Kelly Rowland has released a new song called “COFFEE.” It follows Rowland’s 2019 single Crown,” an anti-bullying song made in partnership with Dove. Listen to “COFFEE” below. In 2018, Kelly Rowland released the solo single “Kelly” and featured on a Busta Rhymes track called “Get It” along with Missy Elliott. She also performed with Beyoncé
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Sam Smith and Demi Lovato have teamed up for a new song. It’s called “I’m Ready” and it arrives with a music video directed by Jora Frantzis and featuring choreography from Sean Bankhead. Watch below. Smith was scheduled to release their new album, previously called To Die For, on May 1. Due to the ongoing
Naeem Juwan, the Baltimore-born and Los Angeles–based artist formerly known as Spank Rock, has announced his new album Startisha. The LP is out June 12 via 37d03d. According to a press release, Naeem began working on Startisha four years ago in Philadelphia. He later continued work on the record at Justin Vernon’s home studio. Startisha
Jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz has died of pneumonia complications as a result of COVID-19, his son confirmed to NPR tonight (April 15). He was 93. Born in Chicago on October 13, 1927, Konitz was credited for his skills as a thoughtful and adventurous improvisor during his lifetime. His career stretched for more than 70 years,
Tom Waits and his wife Kathleen Brennan have written a tribute to Waits’ late friend Hal Willner, posted to his website earlier today (April 15). According to Waits, they met when Willner approached him at a show in 1974, from which they built a lifelong friendship around music. Read Waits’ post in full below. In
Bing & Ruth, the project led of New York composer David Moore, has announced a new album. Species is out July 17 via 4AD. Moore’s also shared a new video for the new song “I Had No Dream.” Watch it below. “I suppose what interested me the most in putting this together was the concept
EXCLUSIVE: The way we do the things we do has changed so much in recent weeks that a classic Temptations song might be what everyone needs right now. In this video, the cast of Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud got together — remotely, of course — to perform the show’s opening number “The Way You Do
The Japanese guitarist, composer, and inventor Ryo Kawasaki has died, his daughter confirmed on Facebook. He was 73. Between pioneering the jazz fusion field in the 1960s and ’70s and issuing house music singles in the ’80s and ’90s, Kawasaki helped develop the earliest waves of guitar-synth technology alongside Korg and Roland. He also developed
After testing positive for COVID-19, YNW Melly requested his release from Broward County Jail in Florida. A judge has now denied his request for release, TMZ reports. Melly’s lawyers argued that he was in danger of dying due to complications from the coronavirus and cited inadequate care at the jail. Melly was seeking house arrest
Philadelphia’s serenader and prolific recording artist, Hughie Mac, turns back time with is song choices, but keeps the energy high in the delightful Hughie Mac Sings Some Great Songs Pt. 3. There’s a reason these songs are timeless and Mac’s adoration for the songs that defined American music for the past 100 years is one
Amnesia Scanner—the Berlin-based duo of Ville Haimala and Martti Kalliala—are back with a new album. It’s called Tearless and it’s set to arrive on June 5 via PAN. Listen to “AS Going” from the LP below. The new album, which follows up their 2018 full-length Another Life, features Lalita, Code Orange, and LYZZA. According to
Kid Cudi has shared a brand new track called “Leader of the Delinquents.” Cudi teased a clip of the song during an Instagram Live session on April 10. Hear the single below (via Republic). Cudi announced his next studio album Entergalatic back in July 2019. A release date was never revealed, but Cudi tweeted the
The documentary about Other Music, the beloved New York City record store that closed in 2016, will be released through “virtual screenings” this week. The film was originally slated for a theatrical opening on April 18 and a physical release the same day for the since-postponed Record Store Day. This Friday, April 17, it will
Pure X—the trio of Nate Grace, Jesse Jenkins V, and Austin Youngblood—has announced their first new album in six years. The band’s self-titled fourth album arrives May 1 via Fire Talk, with a physical release to follow on July 3. The announcement comes with two new songs, “Middle America” and “Fantasy.” Check those out below.
