WARREN HUE: 88RISING STAR DROPS "BLACKONBLACK FREESTYLE", AFTER HIS VIRAL ON THE RADAR PERFORMANCE EARLIER THIS WEEK

(artwork and press photo courtesy of 88rising)

Jakarta-born, Los Angeles-based rising star, Warren Hue, responds to the demands of his fans with the official release of his “BLACKONBLACK FREESTYLE,” which is out today on all platforms. Warren first performed the freestyle on the popular channel, On The Radar, generating lots of fan commotion who were excited to see Warren rapping after recent genre-bending releases like “RODEO” and “SPLIT.” “BLACKONBLACK FREESTYLE was created during a transit from Japan to Los Angeles,” Warren shared on his process. “With my headphones on, I searched for type beats, feeling the need to prove myself. The verses explore various topics, including the lifestyles in LA and Jakarta, and touch on themes of motivation.” The music video was filmed, directed and edited by Warren himself. Watch the video hereand listen to “BLACKONBLACK FREESTYLE” here.
 
Gearing towards the release of his TUNA mixtape, Warren’s been demonstrating his growing artistry with singles like the mid-2010 inspired “RODEO,” and the alternative hip-hop track, “SPLIT.” Recently, Warren was featured on Good Morning America, detailing his journey as a pioneering Asian artist. He made great contributions to 88rising’s latest music endeavor, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, where he contributed to five tracks on the recent album, hella (˃╭̣ ╮˂̣)✧♡‧o· ̊, alongside Offset, Amaarae, De La Soul, Cuco and MILLI earlier this year. As a fixture in the 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE music collective, Warren has continued to push his music in exciting new directions and usher new fans into 88rising’s world.
 
Warren Hue has catapulted from hometown hero to international sensation in less than two years since making his artist debut with his album, BOY OF THE YEAR, in the summer of 2022. His most conceptual project to date, BOY OF THE YEAR, which included features from tobi lou and yvngxchris, displayed Warren’s versatility and starpower. Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia and now based in Los Angeles, the Gen Z star has run up an impressive highlight reel, including being named one of Forbes Asia 30 Under 30, all prior to turning 21. He has also been named one of “NME 100: Essential Emerging Artists” for 2022, one of the “18 Emerging Artists To Watch Out For In 2022” by Bandwagon, and one of the “25 Artists To Watch In 2022” by Ones To Watch. His biggest accolades include his recent features on the album, Hella, released earlier this year, with the music collective 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, which brought together the industry’s biggest names, such as Offset, Rick Ross, Ghostface Killah, Busta Rhymes and more. Warren was also featured in four songs on Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings official soundtrack and has partnered with brands like Honda, GUESS, Samsung and Microsoft. Warren made his Coachella debut during the Head in the Clouds Forever 2022 set. Last year, he performed at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, opened for Rich Brian’s sold out arena tour (10k fans per stop) in China, and was on the line-up for both Head in the Clouds Festivals in New York and Los Angeles. This summer, he will be returning to the festival in New York. A multi-hyphenate artist, Warren draws his inspiration from niche art forms to create his ever-evolving sound. From R&B to house, electronic, alternative hip-hop and industrial genres, Warren is unafraid to explore and veer towards the unconventional, while sharing his journey of self-discovery. His latest offers, “RODEO” and “SPLIT,” detail Warren’s growing confidence as a star in the making.

Discography :
 
“RODEO” (MV)
“SPLIT” (MV)
“TENNESSEE” (MV)
 
BOY OF THE YEAR (2022)
 
“IN MY BAG” (with tobi lou) (MV)
“HANDSOME” (MV)
“W” (with yvngxchris) (MV)
“RUNAWAY W ME”  (MV)
 
Other Highlights :
 
1999 WRITE THE FUTURE (2024)
Amaarae, Warren Hue - “cOoL WATeR foR thE nIGHT” (MV)
Cuco, Warren Hue - COuGhDrOPs (,,Ծ‸Ծ,, ) (MV)
Rich Brian, Zion.T - WORLD STOP TURNING (feat. Warren Hue) (MV)
Offset, Warren Hue - SLOPES (MV)
MILLI, & Warren Hue - WOWoW! ✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) (MV)

Audience:

• 150M+ total streams

• 188K Instagram  followers

• 35K TikTok followers, 600K+ likes

• 500K+ Spotify monthly listeners

CONNECT WITH WARREN HUE:
YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

Source: Blackstar

For more information, contact blackstar

justin wows the crowd as he performs his newest single ‘kaibigan’ at U.P. Town Center Katipunan last July 19, 2024

© Bernard Lopez

WATCH HERE/ICYMI: justin of SB19 serenades casuals through a surprise busking performance at U.P. Town Center, singing all his tracks including his latest single — ‘kaibigan’ for the first time ever!

WATCH/DOWNLOAD THE SURPRISE BUSKING HERE 1 | 2  © Bernard Lopez

VIEW FAN POSTS HERE 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Justin’s “kaibigan” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Watch the music video here.

Source: Sony Music Entertainment

JADE drops debut solo single “Angel of My Dreams”

"What I'm going for is a relentless, huge pop punch to the face. I want people to be like 'oh my god, I didn't expect that' – but then want to listen to it again.” 

JADE, a.k.a. Jade Thirlwall of multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning pop phenomenon Little Mix, today releases her highly anticipated debut solo single, “Angel of My Dreams.”

JADE co-wrote 'Angel of My Dreams' in LA alongside Steph Jones (Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso), Pablo Bowman (Calvin Harris' Miracle) and producer Mike Sabath (RAYE). The track is a frenetically shapeshifting, gloriously OTT banger that explores her love/hate relationship with a pop industry she's been at the heart of since 2011.

“I didn't want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me,” JADE states. “I'm setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own. I want people to hear it and be like 'what the fuck is that song?'. My worst nightmare is for someone to hear my song and go 'that's nice'.” 

The lyrical themes are brought to life via an eye-popping video that takes the song's playful storytelling and blows it up into big neon letters. Directed by Aube Perrie (Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion), and filmed over four days (“the budget was budgeting” laughs JADE), it's a visual feast, inspired by the Fifth Element, Showgirls and Black Swan, that stars various versions of Jade all scrapping for the spotlight. 

“There’s 11 looks in the video! The concept is sort of rags to riches It was emotional actually because for one bit I’m busking and walking past a Sainsbury’s Local. When I was 16, I would stand outside my local Sainsbury’s and sing Christmas songs.”

It's been a long, carefully chosen path to get to 'Angel of My Dreams'. When Little Mix announced their hiatus in 2022, JADE started to set her solo career in motion across multiple studio sessions with collaborators including MNEK, Cirkut, Lostboy, RAYE, Lauren Aquilina and Dave Hamelin alongside Mike, Steph and Pablo. 'Angel of My Dreams' immediately jumped out as the lead single. Built around a cheeky, knowing sample of Sandie Shaw's 1967 hit 'Puppet on a String', lyrically JADE wanted to reflect on her time in an industry that has brought her both unimaginable highs and deep lows. 

