from a decade‑long music career after supporting icons like Madonna and Beyoncé, confronting burnout through an intense visual‑art practice. The resulting mixed‑media canvases, titled “Angels,” debuted at the ICA in London, featuring...
The Monday Morning Brew #149 (Plus Music Recommendations & More)
The latest Monday Morning Brew highlights several new releases across the indie music spectrum. Jeff Coffin’s quartet debuts the psychedelic album “When Now” on Ear Up Records, while the supergroup BASIC will drop its self‑titled second album on June 12, featuring...
Verzuz Matchups We Want To See In 2026
The piece catalogs fan‑requested Verzuz battles slated for 2026, spanning R&B duels, rap rivalries, and producer face‑offs. It highlights iconic pairings such as SZA vs. Summer Walker, Future vs. Young Thug, and Metro Boomin vs. Mustard, noting their historical and...
LAST IN LINE Parts Ways With Singer ANDREW FREEMAN
Last In Line, the Dio‑heritage supergroup led by Vivian Campbell and Vinny Appice, announced that vocalist Andrew Freeman has departed following on‑stage tension and divergent musical focus. The band confirmed it still holds a recording contract with earMUSIC but will postpone any...
Hymns From the Hills
Philadelphia punk outfit Poison Ruïn releases their sophomore album *Hymns From the Hills*, expanding from raw anarcho‑punk to a polished, genre‑spanning sound. The record weaves peace‑punk, deathrock, NWOBHM, dungeon synth, black metal and prog‑rock textures while retaining a medieval lyrical lens...
Fathoms
Daryl Groetsch, the Portland‑born composer behind Pulse Emitter, releases his latest synth‑driven album "Fathoms" after moving to Salzburg, Austria. The record consists of four long tracks that simulate a descent into the ocean, echoing the 1950s exotica tradition while maintaining...
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Composer Was Writing the Film's Score From a Hospital Bed, Says It Includes over 300...
Composer Brian Tyler revealed he wrote most of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie score while recuperating in a hospital bed after suffering a double subarachnoid brain hemorrhage in August 2025. Despite the life‑threatening injury, he continued work to meet the...
Charli Xcx Management Clarifies Sky Ferreira Claims About ‘Wuthering Heights’ Credits
Charli XCX’s management issued a statement after Sky Ferreira alleged that two tracks on Charli’s upcoming album *Wuthering Heights* were derived from Ferreira’s 2015‑2018 demo material. Ferreira, who is credited as a featured artist, co‑writer and vocal producer on the...
Rissi Palmer Embraces Growth, and Love on Soulful New EP ‘Perspectives’
Rissi Palmer releases the four‑song EP *Perspectives*, blending bluegrass, country, and soulful vocals to tell a personal, roots‑focused story. Produced by Grammy‑winner Shannon Sanders, the record features the dream‑inspired lead single “Old Black Southern Woman,” which honors family legacy. The...
Kelly Clarkson Magnificently Singing Amy Grant’s Modern Holiday Classic Brought Tears to My Eyes on Easter
Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol winner, delivered a moving rendition of Amy Grant’s "Breath of Heaven" during a 2021 Kellyoke segment, reminding fans of her vocal versatility. The three‑time Grammy artist has sold more than 82 million records worldwide and...
‘I Said I Wasn’t Going’: Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man Slams Promoters After Skipping Australia Tour
Method Man clarified he never committed to the Australian leg of Wu‑Tang Clan’s farewell "Final Chamber" tour, accusing promoters of advertising "all living members" despite his prior notice that he was booked elsewhere. He cited acting obligations and other commitments...
Fans Choose Sofia D’Angelo’s ‘Time’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Sofia D’Angelo’s solo single “Time” topped Billboard’s fan‑voted poll this week, capturing more than 69% of the vote. The track, released with a nostalgia‑driven video filmed in a Bushwick bar, outperformed releases from Anne Hathaway, Jack White and others. D’Angelo,...
