Daniel Lopatin of the avant-garde electronic project Oneohtrix Point Never appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform ‘I Don’t Love Me Anymore’ from his most recent studio albumMagic Oneohtrix Point Never. Previous live show collaborators Eli Keszler and Nate Boyce joined Lopatin for his network television debut. Watch the remote performance below.
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never, the follow-up to Lopatin’s 2018 LP Age Of, came out in late October. The record was co-executive produced by the Weeknd’s Abel Tesfaye and includes contributions from Arca, Caroline Polachek, Nate Boyce, and Nolanberollin.
Based on true events, Pride is set in 1980s London, where a group of lesbian and gay activists decide to unite against their shared enemies: Margaret Thatcher, the police, and the press. They form a group called LGSM: Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. The group travels to Wales to support the striking miners, but the journey – both internal and external – isn’t easy for everyone.
The activists and their enemies are portrayed by an all-star cast: George Mackay, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Ben Schnetzer, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, and others. Their performances make for an emotional ride that leaves viewers feeling empowered and moved.
Here are fifteen of the film’s colourful stills, which accentuate the themes of diversity and unity.
Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a two-hour broadcast on HBO last night. The band were inducted by Charlize Theron, while Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Chvrches frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, and Arcade Fire’s Win Butler also paid tribute during the pre-recorded special. Watch Depeche Mode’s acceptance speech below.
“You know growing up, listening to music on the radio and having music, it really kind of helps us to feel normal—feel part of something,” Dave Gahan said during the speech. “That’s what music does for people and I think that’s what Depeche Mode has done for many people. I think that music really brings people together, and God knows we need that more today than it seems like any other time.”
The group also acknowledged former members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder, calling them “part of the DM family and the DM history and the success of this band.”
Depeche Mode are joined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 by the Notorious B.I.G., Nine Inch Nails, Whitney Houston, T. Rex, the Doobie Brothers, as well as Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.
Nine Inch Nails were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a two-hour broadcast on HBO last night. Following an induction speech from Iggy Pop and a video package that included words from St. Vincent, Miley Cyrus, Saul Williams, and others, Trent Reznor accepted the honor on behalf of the band. Watch his full acceptance speech below.
“As I’ve been wrapping my head around Nine Inch Nails being welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I think I was most looking forward to the ceremony itself where the hopefully whole camp, past and present, was going to get together and have a moment. And we’re all stuck in our little boxes staring at our screens,” he said.
He continued: “Even now, music’s always been the thing that keeps me going, and, as an artist, I think the most significant accomplishment or feeling is realising something you’ve created from a fragile and intimate place has reached out, resonated and affected someone else, possibly changing how they see the world. So as to whatever being in a hall of fame means, thank you for the recognition.”
Reznor ended his speech by specifically thanking the band’s fanbase. “For the Nine Inch Nails fans out there, you guys are the best. We’ve wound up in some weird places together, and you’re an intense bunch that can drive me out of my mind, but you’re the best. This journey’s far from over if I have any say in it, so let’s stop fuckin’ around pattin’ ourselves on the back and get to it. Hope to see you all in the flesh soon. Thank you.”
Nine Inch Nails are joined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 by the Notorious B.I.G., Depeche Mode, Whitney Houston, T. Rex, the Doobie Brothers, as well as Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.
Foo Fighters were the musical guests on last night’s Dave Chappelle-hosted episode of Saturday Night Live. Just minutes before they got on stage, they confirmed the release of their next album: Medicine at Midnight arrives on February 5, 2021 via Roswell Records/RCA. They also debuted a new song called ‘Shame Shame’ and performed their 2003 single ‘Times Like These’. Watch their performance below, and scroll down for the album’s tracklist and cover artwork.
Foo Fighters produced the new album alongside Greg Kurstin. The follow-up to 2017’s Concrete and Gold and this year’s 00959525 EP was engineered by Darrell Thorp and mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent. Dave Grohl said in an interview earlier this year that the record is “filled with anthemic, huge, sing-along rock songs. It’s kind of like a dance record, but not an EDM, disco, modern dance record. It’s got groove. To me, it’s our David Bowie’s Let’s Dance record. That’s what we wanted to make, we wanted to make this really up, fun record.”
Medicine at Midnight Cover Artwork:
Medicine at Midnight Tracklist:
1. Making a Fire
2. Shame Shame
3. Cloudspotter
4. Waiting on a War
5. Medicine at Midnight
6. No Son of Mine
7. Holding Poison
8. Chasing Birds
9. Love Dies Young
Having spent years much of her teenage years jumping from one band to the next in the music scene of Detroit, vocalist and songwriter Lianna Vanicelli started writing and recording her own music under the moniker Xelli Island shortly after moving to Los Angeles. Working closely with producer and longtime friend Jon Zott, she recently released her debut EP Meet Me at the Waterfall, a dreamy, unabashedly sentimental collection of pop songs as infectious as any. The sparkly, sensual ’02 20 20′ sways with an effervescent kind of optimism, while ‘When You Go, You’re Gone’ delves into the feeling of missing someone or something with haunting vulnerability; Xelli’s vocals are subtly distorted as she repeats the word “gone”, meshing with the melodies in the background and accentuating that sense of profound loss. Though Zott’s production is airy and lush and the hooks are nothing but catchy, Xelli’s expressive vocals always manage to stand out – on the lovelorn ‘Bad for You’, she delivers the titular line with the sort of confidence you’d expect from someone who’s been serving up tunes like this for years, while the pensive ‘I Know I’m Only Dreaming (Nag-iisa)’ features one of her most subdued but emotionally affecting performances. It’s not such a surprise that Xelli Island’s music feels exactly like what the project’s name would suggest – its own island – but she’s only just started exploring all its little nooks and crannies, and we can’t wait to hear where it takes us next.