“It's about how obsessed I am with the industry – so there are lyrics like “love when you call me a star” – but also there's the dark side that comes with that. It's not as glam as it seems.”  The sample, which JADE had wanted to use in a song for years, was chosen very specifically. “In the beginning of our career you do think you are this puppet, but at the same time it isn't true – we wrote a lot of our songs, and we were behind a lot of what we put out there. I resented that as a statement. So it felt natural to take that and show that it can be true and untrue at the same time.”

The track is Jade delivering Big Pop Girl Energy. It is, as she says, doing the most; it's OTT, it's ridiculous and it's gloriously WTF.

“This dawn of pop girls giving people everything is so exciting. It couldn't be better timing for my music. I'm so proud of it and I can say that with chest. The fans have waited long enough so now we just want to give it to them".

Source: Nyou

Grammy-nominated global star Madison Beer releases “15 MINUTES”

Photo by Christina Bryson

Madison Beer continues her summer reign with the launch of her new music video and single, “15 MINUTES,” available now. Madison Beer teased “15 MINUTES” at her recent performance at Jimmy Kimmel Live Outdoor Stage, as well as small snippet at the end of her latest video “Make You Mine.” Most notably, she has introduced snippets a handful of times on social media much to the delight of her fans, who feverishly viewed the previews in excess of three million times. Now, the thrilling new record is available to stream, and watch.

[Watch: Madison Beer, “15 MINUTES”]

[Get: Madison Beer, “15 MINUTES”]

“15 MINUTES” features Madison Beer as she weaves a romantically thrilling tale that incites feelings of jubilee and intense curiosity - simultaneously. The cinematic video feature, directed by Madison Beer and Aerin Moreno, continues the storytelling theme found in Madison Beer’s recent video work, as the video finds Beer at the climax of a highly suspenseful escape room scene.

“15 minutes ago I was laying in bed / Then I had a crazy thought in my head / So I took the keys and got in the car / Don’t know how I got here but baby here we are,” she sings, meshing the lyrics with the unpredictable atmosphere of her new video. Viewers will need to buckle in. 

“15 MINUTES” follows Madison Beer’s immensely successful last single, “Make You Mine,” which ascended to the #1 slot on the Billboard Dance Airplay charts in May, marking her first-career chart-topper as a solo artist. Its video, a feature inspired by the cult classic film Jennifer’s Body, earned Beer critical acclaim from outlets like Uproxxand Billboard, who raved of Beer’s dedication to creativity and intentional nostalgia. 

It’s been quite a year already for Madison Beer, who received her first-career GRAMMY nomination at this year’s ceremony in February, a “Best Immersive Album” nod for her sophomore LP, Silence Between Songs. Subsequently, she released “Make You Mine,” a certified Dance hit, and just weeks later in April, she embarked on her 52-date Spinnin Tour, and released the “Make You Mine” video just before the first night of the tour’s North American leg. 

During this run, Beer sold out the legendary Radio City Music Hall and Greek Theater venues, creating viral moments to last for her highly engaged audience, evoking headlines and in-depth coverage from Teen Vogue, Miami New Times, Vegas Sun and more. Most importantly, the live trek allowed her to reach her fans in ways Beer had been yearning to. 

“I want to be honest with people. I feel like that’s why I have such a strong connection with my fans, because I am honest with them, and I want them to know that it’s not all just sunshine and rainbows.” she told Teen Vogue, which attended Beer’s performance at this year’s JBL Fest in Beer’s home state of New York.

Next up: a brief tour of Asia and Australia, beginning in Japan at the Tokyo Summer Sonic Festival on Aug. 17 and concluding in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 2, with stops in Indonesia, Singapore and Brisbane along the way. Tickets are available here. Full tour routing below:

Aug 17: Tokyo Summer Sonic Festival – Tokyo, Japan
Aug 18: Osaka Summer Sonic Festival – Osaka, Japan
Aug 22: Expo Hall 7 - Singapore
Aug 24: Indonesia LALALA Festival – Jakarta, Indonesia
Aug 28: Fortitude Music Hall – Brisbane, Australia
Aug 30: Hordern Pavilion – Sydney, Australia
Sept 2: Margaret Court Arena – Melbourne Australia

Source: Nyou

NERIAH RADIATES SUMMER VIBES WITH NEW SINGLE "DRIVING WEATHER"

SECOND SINGLE OFF HER LONG-AWAITED SOPHOMORE ALBUM OUT THIS FALL

Photo Credit: Josh Ryan

Rising singer-songwriter NERIAH releases her second single,“Driving Weather”, from long-awaited sophomore album set to drop this fall. "Driving Weather" exudes a feel-good retro Cali vibe, blending ethereal harmonies and playful lyrics reminiscent of a summer love. The perfect track to listen to with your car windows rolled down. Listen here: https://symphony.to/neriah/driving-weather

"I wrote this song about the summer I fell in love with this guy in Malibu,” stated NERIAH. “He was my summer crush for years, but everything felt more real when we would be driving the PCH with the windows down. Whenever it was nice outside, he called it Driving Weather, and this song brings me back to being young, carefree, sun-kissed, and in love."

“Driving Weather” signifies a fresh, vibrant chapter in NERIAH’s career, as she celebrates her newfound independence. She is stepping away from her previous heartbreak ballads and embracing her 'Lover Girl' era. With a more refined, softer look, featuring pastel colours, she’s ready to light up your summer playlist with uplifting music. Her upcoming project heralds the dawn of a new, empowered NERIAH, reflecting the happiest time of her life.

Following her time opening for Madison Beer’s 'Spinnin Tour'West Coast shows, NERIAH kicked off this new chapter with the release of the first single from the album, "First Time". An 80's-inspired synth-pop track that perfectly captures the exhilarating feeling of falling in love and reminiscing about those unforgettable, heart-racing moments.

Stay tuned for more updates on her upcoming album.

ABOUT NERIAH

NERIAH, breakthrough singer/songwriter puts everything - the good, the bad, and the ugly, honest truth into her music. From happiness and love, to hardships and heartbreak, NERIAH’s music takes you on the rollercoaster of emotions that everyone goes through, with each song letting her audience know they’re not alone on this unpredictable and beautiful adventure of life.

Having received praise from Rolling Stone, Travis Mills, Zane Lowe, People Magazine, Flaunt Magazine, and more, NERIAH is embarking on this new and exciting era. With an audience of nearly 1 million monthly Spotify listeners, complemented by 249K Instagram followers, she has opened for Madison Beer’s 'The Spinnin Tour' West Coast shows, and co-signs from influential artists like SZA, Halsey, and Ashe. Goes to show that NERIAH's influence radiates far and wide.

Her previous singles have been picked up by top radio stations across Southeast Asia, driving growth in audience engagement. This popularity is reflected in her rankings in key markets, including the Philippines 🇵🇭 #5, Indonesia 🇮🇩 #6, and Malaysia 🇲🇾  #9.

Stream "Driving Weather" here: https://symphony.to/neriah/driving-weather

###

For more information: Secret Signals

 Source: Secret Signals

Follow NERIAH: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Website

BLXST RELEASES ANTICIPATED 20-TRACK DEBUT ALBUM ‘I’LL ALWAYS COME FIND YOU’ ON RED BULL RECORDS/EVGLE

Photo Credit: Amy Lee

NEW SINGLE “I NEED YOUR LOVE (FEAT. TY DOLLA $IGN)"
OUT ALONG WITH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

July 19th, 2024 – West Coast emblem and Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Blxst releases his highly-anticipated debut album, 'I’ll Always Come Find You' on Red Bull Records/EVGLE. Executive produced by Grammy-winning producer Sounwave (previously produced for Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), the project spans 20 tracks at nearly an hour in length, weaving a cohesive story across four chapters.

