Paul van Dyk may have made his name as a trance artist, but his interests and skills extend well beyond the genre. Now, he’s demonstrating how far.
With his new VENTURE X project, the German pioneer is eschewing genre purity and simply playing what he thinks sounds best, with an upcoming tour finding van Dyk fusing progressive, trance and techno.
“I try to stay curious and open-minded about new sounds, artists, and labels – always have,” van Dyk tells Billboard. “Different aspects of music, its genres and colorations of sound have always been part of my sets. With VENTURE X I take this approach even further, the set will be defined by itself.”
These VENTURE X shows launch on February 17 in Toronto, with the tour then hitting New York City, Montreal, Pontiac, Denver, Portland, San Francisco, and Austin. On the road, van Dyk hopes to satisfy audiences “in a way they didn’t know was possible. I do believe electronic music enthusiasts deserve more than a top 10 dance chart set played from a USB stick.”
For the tour, van Dyk’s setup will feature instruments, computers, and sequencers, a set that “enables me to find the right level of energy at any given moment throughout the set, as everything is basically live sequenced and played. And while some fans can get prickly about crossing sounds, he’s got “no worry that genre purists will be alienated, quite the opposite. There’s so much great music out there and my job as a DJ is to introduce it to you. That’s how I see it, at least. Otherwise, I’d feel like a jukebox.”
Indeed, genres hardly matter as van Dyk, who’s been making music for three decades, points out that genre names, sounds, and meanings keep changing anyways. “When I started DJing, all electronic music was called techno…. What was called progressive house some 20 years ago, would probably be called melodic techno these days. There are amazing releases on Drumcode that could easily fit in the trance genre and sometimes what is called techno sounds like chill out to me.”
VENTURE X’s call to arms anthem, itself not falling into one tidy genre-box, is also out today (Jan. 27.) It finds van Dyk collaborating with progressive house duo Weekend Heroes and singer/songwriter Christian Schottstaedt, who together deliver a dark voyage of a track that serves as the project’s thesis statement
“I like the proggy, deeper stuff, but with a tougher approach as you can hear,” van Dyk says. “[Making this music] feels very natural and organic.”
We’re less than three weeks away from the highly anticipated Rihanna concert, a.k.a the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, and the “Love on the Brain” singer is getting fans hyped for her upcoming performance on Friday (Jan. 27) with a new teaser video.
In the clip shared to Twitter, RiRi strikes a number of poses in an oversized jersey and sweatpants from her new “Game Day” Savage X Fenty collection. “Pre gaming in @SavageXFenty,” she captioned the post.
The sporty Savage X Fenty drop features 17 styles, from hoodies to boxers, sweatpants, two-tone varsity jerseys, beanies, bandanas and tube tops, with sizes ranging from XXS to 4X. There’s also a white graphic tee with the important message: “Rihanna Concert Interrupted by a Football Game, Weird But Whatever.”
The newly rebranded Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, which is being produced by DPS with Roc Nation, will take place on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.
According to WWD, the singer will also launch a three-day “Game Day” pop-up shop in Los Angeles from Jan. 27-29 where customers will be able to shop the entire collection in a football-themed store. As is customary, new mom Rihanna is keeping details of her halftime extravaganza under tight wraps, telling ET in Nov., “I can’t believe I even said yes. It was one of those things that even when I announced it, I was like, ‘OK, I can’t take it back. Now, it’s like final.’ The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world, it’s an entertainer’s dream to be on a stage like that,” she added. “But it’s nerve-racking. You want to get it right. You know, everybody’s watching. And they’re rooting for you. And I want to get it right.”
