Latest news with #RocketHour
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Elton John and Brandi Carlile: Who Believes in Angels? review – a true meeting of minds
In the twilight years of his career, Elton John has been anointing the next generation with a keener ear than most, championing new stars from Chappell Roan to Wet Leg via his Rocket Hour radio show and collaborating with artists as genre-diverse as Britney Spears, Gorillaz and Young Thug. Who Believes in Angels?, however, feels like a genuine meeting of minds. Created alongside American country rock royalty Brandi Carlile, an 11-times Grammy winner, there is the audible sense of two artists pushing each other and raising the other's game; on the rollicking rock'n'roll romp of Little Richard's Bible, or the full-blooded country duet Swing for the Fences, 78-year-old John sounds like a man half his age. Where many of his recent collaborations have seen him enter the sonic palettes of modern pop, Someone to Belong To's interweaving harmonies, or the rousing piano balladry of the record's title track, live firmly in the world of classic, melody-driven songwriting, created by two artists supremely gifted at exactly that. The album ends with the remarkably poignant, Elton-led end-of-life reflection When This Old World Is Done With Me. Who Believes In Angels? is a fine reminder that he's certainly not there yet.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elton John reveals the new artists he's currently excited about
Elton John has revealed the new artists he's currently excited about in a new interview with Rolling Stone UK. The music icon is well known for having his finger on the pulse of upcoming music, having backed acts such as Sam Fender, Chappell Roan, Gabriels and Yard Act from the very start of their careers. Now, he's turning his attention to a new cohort of artists. Speaking in his Rolling Stone UK cover feature alongside Brandi Carlile to promote their new joint album Who Believes In Angels?, Sir Elt cited the likes of soul star Cleo Sol, Gia Ford, Elmiene and Nia Smith – who features in our Future of Music 2025 list – as being among the artists he's enjoying at the moment. He added: 'There's a guy called Humble the Great, who is absolutely wonderful. Hot Wax, who've been around for a while, have their first album out this year. There's a South African artist, Moonchild Sanelly, and Soft Launch, they're a very good-looking young Irish band.' Also on Elton's list was Jalen Ngonda, who similarly features in our Future of Music 2025 list. 'Jalen Ngonda, I interviewed him on Rocket Hour. About two summers ago, I saw him at Nice Jazz Festival live and he was absolutely incredible,' he said. 'He was on before the main act. There was hardly anybody there. And by the time he finished, it was packed.' Elton added: 'Nectar Woode, she sent me her album. She's amazing.' In their cover story, Elton and Brandi also shared their key tips for making it as a new artist. 'Just keep trying to play live. That's the way you improve as a musician and songwriter. It doesn't matter if you're playing to 40 people. The more experience you get playing to nobody, the better. Because when I played in Musicology, we played to hardly anybody sometimes,' said Elton. 'That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone. And backbone is so important, because the worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television where you have no experience of playing live. You get put on stage, you go, and you can't do it. That's the worst thing. American Idol — just the worst. Take risks. Go and play in a pub.' ' For Carlile, meanwhile, it's a close-knit group that can help artists elevate their talent. 'And honestly, make friends,' she added. 'Get a community around you.' 'I can't live without music. It nearly killed me, but it also kept me alive, and it keeps me alive today. But not the music of the past so much. Although I do listen to jazz and stuff like that, but it's the music of the future that keeps me alive,' Elton said.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elton John Says He and Chappell Roan FaceTime Often: I ‘Just Fell in Love with Her'
Elton John is always there for Chappell Roan! During an interview with the U.K.-based online publication Them published on Thursday, March 5, the British music icon revealed he's in 'awe' of the 27-year-old 'HOT TO GO!' singer — and also shared that they FaceTime. 'I first heard of 'Pink Pony Club' and I played it on my [Apple Music show] 'Rocket Hour' about three years ago,' John, 77, said during the interview. He added: 'Then I started to FaceTime her personally and just fell in love with her. I loved who she was, what she talked about, how brave she was, her story. I love her bravery and the fact she's not scared to speak out and she won't do something if she doesn't want to.' 