Watch Polo G perform ‘Martin & Gina’ on ‘Fallon’
Chicago rapper Polo G has performed ‘Martin & Gina’ as a musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Polo G – real name Taurus Tremani Bartlett – performed the track backed by a four-piece band under a variety of soft, shifting lighting. The song is taken from Bartlett’s 2020 album, ‘THE GOAT’.
Watch the performance below:
‘THE GOAT’ is Bartlett’s second full-length to date, following his 2019 debut record, ‘Die A Legend’. In June, he was featured alongside Ty Dolla $ign on Murda Beatz’s track ‘Doors Unlocked’.
- READ MORE: Get to know Polo G, the Chicago rapper who’s sampled Tupac and been co-signed by Jay-Z
Bartlett was imprisoned for two months in May 2018 for weed possession, and began releasing music shortly after his release. He first garnered mainstream attention with his 2019 breakout track ‘Finer Things’, which he wrote during his time in jail.
The lyrics behind ‘Martin & Gina’ reference the relationship between the titular characters in the American sitcom, Martin.
The official music video for the song was directed by Reel Goats and features an accurate depiction of Martin and Gina’s apartment in the show. In the visual, Bartlett and comedian Vena Excell feature as the title characters, recreating iconic scenes from the series.
Amanda Palmer to launch new podcast ‘The Art Of Asking Everything’
Amanda Palmer is launching a new podcast called The Art Of Asking Everything – check out the trailer below.
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Read More: Amanda Palmer – ‘There Will Be No Intermission’ review
The weekly series will begin next Tuesday (September 29) and will see the cult musician, author and TED speaker participate in “deep and honest conversations” with a range of guests, including KT Tunstall, Tim Minchin, Lenny Henry, Laura Jane Grace and Susan Cain.
“Do you know that I love to talk to people? About hard and uncomfortable things? Well, I do,” Palmer says. “For this podcast, I sit down with (or occasionally, phone) guests from all walks of life: doctors, sex workers, musicians, writers, teachers, painters, parents, activists, TED speakers, friends…”
The podcast will delve into “The Big Stuff” and contain “music, tangents and best of all: NO BRANDING OR PAID ADVERTISEMENTS because we are 100% patron-supported.”
Palmer funded her career with fan support via the Patreon membership platform, where 15,000 patrons will gain access to exclusive new content.
“Being able to create this podcast using patronage also means that I don’t have to answer to a boss, rely on advertisement, or otherwise dilute the content of the conversation,” Palmer explains. “This podcast is produced purely by me and my home-team, for my community, with no added artificial ingredients.”
Tune into The Art Of Asking Everything via your desired streaming platform here.
Earlier this month, Palmer teamed up with Rhiannon Giddens for a cover of Portishead’s ‘It’s A Fire’ after being struck by its lines, “Because this life is a farce/ I can’t breathe in this mask… so breathe on, sister…”
“I was stunned by the new application of those lyrics to these times, to COVID, to Black Lives Matter, to the emerging sisterhood that’s slowly uprooting the very, very rotting old system of racist and sexist hierarchy on this fragile globe. It gave me chills,” Palmer told NME upon the song’s release.
IDLES announce all-female support acts for 2021 UK and Ireland tour
IDLES have announced a huge list of support acts for their 2021 UK and Ireland headline tour.
Jehnny Beth, Anna Calvi, Cate Le Bon, Big Joanie, Sinead O’Brien, Shopping and more are all set to join select dates of the huge, sold-out run of dates in May and June.
- READ MORE: IDLES: “Loads of people don’t fucking like us”
The dates, which begin in early May with two sold-out shows at Glasgow’s Barrowlands venue, culminate the following month with four gigs at London’s Brixton Academy.
See IDLES’ list of tour dates and support acts for their 2021 UK headline tour below.
MAY 2021
7 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
8 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
9 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
10 – O2 City Hall, Newcastle (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
12 – Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
13 – O2 Academy, Birmingham (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
14 – O2 Academy, Sheffield (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
16 – Vicar Street, Dublin (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
17 – Vicar Street, Dublin (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
18 – Vicar Street, Dublin (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
20 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
21 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
22 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
JUNE 2021
18 – O2 Academy Brixton, London (with Sinead O’Brien and Witch Fever)
19 – O2 Academy Brixton, London (with Jehnny Beth and Big Joanie)
20 – O2 Academy Brixton, London (with Cate Le Bon and Shopping)
21 – O2 Academy Brixton, London (with Anna Calvi and Wych Elm)
The all-female list of support acts, which also features Bristol band Wych Elm, and Witch Fever, follows IDLES recently addressing criticism around their alleged lack of support for female artists.
