Music

Mariah Carey said she couldn’t sit back when Britney Spears‘ conservatorship drama came to a head this year.

Speaking to NME, the Grammy winner touched upon her own struggles with her family and the music industry, but hinted her experiences are not the same as Britney’s.

“I’m not sure it’s an affinity,” Mariah began. “I think everybody on this planet deserves to be free and what they did to her, what I saw, was horrific.”   The “Fantasy” singer said she was compelled to give Britney her support and “reached out to her through a mutual friend because I wanted her to know: ‘Guess what? You’re not alone.'”

“I just felt like it was the right thing to do,” she added.

Mariah then revealed how another music giant showed her the same kindness when she was dealing with her own public struggles in 2001. 

“I remember when I was going through a lot of stuff years ago, Prince reached out to me and gave me a Bible and he talked to me for hours. He’s an amazing person and he cared about the music business and the industry being so screwed up — which it is,” the singer explained.  

Prince’s gesture helped influence Mariah’s own outlook on life. “You’ve got to be a giving person,” she emphasized. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re my best friend or whatever.”

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Kane Brown has had plenty of cross-genre collaborations, but “Memory,” his summer 2021 duet with pop songwriter/producer blackbear is extra special because it addresses some important subject matter.

“I don’t really talk about it a lot, but it’s hard for an artist to go through depression because for us, we have to be on our A game 24/7,” the singer points out in a new conversation with Kelleigh Bannen for Today’s Country Radio. “If we’re out pumping gas and a fan comes up, and I’m just having one of those bad days, I have to put on a smile and there’s no off time.”

“Memory” addresses the anxiety that comes along with living and partying in overdrive, while worrying about when the repercussions will hit. “Help me now, I’m running on empty / And I don’t wanna be a memory,” Kane and blackbear harmonize in the chorus.

“So that’s why I like that song, especially just saying for everybody that goes through depression or anxiety, ‘You’re not alone,’” the country superstar continues. “There’s many people out there. You just got to find them and talk to them.”

He adds, “That was my way of saying, ‘I go through it as well. You’re not alone in the world.’”

In the interview, Kane also reveals that he’s hard at work on his next album, though he didn’t specify exactly what the timeline is for its release. In the meantime, the singer’s still riding high from his chart-topping Chris Young duet, “Famous Friends,” which recently topped the year-end chart for Billboard’s Country Airplay songs.

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As the cause of death for the 10 victims that died as a result of the Astroworld Festival tragedy was revealed Thursday, festival organizer and headliner Travis Scott has been meeting with mayors across the country to improve concert safety.

The “Highest in the Room” rapper has spent the past three weeks working with the United States Conference of Mayors to implement new safety procedures at festivals, according to Billboard. He also plans to involve representatives from the music industry, public safety, emergency response, event management, health care and technology, to create standardized health and safety measures at festivals nationwide.

A source says Scott has specifically reached out to officials of Live Nation, AEG, Spotify and Apple and other prominent companies in the music business.

The plan to be developed is titled “Festival Safety,” and is expected to be compiled between January and June 2022. It will be sent to 1,400 cities and will be publicly available online at the United States Conference of Mayors website.

As previously reported, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office ruled all victims of the Astroworld tragedy on November 5 died of “compression asphyxia.” Of the 10 victims, only one, Danish Baig, 27, had a “contributory cause” due to the “combined toxic effects of cocaine, methamphetamine and ethanol,” the report states, according to ABC Houston affiliate KTRK.

In addition to Baig, the remaining identified victims were Rodolfo “Rudy” Peña, 23, Madison Dubiski, 23, Franco Patiño, 21, Jacob Jurinek, 20, John Hilgert, 14, Axel Acosta, 21, Briana Rodriguez, 16, Bharti Shahani, 22, and Ezra Blount, nine.

All the deaths were ruled accidental

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Doja Cat has been teaming with some heavy hitters in the music industry as of late, such as The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, but the “Say So” singer reveals she almost bagged a duet with Billie Eilish long before the two stepped into the limelight.