We caught up with Xelli Island for this edition of our Artist Spotlight series, where we showcase up-and-coming artists and give them a chance to talk about their music.
What’s your earliest memory of playing or feeling deeply connected to music?
Probably when I was like 9 or 10. I would sit in my bedroom and listen to CDs for hours while reading through the lyric booklets. ‘Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely’ by The Backstreet Boys was definitely one of the first songs to hit different.
You grew up playing in different bands since you were 14. Do you feel that being a solo artist has given you more creative freedom?
100%. I’ve been in quite a few bands over the years and you always end up compromising. It has been so refreshing to not have to think twice when it comes to creating. You cut out a lot of the back and forth and overthinking and just end up doing what you really love and want, which I think makes for a more authentic project.
Do you follow any particular process when it comes to constructing your songs?
Not always, but I’ve found that the best way for me is to start with just piano chords and vocal melodies. My producer Jon and I have been writing that way lately and it’s been amazing. We get all of the structure, melodies, and chord patterns done before adding anything else. Then we add all of the sounds to make it Xelli, I write the lyrics at home, and then we cut vocals and produce it out. Those are usually the best songs.
What were some of the inspirations behind Meet Me at the Waterfall?
It’s an EP that reflects on love and loss. Not just in a romantic sense. ‘When You Go, You’re Gone’ sounds like it would be about longing for a person, but it’s actually about how much I miss playing shows (it’s been almost 2 years). ‘I Know I’m Only Dreaming (Nag-iisa)’ is about someone losing a family member or partner to death, I wanted to make that song because there is so much death happening on a global level due to Covid this year. Half of it is sung in Tagalog because I’m half Filipino and it’s been crazy that we’re all experiencing the same fears throughout the world. ‘Bad For You’ was inspired by high levels of dopamine and actually falling in love with someone who I knew would probably break my heart.
What was it like collaborating with your friend and producer Jon Zott?
It’s honestly the best. We’re both from Detroit now living in LA and we go way back. He knows my musical journey and so there was already this deep understanding when started working together. And it’s just really fun, he’s one of my closest friends so it’s all very casual and easy. Our style mesh really well so the songs come naturally.
Do you have a favourite song from the EP?
Probably ‘02 20 20’. The day that it was written was just such a special but also ordinary day. I will forever be nostalgic for it. It was right before Covid hit and my friends and I were feeling so excited and hopeful for the future. The song itself captures that collective feeling and it brings me back to a more simple time.
How do you feel now that the project is out into the world, and what are your plans for the future?
It feels great to have a body of work out and I feel proud of it and excited for people to connect with it. I’m even more excited about what we’re working on now. I always feel like every release is a stepping stone to the next, and the project keeps evolving and becoming better. I’m going to keep releasing music next year and start getting a live show together and eventually play shows one day (hopefully). I’ll also be releasing a ‘Meet Me At The Waterfall’ cassette with the EP and a bunch of dope remixes of the songs soon!
CHAI have shared a new cover of Mariya Takeuchi’s 1984 track ‘Plastic Love’. Listen to it below.
CHAI’s take on Takeuchi’s city pop classic follows the Japanese band’s latest single ‘Donuts Mind If I Do’, their first release for new record label Sub Pop. The 7″ release for that song, which is out now, includes ‘Plastic Love’ as a B-side. Earlier this year, CHAI teamed up with Hinds for the joint single ‘UNITED GIRLS ROCK’N’ROLL CLUB’. They released their debut album PUNK last year.
Following her recently released studio album Silver Ladders, experimental/ambient harpist and composer Mary Lattimore has shared a one-off single called ‘Hold Your Breath’. The new track appeared on Lattimore’s Bandcamp page yesterday (November 6) alongside the description, “Made this up in a wild week.” Check it out below.
Silver Ladders, which was produced by Slowdive frontman Neil Halstead, came out last month via Ghostly International. It marked the follow-up to the Los Angeles-based artist’s 2018’s album Hundreds of Days.
BENEE has shared a new single from her upcoming debut albumHey u xcalled ‘Happen to Me’. Check it out below, alongside an accompanying lyric video.
“This song is super important to me. It’s the opening track [on the album],” BENEE said of the track in an interview with Vogue Australia. “It’s the first song where I’ve written about anxiety. The lyrics are pretty dark. Life is pretty crazy right now, and I think it’s important to talk about this kind of stuff.”
Hey u x is out next Friday, November 13 (via Republic). It features contributions from Gus Dapperton, Mallrat, Kenny Beats, Bakar, and Muroki, and includes the previously released singles ‘Plain’, ‘Supalonely’, ‘Night Garden’, and ‘Snail’.
Björk has collaborated with the Icelandic Hamrahlid Choir for a new version of her track ‘Cosmogony’. Originally taken from Björk’s 2012 album Biophilia, the acapella rendition of the track was first performed by the Hamrahlíð Choir at the premiere performance of Björk’s Cornucopia show at The Shed, New York, last year. Check it out below.
“i was myself in this choir when i was 16 and i think every single icelandic musician you have ever heard of was brought up and musically baptised by [Hamrahlid Choir founder Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir],” Björk explained in a statement on social media. “þorgerður is a legend in iceland and has guarded optimism and the light in the tumultuous times that teenagedom is. she has also encouraged and commissioned dozens of choir music from all of icelands most prominant composers for half a century or so.”
The new version of ‘Cosmogony’ will appear on the Hamrahlid Choir’s upcoming album Come and Be Joyful, set for release on December 4 via One Little Independent Records (f.k.a. One Little Indian). The record will also see Björk contribute a new version of her Medúlla composition ‘Sonnets’.
"i was myself in this choir when i was 16 and i think every single icelandic musician you have ever heard of was brought up and musically baptised by this miraculous woman"
