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NEEDTOBREATHE Releases “Highlands” From Upcoming Tenth Album ‘The Long Surrender’

Eric Alper
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NEEDTOBREATHE Releases “Highlands” From Upcoming Tenth Album ‘The Long Surrender’

NEEDTOBREATHE release “Highlands” today, the fourth preview from their upcoming tenth studio album ‘The Long Surrender,’ out March 27 via MCA. Written solely by frontman Bear Rinehart, the track unfolds with hymn-like intimacy, Dave Cobb’s raw production drawing out Rinehart’s formidable tenor against a backdrop of searching, prayer-like lyrics. Cobb, a nine-time GRAMMY winner, also produced the album, recorded largely live and driven by Rinehart’s most personal songwriting to date. “This album really clarified that, as an artist, I’ve got to put my convictions in front of anything else,” Rinehart says. “It’s definitely a better indicator of where we’re headed than where we’ve ever been, and in a lot of ways it feels like our very first record.”

The band also released a 20-minute documentary this month, ‘The Season of The Long Surrender,’ directed by Babysweet, following NEEDTOBREATHE in the studio, on stage, and on the road through the making of the record. The twelve-track album features “Momma Loves Me” with The Red Clay Strays and co-written track “Strangeness Of It All” with John Luke Carter. NEEDTOBREATHE are currently wrapping the second leg of The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour, running through March 7. Pre-add and pre-save for ‘The Long Surrender’ are live now.

TRACK LISTING: ‘The Long Surrender’:

  1. “The Long Surrender”
  2. “Say It Now”
  3. “Highlands”
  4. “Sing To Me Savannah”
  5. “Where You Call Home”
  6. “Strangeness Of It All”
  7. “Take Me Dancing”
  8. “The Door”
  9. “Growing Slow”
  10. “Momma Loves Me” (feat. The Red Clay Strays)
  11. “Take The Blame”
  12. “Spread The Ashes”

TOUR DATES: The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour:

Friday February 27 — Salina, KS — Stiefel Theatre

Saturday February 28 — Colorado Springs, CO — Pikes Peak Center

Sunday March 1 — Lubbock, TX — Buddy Holly Hall

Tuesday March 3 — Midland, TX — Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center

Thursday March 5 — Tulsa, OK — Tulsa Theater

Friday March 6 — San Antonio, TX — Tobin Center for Performing Arts

Saturday March 7 — Fort Worth, TX — Will Rogers Auditorium

Country Newcomer Dusty Black Releases Self-Titled Debut EP Today

Eric Alper
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Country Newcomer Dusty Black Releases Self-Titled Debut EP Today

Dusty Black releases his self-titled debut EP today via QHMG and Stone Country Records, a six-track project produced by Mickey Jack Cones that moves between hard-edged rural rock and tender country balladry. Born in Texas and raised in Memphis, Black carries a lineage that runs deep: his grandfather, Floyd Black Junior, played banjo and guitar in Johnny Cash’s band, and it was the passing of his father, Allen Black, that pulled him away from a successful business career and back to music full time. “This EP is the end result of a lot of soul-searching about who I am and who I want to be,” Black says. Listeners are already connecting to the EP’s range and rawness, calling it one of the most grounded country debuts in recent Nashville memory.

The six tracks cover real ground. Focus track “Don’t That Sound Like Her” opens with sweet romance before detonating into a full-throttle chorus about the wreckage one woman left behind, while “Curveball” is a heartfelt tribute to a father who coached his son in life as much as baseball. “Goodbye Drives Me Crazy” speaks to anyone whose work keeps them on the road and away from the people they love, and “Dust Off of Me” captures the cautious optimism of falling for someone new after a long-ago heartbreak. “In That Case” and closer “I Don’t Wanna Be Right” round out the set with a backwoods energy that is equal parts defiant and fun.

Black arrives at this moment with nearly 18 million streams already behind him and a road resume that includes opening sets for Nelly, Gary LeVox, Stoney LaRue, and Lauren Alaina. The ‘Dusty Black’ EP is out now everywhere.

