Latest news with #Clickbait
New York Times
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Maren Morris Lifts Herself Up, and 10 More New Songs
Every Friday, pop critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week's most notable new tracks. Listen to the Playlist on Spotify here (or find our profile: nytimes) and at Apple Music here, and sign up for The Amplifier, a twice-weekly guide to new and old songs. Maren Morris, 'Carry Me Through' Equal parts self-help, Elton John and secular gospel, 'Carry On' puts robust piano chords and a choir behind Maren Morris as she works on finding the will to heal herself. She's taking full responsibility. 'Yeah, I got friends around / Plenty of hands held out,' she sings. 'But I'm still the one who has to choose to carry me through.' The music gives her ample reinforcement, and by the end she's vowing, 'I'll get there.' Mumford & Sons, 'Truth' Mumford & Sons get a strong infusion of Southern rock in 'Truth' from the band's new album, 'Rushmere.' Over a bluesy, sinewy riff, Marcus Mumford declares, 'I was born to believe the truth is all there is' and insists, 'I refuse to offer myself up to men who lie.' The track intensifies — with percussion, guitars, handclaps and choral harmonies — as the singer's desperation grows: 'Don't leave the liars in the honest places,' he pleads as it ends. Timbaland, 'Azonto Bounce' Timbaland, the producer whose sounds and techniques transformed 1990s hip-hop, has suprise-released an album, 'Timbo Progression,' that visits entirely unexpected territory: West African music, with a vintage sound. Azonto is a dance and music style from Ghana; Timbaland's version, with its mid-tempo beat and modal horn lines, also hints at Fela Kuti's 1970s Afrobeat. There's little information with the album — Timbaland is credited as 'programmer' — but the groove is undeniable. Pablo Alboran, 'Clickbait' The Spanish pop songwriter Pablo Alboran usually deals in romance. But 'Clickbait' confronts a different class of relationships: the parasocial ones online. 'Many say they know me, but they have no idea who I am,' he complains in Spanish, with an Auto-Tuned edge. In Spanglish, he continues, 'Flash flash, mucho clickbait, mucho fake.' It's a choppy track that jump-cuts between a minor-chorded ballad and pounding drums, then unites them. Alboran sings about people with 'poison in their hearts,' and he's willing to break character to fight back. Tortoise, 'Oganesson' Since its formation in 1990, the Chicago instrumental band Tortoise has been blending jazz, rock, Minimalism, electronics and improvisation. Its first new track since 2016 is 'Oganesson,' named for a synthetic, very short-lived element with atomic number 118. It's an off-kilter, 7/4 funk tune with a spy-movie ambience: laconic guitar chords, plinks of distorted vibraphone and a hopscotching bass line. Perhaps the stretch of noise at the end represents atomic decay. Lucy Dacus, 'Forever Is a Feeling' The title track of Lucy Dacus's new, love-besotted album, 'Forever Is a Feeling,' exults in a romance that just might endure. 'My wrists are in your zip tie / 25 to life, why not?' Dacus sings, marveling at the possibility of permanence. The verses surround her with nervous, pointillistic patterns in stereo — piano notes, percussion — as she sings about what were tentative beginnings; the chorus reassures her with rapturous vocal harmonies. Allison Russell featuring Annie Lennox, 'Superlover' Here's an unexpected but sensible alliance: the Canada-to-Nashville songwriter Allison Russell joined by Annie Lennox of Eurythmics. 'Superlover' is a plea and a prayer for the world's children, especially in combat zones. It's accompanied mostly by Russell's banjo picking, but adds churchy overtones. 'There's no God of fire and blood / If there's a God, God is love,' Lennox sings. Is that enough to save lives? Mon Laferte, 'Otra Noche de Llorar' A thoroughly retro torch song — with cocktail piano, a studio orchestra and a relaxed swing beat — gets combustibly overwrought as Mon Laferte's jealousy builds and explodes in 'Otra Noche de Llorar' ('Another Night to Cry'). With her usual mastery of dynamics, Laferte starts out sweetly caressing each phrase. But that sweetness rises to a raspy near-scream before she lets her boyfriend know, 'I have to hang up on you now / she's surely by your side.' The timing of this release is odd; Laferte sings that it's almost Christmas. But the fury of being betrayed knows no season. The Swell Season, 'People We Used to Be' In a complicated conjunction of art and life, Glen Hansard — the Irish songwriter who led the Frames — and Markéta Irglová, who came to Ireland from the Czech Republic, formed the Swell