Music

Snow Waltz, Lindsey Stirling‘s first all-new album of Christmas music since 2017’s Warmer in the Winter, is out on Friday, and she’s released a video for the title track which manages to combine both the Halloween and the Christmas season.

In the song, Lindsey deliberately set out to combine a Christmas-y feeling with an element of spookiness, to reflect that the album is out in October.  That theme inspired the video, which casts Lindsey and her backup dancers as skeletons frolicking on October 31. As the calendar flips to November 1, they’re all ready to get back in their coffins when all of a sudden, it starts to snow.

The joke is that the snow, and all the other elements of Christmas that suddenly appear — like festive food, decorations and even an adorable puppy with a red ribbon — frighten the bejeezus out of the skeletons. In one scene, Lindsey reads “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” to her fellow skeletons, and when she shows them the illustrations of Santa Claus, they faint in terror.

But by the end of the video, they’re into it: All the skeletons grab a Christmas-related item — including the puppy — and go back into their coffins.

In addition to instrumental interpretations of holiday classics like “Joy to the World,” Snow Waltz also includes vocals by guest artists David Archuleta, pop singer Frawley and hitmaking songwriter Bonnie McKee. 

Lindsey’s  Snow Waltz Christmas tour kicks off November 17 in Grand Prairie, TX.

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Adam Lambert has released his version of Noël Coward’s 1932 show tune “Mad About the Boy,” which will be featured in the 2023 documentary Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story. Adam says getting to record the song by the late, legendary British playwright, composer, director and actor was not only a “cool opportunity,” but a “nice challenge.”

Coward, who died in 1973, never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, which is why it’s significant that Adam has recorded the song, which features lyrics like, “Mad about the boy/I know it’s stupid to be mad about the boy/I’m so ashamed of it/But must admit/The sleepless nights I’ve had about the boy.”

“He wrote it about a man and he was never really able to record it because that would have been too taboo for that time,” Adam tells ABC Audio. “So it’s always been a torch song sung by amazing female vocalists. And when they realized, ‘It’s 2022, we’re going to put this film out,’ they came up with the idea of having a guy sing it as it was really intended.”

“When they asked me to do it, I thought, ‘What a cool opportunity,'” Adam adds.  He also appreciates the fact that the song allowed him to stretch artistically.

“I haven’t really recorded anything that was sort of jazz-leaning before, but it’s something that I always kind of been interested in,” he notes. “I guess I sang some of that style of music here and there as a musical theater kid, but never on record as an adult. So yeah, it was, like, a nice challenge!”

Adam will kick off his upcoming Halloween-themed tour The Witch Hunt October 19 in Oakland, CA.  It wraps up October 30 at the Hollywood Palladium.

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From double-feature projects to highly anticipated follow-ups, check out this week’s New Music Friday for the culture’s latest & greatest in music.

—Toosii, Boys Don’t Cry — The “Love Cycle” rapper dropped off his latest project, his first of the year. It comes after a year of “battling problems with mental health” and “trying to be the best person,” he said.

—NBA Youngboy, 3800 Degrees — Just two months after his fourth studio album, The Last Slimento, the Baton Rouge, LA rapper returns with the new 13-track collection.

—G Herbo, Survivor’s Remorse (A Side) — The Chicago native tells his life story by way of a double album — an A & B side. A side features Offset, Jeremih, Gunna and even G Herbo’s son Yosohn.

—Quavo & Takeoff, Only Built for Infinity Links — Under their new moniker, Unc & Phew, the duo dropped off their first official project as a pair. Via Quality Control Music comes the 18-track album with features from Gucci Mane, Summer Walker, Young Thug & Gunna. 

—Jazmine Sullivan & D’Mile, “Stand Up” — The Grammy winners teamed up for the original song, which will land on the soundtrack of the upcoming Till biopic. Variety reports the song will be featured during the end credits of the true-story film and has already been submitted to the Academy for Best Original Song consideration.

Hits in Heavy Rotation

—Beyoncé, “Cuff It“

—Chris Brown ft. Wizkid, “Call Me Every Day“

—Glo Rilla ft. Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2“

—Megan Thee Stallion, “Her“

—Akon, “Enjoy That“

—Ari Lennox, “Waste My Time“

—Tems, “Free Mind” 

—Elevation Worship, “Same God” 

—CeCe Winans, “I’ve Got Joy“

Artist on the Rise

Fresh off his debut performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards, Armani White has been taking social media by storm. He rose to fame with his viral hit “Billie Eilish.”

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All Time Low has premiered a new single called “Sleepwalking.”

In a statement, frontman Alex Gaskarth says “Sleepwalking” is “a reflection on time spent away from whatever it is that makes you feel alive, on time lost to the weight of dragging feet and drifting thoughts.”

“As we were working on this song, we considered our place in a changing world,” Gaskarth shares. “We realized just how affected we were as individuals by time spent away from our most familiar life-lines, and how grateful we are now to come together with those people, places and things…our friends, families, touring, shows, art and the energy and perspective that comes with real, raw connection”.

“Our time spent away from our most beloved dreams felt like being on cruise-control, going through the motions in a trance,” he continues. “We are so grateful to be here now, sharing this song, this sentiment, this energy, and most of all this band with you. Thank you for being here and for being with us as we continue this journey together.”

You can listen to “Sleepwalking” now via digital outlets, and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.

“Sleepwalking” follows All Time Low’s 2021 singles “Once in a Lifetime” and “PMA.” The band’s most recent album is 2020’s Wake Up, Sunshine, which spawned the hit “Monsters.”

