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LGBTQIA+ Christian Artist DANAH-LEE Spreads Message of Acceptance With ‘Equal’

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Ottawa, ON Contemporary Christian artist Danah-Lee channels her faith and musical spirit to deliver a powerful message of acceptance and belonging with her ambitious new single, “Equal.”

“Equal” was inspired by a melody that came to her while teaching a piano lesson. “I stopped the lesson and took two minutes to hum the melody into my phone’s recording app,” says Danah-Lee. “Later that evening, when I had an opportunity, the lyrics and melody flowed out of me so freely.”

A beacon of positivity and hope for the LGBTQIA+ community, Danah-Lee has been a champion for equal rights, challenging conventions within her faith. “As a Christian LGBTQIA+ artist, my vision and intended outcome for this recording was to examine and break down barriers between Queers and Christians,” says Danah-Lee. With faith and love in her heart, she would further her inclusive crusade by releasing two singles, ”Love Letter To A Friend” and “Home To Myself,” which would play a large role in her ascent as an artist.

The inspiration behind “Equal” is drawn from the very real threat of danger that members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face daily. “The song stems from years of Queer folks being treated as second-class citizens,” says Danah-Lee.

“As a member of this community, I have countless accounts and experiences of being treated with discrimination and anti-gay behaviour. Especially, but not limited to, within the Christian music industry. We need to change the conversation and be better.”

Accompanied by warm and melodic musicianship that feels like a welcoming embrace, Danah-Lee brings the potent message into the listener’s view and holds their attention so they can’t look away.

“Oh fear, why are you hiding here
On both sides of this petty war?
Some of us are scared to come out
And they are scared at findin’ out
We bleed the same kind of red.”

It was also crucial for Danah-Lee to accompany a visual with the release of “Equal.” “Making the lyric video was important to me because it highlights what our Queer community endured throughout the decades and still endures,” says Danah-Lee.

Danah-Lee is also a producer, award-winning music educator, church music director, entrepreneur, speaker, and author. Outside of her strong faith in Christ as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and outside of her career as an artist, Danah-Lee owns and operates a safe and inclusive music school. She was recently nominated for LouderThanTheMusic’s “Christian Album of the Year” (2020) and the “Impact Award” at Ottawa’s Capital Music Awards (2021). She has released four solo and two collaboration albums and has toured extensively throughout North America.

Carla Muller’s Reflective New Release “The Last Two Years” Shines Light on Children’s Strength

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One of the unsung heroes of the COVID pandemic was undoubtedly the children of the world, who were asked to make tremendous sacrifices for the collective good. Woolwich, ON folk artist Carla Muller understands this deeply. In her new song “The Last Two Years,” she recognizes and pays tribute to the immense strength and resilience displayed by these young souls. More of her music will be available on her upcoming album In Between, the second installment in a six-part musical odyssey.

“During these years, our kids were affected by isolation, fear and anxiety,” says Muller. “This is for them, for all of the parents, like me, who watched their children’s world get smaller and smaller as the days wore on. And of course, this is for my own kids who stayed home to protect me because of my own health issues.”

In December, Muller delighted listeners with her single “Snow Came Falling” and an accompanying album of the same name. She will be releasing her next four albums, Paper Stars, Bees Are Humming, In Spite Of Me, and Stones, over the next two years.

“My health has taken a few hits since 2020, but I’m working to overcome all of that,” Muller recalls. “Still, I kept going to my friends at Canterbury and for each new obstacle, I’d learn how to sing around it, and since I wasn’t yet getting the sounds I wanted from my voice and so many wonderful musicians were available to record, we just kept laying down tracks for me to sing to later. What started as one album turned into six.”

In “The Last Two Years,” Muller pours her heart into a musical expression of love to all the children whose lives were significantly disrupted by COVID, as well as a special dedication to her own kids who selflessly stayed home to protect her. She also speaks to the agonizing decisions so many families had to make –

I thought that the once the April rain would come
We’d all be free to live again
I was the reason that you had to stay apart
I was the one who broke your heart

“I can never repay my kids, wouldn’t even know where to start, for I have seen first-hand just how deeply their time away from friends and their own lives has affected them,” Muller says. “It came to me one day, all in a rush after a particularly heart-wrenching time with one of my girls. I’d have done anything, given anything to erase the pain that all of this has caused.”

“The Last Two Years” is out now, and In Between will be out this summer. Join Carla Muller on August 12 as she takes the stage for the second year in a row at the South Coast Jazz festival, where she will perform original songs from her upcoming collections alongside Mark Kelso.

