Music – Page 3544 – 105.7 WDNY

Tori Kelly to release children’s book ‘The Curly Girl Blues’ in January

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Tori Kelly is adding “author” to her resume.

The Grammy-winning star will release a children’s picture book, The Curly Girl Blues, in January. Tori incorporated elements of her own childhood, themes and characters from her personal life and lessons she’s learned in her career into the story.

“As someone who always felt like I was different from everyone else growing up I wanted to encourage young kids to embrace their individuality and characteristics that make them unique,” Tori explains. “This book isn’t just about loving yourself, it’s also about celebrating the different cultures around us. My hope is to inspire the next generation and show how beautifully diverse this world is.”

The book’s description declares, “Everybody looks different, and we often get caught in the trap of comparing ourselves to the appearance of others instead of celebrating ourselves. Follow along as Emma comes down with a case of The Curly Girl Blues.”

The book is the first one released by Lumilly, a publishing house dedicated to releasing “meaningful” children’s picture books.

Tori will reprise her role as Meena in Sing 2, the sequel to the 2016 animated hit Sing, which opens December 22. Also in the cast: Halsey and U2‘s Bono.

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Jonathan Majors tapped for ‘SNL’; Gugu Mbatha-Raw joins romantic comedy ‘Nobody’s Heart’; and more

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Jonathan Majors, who stars in Netflix’s critically-acclaimed Black cowboy drama The Harder They Fall, is taking his talents to Saturday Night Live.

NBC announced on Tuesday that they’ve tapped Majors, along with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu, for upcoming SNL hosting duties. Majors will host the series on November 13 with Taylor Swift as the musical guest. Meanwhile, Liu will host on November 20, with rapper Saweetie to perform. This will be the SNL hosting debut for both Majors and Liu.

In other news, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is joining Edgar Ramírez for the upcoming romantic drama Nobody’s Heart, Variety has learned. Directed by Isabel Coixet, the film is an adaption of William Boyd’s best-selling short story, Cork, which is based on the life of celebrated Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. It follows a new widow named Lily, who inherits her husband’s cork factory and begins an unexpected relationship with one of his workers. Nobody’s Heart is set to begin filming in Portugal in January.

Finally, ICYMI, Warner Media has added season two of the Peabody Award–winning drama David Makes Man to its streaming site, HBO Max. This comes after they’ve recently added a new lineup of Black content, including the sitcoms Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, In the House, The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin and The Parent ’Hood.

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Silk Sonic to release new song on Friday; Anderson .Paak launches new label

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak continue to tease us with music from their upcoming debut album as Silk Sonic.

The two have already dropped two singles — “Skate” and “Leave the Door Open” — and on Friday, we’re getting another one: “Smokin’ Out the Window.” On his Instagram, Bruno has posted a clip from what appears to be the song’s video, showing himself and Anderson driving in a car while eating pizza and, well, smokin’ out the window.

Unfortunately, there’s no audio on the clip, but we’re gonna go out on a limb and predict that the music heavily nods to the smooth sounds of ’70s soul.

The duo’s album An Evening with Silk Sonic arrives November 12.

Meanwhile, Anderson just announced his new record label, Apes***, a joint venture with Universal Music. In a hilarious video, he holds a fake press conference where he explains that he’s looking for people who can “play instruments and perform at the same time,” and ignores reporters who ask him where the food is, or if they can hold his Grammy.

Explaining the label name, .Paak notes that “APE” stands for “Anderson .Paak Empire.” As for the other word, he explains, “We on some other s***!”

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Watch adorable stop-motion bunnies frolic in video for Ingrid Michaelson’s holiday duet with Zooey Deschanel

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ingrid Michaelson and actress/singer Zooey Deschanel have teamed up for a Christmas duet, and the video for the newly released track, “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,” is definitely the cutest thing you’ll see all day.

The entire video is populated by stop-motion animated, fuzzy felted creatures, including the main characters, Bunny and Rabbit, who decorate their house for Christmas and bake cookies. Bunny heads off with a sled to chop down their Christmas tree in a nearby felt forest, but after he finds it at the bottom of a hill, he realizes he can’t get back up the hill.

No worries, though: A squirrel and a couple of mice are nearby and lend Bunny a hand, dragging him back up the hill and accompanying him back home, where everyone eats Christmas cookies and celebrates. The visual was created by director Andrea Love and author/illustrator Phoebe Wahl.

“Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” is on the new deluxe edition of Ingrid’s 2018 album, Songs for the Season, which is due out Friday. It features five new tracks, including this new one and “Christmas Valentine,” Ingrid’s 2019 collab with Jason Mraz.

Ingrid’s 15th Annual Holiday Hop concert takes place at New York’s Webster Hall on December 5; tickets are on sale now via BoweryPresents.com. If you can’t make it to New York City, you can join a virtual VIP After Party with Ingrid where she’ll answer questions, talk about the holidays and play a few acoustic songs. Get tickets for that via Mandolin.

Verzuz combines gaming and music with “Call of Duty: Vanguard” event featuring performance by Migos

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Verzuz is expanding with a special event this Wednesday featuring rappers gaming and a performance by Migos.

T-Pain is hosting “Call of Duty: Vanguard,” a multi-round gameplay tournament featuring Lil Jon and Lil Tecca against Big Boi and Big Sean.

In addition to the gameplay, the members of Migos — Offset, Quavo and Takeoff — will perform together.

In the previous Verzuz, Big Daddy Kane battled KRS-One on October 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event featured DJ Scratch backing Kane on the 1s and 2s, and Kid Capri rocking the turntables for KRS, as well as guest appearances by Roxanne Shanté, Masta Ace and Craig G, Das EFX, Mad Lion, Buckshot and Kool DJ Red Alert. There was also a dance battle between legendary breakers Crazy Legs and Pop Master.

“Call of Duty: Vanguard” will stream on Triller, Fite TV and Verzuz TV Instagram on Wednesday, November 3, at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

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Paul McCartney discusses songwriting process in new Q&A celebrating release of ‘The Lyrics’ book

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney‘s new book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, was released today.

As previously reported, the two-volume book profiles 154 songs McCartney wrote throughout his career, and features his commentary about each tune, as well as handwritten lyric sheets, rare personal photos, drawings and rough drafts of songs.

To celebrate The Lyrics‘ publication, Sir Paul has answered several fan-submitted questions about his songwriting as part of a new installment of his website’s “You Gave Me the Answer” feature.

One fan asked if, while putting the book together, “lyrics or memories…came back to you and reminded you of a time you’d forgotten,” to which McCartney responded that reviewing some of his tunes wound up being like visiting a psychiatrist for him.

“[R]evisiting the first song I ever wrote ‘I Lost My Little Girl’…kind of turned into a therapy session, because I thought I was happily writing a little pop song when I was fourteen,” he noted, “but if you look at the timing of it I had just lost my mother.” Paul added that it made him realize he may have subliminally written the tune about his mom.

He also pointed out that “Yesterday” may have been partly inspired by losing his mother. McCartney said thinking about the writing of other songs brought back “surprising memories,” such as hitchhiking trips he took with John Lennon and George Harrison.

Asked if he had rules or a formula for writing a song, McCartney said definitely not. “[I]t’s not like building a car or fixing a television, it’s something that is very different each time you do it,” he noted. “In fact, you don’t want to learn a set of rules because that’s what keeps it interesting!”

Check out the full Q&A at PaulMcCartney.com.

Britney Spears’ attorney files petition to end conservatorship, demands investigation into alleged wiretapping

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It’s official: Britney Spears‘ attorney has formally asked for her 13-year conservatorship to end in a court filing obtained by ABC News.

“After more than a decade, the time has come for Ms. Spears’ freedom,” writes attorney Mathew Rosengart in the filing. But in addition to calling for the termination of the convervatorship, Rosengart’s filing also asks for material related to recent reports that Britney’s former conservator, her dad, Jamie Spears, illegally bugged her home and recorded her conversations.

Rosengart wants “all documents and communications relating to the electronic surveillance, monitoring, cloning, or recording of the activity of Britney Jean Spears’ personal telephone, including…the surveillance, monitoring…or recording of calls, e-mails, text messages, internet browser use or history, and social media use or direct messages on social media.”

He also wants documents and communications “relating to any recording or listening device in the home or bedroom of Britney Jean Spears.”

In fact, Rosengart is requesting all documents and communications between Jamie Spears and all entities and people related to the conservatorship, as well as an accounting of how much Mr. Spears himself received in his role as conservator, and how much of an allowance Britney was permitted.