First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by BillboardLatin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Christian Nodal & TINI, “Por El Resto De Tu Vida” (Christian Nodal/Sony Music México)
On their first collaboration together, Christian Nodal and TINI make a dazzling duet. Leading with beautiful bolero guitar interplay, the mariacheño trailblazer and Argentine pop singer match hearts as their voices collide to make one of the sweetest of love songs of the year so far. What’s most intriguing, however, is Nodal’s continued ability to experiment within the confines of regional Mexican music, and TINI is a great singing partner to enhance that sound. Hi-hats enter nearly a minute into the song to coalesce with the güiro, a subtle but riveting transition that morphs into a bolero-trap thump. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Rosalía, “LLYLM” (Columbia Records)
“El que quiero no me quiere como quiero que me quiera,” Rosalía sings over her signature handclap beat. The opening verse of “LLYLM” is almost a tongue twister with lyrics that showcase despair after she realizes that the guy she likes doesn’t like her like she’d like him to like her. She then effortlessly transitions into English, to get her point across in case something gets lost in translation. “I don’t need honestly, baby, lie like you love me, lie like you love me,” she sings, soaring over a guitar-led tune fused with magnetic handclaps. It’s the Spaniard’s first single of the year following her 2022 Latin Grammy-winning album Motomami. — GRISELDA FLORES
Marc Seguí, “Plaza en el Cielo” (Taste the Floor Records/Warner Music Spain)
Marc Seguí kicks off 2023 with a new single and a new musical era. This time, the Spanish artist is steering away from his signature reggaetón-pop sound and venturing into rock. “Plaza en el Cielo,” along with its accompanying video, brings to life Seguí’s new roquero stage. Produced by Carlos Ares, Andrés Goiburu, and Jack Stone, the rebellious punk tune showcases Seguí’s captivating vocals, singing about the mistakes he’s made in his life (but also learning from them). “I wanted to talk about a darker stage in my life where I was quite lost, a stage in which the music that accompanied me the most was rock,” he explains in a press release. “Plaza en el Cielo” is the first single off his upcoming EP. — JESSICA ROIZ
Peter Nieto x Lenier, “Conocerte” (Diamond Music)
Up-and-comers Peter Nieto and Lenier both grew up in Cuba but now live in the U.S., a fact that helps explain the more international sound they bring to their respective brands of tropical music. Together, they’ve paired up for “Conocerte,” a romantic bachata where Nieto’s smooth, plaintive tenor contrasts beautifully with Lenier’s raspy vocals. Despite Lenier’s chanteo, it’s a more melodic bridge between tropical and urban, made all the more appealing by genuinely lovely lyrics. — LEILA COBO
KYEN? ES? x Maffio, “Sopita” (Saban Music Group)
KYEN? ES? (a Spanish play on words that means “who is it”) is a conceptual musical project by Saban Music Group that focuses on paying tribute to Latin music. For his latest single, the performer — who keeps his identity private behind large, dark sunglasses and facemasks — reeled in Dominican hitmaker Maffio for “Sopita” (little soup). The feel-good bop pays homage to the all-time fiesta classic “Sopa de Caracol,” originally released in 1991 by the Honduran group Banda Blanca. Produced by Maffio, the new version moves the traditional punta song to a mid-tempo merengue, keeping its party essence well alive. A vibrant music video features the two artists at a Latin party, where they even flaunt the next viral dance trend. — J.R.
Rauw Alejandro & Daddy Yankee, “Panties y Brasieres” (Sony Music Latin/Duars Entertainment)
In line with Rauw Alejandro’s throwback album Saturno — and space/time-traveling spirit — El Fókin Zorro and the Big Boss team up to drop “Panties y Brasieres,” a.k.a. hidden track number seven. What was once the 19-second “Loading” interlude in the album is now converted into a vintage banger, where the pair embrace old school hip-hop drums, from before the reggaetón drum pattern was solidified in the late ‘90s. In fact, the dance floor cut contains a sample from Yankee’s “Camuflash,” from DJ Playero’s 1996 set Playero 40: New Era. — I.R.
