Music

Anyone who’s paid attention to Ariana Grande‘s career over the past few years knows that she’s pretty fond of using outer-space or sci-fi imagery in her videos, commercials and costumes.  Ariana says she took that same approach to developing her new makeup line, R.e.m. Beauty, which officially launches on Friday morning.

“I wanted to make sure everything looked like a prop from either Star Trek or Black Mirror,” she tells Vogue of the makeup packaging she chose. “I treated it like it was a Tesla situation, not like make-up. I didn’t want it to look like make-up. I’m a huge fan of sci-fi, vintage space stuff, so this was about creating our own world with this packaging.”

If you look at the @r.e.m.beauty Instagram, you can see what Ari’s talking about: Everything is packaged in smooth, silver or white futuristic-looking tubes and cases.  The highlighters are also named after the planets in the solar system: Miss Jupiter, Mama Earth, Miss Mercury and so on.

As for the name of the line, it’s of course taken from her song “R.E.M.,” which Ariana explains “encompasses a lot of my favorite parts of my sound.” But there’s another reason she chose it.

“REM [stands for] rapid eye movement, focusing on dreams and the eyes,” she explains. “Eyes are our most effective communicators — you can say more with the way you look at someone than you can articulate with words sometimes, and so much beauty happens there.”

R.e.m. Beauty, which also includes eyeshadow palettes, lip stain, plumping lip gloss and eyeliner, goes on sale at 9 a.m. ET on Friday at Rembeauty.com.

Ariana tells Vogue, “Hopefully it will inspire people to express themselves in a new way and share that with the world.”

 

 

 

 

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Rebecca Hall says her directorial debut, Passing, which is based on Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel of the same name, is an adaptation that offers contemporary implications on race.

Hall, who says she wrote the draft of the screenplay 13 years ago after reading the book for the first time, tells ABC Audio that, like Larson’s novel, her film also shows the “dangers” in adhering to the unspoken rules of what it is to be Black or white in America.

“I think we all go through this negotiation…whether we’re in the 1920s or now, or any time, where we think, ‘What is the kind of person that I want to be versus what is the sort of person that I think I ought to be?’” she says. “And how much…of they ‘think I ought to be’ have we internalized?’”

Hall says that internalization of how to assimilate to a specific race or culture is what both of her characters struggle with in the film. In fact, the director says Larsen is specifically making a critique about the “rigidity around these categories” and that there is “no monolithic version of Blackness or whiteness” or any other “identity” category.

“It’s interesting how complicated Irene’s own relationship is to her Black identity,” Hall shares. “Like she really wants to be an upstanding member of the Black community. She reads Crisis magazine, she organizes… the dance in the league…” 

She continues, “But she cannot talk to her husband or her children about the difficulties of living in a racist society. And I think that’s poignant today, as it was ever.“ 

Passing, also starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga is now available to stream on Netflix.

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Trying to follow up one of the biggest songs of the last 20 years is a tall order, which is why Rob Thomas says he isn’t concerned about whether or not “Move,” his new duet with Carlos Santana, is as successful as their first duet, “Smooth.” But Rob says the reason he specifically doesn’t worry about that stuff is because of some advice that Carlos gave him 21 years ago.

“I’m three years younger now than Carlos was when we first did ‘Smooth,'” Rob tells ABC Audio. “And at that very, very young age, Carlos taught me something that was very, very important that I hold on to, which is: The world is not as complicated as you make it seem sometimes, and you really are only in control of your motive, your intention and your purpose.”

According to Rob, Carlos told him, “Those are the three things that you can control. And whatever the outcome is, that’s going to be the outcome, but you can’t worry about it while you’re putting something into [the universe].”

“So, I don’t think I’ve ever really been concerned about whether something was going to perform,” Rob says, addressing the topic of “Move’s” success versus that of “Smooth.”

“When I do something and I’m creative and I’m listening to that frequency in the universe that gives me a song, then I feel like I’ve already succeeded,” the Matchbox Twenty front man states. “And I think the only time that I fail is if I stop listening to that — or I start trying to control it.”

In addition to “Move,” which in addition to Carlos also features American Authors, Rob has a new holiday album out, Something About Christmas Time.

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It was a night of surprises at the 55th Annual CMA Awards Wednesday night. While Chris Stapleton was the night’s big winner, taking home Single, Song and Album of the Year — not to mention Male Vocalist — many of the artists taking home trophies were unexpected… and some even made history.

Let’s start with Luke Combs, who was named Entertainer of the Year for the first time, beating long-established stars like Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.  “I’m really kind of at a loss,” said the shocked hitmaker, adding, “Every single person that was nominated for this award this year, and every year before, deserves to win this. I don’t deserve to win it, but I’m sure as hell glad that I did!”

—Carly Pearce won her first-ever Female Vocalist of the Year trophy and was so emotional that her friend Ashley McBryde got onstage and spoke for her.  “What she meant to say was, ‘There’s a lot of love, respect and admiration in this category,'” laughed Ashley, before nudging Carly forward.