TRACK LISTING: ‘Dusty Black’

  1. “Don’t That Sound Like Her”
  2. “Goodbye Drives Me Crazy”
  3. “Curveball”
  4. “Dust Off of Me”
  5. “In That Case”
  6. “I Don’t Wanna Be Right”

Country-Pop Duo 2 Lane Summer Releases Feel-Good New Single “Heaven Knows” Today

Eric Alper
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Country-Pop Duo 2 Lane Summer Releases Feel-Good New Single “Heaven Knows” Today

Nashville country-pop duo 2 Lane Summer release “Heaven Knows” today via QHMG and Quartz Hill Records, a high-energy track about finding a partner so perfectly matched it could only be divine. Driven by electric guitar, heart-pounding drums, and the duo’s trademark vocal harmonies (which Billboard has called “bold and beautiful”), the song was written by Joe Hanson and Chris Ray alongside Dustin James, Tim Owens, and Nathan Woodard, and produced by Ash Bowers. “We wrote this one about finding that perfect person that you know is from God, and to celebrate that relationship,” says Hanson. Listeners are already gravitating to it as one of the duo’s most instantly joyful releases, a windows-down, turn-it-up singalong that lands exactly as intended.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4GqGWZ9YAIoNHmhUhjWeNU?si=_lhieqDcQmqmFww-7ryZKg

The release builds on a strong foundation. 2 Lane Summer’s debut EP ‘The Love Songs’ arrived last year after signing with Quartz Hill Records, and the duo has since amassed nearly 800,000 social media followers and close to 19 million streams, with a growing stream of fans requesting their presence at weddings and engagement proposals across the country. “Heaven Knows” is out now everywhere.

RÜFÜS DU SOL Sell Out 15 Shows On Record-Breaking 2026 North American Tour

Eric Alper
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RÜFÜS DU SOL Sell Out 15 Shows On Record-Breaking 2026 North American Tour

Today Grammy-winning live electronic trio RÜFÜS DU SOL continue to redefine the scale of live electronic music with their groundbreaking 2026 North American summer tour, performing to unprecedented demand at some of the region’s most iconic venues. The band’s run has already set historic milestones, selling out four nights at Madison Square Garden and totalling five nights at Kia Forum – the first electronic act to do so on a single tour. They also set new records as the first electronic act to headline Chicago’s Wrigley Field and the fastest artist presale sellout at Montréal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau.

In addition to multiple sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden and Kia Forum, other sold-out stops include Wrigley Field, San Diego’s Petco Park, Toronto’s Rogers Centre, Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center, Albuquerque’s First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater, and two nights at The Gorge in Washington State. This week, the initial 24-date run was extended with 7 news shows added in New York City and Los Angeles to meet the incredible fan demand.

Continuing to skyrocket following their record-breaking Inhale / Exhale Tour, these North American sellouts come amidst the band’s resounding run in South America, with the final dates in São Paulo, Medellín, and Bogotá before the European leg kicks off in Dusseldorf in April.

Tour highlights on this massive run also include Fenway Park (Boston, MA), Estadio GNP Seguros (Mexico City, MX), Folsom Field (Boulder, CO), and Atlantic City Beach (Atlantic City, NJ). Special guests Maribou State, Ben Böhmer, Fcukers, Peces Raros, and Jack J will join as support across various shows in North America and SG Lewis (Live) throughout Europe. Tickets are available at rufusdusol.com/live for select shows while supplies last. 

RÜFÜS DU SOL Tour Dates

New Dates in BOLD

February 27 – Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu – São Paulo, BR (*)

February 28 – Greenvalley [DJ Set] – Camboriú, BR 

March 4 – Estadio Cincuentenario – Medellín, CO (%)

March 6 – Coliseo MedPlus – Bogotá, CO (%)

April 22 – PSD Bank Dome – Dusseldorf, DE (+)

April 24 – Palau Sant Jordi – Barcelona, ES (+)

April 26 – Movistar Arena – Madrid, ES (+)

April 28 – Unipol Arena – Bologna, IT (+)

April 29 – AG Hallenstadion – Zürich, CH (+)