Daniel & Me Estás Matando, “Sólo Tú” (Inmadurez Records)
“Sólo Tú” finds Mexican duo Daniel, Me Estás Matando (Daniel Zepeda and Iván de la Rioja) doing what they do best — bolero glam. To the beat of soft congas and dreamy acoustic guitar riffs, the pair chants about a love so pure, and about feeling safe with that special person. “I know that if I’m holding your hand/ And if fear looks for us, we’re not here/ We left to a faraway world, where only you is there,” goes part of the chorus. The romantic track stays truthful to the sophisticated bolero genre and later transitions into a psychedelic instrumental exploration. — J.R.
Miguel Campello & Nya de la Rubia, “RUMBACUMBIA” (Chatarrero Records)
Following a string of singles leading up to his next album Noche y Día (due out Feb. 3), Miguel Campello drops two very different outings: the experimental flamenco cut “Vete” and “Rumbacumbia.” The latter, which features Sevilla actress and singer Nya de la Rubia, is an electrifying rumba song included in the “day” side for concept album, that feels as uplifting as the sun’s warmth. Flamenco guitar fretwork and silky smooth percussion take the fore, as the former El Bicho frontman’s and Nya’s voices both invigorate with their poetic verses of love and embrace. — I.R.
Kelly Clarkson turned her Kelly Clarkson Show into a club on Friday (Jan. 27), delivering the ultimate dance floor hit for her popular Kellyoke segment.
Backed by her My Band Y’all, the OG American Idol winner performed an upbeat cover of CeCe Peniston‘s “Finally,” flawlessly executing all the runs and high notes while rocking a paisley printed dress and cozy brown cardigan.
The track, released in September 1991 as Peniston’s debut single from her 1992 album of the same name, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, and remained on the tally for a total of 33 weeks. Meanwhile, over on the Dance Club Songs chart, “Finally” hit No. 1 for two weeks in October 1991.
Clarkson’s daily mini-performances have become so popular since The Kelly Clarkson Show first began in 2019, she released an EP featuring recordings of six Kellyoke-ified songs over the summer. Her standout cover of Whitney Houston’s “Queen of the Night” was one of them, along with Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” The Weeknd’s “Call Out My Name” and more.
Watch Kelly Clarkson’s cover of CeCe Peniston’s “Finally” below.
A man from Georgia is in police custody after allegedly killing two people in Sikeston.
Atlanta Police say 33-year-old Cornelius David was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Investigators say he shot and killed Kiara Haynes and Breana Conner on Sunday, January 22.
Haynes was pronounced dead at the scene, while Conner was transported to a local hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
David is being held in an Atlanta jail without bond while his extradition back to Missouri is being arranged.
It takes a very intimate, deep level of trust to pull off what Sharon Stone and Sam Smith did on last weekend’s Saturday Night Live. In Smith’s second performance of the night, the legendary Casino star channeled a Hollywood siren from the early silver screen era as she posed elegantly on a couch in a gilded custom gown while Smith and a choir performed the spiritual title track from the singer’s upcoming Gloria album.
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Without a word, and hardly even a gesture, Stone’s surprise cameo managed to both upstage Smith and low-key compliment the dramatic performance without making it all about her, a delicate balance the actress told Variety was a result of the very special relationship the two have developed.
Stone told the magazine that she’d met Smith before through her good pal singer Rufus Wainwright — they all sat together at the premiere of the 2019 Judy Garland biopic Judy — which led to Smith DMing Stone a month ago asking if she would be willing to join him on SNL. “And I said, ‘Well, it’s funny, I am listening to Sam Smith radio [on a streaming service] at the moment, so I think the universe has already decided this. I’d be so thrilled to do it, Sam. I just think you’re the most astounding performer and I’d be absolutely ecstatic to do it,’” she said she told Smith.
Because she’s that kind of pro, Stone reached out to her head costumer to have a custom dress made by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta. Describing the “sound bath” she was in on the SNL stage surrounded by Smith and a gospel choir, Stone said the singer’s directions were minimal. “[They] just asked me if I would do it and trusted me. We just innately understand each other, at an almost intimate level. We have no judgment of each other; we have only affirmative feelings about each other as an artist,” she said. “It’s not a competitive sport, but we want each other to bring our best game, and in order to do that, it’s like, ‘Just go for it, girl.’”
