Month: May 2023

When Ed Sheeran releases new music, his fellow Brits tune-in en masse. That’s certainly been the case since the release last week of Subtract, the fifth and final release in his mathematics-themed collection.

Based on sales and streaming data captured from the early stages of the chart week, Sheeran is on track for two top ten singles, including the debutant “Curtains.” The album track is set to arrive at No. 10 on the national survey, for what would be Sheeran’s 42nd U.K. top 10 appearance.

Also on the First Look chart, former leader “Eyes Closed,” the first release from Subtract, and a track Sheeran performed Sunday on ABC’s American Idol, is set to lift 6-3 on the U.K. chart. Meanwhile, Sheeran’s “Boat” should sail into the top 20, at No. 12, well advanced on its peak position of No. 46.

The English singer and songwriter is a perfect five-for-five on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, including 2019’s No 6 Collaborations Project. Subtract is expected to keep his streak intact.

Fifty Fifty’s “Cupid” hasn’t had its wings clipped. After cracking the U.K. top 10 last Friday (May 5), earning Fifty Fifty the distinction as the first K-pop girl group to do so, the viral number could lift to No. 8.

Also on the chart blast, David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray’s “Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” which interpolates Haddaway’s ’90s house number, is hovering just outside the top tier. It’s up 13-11 on the chart blast.

Bring Me The Horizon is on track for a sixth top 40 and the British rockers’ first-ever top 20 single with “LosT.” After 48 hours, the single makes an impact at No. 15.

Finally, British punk outfit Krown Jewelz could net another top 40 appearance with the protest song, “Scrap The Monarchy”. It’s new at No. 17 on the chart blast. Krown Jewelz is the act otherwise known as the K**ts, whose blistering bids for the Christmas No. 1 has landed top 10s in three consecutive years.

At the top of the chart blast, “Miracle,” the ’90s throwback rave tune by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, is heading for a fifth week at No. 1.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday (May 12).

Fox Entertainment revealed on Monday (May 8) that it’s delving into Britney Spears‘ life since the end of her 13-year-long conservatorship in an upcoming special.

TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom promises “details about her deeply troubled marriage, family estrangement, alarming behavior, failed intervention and how she continues to be an enduring force in the music industry,” according to a press release.

The pop superstar has been open about how much she dislikes documentaries made about her life and conservatorship in the past. Most recently, in November, she took to Twitter to share a lengthy, since-deleted post about how she’s been portrayed, calling the documentaries “humiliating,” adding, “I am a person … I’m not a robot or a science experiment like they analyzed me in that place !!! I’m a valued soul … so for the documentaries that were done on me, they were trash and nothing more than trash … period !!!”

She also called out those who made “the trashiest docs I’ve ever seen in my life,” and noting that she felt as though there was “deception in claiming it was to help me !!!”

While she didn’t name any documentaries specifically, FX and Hulu’s Controlling Britney Spears, New York Times’ Framing Britney Spears and Netflix’s Britney vs Spears were three of the most popular documentaries released amid the Free Britney movement, which swept the country before the “Piece of Me” star’s conservatorship ended in November 2021.

TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom airs on Monday (May 15) at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

Ted Nugent has responded after a venue in Birmingham, Alabama, cancelled his upcoming show due to social media backlash.

It all started when it was announced that the guitarist — who is outwardly conservative and a longtime supporter of Donald Trump — would be performing at the Avondale Brewing Co. venue on July 18 as part of his Adios Mofo farewell tour. The post about the concert had thousands of comments protesting the show and Nugent’s right-wing political views, according to AL, which led to venue to cancel the show.

“We have heard the concerns of the Avondale community, which is so important to us, and in conjunction with our partners, have taken the necessary steps to to cancel the Ted Nugent concert scheduled for July 18,” the venue wrote.

Nugent took to Twitter on Friday (May 5) to respond to a story about the situation, retweeting an article and writing, “liars & haters drunk on stupid incapable to debate me.”

The ringer has most recently come under fire recently for his transphobic tweets and remarks, most recently blasting Anheuser-Busch for working with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. “How can they possibly have a meeting around the table and come to the conclusion that they’re going to piss in the face of the people who pay their salaries?” he said on a recent episode of Newsmax’s Eric Bolling the Balance about the brand’s “core consumer demographic,” seemingly referring to conservatives. “This is the epitome of cultural deprivation in an ongoing tsunami of cultural deprivation.”

His history of disturbing remarks also includes saying that survivors of the Parkland school shooting are wrong to blame the NRA for mass shootings and that the Florida students calling for gun control have “no soul” and are “mushy brained children.”

He also tested positive for COVID-19 in 2021, months after he said the virus was “not a real pandemic,” and weighed in on the Ferguson decision in 2014 that let police officer Darren Wilson walk scot-free after shooting and killing unarmed civilian Michael Brown. “Here’s the lessons from Ferguson America- Don’t let your kids growup to be thugs who think they can steal, assault & attack cops as a way of life & badge of black (dis)honor. Don’t preach your racist bulls— ‘no justice no peace’ as blabbered by Obama’s racist Czar Al Not So Sharpton & their black klansmen,” he wrote in his deeply offensive post at the time.