The Darkness “Permission To Land… Again” 20th Anniversary Reissue To Be Released October 6

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On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Permission To Land – the chart-topping, award-winning, multi-platinum debut album which changed the face of rock music forever when it was originally released on July 7th 2003 – The Darkness today announce Permission To Land… Again; a special 20th Anniversary reissue collection, to be released on October 6th 2023 via Warner Music.

Britain’s beloved rock band celebrate this landmark with a special 4CD/1DVD release including the full original album, rare B-sides, bonus unreleased demos, as well as live albums from their iconic shows at London’s Astoria (2003), Knebworth (in support of Robbie Williams in 2003) and Wembley Arena (2004). A 2CD edition with a reduced track listing is also available.

Footage of the Knebworth and Astoria shows are captured on the DVD, as well as the music videos for their hit singles including ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’, ‘Get Your Hands Off My Woman’, ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)’ and more. There is also a ‘History Of The Darkness’ documentary plus various behind the scenes footage and outtakes from the Permission To Land era…

Permission To Land… Again is also released on 5LP vinyl, which mirrors the 4CD track listing. The original 1LP vinyl, which has long been out of print since the original pressing in 2003, has now been made available to purchase once again, alongside a new special blue/black marbled limited edition colour variant.

Having further polished their eternal rock stardom alongside Guns N’ Roses at BST Hyde Park last week, The Darkness are heading out on a world tour starting in the USA in October and rolling into Europe in November. UK & Ireland dates have just been announced starting on 2nd December in Belfast, with further shows in Dublin, Norwich, Norwich, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham, before the tour concludes on December 16th in Wolverhampton.

The shows promise to be a grand spectacle with the band playing the foot-stomping, guitar-wailing, groove-making masterpiece album in full, alongside a ‘Best Of The Rest’ set, stuffed to the gills with all the hits and fan favourites from their six subsequent studio albums.

Still riding high after 20 years, The Darkness have Permission To Land… Again.

Full album formats are listed below:

THE DARKNESS – PERMISSION TO LAND… AGAIN (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

5LP
LP1: Permission to Land (2003)
LP2: Studio bonus tracks (2001-2003)
LP3: Singles & B-Sides
LP4: Live at Knebworth (2003)
LP5: Live at The Astoria (2003)

2CD
CD1: Permission to Land + bonus tracks (demos)
CD2: Singles, B-Sides, and non-album tracks

4CD+DVD
CD1: Permission to Land + bonus tracks (demos)
CD2: Singles, B-Sides and non-album tracks
CD3: Live at Knebworth (2003) and Live at The Astoria (2003)
CD4: Live at Wembley (2004)
DVD: Promo videos, extra features, Live at Knebworth (2003), Live at The Astoria (2003)

DIGITAL
Permission to Land (2003)
Bonus tracks (demos)
Singles, B-sides and non-album tracks
Live at Knebworth (2003)
Live at The Astoria (2003)
Live at Wembley (2004)

Permission To Land was originally released in 2003 via Atlantic Records and stormed to the top of the UK Albums chart, where it remained for four weeks, and spent 53 weeks in the Top 100. It achieved the band three BRIT Awards, including British Album Of The Year, British Group and British Rock Act, where they fended off competition from the likes of Blur, Radiohead, Sugababes, Muse, Primal Scream and more. The record has sold over 1.4 million copies to date.

Two Googly-Eyed Electric Toothbrushes And Three Credit Card Machines Perform Haddaway’s “What Is Love”

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Haddaway’s What Is Love, played by two electric toothbrushes and three credit card machines from from Device Orchestra. And you thought you had to worry about AI.

Keurig and The Rolling Stones Unveil Exclusive “Start Me Up” Iced Coffee Kit

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Today, Keurig and fan-favorite rock band, The Rolling Stones, announced the launch of their limited-edition “Start Me Up” iced coffee kit. Produced in partnership with Bravado, Universal Music Group’s industry-leading merchandise and brand management company, the bespoke kit channels the band’s electrifying spirit to help people turn up their summer with the perfect iced coffee experience at home.

Featuring an iced coffee-inspired twist on the band’s iconic logo, the “Start Me Up” Iced Coffee Kit includes a custom-designed K-Iced Brewer, matching tumbler, and curated “Start Me Up” K-Cup Pod coffee blend, co-created with The Rolling Stones. The kit also amplifies your at-home coffee experience with the first-ever branded Spotify playlist, hand-picked by the band, to rock out to while you brew, sip, and enjoy.