May 1 – Velodrom – Berlin, DE (+) | SOLD OUT

May 2 – Velodrom – Berlin, DE (+) | SOLD OUT

May 3 – ING Arena – Brussels, BE (+) | SOLD OUT

May 6 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL (+)

May 7 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL (+)

May 9 – Adidas Arena – Paris, FR (+) 

May 10 – Adidas Arena – Paris, FR (+) 

May 13 – The O2 – London, UK (+)

May 15 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE ($)

June 5 – The Gorge – George, WA (~%) | SOLD OUT

June 6 – The Gorge – George, WA (~&) | SOLD OUT

June 10 – Morton Amphitheater – Kansas City, MO (#)

June 12 – Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL (#) | SOLD OUT

June 13 – Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN

June 16 – Truliant Amphitheater – Charlotte, NC (#) 

June 18 – Audi Field – Washington, DC (~) 

June 20 – Parc Jean-Drapeau – Montréal, QC (~) | SOLD OUT 

June 23 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA (~) 

June 25 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (~) | SOLD OUT 

June 26 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (~) | NEW + SOLD OUT 

June 27 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (~) | NEW + SOLD OUT 

June 28 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (~) | NEW + SOLD OUT 

June 30 – Coca-Cola Amphitheater – Birmingham, AL (~) 

July 4 – Estadio GNP Seguros – Mexico City, MX (~%) 

August 6 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA (^) | SOLD OUT

August 7 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA (^) | NEW + SOLD OUT 

August 11 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA (^) | NEW 

August 12 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA (^) | NEW

August 13 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA (^) | NEW

August 15 – Petco Park – San Diego, CA (^) | SOLD OUT

August 19 – Mortgage Matchup Center – Phoenix, AZ (^) | SOLD OUT

August 20 – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM (^) | SOLD OUT 

August 22 – Folsom Field – Boulder, CO (^) 

August 25 – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Minneapolis, MN (^) 

August 26 – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI (^) 

August 27 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH (^) 

August 29 – Atlantic City Beach – Atlantic City, NJ (^)

September 1 – Acrisure Amphitheater – Grand Rapids, MI (#) | SOLD OUT 

September 2 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH (#)

September 3 – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Pittsburgh, PA (#)

September 5 – Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON (#) | SOLD OUT

* With Support from Bob Moses (Club Set)

% With Support from Peces Raros

~ With Support from Maribou State

# With Support from Fcukers 

^ With Support from Ben Böhmer

+ With Support from SG Lewis (Live)

$ With Support from Weval

& With Support from Jack J

25 Amazing Facts About Neil Sedaka That Prove He Was Pop’s Ultimate Craftsman

Eric Alper
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25 Amazing Facts About Neil Sedaka That Prove He Was Pop’s Ultimate Craftsman

Few artists bridged teen idol pop, Brill Building brilliance, and 1970s singer-songwriter polish quite like Neil Sedaka. Across nearly seven decades, he wrote hundreds of songs, scored multiple #1 hits, reinvented himself on two continents, and never lost his melodic touch. Here are 25 amazing facts that capture the scope of his remarkable life and career.

1. He was a Juilliard kid.

Sedaka won a scholarship to the Preparatory Division of the Juilliard School at age 8 and trained as a classical pianist.

2. His mom worked to buy his first piano.

To afford a second-hand upright, his mother took a part-time job at a department store for months.

3. He grew up in Brighton Beach.

Brooklyn shaped his sound and swagger, and he remained proud of his roots throughout his life.

4. He met his songwriting partner as a teen.

At 13, he met lyricist Howard Greenfield. Their partnership would help define the Brill Building era.

5. They wrote relentlessly.

Sedaka and Greenfield reportedly wrote at least one song a day for hundreds of consecutive days in their early years.

6. His first big hit was for someone else.

“Stupid Cupid,” recorded by Connie Francis, became a breakthrough in 1958.

7. “The Diary” was inspired by Connie Francis.

When she refused to let him read her journal, he turned the moment into his own first Top 15 hit.

8. He dated Carole King in high school.

“Carol” in “Oh! Carol” was inspired by future legend Carole King.

