Latest news with #PRICELESS
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wolf Alice Is Teasing a Comeback — and It Could Be the Band's Biggest Era Yet
Even the most patient and forgiving of Wolf Alice fans have had to learn how to love at a different rhythm than the fans of other artists. Waiting for a new record, without knowing if anything is coming at all, seems to have become a primary act of their devotion. 'Is it over?' exclaimed one despairing Reddit user a few months back, exasperated by the British rock band's radio silence throughout 2024. 'No more music?' On April 22, after a near four-year wait, an eon in an ever-changing industry, their qualms were put to rest. Breaking cover, all posts on the London four-piece's Instagram page were swiftly archived, while its previously dormant TikTok account began to flicker into life. Soon enough, a carousel of striking, retro-leaning images — including bassist Theo Ellis wearing a leather jacket adorned with a gem-encrusted 'Wolf Alice' motif — was uploaded with a call-to-arms caption: 'We've missed u.' Major festival slots at Glastonbury and Radio 1's Big Weekend, meanwhile, were also confirmed for the summer. More from Billboard Lorde Lands First ARIA Top 10 Since 2017 With 'What Was That' Maroon 5 Teams Up With BLACKPINK's LISA for New Single 'PRICELESS' Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco Share the Love on 'I Said I Love You First' Deluxe Edition: Stream It Now Offering a glimpse of what may lie ahead, it's a new look for the band, and a new way of marketing its music, heralding in the group's next era with aplomb. Unlike most contemporary acts subject to mass idolatry, Wolf Alice's online presence (which, historically, has been minimal) has never been part of the appeal. Dozens of accounts have instead become dedicated to posting whatever updates they can find, often rehashing photoshoots from their early career. In a world of algorithm game-playing and lyrics bundled with gossipy subtext, the band's songs — which deftly blend garage rock and shoegaze — function as talismans affirming the importance of standing tall by your convictions. The subtlety and class with which they choose to signal meaning to their audience is something that has long defined their music; in knowing relatively little about the band's own inner lives, fans' desire to get closer only grows stronger. Young, terminally online pop fans feel drawn to the notion of artist folklore, having grown up watching the likes of Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande incorporate 'Easter eggs' (hidden messages and references) into their videos. It's an idea that extends to other genres that are popular in stan culture forums, where lost songs and 'will-they-won't-they' social media teasers are analyzed feverishly. In the case of Wolf Alice, the group has earned a committed Gen Z fanbase who gravitate toward them as much for the element of surprise as they do for the music. The anticipation around the band's next steps, therefore, couldn't be greater. Wolf Alice's last record, 2021's Blue Weekend, ushered in a new commercial zenith, landing a nomination for the Mercury Prize (which the group won for 2017's Visions of a Life), topping the Official U.K. Albums Chart and leading the band to its first-ever BRIT award the following year. The campaign steamrolled ahead across a further 12 months, during which they opened up for Harry Styles in stadiums across Europe and completed an extensive headline tour. In 2025, each of the members are now in their early 30s. No longer the wild-eyed 20somethings they emerged as with fiery 2013 EP Blush, they have spent the past decade quietly unlocking emotional discoveries in their songs, flowing with their shifting perspectives on ambition and desire. Across three studio LPs, it's become clear that guitarist and lead songwriter Ellie Rowsell focuses on growing privately in order to bloom publicly; she can do huge indie hooks with the best of them (2015's 'Freazy' or the endlessly affecting 'Don't Delete the Kisses'), but has never sounded quite like any of her peers because of the strength of character at the center of her work. Consistently ducking the expectations of indie's upper echelons — the ones which the band vaulted into with 2015's My Love Is Cool — has only further affirmed Wolf Alice's influence and longevity. You can see the band's gnarly, incisive showmanship in the likes of Wunderhorse or rising stars Keo, or hear the band's incandescent take on indie throughout You Can't Put a Price on Fun, the debut EP from Manchester-based artist Chloe Slater. 'Seeing them live was the most joy I've ever felt,' the latter recently recalled of a formative Wolf Alice gig, which she credits with changing the course of her burgeoning career. Intriguingly, the band's period of downtime was interrupted last year with the announcement that it had left its longtime label home of Dirty Hit — home to The 1975 and Beabadoobee — to sign with Sony imprint Columbia. According to a report from The Independent, the move stemmed from the members wanting 'to experience something different,' having previously been in the same deal for nearly a decade, and that Rob Stringer (chairman of Sony Music Group) 'is a huge fan' of theirs. Though Blue Weekend was rapturously received by critics, with The Observer describing it as 'alchemically good,' the question of whether the band can level up to festival headliner status has long hung over reviews of its electrifying live performances. Groundbreaking things can happen if a band is given the time and space it needs to truly develop into greatness, and one can hope that with the support of a major label and a new team around Wolf Alice, the group's music will be able to travel further than ever. It's fascinating to think what they might do next. 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