“The Rolling Stones is a household name and widely considered as one of the most definitive bands in history. As their first-ever coffee collaboration, we’re excited to bring their lively spirit to life through our limited edition ‘Start Me Up’ iced coffee kit,” said Becky Opdyke, Senior Vice President, Coffee Marketing at Keurig Dr Pepper. “Whether you’re a routine iced coffee drinker, a long-time Rolling Stones fan, or want to simply amplify your coffee drinking habits, we invite consumers to infuse a little rock and roll energy into their iced coffee experience.”

Perfectly paired with the brewer, the limited-edition “Start Me Up” K-Cup pod coffee blend features a nutty roast that’ll start you up with electrifying notes of strawberry for the ultimate, great tasting cup of iced coffee. It’s the ideal way to invigorate taste buds this summer with this one-of-a-kind blend, bringing incredible flavor to the season that celebrates the uncapped energy of The Rolling Stones.

“We’re thrilled to be branching into the iced coffee space with Keurig,” said The Rolling Stones. “We’ve collaborated to bring this limited-edition product to life and give fans a new way to fuel their day.”

To learn more about the Rolling Stones ♥ Keurig collaboration and to help amplify summer with a coffee experience unlike any other, visit Keurig.com today to purchase this kit for $139.99, while supplies last.

Universal Music Celebrates Five Decades Of Rap With New ‘Hip Hop At 50’ Logo Created By Iconic Artist Eric Haze

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Kicking off this summer, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the global catalog division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, announces the first of its immersive celebrations for of the birth of Hip Hop and Rap’s 50th birthday. Hip Hop 50 – Honoring 50 Years of Hip Hop: A Legacy of Rhythm, Revolution, and Soul kicks off with a logo and branding designed by one of the culture’s most influential artists and designers, Eric Haze, who was at the forefront of the Hip Hop movement. Renowned for creating seminal logos and album artwork for The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, EPMD, MTV, and countless others, his art piece, the Hip Hop at 50 logo– will be among the essential graphics for packaging on upcoming releases and figure prominently in various events and activations.

Haze comments, “It is a great honor being asked to create the logo for this moment in culture and this year’s celebration. Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary is an amazing milestone for those who have grown up in the community since its inception. We always knew it was here to stay. Its enduring significance is undeniable as it continues to evolve and surprise.”

Rap music was born on street corners and in public parks, originating from a grassroots underground art form in the seventies, and quietly overtook popular culture as a force for change and became the soundtrack to one generation after another. Each decade has yielded its superstars, ranging from Public Enemy and LL Cool J in the eighties to Onyx and Salt-n-Pepa during the nineties and turn-of-the-century icons Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne in the aughts and beyond, representing everywhere from the East Cost to the Deep South. Along the way, these artists have earned GRAMMY® Awards, picked up RIAA Diamond certifications, and sold-out stadiums and arenas. Their enduring influence speaks to the timelessness of hip-hop now and forever.

The partnership with Haze remains emblematic of the connection between Hip Hop 50 and the genre’s golden age. Led by UMe Urban, this initiative will trace the history of rap music with a series of extraordinary anniversary editions of classic albums on exclusive vinyl colorways throughout 2023. These LPs span Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded on June 2Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III (Deluxe) on June 9, and Salt-n-Pepa’s Very Necessary on October 13. In the fall, releases include Gang Starr’s Daily OperationLL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You OutOnyx’s Bacdafucup, and Guru’s Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 on November 3, followed by Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back on November 10.

Colorways and details will be revealed soon for these limited-edition pressings.

Lil Uzi Vert Announces Highly Anticipated Pink Tape Tour

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Today, Grammy-nominated artist Lil Uzi Vert announced their highly anticipated PINK TAPE TOUR headline tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 17-date tour kicks off on Saturday, October 21 in Minneapolis at The Armory, with stops in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and more before wrapping up on Wednesday, November 22 in Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with the general on-sale beginning today at 2 PM local time at ticketmaster.com.

The tour marks the Philadelphia native’s first headlining tour since 2018, when they hit 32 cities as part of the “Endless Summer Tour.”

The tour announcement comes on the heels of Uzi’s most recent album, Pink Tape, released June 30, 2023. Last year, they also unleashed their widely popular track “Just Wanna Rock” as well as their Red & White EP which included standout songs such as “For Fun,” “I Know,” and more.