Rosengart has also cheekily requested that Mr. Spears produce any documents or communications “relating to any training, schooling or education you received relating to how to be a fiduciary or manage the financial affairs of a third party.” Rosengart has long maintained that Mr. Spears controlled Britney’s vast wealth despite not having any financial background whatsoever.

The next court hearing is set for November 12; at that time, Judge Brenda J. Penny will consider terminating the conservatorship.

Taylor Swift to perform on ‘Saturday Night Live’ next week

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Leave it to Taylor Swift to line up an appearance on Saturday Night Live on the 13th of the month.

The singer, whose lucky number is 13, is releasing Red (Taylor’s Version) on Friday, November 12, and she’ll perform on the NBC show the next day. She’s only serving as the musical guest this time around, although she did pull double duty — hosting and performing — in 2009.

Overall, it’ll be Taylor’s fifth appearance on SNL, and she’ll appear just a week after one of her BFF’s, Ed Sheeran, who is featured on Red (Taylor’s Version).

The host for the November 13 episode is Jonathan Majors, known for his work on HBO’s Lovecraft Country and the Disney+ series Loki. He’s also one of the stars of the new Netflix Western film The Harder They Fall, along with Idris Elba, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz. It’s directed by Jeymes Samuel, who happens to be Seal‘s brother.

Damon Dash wants to squash 17 year feud with Jay-Z after Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shout-out

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Damon Dash founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 with Jay-Z, and they’ve feuded since the label was sold in 2004. Now, after being praised by Hova during his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech on Saturday, Dash wants to finally squash their beef.

“Shout out to Dame,” the Roc Nation owner said during the ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, “I know we don’t see eye to eye, but I can never erase your accomplishments. And I appreciate you and I thank you for that.”

“It was beautiful,” Dash told Page Six. “I’m glad he said it for the culture. We need to squash everything. So hopefully if that was an extended [olive branch], I’ll spin one back.”

“Congratulations to him and thank you [to him] for keep working so hard to where he got to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Dash continued. “Anything he can do to make me great, so thank you for even continuing to strive. He keeps my name alive.”

In 2004, Roc-A-Fella Records was sold to Def Jam Recordings, and Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, was named Def Jam President and CEO. Dash felt betrayed and formed his own label, Roc4Life. The feud intensified in 2005 when Jay bought out Dash’s share of their Rocawear fashion company.

When Dash recently attempted to sell Rock-A-Fella’s first release, Jay-Z’s 1997 debut solo album, Reasonable Doubt, as an NFT, Carter sued him.

“I have no beef with [him] if [he has] no beef with me,” Damon added. “Let’s get the lawyers out of it then. Let’s talk like men.”

Dash hopes that now the bitterness between him and Hova will end, declaring, “We should not be divided. We have accomplished too much to be beefing.”

Director of ‘Midas Man,’ upcoming biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, expected to exit project

November 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Midas Man, an upcoming biopic about late Beatles manager Brian Epstein, will continue production although its director, Jonas Akerlund, apparently will be dropping off the project, Variety reports.

According to Variety, sources have revealed that Akerlund currently is “taking a break” from filming and likely will not return.

The movie began shooting two weeks ago in Liverpool, U.K., but the production was put on hold this week. A source close to the production confirmed to Variety that the shoot may start up again as soon as next week, and if Akerlund doesn’t return, a new director will be announced soon.

“The director of Midas Man Jonas Akerlund is taking a break from the film,” says StudioPOW co-founder Perry Trevers, whose company is co-producing the movie. “Until some matters become clearer we are not able to add any further comment to this statement. In the meantime we can confirm that filming of Midas Man will continue in London in November before breaking for Christmas. Filming will restart in early January in Los Angeles.”

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, whose credits include The Queen’s Gambit and Wolf Hall, has been cast as Epstein in the film, while Outlander actress Rosie Day is portraying pop star Cilla Black.

Akerlund’s credits include directing videos for Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne and many others. He won Grammys for McCartney’s Live Kisses film, as well as for Madonna’s The Confessions Tour concert video and “Ray of Light” music video.

Epstein discovered The Beatles in 1961 and officially became their manager the following year, helping to guide the group to superstardom. He also managed such other Liverpool acts as Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Brian died in 1967 of an apparent accidental sleeping-pill overdose. He was 32.

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