Last fall, All Time Low was accused of sexual misconduct, which the band denied. In February of this year, Rolling Stone reported that the group had filed a libel lawsuit against three anonymous social media users making the allegations.

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After working with The National‘s Aaron Dessner on her 2020 albums folklore and evermore, Taylor Swift is continuing to collaborate with the alternative world on her next, highly-anticipated album, Midnights.

The pop superstar has been slowly revealing the track list for Midnights during #MidnightsMayhemwithMe TikTok series, in which she randomly chooses a song from 13 bingo balls. The final track name to be unveiled is “Snow on the Beach,” which features Lana Del Rey.

“Snow on the Beach” is track four on Midnights, and, according to the Apple Music listing, comes with an “explicit lyrics” warning.

You’ll get to hear exactly what a Lana Del Swift duet sounds like when Midnights drops on October 21.

Swift has also previously collaborated with HAIM, and has frequently worked with Jack Antonoff. The Bleachers frontman is also producing Midnights.

Del Rey, meanwhile, is coming off her two-album 2021, which featured the release of Chemtrails Over the Country Club and Blue Banisters.

In addition to working on a song together, both Del Rey and Swift inspired classes taught at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute.

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Måneskin has premiered a new single called “The Loneliest.”

The track finds frontman Damiano David calling out to someone he’s lost, singing, “You’re still the oxygen I breathe/I see your face when I close my eyes/It’s tortuous/Tonight is gonna be the loneliest.”

In the song’s accompanying lyric video, streaming now on YouTube, we see the Italian rockers standing solemnly while wearing black, suggesting they’re at a funeral.

You can listen to “The Loneliest” now via digital outlets.

“The Loneliest” follows Måneskin’s May single “Supermodel,” which hit #1 on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart.

Meanwhile, Måneskin will launch their first-ever North American headlining tour Halloween night in Seattle.

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Jimmie Allen’s quickly working his way into multiple hyphenate status as a singer, Dancing With the Stars contestant and children’s book author — and now he’s adding “pro bowler” to his resume.

The singer hosted his own Jimmie Allen PBA Challenge Presented by Bowlero earlier this week in North Carolina, bringing together some of his talented pals to hit the lanes with professional bowlers.

Among the amateur bowlers were rapper Nelly, comedian Hannibal Burress, famed NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens and country duo Neon Union. Of course, the pros showed up too: Professional Bowlers Association stars Bella Castillo, Kyle Troup, Sean Rash, Ronnie Russell and AJ Johnson all turned out to play.

It’s no secret that Jimmie loves to bowl — he says it’s a passion he developed during the COVID-19 pandemic — and he’s continuing to pursue the sport, even hoping to join the PBA in 2023.

If you’re wondering how Jimmie’s playing stacked up against those bowling greats, you won’t have to wait too much longer to find out: the event will be televised on Fox on October 16. Jimmie rounded out the evening with a performance, sharing the stage with Neon Union and fellow country star Chris Young.

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Taylor Swift has revealed the final five track titles of her new album Midnights during the last installments of her #MidnightsMayhemwithMe TikTok series.

“Tonight we mayhem til the morning!” Taylor captioned her first TikTok post of the evening, where she revealed the title of track one is called “Lavender Haze.”

On Instagram, Taylor explained that she first heard the phrase in an episode of Mad Men and it means to be in an all-encompassing kind of love. The song, she says, is also about doing whatever you can to protect that feeling.

“Like, my relationship for six years, we’ve had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it,” Taylor explains of her relationship with Joe Alywn. “And so this song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff.”

Taylor also revealed the title of the much-anticipated track five – typically her albums’ most significant song – is “You’re on Your Own, Kid.” And in subsequent TikTok videos throughout the night, she rounded out the rest of the track list: track 10 is “Labyrinth,” track 12 is called “Sweet Nothing” and track four is titled “Snow on the Beach” and it features Lana Del Rey.

Here is the complete track list for Midnights, due out October 21:

1. “Lavender Haze”

2. “Maroon”

3. “Anti-Hero”

4. “Snow on the Beach” feat. Lana Del Rey

5. “You’re on Your Own, Kid”

6. “Midnight Rain”

7. “Question…?”

8. “Vigilante S***”

9. “Bejeweled”

10. “Labyrinth”

11. “Karma”

12. “Sweet Nothing”

13. “Mastermind”

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Culture Con, a premiere destination for creators of color, entrepreneurs and young professionals, returns to New York City on Saturday, October 8, for a day full of activations, conversations, workshops and more. 

Widely known as “The Ultimate Creative Homecoming,” the highly anticipated conference made stops in Los Angeles and Atlanta earlier this year. Attendees were able to participate in Culture Con Week in NYC from October 2-7 for an advance glimpse of all to come during the main event. 

On Saturday, presenting partner HBO will host VIP and talent lounges; Strong Black Lead, Netflix’s Black sub-brand, will lead a conversation on cultural storytelling; and TikTok will discuss Black creators and the real-world impact of Black TikTok on culture. 

Taraji P. Henson, Lena Waithe, Meagan Good, Tracee Ellis Ross, Terrance J, Angie Martinez and Winston Duke are among the more than 75 guest speakers and celebrities who will participate in conference panels and discussions.

An already much-talked-about part of the conference, actors Nia Long and Larenz Tate will reunite to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the beloved classic film Love Jones.

Culture Con is a division of The Creative Collective NYC, a vision born out of founder Imani Ellis‘ desire to build community and assemble a collaborative space for Black and brown creatives to engage with one another. 

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