Reviving the art of the concept album, Blxst builds a cinematic world around a character named Birdie, a young man who inherits his father’s chauffeur car service upon his sudden passing. While Birdie’s focus is on the destination ahead, he’s confronted with a constant reminder of the life lessons his father instilled in him as experiences unfold in the backseat. 'I’ll Always Come Find You' is the soundtrack to Blxst and Birdie’s introspective journeys, analysing the twists and turns of love and relationships, personal identity, and self-reflection on their drive through life. 

Showcasing his multi-dimensionality, Blxst balances his signature LA-rooted R&B sound with a diverse array of genres, styles, and instrumentation, ranging from rhythmic reggaeton to house beats. Determined to make the album he’d always dreamt of, he pulled inspiration from a melting pot of his greatest influences. The featured artists seamlessly guide moments in the storyline, with Offset appealing to Birdie’s young sense of adventure in “Risk Taker,” while Anderson .Paak warns him of falling too fast on the groove-laden, “Dance With The Devil.” Nights turn into mornings with Feid & Becky G on the cross-cultural number, “Rewind,” and just as Birdie’s ready to head home, Ty Dolla $ign steps in with another Platinum-worthy joint, “I Need Your Love.”

Blxst - “I Need Your Love (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)" (Official Music Video)

On the official music video, Blxst adds, “I look at Ty Dolla $ign like my sensei in music. Being from LA, he was one of the few that took sonic risks and it always inspired me to do the same. Full circle, to have a record like “I Need Your Love” that pushes taste palates and isn’t confined to one region, that was one off my checklist.”

Blxst debuted songs from 'I’ll Always Come Find You' live for fans in New York earlier this week, at the inaugural Red Bull On The Record. Blxst shares on his debut full-length that “Growing up, I was always a fan of concept albums – ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’, ‘The Carter’, ‘Graduation’ – and particularly, the “hero’s journey” storyline. On ‘I’ll Always Come Find You’, the character Birdie and I have gone through similar experiences but in alternate universes. It’s my way of telling a relatable story while protecting my privacy. This album can be anyone’s story, just hop in the backseat and come along for the ride.”

The car and driver motif is omnipresent throughout the project, whether in the detailed artwork and visuals by Creative Director, Amber Park (previously worked with Gunna, Sabrina Carpenter, Kehlani), or in the sound bites of car doors slamming, engines revving, and faux radio DJs. The narrative elements bring the story to life, with real actors like LaRoyce Hawkins of Chicago P.D. reading the part of Birdie’s father, Big E, and rap pioneer, E-40 playing the role of 95.5 40-Hour Radio host. Hip-hop’s favourite hype man Fatman Scoop also lends his iconic voice to “Too Many Friday Nights,” while the legendary Snoop Dogg’s unmistakable chops introduce “dedication hour” on “To The Moon”.

While Birdie might, Blxst never veers off course on 'I’ll Always Come Find You'. Every sound bite is charged with intention and listeners get a front-row seat to his multi-dimensional artistry. As the journey nears its finale, it’s clear that Birdie has found a version of himself he never knew existed. On “Ten Summers or Better,” the warmth of Kamasi Washington’s grand arrangements in the 21-piece live orchestra signal brighter days ahead, on this note, Blxst says that “sometimes we’re so focused on the destination that we get distracted by everything that’s happening in the present,” he says. “There’s so much beauty around us in real time and if you don’t appreciate it, you’ll never grasp that moment.”

The attention to conceptual details allows the listener to feel like they’re riding in Birdie’s car for the duration of the album, and for West Coast fans, they get to experience just that as Blxst leads a convoy of chauffeured cars across the city of Los Angeles tomorrow. The fleet of vehicles will make their way to Supervsn Studios on Slauson Ave for a celebratory album release party.

About Blxst

The world has come to know Blxst as a culture-shifting multi-hyphenate — singer, rapper, producer, songwriter, executive, Grammy-nominated artist — and a master of all. Leading the new wave of L.A. hip-hop since 2020’s billion-streaming 'No Love Lost' EP, he’s earned multiple career-defining awards, nominated for multiple GRAMMY's, collaborated with global greats, and has always kept his foot on the gas.

He has changed his pace a little bit with his debut album, 'I’ll Always Come Find You': slowing down to reflect on his journey thus far while he looks out to the open road, Blxst has both hands on the wheel and knows exactly where he’s going. Pegged as an “Artist to Watch” by Billboard, Complex, Pigeons & Planes, UPROXX, and more, Blxst continues to traffic in a lane of his own, bringing the game with him now to a new chapter with his new album finally out for the world to hear.

'I’ll Always Come Find You' Tracklist

Act 1/Side A
1. Paper Route (feat. 2 Chainz)
2. “Evgle & Son”
3. Long Way (feat. Amanda Reifer)
4. Want You To Know
5. Selfish Ways

Act 2/Side B
1. Too Many Friday Nights (feat. Fatman Scoop)
2. Reason
3. Risk Taker (feat. Offset)
4. Private Show
5. How Many

Act 3/Side C
1. Bad Idea
2. Thousand Hours (feat. Joony)
3. Dance With The Devil (feat. Anderson .Paak)
4. I Had To
5. Rewind (feat. Feid & Becky G)

Act 4/Side D
1. Better Off Friends
2. Always Something
3. I Need Your Love (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
4. To The Moon
5. Ten Summers Or Better (feat. Kamasi Washington)

 Watch “I Need Your Love” music video here: https://blxst.ffm.to/ineedyourlovemv
Stream 'I’ll Always Come Find You' here: https://blxst.ffm.to/alwayscomefindyou

DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT

FOR MORE INFORMATION
SECRET SIGNALS | RED BULL RECORDS

FOLLOW BLXST

Website

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

TikTok

Source: Secret Signals

Rex Orange County announces new album, The Alexander Technique; releases 2 new singles and music videos

Rex Orange County by Clare Shilland

The Alexander Technique

PRE-SAVE: https://roc.lnk.to/TheAlexanderTechnique

ORDER: https://ROC.lnk.to/xStore

“Alexander”

LISTEN | WATCH

“Guitar Song”

LISTEN | WATCH

Rex Orange County announces his new album The Alexander Technique for release on September 6th via RCA Records. The album was produced entirely by Rex himself alongside Teo Halm (Rosalía, SZA, Beyoncé) and Jim Reed, the latter a member of the Rex Orange County touring band since its inception, in addition to James Blake who produced and features on “Look Me In The Eyes.”

To coincide with the announcement, Rex is sharing two new singles with accompanying music videos, "Alexander" and "Guitar Song," that showcase two distinctly different sides of the album. Album opener "Alexander" arrives with a Nick Walker-directed music video that introduces the inspiration for the album's title while the video for "Guitar Song" features footage of Rex filmed by Alexandra Waespi at Decoy Studios in England during the album's creation.