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Gets Candid About Her Body Image Issues While Making 2021's ‘Solar Power'
Lorde opened up in a new interview published Thursday (May 1) about the struggles she experienced with body image while making her 2021 album Solar Power. 'I had made my body very small, because I thought that that was what you did as a woman and a woman on display,' she told filmmaker and close friend Martine Syms in a conversation for Document Journal. 'I thought, 'I'm small. This will communicate to people that I'm taking my position seriously.'' More from Billboard Lorde Explains How Charli xcx's 'Brat' 'Forced' Her to Step Up Her Game on 'Virgin' Lorde Lands First ARIA Top 10 Since 2017 With 'What Was That' Maroon 5 Teams Up With BLACKPINK's LISA for New Single 'PRICELESS' Instead, the pop star admitted that the pressure to make her body fit a pre-conceived mold took a serious toll on both her physical health and overall sense of self. 'It had the effect of making me [feel] totally ungrounded,' she continued. 'I was very weak. I look back now, and I don't have that same feeling of floating away .. .I wasn't very embodied.' Lorde also revealed that gaining a healthier perspective on her body was part of the years-long break between Solar Power and her upcoming fourth album, Virgin, which is set to be released June 25 via Universal Music New Zealand and Republic Records. 'It was like, 'I'm not going to put anything out until I'm in my body the way I know I'm supposed to be, to be able to do my work.' That's all I did the last four years, basically,' she told Syms, adding, 'This album is a byproduct of that process of fully coming into my body and feeling the fullness of my power. It's cool to be back in that place of, like, the portal opening and the weight. I'm myself. All these parts of me are represented in a bunch of different ways. I'm not hiding from myself. I'm not stealing from myself.' Fans got their first glimpse of Virgin on April 24, when Lorde dropped her new single 'What Was That' along with a music video, culminating in Lorde's recent headline-making appearance at New York City's Washington Square Park. Since then, the singer has also unveiled the album's transparent, X-ray-inspired cover art and revamped her online store with merch teasing the project. 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
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Quavo Delivers Posthumous TakeOff Collaboration ‘Dope Boy Phone': Stream It Now
Quavo is always going to do what he can to keep TakeOff's legacy alive. Huncho joined forces with his late nephew on Friday (May 2) for the posthumous collaboration 'Dope Boy Phone.' The Migos frontman announced the single earlier this week with a clip showcasing how he shot the 2000s-coded cover art filled with Nokia and Samsung flip phones in a vacuum-sealed package. More from Billboard Lorde Lands First ARIA Top 10 Since 2017 With 'What Was That' Maroon 5 Teams Up With BLACKPINK's LISA for New Single 'PRICELESS' Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco Share the Love on 'I Said I Love You First' Deluxe Edition: Stream It Now 'Dope boy clone, looking for a dope boy loan/ Looking in a dope boy zone, f—ed around and found a dope boy phone,' TakeOff raps over the trap production. TakeOff was shot and killed during a Halloween party in downtown Houston on Nov. 1, 2022. He was just 28 years old. The Harris County coroner's office confirmed at the time that TakeOff's primary cause of death was 'penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm.' Just a few weeks before TakeOff's tragic shooting, Quavo and Take formed the Unc & Phew duo and released their first collaborative project, Only Built for Infinity Links, in October 2022. The project reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Quavo is continuing to preserve TakeOff's memory with his non-profit Rocket Foundation. The Rocket Foundation announced on Thursday (May 1) that former White House official Gregory Jackson Jr. will be taking over as president of the foundation, according to Variety. Jackson Jr. is the former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which was dismantled by the Trump administration. 'I am thrilled to have Greg lead the charge for Rocket,' Quavo said in a statement. 'He is a longstanding partner of the organization and our persistent work to end gun violence. I know my foundation and Takeoff's legacy are in good hands with him.' Quavo appears to be working toward another solo LP as he previously released singles like the Lil Baby-assisted 'Legends' and 'Trappa Rappa' earlier in 2025. Stream 'Dope Boy Phone' below. 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
