Blog
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Ylona Garcia opens the New Year with new single and partnership with Valorant
Hot on the heels of her sensational performance at the Head in the Clouds festival, Australia-born, Filipino singer-songwriter Ylona Garcia opens 2022 with a big bang with her much-anticipated brand new single, “Entertain Me” via PARADISE RISING/88rising Music.
Produced by DNA and written by Ylona herself together with David Musumeci and Antonio Egizii, “Entertain Me” is an anthemic synth-pop number about female empowerment. Characterized by a soaring backbeat and an infectious chorus, the song finds Ylona asserting her independence and dispelling the notion that she can be fooled and controlled by anyone.
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Roddy Ricch Releases ‘Live Life Fast’
GRAMMY® Award-winning and 9x GRAMMY® Award-nominated Roddy Ricch drops his sophomore album LIVE LIFE FAST. It arrives alongside the official “25 million” video, the second visual from LIVE LIFE FAST. The album’s cinematic trailer dropped last week, directed by child. Ricch celebrated the second anniversary of his two-time RIAA-certified platinum debut album PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING ANTISOCIAL with official RIAA diamond certification of “The Box.”
LIVE LIFE FAST TRACK LIST:
- llf
- thailand
- all good (ft. Future)
- rollercoastin
- hibachi (ft. Kodak Black & 21 Savage)
- paid my dues (ft. Takeoff)
- crash the party
- no way (ft. Jamie Foxx)
- slow it down (ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Alex Isley)
- man made
- murda one (ft. Fivio Foreign)
- everything you need
- moved to miami (ft. Lil Baby)
- don’t i (ft. Gunna)
- bibi’s interlude
- more than a trend
- late at night
- 25 million
This year, Ricch released his summertime hit “Late At Night,” whose official visual was co-directed by Roddy Ricch and Julien Christian Lutz (pka Director X) and features Karrueche. Ricch won Best New Hip-Hop Artist, Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Hip-Hop Song of the Year for “The Box” at the 2021 iHeart Radio Music Awards. Ricch collected seven nominations for the awards including Hip-Hop Artist, Hip-Hop Song of the Year (“High Fashion,” “The Box” and “Rockstar”), New Hip-Hop Artist, Song of the Year (“Rockstar”), and Male Artist of the Year. Further, he was nominated at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards for Song of the Year (“Late At Night”) and Best Featured Verse (“Lemonade Remix” by Internet Money ft. Don Toliver & Roddy Ricch).
ABOUT RODDY RICCH
Praised by Pitchfork as “the West Coast’s premier melodic storyteller,” Compton-based MC Roddy Ricch collected six nominations during the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards (including Record of the Year (“Rockstar” by DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch), Song of the Year (“The Box”), and Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for both “Rockstar” and “The Box”). Ricch joined DaBaby onstage at the GRAMMY’s for an operatic performance of “Rockstar” and closed the show with an iconic performance medley of “The Box” and his new track “Heartless.” The 62nd GRAMMY® Awards saw Ricch’s first win for Best Rap Performance (“Racks In The Middle” by Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy), with two nominations for Best Rap Song (“Racks In The Middle” and “Ballin’” by Mustard ft. Roddy Ricch). After performing at the 2020 BET Awards, Ricch came home as the winner of Best New Artist and Album of the Year while also winning Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album at the 2020 American Music Awards. At the 2020 Apple Music Awards, Ricch won Top Song of the Year and Top Album of the Year. Billboard named him 2020’s Top New Artist, Forbes included him in their 30 Under 30 Class of 2021, and he was named Variety’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in their annual Hitmakers issue. He topped off a banner year with notable inclusions in FADER’s 50 Best Albums of 2020, Pitchfork’s 100 Best Songs of 2020, Billboard’s 100 Best Songs of 2020, Complex’s 20 Best Rappers in Their 20s and more. He made his late-night debut in 2019 with back-to-back performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and wrapped 2020 on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