9. “Oh! Carol” sparked a musical reply.

King’s then-husband Gerry Goffin wrote “Oh! Neil” in response.

10. He studied hit songs like textbooks.

Before writing “Oh! Carol,” Sedaka analyzed the top singles of the day to understand structure and hooks.

11. He was huge internationally.

He scored #1 hits in Italy and Japan and recorded in Italian, Spanish, German, Hebrew, French, and even Yiddish.

12. “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” made history twice.

His 1962 upbeat version hit #1. His 1975 ballad remake also reached the Top 10, making him the only artist to score two Top 10 hits with radically different versions of the same song.

13. The British Invasion changed everything.

When The Beatles arrived, Sedaka’s chart momentum stalled, forcing a career reset.

14. He moved to the U.K. to reinvent himself.

In the early 1970s, he relocated abroad and began working with lyricist Phil Cody.

15. Elton John helped relaunch him.

After meeting Elton John, Sedaka signed to Rocket Records, paving the way for a massive comeback.

16. “Laughter in the Rain” was a slow-burn smash.

It took 16 weeks to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, marking his triumphant return.

17. “Bad Blood” became his biggest commercial hit.

The 1975 single topped the Hot 100 for three weeks and featured uncredited backing vocals from Elton John.

18. He wrote a Grammy-winning #1 for Captain & Tennille.

“Love Will Keep Us Together” became the biggest hit of 1975 for Captain & Tennille.

19. He helped launch ABBA internationally.

He co-wrote the English lyrics for “Ring Ring,” an early hit for ABBA.

20. “Solitaire” became a standard.

His song was later a major hit for The Carpenters and Andy Williams.

21. He nearly competed in Moscow as a classical pianist.

He was slated to represent the U.S. in the Tchaikovsky Competition but was disqualified due to his pop career.

22. He appeared on American Idol.

In 2003, he mentored contestants on American Idol and praised Clay Aiken’s version of “Solitaire,” which became a #1 sales hit.

23. He inspired future songwriters.

Artists like Ben Folds have cited Sedaka’s early publishing success as motivation for their own careers.

24. He hosted mini-concerts during the pandemic.

In 2020, he streamed daily performances from home, keeping fans connected through lockdown.

25. He retired from songwriting in 2022.

After decades of hits, he said he wanted to step away while proud of the catalog he had built.

From Juilliard prodigy to teen idol, from comeback king to elder statesman of melody, Neil Sedaka’s career reads like a masterclass in resilience and craftsmanship. His songs crossed borders, generations, and genres, and they continue to soundtrack first dances, heartbreaks, and long car rides around the world.

His music endures because great melodies never go out of style.

Neil Sedaka, The Pop Craftsman Who Turned Heartbreak Into Gold, Dies At 86.

Eric Alper
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Neil Sedaka, The Pop Craftsman Who Turned Heartbreak Into Gold, Dies At 86.

The music world has said goodbye to Neil Sedaka, the Brooklyn-born hitmaker whose melodies helped define late-1950s and 1960s pop and who engineered one of the most remarkable comebacks of the 1970s. He died on February 27, 2026, in Los Angeles at 86.

For millions, Sedaka’s voice is forever linked to the giddy bounce of “Oh! Carol,” the teen drama of “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” and the immortal hook of “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” But his legacy stretches far beyond his own recordings. As a songwriter, he helped shape the Brill Building era and later powered radio again with “Love Will Keep Us Together,” “Solitaire,” and “Bad Blood.”

From Brighton Beach to the Brill Building

Born in Brooklyn in 1939 and raised in Brighton Beach, Sedaka showed musical promise early. A scholarship to the Preparatory Division of Juilliard School sharpened his classical chops, even as he was falling in love with pop radio.

As a teenager, he met lyricist Howard Greenfield in his apartment building. The two became fixtures at the Brill Building, crafting sharp, efficient pop songs built for jukeboxes and transistor radios. Before long, they were writing for others, including Connie Francis, whose “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are” became major hits.

