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Alexander Sharp Directs Sensual Grindhouse-Inspired Music Video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation”

Eric Alper
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Alexander Sharp Directs Sensual Grindhouse-Inspired Music Video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation”

Director Alexander Sharp serves up sexy, slithery vampire with a steely, black-and-white grindhouse aesthetic in the video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation” – available now.

Laser-sharp closeups of a pick strumming a guitar string, a drumstick hitting a cymbal, and the beater hitting the bass drum highlight the slowed-down sensuality of the song’s intro, while overexposed film negatives flash over longer shots of the band performing. The result is a dark, gothic vibe that matches the stalking, crawling, gasping progression of “Salvation” – “Are you hungry for it?”

I feel the rush of the chemicals kicking in
I feel the touch of your talons on my skin
I feel you play me like a violin
I feel you take us where we’ve never been

The background suddenly switches to blood red overlaid with grainy lines and static, and Sharp gives us those gorgeous closeups again – of the instruments, of mouth on microphone, on long hair swinging with the pounding of the drums. Then, the background switches again to a cool blue over a soaring, exploratory interlude, while a woman in bondage lingerie slinks on the floor through the lens of an overturned lamp. “Salvation” pounds again, and Sharp switches back to black-and-white, and then to grainy blood-red again, before the video ends abruptly with a shot of the singer’s roaring mouth rimmed with vampire teeth.

“The video for ‘Salvation’ was designed to equally entertain and aggressively anesthetize: an outrageous, grindhouse, rock ‘n’ roll music video that would keep reinventing itself,” Sharp said. “I designed it so that it would mutate visually at every verse, chorus, and bridge at such a feverishly bizarre pace, while excreting a kind of perverted effervescence.”

Alexander Sharp was born in 1994 in Vancouver. When he was 15 years old, he directed his first dramatic short film Thank You, which was recognized by Vision Quest, a rehabilitation program for addicts that screens the film as part of the process of recovery. His first independent short film Ziggy’s Will screened at Festival de Cannes, Manchester International Film Festival, HollyShorts, Santa Monica International Film Festival, and Gig Harbor Film Festival in 2018.

Sharp’s debut feature-length film Wired Shut was released on Amazon Prime in 2021 across North America and the UK from 101 Films. He continues to write and direct films, music videos, and commercials.

Canada’s All-Star MAPLE BLUES BAND Releases “Hey Nola“ From ‘Let’s Go’ Album On Cordova Bay Records Out Now

Eric Alper
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Canada’s All-Star MAPLE BLUES BAND Releases “Hey Nola“ From ‘Let’s Go’ Album On Cordova Bay Records Out Now

For nearly a quarter century, the Maple Blues Band has been the cornerstone of the Toronto Blues Society’s annual Maple Blues Awards (MBA), honoring the creme de la creme in Canadian blues music. With its full-length record, “Hey Nola,” the Maple Blues Band will step into the spotlight, showcasing the lively instrumental compositions the all-star ensemble has created over the course of its decades together, out now from Cordova Bay Records.

Bassist, band leader and musical director Gary Kendall – perhaps best known for his association with Downchild Blues Band – started the project back in 1998, after a meeting of the Toronto Blues Society. “I boldly told all present that the music that accompanied the award presentations should be better. The comeback was, ‘Let’s see what you can do.’ It must be working because the band has been the centerpiece of the Maple Blues Awards ever since,” Kendall recalls.

Kendall dreamed of putting together a big band that could tackle a wide variety of styles, including Delta blues, Southside Chicago blues, New Orleans funk, uptown blues, zydeco, blues rock, and most of all Canadian blues, and recruited some of the finest folks on the Canadian blues scene to join him in making that dream come true.

Providing the theme and background music for the event, as well as accompanying the special guests performing at the awards ceremony, the group is made up of many MBA winners and nominees. The band’s current lineup includes Pat Carey on tenor saxophone, Teddy Leonard on guitar, Al Lerman on harmonica and acoustic guitar, Jim Casson drums and percussion, Howard Moore on trumpet, Lance Anderson on Hammond B3, piano and accordion, Alison Young on baritone, tenor and soprano saxophones, Meirion Kelly on trombone, and Roshane Wright on percussion.