Speaking in an NME cover feature around the release of their third album ‘Ultra Mono’, frontman Joe Talbot admitted that in the past, the band “haven’t had enough of a mix of people who are representative of the whole demographic of what we’re about” to support them on tour.
He went on to say that a change in the status quo will be achieved “with Government legislation, and getting a fairer demographic into music in the first place. That doesn’t mean I want to eradicate any sort of responsibility… [but] any cultural shift comes with representation and education.
“To inspire young black women to be punk musicians, they need to be included in the messaging and welcomed into the culture. Hopefully young black girls will listen to IDLES and feel welcome in our community. As white men we’re normalised [within punk culture] but we understand now and we’re re-educating ourselves – and our audience – that integration and celebration of difference is key to happiness.”
IDLES release new album ‘Ultra Mono’ on Friday (September 25). In a four-star album review, NME wrote: This record fuses the first album’s goofy sense of humour with ‘Joy As An Act Of Resistance”s brazen manifesto for a healthier society.
“Despite their imperfections and the often justified criticism, IDLES are ultimately a good thing. The band want to take you on a trip and for you to enjoy the ride, and for the destination to be serene. Hold on tight.”
Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown stance criticised by Northern Ireland Health Minister
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann has criticised Van Morrison’s decision to release three anti-lockdown protest songs in a new op-ed.
Morrison recently announced plans to release the tracks ‘No More Lockdown’, ‘Born to Be Free’ and ‘As I Walked Out’ in opposition to the government’s restrictions. In ‘No More Lockdown’, Morrison reportedly claims scientists are “making up crooked facts” and likens the government to “fascist bullies”.
In response, Swann said in his Rolling Stone op-ed “there’s a real feeling of disappointment – we expected better from him.
“It’s entirely right and proper to debate and question policies. It’s legitimate to ask if the right balance is being found in what is being done; if the right steps are being taken. None of this is easy or straightforward,” he said.
“But Van Morrison is going way beyond raising questions. He is singing about ‘fascist bullies’ and claiming governments are deceiving people and wanting to ‘enslave’.
“It’s actually a smear on all those involved in the public health response to a virus that has taken lives on a massive scale. His words will give great comfort to the conspiracy theorists – the tin foil hat brigade who crusade against masks and vaccines and think this is all a huge global plot to remove freedoms.”
- Read more: Ian Brown’s ‘red pill rock’ is the dumbest protest genre ever
Swann also pointed out a 2017 interview with Morrison, during which the singer said he was apolitical.
“He’s changed his tune big time since then. He could have chosen to sing about how we all can help save lives. He could have written a tribute to our health and social care workers on the frontline,” Swann said.
“Instead, he’s chosen to attack attempts to protect the old and vulnerable in our society. It’s all bizarre and irresponsible. I only hope no one takes him seriously. He’s no guru, no teacher.”
Morrison is one of many artists who have recently criticised or acted in opposition to public health advice pertaining to COVID-19. Earlier this month, Noel Gallagher said he refuses to wear a mask while shopping, directly breaching current UK regulation.
In August, thousands gathered at a Smash Mouth show as part of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. One study has suggested the ten-day event can be traced to more than 260,000 cases in the US.
Bruce Springsteen says he has full-length “lost albums” to release from archives
Bruce Springsteen says he has “a lot of projects” in the works for the near future, including full-length “lost albums” to release from his archives.
Springsteen announced new album ‘Letter To You’ last week, his first with The E Street Band since 2014’s ‘High Hopes’.
- Read more: Bruce Springsteen – ‘Western Stars’ review
Speaking about the new record in an interview with Rolling Stone, Springsteen also discussed other upcoming projects, which he said also includes a follow-up to his 1998 box set ‘Tracks’.
While citing “a lot of projects” that are in the planning, Springsteen said: “There’s a lot of really good music left. You just go back there. It’s not that hard. If I pull out something from 1980, or 1985, or 1970, it’s amazing how you can slip into that voice. It’s just sort of a headspace. All of those voices remain available to me, if I want to go to them.”
The interview also reveals that the future projects will feature full-length pieces from the star’s archives, and that he has full-length “lost albums” which he plans to release in the future.
In the same interview, Springsteen revealed that he wrote the entirety of new album ‘Letter To You’ on a guitar that was gifted to him by a fan.