Season and made an album together in 2006. They starred in the 2007 film 'Once,' which was adapted into a Tony-winning Broadway musical; they dated and broke up but have continued to record and perform together. They trade verses in 'People We Used to Be,' a folky ballad with swelling strings that reflects on how an artistic collaboration can survive a changing friendship. And they sing, in harmony, 'I will not stand by and watch this fire / burn down everything we worked so hard to build.' Uwade, 'Harmattan' A six-beat pulse carries Uwade Akhere, a songwriter from North Carolina, through doubts and anxieties in 'Harmattan,' from her debut album, 'Florilegium,' due in April. The harmattan is a windy, dusty dry season in West Africa; Uwade, whose family is Nigerian, asks, 'Will you sway with me when my voice gives out? / When the harmattan comes round?' Around her, voices and instruments flicker in and out of the mix. Plucked guitar, a few piano notes, stately trumpet lines, sporadic drums and percussion and handclaps gradually align, propelling her toward 'Laughing 'til we cry / Bathing in dust and light.' Poppy Ackroyd and Norman Ackroyd, 'Notes on Water' Poppy Ackroyd composed 'Notes on Water' for her father, the landscape artist Norman Ackroyd, in the months before his death in 2024. One of his final etchings, a seascape, accompanies the single release. The piece is built on repeating, consonant piano motifs, repeatedly accelerating from limpid undulations to headlong momentum and then easing back, evoking winds and tides. Ackroyd recorded two versions: one a solo meditation, the other multitracked with additional sounds — including plucked strings and percussive tapping inside and outside the piano — that add both propulsion and mystery.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pablo Alborán Talks New Single ‘Clickbait,' Netflix Debut & 2026 Tour
Pablo Alborán begins a new chapter in his career with the release of 'Clickbait,' the first single of his upcoming album, due out in November via Warner Music Spain. The upcoming seventh studio album follows La Cuarta Hoja (2022), but it won't be his only new music on stage this year: The Malaga-born singer-songwriter is gearing up for his acting debut in a Netflix series, while mapping out an extensive tour set to span Latin America, the United States and Spain. Talking with Billboard Español, Alborán reflects on the past few months, describing them as one of the most emotionally intense periods of his life — a time that completely shifted his perspective and led him to rethink many things, including his music. More from Billboard For the 'Win': Tamela Mann Scores Record 12th No. 1 on Gospel Airplay Chart Lady Gaga Announces Dates For North American, International 2025 Mayhem Ball Tour Selena Gomez Hates Feeling a 'Tad Bitter' About Trolls Commenting on Her Weight While 'Nobody Cares' About Those Things With Men 'It's been a year full of emotions, without a clear path,' he says. 'But that's exactly why I gave myself permission to explore, experiment with sounds, and, most importantly, have fun.' The first glimpse of this new chapter is 'Clickbait.' Released on Wednesday (March 26), it stands as one of the most striking songs of his career, not only for its bold, electronic-infused production but also for its powerful message. 'I've never spoken so openly about fame, envy, prejudice, and the obsession with likes,' Alborán explains. 'It's my way of venting, of releasing all the anger this world of fake news and sensationalism —where everything revolves around negativity — provokes in me. I wanted a song that could serve as both a shield and a sword for anyone who needs it.' The track also experiments with new sonic elements, something that, according to Alborán, even surprised his mother. 'It's a different language — a mix of Spanish and English, saturated sounds, and references to what we consume on social media,' he says. 'The first time my mom heard it, she was in shock — but by the third listen, she already knew the hook.' The music video for the song, directed by La Carbonera Studio and filmed in Madrid, reinforces its critique of the image-obsessed world. In the video, Alborán walks in front of a mirror while a group of dancers tries to stop him from looking at himself: 'Each character represents a figure in the industry: a paparazzo, an executive, a lawyer, an influencer,' he explains. 'It's a metaphor for everything that surrounds fame.' Choosing 'Clickbait' as the lead single for his upcoming album was not an easy decision. Beyond its bold sound and direct message, Alborán had to confront his own fears and the uncertainty of how it would be received. 