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Kendrick Lamar put on for LA with his Juneteenth ‘Pop Out’ show, but beyond entertainment, he also played a big part in a significant financial contribution.

Kasabian have confirmed they will be performing at Glastonbury 2024 after much fan speculation.

READ MORE: Glastonbury 2024: here are the biggest headlines from Friday

In the lead-up to the annual festival – currently taking place at Worthy Farm until Sunday (June 30) – rumours have been rife of a surprise performance at the Woodsies Stage today (June 29) with a 6pm slot that has been listed as ‘TBA’.

In a social media post by the band, they have confirmed that they are the ‘TBA’ act set for 6pm at the Woodsies Stage, sharing a picture of the onsite notice, along with a timelapse clip of the band on the way to the festival in a private car.

Twitter/X account @secretglasto shared earlier today that the 6pm slot has indeed been filled by Kasabian, referencing the band’s 2004 hit ‘L.S.F.’. “Anyone lonely and stuck for something to do at 1800?” the account tweeted. “Head to Woodsies and you won’t be LOST SOULS FOREVER”.

Anyone lonely and stuck for something to do at 1800? Head to Woodsies and you won’t be LOST SOULS FOREVER

— Secretglasto (@secretglasto) June 29, 2024

Last December, NME spoke to Kasabian about the possibility of returning to Glastonbury this year, which marks a decade since the band headlined the Pyramid Stage. “There isn’t any kind of [plan],” said chief songwriter Serge Pizzorno. “There was before – ‘We want this, this, this and this’, you know what I mean? Now there’s none. Now there’s like: great record, and then go and play.

“The American shows… seeing one kid on the shoulders, direct eye contact, singing every word, having that moment. You realise after it all – that’s as good as it gets. So we’re just going to see where it goes, but have no plan.”

This will mark Kasabian’s first Glastonbury performance since the departure of frontman Tom Meighan in 2020. The band’s vocal duties is now handled by keyboardist Tim Carter. Their eighth studio album ‘Happenings’ is due for release on July 5.

Check back at NME for the latest Glastonbury 2024 news, reviews, interviews, photos, rumours and more. Check out the NME liveblog here for all the latest Glastonbury action as it happens.

The post Glastonbury 2024: Kasabian confirm rumoured secret set appeared first on NME.

Brazil’s biggest popstar and the queen of twerk, Anitta brings her sixth studio album, Funk Generation to London for the first of two nights at the Kentish Town forum – captured in photos by Burak Cingi.

Michael Jackson reportedly died with over $500million (£395million) worth of debt, court filings have revealed.

In a document filed on June 21 by executors of his estate, The King of Pop – who died in June 2009 from a heart attack – was apparently dealing with a staggering $500million in “debt and creditors’ claims, with some of the debt accruing interest at extremely high interest rates, and some debt in default”.

Filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the document showed that Jackson had more than 65 claims made against him by creditors, which sparked further litigation. Executors wrote in the filing that they did settle these claims or had otherwise resolved them.

Along with creditors, Jackson’s untimely death also left his estate liable financially – he reportedly owed $40million to promoter AEG for his ‘This Is It’ residency. Jackson was supposed to take to London’s O2 Arena between July 2009 and March 2010.

The ‘Thriller’ singer also apparently faced lawsuits both foreign and domestic at the time of his death. Additionally, the executors also requested reimbursement for their attorneys with money from his estate for legal services in 2018.

Michael Jackson. Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

It was previously reported in 2013 that the singer was £250million in debt at the time of his death, which was revealed by a forensic accountant in wrongful death trial Jackson’s mother Katherine has filed against concert promoters AEG Live.

Forensic accountant William Ackerman testified that the singer was “tapped out”, detailing how he spent the majority of his money on travel, art, charity, gifts and lavish furniture.

Ackerman also added that Jackson was reportedly paying £15million per year on old debts, saying that “consistently, his [Jackson] largest expenditure was interest expense. He spent a ton of money on interest.”

In other news, one of Michael Jackson’s iconic ‘Thriller’ jackets is now up for auction.