After receiving the present at one of his ‘Springsteen on Broadway’ shows, Springsteen said he “took a quick glance at it and it looked like a nice guitar, so I jumped in the car with it,” before writing the entire album on it.
Springsteen also opened up on the resurgent Black Lives Matter movement, calling it a movement of “tremendous hope” that “history is demanding”.
“White supremacy and white privilege have gone much deeper than I thought they did,” he said.
Reviewing Springsteen’s last album, 2019’s ‘Western Stars’, NME wrote: “Majestic in its scale, but traditional in its subject matter and narratives, ‘Western Stars’ is a wonderful thing. It perfectly leads into his reunion with the E Street Band, with whom he’ll be heading into the studio to work on album 20 later this year. The Boss rambles on; on this evidence, his next journey will be some trip.”
Skepta drops stomping video for new single ‘No Stress’
Skepta has shared a video for his new single ‘No Stress’, featuring Essie Gang members L3 and Michael Phantom.
The bass-heavy track, produced by the rapper, follows his recent video collaboration with JME – ‘Nang’. You can watch the video below.
- Read more: Skepta – ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ review
Skepta also recently appeared on ‘Hospital’, a track from JME’s second album, ‘Blam!’ and the Gorillaz track ‘How Far?’.
He is currently producing Octavian’s forthcoming debut album which is set to drop later this year. Recent single ‘Famous’ dropped last month.
Meanwhile, a three day online music event will broadcast a series of performances from Skepta, Octavian and Arlo Parks next month.
All three will pre-record their sets, performing exclusive new material as well as tracks from their respective back catalogues for the ‘Dummy Live’ series.
Skepta will perform on Friday October 9, followed by Octavian on October 10 and Arlo Parks on October 11.
State-of-the-art production is promised for each show, with stages for each artist specially constructed at The Steel Yard venue in London.
Director Matt Askem will oversee the three shoots. His previous credits include tours and broadcasts for the likes of U2, Muse, Adele and Alicia Keys, and he was also broadcast director for the 2012 London Paralympics Closing Ceremony featuring Coldplay, Jay-Z and Rihanna.
He’ll be joined by producer Steve Nolan, whose credits include The BRIT Awards, The BAFTAS, The MOBO Awards and The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and lighting designer Tim Routledge, who has designed shows for Beyonce, The Spice Girls, Sam Smith and Stormzy.
Cardi B explains why she’s divorcing Offset: “I have not shed one tear”
Cardi B has opened up about why she has decided to divorce Offset after almost three years of marriage.
It was reported last week that the rapper had filed for divorce in court documents in Georgia.
The two married in secret on September 20, 2017, which was followed by an onstage ‘proposal’ a month later, making the news public.
Their relationship has been plagued by rumours of Offset’s cheating, and they announced a split in December 2018 before they reportedly got back together the following year.
Cardi B talks about divorce with Offset:
"Nothing crazy out of this world happened, sometimes people really do grow apart. I’ve been with this man for 4 years. I have a kid with this man, I have a household with this man. Sometimes you’re just tired of the arguments & build up” pic.twitter.com/btTOglE38L
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 19, 2020
Now she has taken to Instagram to explain her decision to divorce her husband.
“I’m okay. I wanted to let y’all know I have not shed not one tear,” she said. “Every single time that this guy has been so crazy, so fucked up and it hits the media, I’m always crying, always sad because I don’t like that type of shit.
“This time, I wasn’t crying. You want to know why? The reason for my divorce is not because of none of that shit that ever happened before. It’s not because of cheating. I’m seeing people like, ‘Oh, he has a baby on the way.’ That’s a whole fucking complete lie. That’s the second time people are trying to pin babies over here. No, that’s bullshit.”
“I just got tired of fucking arguing,” she continued. “I got tired of not seeing things eye to eye. When you feel like it’s just not the same anymore, before you actually get cheated on, I’d rather just leave … Nothing crazy out of this world happened, sometimes people really do fucking grow apart.
“I been with this man for four years. I have a kid with this man, I have a household with this man … sometimes you’re just tired of the arguments and the build up. You get tired sometimes and before something bad happens, you leave. What is so bad about that?”
Meanwhile, Cardi recently appeared on Brazilian pop artist Anitta’s single ‘Me Gusta’ along with Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers.
‘WAP’ also recently remained at Number One for the third week running in the UK album chart.
Tyler, The Creator confirms he didn’t appear in Tupac video as a child
Tyler, The Creator has denied that he appeared in a video featuring the late Tupac Shakur when he was a toddler.