Ed Sheeran is fresh off the release of his vulnerable, 14-track new album Subtract, and the 32-year-old superstar sat down with Apple Music’s Matt Wilkinson along with his album collaborator, The National’s Aaron Dessner, to discuss their experience working on the project together.

“It’s totally different to any way that I’ve worked before,” Sheeran explained of collaborating with Dessner. “He comes with a finished product and goes, ‘Write what you feel.’ And there’s no like, ‘Oh, that line sounds a bit weird,’ or this. You write brain to page and the song’s done. And then you go in and you basically form it. And if anything, we strip back more from the recordings that he sent.”

Dessner noted that the duo immediately “clicked,” adding, “There was like a little wildfire. When we got together, we thought we’d try a few things, and we ended up with 36 songs or something.”

With a slew of songs showcasing his masterful songwriting, it’s hard to imagine that Sheeran has a favorite song on Subtract. However, he has a special connection to the songwriting process of “No Strings,” which details an unconditional type of love. “It just came from Aaron being on piano and me singing. And then we put it down and it’s as if the song didn’t matter. And then coming back to it’s now my favorite song on the record,” he shared.

Listen to the full Apple Music interview with Sheeran and Dessner here.

Happy Monday! We’ve got ten fresh new tracks to get you pumped for (and help you survive) the new week ahead. From steamy singles by Phabo, BLK ODYSSY and Taylor Belle to uptempo anthems from JELEEL! and tobi lou, this week’s column has everything you need and more.

And of course, don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below.

Freshest Find: JELEEL!, “COME HERE!”

JELEEL!’s energy is undeniable. The Rhode Island rapper has a knack for stage diving and doing back flips at his shows. His hyper attitude is also reflected in his music, as he’s found a pocket rapping over glitchy, chaotic beats to get his bars off. “COME HERE!” is one of the more cohesive tracks from his recent debut album REAL RAW!, where he spits about attracting women and his fast and furious cars.

Phabo, “Casamigos”

Phabo is on a mission when he’s in the sheets. His steamy, neo-soul new single is inspired by the freaky activities that often follow indulging in the titular popular tequila brand. The San Diego-born singer even practices his Spanish on the track, singing “Casamigos reposado/ Nos tiene comportando salvajemente (got us behaving wildly).”

BLK ODYSSY, “ODEE”

BLK ODYSSY oozes confidence on his spacey new single “ODEE.” The Austin-based artist sings about his extravagant lifestyle to impress women, saying his wrist and drip are “odee.”

OhGeesy feat. Bino Rideaux & 03 Greedo, “Games”

OhGeesy and his boo are “connected like a Bluetooth.” The L.A. rapper teams up with Bino Rideaux and 03 Greedo to rap about not playing games in a relationship and wanting to be held down by their shorties. Laced with spaced-out 808s, L.A. bounce sounds and bed creaks, “Games” is a mix of trap R&B with a West Coast flare.

Danielle Ponder, “Roll the Credits”

Emotion is at the forefront of Danielle Ponder’s new single “Roll the Credits.” “[The] song [is] about spirituality in all of its forms and our ability to find God in all things if we are paying attention,” writes Ponder in a press release. The singer takes to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the song’s video, where she channels nature’s spirits, letting her old-school, bluesy vocals ring in the forest and city streets alike.

Latir, “To My Dear Anxiety (Acoustic Demo)”

In the most stripped-back and vulnerable moment of his EP Daydreams & Desires, Latir writes to his own anxiety. Thickly layered reverb surrounds the poetic singer’s voice and guitar, as he unfolds sweet falsettos and belts filled with desperation. The deep cut presents his raw talent, invoking emotion throughout its three minutes.

Taylor Belle, “SAY MY NAME”

On “Say My Name,” Taylor Belle taps into nostalgia, with a camcorder-style visual and Destiny’s Child song title. But there’s nothing dated about the singer’s flow and production, presenting a sensual single that feels both current and classic.

tobi lou, “Sorry I’m Late”

Nigeria-born, Chicago-raised artist tobi lou has garnered significant buzz thanks to his hyperactive sound and playful energy. “Sorry I’m Late” is no exception, as the rapper delivers a single that’s perfectly chaotic for all of our summer shenanigans.

Kirby feat. Rapsody, “Eve Gene”

“Black woman/ Unprotected in this world/ Is she loved, is she treasured, is she hurt?” On “Eve Gene,” Memphis singer-songwriter Kirby eloquently unravels the power and pain of her identity, adding on social media that the track helped her heal, and she hopes it does the same for her listeners. “I hope my non poc friends & family listen to this song and are reminded to hold space for the black women in their lives,” she adds. Featuring neo-soul production elements and a raw verse from revered MC Rapsody, the cut carries a vital message and is essential listening for the week and beyond.

kwes. feat. Sampha & Tirzah, “Open Up”

The critically acclaimed U.K. film Rye Lane not only boasted a captivating storyline, but an equally striking soundtrack. On “Open Up,” musical savants Sampha and Tirzah team up, their complimentary tones and lyrics intertwining to capture the heartwarming humanity of the Raine Allen Miller-directed film.