The post Michael Jackson died with over $500million in debt, court filings detail appeared first on NME.

Coldplay have responded to Rachel Chinouriri‘s recent cover of ‘The Scientist’ for Spotify Singles.

READ MORE: Rachel Chinouriri has finally come home

The NME Cover star recently performed her rendition of the track for Spotify Singles, which follows her vocal love for Coldplay, telling The Forty Five that they “saved my life”.

“I was 13 and going through that the worst time ever as I was in a racist secondary school, but Coldplay was one thing that kept me going,” she told the publication. “I have this love and connection with Coldplay that is just endless, and no one can ever change my mind. I don’t care what music that they put out; I don’t want to hear a single thing about them that is bad.”

Now, the band themselves have responded to the cover on social media. Taking to Instagram stories yesterday (June 28), they uploaded a screenshot of the cover in question. In addition, the band’s creative director and manager Phil Harvey wrote that he “love[d] this version” and signed off with his initials.

The co-sign comes ahead of their respective upcoming Glastonbury performances. Chinouriri is due to perform on The Other Stage at 12.30pm on Sunday (June 30), whilst Coldplay will round out Saturday with a record-breaking fifth headline performance at the Pyramid Stage.

Earlier this year, Chinouriri released her debut album ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events‘. In a four-star review of the LP, NME shared: “As a portrait of a life (and career) transformed, however, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ – despite its slightly macabre title – is consistently charming, while offering enough range in sound and scope to hint at Chinouriri’s future ambitions. She has worked hard to make it sound this easy.”

Speaking to NME about her album as part of The Cover, the singer revealed that she took inspiration from the noughties while working on the LP as a way to reclaim her position in British society and the indie scene, where Black womanhood is routinely ignored and misrepresented.

“It’s me trying to relive the place I grew up in, but also understand that those things caused me so much trauma,” she said. “Even though I was having some of the worst times of my life, when I heard songs like [Phoenix’s] ‘1901’ or [Kings Of Leon’s] ‘Sex on Fire’, they used to make me so happy. I wanted an album that felt as nostalgic as those songs.”

Elsewhere, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ has landed spots on NME’s Best Albums of 2024 So Far and Best Debut Albums of 2024 So Far lists.

The gates to Glastonbury 2024 opened on Wednesday (June 26), ahead of a weekend of music from the likes of headliners Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA, alongside Shania Twain’s legends slot and performances from LCD Soundsystem, PJ Harvey, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Idles, Anne-Marie, Confidence Man, Disclosure, Camila Cabello, The Last Dinner Party, Avril Lavigne, The National, Jessie Ware, Jungle, Justice, Masego, Sugababes and countless more. Check out the full line-up here. 

Meanwhile, here are the worst clashes to expect this year, as well as the latest weather forecasts for Glastonbury 2024.

Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos, rumours and more from Glastonbury 2024. Check out the NME liveblog here for all the latest Glastonbury action as it happens.

The post Coldplay give Rachel Chinouriri’s cover of ‘The Scientist’ seal of approval appeared first on NME.

Post Content

An MC, a genre pioneer, a filmmaker, a fashion designer, a record label co-founder – these are just a few of the accolades that bastion of Black British culture Skepta is known for across his expansive career. And come 6 July, you can add festival curator to that list, as the inaugural Big Smoke Festival takes over Crystal Palace Park. The festival is not only a celebration of Black electronic music and artists, but a chance to see the multifaceted multi-hyphenate artist flex performance skills as both an MC and a DJ. The Big Smoke stage will host artists across grime, Afrobeats, R&B and more; featuring Mahalia, The Streets, Odumodublvck, YG Marley and JME. While the Más Tiempo stage will host an array of DJs including Ossie, SYREETA and Jammer – and Skepta, ever the overachiever, will headline both stages.