Kendall calls Let’s Go a true group effort, featuring contributions from band members both past and present, with songwriting credits drawn from over the group’s 24-year history.

“The songwriting helped The Maple Blues Band create a personal and unique sound. It’s what I refer to as ‘big band blues,’” he notes. “The men and women I chose to surround myself with in The Maple Blues Band are part of the enormous southern Ontario pool of blues talent. Each one of them is a star.”

With the release of Let’s Go, The Maple Blues Band plans to take that irresistible big-band blues sound and star-quality roster to the next level, representing both its venerable past and an exciting new chapter in its ongoing commitment to the very best in music

Edmonton’s Cultural Diversity Award-Winning Shumaila Hemani, Ph.D., Releases Debut Album “Mannat (a prayer, a wish)”

Eric Alper
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Edmonton’s Cultural Diversity Award-Winning Shumaila Hemani, Ph.D., Releases Debut Album “Mannat (a prayer, a wish)”

Crossing gender boundaries while singing Pakistani songs of Muslim heritage which are typically performed by men, Shumaila Hemani’s debut album, Mannat (a prayer, a wish), is an awakening about climate emergency and the need for action. “It’s an appeal to the world to come together to support 33 million climate refugees as a result of heavy flooding in Pakistan that drowned a third of the country in August 2022,” she says.

Based on Sufi poetry from South Asia and sound recordings of heavy rainfall, floods, and other environmental sounds recorded in Pakistan, “Mannat is an immersive experience of deep listening to soundscapes of climate change, the havoc it is bringing on cultures and tradition, and prayers rooted in Hindustani art music and singing from the Sufi shrines of Pakistan,” she says.

It features, “Perils of Heavy Rainfall,” an acousmatic composition which won the Second Prize, Listening During COVID contest (2020) and was recently published in the Goose, the Journal of Environment, Arts, Culture in Canada.

With Hemani’s mesmerizing voice and harmonium, a South Asian reed instrument, Mehdi Rezania on santur, an Iranian zither, Ojas Joshi on tabla, South Asian percussion, alongside sound design based on field-recordings and original composition, Hemani’s performance features compelling storytelling in English with awe-inspiring music in Sindhi intended to spread the message of love, peace, and inter-connectedness within South Asian Sufi poetry to global audiences.

“Mannat is a fulfillment of a calling that interlocked my heart. Sufi poetry empowered me to speak up for equity and justice without fear. This album is the
culmination of over a decade of research and performance learning to bring Sufi sounds to Canadians and the world,” says Hemani. “Sufi poetry brings a message of heart-centring love, inter-connectedness, and deep healing from wounds and traumas and represents the power of love to create a more just world.”

Hemani is an interdisciplinary artist and academic residing in Alberta, Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in Music and M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta and served as a Music Faculty for Semester at Sea (Spring 2020; academic partner: Colorado State University) and the Faculty of Extension (University of Alberta). Her artistic practice involves sculpting with sounds of the environment and Islamic mystic poetry from South Asia for social empowerment and change. Hemani has joined Mount Royal University’s Trico Changemakers’ Studio in 2022 to create community-engaged sound art focusing on climate change in Alberta.

Toronto’s Electric Trio REDPATH TRAFFIC Releases New Single “HEY MONA!”

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s Electric Trio REDPATH TRAFFIC Releases New Single “HEY MONA!”

With a mix of blues and rock with a dash of punk, Toronto’s Redpath Traffic tells unique, introspective stories of love, loss, redemption, and change. This electric trio blends sonic moods and sweeping movements into their distinctive original music, creating a sound that’s uniquely theirs. Redpath Traffic features Rick Todd on guitars and vocals; Mark Fernley on bass; and Kerem Balci on drums.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KcmTLI6Fc

Hope is a common thread throughout Redpath Traffic’s music. In “Hey Mona!” the storyteller yearns for the company of love lost. Mona represents all that seems distant, indifferent, unattainable, and beyond our control to keep for ourselves. It speaks to one’s proclamation that – perhaps selfishly – “What you need out there isn’t possibly as important as what I need from you here.”

Played as a pop-punk stomp with infectious hooks throughout, “Hey Mona!” was written and produced to reignite hope, even in our most profound moments of despair. Musically, it crosses The Beatles with The Clash by way of Stray Cats – a sonic blend of happy sounds bridging a river that rages with tension.