'It is not all about doing this and doing that and going where you're supposed to. If you haven't got the energy and it is taking your creative juices away, don't do it. She's not afraid to say that, and I love her for that,' he continued. Related: Chappell Roan Confronts Photog at Olivia Rodrigo's Movie Premiere for Alleged Rude Behavior: 'I Deserve an Apology' The Goodbye Yellow Brick Road singer also shared that he's told Roan she can always lean on him for support and advice. 'I have to say, when I'm FaceTiming her, I'm a bit in awe of her because I think she's so great. And I'm just there to say, 'Listen, if anything happens and you're not sure about it, just FaceTime me or email me.' I'm just there for her. She's doing very well,' he said. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The musicians recently performed together at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards viewing party on March 2. John posted photos and clips from the evening on Instagram several days later, sharing that the pair performed Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' and his 1974 hit 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.' 'I officially joined the Pink Pony Club last night, courtesy of the one and only @chappellroan! Performing 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' and 'Pink Pony Club' together at #EJAFOscars was truly special and a moment I will never forget. Thank you for being there and supporting @EJAF, Chappell ❤️,' he captioned the post. John also shared that the event raised over $8.6 million for the foundation. 'This generosity changes lives for people living with or most vulnerable to HIV around the world. Until next year, West Hollywood,' he added. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. John is currently in the midst of promoting his latest album, Who Believes in Angels?, which he wrote with singer and fellow LGBTQ+ activist Brandi Carlile. Carlile, 43, who was interviewed alongside John in the Them article, explained that the album, and specifically their new single 'Swing for the Fences,' represents 'unwavering support for LGBTQIA+ people.' Related: Elton John Says He and Brandi Carlile Are 'Soulmates': 'We've Done Holidays Together with Our Kids' '[From] me and Elton and different generations, coming from different countries, and still saying that the sky's the limit for you. You can go all the way because we're behind you, and there are generations of queer people behind you,' she continued. John added: 'The great thing about young people is their spirit and their desire to be heard and to not take no for an answer.' Who Believes in Angels? is out April 4 via Interscope Records. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir Elton John admires 'candid and wonderful' Chappell Roan
Sir Elton John is proud to be friends with "candid and wonderful" pop star Chappell Roan. The 'Rocket Man' star was full of praise for the singer as he introduced her performance at the end of his annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party in Los Angeles on Sunday night (02.03.25) - revealing he fell in love with her music and they later bonded after he invited onto his 'Rocket Hour 'podcast. Speaking to the audience at the glitzy bash, Elton said: "[I] just freaked out [when I heard her music. "I immediately wanted to get her on the program, and she came on the program and I interviewed her and I fell in love with her and I fell in love with the album. I've continued to be her friend hopefully and speak to her quite a lot." He added: "[She is] one of the biggest stars in the world right now, quite rightly so. [She] not only speaks with her voice on stage, she speaks with her voice off stage in a voice candid and wonderful way ..." Roan went on to kick off her set with her hit 'Femininomenon' and later gave a shout out to the host - and thanked her parents for introducing her to his music as she started a cover of Elton's track 'Your Song'. She told the crowd: "I'm gonna sing a song that is one of my favorite songs of all time. … I think it's like, I don't know, maybe the best song of all time. "I dedicate it to my parents because they introduced me to Elton John, so I would not even be here were it not for them, and obviously, Elton, this is your song." The performance comes just weeks after Roan picked up the Best New Artist prize at the Grammy Awards and used her acceptance speech to call out record labels over their treatment of their artists. Speaking on stage at the Arena in Los Angeles, Roan, 27, said: "I told myself if I ever won a Grammy, and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a liveable wage and health care, especially to developing artists. "I got signed so young, I got signed as a minor. When I got dropped, I had zero job experience under my belt, and like most people, I had … quite a difficult time finding a job in the pandemic and [could not] afford insurance. "It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanised. If my label had prioritised it, I could have been provided care for a company I was giving everything to. "Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a liveable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels, we got you, but do you got us?"