The Alexander Technique is named for a therapeutic practice in which back pain is treated in order to address deeper health problems, and it’s an apt name for Rex's most raw album to date: what may have begun as a simple exercise in changing the purview of his writing ended up becoming his most confessional, open-hearted album. Stripping back his sound to a skeletal mixture of stream-of-consciousness R&B and indie-folk, while retaining the orchestral lushness that’s become his trademark, The Alexander Technique marks the beginning of Act Two of Rex Orange County's career: a new chapter on which he lays everything bare, no matter how painful that might be.

“The Alexander Technique is very much a look into my own brain and experiences over the last few years – it’s almost a diary,” he says. Longer than any project he’s ever made and more musically varied, The Alexander Technique was made over a matter of years, started before and finished after 2022’s WHO CARES?; listening to it feels like watching an artist grow in real-time, and face all the attending growing pains that come alongside. “I’ve made a lot of love songs over the years, and I feel as though this is the first time I’m trying to make a project about everything in life. In my mind, it’s exactly what I’ve always wanted to make.”

Listen to and watch "Alexander" and "Guitar Song" above now and see below for all The Alexander Techniqueinformation.

The Alexander Technique album artwork

Rex Orange County

The Alexander Technique

(RCA Records)

September 6, 2024

1. Alexander

2. Guitar Song

3. 2008

4. Therapy

5. 4 In The Morning

6. Jealousy

7. The Table

8. Pure

9. One of These Days

10. Carrera

11. Much Too Much

12. Sliding Doors

13. Lost For Words

14. Look Me In The Eyes featuring James Blake

15. New Years

16. Finally

Source: Nyou 

Connect with Rex Orange County:

Instagram | Youtube | X (Twitter)

Justin defies expectations with Radkidz-produced track “kaibigan”

The P-Pop solo act stars in the music video, along with Nicole Omillio of One More Chance stage adaptation and RJ Cruz of The Juans

More photos here

Justin delivers another track with an unfiltered creative pulse.

The promising P-Pop star releases “kaibigan,” an anthemic track that finds the sweet spot most solo artists only dream of: staying true to their roots while harnessing their fully realized potential.

The song channels the agony and frustration of expressing one’s true feelings to a friend—a familiar premise that ends with an intriguing twist to its own brand of storytelling.

“To be honest, there’s no actual or specific inspiration behind the song,” Justin reveals. “I wrote this tune from the perspective of an observer and wanderer: a person who enjoys movies with coming-of-age slant.”

Radkidz collab

Layered with sonic complexities and refreshing builds, “kaibigan” simply defies expectations by giving Justin more room to experiment. Credit goes to Filipino production duo Radkidz (SB19’s Pablo and his brother, Josue), who reconciled Justin’s pop sensibilities with their envelope-pushing ideas. Both Pablo and Josue worked with Justin on his previously released solo tracks, “surreal” and “sunday morning.”

“Similar to surreal, I let them hear my demo in its ukulele version,” Justin shares the production process behind his new track. "At first, it was more of a solemn and calm song, but as we navigated deeper through the collaboration and explored the material and its story, we came up with something that ripped out the emotional layers in the latter part."

The charismatic member of SB19 specifically praised Radkidz for guiding him towards honing his sonic instincts while sticking to the brief.

“They added some interesting builds on the bridge, and made me even scream towards the end. I personally don’t see myself doing that, but there’s always total payoff in accepting the challenge without giving in to your sense of inhibition. I’m actually thrilled with the final output.”

About the music video

SB19’s Justin himself conceptualized the visual narrative that accompanies the track's release. While he is responsible for the flow, the talented multi-hyphenate doesn’t want to take all the credit for the MV, as he takes pride in the collaborative nature of filmmaking. He shares captainship with his team, particularly in coming up with the storyboard and the shot list.

“For the direction of the MV, other than the rough storyboard, we make sure the producer knows the story behind it and what feeling we want to convey. I even sent movies and not just music video pegs for them to really understand what we wanted to achieve,” the 1Z Entertainment act adds.

The music video for “kaibigan” stars theater actress Nicole Omillio, who recently made headlines as Basha on the stage adaptation of the hit movie One More Chance, and RJ Cruz of alternative pop band The Juans.

The concept of the MV captures the complexities of human connection. As the team puts it, the newest single from justin is a reminder that some things are better left unsaid: “kaibigan is an embrace for the unrequited.”

Justin admits, “To be honest, the music video is very easy to digest. And that's what I want: for people to relate to it and feel the story of the music and the music video.”

Justin’s “kaibigan” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.Watch the music video here.

Source: Nyou

Stream Maki, Moira, Johnoy Danao, Ice, VXON, and other PhilPop Himig Handog finalists!

Maki, Moira, Johnoy Danao, Ice, VXON, Ferdinand Aragon, and more, join this year’s esteemed roster of interpreters

Download the other photos here

PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Competition has released a compilation featuring the top 12 songs that made it to the final round.

The diverse selection of fully produced tunes was handpicked by the two music institutions (PhilPop and Himig Handog), who have made history by teaming up to find the next wave of global superstars and industry titans.

According to Jonathan Manalo, the creative director of ABS-CBN Music, the final roster of tracks was determined through a rigorous adjudication process. The selection of songs involved direct consultation with the songwriters to determine the creative direction of their respective material and identify collaborators who aligned with their overall vision for the competition.

Manalo explains, “We then shortlisted possible interpreters for each track, and a lot of things had to be considered or fall into place. The next steps include choosing an artist that fits the genre and production schedule. We couldn’t simply pick someone based on name value. They had to make sense in terms of style, the songwriter’s vision, and overall commitment to the song, among others.”

Some of the artists who interpreted the songs include chart-topping R&B sensation Maki, award-winning singer-songwriters Moira and Johnoy Danao, folk-pop icon Ice Seguerra, recording pop artist Jolianne, Cebuano pride Ferdinand Aragon, P-Pop boyband VXON, and newcomers: KHIMO; LykaEstrella, Annrain, and Geca Morales; Kurt Fick; Noah Alejandre; Shantel Cyline and Extrapolation; and FANA and Tiara Shaye.

Dinah Remolacio, PhilPop Executive Producer, also emphasized the importance of finding the right team of producers when developing the final version of the songs.

“Respect for language was also taken into consideration as we wanted artists who naturally spoke the languages that are not necessarily Tagalog and not someone who would pretend to sing in a language that he or she wasn’t familiar with. Overall, the production was a process that required a lot of components to fall into place, as well as a lot of patience and dedication. But we’re excited for people to finally hear these songs.”

The shortlisted entries explore the different facets of OPM in a modern, globalized setting while retaining its unique storytelling style and individuality. Based on the final output alone, the pioneering batch of PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Competition stays true to its unwavering commitment to promoting OPM on a scale that’s never been done before: break new territories

and captivate the international audience with music that is distinctly global yet very Pinoy.

As Manalo puts it, “The Top 12 have been very proactive and collaborative in their tracks. They really care about the final output of their songs, and there’s a drive to achieve their vision for their respective tracks. There was definitely a conscious effort, not just to make these songs globally competitive but also to make them a beautiful reflection of this generation’s stories and context. I think what we’ll hear for this batch is a representation of the current landscape of OPM that’s very diverse, young, and vibrant.”