The song was written by band member Rick Todd and produced by multiple award-winning music legend Chris Birkett. An alternate version with an extended opening will be available on the band’s upcoming album, Under the Crimson Sun.

Redpath Traffic’s new single “Hey Mona!” is available now and their debut LP Under the Crimson Sun comes out in April of 2023.

P!nk Announces ‘The Trustfall Tour’ Hitting Arenas This Fall

Eric Alper
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P!nk Announces ‘The Trustfall Tour’ Hitting Arenas This Fall

Today, critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and global pop icon P!NK releases her highly anticipated ninth studio album, TRUSTFALL, out now via RCA Records.

Featuring the hit singles “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” and “TRUSTFALL,” as well as her latest release, “When I Get There,” TRUSTFALL marks some of P!NK’s most vulnerable and exhilarating work yet. Featuring collaborations with Chris Stapleton, The Lumineers, and First Aid Kit, as well as tapping notable songwriters and producers Max Martin, Shellback, Greg Kurstin, FRED, Billy Mann, and more, TRUSTFALL is an exploration of the highs and lows of uncertainty, freedom, and letting go.

To celebrate the album, P!NK will make special appearances next week on NBC’s TODAY and CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on February 21, followed by a show takeover special on The Drew Barrymore Show airing February 27.

“This might be the album I’m most proud of,” says P!NK. “Get in your coziest pair of sweats, grab yourself an hour of self-care, and start on track one. Two ingredients needed: tissues and dance shoes.”

In tandem with its release, P!NK has also announced The TRUSTFALL Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 14-city tour kicks off on October 12 making stops at arenas across North America, including a date at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fall tour will follow P!NK’s previously announced 2023 Summer Carnival Stadium Tour, which will mark her highly-anticipated return to touring with special guests Brandi Carlile and 2022 Hall of Fame inductees Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on select dates. GROUPLOVE and KidCutUp will be special guests across all tour dates.

TICKETS: The general onsale for The TRUSTFALL Tour will start Friday, Feb 24 at 10AM local time on LiveNation.com. Tickets for 2023 Summer Carnival Stadium Tour are also on sale now at LiveNation.com.

THE TRUSTFALL TOUR DATES (FALL 2023):
GROUPLOVE + KidCutUp on all dates

Thu Oct 12 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Sat Oct 14 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Tue Oct 17 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
Fri Oct 20 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Wed Oct 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Fri Oct 27 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Wed Nov 01 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Sat Nov 04 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Tue Nov 07 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Wed Nov 08 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Sat Nov 11 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
Sun Nov 12 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
Tue Nov 14 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena
Sat Nov 18 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center

SUMMER CARNIVAL TOUR DATES (SUMMER 2023):
^ with Brandi Carlile | ! with Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo | GROUPLOVE + KidCutUp on all dates
Mon Jul 24 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre^
Wed Jul 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Great American Ball Park^
Mon Jul 31 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park!
Tue Aug 01 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park!
Thu Aug 03 – New York, NY – Citi Field^
Sat Aug 05 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park^
Mon Aug 07 – Washington DC – Nationals Park!
Thu Aug 10 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field!
Sat Aug 12 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field!
Mon Aug 14 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field!
Wed Aug 16 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park^
Sat Aug 19 – Fargo, ND – FARGODOME^
Mon Aug 21 – Omaha, NE – Charles Schwab Field^
Mon Sep 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park^
Tue Sep 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park^
Fri Sep 22 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park^
Mon Sep 25 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome^
Wed Sep 27 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park^
Fri Sep 29 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field^
Tue Oct 03 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium^
Thu Oct 05 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium!
Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium^
Mon Oct 09 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field^

My Next Read: “Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath―And Beyond” By Geezer Butler

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath―And Beyond” By Geezer Butler

“Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath―And Beyond” By Geezer Butler is sure to be a rollicking, effusive, and candid memoir by the heavy metal musician and founding member of Black Sabbath, covering his years as the band’s bassist and main lyricist through his later-career projects, and detailing how one of rock’s most influential bands formed and prevailed. The book is released on June 6, 2023.

