Half Waif has announced the Ephemeral Being EP, sharing ‘Big Dipper’ along with the announcement. Following 2022’s Portraits EP, the 5-track effort arrives on May 31 via ANTI-. Listen to ‘Big Dipper’ below.
“This is a song about looking for answers, and finding none, and looking again,” Nandi Rose said of ‘Big Dipper’ in a statement. “It was written at a time when I was feeling very stuck in my body and overwhelmed by compounding griefs. I was inspired by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who had just passed away, and his idea of continuation–how we are not bound by our forms. We continue on. ‘This body is not me,’ he said. ‘So laugh with me, hold my hand, let us say good-bye, say good-bye to meet again soon.’”
Barcelona’s Primavera Sound Festival is just around the corner, bringing some of the most exciting names in rock and pop to the Parc del Fòrum from May 30 to June 1. This year’s headliners include Lana Del Rey, Pulp, the National, FKA Twigs, SZA, Disclosure, Justice, Mitski, Phoenix, PJ Harvey, and Vampire Weekend, and with over 150 artists on the bill, it’s not easy picking even just a tenth of them for our list of the must-see acts at the festival. Obviously, you should see those headliners if you have the chance, especially with Lana Del Rey, Mitski, and Vampire Weekend having put out some of their best material in the past year, but we’re narrowing the list down to non-headline acts. Even then, there’s some notable names we’ve had to leave out, including Clipse’s only European show and a rare live performance from Jai Paul. But to help you navigate this year’s program, here are 15 acts we’re excited to see at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2024.
Beth Gibbons
Portishead’s Beth Gibbons is supporting the release of her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown, with a rare tour, and Primavera Sound is one of its first stops. Portishead haven’t put out any music since 2008’s Third (which they showcased at the Barcelona festival that year), and Gibbons hasn’t toured solo in over 20 years, but the two singles that have been released from the record so far – ‘Floating on a Moment’ and ‘Reaching Out’ are mesmerizing. The whole thing comes out May 17, and whether or not you choose to spend time with it beforehand, seeing the legendary vocalist live is sure to send chills down your spine.
Bikini Kill
In 2019, Bikini Kill reunited after a 22-year breakup, and they’ve been playing shows regularly ever since. Kathleen Hanna, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail were set to play the festival in 2021, but the performance was cancelled last minute, which I hope doesn’t happen this time – it’s the first stop of the European leg of their 2024 tour, so excitement will be high. The influence of the riot grrrl movement they helped lead can be felt on many of the acts on the Primavera lineup – another band on this list, Mannequin Pussy, opened for Bikini Kill last year – and according to reviews, the band hasn’t lost any of its live ferocity. They’re bound to put on a powerful performance, and whether you grew up on them or not, hearing their anthems live should be an absolute thrill.
Chelsea Wolfe
Over time, Chelsea Wolfe’s sound has leaned into neofolk, electronica, and doom metal, but her core aesthetic – one of dark beauty and aching vulnerability – has remained intact. Her latest album, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, is marked by her signature melancholy, but blends these different elements into one of her most confident releases yet. The songs are visceral and hypnotic, but Wolfe’s voice never drowns in the atmosphere she creates, her vocals mixed higher than usual, and I’m curious how Wolfe will cast herself at the center of them in a live environment. Regardless of what sort of theatrics she’ll use to amplify them, her songs swell with emotion, and hearing them should be a cathartic experience.
Ethel Cain
Aside from a few stray tracks, Ethel Cain hasn’t put out any music since her debut LP Preacher’s Daughter, which we named our album of the year in 2022, but she’s an unmissable act at any festival she’s played since, including this year’s Coachella. Unsettling, hypnotic, and defiant, her songs abound in doomful, spiritual imagery that’s informed by her strict religious upbringing, touching on themes of love, murder, abuse, and intergenerational trauma. A live show might be the purest and most compelling way of grasping the persona Hayden Anhedönia has built around the project, and if her stage presence is nearly as gripping as her storytelling and performances on record, you have no excuse not to be there.