A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip has announced three upcoming albums. In a video posted on his Instagram account on April 10 (also his 50th birthday), Q-Tip sat playing a bass riff as text appeared announcing three titles: Algorhythms, Riot Diaries, and The Last Zulu. Q-Tip also wrote: “Thank u god willing I will get with
John Prine died on April 7 of COVID-19 complications. He was 73. Tributes have been pouring in from the music world in the days following his passing. Today, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd shared a cover of “Paradise” from Prine’s debut self-titled album. “Miss you, brother.” Watch it happen below. Following Prine’s death, countless genre-spanning
This week’s episode of Saturday Night Live was entirely remote, with cast members broadcasting from their homes and a special appearance from host Tom Hanks. Coldplay’s Chris Martin served as the musical guest for the episode, offering up a cover of the Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks classic “Shelter From the Storm.” Watch it
Bonnie Raitt has shared a new video paying tribute to the late John Prine, who passed away on April 8 from COVID-19 complications. In the video, Raitt performs “Home,” originally written by Karla Bonoff and covered by Raitt on her 1977 album Sweet Forgiveness. “For those who aren’t blessed to have a secure and safe
Sturgill Simspon has tested positive for COVID-19, as the singer revealed via a post to his Instagram account earlier today. Simpson said he first sought medical attention on March 13, when he began to experience “chest pains, fever, and pre-stroke blood pressure levels,” but was unable to be tested for coronavirus until April 6. He
Consequence of Sound has announced Angel from Maywood: A Livestream Tribute to John Prine. The homage to Prine, who died earlier this week, will feature performances by the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, Kevin Morby, the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle, Grace Potter, Norah Jones, the Head and the Heart, Lake Street Dive, and more. The tribute will
Travis Nelsen, longtime drummer in Austin indie rock group Okkervil River, has died. Okkervil River announced the news in a statement on their Instagram account on April 9. “Travis Nelsen, Okkervil River’s drummer from 2003-2010, passed away on Tuesday,” the band wrote. “He was a radiant, hilarious, charismatic, generous, passionate human being with a heart
Grizzly Bear drummer Christopher Bear has announced his first solo record, as BrooklynVegan notes. Bear, who records under the name Fools, will release Fools’ Harp Vol. 1 on May 18 via Music From Memory. Below, hear a new song called “Deefyfe.” “When I set out to start making this collection of music last summer, the
Phoebe Bridgers was the musical guest on last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she teleconferenced in from her bathtub to perform “Kyoto.” Bridgers accompanied herself on synthesizer. Check it out below. Last month, Jeff Tweedy and his sons performed “Evergreen” for Kimmel while sitting in their bathroom. Bridgers’ new album Punisher—the follow-up to
Usher, Lil Jon, and Ludacris have released a new song. The latest track from the team behind “Yeah!” is called “SexBeat.” That’s it below. Usher’s song “Climax” recently came up in an interview with the Weeknd, which then led to social media challenges and subtweets. (Here’s a summary, if you’re interested.) Ludacris’ most recent album
Pitchfork is pleased to announce that Phoebe Bridgers will play a stay-at-home concert that will broadcast live on Instagram this Friday afternoon (April 10) at 4 p.m. Eastern. You can tune in at Pitchfork’s Instagram. The performance will be part of a series of concert sessions that take place on our Instagram every Wednesday and
The Roots’ Black Thought is the latest guest on NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, the domestic spin on the popular session series. From a black armchair flanked by Grammys, he played “Thought Vs. Everybody” and “Nature of the Beast” from the forthcoming Streams of Thought Vol. 3, as well as “Yellow” from his off-Broadway musical Black
Philadelphia rapper Chynna Rogers died today at age 25. Following the news of her passing, tributes poured in from her peers and friends. “I don’t like doing this when my people go but I think everybody needs to know that you were special,” Vince Staples wrote. “Too special for words. Stay outta trouble lil cuh.”
Randy Newman has written a new COVID-19-inspired song at the request of Southern California radio station KPCC. After noting that the station asked for a personal message about social distancing (“Apparently there’s some disease that’s going around”), Newman instead sits at the piano to perform an original song called “Stay Away.” It includes instructional lyrics
Iconic singer-songwriter John Prine has died, The New York Times reports. His family confirmed that he died of COVID-19 complications. He was 73. Prine’s songwriting has been honored by the Americana Music Awards, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and more institutions. He won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1992 and 2006
The music world is reacting to the death of John Prine, who died today (April 7) of COVID-19 complications at the age of 73. “A simple majority of who I am as a person, let alone a musician, is because of John Prine,” Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon tweeted. “He is my number 1.” Amber Coffman