As a veteran who has endured too many co-stars stepping on her close-up moments, Stone said her job during Smith’s performance was simple: just listen. “I’m listening. I’m listening and allowing it to be alive in my heart,” she said before seemingly revealing a bit of news. “I think that what we really wanted was that idea of an apparition — almost like [Russian-French painter] Erte. Sam has asked me to do the music video, so I’m sure that’s going to be quite interesting to see how they would like to process that.”
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zen Lowe this week, Smith expounded on the collab as well, explaining that on their upcoming tour the stage is shaped like Aphrodite, which, of course, called for a golden goddess body to inhabit the SNL stage.
“Sharon Stone is going to be in the middle of the stage at SNL in gold as like a piece of life art. The whole performance is just the choir around her singing ‘Gloria’ to her in this golden light. Isn’t it so sick?,” Smith said, noting that the golden goddess had to be Stone because “she’s a powerful woman, and she exudes vulnerability and beauty in a way that to me is real and authentic.”
This week in dance music: we dug deep on the new app helping choreographers get paid, Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter announced a forthcoming orchestral album, Detroit’s Movement festival announced the phase one lineup for its 2023 show, we spoke with SG Lewis on the occasion of his new album, out today (Jan. 27), and we surveyed a bunch of DJ on how they manage their hard earned cash.
And, as you’ve likely already guessed, there is indeed more. Let’s dig in.
Gorgon City, “Rumblah”
Are you ready for a b-side rumbler? Gorgon City’s latest release “Rumblah” is exactly that to the U.K. duo’s 2022 vocal-chop head knocker “Sidewindah” — but that doesn’t mean it’s any less strong. Rather, it’s deeper, darker; the kind of thing you’d play to a warehouse of heads in the wee hours of the night when the rave is at its most depraved.
“Like ‘Sidewindah,’ ‘Rumblah’ is an ode to the music that we grew up listening to; d&b, jungle, garage and grime,” Gorgon City tells Billboard. “We’ve really been enjoying going back to our roots with our recent club releases, and it’s been heavily influencing the production of our next album. We hope everyone enjoys the track. We’ve loved rumbling bass-bins with it over the last few months!” – KAT BEIN
Melle Brown feat. Loie, “Night Drift”
Since its launch in 2018, Monki’s &Friends record label has become a solid platform for highlighting emerging dance talent in the U.K. space, counting among its catalog up-and-comers such as Meg Ward, t e s t p r e s s, and Flaurese. Its next release comes from London’s Melle Brown, who debuted on &Friends last spring with “One More Chance” and followed that up with the Annie Mac-featuring “Feel About You,” one of Billboard’s top dance songs of 2022.
Brown’s new single, “Night Drift,” continues her string of warm house gems. Its stomping percussion, buzzing bassline and strobing synths set the nocturnal scene before blooming into swirling, smoky dreaminess filled with Loie’s sensual vocals and twinkling piano riffs. “Night Drift” is both cozy and freeing in its search for bright lights and feeling the wind in your hair, with a vibe shift that feels like finally breaking free of traffic on your own night drive and seeing only open road ahead. As Loie sings, “Keep drivin’.” — KRYSTAL RODRIGUEZ
Bonobo & Jacques Green, “Fold”
The eternally consistent Bonobo returns today with a track that falls neatly into the Bonobo oeuvre. Twinkly, sophisticated and built around a breathy pitched up vocal sample and a heavy kickdrum that land at opposing ends of the soft/hard spectrum, “Fold” is a collaboration from Bonobo (real name: Simon Green) and Canadian producer Jacques Greene, (whose real name, in a shocking twist, is actually Phil.)
“Phil was in L.A. and stopped by for a coffee and studio hang,” Bonobo says. “We made the bulk of the track that day. We each played a few various versions in our DJ sets over the summer (I even dropped it in a live show once) and made some decisions on how to finish it. It’s been going down really well in my DJ sets. Excited to get it out there finally.”