With over 70 million records sold, Black Sabbath, dubbed by Rolling Stone “the Beatles of heavy metal,” helped create the genre itself, with their distinctive heavy riffs, tuned down guitars, and apocalyptic lyrics. Bassist and primary lyricist Geezer Butler played a gigantic part in the band’s renown, from suggesting the band name to using his fascination with horror, religion, and the occult to compose the lyrics and build the foundation of heavy metal as we know it.

In Into the Void, Butler tells his side of the story, from the band’s beginnings as a scrappy blues quartet in Birmingham through the struggles leading to the many well-documented lineup changes while touring around London’s gritty clubs (Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and The Who makes notable appearances!), and the band’s important later years. He writes honestly of his childhood in a working-class family of seven in Luftwaffe-battered Birmingham, his almost-life as an accountant, and how his disillusionment with organized religion and class systems would spawn the lyrics and artistic themes that would resonate so powerfully with fans around the world.

Into the Void reveals the softer side of the heavy metal legend and the formation of one of rock’s most exciting bands, while holding nothing back. Like Geezer’s bass lines, it is both original, dramatic, and forever surprising.

Daniel Caesar Announces New Album ‘Never Enough’ Out April 7

Eric Alper
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Daniel Caesar Announces New Album ‘Never Enough’ Out April 7

Following the recent release of his critically acclaimed singles “Do You Like Me?” and “Let Me Go,” Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Daniel Caesar reveals today that his third studio album, NEVER ENOUGH, will be released on April 7.

Prior to the NEVER ENOUGH album era, Caesar received a 2023 Juno Awards nomination for “Traditional R&B/Soul Recording” for his 2022 single “Please Do Not Lean” feat. Badbadnotgood, and he was enlisted by Lil Yachty to collaborate on his new track “REACH THE SUNSHINE.”

In 2022, Caesar dropped “Please Do Not Lean” feat. Badbadnotgood to widespread praise after a career-defining headline performance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which drew massive crowds and featured a surprise appearance by Justin Bieber to sing their smash hit “Peaches.” In addition, Caesar took to the 2022 GRAMMY Awards stage alongside Bieber and Giveon to perform the song, after it received four GRAMMY® nominations, two Billboard Music Award nominations, amassed billions of streams, and also landed Caesar his first #1 on the Billboard 100 Chart.

Multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Daniel Caesar is on a journey of self-actualization. He’s built his name across the gamut of contemporary R&B—contemplative soul and evocative rock to intergalactic alternative and understated pop—with artistry at his core. One of the most critically and commercially successful artists today—he’s one of the Top 10 most-streamed Canadian artists of all time on Spotify with over 20 million monthly listeners on the platform and 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube—he’s ready to elevate his artistry in 2023 and beyond. His 2017 debut, Freudian, was released independently and was a R&B breakthrough, bolstered by the 5x-platinum “Best Part” [feat. H.E.R.] and 3x-platinum “Get You” [feat. Kali Uchis]. Daniel received a GRAMMY® Award for “Best R&B Performance” for the former, and the b-side “Blessed” was featured on President Barack Obama’s annual favorites playlist. 2019’s follow up, CASE STUDY 01 [featuring John Mayer, Brandy, and Pharrell Williams], debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Top 200. His first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 came two years later with Justin Bieber’s megahit “Peaches” [featuring Giveon], amassing billions of streams. 2022’s “Please Do Not Lean” has garnered nearly 70 million global streams to date and received critical acclaim from across the globe.

Paul McCartney and Wings ‘Red Rose Speedway’ 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl Album To Be Released Record Store Day

Eric Alper
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Paul McCartney and Wings ‘Red Rose Speedway’ 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl Album To Be Released Record Store Day

UMe proudly announces the release of Paul McCartney and Wings’ Red Rose Speedway as a limited edition half-speed mastered vinyl LP. The 50th Anniversary pressing will be available from April 22 for Record Store Day 2023, days before the actual anniversary of the album’s original April 30, 1973 release date.

The first Paul McCartney and Wings album to top the US album chart, Red Rose Speedway kicked off a run of #1 albums that included Band On The Run, Venus And Mars, At The Speed Of Sound, and Wings Over America. The album’s sole single, “My Love,” was received with similar warmth, becoming Wings’ first #1 single in the US, as well as a staple of Wings and Paul shows for decades to come.