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kid Cudi Teases a New Album & First Single ‘Neverland' in Cryptic Post
Kid Cudi is teasing his return with a new song called 'Neverland.' On Thursday (May 1), Cudi shared a cryptic teaser on social media that merely shows some amusement park rides before posting the link to the rapper's website. More from Billboard Valiant Promises a Trap Dancehall-R&B Fusion on His New 'Prove Them Wrong' EP: 'You Don't Know Which Songs Could Change Your Life' Lorde Lands First ARIA Top 10 Since 2017 With 'What Was That' Maroon 5 Teams Up With BLACKPINK's LISA for New Single 'PRICELESS' 'Pre save NEVERLAND, my first single from my new album, NOW!' Cudi wrote on X. The website has a countdown clock that expires next Friday. The new single comes after Cudder's last record, 2024's Insano, was intended as his swan song. Cudi had talked about retiring back in 2022, writing on X he had one more project in him before delving into other creative avenues. 'Im doin 1 more album and then im done w my deal and not sure what ima do after that but yea, 1 more,' he wrote at the time. 'Wont be next year. Keep u posted.' In a follow up tweet, Cudi added, 'This is for all my fans that have been ridin w me for so long. This will be all new music. The songs ive teased ill prolly put out as singles here and there to hold u over.' During the rapper's appearance on Hot Ones in October of that year, he also shared that he felt his career as a rap artist was 'nearing the end.' 'I just don't know if I wanna do music, drop albums for too much longer, you know?' he said. 'I'm kind of nearing the end on all things Kid Cudi, I think.' It seems Mr. Rager has reconsidered. Check out the teaser below. 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
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne Pledges to ‘Do the Best I Can,' But Says He Won't Be ‘Jumping or Running Around' at Final Black Sabbath Show
Ozzy Osbourne will definitely be on stage at the upcoming Back to the Beginning gig in his hometown of Birmingham, U.K. for what is being billed as Black Sabbath's final-ever show. But given his recent run of ill health and surgeries, the 76-year-old rock icon said his madcap performance days are definitely over. Speaking to the Guardian, Osbourne said, 'I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.' The July 5 show at Villa Park is slated to feature a massive roster of metal acts paying tribute to Osbourne and the band's iconic career, including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Gojira, Lamb of God, Mastodon and many more. More from Billboard Ozzy Osbourne Says He's Doing 'Endurance Training' To Get in Shape For Final Black Sabbath Show Lorde Lands First ARIA Top 10 Since 2017 With 'What Was That' Maroon 5 Teams Up With BLACKPINK's LISA for New Single 'PRICELESS' But after Tool singer Maynard James Keenan recently said that Osbourne — who hasn't performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 — will need 'modern miracles' to get on stage given his health issues, Ozzy said he is, indeed dealing with a lot. 'You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end,' he said of a series of health setbacks including a 2019 fall that aggravated a previous spinal injury and required several surgeries, as well as pneumonia and the diagnosis of a form of Parkinson's. Regardless, Osbourne has said he's begun rigorous training to play the first show by the original Black Sabbath lineup in 20 years, where he'll appear alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. 'I do weights, bike riding, I've got a guy living at my house who's working with me. It's tough – I've been laid up for such a long time,' Osbourne said of his regimen. 'I've been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It's like starting all over again. I've got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going. I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs. I'm used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don't think I'll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.' Osbourne noted that the reunion concert was originally conceived by his wife/manager, Sharon Osbourne, as 'something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.' That said, Ozzy confirmed that he won't be performing a full set, but 'only playing a couple songs each. I don't want people thinking 'we're getting ripped off', because it's just going to be… what's the word? … a sample, you're going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.' Among the newly added acts who will be playing a few songs alongside Guns N' Roses and members of Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Ghost and more, according to Sharon Osbourne, are members of Soundgarden and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler. Musical director Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine told the Guardian that there are also 'some pretty great surprises that are not posted anywhere [yet].' The show will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children's Hospice. 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
