Music

Shelley, the artist formerly known as DRAM, sat down with Complex to talk about his recent name change and his album, Shelley FKA DRAM.

Shelley is the artist’s government name. He says the change “was symbolic to the changes that I made in my musical direction, as well as my lifestyle in general.”

Shelley gained international success under the stage name Big Baby DRAM with hits like “Cha Cha,” “Broccoli” and more. He believes the name DRAM came with a “certain stigma” and limited his versatility as an artist.

“I felt like a wide range of styles and sounds were being overshadowed by the few records of mine that were extremely popular,” he explains. “As grateful as I am for the success of those records, I still thought many people judged the totality of my art based on those records alone.”

Shelley was also shocked by the positive responses he received over his recent album, Shelley FKA DRAM, which ranked at #3 on Complex’s “Best Albums of 2021 (So Far)” list. The 10-track blessing features appearances from R&B vocalists Summer Walker, Erykah Badu, H.E.R., and WATT.

“I’m both surprised and ecstatic from the overall responses from my fans as well as my peers,” Shelley tells Complex. “It seems as though this musical path that I’m on is exactly what my day ones have been waiting for from me.”

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Death Cab for Cutie frontman Benjamin Gibbard has united with electronic artist Tycho for a new song called “Only Love.”

“Ben’s voice was a very inspiring element to work with from a production standpoint, I felt it really meshed well with the kinds of sounds and instrumentation I gravitate towards,” Tycho says.

“‘Only Love’ started life as an instrumental, but something was missing,” he explains. “I sent a rough demo to Ben and he recorded some vocals over it. The first time I heard the rough vocals the whole song suddenly made sense and the arrangement flowed out of that.”

You can listen to “Only Love” now via digital outlets.

Notably, “Only Love” marks Gibbard’s first “major electronic collaboration” since The Postal Service.

Death Cab’s most recent album is 2018’s Thank You for Today. In the past year, they’ve released a covers EP, as well as a live album.

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Killswitch Engage has announced a streaming concert taking place August 6.

The virtual show, which will be filmed at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts, will feature full album performances of KsE’s latest effort, 2019’s Atonement, as well as their 2000 self-titled debut. A press release promises that the concert will also feature “a few surprises along the way.”

“I hope everyone who watches enjoys this as much as we did making it,” says frontman Jesse Leach. “Aside from the music, the laughter and funny moments were an equal part of the experience. The whole package really feels like a Killswitch experience and we’re stoked for everyone to see and hear it.”

For ticket info, visit KillswitchEngage.com.

Meanwhile, Leach and Killswitch guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz are releasing a new album with their side project Times of Grace called Songs of Loss and Separation this Friday, July 16.

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After fans hounded her on social media, Cardi B shared photos from the princess-themed party she and Offset threw for Kulture’s third birthday last weekend.

“Ok, I’m [going to] post all Kulture birthday pic ….Give me a second. It’s like three thousand to choose [from],” Cardi tweeted Monday night.

The guest of honor showed up to her party in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by her happy parents. “You know the entrance gotta be extra honey,” Cardi wrote on Instagram, sharing photos from Saturday’s party.

Cardi and Kulture wore matching pink dresses and made their grand entrance with Offset through a tunnel of balloons. The party had everything a girl could dream of in her own whimsical world: a Cinderella cake, a dance floor, colorful balloons, and a petting zoo. There were also performers dressed as Disney princesses Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, and Tiana.

Soon the party of three will become four, since Cardi and Offset are expecting their second child together. Cardi revealed her pregnancy during their performance with Migos at the 2021 BET Awards in June.

 

 

 

 

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Jimmie Allen’s first-ever children’s book, My Voice Is a Trumpet, is out now.

Illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson, the book celebrates how every voice — from the roar of a lion to the buzz of a bee — has the power to enact change. That’s a message that’s especially important to Jimmie, both as a country musician and as a father.

“It’s very important to me that kids learn at a young age that they have a voice, and that it is powerful. It is up to us adults to teach them to use their voice to encourage and show love,” Jimmie explains. “Being a father of two kids, I try to encourage them to be themselves and love everyone around them. I’m hoping this book inspires at least one child and they always remember their voice is a trumpet.”