His major label debut album, PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING ANTISOCIAL, made an explosive chart debut upon its December 2019 release, arriving at #1 on Billboard 200 while also topping the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums. Roddy dominated the charts on all fronts as he maintained both the #1 song and #1 album in the country for three non-consecutive weeks. PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING ANTI SOCIAL hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart for four nonconsecutive weeks. The album is 2x certified platinum, with 9 singles RIAA certified: “High Fashion” 2x platinum, “Tip Toe” platinum, “Start Wit Me” platinum, “Big Stepper” gold, “Peta” gold, “Boom Boom Room” gold, “Perfect Time” gold and “War Baby” gold. His breakout single “The Box” is diamond certified with over 1 billion US streams to date. The single ruled at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks and made a mark on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts. Ricch scored a second #1 song on the charts with his feature on DaBaby’s hit single “Rockstar,” replacing himself as #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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‘Tears In The Club’ New Single and Video From FKA Twigs Featuring The Weeknd
FKA twigs returns with “Tears In The Club” featuring The Weeknd, new song and video out now. The song is produced by Cirkut, Arca and El Guincho and official video is directed by Amber Grace Johnson (Rihanna, J. Cole, Kali Uchis). “I’m always pushing to level up to MY best self, and I’ve pushed so hard to find my capri sun,” noted FKA twigs, “I’m so proud of this music.” “Tears In The Club” marks an evolution and expansion for this prolific artist who continues to thoughtfully push at the edges of her art. A collection of new songs from FKA twigs will be released in early 2022.
ABOUT FKA TWIGS:
Throughout her career, including three EPs (EP1, EP2 and M3LL155X), her Mercury Prize and Brit Award-nominated debut album LP1, and latest release MAGDALENE, FKA twigs has established herself as one of the most innovative artists, performers, producers, and directors of her generation. MAGDALENE was named one of the best albums of 2019 by outlets including NPR, The Guardian, The New Yorker, Billboard, Complex, PAPER, TIME, USA Today and Vice, among others, and received a GRAMMY Award nomination for “cellophane” as best music video. Pitchfork declared, “with limitlessly innovative songwriting and production, the cinema of twigs’ music has never been more affecting. MAGDALENE is not just on the vanguard of pop, it’s in a breathtaking class of its own.”
FKA twigs has taken a complete approach to every facet of her art and career, and has been honored with a Webby Special Achievement Award for her “incredible contributions to digital culture and for constantly using the internet to create and distribute experimental art.” She’s directed and starred in campaigns for Nike, Google Glass, Calvin Klein and Apple, and made her big screen debut in Honey Boy.
FKA twigs Official Site / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube
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No Rome Releases Debut Album ‘It’s All Smiles’
No Rome releases his highly anticipated debut album ‘It’s All Smiles’. Recorded in a small apartment in Manila after the pandemic prevented him returning to London, the album was co-produced by Rome with BJ Burton (Kanye West, Bon Iver, Charli XCX) and George Daniel (The 1975). Also revealed today is the video for ‘Remember November’, shot in Manila and directed by Paco Raterta, who also worked with Rome on the videos for ‘She Comes Around’ and ‘I Want U’.
In every sense of the phrase, ‘It’s All Smiles’ finds No Rome returning to his roots, both in terms of location and influences. As is immediately obvious from ‘When She Comes Around’, the record is the most refined expression of Rome’s self-coined term ‘Shoegaze R&B’. Vocal lines are indebted to the intense emotions expressed in R&B and run beautifully across highly textured production and instrumentation. Like Kevin Shields, the architect of My Bloody Valentine, No Rome paints with his production, taking straight-forward guitar playing and complicating it with the tools at his disposal.
New single ‘I Want U’ received its first play from Zane Lowe this week. As Rome explains, it began life in 2019 and helped form the foundations of the album
“this is the first song me and BJ worked on – that’s when we knew we were gonna make this album together. I wanted to do the lyrics more like talking, storytelling almost, painting the picture of what was happening that moment thru lyrics”
Originally written in the back of a tour bus in Las Vegas but never progressed beyond a demo, Rome picked the single back up last summer in Manila and this time it clicked. The final version features some of Rome’s finest lyricism to date and includes a host of found sounds in the beat—a nod to the DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing and other plunderphonics records that Rome obsessed over.
The track list for ‘It’s All Smiles’ is:
- Space Cowboy
- How Are You Feeling?