“Fold” drops at an auspicious moment for Bonobo — who next weekend is up for a pair of Grammys, for best dance/electronic recording and best dance album. With seven nominations to his name, but nary a win, we’ve got to say we’re rooting for him. — KATIE BAIN
Junior Sanchez feat. Nez, “Hit It”
House veteran Junior Sanchez returns to Defected Records with a sure dancefloor hit to start the new year, “Hit It” featuring Nez, made to jack up your heart rate and break a sweat. Sanchez builds a tightly knit rhythm teeming with perky synth stabs, fast-shuffling percussion and vocal whoops, which all unravel into a blurry peaktime frenzy. Meanwhile, Nez raps with a fun, dynamic flow that matches the production’s party-starting energy beat for beat. Sanchez says “Hit It” pulls from classic New York and Chicago house as well as Detroit techno— “as if Masters at Work had a jam session with Carl Craig,” he says, “and add Chicago’s young hero Nez’s unique style of rapping … The record is a snapshot of what was, what’s now & what’s tomorrow!”
The music video for “Hit It” was directed by Jamel Rankins (a.k.a. producer Blaqwell), who combined traditional design, illustration and editing techniques with AI systems to create a visual inspired by artist Ernie Barnes’ 1976 painting The Sugar Shack, which appeared in the end credits of American television sitcom Good Times. “This imagery had a big impact on both myself and Junior growing up on the East Coast of the U.S.,” says Rankins. “With this spirit in mind, I aimed to create something visually unique, rooted in the culture, and in line with the vibe of the track — the vibe of house music.” — K.R.
Juuku feat. Gianni Taylor, “Moonlight”
The thought of moonlight streaming through a window or lighting your lovers face can conjure feelings of quiet tenderness, and Juuku’s latest single does start with a bit of sensitivity. In the end, though, it harnesses more of a “the full moon makes people go all out” kind of vibe.
“This song to me represents capturing a beautiful moment of energy at night — one of the very first moments I was introduced to electronic music live,” the mysterious Juuku, who’s shrouded in shadow in most of his PR photos, says. “The energy, the people around me, and the type of world that I was brought into, and how magical it felt during that very first time.”
Its vibrant and colorful synths sing ecstatic over a quicktime beat. “Moonlight” serves as the first single from Juuku’s forthcoming EP Lavender Dreams and Scarlett Nightmares, set to be released on Dim Mak. “This EP … represents the two sides of the spectrum that encompass the universe I’m building,” he says. “I have synesthesia, which in my case [means] I can see colors when I listen to music, especially when I create it. It’s either in the tone of purple (lavender), or in the tone of red (scarlet). These two colors represent the two different colors that my music encompasses, and this EP is the gateway to this universe I call my own.”
What color is “Moonlight?” Listen and decide for yourself. – K. Bein
Mau P, “Gimme That Bounce”
Tech house’s young prince Mau P today drops the followup to his 2022 monster hit “Drugs From Amsterdam.” Such followups are never easy, but with this new one the Dutch producer extends both his sound and credibility, with the production indeed bouncing along at a peaktime clip, until Mau P slows down the entire operations to nearly a full halt before once again pressing go. Out via Insomniac Records and made of the same DNA as “Drugs From Amsterdam” — one of our 50 best dance tracks of 2022 — “Gimme Dat Bounce” is dark but not heavy, tech-house-ey but not paint by numbers, and generally just stylish, solid and a sign of Mau P’s likely staying power.
“When working on “Gimme That Bounce” my goal was to catch people off guard and get them locked into an instant groove,” the producer says. “With it being the follow-up to ‘Drugs From Amsterdam,’ I wanted to dive deeper into that big sound but still bring something new to the table. When I stumbled upon an old recording of myself, where I was talking about ‘that bounce,’ every piece of the puzzle fell into place.” — K. Bain
There’s something fishy about Taylor Swift‘s new music video … but Swifties are already on the case. After noticing that koi fish were featured heavily throughout the pop star’s “Lavender Haze” visual, which dropped Friday (Jan. 27), fans were able to tie the random (or maybe, not so random) aquatic animal back to an iconic guitar she used during her 2011 Speak Now tour, a connection they interpreted as a clue that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is on its way.
In the new video, Swift at one point reaches into a TV screen and discovers that it’s some sort of portal, revealing a space-like alternate dimension where spotted koi fish swim through the stars. The final shot of the video features the musician sitting on a cloud in that same alternate dimension, the koi fish swimming majestically around her.
As many eagle-eyed Swifties were able to point out almost immediately, these fish look the same as the ones printed on the neck of a fan-favorite blue acoustic guitar that Swift used during the Speak Now Tour. You may also recognize that exact guitar as the one Swift was filmed smashing on the floor in her October music video for “Anti-Hero,” Midnights‘ No. 1 lead single.
Fans’ natural conclusion, of course, was that Swift is majorly hinting that her next music release will be Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), aka a rerecorded, rereleased version of her 2010 album Speak Now. It would mark the 11-time Grammy winner’s third “Taylor’s Version” release of the six she has planned, following Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version).
This isn’t the first time Swift has appeared to tease Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) via Easter eggs in a Midnights music video, however. In her October visual for “Bejeweled,” the singer included a shot of different-colored elevator buttons, prompting fans to conclude that each button represented a different album in Swift’s catalog. In the video, she ends up pressing a button that’s purple — aka, the color heavily associated with the Speak Now album, largely thanks to the purple gown a young Swift sports on the cover art.
With that in mind, it’s also worth noting that the “Lavender Haze” music video is packed with violet-tinted visuals, from Swift bathing in purple water, to a bedroom filled with lilac-colored smoke. This makes sense, of course, for a song with “lavender” in the title, but some Swifties think that the purple overload has a double meaning.
“Lavender haze being the last Midnights single with a purple music video is perfect actually cause it’s simultaneously a silly little easter egg for speak now and also acts as a bridge from this era to speak now,” tweeted one such fan.
Other small “Lavender Haze” video details that might be Easter eggs in disguise include a couple No. 13s displayed on a weather map at the 1:42 mark. There’s also a stray vinyl casing shown at the beginning of the video labeled “Mastermind” (could that be the next single off Midnights?), with boyfriend Joe Alwyn’s astrological sign — Pisces — printed on the cover.
See which possible clues you can detect in Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze” music video by watching it below:
Not a match made in heaven. Pamela Anderson looked back on her brief marriage to Kid Rock in a new interview on Thursday (Jan. 26).
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Appearing on The Howard Stern Show to promote her upcoming memoir, Love, Pamela, the Baywatch star compared her relationship with the rocker to her first marriage to Tommy Lee. “I don’t think I ever gave myself a chance to have another relationship after that that was of any value,” she said of her high-profile romance with Mötley Crüe drummer. “You know, it was more like trying to put a family unit back together, but I wasn’t really in love — I just was going through the motions and then realizing, ‘I have nothing in common with this person.’
“I was putting people in my life to kind of numb some of the pain or be with someone. — companionship, but nothing … nothing healthy,” she continued before host Howard Stern asked point blank when she knew her marriage to Rock — which lasted for four months in 2006 — was a “tremendous f–king mistake.”
“Right when I got married,” Anderson replied with a laugh. “Well, just after. Obviously not in time. That’s terrible, I know it’s embarrassing, it’s just a flaw, I don’t know. Like, I just jump into something because, you know, Tommy and I did and we had this, you know, incredible connection. But then you jump into something and it’s like, ‘Oh it’s not this incredible connection, it’s this, just … something else.’ Then I slowly try and find my way out.”
Following her divorce from Rock, the actress married poker player Rick Salomon (twice!), film producer John Peters and, most recently, her bodyguard Dan Hayhurst.
Anderson’s memoir is set to hit shelves on Tuesday (Jan. 31). Watch her full chat with Stern below.
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