Remolacio adds, “I think you can expect a fresh batch of pop songs that have the ability to break borders globally and represent the diverse but interconnected culture of our country. We hope that through these tracks, our local fandoms will be proud of our music, and we hope that these songs will strengthen the local music scene and the music breaking borders movement.”

Check out the Top 12 entries in alphabetical order:

1. ATM

Composer: Francis Contemplacion

Interpreter: Ice Seguerra

2. Buhi

Composer: Keith John Quito

Interpreter: Ferdinand Aragon

3. Dili Na Lang

Composer: Relden Campanilla

Interpreter: Jolianne

4. Ghostwriter

Composer: Kevin Yadao

Interpreter: KHIMO

5. Kurba

Composer: Alvin Serito

Interpreter: Maki

6. Langit Lupa

Composer: Geca Morales

Interpreter: Lyka Estrella, Annrain, and Geca Morales

7. MHWG

Composer: Rob Angeles

Interpreter: VXON

8. Papahiram

Composer: Rinz Ruiz

Interpreter: Moira Feat. Johnoy Danao

9. Salamat (Nga Wala Na Ta)

Composer: Jimmy Ricks

Interpreter: Kurt Fick

10. Taliwala

Composer: Maric Gavino

Interpreter: Noah Alejandre

11. Tulala

Composer: Shantel Cyline Lapatha

Interpreter: Shantel Cyline and Extrapolation

12. Wag Paglaruan

Composer: Tiara Shaye

Interpreter: FANA Feat. Tiara Shaye

PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival is an initiative of PhilPop Music Foundation and Himig Handog and ABS CBN Music. This year’s game-changing event remains unwavering in its obligation to come up with innovative approaches in music-making and songwriting that are at par with international standards. The event is co-presented by Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Smart Communications, Inc., and in partnership with TuneCore.

Stream the top 12 on Spotify and all digital streaming platformsworldwide. 

Source: Nyou

The Ransom Collective’s Leah Halili appreciates simple things in life on new single “River By The Sea”

The Ransom Collective’s Leah Halili marvels with childlike wonder on the release of her new single, “River By The Sea.”

Produced by The Ringmaster’s Francis Lorenzo, who has worked with artists such as Clara Benin, UDD, and Ang Bandang Shirley, the lush, folk-pop track finds joy in exploring nature and igniting one’s curiosity about the simplest things in life.

Leah considers her recent travel trip to Yosemite Park with her family two summers ago to be a songwriting inspiration for the track. “We were all in awe of this majestic place. We had witnessed everything from the peaks through the canyons, cliffs, rivers, and lush green meadows.”

She adds that the song expresses her willingness to learn, heal,and see more of the world’s beauty, not wanting to miss out on anything while still being capable of experiencing the best things that nature has to offer.

“River By The Sea” expands her capabilities as a musician by further embellishing her sound with a more organic approach. Accompanied by stripped-down guitars and minimal keys, the song incorporates percussive elements like banging on wood and using an acorn to add a natural aspect to her sonic tapestry. The result is a rich, rewarding material that showcases her more genuine and adventurous take on musicality and production—of course with guidance from her producer Francis Lorenzo.

Also contributing to the songwriting aspects of the track is Leah Halili’s partner, Nikee Bañares, who laid down a melodic guitar as she was writing the song in its initial stages.

“He had made a beautiful melody to which he asked me to add my lyrics, and we worked on the demo together,” Leah reveals. “It took a while for us to record the song, as we wanted to wait until it was recorded in an actual studio.”

The song will be part of a 6-track EP to be released by the end of 2024 or early next year.

The Changes act explains, “I do plan to release an EP as soon as I have all my singles remastered and find a common concept. I am currently writing more songs to add and as much as I want to give more details, I want to leave room for surprise! I hope people can stay tuned and continue to support my love for creating music.”

Leah Halili’s “River By The Sea” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.

Source: Nyou

James Reid spotted at SM Aura playing his newest single “Hurt Me Too”

ICYMI: James Reid surprises fans with an impromptu performance of his latest single ‘Hurt Me Too’ at SM Aura last July 13, 2024.

WATCH/DOWNLOAD THE IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCE HERE

WATCH THE “HURT ME TOO” MUSIC VIDEO HERE

VIEW FAN POSTS HERE 1 | 2 | 3

James Reid’s “Hurt Me Too” can be streamed on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Sony Music Entertainment

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino celebrates 10 years with a series of shows across Metro Manila

Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) marks its highly anticipated celebration this year with a series of music events that aim to foster deeper awareness and appreciation for Pinoy music.

The week-long festivity, which takes place in various music venues and stages across Metro Manila from July 5 to 31, continues its commitment to promoting established and new homegrown music acts whose work has provided inspiration to the Filipino people or contributed to the advancement of the local economy and the arts.

“What makes LMP 2024 different from the previous celebrations is that it has a more ‘back-to-basics’ vibe and ‘keeping-it-simple’ feel,” Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) Board member and Vice President for Special Projects Christian Bautista explains. “The focus and emphasis are really on listening to and appreciating different artists sharing their music and their stories in intimate settings. Our LMP this year is not really focused on the spectacle but rather more on highlighting the artist and the song.”

This year’s LMP chronicles a decade of celebrating Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino in accordance with Proclamation No. 933, signed by late President Benigno Aquino III on December 19, 2014. 

Returning on its tenth year with the goal of reintroducing its mandate to highlight Filipino singer and to showcase the richness and diversity of Filipino music, Linggo Ng MusikangPilipino aims to be more proactive in supporting Pinoy artists and ensuring that they are given a platform to present their work and their story to a global modern audience.

The commemoration of LMP is slated to take place in several areas with multiple dates and will feature more than 30 artists from OPM’s roster and network of artists.

OPM Spotlight: LMP Night, which has championed some of the biggest and brightest local artists in recent years, will host performances and shows for the rest of the month at Kubo Bar in Kalayaan, Quezon City. Some of the headliners include Johnoy Danao, Sugarcane, jikamarie, Color It Red,, Mint Magic and many more from the OPM slate.

Other remote celebrations include OPM Spotlight: Rockwell LMP Series on July 24, 25, 26, and 28 at the Power Plant Mall in Makati City, and LMP24: PhilPop Night on July 31, 2024 at Kubo Bar. The latter puts a spotlight on select winners and participants from the prestigious annual songwriting competition, including Noah Alejandre, PhilPop 2020 Grand Champion; Davey Langit, PhilPop 2015 Top 3 Finalist and PhilPop 2013 Finalist; Kulas Basilonia, PhilPop 2020 Finalist;Hazel Faith, PhilPop North Luzon Boot Camp 2019 Fellow; and dwta, PhilPop 2021 DigiCamp Fellow. Ayala Land and Make It Makati will also be having a series of acoustic shows in partnership with OPM along with other activities related to the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino celebration from July 21 to 28.

“Expect beautiful music and heartfelt performances from the artists,” Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) President Ogie Alcasid shares. “We hope that through this humble series of shows that we’re doing, the Filipino audience will continue to love and support Filipino artists and Filipino music even after LMP.”

OPM Officer in Charge Gab Cabangon emphasizes that the goal of this year’s LMP has never changed. “It’s always been about the celebration and promotion of Filipino artists and Filipino music. That has always been our advocacy, to which we are fully committed as an organization. I guess what we could add to that is that this LMP celebration is also OPM’s way to reintroduce itself to the general public and grow its community.”

