In October 2016, Randy Travis was among the three new inductees selected to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame, having led a neo-traditional renaissance after his commercial breakthrough in the Eighties. During his portion of the event, he did something entirely unexpected and performed a verse of “Amazing Grace” …
Read More »'There's Got to Be a Way': Concert Venues Continue to Face Hardship, Optimism Amid COVID
Billy Jones has been stuck in Los Angeles for three months. In February,the New York booker and promoter went west to break ground on a second outpost for Baby’s All Right, his beloved Brooklyn indie venue that has hosted acts like Beach House, Ariel Pink, and Girlpool. Jones was in …
Read More »Miley Cyrus Talks Fighting Inequality, COVID-19 at Global Citizen's 'Global Goal' Special
Back in April, Global Citizen pulled off one of the biggest — and certainly one of the most unprecedented — musical events ever: A massive virtual advocacy festival, organized in a couple of weeks, boasting a multi-generational lineup of talent that performed from their homes at the start of the …
Read More »DaBaby, Roddy Ricch Take on the Zombie Apocalypse in 'Rockstar' Video
DaBaby and Roddy Ricch fend off a zombie onslaught in the wild new video for their smash collaboration, “Rockstar.” The seven-minute clip boasts a distinctly cinematic feel as the two rappers find themselves heavily armed and holed up in the woods, where they’re tasked with taking out a horde of …
Read More »Will Hoge Finds Peace But Still Sounds Pissed Off on New Album 'Tiny Little Movies'
There’s a lyric in “The Overthrow” on Will Hoge‘s new album Tiny Little Movies in which the unwavering singer-songwriter spits out a perfect pop-culture description of our clown-painted, misogynistic Dear Leader: he’s “Darth Vader with a spray tan/and a girly magazine.” “That one’s not getting played on country radio,” Hoge …
Read More »JoJo Washes Away Her Heartbreak in 'Small Things' Video
JoJo has released an emotional video for her new single “Small Things.” She dropped the album Good to Know in May. Santiago Salviche directed the visual, which makes heavy use of bathtubs. As JoJo performs, her back-up dancers do choreography within the confines of upright tubs behind her. In another …
Read More »Alicia Keys Addresses Police Brutality in Protest Song 'Perfect Way to Die'
Alicia Keys details the story of a grieving mother whose child was murdered in new song, “Perfect Way to Die.” Cowritten and produced by Keys and Sebastian Kole, the song chronicles the unjust killings of innocent lives and discusses the uprising against police brutality and systemic racism. The ballad opens …
Read More »'Fast Car': The Rebirth of Tracy Chapman's Hard-Luck Anthem
Black Pumas needed one more song. At a festival in Austin a few years ago, the then-new soul-rock band had plowed through every number in its repertoire and had been called back for an encore. Desperate for anything to play, lead singer Eric Burton grabbed his guitar and began performing …
Read More »'In My Room' With Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright presented two gorgeous new songs from his upcoming album Unfollow the Rules in the latest installment ofRolling Stone‘s ‘In My Room,’ a series in which artists perform from home while in quarantine. “I have to say that I have found this period to be incredibly productive as a …
Read More »Maren Morris Drops New Songs 'Just for Now' and 'Takes Two'
Maren Morris has issued a pair of new songs, nearly 15 months after the arrival of her second album Girl. The new tunes, “Just for Now” and “Takes Two,” now appear as additional tracks at the end of the streaming version of Girl. “Just for Now,” written by Morris with …
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