Over the years, we’ve seen the rapper expand his sonic artistry, collaborating with artists such as Wizkid, A$AP Mob, Etta Bond and more, moving seamlessly from grime to dance to R&B-tinged production whilst maintaining his well-known basso profondo and hard-hitting delivery. His bars are permanently etched into lexicon of UK slang across generations, and in 2023, Skepta was crowned the Best British Rapper of All Time in celebration of Hip Hop 50. But which of his songs in his inimitable catalogue reign supreme? Ahead of Big Smoke Festival, we ranked Skepta’s top 11 songs.*

* A very difficult task and I would like to put two honorary mentions – ‘Ladies Hit Squad’ featuring A$AP Nast & D Double E from Konnichiwa (2016) and ‘Mastermind’ featuring Etta Bond from Blacklisted (2012) – which are my personal favourite Skepta songs that I think deserve the same amount of attention as the rest of this list.

11. ‘Skepta’

(Microphone Champion, 2009)

What better way to begin our list than with the eponymous deepcut from one of Skepta’s earlier projects, Microphone Champion. Sampling and interpolating ‘It Takes Two’ by NYC duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, ‘Skepta’ is a great example of how the rapper is in constant dialogue with rap and hip hop history, whilst still making music that is future-facing. And while Skepta has garnered a reputation that precedes him, often not needing an introduction, this song allows the rapper to introduce himself on his own terms – “I’m Skepta and I came to get down / Yeah, I’m internationally known / And I’m known to rock a microphone”. These lyrics may seem simple but are also predictive of a future where Skepta is the international cultural juggernaut that he his today, considering this project was released in 2009. I will note that while the higher charting, more ubiquitous song ‘Too Many Man (feat. BBK)’ is also on Microphone Champion, the song title speaks to why the song does not make this list. There are, quite frankly, too many man on that song, and our focus is the one and only.

10. ‘That’s Not Me’

(Konnichiwa, 2016)

Mercury Prize-winning Konnichiwa is a grime classic, complete with a tracklist where any of the songs could be on this list and crowned as Skepta’s best. But we would be in remiss if sibling collaboration ‘That’s Not Me’ did not make our top 10. Featuring BBK co-founder and Skepta’s younger brother JME, ‘That’s Not Me’ is a celebration of one’s roots, a discard of fickle trends, a return to braggadocio and commentary on the pitfalls of fame – all accentuated in the £80-budget music video. It marked a resurgence of grime for mainstream audiences, bringing in headline festival slots for both JME and Skepta, and a refreshed appetite for more music and art from the BBK camp. A genre and era-defining track – one of many in Skepta’s repertoire. Both brothers are on the Big Smoke Festival line-up, so here’s hoping that we get a live rendition of this anthem on stage at Crystal Palace Park.

9. ‘Mains’

(Insomnia, 2020)

Also the name of Skepta’s ready-to-wear fashion brand – one with the ethos of creating high-quality clothes accessible for the masses – ‘Mains’ comes in ninth on our list, and is our first instance of how seamless Skepta’s collaborations are. Featuring fellow MCs CHIP and Young Adz, ‘Mains’ is the lead single from the three rappers’ joint project, Insomnia, a link-up of grime and British hip hop mainstays and up-and-comers. Summery and jovial in tone, ‘Mains’ is one of 12 tracks that the trio created all through freestyling and bouncing ideas off each other. It was the first beat Skepta sent to CHIP at the start of creating Insomnia, and the first song they made together – and the first time Young Adz and Skepta even met, creating the song first before even having an introductory chat. ‘Mains’ is so cohesive that you wouldn’t even guess that on first listen, or 100th listen, if you’re obsessed fans like us.

8. ‘Energy (Stay Far Away)’

(Energy (Stay Far Away) – Single, 2018)

If there was a song to capture the Afroswing summer of 2018, this is it. The first of many collaborations with Afrobeat titan Wizkid, ‘Energy’ shows a more sensual side to Skepta’s flow, which when paired with Wizkid’s distinct vocals, is the perfect summer enjoyment anthem. Very simply put, “bad energy, stay far away” is the resounding theme of the Sarz-produced track and an easy message to follow, making the song a timeless dancefloor-filler since its release.