Most recently, Uzi opened the 2023 BET Awards with an electrifying performance of “Spin Again” and “Just Wanna Rock” from Pink Tape. Earlier this year, they delivered dazzling performances at a wide array of national platforms, from the 2023 Grammys to Wrestlemania 39 to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

In addition to Lil Uzi Vert’s 2018 Grammy nomination as “Best New Artist,” the artist also received the “Breakout Artist of the Year Award” and the “Breakthrough Artist” award duringBillboard’s 2017 Touring Awards. The rap superstar has also been featured on several record-breaking tracks including Travis Scotts’ RIAA 3X platinum certified “Wasted” featuring Kanye West, the RIAA gold certified single with Future “Drankin and Smokin” and Lil Baby’s RIAA platinum certified “Commercial” single to name a few. In 2020, Uzi dropped the deluxe editionof the long-awaited release, Eternal Atake, which includes part two of the album, titled LUV vs. The World 2, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200.EternalAtakewould go on to gain RIAA Platinum certification and was nominated for favorite rap/hip hop album at the 2020 American Music Awards. Immediately following these projects, Uzi and Future released both Pluto x Baby Plutoand the deluxe version in the same year. The Eternal Atake would go on to peak at #2 on Billboard200 and features the notable singles “Patek” and “Over Your Head.” Uzi made his 2022 return a strong one with a flood of national festival performances and the release of the EP Red & White.
LIL UZI VERT 2023 TOUR DATES:
Sat Oct 21 — Minneapolis, MN — The Armory
Mon Oct 23 — Chicago, IL — Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Tue Oct 24 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Wed Oct 25 — Detroit, MI — Fox Theatre
Tue Oct 31 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Thu Nov 02 — Hampton, VA — Hampton Coliseum
Fri Nov 03 — Raleigh, NC — PNC Arena
Sun Nov 05 — Birmingham, AL — Avondale Brewing Company
Mon Nov 06 — Atlanta, GA — Coca Cola Roxy
Wed Nov 08 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
Thu Nov 09 — Austin, TX — Moody Center
Fri Nov 10 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
Mon Nov 13 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
Thu Nov 16 — Los Angeles, CA — The Kia Forum
Sat Nov 18 — San Francisco, CA — Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Mon Nov 20 — Brooklyn, NY — Barclays Center
Wed Nov 22 — Philadelphia, PA — Wells Fargo Center

Live Nation Launches Mindful Nation App Pairing Music With Meditation

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Today Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, announced the launch of the MINDFUL NATION app which seamlessly incorporates music into the practice of meditation. Live Nation has invested in many mental health programs for staff and the touring industry at large, and the MINDFUL NATION app expands this support by delivering on demand mindfulness practices for the broader entertainment industry and music lovers everywhere.

The MINDFUL NATION app can be downloaded via the Apple App Store. It offers over a thousand classes searchable by trainer, vibe, or preferred class duration – with special sonic beats for the app’s meditations curated by world renowned producers and independent artists, including Janax Pacha, Mose Musica, Chris IDH and more. The app features daily trainer-led classes tuned to various vibes, on-demand classes for mind, sleep, and day-to-day life, music playlists from artists around the world spanning genres, and “breathe with the beat” exercise.

MINDFUL NATION, which began primarily as a B2B platform bringing live sessions to elevate corporate culture, was launched by Niamh McCarthy, a former artist manager who worked for Madonna and U2’s management team at Maverick. After experiencing burnout on the road, she spent the next chapter of her life studying meditation, breathwork, and yoga. McCarthy has made it her mission to bring mindfulness and meditation to the music business and now sees a massive breakthrough with the easy-to-use and intuitive MINDFUL NATION app.

“The MINDFUL NATION app brings together meditation and music in a unique way,” said Michael Rapino, CEO & President of Live Nation. “We first launched Mindful Nation as a program for our employees, and it’s great to see Niamh now bringing the benefits of mindfulness to touring artists and crew across our industry, as well as music fans.”

“Music is transcendent and has the power to connect and support. The artists on MINDFUL NATION are vehicles to that higher source which we are bringing into people’s everyday lives through our meditation classes. We are all totally overstimulated by the extraordinary amount of data and connectivity that exists in today’s world that we are not equipped to deal with. The classes on the MINDFUL NATION app are like a timeless album, never out of date. Users can keep going back to these resources again and again to support themselves through the highs and lows of life,” says Niamh McCarthy, founder of MINDFUL NATION.