Jimmie is dad to 7-year-old Aadyn; he and his wife, Alexis, also share 1-year-old daughter Naomi. The couple will soon add a third child to the mix, as they’re expecting another baby — a girl — later this year.

In musical news, Jimmie’s current single, a duet with Brad Paisley, called “Freedom Is a Highway,” is rising at radio. He’ll join Brad on tour later this summer. 

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Pop Evil bassist Matt DiRito has left the band.

In an Instagram post, DiRito, who’s played with Pop Evil since 2007, writes that “time has come for me to part ways” with the Michigan rockers.

“The decision has been made that I will not be joining them on their upcoming tour, or any future tours,” he says. “Walking away from something I’ve helped build is not easy — but it is the best thing for the band, myself and our respective futures.”

As for why he’s leaving Pop Evil, DiRito is keeping that close the vest, writing, “The details surrounding my departure are only known by a few people, and respectfully it will remain that way.”

“I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your endless support and love,” he concludes. “I wish Pop Evil nothing but success in all of their future endeavors and I am thankful for the time that I was able to be part of it.”

Meanwhile, DiRito won’t be the only Pop Evil member missing from the band’s upcoming tour, which kicks off this week. Drummer Hayley Cramer, who’s based in the U.K., will be unable to make the beginning of the outing, as she’s still stuck across the pond due to travel issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. She hopes to rejoin the band on the road in August.

Pop Evil released their new album, Versatile, in May.

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Halsey is bringing her new album to a theater near you.

The singer and director Colin Tilley have created an hour-long “film experience” set to the music of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, due out August 27.  Tickets will go on sale August 3 for IMAX showings of the film. The other cities and theaters will be announced soon.

The trailer for the film is out now, and comes with a warning that it includes scenes of a graphic nature and is intended for mature audiences. 

It features Halsey playing a variety of different women — or perhaps they’re the same woman in different stages of her life — in what looks like the 1700s or 1800s.  There are various scenes of sex, death, pregnancy and birth, with Halsey wearing some very spooky makeup.

“This woman will not go quietly,” we hear a male voice say, as Halsey sings a song with the repeated refrain, “All of this is temporary.”

“This film is about the lifelong social labyrinth of sexuality and birth,” reads a message in the beginning. “The greatest horror stories never told were buried with the bodies of those who died in that labyrinth.”

As previously reported, the album — for which Halsey wrote all the songs — is produced by Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-winning composers and musicians Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, who are also members of Nine Inch Nails.

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The upcoming documentary chronicling Oasis‘ legendary 1996 concerts at England’s Knebworth Festival officially has a premiere date.

The film, simply titled Oasis Knebworth 1996, will hit theaters on September 23. Tickets go on sale beginning August 10, the 25th anniversary of the two-night stand’s first concert.

As previously reported, both Liam and Noel Gallagher are executive producers on the doc, though it’s unclear how much, if at all, the estranged brothers and former band mates worked together directly amid the project. Jake Scott, frequent music video director and son of filmmaker Ridley Scott, will direct.

“Knebworth for me was the Woodstock of the ’90s,” says Liam. “It was all about the music and the people. I can’t remember much about it, but I’ll never forget it. It was Biblical.”

For more info, visit OasisKnebworth1996.com.

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While she sarcastically sings “Good for you/you look happy and healthy” in her hit song, Olivia Rodrigo really does want people — especially young people — to be happy and healthy.  That’s why she’s partnering with the White House to encourage people her age to get vaccinated. 

According to a White House official, Olivia will visit the White House Wednesday and meet with President Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci. She’ll also record videos in which she’ll stress how important it is that young people get vaccinated, and answer questions that young people may have about the shot.

Those videos will be posted on Olivia’s socials, as well as the White House’s social pages. It’s all part of the Biden administration’s effort to get more young people educated and vaccinated. 

The president put out the call for help from young people on Instagram this morning, by posting a throwback photo of himself as a young man.  He captioned it, “I know this young person would’ve gotten vaccinated, but we’ve got to get other young people protected as well. Who’s willing to help?”

Olivia replied in the comments, “i’m in! see you tomorrow at the white house!”

 

 

 

 

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