7. ‘Shutdown’

(Konnichiwa, 2016)

Yet another genre and era-defining moment for Skepta, and arguably one of his most well-known hits, our lucky number seven is ‘Shutdown’. Much like the rapper himself, the song begs for no introduction as it was crowned “The Best Track of 2015” by the Guardian, dubbed a “musical revelation” by Line of Best Fit (2015), features that all-too-famous Drake sample as its intro, and firmly planted grime as a force to be reckoned with for global mainstream audiences. Produced by Ragz Originale and Skepta himself, ‘Shutdown’ has been featured across multiple forms of media; trainer adverts, video game soundtracks, TV shows – the list goes on. And just like the lyrics in ‘Skepta’, ‘Shutdown’ is once again a prediction of all the accolades and accompanying frenzy that would come to surround him. “Fashion week and it’s shutdown” is a nice nod from 2015 Skepta to 2024 Skepta, who would be shutting down London Fashion Week with his highly anticipated Mains runway show.

6. ‘Text Me Back’

(Konnichiwa, 2016)

A more quietly kept secret of a track from Konnichiwa, our sixth spot is the more emotionally charged and vulnerable ‘Text Me Back’. While the song starts off with a mini skit of a comedic voicemail, it takes us on a journey of trying to achieve big goals on the road while trying to maintain romantic and personal relationships, with Skepta lamenting “I’ve been around the world and back / I ain’t met anybody I wanna be with more than you” to the subject of his affections. Text Me Back’ is the closing track of the album, a tonal shift from the more assertive and macho lyrical delivery throughout the project, and prime example of Skepta conveying his multifaceted nature as person and artist.

5. ‘Ace Hood Flow’

(Blacklisted, 2012)

A standout track on 2012’s Blacklisted, a project laden with strong contenders, ‘Ace Hood Flow’ is a track that demonstrates one of Skepta’s core pillars – staying true to himself and his identity as a UK rapper and grime artist. “The UK run out of ideas / Everybody doing covers of American beats” is one of the opening lyrics of ‘Ace Hood Flow’, showing the rapper’s longstanding disdain for trend-hopping and UK music’s centring of American sounds and aesthetics over homegrown genres. A very astute and contemporary observation as these discussions are still relevant over a decade later, with music journalists like Elijah calling for UK radio stations to play more UK talents during daytime programming. Similarly to his sentiments on ‘That’s Not Me’ and more, ‘Ace Hood Flow’ is a clear denouncing of falling into the trap of being poor replicas of US hip hop culture, over an unabashedly grime beat produced by Skepta himself.

4. ‘No Security’

(Vicious, 2017)

From surprise Halloween release Vicious, ‘No Security’ is number four on our list. Sharp, dark and laced with bravado, the track shows no slowing down for the rapper post Konnichiwa, and is a reminder that none of his releases are a fluke. Featuring eerie synths and an eerier Malcolm X speech sample, “I am a man who believes that I died 20 years ago, and I live like I’m dead already”, the track showcases how the MC doesn’t shy away from the starker realities of his life and history, but thrives in it – like Bane but make it grime.

3. ‘Glow In The Dark (Feat. Lay-Z & Wizkid)’

(Ignorance Is Bliss, 2019)

Could this possibly be an entry where my personal taste outweighed the serious vetting process each song goes through for our ranking system? Absolutely. But it’s just that good so fairness be damned. Our first foray into 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss, ‘Glow In The Dark’ marks the first of our top three. The largely self-produced album was Skepta’s triumphant return after his 2016 Mercury Prize-winner Konnichiwa, and a highly anticipated return at that – even though he had released EPs and singles in the interim. Opting for a sound closer to ‘Text Me Back’ than ‘Shutdown’, Ignorance Is Bliss has a more subtle and somber approach, in keeping with the shifts made in his personal life, and his more mature attitude overall. ‘Glow In The Dark’ explores governmental failures, the experience and perils of a Black man in the UK – even one as famous as Skepta, and the hard-earned street-smart confidence of it all. Quite different from Skepta’s first collaboration with Wizkid, but a welcome addition to both artists’ catalogues.