- I Want U
- ITS *NOT* LOV33 (Winter In London)
- When She Comes Around
- Secret Beach
- Issues (After Dark)
- Remember November / Bitcrush *Yr* Life
- A Place Where Nobody Knows
- Everything
Keep up to date with No Rome:
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Katy Perry and Alesso are set to release their new single, When I’m Gone on December 29
apitol Records will release Alesso & Katy Perry “When I’m Gone” globally on Wednesday, December 29, at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET. Pre-save HERE. The vibrant new dance track marks the iconic artists’ first collaboration together. They wrote the song with Alida Garpestad Peck, Rami Yacoub, Space Primates’ Nathan Cunningham and Marc Sibley, and Alma Goodman.
The official music video for Alesso & Katy Perry “When I’m Gone” will receive a massive worldwide premiere Monday, January 10, on ESPN at halftime of the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The two global superstars will be ringing in 2022 with their fans. Hot off the release of his long-anticipated winter floor-filler “Somebody To Use,” which he had been teasing on his live sets for the past two years, Alesso will play two shows in Miami on New Year’s Eve and headline Omnia Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. In the lead-up to the holiday weekend, he’ll also play shows in Toronto and Boston and perform at Decadence in Phoenix and Denver. See below for itinerary.
Katy will launch “PLAY,” her first-ever Las Vegas residency, on Wednesday, December 29, at Resorts World, Las Vegas. “PLAY” will run through March 19, 2022, and will include exclusive New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day performances. For details, visit https://www.katyperry.com/tour/.
ABOUT ALESSO
A global maverick in the dance world, Alesso has repeatedly proven that his influence transcends boundaries and crosses over into countless genres — to that end, he’s collaborated with such eclectic artists as OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Calvin Harris, Tove Lo, Liam Payne, James Bay, Marshmello, Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso, Hailee Steinfeld, Florida Georgia Line, Anitta, and more. With his past hits including the Platinum-certified “If I Lose Myself” and Gold-certified “Under Control,” the Swedish native has also found major success with “Calling (Lose My Mind),” which topped the Billboard US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. On Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, his massive breakup anthem “Let Me Go” — a collaboration with Hailee Steinfeld and Florida Georgia Line — reached No. 9, while “Is That Me” peaked at No. 25.
In 2020, he released a pair of hit singles: “Midnight,” featuring former One Direction member Liam Payne, and “THE END” with goth-pop singer/songwriter Charlotte Lawrence. Alesso has had an explosive 2021, releasing a slew of records. He kicked off with his East Asia fueled “Going Dumb (with Stray Kids & CORSAK),” and closed the chapter to his PROGRESSO series with PROGRESSO VOL 2. He then followed up with his cosmic love ballad “Chasing Stars (with Marshmello feat. James Bay),” the dynamic “Rescue Me (with Danna Paola)” from the Blade Runner: Black Lotus soundtrack and his highly-anticipated winter floor-filler “Somebody To Use.” To cap off the monumental year, aside from making his NFT debut with the Cosmic Genesis collection, Alesso ends it on a bang with his colossal collaboration with Katy Perry on “When I’m Gone” to set up an even greater 2022. To date, he’s performed at international festivals ranging from Tomorrowland to Ultra Music Festival to Electric Daisy Carnival, with his national TV experience including closing out GMA’s Summer Concert Series, performing on “The Late Show with James Corden,” and taking the stage at the AMAs.
Alesso – Tour Dates
12/27 Toronto, ON Rebel
12/28 Boston, MA Big Night Live
12/30 Phoenix, AZ Decadence
12/30 Denver, CO Decadence
12/31 Miami, FL Fountaine Bleau Poolside with Doja Cat
12/31 Miami, FL Liv Nightclub
1/1 Las Vegas, NV Omnia Las Vegas
FOLLOW ALESSO
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ABOUT KATY PERRY:
Katy Perry has racked up a cumulative 50 billion streams alongside worldwide sales of over 48 million adjusted albums and 135 million tracks. She boasts an impressive 40M + monthly listeners on Spotify with over 20M followers on the platform. Her 2019 single, “Never Really Over,” off her latest album SMILE, is certified PLATINUM and was the biggest streaming launch of Katy’s musical career. 2020’s SMILE release has sold over 1.25 million adjusted albums, with nearly two billion combined streams to date. Views of her 2013 video “Roar” and 2014 “Dark Horse” have recently surpassed three billion views – making Katy the first female artist to reach this milestone. Katy’s 2015 Super Bowl performance is the highest-rated in the event’s history. She is one of only five artists in history to have topped 100 million certified units with their digital singles – and the first-ever Capitol Records recording artist to join the elite RIAA 100 Million Certified Songs club.