'I asked myself many times: 'Am I ready to defend this? How will people react?' But I went back to my first instinct. When I revisit the moment I wrote the song and remember why I did it, I know it has a purpose,' he says. 'I'm not doing anything just for the sake of it.' More than just a collection of songs, his upcoming album — whose title he has yet to reveal — is a window into how he sees the world. Through his music, he invites listeners into his bubble to experience his unfiltered vision, free of labels or prejudice. 'It's a very diverse album,' he says. 'I talk about love from a different perspective, about my roots, family, and the people who care for us. And sonically, I've allowed myself complete freedom.' The album features a wide spectrum of sounds ranging from country to flamenco bulerías, and even a special collaboration with renowned guitarist Vicente Amigo, further cementing Alborán's connection to his Andalusian roots. This identity was formally recognized on February 28, when he was awarded the Medalla de las Artes by the Junta de Andalucía, honoring his contributions to Spanish music and his career achievements. Far from being confined to a single genre, Alborán has embraced fearless experimentation. 'The songs are in charge. If one called for a Dobro (a resonator guitar) and a country rhythm, I added it. If another needed a bulería, I gave it that too. I don't want to be boxed in,' he says. 'I think all artists feel the pressure of expectations, but I've learned to let go of that.' In this process of musical exploration, one of his key collaborators has been Albert Hype, a producer known for his work with artists like Bad Bunny and Kali Uchis. 'When we sat down in the studio for the first time, the first thing he said was, 'Give me a ballad,'' Alborán recalls. 'I thought, 'Really?' But when I saw what he did with it, I knew I could trust him.' Their chemistry led to collaborations on several tracks for the album. 'Once I saw that Albert understood my essence, I let him go wild,' Alborán says with a laugh. 'At the end of the day, my voice is what defines me. It doesn't matter if the song has touches of reggaetón, flamenco, or experimental pop — it will always sound like me.' For this album, Alborán also collaborated with producer Julio Reyes Copello, with whom he has worked in the past. 'Julio has produced two incredible songs. He's someone I always connect with perfectly,' says the artist. 'His sensitivity for taking a song to another level is unmatched.' Alborán has made his mark on Billboard charts, with multiple entries on Hot Latin Songs, Top Latin Albums, and Latin Pop Airplay. His album Terral (2014) debuted at No. 1 on Latin Pop Albums and No. 2 on Top Latin Albums, while his collaboration 'Dónde Está el Amor' with Jesse & Joy reached No. 16 on Hot Latin Songs and No. 8 on Latin Pop Airplay. Music isn't Alborán's only focus in 2025. He will also make his acting debut in the Spanish Netflix series Respira, playing an emergency plastic surgeon in its second season, though the premiere date has yet to be announced. 'Acting has always intrigued me, but I had never taken the leap. When I was offered the role, my family couldn't believe it. 'Are you sure?' they asked. I was asking myself the same thing,' he admits with a laugh. To prepare, he spent months studying and even attended real surgeries to better understand the role. 'It was intense, but it also helped me a lot on a personal level,' he shares. 'I had just gone through a very difficult situation with a family member's health, and being surrounded by doctors allowed me to see things from a different perspective. It all came together to bring more authenticity to the character.' Filming has also served as an escape for him. 'When the industry overwhelms me, acting feels like a breath of fresh air. I step into another character and disconnect. It's my way of finding balance,' he says. He is also preparing for his most ambitious tour to date, set to kick off in February 2026. 'This tour is very special to me,' says Alborán. 'Not only because it will be global, but because this album allows me to experiment on stage. I'll be taking audiences through all the stages of my life, from my roots in Málaga to the present.' His return to the United States and Latin America will be especially emotional following the experience of his last tour during a personally challenging time, as a close family member faced a health issue. 'That tour saved my life,' he says about La Cuarta Hoja in 2023. 'I went on stage carrying the hardest situation I've ever faced at home, and the audience, without knowing it, gave me incredible support. I'll never forget it.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