2. ‘Man’

(Konnichiwa, 2016)

You’d be hard-pressed to find an Instagram caption in 2016 that didn’t feature lyrics from ‘Man’. From “my mum don’t know your mum, stop telling man you’re my cousin” to “I only socialise with the crew and the gang”, Skepta has a knack for capturing the sentiments of many in just a few short lines. For the grip ‘Man’ had on fans’ internet behaviour alone, it’s no shock that it takes our coveted second spot on this list. However, beyond the captions, the song still poignantly discusses the recent history of race relations in working class communities around London, and how different the landscape was in 2016 as opposed to when Skepta was growing up at the start of his career. It takes a particular artist to be able to create art that serves as both entertainment and ethnography, and there is no one better at it than Skepta.

1. ‘Bullet From A Gun’

(Ignorance Is Bliss, 2019)

Coming in at number one is lead single from Ignorance Is Bliss, ‘Bullet From A Gun’, where Skepta explores facing personal demons, romantic heartbreak, the joys of fatherhood, and an appreciation of having good support around him. While ‘Bullet From A Gun’ is a lot less in-your-face than his previous breakout single ‘Shutdown’, it features the same production duo (Ragz Originale and Skepta). The track set the tone for what listeners would experience with Ignorance Is Bliss, an evolution and, in many ways, a new stage in life for the fans who’ve grown up with him. It’s equal parts vulnerable as it is assertive, and features some of the best writing that Skepta has to offer.

Catch Skepta at Big Smoke Festival on 6 July 2024. Find tickets here.

The 11 best Skepta songs is from Ticketmaster UK. Read more by Maxine Sibihwana on Ticketmaster UK – Discover – Ticketmaster UK

Redtones – ‘Whole Lotta Nothin’

Redtones from Michigan are back with their latest single, ‘Whole Lotta Nothin”, which forms part of their upcoming album ‘The Calm Before the Storm’. Building on the momentum from their recent hits like ‘Maybe He Was Right’ and ‘American Dream’, this track showcases powerful vocals and dynamic instrumentation led by Doug Borton. With distinctive guitars and memorable rhythms, ‘Whole Lotta Nothin” continues to define their energetic and distinctive rock sound.

Fox Stevenson – ‘Don’t Know What’

Fox Stevenson, also known as Stanley Stevenson-Byrne, has released his latest single ‘Don’t Know What’. Blending pop-punk vocals with live drums and a driving bassline, culminating in a powerful Drum & Bass drop featuring sharp synths and energetic rhythms. The track exemplifies Stevenson’s innovative approach, bridging underground intensity with mainstream appeal through his eclectic mix of progressive pop and Drum & Bass elements.

Hollow Stare – ‘Sleep’

Hollow Stare makes a powerful debut with their first single ‘Sleep’. This deathcore track delves into the depths of sleep paralysis, combining anger, melancholy, and excitement to create a raw and intense musical experience. Crafted by Daniel and Ben Fleming, ‘Sleep’ began as a practice piece titled “Bass Shmack” and evolved into a compelling anthem that showcases the duo’s mastery of heavy metal.

Kyra Gordon – ‘Traveler’

Kyra Gordon, the genre-bending singer-songwriter, returns with her latest track “Traveler,” serving as the title track of her upcoming sophomore album. With poetic lyrics and a compelling vocal delivery, Gordon invites listeners on a melodic journey that celebrates authenticity and self-discovery. The song blends rock and country elements, featuring twangy acoustic guitar and bold drums, reflecting Gordon’s nomadic lifestyle and adventurous spirit.

Sis – ‘Mother’s Grace’

‘Mother’s Grace’ is lifted from ‘Vibhuti’, the debut album from Sis, capturing a blend of emotional intensity and musical exploration rooted in spiritual awakening. Inspired by healing dreams, Mason channels her own “vibhuti” — the Sanskrit term for divine spirit — into the album, which reflects teachings from 20th-century Indian mystic Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

KLP is a force to be reckoned with in the ever-changing world of electronic music.

