The spring semester has arrived, and chief faculty advisor for the Weezer Institute of the Arts, Professor Rivers Cuomo (now officially America’s most popular Cuomo), has prepared a lecture connecting the Bard and Vivaldi to domestic conviviality. “Shakespeare makes me happy,” he declares, repeating that thesis a couple of times …
Read More »Willie Nelson's First Show Since His Sister Bobbie's Death Was Every Bit As Emotional As You'd Imagine
After a two-year break because of the pandemic, this year’s Luck Reunion, the daylong gotta-see-it-to-believe-it festival at Willie Nelson’s Luck Ranch outside of Austin, was already destined to be special. Fans and artists alike were eager to commune in one of the most magical festival settings in the country. But …
Read More »King Princess' 'For My Friends' Is a Poignant Portrayal of Lifelong Friendships
King Princess will release a new full-length, titled Hold On Baby, later this year — and to mark the announcement, the singer has dropped “For My Friends,” an ebullient, hook-laden pop ballad slated to appear on the album. The single follows “Little Bother,” a collaboration with Fousheé released earlier this …
Read More »Princess Nokia's New 'No Effort' Video Is a 'Love Letter to the Girls in the Hood'
Are you from New York, even? Princess Nokia brings the early 2000s flow with her new single “No Effort” — and makes us envious of her puffer jacket-rockin’ crew as she “reclaims the co-opted aesthetic” and “brings it back to Harlem” in the song’s video. “Look at me, so clean, …
Read More »Coi Leray, Nicki Minaj Get What They Want on Commanding 'Blick Blick'
Coi Leray has enlisted Nicki Minaj for her new single, “Blick Blick.” It’s the rising rapper-singer’s second single of the year following “Anxiety.” Leray’s debut studio album, Trendsetter, is expected to arrive later this year. “Want a bad bitch like me/Keep on wishing, baby,” Leray confidently raps on the song …
Read More »Doechii Celebrates Wild Nights, Getting High on New Single 'Persuasive'
After taking social media by storm in late 2020, Doechii returns to the spotlight with the release of her newest single, “Persuasive,” along with news of her recent signing to Top Dawg Entertainment. “Hearing Doechii I knew immediately this woman is a star. Her talent is boundless, fluid and authentic,” …
Read More »George Clinton Brings the Funk, New Musical Equipment to Old Elementary School
Ahead of a special belated 80th-birthday show, George Clinton gave a gift of his own to his old school in Newark, New Jersey, — a ton of musical equipment. In turn, Avon Elementary officially renamed its music room in honor of the funk legend. The event took place Thursday, March …
Read More »Pheelz and Bnxn's 'Finesse' is Utterly Cool — and Breaking Through Globally
Pheelz is perhaps best known as the Nigerian producer who’s contributed to notable releases like Fireboy DML’s Apollo, Olamide’s Carpe Diem, and Tiwa Savage’s Celia. But he worked both the boards and the mic on his latest single, “Finesse.” He floats across the slinky beat, built around gentle guitar, subtle …
Read More »Dawn Richard, Kurdish Heavy Folk, and New Africa Showcase Amplify Diversity at SXSW Day 2
SXSW‘s second day was all about diversity. There were revelatory sounds from Africa, Turkey, and the U.K., all of them shot through with a sense of pride for the respective artists’ homelands. In some cases, that meant Texas and Tennessee, too. Here’s what we saw on the stage, in the …
Read More »Donald Fagen Denies 'Ridiculous' Claim About Why Aimee Mann Was Dropped From Steely Dan Tour
Donald Fagen has denied Aimee Mann’s claim that she was dropped as the opening act for Steely Dan’s new tour because, as she speculated, “they thought their audience wouldn’t like a female singer-songwriter.” In a statement to Rolling Stone, Fagen explained, “Well, first of all, the idea that I would …
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