“I’ve had just, had, like a crazy year,” Carly sobbed. “And I just want you guys to know that this means everything to me. Country music saved me at a time that I needed it and I just hope you guys know that this is all I’ve ever wanted in the entire world.”

—Jimmie Allen was named New Artist of the Year, becoming only the second Black performer ever to do so. Darius Rucker was the first, back in 2009.  Jimmie recalled how, five years ago, he spent his last $100 to attend the CMA Awards so he could watch the late Charley Pride perform, and how, last year, he and Pride got to perform on the show together.

—Brothers Osborne were named Vocal Duo of the Year, a category they last won in 2018.  TJ Osborne, who came out this year, kissed his boyfriend before taking the stage with brother John.  “It’s been a crazy roller coaster of a year for us in so many ways, especially for me emotionally,” TJ said. “And to have you all support me, it really does feel like love wins tonight.”

Later, Brothers Osborne sang their powerful song “Younger Me,” which TJ introduced by explaining that while growing up watching the CMAs, he never thought he could be a part of it because of his sexuality.

Another powerful moment came when a young Black girl named Faith Fennidy introduced Mickey Guyton‘s performance of the song “Love My Hair,” explaining that she had inspired Mickey to write the song after she was sent home from school because her braids were “distracting.”  Mickey sang the song with Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards; all three women wore big, natural hair styles.

And in a moment reminiscent of the 2015 CMAs, when Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake brought down the house, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Stapleton did it again with their soulful duet of “You Are My Sunshine,” which Chris and his wife Morgane originally cut for the 2016 compilation album Southern Family.  Stapleton also played guitar as Hudson sang Aretha Franklin‘s arrangement of Willie Nelson‘s “Night Life.”

Other highlights of the night included Luke Combs debuting his new song “Doin’ It;” Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce duetting on “Never Wanted to Be That Girl;” Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean singing “If I Didn’t Love You” and Deana Carter and Lainey Wilson leading the entire Bridgestone Arena in a singalong of Deana’s classic “Strawberry Wine.”

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The biggest names in country music were honored at the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night.

Here is the complete list of the 2021 CMA Award winners: 

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
 

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Carly Pearce

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
Chris Stapleton

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Old Dominion

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Starting Over”–Chris Stapleton

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Starting Over” Chris Stapleton

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Starting Over–Chris Stapleton

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“half of my hometown”– Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“half of my hometown”–Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie Allen

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Green Day and Nine Inch Nails are among the headliners for the 2022 Shaky Knees festival, which will take place from April 29 to May 1 in Atlanta.

Billy Idol also is part of the bill, as are My Morning Jacket, Spoon, Travis, CHVRCHES, Death Cab for Cutie and Guided by Voices, among many others.

Green Day and Idol will perform on April 29, while NIN and My Morning Jacket will headline the festival on April 30 and May 1, respectively.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 11, at 10 a.m. ET. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit ShakyKneesFestival.com.

Shaky Knees returned this past October after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Headliners this year included Foo Fighters and The Strokes.

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Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Following a three-week trial, a jury in New York City ruled Wednesday that Jay-Z did not breach his endorsement contract in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed against him by the Parlux perfume company.

“You failed to prove your case, they failed to prove their case,” Justice Andrew Borrok said to an attorney for Parlux after the verdict was read aloud in court, according to Billboard. The Roc Nation founder was accused of failing to properly promote the “Gold Jay-Z” cologne. Parlux had requested $67 million in damages. Jay-Z, born Sean Carter, countersued, seeking $6 million in royalties that he said he was still owed under the deal. No money was awarded in the case.

Parlux argued that Hova breached the terms of their business contract by refusing to make promotional appearances on shows such as Good Morning America. Attorney Anthony J. Viola said Jay-Z had “thrown sand in the gears of what Parlux was trying to do””with his objections over how to promote the product.

Carter testified that he fulfilled his obligations. During a court appearance last week, he blasted Parlux “for crappy, lazy work,” and for allegedly violating their agreement by selling the fragrance at the Superdrug discount drugstore chain in the United Kingdom without his knowledge.

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Christina Perri is releasing a new lullaby album called songs for rosie, dedicated to the daughter she lost last year.

Christina’s second child, Rosie, was born silent on November 24, 2020, and the album is set to be released on November 24 this year in her honor. It follows Christina’s 2019 lullaby album, songs for carmella: sing-a-longs and lullabies, written for her first child, her now three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Carmella.

Songs for rosie features duets with Christina’s husband, Paul, and with Carmella, as well as special appearances by Chris Martin and Jacob Collier on the new song “roses in the rain (lullaby).” It also features a cover of The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” which debuted on Wednesday.

“rosie’s short and powerful life already served such a huge purpose in our world, and she has lovingly changed me, paul and carmella forever,” Christina wrote on Twitter. “we are more capable of love and compassion than we ever knew we could be.”

She added, “we learned how to hold space for loss and how to navigate unimaginable grief together and music always heals. releasing these songs for rosie is so important for our hearts.”

 

 

 

 

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