The Linggo Ng Musikang Pilipino was established under Proclamation No. 933, signed in 2014, with the initiative to celebrate Filipino music during the last week of July every year.

Here’s the schedule this year:

The Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino a.k.a. LMP24 is presented to you by the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Rockwell Land, PhilPop Musicfest Foundation, Inc., Ayala Land, Make It Makati, Ayala Malls, and Ayala Museum.  

Special thanks as well to partner venues Kubo Bar Kalayaan and Beach House Bar & Grill Marikina

Source: Nyou

Folk-pop artist syd hartha puts her own delicate spin on Apo Hiking Society’s “Panalangin”

The young recording star teams up with acclaimed producer Brian Lotho on the stripped-down cover of an ‘80s classic

Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha continues to captivate music listeners from various generations with the release of her new single “Panalangin,” a cover of Apo Hiking Society’s early ‘80s hit.

syd reinterprets the source material with a stripped-down arrangement and a delicate touch, adding her own stamp while retaining the essence of what makes the song a timeless classic.

Despite the fact that it is a cover, "Panalangin" is one of the most popular songs in Syd's gig repertoire. "It personally reminds me of very special memories I want to cherish forever."

The folk-pop recording artist adds, “I’ve always considered Panalangin to be one of the sweetest and most timeless OPM songs. The original version is very upbeat and pop, and I decided I wanted to add a feminine touch to it—something that sounds more mellow and softer, as if it came from a female perspective.”

syd’s version of “Panalangin” was arranged and produced by Brian Lotho of Sonic State Audio. They have professionally built a great foundation of trust and collaboration through the years, working together as constant collaborators for five years.

As for the tila tala act's approach to remaking a song intoher own, syd admits that her goal has always been to strike a balance between her singing and playing style, which is very acoustic guitar-led, while staying true to the original's melodic qualities.

“Apo Hiking Society songs, specifically When I Met Youand Panalangin have always been part of my ‘songs-I-wish-were-written-for-me’ playlist. When I was starting to learn the guitar, I listened to a lot of OPM, and those twosongs really stuck with me. I always admired how they’re so beautifully written. It's an honor to be able to officially cover a song like Panalangin.”

syd hartha’s “Panalangin” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Nyou

SB19, a five-member boy band from the Philippines, returns on “THE FIRST TAKE” with soul-stirring performance of “MAPA”

SB19, who recently made headlines by surpassing 100 million views on their official lyric video for “MAPA,” is back to “THE FIRST TAKE” with a new performance of another hit song.

Following their viral hit "GENTO," which they performed during their debut on YouTube channel “THE FIRST TAKE”on July 1st, their second performance video for "MAPA" premiered on July 15th (Monday) at 9:00 pm, Manila time.

For their second performance on THE FIRST TAKE, SB19 will showcase the emotional song "MAPA," a stark contrast to the explosive "GENTO." In this performance, attention should not only be given to their performance but also to the heart-warming lyrics dedicated to their parents and parent figures.

“We’re excited to share a different version of MAPA to the local and international audience through THE FIRST TAKE,”shares SB19 in a press statement. “We’re honored to showcase Filipino music on a music platform with a reputable track record of elevating the global presence of the artists performing. Mad props to THE FIRST TAKE for giving us a chance to impart a piece of our cultural and music sensibilities in ways that could be challenging but exciting.”

“THE FIRST TAKE” is a Japanese YouTube channel that invites top singers and artists from all over the world to perform a song recorded in one take. Videos on “The First Take” are filmed in a studio, with shots of the performing artist and a microphone, set to a background that is usually white.

SB19 on the other hand, is the first Southeast Asian group and the first Filipino to be invited in the influential music media outlet. They recently trended on X after the announcement of their return to “THE FIRST TAKE.”

SB19, who held their first concert in Japan at Tokorozawa Sakura Town on April 29th (Monday) and achieved great success, continues to grow their fandom both domestically and internationally. Following their debut performance of "GENTO" on "THE FIRST TAKE" as the first Filipino artists to be featured, the video has surpassed 2 million views. In response, the members released a thank-you video to their global fans, saying, "We were able to come this far thanks to the support of all the A'TIN." This generated even more attention ahead of their return.

Watch their performance of “MAPA” at “THE FIRST TAKE.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-dQ1e84XYU

Watch their performance of “GENTO” at “THE FIRST TAKE.”
https://youtu.be/LnWLpWoAs2A

Check out their gratitude post about their recent performance of “THE FIRST TAKE.”

https://twitter.com/INTSonyMusicJP/status/1810282954444456041

SB19’s performance airs at 9 pm today, Manila time via THE FIRST TAKE’s YouTube channel. Watch it here.

About “THE FIRST TAKE”

“THE FIRST TAKE” is a YouTube channel that clearly captures the performance of musicians and singers performing in a single take.

The channel started on 15 November 2019 and has now hit 9.69 million subscribers (as of 7 June 2024). Total views have exceeded 1.4 billion, and contents have been viewed from over 220 countries and regions around the world. Growing as a comprehensive music platform, new initiatives have been launched and become viral contents. THE FIRST TAKE INTERNATIONAL features international music stars such as Harry Styles, Avril Lavigne, V from BTS, Jason Chan and Jolin Tsai, having them to give their 1TAKE performanceexclusively on the channel.

Follow “THE FIRST TAKE” on socials:

Website: https://www.thefirsttake.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_firsttake

Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_FirstTake

X: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_first_take

THE FIRST TIMES: https://www.thefirsttimes.jp

ABOUT SB19

SB19 is a multi-awarded five-member boy group from the Philippines. The group is composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin and debuted in October 2018 with their single ‘Tilaluha.’ They gained popularity with their second single ‘Go Up’. Since their debut, SB19 has amassed fans (A’TIN) across the globe and was recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as the Philippine’s Youth Ambassadors. The “SB” in SB19 stands for “Sound Break,” which represents their aspirations of disrupting the music scene and bringing Filipino music and culture into the international spotlight. SB19 broke into the global spotlight as the first Southeast Asian and Filipino act to be nominated in the Billboard Music Awards as Top Social Artist in 2021. They are also the first Filipino act to land on the international Billboard Social 50 and Next Big Sound Charts. Their latest release, "GENTO", debuted at #8 on the Billboard World Digital Sales Charts.

SB19 is self-managed by 1Z Entertainment, a company built and managed by the members of SB19.

Website: https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/SB19

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4v7afBTnJKRm4SlfHJzyg

X: https://twitter.com/SB19Official

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsb19

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialsb19

Source: Nyou

What I Wore to the Clavel Captures Exhibit

I love this set so much that I have it in different colors 🧡 Buy my outfit here: https://s.shopee.ph/3Amzvlq6Z7 👗

My polarized sunglasses 🕶️ are the best! Buy them here: https://s.shopee.ph/9Uh1ucnQOx 😎 #shopeesambassador #shopaholicsam @blusaatbpbysasha @sorrentosunwear

Wyn Starks’ “Who I Am” sees resurgence after being featured in Celine Dion’s hit documentary film

“I Am: Celine Dion” Out Now on Prime Video

Curb Records recording artist Wyn Starks is currently gaining significant traction worldwide for the success of his uplifting song, “Who I Am,” which was prominently featured in Celine Dion’s recently released documentary, I Am: Celine Dion.