It comes after a recently resurfaced 1994 episode of BET’s Rap City showed Tupac playfully confronting a toddler on the street alongside seminal director John Singleton
In the video, Tupac is seen taking a stroll in Los Angeles alongside Singleton when he spots the child staring at him and proceeds to jokingly confront the youngster.
“What you gon’ do, man?” Tupac asks.
“You just be walking and somebody just be looking at you, mean-mugging, you know what I’m saying. Like he playing me or something. Now, I could keep walking or I could confront that man. I think I’ma keep walking. I don’t know what he got with him.”
Fans subsequently claimed that the Odd Future leader was the child in the clip – with one video even boasting the title ‘Tupac Meets Young Tyler The Creator’.
But eight years after the video originally emerged online, Tyler has now confirmed that he didn’t meet Tupac before the rapper’s death in 1996.
LMAOOOO pic.twitter.com/qcVm8d1Aa6
— CANVAS MAN (@Louaista) September 20, 2020
“Thats not me as a baby with tupac dumbass ha,” he wrote on Twitter.
While the child might not be Tyler, fans will be forgiven for noting the distinct similarities in their clothing – with the toddler’s cap and striped t-shirt bearing a strong resemblance to the outfit choices of the rapper in Odd Future’s early years.
Last week, Tyler also debuted his latest ice cream flavour after joining forces with the Ohio-based artisan company Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
Tyler will also return to Europe next year to play festivals including Roskilde and Primavera, after coronavirus forced both events to cancel their 2020 editions.
Slowdive drop hints that album number five is on the way
Shoegaze greats Slowdive have recently been dropping hints that album number five is on the way.
The outfit have been sharing photos from in the studio, both on their official Instagram and that of vocalist Rachel Goswell, captioning them with the hashtag “#slowdivelp5”.
The first photo originally appeared on Goswell’s socials five days ago, featuring the band’s drumkit. It was followed by an image of Nick Chaplin on his bass, and most recently, Neil Halstead playing guitar.
- Read more: The 10 best shoegaze albums ever
Check out the photos below.
View this post on Instagram
🖤🖤🖤 #slowdivelp5
View this post on Instagram
#slowdivelp5 📸RG
View this post on Instagram
#slowdivelp5 📸RG
Details about a title, release date or tracklisting are yet to be revealed.
Slowdive formed in the late 1980s, releasing three albums, ‘Just For A Day’, ‘Souvlaki’ and ‘Pygmalion’, before the band’s members fractured into different groups to pursue other projects.In 2014, the outfit announced they would be reforming to perform at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, following up with their first London show in 20 years.
- Read more: Watch Slowdive’s live-streamed London gig
Two years later, they announced they were working on a new album, the first since their 1995 record, ‘Pygmalion’. Following a cryptic teaser video and single ‘Star Roving’, the band released their self-titled album in 2017, their first in 22 years.Advertisement
Earlier this year, Goswell teamed up with a bevy of fellow rock icons to cover The Mission’s ‘Tower Of Strength’ for COVID relief. Other artists enlisted for the rendition included Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore, The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst, The Mission’s Wayne Hussey, Gary Numan and more.
AdvertisementOzzy Osbourne’s daughter Aimee announces debut album ‘Vacare Adamare’
Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Aimee has announced details of her forthcoming debut album ‘Vacare Adamare’.
The album will be released under the moniker ARO and follows the recent single ‘Shared Something With The Night’.
- Read more: Get to know Aimée Osbourne, the media-shy sibling who makes atmospheric metal
The record, whose title is Latin for “to be free and loved”, will be released on October 30 via Make Records. While a full tracklist is yet to be announced, Osbourne has shared another track from the album called ‘House Of Lies’.
AdvertisementSpeaking to Altpress, the musician said the song was about “feeling those ties to someone that you don’t particularly want to feel”. “You tell yourself that they’re not there, but they very much are the same,” she explained.
ARO – which takes its name from her initials – is completed by bassist Grecco Buratto, keyboardist Eric Scullin and drummer Brendan Buckley. The band will give their debut live performance on a livestream from LA’s Hotel Cafe next weekend (September 26).
Last month, Osbourne explained her decision not to appear alongside her family on the reality show The Osbournes. “To me, I’d grown up around having a pretty well-known dad anyway, and I always really valued my privacy within that family,” she said.
Advertisement“For me personally, for who I am, as far as morally, and also just to give myself a chance to actually develop into a human being as opposed to just being remembered for being a teenager, it didn’t really line up with what I saw my future as.”
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