Aside from being one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, Katy is an active advocate of many philanthropic causes. In 2013, Katy was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has used her powerful voice to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality, and protection. Katy has also been a champion for LGBTQ+ equality, and has received numerous awards for her work, including the Trevor Project’s Hero Award in 2012, the Human Rights Campaign’s National Equality Award in 2017, amfAR’s Award of Courage in 2018, and Variety’s Power of Women distinction in 2021. -
NORAH JONES PREMIERES MERRY NEW VIDEO FOR “I DREAM OF CHRISTMAS”
Norah Jones has premiered a festive new video for “I Dream Of Christmas,” which is available to watch now exclusively on Facebook. The video was directed by Dano Cerny and features cameos from a host of notable personalities including Gleb Savchenko, Scott Tweedie, Emma Brooks McAllister, and Courtney Mawhorr. The song is the title track of her first-ever holiday album I Dream Of Christmas, which is out now in an expanded digital deluxe version featuring 3 additional tracks.
Norah has been announced as part of the star-studded line-up for the holiday special “In Performance at the White House: Spirit of the Season,” which airs Dec. 21 on PBS hosted by Jennifer Garner and featuring remarks by President Joseph R. Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. Norah will also be performing songs from the new album during upcoming TV appearances on NBC The Today Show (Dec. 15), CBS Saturday Morning (Dec. 18), and ABC’s “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Parade” (Dec. 25). Norah paid tribute to Joni Mitchell with a medley of songs by the legendary singer-songwriter as part of the Kennedy Center Honors which airs Dec. 22 on CBS. Last week the livestream event “Norah Jones: I Dream Of Christmas Live At The Empire State Building (Presented by Citi),” found her performing a set of holiday music from the World’s Most Famous Building’s Observatory.
Norah has been a steady voice of warmth and reassurance for nearly 20 years since her cozy 2002 debut album Come Away With Me became a familiar musical companion for millions of people around the world. With I Dream Of Christmas, the 9-time GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist offers a delightful and comforting collection of timeless seasonal favorites and affecting new originals that explore the complicated emotions of our times and our hopes that this holiday season will be full of joy and togetherness.
Norah Jones first emerged on the world stage with the February 2002 release of Come Away With Me, her self-described “moody little record” that introduced a singular new voice and grew into a global phenomenon, sweeping the 2003 GRAMMY Awards. Since then, Jones has become a nine-time GRAMMY-winner, sold more than 50 million albums, and her songs have been streamed six billion times worldwide. She has released a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful solo albums—Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007), The Fall (2009), Little Broken Hearts (2012), Day Breaks (2016), Pick Me Up Off The Floor (2020), the live album ‘Til We Meet Again (2021), and her first-ever holiday album I Dream Of Christmas (2021)—as well as albums with her collective bands The Little Willies, El Madmo, and Puss N Boots featuring Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper who released their second LP Sister in 2020. The 2010 compilation …Featuring Norah Jones showcased her incredible versatility by collecting her collaborations with artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Outkast, Herbie Hancock, and Foo Fighters. Since 2018 Jones has been releasing a series of singles including collaborations with artists and friends such as Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy, Thomas Bartlett, Tarriona Tank Ball, Rodrigo Amarante, and Brian Blade, some of which were compiled on the 2019 singles collection Begin Again.
Follow Norah Jones:
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Monsta X release A New English-Language Album, The Dreaming
Monsta X shared the first taste of the album with the Top 40 smash single “One Day,” which is currently at #32 and continuing to climb the charts. This marks the group’s third Top 40 single — and as Forbesreports, makes Monsta X only the second K-pop group in history to appear on the chart more than once. Access Hollywood wrote, “Monsta X is back at it with another stunning single,” while PAPER Magazine praised the “heartfelt, soaring ballad, the kind that they do so well,” calling the track “an auspicious introduction to the next chapter in the storied K-pop band’s history.” Teen Vogue said, “With a mid-tempo beat and good vibes all around, ‘One Day’ makes us excited for what Monsta X has coming up next.”
Named by Grammy.com as “one of K-pop’s most prolific groups,” Monsta X’s new album The Dreaming is a continuation of their first all English-language debut album, ALL ABOUT LUV. Released in February 2019, that album ranked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making Monsta X only the 3rd K-Pop group to chart within the top 10, and was one of the first-ever full English-language pop albums from Korea.
Up next, Monsta X will hit the States in December for a number of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball performances in Philadelphia, PA, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, and Miami, FL. More information can be found HERE. This will warm up North American audiences for the group’s upcoming headline tour, which kicks off January 29, 2022 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and concludes at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA on February 27, 2022. Full routing can be found HERE.
The Dreaming tracklist:
1. One Day
2. You Problem
3. Tied to Your Body
4. Whispers in the Dark
5. Blame Me
6. Secrets
7. About Last Night
8. Better
9. Blow Your Mind
10. The Dreaming
Last year, Monsta X, voiced their support for the Black Lives Matter Movement, during a performance with TIME Magazine for their TIME100 Talks. “As U.N. ambassadors for sustainable Goal 16 we stand for peace and justice,” rapper I.M said, further stating, “As such we have supported Black Lives Matter activism, and we believe that it’s time to acknowledge the issue and fix it.”
The band took the US market by storm with the release of ALL ABOUT LUV with appearances on The Ellen Show, Jimmy Kimmel, GMA, LIVE with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show,and much more. This release in February, marked the first all English-language album released by a K-pop group ever, and also debuted at No.5 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making it only the 3rd K-Pop group to chart within the top 10. The album kicked off 2020 with a splash, garnering rave reviews from places such as NPR,ET,Variety,Access,AP,Forbes,Consequence Of Sound,Billboard, and TIMEwho stated “You Can’t Hold My Heart” is a change of pace: en emo pop-rock track with guitar backing. It’s sweet but salty, and tightly executed with its nods to rock. And it’s a sign of dissolving borders — across language, across genre, across culture.”
CONNECT WITH MONSTA X:
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Festive Celebration for Smart GigaPlay Customers with Round-the-clock K-Entertainment in Revamped tvN Channel
Fans of Korean Entertainment in Philippines had their wishes answered as tvN channel will be revamped to provide more and faster Korean dramas, variety programs and movies starting December 15!
To launch this revamped tvN Premium channel, CJ ENM HK with WILBROS Entertainment is partnering with the leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) for its first-ever linear channel service, bringing the best Korean pop culture and entertainment onto their GigaPlay app. More than 70 million Smart mobile subscribers can now watch all the exciting contents from tvN anytime, anywhere. This is an expansion of existing partnership where SMART continuously host CJ ENM’s iconic K-POP events such as Mnet Asia Music Awards & KCON online events since 2020.
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#Bey wraps up 2021 with deeply emotional ballad, “Dahilan”
This piano-driven ballad explores the feeling of uncertainty from a seemingly bleak relationship. Something’s changed, but you can’t figure out the very reason why. You keep going round in circles and you’re unsure if you’re still in a healthy relationship. The song captures the complex emotions from an unforeseen heartache.
With this new release, Bey shows another side to her musicality. We are definitely impressed as she continues to push her limits, proving she can stand toe to toe with tenured OPM acts when it comes to what she can give to her audience!
We can’t wait to see what she has in store for all of us in 2022!
“Dahilan” is featured in Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines playlist this week and is now out on your favorite music streaming platforms under Universal Records Philippines Go and grab a copy!
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Barangay LS 97.1’s Papa Obet unveils “Papa Obet Sessions EP”
Now playing: your favorite song on your favorite radio station sang by your favorite disc jockey.
Barangay LS 97.1 disc jock Papa Obet is now officially a recording artist as he releases “Papa Obet Sessions” EP under GMA Music today, December 10, on-air and on digital streaming platforms worldwide.
Containing four tracks: “Ikaw Lang At Ako,” (composed and originally performed by Janno Gibbs), “Kung Mababalik Ko Lang,” by 604, “Kung Malaya Lang Ako,” by Kris Lawrence and Papa Obet’s original composition “Ang Una Kong Pasko,” this EP is a dream come true for him who shared during his interview that the ambition written in his high school yearbook was “to be a successful recording artist.”
“The EP was inspired by the Spotlight Music Sessions, an online music channel which showcases the talent of Pinoy artists through live performances,” he says.
“Ang Una Kong Pasko” is dedicated to the OFWs who are spending their Christmas away from their loved ones. “It was inspired by my experience when I had to spend Christmas on my own for the first time. And I dedicate this to the OFWs who are miles away from their families and are celebrating Christmas far from home for the first time,” shares Papa Obet.
Before becoming a Barangay LS disc jock, Papa Obet used to join various singing contests including GMA’s talent competition Protégé. He is also the songwriter behind Barangay LS’ theme song “Tayo Ay Forever” sang by Kapuso artists Ken Chan and Rita Daniela.
“I still can’t believe that my singing career could actually get this far. I’ve always wanted to be a radio DJ, but I’ve been singing since I was a child. I would join singing contests in Bataan and sometimes win. Then, I became a DJ here at Barangay LS and I’ve been here for 10 years. And now, GMA Music has given me an opportunity to be an official and legit recording artist and it has been really fun working with them,” says Papa Obet.
Papa Obet Sessions EP is now available for streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and other digital music streaming services worldwide.
Find out the latest news about your favorite Kapuso shows and artists by logging on to GMANetwork.com.
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BTS RELEASE “BUTTER” HOLIDAY REMIX
Photos Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC
SEOUL – December 3, 2021 – 21st century pop icons BTS dropped a brand new holiday remix of “Butter” today.
The new remix is a carol pop genre track that underscores the trademark bright energy of the original version with an added touch of warmth and coziness reminiscent of a festive ambience, just in time for the holiday season.
Earlier this year, BTS topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks with “Butter,” a global mega-hit dubbed 2021’s song of the summer. The song also earned BTS “Artist of the Year” award at the 2021 American Music Awards. In addition, the septet received their second “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” Grammy nomination with the track. BTS released the remix to express their gratitude for the enthusiastic support and love from their beloved fans, ARMY.
The band recently reunited with their fans through ‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LA,’ their first offline concert since 2019, at LA’s SoFi Stadium on November 27, November 28, December 1, and December 2.
About BTS
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean group that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since its debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, BTS has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS was nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.
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LESHA TRANSCENDS WITH ELEVEN:ELEVEN
And the clock strikes at 11:11, you can’t help but to whisper a wish. They call it Angel Numbers and the possibilities to see it are endless. Just keep your eyes open and you’ll definitely notice them. For the fast rising electro pop artist, Lesha, these numbers have a different effect on her.
Asked on what Lesha usually whispers silently when the clock hits repeating number sequences, “Literally anything! I usually like manifesting career or life opportunities because 11:11 is actually a reminder from your angels to reflect on your purpose.”
Lesha taking on tougher challenges at this point in her career and setting her motivation conquering the bigger stage. All that she can say is that she’s currently living the dream and she’s just open to whatever the Universe has in store for her next.
“At this point where I am on a journey on breaking it into the International stage, represent the Filipino music industry globally, and hopefully on a world tour. With all that I’ve achieved so far, I’m deeply humbled and somehow extremely in awed of how far I’ve come in my career. Never in my life I would’ve expected to release a global collaboration album or be under Lauv or Finneas’ label, AWAL.”
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BLASTER essays the profound sadness and grief of celebrating the holidays on new song “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA”
Listen to BLASTER’s “PASKOY’ HINDI NA MASAYA”: https://BLASTERSILONGA.lnk.to/PHNM
Filipino experimental/alternative artist BLASTER redefines the Christmas tune canon with a new single that essays the profound sadness and grief of celebrating the holidays in the time of pandemic.