After stunning the America’s Got Talent judges with his performance of the song in 2022, “Who I Am” continues to resonate with those navigating a struggle to find their strength. I Am: Celine Dion can be found on Prime Video now.

“I have no words to describe what I’m feeling. I’ll be on cloud nine for the rest of my life!” shares Wyn Starks about “Who I Am” being part of I Am: Celine Dion.

“It’s such a full circle moment. Celine Dion has been such an inspiration to me, and her music has helped me get through so many obstacles in my life. Seeing her belt out ‘Who I Am’ with such strength and resilience in spite of everything she’s going through will be a moment I’ll never forget.”

Alongside this feature, Wyn Starks also takes off on a cross-country adventure in his recently released music video for current single, “Run,” which premiered exclusively on Wonderland Magazine’s website. The song is currently in the Top 30 of Hot AC Radio in the US. Another track that is slowly getting recognized is “Where Are The Giants.” The inspiring track explores the impact of absent parental figures and the quest for self-worth.

Fans can check out more about Wyn Starks HERE. I Am: Celine Dion can be found on Prime Video now.

About Wyn Starks:

Wyn Starks is already well-known for his 2020 appearance on America’s Got Talent and his Black Is Golden album, with songs like “Who I Am” garnering 2.7 million YouTube views and charting #14 on the Billboard charts. The Curb Records signee’s journey began in Minneapolis, where he grew up with his mother and four brothers. He listened to a wide variety of music, from the gospel harmonies of artists like Yolanda Adams and The Clark Sisters to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. At 13 he sang an original song entitled “Angel City,” at church, thrilling churchgoers and affirming his potential. Eventually, he directed his church’s youth choir and praise team and joined a traveling ministry.   

Starks then moved to Dallas, where a viral video of him singing caught the attention of producer and songwriter Fred Williams, who invited Starks to Nashville to work on music together. He released his debut single “Circles” in 2019 and crafted his 2021 Black Is Golden. Collaborating with professional songwriters and musicians throughout the country, Starks also toured as an opening act on folk band Delta Rae’s 2020 and 2023 national tours.

Starks spent the majority of 2023 prepping his sophomore album while out on the road with Delta Rae. The new project is a mesh of his R&B and soul influences, but will also be imbued with elements of pop, 80s rock, and other sounds that radiate his preferred vibe of timeless, feel-good music. Starks has always been a student of music, but now he’s more confident in jumping out of his comfort zone and exploring all kinds of sounds as an artist.

About Curb Records:

Celebrating 60 years in business, Curb Records is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1964, Curb Records has achieved 435 number one records, over 1,500 Top Ten records and charted over 4,500 total records. With over a half century in operation, Curb Records has been influential in the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including: Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, LeAnn Rimes, The Judds, Dylan Scott, Sawyer Brown, for KING & COUNTRY, Wyn Starks, Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Big Daddy Weave, Natalie Grant, Jo Dee Messina, Hannah Ellis, Mo Pitney, Hal Ketchum, and Desert Rose Band, among many others. 

 Source: Nyou

Paolo Sandejas signs with Sony Music Entertainment, releases first official single “sirens”

The moody guitar-pop track showcases layers of maturity and earnestness to his musical craft

Rising OPM star Paolo Sandejas is the newest addition to the growing family of Sony Music Entertainment artists!

In just a short period of time, the breakout act has captivated the international audience with “Sorry,” a song that BTS’ V co-signed and sang in one of his vlogs. In 2023, Sandejas dropped Bloom, a 6-track EP which features the hit single “Different Shade of Blue.” He is also one of the performers at the recently concluded Wanderland Music and Arts Festival 2024, sharing the billing alongside some of the global heavyweights in the live music scene, including Jack Johnson, Parcels, and Thundercat.

As part of his debut offering with his new label, Paolo Sandejas has finally released “sirens,” the first single off his upcoming solo album to be released sometime soon. Penned by Sandejas, the moody alt-pop track reveals a more mature approach to his musicality and songwriting.

The song also serves as a reunion project with XergioRamos, who was responsible for producing “Someone New,” his collab track with fellow singer-songwriter MarttiFranca.

“The final track sounds so much fuller and more polished compared to what I initially brought to him, and I’m really grateful that he took the time and effort to help bring the song to life,” said the Sway artist. “You’ll definitely be hearing more of him working on my songs in the future.”

Lyrically speaking, “sirens” is about finding home in a person. As Sandejas puts it, the new song captures the feeling of being reckless and spontaneous in life, knowing that things will be fine as long as you get to spend precious time with the person you call home.

He explains, “I wanted to keep the lyrics really simple with slight variations between verses to tell the story in a subtle way. As writers, we often try to fit as much as we can into a song, but for this track, I wanted to be as efficient as I could while still telling its story.”

Paolo Sandejas’ “sirens” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Follow him on socials:

Facebook / x / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube

Source: Nyou

XG Announces highly-anticipated second mini album Unveils first pre-release track "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" out on July 26th

On July 8th, XG shared a captivating image of a beam of light connecting the ocean, clouds, and sun on their social media channels. The intriguing visual was accompanied by an announcement that XG’s second Mini Album is set for release in late 2024.

Building on the excitement, XG has further revealed that the first pre-release track from the upcoming album, titled "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT", will drop on July 26th.

"SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" is a retro-inspired track rooted in garage rhythms and features addictive refrains that showcase the unique talents of each of the seven XG members. The song's minimalistic approach hides a variety of sounds, highlighting the group's innovative style. Produced by JAKOPS (SIMON JUNHO PARK), head and general producer of XGALX, the track combines an up-tempo, 90s-esque vibe with XG’s vibrant originality, promising "music that makes everyone want to dance, regardless of age or gender".

The cover photo for "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" presents a colorful pop design that diverges from XG’s previous work, "WOKE UP", and captures the individuality and creativity of the seven members, further establishing XG’s unique artistic vision.

XG’s fifth single, "WOKE UP", released on May 21st, achieved significant milestones, including reaching number one on the YouTube trending chart in the United States. It also dominated the “Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan” chart for five consecutive weeks, showcasing XG’s growing influence and solidifying their status as a "global rising group".

On July 6th, XG made their debut appearance on Nippon TV's "THE MUSIC DAY", where they performed "WOKE UP" and fan-favorite "SHOOTING STAR", which was released in January 2023. The performance generated substantial buzz on social media and led to XG's Wikipedia page achieving the highest number of views in Japan on that day.

Currently, XG is captivating audiences on their first world tour, "The first HOWL", with their overseas performances commencing on July 11th in Seoul, followed by stops in Taipei, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The tour aims to excite ALPHAZ (XG’s fanbase) worldwide. Check the official tour information site here for more details.

The anticipation for XG's second mini album and their upcoming track "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT" is palpable, as fans and the music industry alike eagerly await the impact of their next release.

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About XG

XG is a seven-member HIPHOP / R&B girl group consisting of JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA. They debuted in March 2022 with their first single "Tippy Toes" under the global entertainment production company "XGALX," which aims to promote bold culture worldwide and produce artists with unique worldviews.