Red Rose Speedway has steadily grown in stature amongst fans, critics, and fellow musicians since its April 1973 release. Album opener “Big Barn Bed” has been cited as one of Paul’s greatest underrated tracks by the likes of Guitar World and Ultimate Classic Rock, while “My Love” has spawned a staggering array of cover versions by artists including Tony Bennett, Brenda Lee, Nancy Wilson, Cass Elliot, Johnny Gill, Cher and many more. More recently, “Little Lamb Dragonfly” was singled out in 2022 by USA Today as “enchanting,” and by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott in Stereogum’s 80 Artists Pick Their Favorite Paul McCartney Song… roundup: “You know a song has made an impression if you can rewind to a place and a smell and the weather and you get these phantom images of where you think he played the song. For an acoustic type of song, it has everything.“

Paul McCartney and Wings Red Rose Speedway 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Track Listing:
Side One
1. Big Barn Bed
2. My Love
3. Get On The Right Thing
4. One More Kiss
5. Little Lamb Dragonfly

Side Two
1. Single Pigeon
2. When The Night
3. Loup (1st Indian On The Moon)
4. Medley:
a. Hold Me Tight
b. Lazy Dynamite
c. Hands Of Love
d. Power Cut

U2 Announces Release Of “Two Hearts Beat As One” / “Sunday Bloody Sunday” The War & Surrender Mixes For Record Store Day 2023

Eric Alper
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U2 Announces Release Of “Two Hearts Beat As One” / “Sunday Bloody Sunday” The War & Surrender Mixes For Record Store Day 2023

U2 today announce the release of “Two Hearts Beat As One” / “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a limited-edition, 4-track EP, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their third studio album War (1983), exclusively for Record Store Day, April 22nd, 2023.

The EP features two original studio tracks, both released as singles in 1983, and two reimagined versions from the forthcoming 2023 U2 album Songs Of Surrender, on limited-edition, 180g heavyweight white vinyl, plus an exclusive poster with an illustration by Bono.

The two tracks “Two Hearts Beat As One” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” were originally released as singles on March 21st, 1983, each in different regions globally, as the second single from the band’s acclaimed third studio album War. Released on February 28th, 1983, War knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller off the top spot to become the band’s first UK #1 album, as well as reaching #12 on the US Billboard Top 200 charts to be certified gold.

Songs Of Surrender – a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across the band’s catalog, re-recorded and re-imagined for 2023 in sessions spanning the last two years, will be released in full on Friday, March 17th. Curated and produced by The Edge, Songs Of Surrender sees the band revisit some of the most celebrated songs of their 40+ year career, including “With Or Without You,” “One,” “Beautiful Day,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and “Invisible,” for a musical reimagining resulting in a completely new recording of each track, to include the arrangements and, in some cases, new lyrics.

“Two Hearts Beat As One” / “Sunday Bloody Sunday” Format Information:

12” EP Info:
• 4 track 12” EP, cut at 45 rpm
• 180g white vinyl, housed in plain white poly-lined inners
• Single sleeve outer
• Features exclusive 600x600m poster on gloss art paper

Tracklist:
SIDE A:
1. Two Hearts Beat As One (War Mix)
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday (War Mix)
SIDE B:
1. Two Hearts Beat As One (Songs of Surrender Mix)
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Songs of Surrender Mix)

Janelle Monáe Returns With New Single “Float” Feat. Seun Kuti + Egypt 80

Eric Alper
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Janelle Monáe Returns With New Single “Float” Feat. Seun Kuti + Egypt 80

Janelle Monáe is back in action with the release of her highly-anticipated single, “Float”, featuring horns by Seun Kuti + Egypt 80.