Jessica Pratt
Jessica Pratt just released Here in the Pitch, her first album in five years and one of the best records of the year so far. It contains some of the singer-songwriter’s most entrancing and evocative songs to date, with melodies that have been swirling in my head since the moment I heard them and lyrics that speak directly to the soul. In some ways, it’s hard to imagine any of its songs, or even Pratt’s earlier material, being performed in front of me – so hypnotic and dreamlike in their logic, so ghostly and timeless in their intimacy. But in a festival setting – Pratt will play her first show of the year at Primavera before touring Europe and the UK – it should also be a quiet marvel, providing an opportunity for pause and gentle introspection. Even if you’ve traveled a long way just to get there, Pratt’s music will transport you somewhere else entirely.
Joanna Sternberg
Joanna Sternberg’s music is spare, idiosyncratic, and tenderly affecting, earnings fans in everyone from Jeff Tweedy to Phoebe Bridgers, who has called the singer-songwriter “emo Randy Newman.” Another frequent comparison point, brought up Primavera itself, is Daniel Johnston, who played the festival back in 2013. Last year, Sternberg followed up her debut LP Then I Try Some More with I’ve Got Me, an album that’s a joy to revisit: heartbreaking, brutally honest, and playful, like a friend helping you soldier through the toughest emotions. “No matter how many times I sing these songs, there might be another time I sing it where I have a new catharsis,” Sternberg said in our Artist Spotlight interview. You wouldn’t want to miss it.
Julie Byrne
The Greater Wings, Julie Byrne’s most recent album, is mesmerizing, gorgeous, and elegiac, focusing on themes of grief and transformation – around half of the record was written with her friend and collaborator Eric Littmann before his untimely death at the age of 31. Dazzling in their aliveness, the songs were also informed by Byrne’s life on the road, so singing them to a crowd of people must be particularly special. Her performance might be stripped-back and delicate, but expect it to also be breathtaking.
Mandy, Indiana
Blending club rhythms and industrial noise, Mandy, Indiana – the Manchester quartet of vocalist and lyricist Valentine Caulfield, guitarist and producer Scott Fair, synth player Simon Catling, and drummer Alex Macdougall – make punishingly loud, enthralling music, as showcased on their 2023 debut i’ve seen a way. Caulfield’s vocals range from whispering to singing to screaming (all in French), while the band pulls you into their chaotic world with grooves it then distorts with eerie, ferocious sounds so you’re never sure what they signify. It leaves you with the urge to see them live just for a glimpse of how it all comes alive, even if you still won’t be able to crack the code. To quote Fair: “Just so you know, you might want to wear ear defenders for this.”
Mannequin Pussy
Mannequin Pussy’s latest album, I Got Heaven, is as intense and hooky as anything from the Philadelphia band’s back catalog, but it’s also their most collaborative and adventurous album to date. It’s a potent expression of the band’s multi-dimensional sound, which channels rage and hope by careening through indie rock, hardcore, power pop, and tender punk. Showcasing it alongside highlights from records like the Perfect EP and 2019’s Patience, Marisa Dabice, Kaleen Reading, Collins Regisford, and Maxine Steen are set to put on a dynamic show that’s equal parts chaos and catharsis.
Militarie Gun
In 2023, Turnstile were the hardcore band to see at Primavera. This year, it’s Militarie Gun, the Los Angeles band whose take on the genre is incredibly melodic and catchy. You might have heard their song ‘Do It Faster’ on a Taco Bell commercial, but you should really listen to the whole album it’s taken from, Life Under the Gun, which refines and tightens the sound Ian Shelton built on their early EPs. It’s full of relentless energy, and there’s no doubt their live set will be, too.
Slow Pulp
Slow Pulp put out one of the best (classically) indie rock albums of 2023 with Yard, which is packed with great songs that are warm, gauzy, and emotive. It might not be the flashiest set you’ll catch at the festival, but when you’ve got those great songs, you don’t need to do much more than simply showcase them. More than just pleasurable, there’s also something distinctly summery about the nostalgia and longing baked into the band’s music, making it the perfect fit for a festival like Primavera. Pulp might be right at the top if this year’s poster, but Slow Pulp should be on your itinerary, too.
The Last Dinner Party
The Last Dinner Party managed to live up to the hype with their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, and Primavera is an incredible chance to see them live – the band embarked on an entirely sold-out tour of the US last year before the reocrd even came out. Given the band’s theatricality, maximalism, and unique blend of influences, which range from ABBA to Kate Bush, it’s no surprise they’re known for delivering exciting and dynamic performances. Prelude to Ecstasy is stacked with memorable songs, but they’re almost guaranteed to end their set with their most popular song, ‘Nothing Matters’, turning it into a cathartic singalong that’s not to be missed.
Water From Your Eyes
There’s so many layers to unpack when you’re listening to Water From Your Eyes’ latest album, Everyone Crushed, which is admirable in its approach to both dissonance and pop melody. But as much as I (and so many critics) loved that album, something tells me that seeing Nate Amos and Rachel Brown live is the only, and certainly the best, way to appreciate their music’s jagged intensity. The more their sound evolves, the more its cacophony feels like a journey worth following, one you’ll want to bear witness to.
yeule
Yeule is the musical project of Nat Ćmiel, who was born in Singapore and is currently based in London. Named after a Final Fantasy charater, yeule falls into the category of what the Primavera page calls “avatar-artists,” comparing them to acts like Yves Tumor and Grimes that have previously performed at the festival. But yeule is a unique case – a self-identified “cyborg entity” whose music embraces the boundless freedom of the digital form: “Don’t you feel so pure when you don’t have a body anymore?” they asked on ‘bloobunny’. My guess is that Ćmiel has a lot of fun embodying both the physicality and fluidity of the songs in a live environment, especially when delivering the more alt-rock-influenced, shoegazy cuts off their latest album softscars (much like Tumor did at Parc del Fòrum last year).
Yo La Tengo
There’s no shortage of indie rock veterans on the Primavera lineup this year, but Yo La Tengo, not quite at the top of that bill, certainly deserve a shout-out. They’d be an act worth seeing at any point in their career, and simply running through highlights from their beloved catalog would make for a rewarding performance. But the band’s latest LP, This Stupid World, is one of their sharpest and most dynamic albums in a long time, and I would not be disappointed if it ends up dominating their set. The title track is what I’m aching to hear the most; Yo La Tengo songs may not be the kind you sing along to the way, say, Vampire Weekend’s hits are, but hearing, maybe even humming along to, that refrain – “This stupid world/ It’s killing me/ This stupid world/ Is all we have” – should be a totally cathartic moment.
Throughout the week, we update our Best New Songs playlist with the new releases that caught our attention the most, be it a single leading up to the release of an album or a newly unveiled deep cut. And each Monday, we round up the best new songs released over the past week (the eligibility period begins on Monday and ends Sunday night) in this best new music segment.
On this week’s list, we have Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Euphoria’, the wildest and most visceral installment in his ongoing feud with Drake; illuminati hotties’ restlessly infectious new song ‘Can’t Be Still’; Charly Bliss’ poignant and dramatic ‘Nineteen’, the first preview of the band’s upcoming LP Forever; Jessica Pratt’s ‘The Last Year’, which perfectly evokes what she calls a “weird optimism” at the end of her new record; Why Bonnie’s ‘Dotted Line’, a catchy, emotive song about experiencing “the weight of capitalism”; Caroline Polachek’s ominous, glitchy contribution to the I Saw the TV Glow soundtrack, ‘Starburned and Unkissed’; Ravyn Lenae’s ‘Love Me Not’, one of two singles from her upcoming album Bird’s Eye that hints at a bold new sound.