His latest offering “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA,” out today via Island Records Philippines, is dedicated to countless of people whose lives were hit hard by unfortunate circumstances, and are dreading of how challenging the days might be—be it experiencing Christmas with the loss of a loved one or abandoning expectations at least for this season’s run as a way of coping.
“This one is not really about celebrating Christmas,” says the eclectic singer-songwriter and producer. “It’s more of a tribute to those that we’ve lost, and a nostalgic yearning of how Christmas used to be.”
While BLASTER’s “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA” doesn’t fall under the conventional holiday songs that articulate the merry warmth of the yuletide spirit, the modern day anthem gives a sobering reality to some folks who happen to experience Christmas in a different light, recognizing sadness and nostalgia as they find a way to rise above life’s obstacles.
With production by BLASTER himself and Max Cinco, “PASKO’Y HINDI NA MASAYA” retains the sparse but innovative musical direction that the prolific artist is known for. But what makes it extra special is BLASTER’s ability to cut across universal themes with a balance of accessibility and experimentation.
“I decided to make it sound old and new, while maintaining some classic melodies in the mix,” shares the Disko Forever act. “I’ve also incorporated some electronic and synth elements to give it a more contemporary flavor. In terms of lyrics, Dan Tanedo helped me with writing the song.”
The holiday track will be accompanied by a music video featuring a compilation of old Christmas videos from the 80s and 90s.
BLASTER’s “Pasko’y Hindi Na Masaya” is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Island Records Philippines
With a knack for making experimental pop music that is characterized by immutable prettiness, BLASTER is set to show himself as a solo artist. As the lead guitarist for his former band IV of Spades, Blaster has endeared fans and peers in the industry with his inventive but technically adept musicianship.
Outside of his work with his former band, Blaster has worked with several artists, including doing production work for alt-R&B artist dia maté on the luscious summertime tune, “Dream,” and jamming with artists such as Ebe Dancel and Hilera’s Chris Padilla at some point in his career.
Now signed to Island Records Philippines, BLASTER is ready to release new music that strikes a balance between remarkable restraint and sonic adventurousness, seemingly inspired by outlandish personalities in music such as Radiohead and David Bowie, and genres that range from art rock to space rock, funk to Japanese city pop.
So far, he has currently recorded demos for his upcoming releases, which will see the light of day soon: there’s the deceptively simple “Disko Forever,” which pays tribute to a glorious era in music, while also dressing it up with woozily beautiful things this side of Krautrock and modern electronica, and the lighthearted and gorgeous number “Nararamdaman,” which showcases Blaster’s minimal instrumentation and guitar/bass skills.
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and producer also reveals that he is channeling his daily life experiences and random observations through music, purposefully aligning it with his brooding, socially aware, and intimate worldview. His writing feels more personal and honest this time around—not afraid to create artistic statements that double as confessionals.
FOLLOW BLASTER
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THE WEST SIDE STORY ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK SET FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 3
BURBANK, Calif – Nov. 29, 2021 – Hollywood Records is pleased to announce the release dates for the soundtrack from the highly-anticipated film “West Side Story,” directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner. “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. From 20th Century Studios, The Walt Disney Company will release “West Side Story” in U.S. theaters on December 10, 2021.
“West Side Story” has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show. Original choreography by Jerome Robbins, based on the stage play, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, play conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein.
Spielberg said, “I dedicated this movie to my father, but it was my mother’s love of music, combined with my insatiable appetite to understand everything about movie making, that led me to start collecting motion picture soundtrack albums when I was young. I loved the ‘West Side Story’ cast album from the first time I listened to it. As a kid I could sing every one of its songs by heart – and I did sing them, until I wore out the patience of my entire family. The score feels like it’s always been part of me, and I believe that this is the greatest music ever written for musical theater. My sincere hope is that young people out there find this album and fall in love with it as hard as I did.”