According to sources closest to Monae, “Float” is inspired by Muhammed Ali talking shit in Zaire, 1974, Jane’s evolution, Mary Poppins’ umbrella, Aladdin’s magic carpet, Ja Morant’s flotation to the rim while dunking on his ops, Sara Elise’s ropes, excerpts from Paramahmsa Nithyananda’s talks on levitation, Raul’s toast on Dec 1, and Bruce Lee’s mighty philosophy on being “shapeless, formless,” and becoming one with your surroundings, to be like water…

“Float” – which Monáe recently teased on her hugely popular Instagram – was first heard late last year as the official anthem of ABC/ESPN’s NBA Saturday Primetime campaign, with Janelle contributing voiceover narration to promo spots highlighting the biggest matchups and stars in the league. The track will be used extensively throughout all NBA coverage through mid-March, spanning promos, Primetime matchups, in-game placement, social media, and more. Most recently, “Float” was featured in an animated piece marking Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the # 1 spot on the NBA’s all-time regular-season scoring list, shared across ESPN’s socials and James’ Instagram to reach more than 275M combined followers.

Monáe will further celebrate her partnership with ABC/ESPN and the NBA by, appearing on ESPN’s wildly popular, NBA Today show to discuss the new single and more on February 17 (*check local listings for airtime) and playing in this weekend’s 2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, competing as part of “Team Dwayne Wade” alongside former MLB and NFL athletes as well as rapper 21 Savage, actor Simu Liu, comedian Hasan Minhaj, Latin global music icon Nicky Jam, and others. The 2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game airs live from Salt Lake City, UT’s Jon M. Huntsman Center on Friday, February 17 at 7:00 pm (ET), exclusively on ESPN and streaming via the ESPN app.

Janelle Monáe is without question one of the most celebrated artists of the modern era, an 8x GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, performer, and fashion icon known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound. Her genre-bending debut album, THE ARCHANDROID, arrived in 2010 and immediately ascended to the top 20 on the Billboard 200 while also earning two GRAMMY® Award nominations including “Best Contemporary R&B Album” and “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” for the RIAA Gold-certified single, “Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi).”

THE ELECTRIC LADY entered the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at #5 upon its 2013 release, fueled by collaborations with such like-minded artists as Solange, Esperanza Spalding, and Monáe’s lifelong hero, the one and only Prince, as well as hit singles/music videos like the MTV Video Music Award-winning “Q.U.E.E.N. (Feat. Erykah Badu).” 2018’s DIRTY COMPUTER – which received a coveted GRAMMY® Award-nomination as “Album Of The Year” – features the RIAA Gold-certified hit singles “Make Me Feel” and “I Like That” and was accompanied by a groundbreaking “Emotion Picture” incorporating a number of the album’s visually stunning music videos.

Undoubtedly among the 21st Century’s most inventive and creative live performers, Monáe has traveled the globe for sold out headline tours, a range of festival appearances, and special guest runs alongside Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, No Doubt, Katy Perry, Erykah Badu, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. An in-demand collaborator, Monáe is featured on tracks by an incredibly diverse group of artists including Outkast, Big Boi, Kelly Clarkson, Sérgio Mendes, Of Montreal, The Coup, Grimes, Estelle, Paolo Nutini, The Internet, Chic, Duran Duran, Goodie Mob, and of course fun., whose “We Are Young (Feat. Janelle Monáe)” proved the biggest single of 2012, a worldwide #1 phenomenon named in three GRAMMY® Award categories: “Record of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.”

2016 saw Monáe embark on her film acting career with stellar performances in two milestone films, Hidden Figures and Moonlight; both films received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, with the latter winning the award at the 89th Academy Awards. Her filmography quickly grew to include acclaimed roles in 2018’s Harriet, 2020’s Antebellum, and 2022’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, to name but a few. Monáe has also made countless TV appearances, including a lead role on Amazon Prime’s Homecoming and performances on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and TODAY, ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, PBS’ Sesame Street, MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, Netflix’s We The People, and many more.

Recently honored with the National Board of Review’s 2022 “Best Supporting Actress” Award for her role in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Monáe has received a long series of accolades and other honors, including three Critics Choice Awards, two Billboard Women In Music Awards, an NAACP Image Award, two Soul Train Awards (out of 13 nominations), an Essence Black Women in Hollywood Award, eight GRAMMY® Award nominations, and multiple nominations for BET Awards, BRIT Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards, along with many more laurels around the world.

Always an eclectic and creative visual presence, Monáe was chosen as the new face of CoverGirl in 2012, later became a spokesperson for the home audio company Sonos, and recently joined forces with Target for its “I Got The Juice” co-branded campaign for Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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