Demi Lovato and Marshmello have teamed up on a new song titled ‘OK Not to Be OK’. Released to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), the track is in partnership with with Hope for the Day, a not-for-profit agency which aims to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health education. Check it out below, alongside a music video directed by frequent collaborator Hannah Lux Davis (Ariana Grande, Drake).
Written by Gregory “Aldae” Hein, James Gutch and James Nicholas Bailey, the single serves “as a humbling reminder that it’s ok to let go of feelings of self-doubt and embrace the fact that we’re all human,” according to a press release.
“We are excited to be teaming up with Demi Lovato and Marshmello on this project to break the stigma around mental health on world suicide prevention day,” Hope for the Day founder Jonny Boucher commented in a statement. “Hope for the Day’s work in suicide prevention and mental health education thrives when we collaborate with others and what better than two of the largest artists in the world to work with on a track that reminds everyone, it’s OK not to be OK.”
Earlier this year, Lovato shared the song ‘I Love Me’ as well as the Sam Smith collaboration ‘I’m Ready’.
Usher has dropped a new single called ‘Bad Habits’. The song is set to feature on Usher’s as-of-yet-announced upcoming album, which will be the follow-up to 2016’s Hard II Love. It arrives with an accompanying Chris Robinson-directed video shot largely in a rehearsal space. Check it out below.
In addition to the new single, Usher also recently announced his headlining 2021 Las Vegas residency, with tickets now available for sale. “I have missed performing for my fans live and I am so excited to see them in Las Vegas,” Usher said in a statement. “My residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace will be full of surprises and an Usher experience like they’ve never seen or heard before!”
Angel Olsen has shared a cover of George Harrison’s ‘Beware of Darkness’ via her Instagram page. The 1970 track originally appeared on Harrison’s third solo album, All Things Must Pass. Check out her rendition below.
“The original is pretty great,” Olsen wrote in the video’s caption. “I’m just messing around like a tired sad shit.” She also included the song’s lyrics, adding: “Words are good too.”
Olsen released her most recent studio album, Whole New Mess, last month. Marking Olsen’s first new material recorded and released without any bandmates since 2012’s Half Way Home, it includes 11 tracks, nine of which are stripped-back versions of songs from 2019’s All Mirrors.
James Blake has released a studio cover of Frank Ocean’s ‘Godspeed’. Listen to his poignant rendition of the 2016 Blonde track – which he helped produce and arrange – below.
The singer-songwriter has covered ‘Godspeed’ in the past, having first debuted it live over three years ago at Arizona’s FORM Arcosanti festival. Earlier this year, he shared a stripped-back piano version of the track via Instagram. This time, though, he also dyed his hair blonde to mark the occasion.
Throughout 2020, Blake has performed a series of covers including Nirvana’s ‘Come As You Are’ and Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case of You’. Back in July, he released the single ‘Are You Even Real?’. His last album was 2019’s Assume Form.
Shame have returned with a new song called ‘Alphabet’ via Dead Oceans. Produced by James Ford, it marks the UK post-punk group’s first new music since the release of their 2018 debut Songs of Praise. Check it out below, alongside an accompanying music video directed by Tegen Williams.
“‘Alphabet’ is a direct question, to the audience and the performer, on whether any of this will ever be enough to reach satisfaction,” frontman Charlie Steen said in a statement. “At the time of writing it, I was experiencing a series of surreal dreams where a manic subconscious was bleeding out of me and seeping into the lyrics. All the unsettling and distressing imagery I faced in my sleep have taken on their own form in the video.”
Previously, Shame shared a cover version of the Christmas classic ‘Feliz Navidad’.
“So take my hand, don’t be afraid/This too shall pass/This too shall pass,” Sia sings over Guetta’s 80s-inspired instrumental. “And we’ll get through it all together/We’ll get through it all together … Let’s love.”
Speaking about the track, Guetta said in a statement: “I love producing club tracks but at the same time, especially now, I feel like creating ‘feel-good’ music. ‘Let’s Love’ is a message of love, hope and bringing people together and once again, Sia has out done herself on the vocals.”
Joni Mitchell is launching a massive series of archival releases. The first installment, Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963 – 1967), arrives on October 30. The five-disc Early Years box set covers the years before the singer-songwriter released her 1968 debut album Song to a Seagull.
Containing six hours of unreleased home, live and radio recordings, the collection will feature 29 unreleased songs as well as various covers, a 40-page booklet with photographs, liner notes that include conversations between Joni Mitchell and Cameron Crowe, and more. The two live performances included in the box set — live at CFQX AM radio station in 1963 and at Canterbury House in 1967 — will also be available to purchase separately.