On the Radio 41 Years Ago, Michael Jackson’s Famed Charity Tune Hit 5,000 Stations at the Same Time Around the...
On April 5, 1985, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s charity anthem “We Are The World” was broadcast simultaneously on more than 5,000 radio stations worldwide at 3:50 pm GMT. The coordinated airplay propelled the single to No. 1 on global charts within days of its release. The...
Ye Just Made $33 Million in Two Nights. Will His Comeback Last?
Kanye West, now performing as Ye, sold out two consecutive shows at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, grossing about $33 million, making the concerts among the highest‑grossing single events in live‑music history. The shows coincided with the release of his new album...
Remember When The Highwaymen Named the Greatest Country Songs of All Time in 1991?
In a 1991 interview while touring New Zealand, the Highwaymen—Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson—each named what they considered the greatest country song ever written. Kristofferson chose Johnny Cash’s 1958 rock‑abilly hit “Big River,” Cash favored Leon Payne’s classic “I Love You Because,” Jennings highlighted...
Charley Pride Fought To Release What Became His First Top 10 Hit
In 1966 Charley Pride fought producer Jack Clement to record "Just Between You And Me," a love song he feared would spark racial backlash. The track became his first Top 10 hit and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country &...
On This Day in 1994, Brooks & Dunn Became the Best Selling Country Music Duo of All Time
On April 5, 1994, Brooks & Dunn’s debut album *Brand New Man* became the first country‑duo record to sell five million copies, cementing their status as the genre’s best‑selling duo. The album generated four consecutive No. 1 singles and was quickly followed by...
Kanye West Announces “Bully” Deluxe Via Gamma & Counters First Week Sales
Distributor Gamma announced a deluxe edition of Kanye West’s album “Bully” via Instagram. Gamma disputes Billboard’s first‑week figures, saying the album moved about 201,000 album‑equivalent units, enough for a No. 1 debut instead of the reported No. 2 with 152,000 units. The...
Here Are All the K-Pop Albums That Have Topped the Billboard 200: Full List
South Korean group BTS reclaimed the Billboard 200 with its April 2026 album ARIRING, marking the 23rd K‑pop release to reach the chart’s summit in under eight years. ARIRING also became the first K‑pop album to hold the No. 1 spot for two...
TikTok and ACRCloud Partner on Derivative Works Detection System
TikTok’s SoundOn platform now incorporates ACRCloud’s Derivative Works Detection service, adding a sophisticated layer of copyright protection for musicians. The technology can spot altered or AI‑generated copies of tracks, even when speed or pitch is changed, helping ensure proper monetization....
3 George Strait Deep Cuts That Songwriters Should Study (And Why)
George Strait’s lesser‑known tracks offer rich lessons for songwriters. "Ready For The End Of The World" showcases a razor‑sharp hook that pairs everyday imagery with a looming climax. "You’re The Cloud I’m On (When I’m High)" demonstrates how ambiguous phrasing...
The Beatles' 1969 No. 1 Hit Is Now the Greatest Love Song Ever Written
George Harrison’s 1969 ballad “Something,” penned for his wife Pattie Boyd, has risen to be hailed as the Beatles’ greatest love song. The track, featured on the iconic Abbey Road album, topped charts and earned widespread critical acclaim. Its simple yet...
Guns N’ Roses Play Rare Deep Cut Live for First Time in 35 Years at São Paulo Show
Guns N’ Roses surprised fans at the Monsters of Rock Brazil show in São Paulo by performing the deep‑cut “Bad Apples” from *Use Your Illusion I*—its first live rendition in 35 years and only the second ever. The set also featured other rarely...
Kanye West’s “Bully” First Week Sales Are Officially In, And They Are Divisive
Kanye West’s album *Bully* debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, moving 152,000 album‑equivalent units in its first week. Streaming contributed 96,000 units, driven by roughly 98 million on‑demand plays, while 56,000 pure album copies were sold. The release marks...
BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Spends Second Week Atop Billboard 200
BTS’s seventh studio album ARIRANG topped the Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week, moving 187,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. – a 71% decline from its 641,000‑unit debut, which remains the biggest week of 2026 so far. The two‑week run...
“Whoever Listens Closely to Hallelujah Will Discover that It Is a Song About Sex, About Love, About Life on Earth”:...
Jeff Buckley’s 1994 rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” transformed a modest folk‑rock track into a haunting, guitar‑driven anthem that now eclipses the original. Buckley’s sensual vocal delivery and soaring solo elevated the song’s lyrical themes of love, sex, and spirituality. After...
4 of Coachella’s Biggest Band Reunions Through the Years
Coachella has become a launchpad for some of the most memorable band reunions in modern music history. Starting with the Pixies in 2004 and Rage Against the Machine in 2007, the festival has repeatedly delivered surprise comebacks that drew massive...
Los Thuthanaka’s Wak’a Is a Mellower Follow-Up to Last Year’s Surprise Pitchfork Favorite
Los Thuthanaka’s new EP *Wak’a* follows last year’s surprise Pitchfork Album of the Year with a softer, shoegaze‑tinged approach. The three‑track release runs 18½ minutes, interpreting the Aymara legend of the first sunrise using blown‑out speakers, Bolivian folk samples, and...
METAL CHURCH's KURDT VANDERHOOF Denies Former Members Were Blindsided By Band's Split And Eventual Reformation: 'That's On Them'
Founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof confirmed he shut down Metal Church after a contentious 2023 Australian tour and a lost Rat Pak deal, then reluctantly reassembled a new lineup featuring Dave Ellefson, Ken Mary and vocalist Brian Allen. He denied that...
GEDDY LEE Explains Decision To Use RUSH Name For Upcoming Tour: 'What The F*** Should We Call It, IRON MAIDEN?'
RUSH bassist Geddy Lee confirmed the band will tour under the Rush name in 2026, despite drummer Neil Peart’s death, after receiving the family’s blessing. The “Fifty Something” tour launches in June at the Kia Forum and has expanded from 22...
JOSEPH THOLL (ENFORCER, TRIBULATION) To Release New Album, 'It Might Be Art'
Swedish guitarist Joseph Tholl, known for his work with Enforcer and Tribulation, will release his second solo album, *It Might Be Art*, on June 12 through High Roller Records. The record features an eclectic roster of collaborators, including members of...
In 2007, Two Game Music GOATs Collaborated on the Criminally Underrated Soundtrack to a Similarly Underrated D&D RPG
In 2007, composers Alexander Brandon and Rik Schaffer (Womb Music) teamed up to create the soundtrack for Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer, an expansion often overlooked in the D&D‑based CRPG market. Their collaboration merged Brandon’s techno‑oriented style from Deus Ex...
Melodeath Metal Group CLAD IN SHADOWS Release Debut LP, 'Monuments In Ruin'
Swedish melodeath duo Clad In Shadows has released their debut LP, Monuments In Ruin, a nine‑track record that channels the sound of 1990s icons like In Flames and At The Gates. The album was written in a matter of weeks,...
DEFECTS Release New Single, "Artificial Icons"
UK metalcore outfit Defects has released their latest single, “Artificial Icons.” The track blends aggressive riffs with a surprising clean‑vocal chorus break, underscoring a lyrical warning about unchecked power and profit‑driven control. Frontman Tony Maue describes the song as a...
New FOO FIGHTERS Drummer ILAN RUBIN Opens Up About How He Landed Gig, Says NINE INCH NAILS Drummer 'Switch' Was...
Ilan Rubin was announced as the Foo Fighters' new drummer in July 2025, replacing Josh Freese. Rubin explained that his transition was a logical outcome of his Nine Inch Nails contract ending, not a coordinated swap. He had several months...