In her wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone, Doja admits she and Billie tried working on a collaboration but her writer’s block got in the way.

The 26-year-old says the two crossed paths when they were first releasing music on the audio platform Soundcloud and became fans of each other.  Eventually, Billie reached out to ask if she’d like to contribute a verse on her upcoming single at the time, “Bellyache.”

“I remember thinking it was so cute. I loved it. I just couldn’t think of anything to write… It was one of my writer’s-block moments,” the Grammy nominee recalled.  The single went on to become a success, but Doja says she is not kicking herself over missing out on what could have been.

“I remember seeing that song blow up and thinking, ‘Good for her. That’s awesome,'” she revealed and hinted the song was probably better off without her because, “I don’t think the song was for me, though. It was quite hard to write to.”

Speaking of her collaborations, Doja referenced her “I Don’t Do Drugs” single, which featured Ariana, and said it’s about her quitting caffeine and cigarettes after a bad acid trip. The singer admits that experience “made me quit a lot of my habits,” which she finds remarkable because “I’m a very habitual person.”

“I haven’t been able to smoke a cigarette since then. It’s unbearable to smoke one. It’s very interesting how that worked,” she remarked.

(NOTE: Embedded songs contain uncensored profanity)

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Imagine wanting to take a picture with Taylor Swift and two other celebrities decide to crash the picture?  That happened to Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang, who revealed just how lucky he was to have met the singer on the late-night sketch show.

Speaking to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the comedian admitted he was desperate to take a picture with the Grammy winner after she wrapped her SNL performance last month.  She had performed the 10-minute version of her number one hit, “All Too Well.”

Bowen said he went up to her dressing room and just stood there because he was “not sure whether or not to knock on her door.”  The comedian had worried, “After the show she’s probably riding high, she doesn’t want to talk to the riffraff like me,” but he eventually gathered the courage to knock.

The Emmy-nominee said he is glad he took that leap of faith because Taylor was thrilled he wanted to take a photo.  She also asked if Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, the “star and muse” of the “All Too Well” music video, could join them.  Bowen said things took an awesome turn when Taylor turned to ask the “other people in the dressing room” if someone could take the photo.

“And then, Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds was like, ‘I’ll do it,'” and managed to angle the camera so his reflection appeared in the mirror behind the smiling trio. 

Bowen said he is “blissed out” by what happened and called the “willow” singer “a hero.”

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Russell Dickerson is offering a stripped-down, acoustic perspective on three of his favorite songs from his latest album, Southern Symphony.

The singer dropped his Studio 900 Sessions this week, including a wedding version of his romantic, chart-topping ballad, “Love You Like I Used To.” The track list also includes an acoustic version of his top-20 single, “Home Sweet,” plus another one of his personal favorites, “Waiting for You.”

“The Studio 900 Sessions is an answer to the fans!” Russell explains. “Y’all have been asking for stripped-down versions and these are three of my favorite tracks from Southern Symphony.”

Just a couple of days before the project came out, he teased it on social media, garnering praise and excitement from Lady A band mate Charles Kelley. Lady A are featured on a special duet version of “Home Sweet,” which Russell released last month.

Southern Symphony, which is the singer’s second album, came out in 2020. You can catch Russell on the road next year during his headlining All Yours, All Night tour, which kicks off in January. He’s also the opening act on Tim McGraw’s McGraw Tour 2022.

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It’s been over a decade since Katy Perry released “I Kissed a Girl,” and the singer says she’s still amazed by the impact her debut single has had on pop culture, and on the LGBTQ community.

Speaking to Out magazine, the Grammy nominee reflected on the controversy the 2008 hit sparked.  The bi-curious anthem not only upset conservative parents, the LGBTQ community said the song was problematic because its lyrics seemingly wrote off a same-sex kiss as “not what good girls do.” 

“For me in that time, bisexuality kind of got its label of sorts,” Katy recalled. “It was like, ‘Oh, so that is what this is,’ you know? This feeling or this experience or what have you. I was just writing about my own experience.”

The singer continued, “I came from a very sheltered upbringing where it wasn’t okay to be friends with anyone from that community.  And now that is my community.”

The LGBTQ community has since embraced the song, and Katy said she’s heard countless stories about how the track has helped people come to terms with their sexuality. She said of the single’s evolution, “I wouldn’t have survived without the community and couldn’t, quite honestly. It’s amazing how full circle it’s come and how much growth has happened since I started.”

Katy’s also proud of her music’s lasting legacy, even though it makes her feel “old” that younger artists are now sampling her work and call it “nostalgic.”  Most recently, Olivia Rodrigo shouted out the 2010 single “Teenage Dream” in her song “brutal.”

Even so, Katy said she’s proud that her songs are “coming back around,” because “it means that the music is still resonating. It means that the message still rings true for people.”

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Barack Obama loved enjoying live musical performances at the White House during his two terms as president, and Friday, he revealed his list of his favorite songs of 2021, curated for Spotify.

Obama has broad musical tastes, as his list proves with tracks from several genres, including rock, pop, jazz, hip hop, and R&B.

“I’ve always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, so it’s no surprise that I listened to a little bit of everything this year,” he commented as he revealed his list on Instagram. “I hope you find a new artist or song to add to your own playlist.”

The 60-year-old former president begins at number one with a song that was not a major hit, “The Only Heartbreaker” from Japanese singer Mitski, followed by “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” by Philadelphia rock band The War on Drugs, featuring Lucius.

Barack’s list is light on hip hop and R&B. However, he did select “Nobody,” by Nas featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill, at #14; “MONTERO” (Call Me By Your Name),” by Lil Nas X, at #16; “Headshots (4r Da Locals),” by Isaiah Rashad, at #22; and “Rumors,” by Lizzo featuring Cardi B, at #26. Obama also shows his love of dancehall with “Go Down Deh,” by Spice featuring Shaggy and Sean Paul, at #11.

Here is the full list of Barack Obama Favorite Music of 2021:

1. “The Only Heartbreaker” — Mitski
2. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” (feat. Lucius) — The War On Drugs, Lucius
3. “Tala Tannam” — Mdou Moctar
4. “Magnolia Blues” — Adia Victoria
5. “Witchoo” — Durand jones & The Indications, Aaron Frazer
6. “Formwela 10” — Esperanza Spalding
7. “Broken Horses” — Brandi Carlile
8. “Gold Chains” — Genesis Owusu
9. “Woman” — Little Simz, Cleo Sol
10. “Pepas” — Farruko
11. “Go Down Deh” (feat. Shaggy and Sean Paul) — Spice, Shaggy, Sean Paul
12. “Freedom” — Jon Batiste
13. “Its Way with Me” — Wye Oak
14. “Nobody” (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill) — Nas, Ms. Lauryn Hill
15. “Nightflyer” — Allison Russell
16. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” — Lil Nas X
17. “Patria y Vida” — Yotuel, Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno, Maykel Osobo, El Funky
18. “Notice” — Tammy Lakkis
19. “Armash” — Teddy Afro
20. “Write a List of Things to Look Forward To” — Courtney Barnett
21. “Volvi” — Aventura, Bad Bunny
22. “Headshots (4r Da Locals)” — Isaiah Rashad
23. “Boomerang” — yebba
24. “In My Blood” — MO3, Morray
25. “YA” — YEИDRY
26. “Rumors” (feat. Cardi B) — Lizzo, Cardi B
27. “Walking at a Downtown Pace” — Parquet Courts

 

 

 

 

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Bring Me the Horizon has premiered a new remix of “DiE4u,” the band’s latest single.

Recording in collaboration with electronic outfit six impala, the updated recording gives “DiE4u” a hyperpop makeover that several YouTube commenters observe would make a good theme song for an animated show. You can listen for yourself now via digital outlets.

The original “DiE4u” was released in September. It’s the first preview off Horizon’s upcoming next entry in their Post Human EP series, the follow-up to 2020’s Post Human: Survival Horror.

Bring Me the Horizon will launch a European tour in 2022. They’re also hosting their own destination festival in Malta next May.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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