With her diverse range of talents as a producer, vocalist, and radio host, and collaborations with the likes of Skrillex, What So Not and Peking Duk, she has well and truly made herself a household name across the Australian sharehouses of the country’s festivalgoers. 

With the release of her latest single, Symphony, KLP heralds the arrival of her anticipated EP, Alter. This new project is a testament to her signature sound of pulsating house beats and infectious piano hooks.

As she wraps up a national tour, KLP offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind Alter, sharing the stories and inspirations that fuelled the artist’s newest soundscape.

KLP – ALTER EP – TRACK BY TRACK COME THRU

This track started with me playing around with a different vocal recording technique. It was actually shown to me by Ninajirachi when we were both over in Amsterdam at a Songhubs writing camp. You use the re-pitch tool in Ableton Live and slow a track/instrumental down, and it also lowers the pitch of it.

You record vocals at that tempo and lower key and then make sure the vocals you recorded are also set to re-pitch when you speed it back up to normal tempo. It creates this kind of chipmunk effect that I just loved. It gave me the feeling that it was a sample that had been ripped from old vinyl, chopped up, and sped up. 

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SYMPHONY

The story and lyrics to Symphony just tumbled out of my mouth one morning into a voice note after talking to friends about feeling you’re running out of time to get all the things done in life that you planned on doing.

We all felt like we were constantly chasing things that felt out of our reach instead of living in the moment and appreciating how far we had come. I recorded scrap vocals and a really basic beat, but I felt a little stuck as to where I should take it next.

I sat on the idea until one day, I sent it to fellow Sydney/Aussie producer Dave Winnel, who immediately brought it back to life, building on my original idea. The final piece of the puzzle came from another regular collaborator of mine, Loods.

We’d been talking about jamming in the studio, so we got together at BMG in Sydney, and he added the incredible driving keys. Since making Symphony, I’ve kept working with both Loods and Dave so I guess it’s a special track because it really cemented a nice ongoing working relationship.

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NEVER LET ME DOWN

I had been meaning to write in person with Airwolf Paradise for a while, so when I had a Melbourne show, I flew down a day earlier and got a taxi straight to his studio. We worked on a bunch of ideas, some for me and some for him.

Never Let Me Down came about closer to the end of the day and started from a basic demo I had started. We ripped it apart and produced it back up in a matter of a few hours and it pretty immediately just worked and felt good.

Once I was back in Sydney, it was really only a matter of a few things being sent back and forth, me recording some extra vocals and then voila! Such a speedy and easy track to pull together. 

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VITAMIN

Sometimes, you have a song, and you have a gut feeling it’s working, but it’s not until you play it out that you totally understand how it is going to connect. This is exactly the case with Vitamin.

I had it finished for a while, and it was on my USB in the hopes I would test it out a few times at shows. Then, every time I played it, it went so hard that people would jump into my DMS or try to screenshot the decks and see the title. I decided to put it out and include it on the EP. You really can’t deny the good energy it brings to the dancefloor. 

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I KNOW

I wrote/produced this track mid-flight on my Airpods using any old samples I had on my laptop, including chopping up some of my old vocals. I brought it back to my studio in Sydney and decided I really had to replace the vocals with something more fleshed out, so I enlisted the sweet vocals of Lucy Lucy. She has such a beautiful, sexy tone—it just fits the whole vibe of this track perfectly.

Alter is out now.

Listen to the most flavour-packed tracks we discovered this week.

Music makes the world go round. And in that regard, we’re constantly on the lookout for new, exciting tunes to share with our audience. We’ve found some that cause goosebumps, and make you open your eyes and get up from your chair to dance. So put on your best pair of headphones, or turn up your speakers, and enjoy this week’s New Music Friday.

Here are our top picks for the best music we came across this week, in no particular order.

Final Words

Stay tuned, for more of our compilations every Friday — based on demand. And be sure to follow EDMTunes for all the latest news and reviews that revolve around our beloved Electronic Dance Music!

The post EDMTunes New Music Friday – Week 26 appeared first on EDMTunes.