50 Cent Seems To Shade Jay-Z While Flexing Streaming Success Over Opps
50 Cent posted alleged YouTube Music streaming numbers for March, showing his catalog at 164 million streams. He used the post to mock rivals, especially Jay‑Z, who he says logged only 58.9 million streams, while T.I. posted 63.7 million. The bragging came amid ongoing...
Festival Line-Ups You Might Have Missed: Montreux Jazz Festival, Reading & Leeds, Boa Nova
The Montreux Jazz Festival marks its 60th anniversary with a 16‑day roster that includes PinkPantheress, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Moby, aiming to bridge generations. Reading & Leeds festivals have bolstered their 2026 line‑ups with 60 new acts...
Remember When: Pink Floyd Ruled the Rock World One More Time by Tolling ‘The Division Bell’ in 1994
Pink Floyd’s 1994 release *The Division Bell* was the band’s final studio album and a rare full‑group effort after a decade of solo‑driven projects. Guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Rick Wright reconvened in London, with Bob Ezrin...
MR. LORDI Says Backlash From Heavy Metal Fans To LORDI's EUROVISION Win Was 'Quite Cruel': 'Those Daggers, They Go Deep...
Finnish hard‑rock outfit LORDI will appear in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 grand‑final interval act, celebrating the contest’s 70th anniversary and the band’s 20th anniversary of their 2006 win. Lead singer Mr. Lordi reflected on the mixed legacy of that victory,...
3 Artists Who Belong Equally to Country, Rock, and Pop
American Songwriter highlights three artists—Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Miley Cyrus—who have achieved equal footing in country, rock, and pop markets. Parton leveraged her country roots into pop hits and a surprise rock album, while Ronstadt’s versatile voice has spanned...
3 Folk Rock Classics From 1977 With Deeply Poetic Lyrics
In 1977 three folk‑rock anthems demonstrated that electric instrumentation could coexist with literary lyricism. Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” turned a touring musician’s diary into a metaphor for financial and emotional exhaustion. Neil Young’s “Like a Hurricane,” written while on...
Bon Jovi’s Signature Hit Reaches The Top 10 — For The Second Time
Bon Jovi’s classic "Livin’ on a Prayer" re‑entered Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, landing at No. 10. The surge follows the announcement of a new Universal biopic about the band, which has also lifted the group’s compilation albums on...
3 Could-Have-Been Superstar Pop Singers Who Walked Away at the Peak of Their Fame
American pop singer Willa Ford vanished after her 2001 debut, citing the fallout from the September 11 attacks and label turmoil. Welsh artist Duffy withdrew from music following a traumatic kidnapping in 2020, leaving a two‑album legacy. Former Disney star Bridgit...
ATREYU's DAN JACOBS Says Opening For IRON MAIDEN In 2009 In Monterrey, Mexico Was 'Scary As Hell': 'People Were Throwing...
ATREYU guitarist Dan Jacobs recalled opening for Iron Maiden in Mexico City and Monterrey in 2009, where the crowd turned hostile and threw pesos, cups and metal objects, injuring band members. The band later supported Maiden in Canada with no incidents,...
Bruno Mars Beats His Own Personal Best With His Latest No. 1
Bruno Mars’s single “I Just Might” has become his longest‑running number‑one on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip‑Hop Songs chart, logging 11 consecutive weeks at the summit. The track also tops six other Billboard charts, including Adult Pop Airplay and Radio Songs, cementing...
10 Best Montgomery Gentry Songs
Montgomery Gentry’s ten‑track roundup spotlights the duo’s most commercially successful songs, each of which cracked the Top 10 on country charts and three reached the No. 1 or 2 slot. The list crowns 2006’s “Lucky Man” as the top track, noting its Grammy nomination...
SAVATAGE's JON OLIVA: 'I've Been Dealing With Some Serious Health Issues' But 'It Hasn't Stopped Me'
Founding vocalist and keyboardist Jon Oliva disclosed that he is battling a fractured T7 vertebra, multiple sclerosis and Ménière’s disease, and is preparing for back surgery. Despite the pain and loss of his ability to fly, he says the health...