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These 10 tracks from artists including aespa, Alison Goldfrapp, GAYLE and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Q, “Incapable Heart” 

Mononymous singer Q dropped his debut album, Soul, PRESENT, last Friday, and the sparkling 10-song effort is brimming over with ethereal, romantic delights that draw on synth-pop, ‘80s funk, Quiet Storm and more. The smooth “Incapable Heart” even throws in a bit of reggae skank for good measure as Q (the son of dancehall legend Steven “Lenky” Marsden) delivers a sound both familiar and forward-thinking – not unlike those first The Weeknd mixtapes that set the Internet on fire in the early 2010s. — JOE LYNCH

MisterWives, “Nosebleeds” 

After a detour to Fueled by Ramen, MisterWives reteamed with original label Photo Finish to create their own imprint, Resilient Little Records, which will house their upcoming LP. New single “Nosebleeds” — with its woozy synths, chugging guitars and a relentless backbeat – is anything but little in its sonics, but it certainly captures the resilience that propelled the NYC-based rockers forward over the last near decade. – J. Lynch  

Amaarae, “Co-Star”

Ahead of her new album Fountain Baby out June 9, Afropop star Amaarae has shared the project’s second single, “Co-Star.” The astrological track is both bouncy and twinkling, aligning with the singer’s goal of crafting “something cute and flirty for the summer.” As Amaarae said in a statement: “Astrology is such a huge part of our youth culture, it felt like a missed opportunity to not lean into that and give the girls an anthem that reads and celebrates them all at once!” — LYNDSEY HAVENS

Kiss Facility, “In My Room”

The quietly enticing “In My Room” is just as intriguing as its creator, newcomer Kiss Facility. Coated in nuanced nonchalance, “In My Room” sounds just as intimate as the title suggests, with the as-of-yet unknown artist captioning the cover art on Instagram, “It’s a very personal song that I put all my emotions into.” — L.H.

GAYLE, “Don’t Call Me Pretty”

“Don’t Call Me Pretty” is the first song GAYLE has debuted since joining Taylor Swift on her Eras tour, and ahead of hopping aboard P!nk’s upcoming stadium run; the “abcdefu” singer-songwriter clearly has shout-along anthems on the mind, and her latest contains plenty of opportunities for crowds of thousands to embrace her words. The chorus spirals up and the post-hook “ooo-ooo-ooo” crooning is effective, but most importantly, GAYLE sounds downright soulful on “Don’t Call Me Pretty,” with a heft that gives her message even more power.— JASON LIPSHUTZ

Alison Goldfrapp, “Love Invention”

Everything pre-release from The Love Invention has shown promise for Alison Goldfrapp’s debut solo outing after seven albums as the leader of Goldfrapp, but the title track possesses a little extra electro-pop oomph that suggests a summertime dance floor heater. Goldfrapp’s ethereal voice dips in and out of sounding hyper-processed (“Is this real or not?,” she sings), but the production never flags, all cascading synths and percussion that keeps pushing forward. — J. Lipshutz

Bruno Major, “We Were Never Really Friends”

“This doesn’t have to be the end,” Bruno Major pleads on “We Were Never Really Friends,” a classic spoil-the-friendship jam that masquerades as a piano ballad before blooming into a lighters-up rock sing-along, complete with a stringy guitar solo. Major’s patience stands out here: the British singer-songwriter never presses too hard in any direction on the song, letting the full instrumentation and the slight quiver in his voice carry home his first new music since 2020. — J. Lipshutz

Coach Party, “All I Wanna Do is Hate”

Isle of Wright quartet Coach Party opened up for Wet Leg last fall and will support Queens of the Stone Age on tour later this year, but great new single “All I Wanna Do is Hate” sounds closer to bands like Elastica and Metric — sharp-elbowed pop-rock with readily deployed chiming guitars and synth riffs. The song walks a fine line between lyrical aggression and zipped-up production, resulting in a song that’s fully realized and invites plenty of fist-pumps. — J. Lipshutz

aespa, “Thirsty”

Aespa’s new mini album, Welcome to My World, sees the girl group — which consists of Giselle, Karina, NingNing and Winter — dabbling into the many facets of its sound, which includes everything from simmering bangers to lush pop ballad showing off the members’ vocal range. But album cut “Thirsty” really shows off the K-pop stars’ strength in R&B. The infectious chorus combines subtle trap-inspired beats with soft vocals, and gives a subtle wink to the object of the girls’ affections, as Giselle teases: “So tell me what you wanna, wanna do, boy?” — STARR BOWENBANK

Cosmo Pyke, “What Can I Do?”

A collective sigh of relief can be heard from Cosmo Pyke’s fans, as the British artist has delivered the new EP Curser’s Lament. “What Can I Do?” from the set shows off Pyke’s talent with jazz melodies, while catering to fans of his more introductory, alternative and indie-leaning work featured on 2017’s Just Cosmo. The musician cleverly splits the song into three separate parts, first drawing in the listener with drum heavy instrumentation, leading in with up tempo guitar licks before a soulful finish. — S.B.