Sedaka’s own recording career took off at RCA Victor. Between 1959 and 1962, he racked up a string of Top 10 smashes, culminating in “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. With its playful “dooby doo down down” intro, it captured the sweetness and ache of teen romance in under three minutes.

The British Invasion and a Career Reset

The mid-1960s brought seismic change. As The Beatles and the British Invasion reshaped American pop, many homegrown teen idols saw their chart fortunes fade. Sedaka’s singles struggled, and by 1966 his RCA contract was not renewed.

Rather than disappear, he leaned harder into songwriting. His compositions found new life with artists such as The Monkees and The 5th Dimension. In the early 1970s, he relocated to the United Kingdom, partnered with lyricist Phil Cody, and began rebuilding.

A key turning point came after a meeting with Elton John, who signed Sedaka to his Rocket label. The result was Sedaka’s Back, a U.S. compilation that reintroduced him to American audiences. In 1975, “Laughter in the Rain” climbed to #1, marking his triumphant return. Soon after, “Bad Blood,” featuring uncredited backing vocals from John, also topped the charts.

In a rare feat, Sedaka reimagined “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” as a slow ballad in 1975, and the new version became a Top 10 hit as well, making him the only artist to take two dramatically different versions of the same song into the Billboard Top 10.

A Songwriter’s Songwriter

Sedaka’s influence rippled widely. He co-wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together,” which became a Grammy-winning #1 for Captain & Tennille. He also contributed English lyrics to “Ring Ring” for ABBA and saw “Solitaire” flourish in versions by The Carpenters and Andy Williams.

Across decades, he wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs and sold millions of records worldwide. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983, he maintained a reputation as a master craftsman: concise structures, melodic clarity, and lyrics that felt both youthful and timeless.

Late Career and Digital Intimacy

Sedaka never stopped performing. From concert halls to television appearances on shows like American Idol, he introduced his catalog to new generations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched daily mini-concerts on social media, turning isolation into connection and reminding fans that the piano and a good melody were often enough.

In recent years, he revisited his catalog, re-recorded early hits amid ownership disputes, and signed new deals to bring his music to streaming audiences. In interviews, he spoke candidly about retiring from songwriting in 2022, feeling he had said what he needed to say.

A Legacy of Melody

Neil Sedaka’s music bridged doo-wop innocence, Brill Building precision, and 1970s singer-songwriter polish. He survived industry upheavals, reinvented himself across continents, and proved that a great song can outlast any trend.

He is survived by his wife, Leba, their children, and grandchildren. His songs, meanwhile, remain in heavy rotation at weddings, on oldies stations, in jukeboxes, and in the memories of anyone who ever sang along to a chorus about young love, heartbreak, or hope.

Breaking up may be hard to do. But as long as those melodies keep playing, Neil Sedaka’s music is here to stay.

Elmiene Drops Two New Songs From Debut Album ‘sounds for someone’ Ahead Of Sold-Out North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Elmiene Drops Two New Songs From Debut Album ‘sounds for someone’ Ahead Of Sold-Out North American Tour

Rising British-Sudanese songwriter and vocalist Elmiene continues to unveil the debut of his forthcoming album sounds for someone with two new songs, “HONOUR” and bonus track “I Want In” out now via Def Jam Recordings. Listen HERE.

“HONOUR” unfolds as a plea for mutual recognition highlighting a yearning for validation met with dignity and belief. With lyrics such as “As much as you’re my light / We always fuss and fight / I wish you just believed in me”, Elmiene places the trials and tribulations of his familial relationship with his father on full display. He couples the release with a video Bonus track “I Want In” shifts the lens from “HONOUR’S” soundboard of dignity to desire and perpetuates a theme of intimacy requiring one to relinquish certainty in favor of possibility. The repeated declaration of “I Want In” throughout the melodic chorus articulates the want for love before it’s been fully secured.