The West Side Story Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features 21 songs from the film and will be released in both standard digital and physical (CD and vinyl) configurations, as well as a digital release in Dolby Atmos Music – a new technology placing the listener inside the song in a spatial way, revealing every detail of the music with unparalleled clarity and depth. Both digital versions are set for release on Dec. 3. The CD will be available on Dec. 10 and can be pre-ordered here; the vinyl will be available in early 2022. Both physical versions will include liner notes by “West Side Story” Music Consultant, Oscar®-winning composer John Williams (“Schindler’s List,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Star Wars,” “Jaws,” “Fiddler on the Roof”).
This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony), Ariana DeBose (Anita), David Alvarez (Bernardo), Mike Faist (Riff), Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke), Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank), Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino), with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works) and introducing Rachel Zegler (María). Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also served as an executive producer; Tony Award® winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY® Award winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award®–nominated composer and conductor David Newman (“Anastasia”), who arranged the score; Tony Award®–winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), who supervised the cast on vocals; and GRAMMY®-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago,” “Hairspray”), who serves as executive music producer. The film is produced by Spielberg, p.g.a., Academy Award®–nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger, p.g.a., and Tony Award®–winning producer Kevin McCollum.
Gustavo Dudamel—renowned music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and the Paris Opéra—was engaged to conduct the orchestra for music recordings. The music was performed by the New York Philharmonic with additional music performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. David Newman, a celebrated arranger and conductor who has worked on more than 100 movies, handles both arrangements, as well as some conducting. Dudamel said, “‘West Side Story,’ for me, as for all of us in the music world, is part of my DNA. Every single melody in it is so natural and easy for anyone to process. Naturally, it felt right to work with the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein’s own orchestra, and have the musicians be part of the new chapter of this masterpiece.”
The West Side Story Original Motion Picture Soundtrack track list follows:
1. Prologue
2. La Borinqueña (Sharks Version) – Performed by David Alvarez, Sharks
3. Jet Song – Performed by Mike Faist, Kyle Coffman, Kevin Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Patrick Higgins, Jets
4. Something’s Coming – Performed by Ansel Elgort
5. The Dance at the Gym: Blues, Promenade
6. The Dance at the Gym: Mambo
7. The Dance at the Gym: Cha-Cha, Meeting Scene, Jump
8. Maria – Performed by Ansel Elgort
9. Balcony Scene (Tonight) –Performed by Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort
10. Transition to Scherzo / Scherzo
11. America – Performed by Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Ana Isabelle, Jennifer Florentino, Natalie Toro, Arianna Rosario, Ilda Mason, Jeanette Delgado, Annelise Cepero, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, Jamila Velazquez, Edriz E. Rosa Pérez, Melody Martí, Gaby Diaz, Juliette Feliciano,Isabella Ward, Maria Alexis Rodriguez, Yesenia Ayala, Gabriela M. Soto, Sebastian Serra, Julius Anthony Rubio, Ricardo A. Zayas, Yurel Echezarreta, Kelvin Delgado, Ricky Ubeda, Carlos Sánchez Falú, Adriel Flete, Jacob Guzman, Carlos E. Gonzalez, David Avilés Morales, Andrei Chagas, David Guzman
12. Gee, Officer Krupke –Performed by Kevin Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Jess LeProtto, Ben Cook, Kyle Allen, Myles Erlick, Patrick Higgins
13. One Hand, One Heart – Performed by Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler
14. Cool – Performed by Ansel Elgort, Mike Faist
15. Tonight (Quintet) –Performed by Mike Faist, David Alvarez, Ariana DeBose, Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Jets, Sharks
16. The Rumble
17. I Feel Pretty – Performed by Rachel Zegler, Ana Isabelle, Ilda Mason, Annelise Cepero, Jamila Velazquez, Andréa Burns, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, Yassmin Alers
18. Somewhere – Performed by Rita Moreno
19. A Boy Like That / I Have a Love –Performed by Ariana DeBose, Rachel Zegler
20. Finale
21. End Credits
Soundtrack Album Produced by David Newman, Matt Sullivan & Jeanine Tesori
Executive Soundtrack Producers: Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger
Music Arranged by David Newman
Music Supervisor: Matt Sullivan
Supervising Vocal Producer: Jeanine Tesori
For more information on “West Side Story,” please visit https://www.westsidestory.com/2021-film.