With almost 20% of adults in the U.S. suffering from an anxiety disorder and 8 in 100 people in England suffering from mixed anxiety and depression in any given week with an increase in cases amongst younger people, MINDFUL NATION is empowering people to help take control of their mood and transform their life through the power of music and meditation.

Live Nation provides full-time employees with free unlimited access to the MINDFUL NATION app, in addition to mental health care coverage for [18] therapy and coaching sessions per year. Live Nation has also invested in mental health programming for the industry at large, including the Music Industry Therapist Collective and Tour Support.

Live Nation Canada Announces Acquisition Of The Kee To Bala – Muskoka’s Concert Destination

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Live Nation Canada, the world’s leading live entertainment company, today announced it has acquired The KEE to Bala, in partnership with current operators, Mike Strong and Mike Homewood. Strong and Homewood’s skills and success creating an iconic entertainment venue, combined with Live Nation’s world-class touring and venue business, will bring even more great artists to Muskoka.

This historic entertainment destination, located on Lake Muskoka, in the town of Bala, Ontario, was originally built as a dance hall in 1942.  A unique space with an abundance of history and character, The KEE remains a staple in the local music scene, hosting a number of notable Canadian and international acts over the years including Blue Rodeo, Louis Armstrong, The Ramones, Drake, Sam Roberts Band, Shaggy, The Tragically Hip, Avicii, The Reklaws and many more.

We’re thrilled to add The KEE to Bala to our growing venue portfolio and we welcome Mike Strong and Mike Homewood to our Live Nation Canada family,” says Wayne Zronik, President, Business Operations, Live Nation Canada.  “Both Strong and Homewood have a strong and proven track record in hospitality andour team is dedicated to supporting them and their team’s exceptional capabilities.”

“By joining forces with the leaders in entertainment, Live Nation, we will tap into the team’s expertise to enhance our incredible venue and create even more opportunities for fans and artists to connect, while also contributing to tourism and the local economy in the area,” said Mike Strong, Co-Owner, The KEE to Bala.

The KEE to Bala is the latest addition to the company’s growing venue footprint in Canada and the expansion of its global venue portfolio, Venue Nation.

James Blake Announces New Album Playing Robots Into Heaven And 2023 International Headline Tour

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Gearing up for another pivotal creative chapter, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake has released “Big Hammer”, with accompanying music video directed by Oscar Hudson (Radiohead, Bonobo).

“Big Hammer” is the debut single from James’ forthcoming, sixth studio album Playing Robots Into Heaven which will be released on September 8th via Republic records. The full track listing can be found below.

Playing Robots Into Heaven follows the critically acclaimed Friends That Break Your Heart – James’ highest charting album in the UK to date – and will see James once again return to the electronic roots of his Hessle, Hemlock and R&S records days. It will also nod to his latest creation, the CMYK event series with Ronda INTL which kicked off in LA last March and will be coming to London on July 6th. All the CMYK events over the past year have sold out within minutes and have featured appearances from special guests including, Steve Lacy, Channel Tres and HAii, to name a few.

To mark the release of Playing Robots Into Heaven, James will be embarking on a headline international tour, with dates in the UK, Europe and North America. Kicking off at the Fabrique in Milan on September 18th  it will see James travel to his home town in London for an Alexandra Palace show on September 28th, before wrapping up in Los Angeles on October 19th. See below for full list of dates.

Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning today, June 28 at 9am PT/12pm ET. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, June 30 at 10am local time.

For more information go to www.jamesblakemusic.com

PLAYING ROBOTS INTO HEAVEN TRACKLISTING

  1. Asking To Break
  2. Loading
  3. Tell Me
  4. Fall Back
  5. He’s Been Wonderful
  6. Big Hammer
  7. I Want You To Know
  8. Night Sky
  9. Fire The Editor
  10. If You Can Hear Me
  11. Playing Robots Into Heaven

JAMES BLAKE 2023 TOUR DATES

Sep 18        Sep 21 Milan, Italy Brussels, Belgium FabriqueForest National Club
Sep 22 Paris, France L’Olympia
Sep 24 Berlin, Germany UFO im Velodrom
Sep 26 Tilburg, Netherlands 013
Sep 28 London, UK Alexandra Palace
Oct 3 Atlanta, GA Coca Cola Roxy
Oct 5 Queens, NY Knockdown Center
Oct 9 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Oct 10 Montreal, QC, Canada L’Olympia
Oct 12 Toronto, ON, Canada Rebel
Oct 14 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
Oct 16 San Francisco, CA The Masonic Theater
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery