The Recording Academy has announced it has added three new categories to the Grammy Awards: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.
“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in a statement. “These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape.”
In addition to the new categories, two existing, non-genre-specific categories – Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical – will be moved to the General Field so that all Grammy voters can for them. Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical was introduced as a category in 2022, and the first-ever winner was Tobias Jesso Jr.
“By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists – and relocating the Producer Of the Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,” Mason added. “We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.”
Devendra Banhart has announced a new album and his first for Mexican Summer, Flying Wig, which is set for release on September 22. The follow-up to 2019’s Ma was made in collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon. Check out director Matt Muir‘s video for the lead single ‘Twin’ below, along with the album cover, tracklist, and Banhart’s upcoming tour dates.
“When Devendra and I originally discussed the creative approach to the ‘Twin’ music video, I really responded to the idea of searching for connection,” Murr explained in a statement. “We talked about the strange comfort of knowing that other people have experienced the pain or entrapment that we may be experiencing. I wanted to explore a framework where Devendra’s character is trapped in a cycle, but still finds beauty in the execution. Stylistically, we were definitely inspired by neon-soaked 1980’s neo-noir films, but we still wanted the video to feel somewhat timeless. We also left a lot of room for improvisation on the set, to make sure Devendra’s unique sense of humour was evident in the storytelling. He was such a supportive and inventive collaborator during the entire process, and I think that really shines through in the final piece.”
Banhart had this to say about the new record:
This entire record was inspired by Kobayashi Issa’s poem
This dewdrop world- Is a dewdrop world, And yet, And yet…
I’ve never read a more concise and clear illustration of hope… it just sweeps me away by the breadth of its scope…. as lonely as we might feel at our saddest, angriest, most desperate, most frustrated, most hopeless, most heartbroken moments, we have all felt that, everyone on earth, our ancestors before us, and those that will come after, have or will feel that…. The “and yet , and yet” is our ability to face despair with hope, to keep on failing and loving … It’s about transmuting despair into gratitude, wounds into forgiveness, grief into praise.
Of working with Cate Le Bon, Banhart commented: “She’s the only person I wanted to make this record with. We set out to make a record sonically unlike anything I have made before – with a new creative partner at the helm. We definitely wanted a new sound, electronic yet organic and warm…we wanted to draw out and emphasise the emotional aspect of a synthesiser.”
Flying Wig Cover Artwork:
Flying Wig Tracklist:
1. Feeling
2. Fireflies
3. Nun
4. Sight Seer
5. Sirens
6. Charger
7. Flying Wig
8. Twin
9. May
10. The Party
Devendra Banhart 2023 Tour Dates:
Oct 3 – Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre
Oct 4 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Oct 6 – Toronto, ONT – The Phoenix Concert Theatre
Oct 7 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
Oct 8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Oct 9 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
Oct 11 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Oct 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Oct 13 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
Oct 14 – Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
Nov 7 – Lisbon, PT – Coliseu
Nov 8 – Braga, PT – Theatro Circo
Nov 10 – Madrid, ES – Palacio Municipal
Nov 11 – Valencia, ES – La Rambleta
Nov 12 – Barcelona, ES – Paral.lel 62
Nov 14 – Paris, FR – Le Grand Rex
Nov 15 – London, UK – Troxy
Nov 18 – Lyon, FR – Le Transbordeur
Nov 19 – Lausanne, CH – Theatre de l’Octogone
Nov 21 – Milan, IT – Auditorium Fondazione Cariplo
Nov 22 – Trieste, IT – Teatro Politeama Rossetti
Nov 23 – Vienna, AT – Globe
Nov 25 – Berlin, DE – Passionskirche
Nov 26 – Hamburg, DE – Kampnagel
Nov 28 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
Nov 29 – Brussels, BE – Ancienne Belgique
Dec 6 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park
Dec 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Dec 9 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Dec 11 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Dec 12 Seattle, Wa – Neptune Theatre
Dec 13 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
Angelo De Augustine has released ‘Toil and Trouble’, the title track from his
upcoming album, which is out June 30 via Asthmatic Kitty Records. Following earlier cuts ‘The Ballad of Betty and Barney Hill’ and ‘Another Universe’, the song comes paired with a self-directed claymation video created by Clara Murray. Check it out below.
Speaking about ‘Toil and Trouble’, De Augustine said in a statement: “As we all know, we are living in a world within another. A place of specific curation and design where the mind is the chief architect in command. I often wonder who the mind is working for? Who is behind the curtain pulling the strings and transmitting the messages?”
Clara Murray added of the video: “‘Toil and Trouble’ takes place in a dusty room alight with magic, tucked away but teeming with magic. Flying pop-up books and a singing cauldron give birth to mystical creatures, tapped into a sorcery seemingly both wicked and holy.”
Julia Jacklin has shared a cover of Roland S. Howard’s ‘Shivers’, a song first released by Nick Cave’s band Boys Next Door in 1979. Give it a listen below.
The rendition of ‘Shivers’ is Jacklin’s contribution to a new compilation honouring Australian producer Tony Cohen, who recorded the original version of the track as well as records by the Birthday Party, the Go-Betweens, Hunters & Collectors, and Nick Cave. RVG, Leah Senior, and Grace Cummings also contributed to the collection, which accompanies a book about Cohen’s life titled Half Deaf, Completely Mad, written by John Olson.
“It’s been covered a lot, but it’s a special one for me,” Jacklin said in a statement. “It was one of the first songs I ever learnt to play. Many Sydney bars, venues and open mic nights have heard me sing this song. Howard wrote it at 16 and I’ve always loved how much the lyrics capture that type of unbridled, dramatic teenage infatuation. The kind that physically hurts but also makes you laugh at yourself.”
Jacklin released her latest album, PRE PLEASURE, last year.
A new posthumous Sparklehorse album has been announced. Bird Machine is set to arrive on September 8 via -Anti. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the new single ‘Evening Star Supercharger’, alongside a video featuring recovered handwritten lyrics by Mark Linkous. Check it out and find the album details below.
According to a press release, Mark Linkous began work on what he planned to be the fifth Sparklehorse LP in 2009. The album was recorded with Steve Albini in Chicago and finished several years later by Mark’s brother Matt, sister-in-law Melissa, and Bryan Hoffa, an audio preservation specialist at the Library of Congress’ National Audio-Visual Conservation Center. “It was as though the songs let you know,” Melissa remarked. “Mark communicated these songs. We just did our best to transmit them.”
“It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Matt said of completing the album. “It’s difficult making a choice about someone else’s art, even if you’ve known them all your life and worked with them, even if they were your brother and best friend. We had long conversations about not wanting to take this into a different direction. We wanted to bring out what was there.”
Alan Weatherhead co-produced Bird Machine with Matt and Melissa. The record was mixed by Joel Hamilton and mastered by Greg Calbi. “It means so much to me, this last batch of beautiful stuff that my brother was putting together,” Matt added. “When I sit down and put on a pair of headphones, I’ll run it all the way through. Everything from ‘It Will Never Stop’ to ‘Evening Star Supercharger’ to ‘Stay’, that’s Mark just letting it out.”
1. It Will Never Stop
2. Kind Ghosts
3. Evening Star Supercharger
4. O Child
5.Falling Down
6. I Fucked It Up
7. Hello Lord
8. Daddy’s Gone
9. Chaos of the Universe
10. Listening to the Higsons
11. Everybody’s Gone to Sleep
12. Scull of Lucia
13. Blue
14. Stay
ANOHNI and the Johnsons have released a new song, ‘Sliver of Ice’, alongside an accompanying video. It’s taken from their forthcoming LP My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, which was announced last month with the single ‘It Must Change’. Check it out below.
“A friend of mine expressed to me in the final months of his life that the simplest sensations had begun to feel almost rapturous; a carer had placed a shard of ice on his tongue one day and it was such a sweet and unbelievable feeling that it caused him to weep with gratitude,” ANOHNI commented in a statement. “He was a hardcore kind of guy and these moments were transforming the way he was seeing things. I wrote ‘Sliver of Ice,’ remembering those words of his.”
Just days ahead of the release of their new album In Times New Roman, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer last year in a new interview with Revolver.
“I never say it can’t get any worse. I never say that, and I wouldn’t advise it. But I do say it can get better,” Homme said. “Cancer is just the cherry on top of an interesting time period, you know? I’m extremely thankful that I’ll get through this, and I’ll look back at this as something that’s fucked up — but will have made me better. I’m cool with that. There’s a lot of stuff I want to do. And there’s a lot of people I want to do that with.”
Homme added: “I definitely had a serious case of emotion sickness. There were times I almost didn’t make it. It’s OK for me to ruminate on that. It’s not OK to stay there, feel too sorry for myself. This has been the darkest four years of my life. But that’s OK, too. In the heartaches, my mistakes, these deaths and my own physical things I’m dealing with — even though all that has occurred and smashed my old life to pieces, those pieces I’ve been able to build into a ship that’s about to launch. I will float into my new life from all those pieces.”
In Times New Roman is out this Friday, June 16. So far, the record has been previewed by the singles ‘Emotion Sickness’ and ‘Carnavoyeur’.
Taking its inspiration from Japan’s ‘fleeting sakura’ season, this majestic Grand Seiko Heritage Shunbun Cherry Blossom is a modern reinterpretation of the brand’s iconic 62GS from 1967, which became Grand Seiko’s first automatic piece to enter the market. In this piece, I’ll explore why I adore this iconic piece by the beloved Grand Seiko.
Design
The dial of this watch offers a captivating visual experience, transporting you to Hana-Ikada, a beloved scene during Shunbun, just after the spring equinox. It beautifully depicts the moment when cherry blossom petals, carried by the wind, delicately blanket the surface of a river. Its textured surface and gentle pale pink colour capture the enchantment of this cherished occasion in the Japanese calendar.
With a diameter of 40mm, the piece fits nicely on the wrist, and its strap and case are made of titanium, allowing it to be stronger and lighter than most stainless steel watches. Besides, it has a water resistance of 10 bar (100 metres), so you won’t have to worry about damage while going for a casual swim.
Movement
The cherry on top for some but certainly for those that adore a great movement is that this watch comes with the self-winding Spring Drive movement (calibre 9R65). It has excellent accuracy with a power reserve of around three days and 30 jewels, ensuring smoothness and less friction.
Conclusion
Grand Seiko’s have grown on many people in the last five years. Much of it is due to the adoption of influential figures on the social media space and the rightful hype of their Spring Drive movement. This Heritage Shunbun Cherry Blossom is no exception to the quality that Grand Seiko produce. It’s true that Grand Seiko typically isn’t considered a sound investment, but they certainly deliver on quality and individuality. At £6,200, this piece certainly tickles the interest, and while many other great options come at this price point and below by artisan brands in Switzerland and Germany, the calibre and the beautiful dial would seal the deal when it comes to this style of watch.
Smelling great is an all-season necessity. From Marc Jacobs perfumes to Tom Ford, brands love to own each season. Yet, with each season it’s fun to change-up the way we represent ourselves through the sense of smell. This applies to a typical British summer as well (if we can call it that). In this post, we’ll be gazing at some of our favourite perfumes for men that are suited to the season of summer.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Embracing notes of tobacco leaf and vanilla ginger, the iconic Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford is a powerful and opulent perfume suited for modern sophisticated gentlemen. It’s a classy wear and while moodier than others on the list, it’s appropriate for late night formal events and cocktail parties.
Suitable for: A person looking for a woodier and more intruiging smell that elevates class.
Creed Aventus
Creed Aventus is one of the most recognised names in perfumery and certainly stands out as a safe option if you’re looking for a spirited and contemporary perfume. With notes of lemon, pink pepper, apple, jasmine & patchouli, cedarwood and others — you won’t go unnoticed with Aventus.
Suitable for: A person looking for an established perfume that delivers on its performence and captivating notes.
D.S. & Durga Amber Kiso
A delicate and woody scent emanates from D.S. & Durga’s Amber Kiso eau de parfum, named after the fabled forest in Japan prized by samurai. The eau de parfum has top notes of Japanese cedar, incense, sawara cypress combined with heartier notes of iris, patchouli, and asahi zuru maple.
Suitable for: A person looking for refined perfume that whispers elegance and confidence.
Creed Royal Water
With Royal Water, Creed offers another alternative to the well-known Aventus. As a tribute to the next generation of Windsor dynasty, Olivier Creed created the perfume with the intent of evoking sophistication, youth and charm. As far as I am concerned, it does just that. Featuring cedarwood and musk in its base notes, verbena, mandarin, and bergamot in its top notes, this blend is well suited for summer wear.
Suitable for: A person looking for a graceful and lively perfume for the summer.
Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
With its citrusy, fresh, and yet masculine notes, Colonia Essenza by Acqua di Parma is the perfect perfume for summer. With its distinct top notes of lemon and orange, which are complemented by the vetiver and patchouli base notes, this perfume makes a wonderful summer perfume.
Suitable for: A person looking for lively, masculine perfume that strikes well with its citrus accords.