In September 2023, they released their first mini-album "NEW DNA," which topped the Billboard JAPAN "Hot Albums" chart. In November of the same year, they held their first solo live concert with an audience, "XG 'NEW DNA' SHOWCASE in JAPAN," at Pia Arena MM. XG operates primarily on the global stage, participating in major music festivals in countries such as the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. They achieved numerous milestones, including ranking first as the first Japanese artist on the Billboard "Hot Trending Songs Powered by Twitter" chart and becoming the first Japanese girl group to grace the cover of the U.S. "Billboard" magazine.

In 2024, they announced their first world tour, "XG 1st WORLD TOUR 'The first HOWL'." The group name "XG" stands for "Xtraordinary Girls." Through their unconventional music and performances, they aim to empower people from various backgrounds around the world.

Follow XG

Official Website | XG OFFICIAL FANCLUB 'ALPHAZ' | IG | YT | TikTok | Weverse | X | FB | XGALX

 Source: Blackstar

CHRIS JAMES RELEASES NEW POIGNANT LOVE SONG "ROSES"

Photo credit: Crzy Lvrs

July 5th, 2024 – Singapore – Multi-talented singer-songwriter Chris James is set to captivate audiences with his new single, “Roses”. An upbeat pop song that blends adult contemporary with bedroom pop, Chris James explores the theme of genuine love versus shallow actions, inspired by the realization that maintaining a relationship requires more than just superficial displays of affection over melodic guitars, a driving basic drum track, banjo, and piano.

He reflects, “I wanted to write a song about trying to maintain a relationship through surface-level actions, not realizing that the relationship just needed my attention.” As with most of his songs, Chris James has single-handedly written, recorded, produced, and mixed the track, showcasing his multifaceted talent and dedication to his craft. The song is written from the girl’s perspective, delving into the dynamics of a relationship where superficial gestures fall short of fulfilling emotional needs. The poignant chorus, “I don’t need no roses / No song for the pain / All I ever wanted / Was you to love me the same,” encapsulates the essence of the song.

Chris James explains, “Writing this song from her perspective helped me understand her feelings. She didn’t want grand gestures, just genuine love and change. It’s about the pain of unmet expectations and realizing that sometimes, despite caring deeply, things just don’t work out.”

Accompanying the release is a music video featuring Chris James running around a mansion, opening different doors with flowers in hand. This visual metaphor underscores the search for true connection and the futility of grandiose displays when genuine affection is absent.

"Roses" arrives just before Chris James embarks on his Asia tour next month, with stops in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore and Taipei. Fans can look forward to experiencing his heartfelt performances and dynamic stage presence during this highly anticipated tour.

Most recently, some of K-pop's biggest stars ATEEZ's Yeosangcovered Chris James' previous single "Don't Forget About Me", while EXO's CHEN recommends "If Tomorrow It's All Over". BTS' Jimin also announced his new album which features the song "Slow Dancing (feat. Sofia Carson)", a highly-anticipated release co-written by Chris James.

Listen to “Roses” here: symphony.to/chris-james/roses

About Chris James

With over 100 million streams to his name, Berlin-based, German-American artist Chris James continues to impact the music scene profoundly, following his collaboration on the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit "Life Goes On" by BTS. Over the past three years, he has independently released 25 singles, 1 EP, and 4 albums, garnering an audience of over 1.2 million unique listeners and achieving more than 100 million plays on Spotify.

Chris's global appeal skyrocketed in 2020 with his breakout hit “Not Angry”, which currently boasts over 5 billion impressionson Douyin. His influence in the music world was further recognized when he received an award from KKBOX as one of the Top 100 Western Artists of the year. In addition to his solo career, Chris is a prolific songwriter with notable achievements, including co-writing several global hits including “Life Goes On”by BTS, “Like Crazy” by Jimin, and "Devil By The Window" by TOMORROW x TOGETHER. Two of these songs achieved #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and are RIAA-certified Platinum, while another topped the Billboard Global 200.

Chris James has grown a massive fan base across Asia, with all Asian cities dominating his Top 10 Streaming markets worldwide – Taipei #1, Thailand #2, Philippines #3, Singapore #4 and Malaysia #5.

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For more information: Secret Signals | Chris James

Follow Chris James: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter

Source: Secret Signals

Barbie Almalbis confronts deep pain and longing on eclectic new song “Desperate Hours”

The song serves as the first single off her upcoming fifth album, to be released at the end of the year

After collaborating with indie-folk band Munimuni on “Tupa” and co-headlining the Mist Music Festival in Canada, Barbie Almalbis gears up for a new era in music with the release of her new song “Desperate Hours.”

Produced by La Ball’s resident arranger and studio whiz Nick Lazaro, who has done exemplary work for artists such as Clara Benin and BP Valenzuela, “Desperate Hours” serves as the first official single off Barbie’s upcoming fifth studio album, to be released at the end of the year.

Coming across as an innovative tour de force in the mold of Bjork, Melanie Martinez, and St. Vincent, Almalbis’ avant-pop track refuses any easy categorization but unravels quite literally and figuratively as her most experimental work to date. Here, the two unlikely collaborators play around with unconventional guitar riffs, loose structures, and oddly charming noises, while showcasing an uncompromising vision that’s far from anything that Almalbis has released so far. It sounds like pop music in the strictest sense of the word, but not the type that is bound by rules and limitations.  

“I’ve dreamt of doing something like this for years but didn’t have the knowledge and courage, so meeting Nick has been a godsend, because producing this way is something that seems to come so easily for him,” said the alternative rock icon. “It’s also a lot of work. He made me sing hard, do crow sounds, explosions, portamentos, and ‘witchy’ voices, and though it felt a little weird at times, I think it actually sounds good in context.”

Apart from the sonic bombast and unthinkable surprises, Almalbis’ poetic songwriting shines even more on “Desperate Hours,” where she penned material in a time of deep pain and longing. According to the Dahilan act, the song was written during a very challenging point in her life, when she was going through anxiety and emotional struggles, while having a hard time figuring out where it was coming from.  

“I couldn’t understand much about what I was going through, but I knew I needed to lean on God, and also sought the help of ‘last resort’ friends—like a last hope, “break-glass-in-case-of-emergency” kind of friends,” Almalbis reveals. “One day, things were beginning to get better, and I had a bit of clarity. I woke up early and wrote the pre-chorus: I can feel the rescuer…finally the war is over. It was actually more a song of faith, and soon enough, this struggle will indeed be over. Then it happened that later that morning, I was doing some reading and came across Psalm 18. I was surprised to find that it was about the same topic and even used similar metaphors. It really made me feel like I was on the right track, and so the psalm became a guide to finishing the rest of the song.”

Kate Bush and Bjork easily come to mind when listeners hear “Desperate Hours” for the first time, but there’s so much more to its quirks than meets the eye.

“I’m almost always not trying to achieve anything,” Almalbis shares. “I’m not a planner. I really just try to follow my curiosity as an artist and express how I feel at the moment. I think Bjork and Kate Bush are very emotional writers, and I surely have listened to them a bunch over the years, so their musical ideas are definitely floating around in my brain. To be doing music that’s kind of similar to them makes me feel like I’m going in the right direction as an artist.”

Barbie Almalbis’ “Desperate Hours” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide.

Source: Nyou