“The early stuff, I shouldn’t be such a snob against it,” she said in a press release. “A lot of these songs, I just lost them. They fell away. They only exist in these recordings. For so long I rebelled against the term, ‘I was never a folksinger.’ I would get pissed off if they put that label on me. I didn’t think it was a good description of what I was. And then I listened and… it was beautiful. It made me forgive my beginnings. And I had this realization… I was a folksinger!”
Mitchell has also unveiled what is billed as her first known recording, a cover of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ that was recorded in 1963, when she was 19 years old. Listen to it below, and scroll down for the box set’s tracklist.
Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) Tracklist:
Disco One
Radio Station CFQC AM, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (ca. 1963)
1. House Of The Rising Sun
2. John Hardy
3. Dark As A Dungeon
4. Tell Old Bill
5. Nancy Whiskey
6. Anathea
7. Copper Kettle
8. Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)
9. Molly Malone
Live at the Half Beat: Yorkville, Toronto, Canada (October 21, 1964)
First Set
10. Introduction
11. Nancy Whiskey
12. Intro to The Crow On The Cradle
13. The Crow On The Cradle
14. Pastures Of Plenty
15. Every Night When The Sun Goes In
16. Intro to Sail Away
17. Sail Away
Second Set
18. John Hardy
19. Dark As A Dungeon
20. Intro to Maids When You’re Young Never Wed An Old Man
21. Maids When You’re Young Never Wed An Old Man
22. The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow
23. Deportee (Plane Crash At Los Gatos)
24. Joni’s Parents’ House: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (February 1965)
25. The Long Black Rifle
26. Ten Thousand Miles
27. Seven Daffodils
Disc Two
Myrtle Anderson Birthday Tape: Detroit, MI (1965)
1. Urge For Going
2. Born To Take The Highway
3. Here Today And Gone Tomorrow
Jac Holzman Demo: Detroit, MI (August 24, 1965)
4. What Will You Give Me
5. Let It Be Me
6. The Student Song
7. Day After Day
8. Like The Lonely Swallow
Let’s Sing Out, CBC TV: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada (October 4, 1965)
9. Favorite Colour
10. Me And My Uncle
Home Demo: Detroit, MI (ca. 1966)
11. Sad Winds Blowin’
Let’s Sing Out, CBC TV: Laurentian University, London, ON, Canada (October 24, 1966)
12. Just Like Me
13. Night In The City
Live at the 2nd Fret: Philadelphia, PA (November 1966)
14. Brandy Eyes
15. Intro to Urge For Going
16. Urge For Going
17. Intro to What’s The Story Mr. Blue
18. What’s The Story Mr. Blue
19. Eastern Rain
20. Intro to The Circle Game
21. The Circle Game
22. Intro to Night In The City
23. Night In The City
Disc Three
Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA, (March 12, 1967)
1. Intro to Both Sides Now
2. Both Sides Now
3. Intro to The Circle Game
4. The Circle Game
Live at the 2nd Fret: Philadelphia, PA (March 17, 1967)
Second Set
5. Morning Morgantown
6. Born To Take The Highway
7. Intro to Song To A Seagull
8. Song To A Seagull
Third Set
9. Winter Lady
10. Intro to Both Sides Now
11. Both Sides Now
Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA (March 19, 1967)
12. Intro to Eastern Rain
13. Eastern Rain
14. Intro to Blue On Blue
15. Blue On Blue
A Record Of My Changes – Michael’s Birthday Tape: North Carolina (May 1967)
16. Gemini Twin
17. Strawflower Me
18. A Melody In Your Name
19. Tin Angel
20. I Don’t Know Where I Stand
21. Joni improvising
Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA (May 28, 1967)
22. Intro to Sugar Mountain
23. Sugar Mountain
Disc Four
Home Demo: New York City, NY (ca. June 1967)
1. I Had A King
2. Free Darling
3. Conversation
4. Morning Morgantown
5. Dr. Junk
6. Gift Of The Magi
7. Chelsea Morning
8. Michael From Mountains
9. Cara’s Castle
10 . Jeremy (Incomplete)
Live at Canterbury House: Ann Arbor, MI (October 27, 1967)
First Set
11. Conversation
12. Intro to Come To The Sunshine
13. Come To The Sunshine
14. Intro to Chelsea Morning
15. Chelsea Morning
16. Intro to Gift Of The Magi
17. Gift Of The Magi
18. Play Little David
19. Intro to The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow
20. The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow
21. I Had A King
22. Intro to Free Darling
23. Free Darling
24. Intro to Cactus Tree
25. Cactus Tree
Disc Five
Live at Canterbury House: Ann Arbor, MI (October 27, 1967)
Second Set
1. Little Green
2. Intro to Marcie
3. Marcie
4. Intro to Ballerina Valerie
5. Ballerina Valerie
6. The Circle Game
7. Intro to Michael From Mountains
8. Michael From Mountains
9. Go Tell The Drummer Man
10. Intro to I Don’t Know Where I Stand
11. I Don’t Know Where I Stand
Third Set
12. A Melody In Your Name
13. Intro to Carnival In Kenora
14. Carnival In Kenora
15. Songs To Aging Children Come