Drake has dropped the latest diss track in his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar. ‘The Heart Part 6’ takes its title from Lamar’s ongoing single series, and it arrives on the heels of Lamar’s new songs ‘Meet the Grahams’ and ‘Not Like Us’. Posting the song on social media, Drake wrote, “And we know you’re dropping 6 mins after so instead of posting my address you have a lot to address.” Listen below.
On the new track, Drake denies Lamar’s allegations that he pursued underage women (“I never been with no one underage, but now I understand why this the angle that you really mess with”), and claims that his camp fed Kendrick false information about having a daughter. “The one’s that you’re getting your stories from, they’re all clowns,” he raps. “We plotted for a week and then we fed you the information/ A daughter that’s 11 years old, I bet he takes it.”
Dua Lipa pulled double duty on last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live, serving as both host and musical guest. In addition to performing ‘Illusion’ and ‘Happy for You’ off her new album Radical Optimism, the singer starred in multiple sketches, including one titled ‘Young Spicy’ about a hip-hop producer who wants her to come up with a new tag, and another where she chimes in on the ongoing beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Watch it happen below.
Ahead of its release on Friday, Lipa previewed Radical Optimism with the songs ‘Houdini’, ‘Training Season’, and ‘Illusion’. Her European tour in support of the album kicks off in Germany next month.
Kendrick Lamar has dropped his fourth Drake diss track of the week, ‘Not Like Us’. The Compton artist released ‘Euphoria’ on Tuesday, followed by ‘6:16 in LA’ on Friday morning; both rappers then released diss tracks within an hour of each other, with Drake sharing ‘Family Matters’ and Lamar putting out ‘Meet the Grahams’. ‘Not Like Us’ was produced by Mustard, and its single artwork depicts Drake’s mansion as it would look on a sex offender map. Check it out below.
On the song, Lamar continues to accuse Drake of pedophilia, rapping, “Say Drake, I hear you like ‘em young/ You better not have to go to Cell Block One/ To any bitch that talk to him and they in love/ Just make sure you hide your little sister from him.” He also makes a play on Drake’s sixth album: “Certified Lover Boy/ Certified pedophile.”
Lamar then critizes Drake for teaming up with Atlanta rappers like Future, Lil Baby, and 2 Chainz to boost his reputation. “You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars/ You not a colleague, you a fuckin’ colonizer/ The family matter, and the truth of the matter/ It was God’s Plan to show you’re a liar,” he raps.
The feud between Lamar and Drake was reignited last month with Lamar’s verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s ‘Like That’. Cole later responded with ‘7 Minute Drill’, which he then apologized for and pulled from streaming. Drake fired back with the songs ‘Push Ups’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’.
Ravyn Lenae has announced her sophomore album, Bird’s Eye. The follow-up to the R&B singer’s 2022 debut LP Hypnos was executive produced by Dahi, and it arrives August 19 via Atlantic. Accompanying the announcement are the first two singles, ‘Love Me Not’ and ‘Love Is Blind’. Check out the self-directed video for ‘Love Me Not’ and listen to ‘Love Is Blind’ below.
“‘Bird’s Eye’ signifies returning to a place of self-trust and unbending intuition while acknowledging the paths and turns I’ve taken to get here,” Lenae explained in a press release. “Revisiting the most basic parts of my identity has allowed me to fully embrace them and be proud of where I’m going.”
Channel Tres has announced his long-awaited debut album, Head Rush, which is due out on June 14 via RCA. Along with the announcement, he’s shared the new single ‘Berghain’, a collaboration with Los Angeles artist Barney Bones. Check it out below.
“It’s about the time I played Berghain and how the culture in that environment made me feel, I didn’t feel weird anymore,” Channel Tres said of the new song, which is named after the famed Berlin nightclub. “Everyone’s the same, the goal for everyone in that place is to enjoy themselves and be free, and music played a pivotal role in that. It was the main thing for me and I wanted to document that experience I had there through music so that I always have that memory in my life. So I can feel that memory while I’m performing and relive that experience.”
After Kendrick Lamar shared ‘6:16 in LA’, his second Drake diss track of the week, on Friday, the rappers have delivered brand new diss tracks released within an hour of each other. Listen to Drake’s ‘Family Matters’ and Lamar’s ‘Meet the Grahams’ below.
Clocking in at over seven minutes, ‘Family Matters’ sees Drake taking more shots at Lamar and his wife Whitney Alford, rapping: “You the black messiah wifing up a mixed queen / And hit vanilla cream to help out with your self-esteem/ On some Bobby shit I wanna know what Whitney need/ All that puppy love was over in your late teens.”
Drake later turns his attention to the Weeknd (“a drugged out little punk sissy from the northside“), A$AP Rocky (“Gassed cause you hit my BM first n***a do the math who I was hitting then”) and Rick Ross (“Ross callin’ me the white boy, and the shit kinda got a ring to it/’Cause all these rappers wavin’ white flags while the whole fuckin’ club sing to it”).
At the end of the song, Drake seems to accuse the Compton rapper of domestically abusing a partner: “They hired a crisis management team/ To clean up the fact that you beat on your queen/ The picture you painted ain’t what it seems.”
An hour later, Lamar responded with ‘Meet the Grahams’, which begins by addressing Drake’s son, Adonis Graham: “Dear Adonis, I’m sorry that that man is your father, let me be honest/ It takes a man to be a man, your dad is not responsive/ I look at him and wish your grandpa woulda wore a condom/ I’m sorry that you gotta grow up and then stand behind him.”
In the second verse, Lamar speaks to Drake’s mother and father. “You raised a horrible fuckin’ person/The nerve of you, Dennis,” he tells his father, before turning to his mother Sandra: “Your son’s a sick man with sick thoughts/I think n—-s like him should die/Him and Weinstein should get fucked up in a cell for the rest of they life.” He then alleges that Drake is “hiding another child,” an 11-year-old daughter.
“Fuck a rap battle/ This a lifelong battle with yourself,” Lamar concluded.
Lamar reignited the feud last month by dissing Drake and J. Cole on his surprise verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s ‘Like That’. Cole later responded with ‘7 Minute Drill’, but then apologized for it and pulled the track from streaming. Drake fired back with the songs ‘Push Ups’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’, to which Lamar responded with ‘Euphoria’ on May 1 and yesterday’s ‘6:16 in LA’.
Kendrick Lamar has dropped another Drake diss song, ‘6:16 in LA’. Arriving just days after the six-minute ‘Euphoria’, the Al Green-sampling-track is only available on Lamar’s Instagram, and it’s produced by Jack Antonoff and his Red Hearse bandmate Sounwave. Check it out below.
“Are you finally ready to play Have You Ever? Let’s see/ Have you ever thought that OVO was workin’ for me?” Kendrick raps on the track. “Fake bully, I hate bullies, you must be a terrible person/ Everyone in your team is whispering that you deserve it/ Can’t ‘Toosie Slide’ out of this one, it’s just gon’ resurface/ Every dog gotta have his day, now live in your purpose/ It was fun ’til you start to put money up in the streets/ Then lost money, ’cause they came back with the no receipts.”
He later goes on: “You playin’ dirty with propaganda, it blow up on ya/ You’re playin’ dirty with Zack Bia and Twitter bots/ But your reality can’t hide behind Wi-Fi/ Your lil’ memes is losing steam, they figured you out/ The forced opinions is not convincin’, y’all need a new route.”
Lamar ends the song, which he posted alongside a photo of a black leather glove with a Maybach logo, with the line: “It’s time that you look around on who’s around you/ Before you figure that you’re not alone, ask what Mike would do.” Drake compared himself to Michael Jackson on his J. Cole collab ‘First Person Shooter’.