16. Intro to Dr. Junk
17. Dr. Junk
18. Morning Morgantown
19. Intro to Night In The City
20. Night In The City
21. Both Sides Now
22. Urge For Going
EARLY JONI – 1963 LP TRACKLIST:
Side One
1. House Of The Rising Sun
2. John Hardy
3. Dark As A Dungeon
4. Tell Old Bill
5. Nancy Whiskey
Side Two
1. Anathea
2. Copper Kettle
3. Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)
4. Molly Malone
LIVE AT CANTERBURY HOUSE – 1967 3LP TRACKLIST:
Side One: First Set
1. Conversation
2. Intro to Come To The Sunshine
3. Come To The Sunshine
4. Intro to Chelsea Morning
5. Chelsea Morning
6. Intro to Gift Of The Magi
7. Gift Of The Magi
Side Two
1. Play Little David
2. Intro to The Dowy Dens Of Yarrow
3. The Dowy Dens Of Yarrow
4. I Had A King
5. Intro to Free Darling
6. Free Darling
7. Intro to Cactus Tree
8. Cactus Tree
Side Three: Second Set
1.Little Green
2. Intro to Marcie
3.Marcie
4. Intro to Ballerina Valerie
5. Ballerina Valerie
6. The Circle Game
Side Four
1. Intro to Michael From Mountains
2. Michael From Mountains
3. Go Tell The Drummer Man
4. Intro to I Don’t Know Where I Stand
5. I Don’t Know Where I Stand
Side Five: Third Set
1. A Melody In Your Name
2. Intro to Carnival In Kenora
3. Carnival In Kenora
4. Songs To Aging Children Come
5. Intro to Dr. Junk
6. Dr. Junk
Side Six
1.Morning Morgantown
2. Intro to Night In The City
3. Night In The City
4. Both Sides Now
5. Urge For Going
In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on September 11th, 2020:
Doves,The Universal Want
Doves are back with their first album in over a decade, The Universal Want, via IMPERIAL/Virgin EMI. It marks the UK rock trio’s fifth full-length album and the follow-up to 2009’s Kingdom of Rust. Containing 10 tracks, it was recorded at the band’s Frank Bough Sound III studios in the UK and was produced by Doves alongside Dan Austin. Speaking to At the Barrier about the recording process, drummer Andy Williams said that there was “an appreciation of what all three of us brought to the band originally,” adding, “We missed writing together and we also gave each other more room. If someone wasn’t feeling great one day we’d reconvene at a later date whereas during Kingdom of Rust we were working solidly day-to-day; clocking in. It was quite militant. We’ve always had a strong work ethic but this time it was different because of the way we gave each other space if they weren’t feeling it.”
The Flaming Lips,American Head
The Flaming Lips have come through with their sixteenth studio album, American Head, via Warner. Produced by longtime collaborator Dave Fridmann, the 13-track LP features guest vocals from singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves on two tracks, ‘Flowers of Neptune 6’ and ‘God and the Policeman’. “The music and songs that make up the AMERICAN HEAD album are based in a feeling,” frontman Wayne Coyne explained in a statement. “A feeling that, I think, can only be expressed through music and songs. We were, while creating it, trying to NOT hear it as sounds… but to feel it. Mother’s sacrifice, Father’s intensity, Brother’s insanity, Sister’s rebellion…. I can’t quite put it into words.”
Marilyn Manson,WE ARE CHAOS
Marilyn Manson has returned with a new album titled WE ARE CHAOS, out now via Loma Vista. Co-produced by Manson and Shooter Jennings, the shock-rocker’s latest marks his 11th studio album and the follow-up to 2017’s Heaven Upside Down. “This concept album is the mirror Shooter and I built for the listener — it’s the one we won’t stare into,” Manson explained in a press release. “There are so many rooms, closets, safes and drawers. But in the soul or your museum of memories, the worst are always the mirrors. Shards and slivers of ghosts haunted my hands when I wrote most of these lyrics. Making this record, I had to think to myself: ‘Tame your crazy, stitch your suit. And try to pretend that you are not an animal’ but I knew that mankind is the worst of them all. Making mercy is like making murder. Tears are the human body’s largest export.”
Jouska,Everything is Good
Oslo-based duo Jouska, composed of Marit Othilie Thorvik and Hans Olav Settem, have released their debut album Everything Is Good. Influenced by the likes of The Internet, Grimes, and Little Dragon, the 9-track LP features productions from Sassy 009 and explores subjects such as isolation, mental illness, and toxic relationships. Speaking about the evolution of their songwriting process, they told us back in March: “It used to be more about the instrumentation. It would start out with instrumental ideas, and then we created vocals and lyrics that would match these ideas. But in the last year, songwriting and vocal production has gotten more important to us. Now it’s more about telling a story and creating a unique vocal narrative for the listener to follow.”
Other albums out today:
Mastodon,Medium Rarities; Everything Everything,Re-Animator; Conway The Machine,From King To A GOD; Jeremy Gara,Passerine Finale.
Wondering what to wear when it’s almost fall but still summer and not quite cool enough for a sweater? Step into September by taking style inspiration from these three eco-friendly and sustainably made fashion brands.
Fashion designer and creative Maggie Hewitt drew inspiration from her childhood and growing up on the coast of New Zealand to create her clothing brand. Hewitt’s love for fashion went hand in hand with her love for sustainability, and the pieces you’ll find at Maggie Marilyn will exemplify her vision. Their clothing is made in New Zealand, circular and regenerative, and packaged consciously when delivered to buyers and stores. Maggie Marilyn embraces simple styles and eye-catching colours that help to enhance the nature and environment you experience.
Kristy Caylor is a fashion designer with a very dedicated and active business plan that ensures the fashion she distributes does a little harm to the planet as possible. Founded by Caylor in 2018, For Days is a clothing brand that makes t-shirts and knitwear from upcycled and organic materials. What makes this brand unique is that rather than buyers, For Days has subscribers – you can pay a monthly flat-rate fee to get your clothing delivered to you each month, depending on how many articles you’re hoping to buy.”We have a burden of ownership,” Caylor explains. “It leads to a pretty heavy solution problem, [but] we want to give people the freedom of new things all the time [as well as] a new relationship to their products.” Stay in touch with For Days on Instagram for more style inspiration, intriguing but straightforward looks, and eco-friendly living tips.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, and inspired by both active and comfortable living, Pact is a clothing brand that specializes in everything from adult yoga apparel to sleepwear. Made from organic materials and fair trade, Pact imagines and aims for a world where sweatshops and child labour no longer exist. Their clothing is simple and best used for layering. As it gets colder and you’re looking for ways to stay comfortable under thick jackets or coats, consider shopping from Pact to help support a brand that cares.
Many of us are inspired by what we see in the movies.
A good rom-com can inspire us to never give up on finding the man or woman of our dreams. An uplifting movie will give us the sense that anything is possible. And a rousing true story can give us hope to carry on in our personal battles, even when the odds seem against us.
Then there are those movies that can encourage us to travel more, or even limo services like BBZ Limo. After witnessing the journeys of our favorite actors and actresses on screen, we can be motivated to follow their example. Whether we travel light with a minimalist backpack and little else but the shoes on our feet or load up our cars for an epic road trip with our family and friends, we can experience the adventures that we have seen on screen. Or if you’re looking for a great limo service, check out https://www.limofind.com/tx/el-paso-limo-service/
Here are the movies that will inspire you to travel more.
#1: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Walter Mitty is a bit of a dreamer, always imagining the adventures he could go on while never actually getting anywhere. This changes when he is one day encouraged to step out of his comfort zone for the sake of his career, and he journeys to such stunning places as Greenland and Iceland on his personal mission.
Ben Stiller plays the lead, and he’s as warm and winning as ever in the role. The film is inspirational, not just because it encourages us to explore the beauty of the places he visits, but because we feel motivated to step out of our own comfort zones. We can all daydream but do nothing to bring them into reality. The film inspires us to grasp the opportunity to travel and to make our bucket list dreams come true.
#2: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
In Steven Spielberg’s classic movie, Indiana Jones tours the world on his quest to find the Ark of the Covenant. From the jungles of Peru to the deserts of Egypt, he battles the Nazis, swings across giant chasms, and overcomes his personal fear of snakes! It’s a rip-roaring adventure and one that can inspire us.
After all, how many times have you wanted to have an adventure of your own? While we wouldn’t recommend venturing into pits filled with deadly traps, we would recommend a vacation exploring the temples of Peru in search of lost treasure. You could also visit one of these other Indiana Jones locations and scale rope bridges in Sri Lanka, board a raft on the Tuolumne River, or camel ride across the deserts of Tunisia.
National Lampoon’s European Vacation
Chevy Chase is the head of the Griswold family and he leads his family on the European trip of a lifetime. It’s a pretty funny comedy, and typically involves Clark and his kin getting into all kinds of trouble and offending all kinds of people along the way.
Why is it inspirational? Well, for two reasons. One, the Griswolds get to visit famous landmarks around London, Paris, Italy, and Germany, and you might be encouraged to visit them too. And secondly, despite the usual family fallings out, the Griswolds do start to bond together. That could be your incentive for your own European road trip with the people that are closest to you.
Doves
Marilyn Manson has returned with a new album titled 
Oslo-based duo 