Both songs reiterate sounds for someone taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster through a 2-decade journey of familial ups and downs that has shaped how Elmiene sees the world and also himself. Elmiene gave fans a recent dose of the album with “Reclusive”  and “Cry Against The Wind”  which have reacted with listeners and presented looks from the likes of Rated R&B, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, and more. TRENCH praised the track’s “twinkling melodies” and “driving rhythm.” SoulBounce professed, “Elmiene sings an anthem for anyone who battles between craving their solitude and wanting to be social.” sounds for someone has production and songwriting support from GRAMMY Award winning singer / songwriter Raphael Saadiq, Sampha and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman as well as GRAMMY Award winning producers No I.D  and more.

“Making this album was painful, I felt lonely sometimes, I felt loved sometimes. I felt guilty sometimes and I felt forgiven sometimes but most of all it was an important duty to myself that I needed to fulfil.” – Elmiene

Coupled with the arrival of his anxiously awaited album, Elmiene’s SOLD OUT sounds for someone headline tour is set to debut on April 30th across North America  and Europe this spring. The jaunt will visit 18 cities throughout the United States and Canada, promoted by Live Nation Urban (LNU) – joining a slew of previous highly successful LNU campaigns, including the Roots Picnic, BET Experience, Broccoli City, Black On The Block, Lil’ Weezyana Fest, ONE Musicfest, “An Evening with Jagged Edge: 25 Years of J.E. Heartbreak,” “New Wave Tour,” and “Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout,” along with the announcements of the “Room 112 Tour” and the “Girls Love Karaoke Live 2025-2026 Tour,” both of which are currently underway.

 Elmiene latest EP titled Heat The Streets Some Mo’ is a remix EP of his highly acclaimed mixtape Heat The Streets – which recieved playlisting love from BBC Radio 1Xtra and Tune of the Week on BBC Radio 1, a special nod of excitement from notable R&B songstress, Kehlani as well as “Damage Control” making its live performance debut on Apple Music’s The Ebro Show. In addition to the new remix EP, Elmiene delivered brand new track “By Now” – a melodic reflection of trying to move on from a past flame. Most recently, Elmiene was nominated for Outstanding New Artist at The 2026 NAACP Image Awards as well as nominated for The People’s Choice Award at the 2025 EBONY Power 100.

Elmiene’s slew of live shows feels like bucket list accolades: he performed at the BET Awards, played at the Roots Picnic, and supported Stevie Wonder at BST Hyde Park. His iconic NPR Tiny Desk Concert recently surpassed 1 million viewers, and his interview on The Terrell Show found further reverence for Elmiene’s R&B credentials when he impressed viewers by singing Uncle Sam’s “I Don’t Ever Want To See You Again.” Last month, he performed at Spotify’s “RNB X Live” in NYC as well as had his special “Live From” intimate performances in Brooklyn, Toronto, Houston, Charlotte and Atlanta. He has been named an Artist To Watch on a handful of platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, MTV, NME Magazine, The Guardian, BBC and more – and is gearing up to be a top familiar face on the music scene throughout 2026 and beyond.

After breaking through in 2023 with his El-Mean and Marking My Time EPs, the BRIT-nominated musician had a prolific 2024 with two more original EPs Anyway I Can and For The Deported as well as two live releases Live at RAK Studios and Live from 525 – the latter comprising covers of tracks by Frank Ocean, Prince and Cleo Sol. This year his This Is The Remix EP saw his own tracks reimagined by Timbaland, Blxst and IAMNOBODI.

Elmiene has been embraced by a global community of creatives – collaborating with some of the most sought-after names in music including Leon Thomas, ASAP Ferg, Syd, Sampha, Lil Silva, D’Mile, Dahi and Stormzy – and hotly tipped by press and tastemakers with coverage in Dazed, The Guardian, The Face, NME, Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone and Complex. He received a nomination for the BRITs Rising Star Award and the Ivor Novello Rising Star Award, plus he was shortlisted as one of the artist to watch on the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2024 poll, VEVO, MTV, Pandora Music, BBC 1Xtra and Ticketmaster.

Yeat Joins Liverpool’s EsDeeKid For Cross-Atlantic Collab “Made It On Our Own”

Eric Alper
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Yeat Joins Liverpool’s EsDeeKid For Cross-Atlantic Collab “Made It On Our Own”

Following his surprise appearance at EsDeeKid‘s sold-out Los Angeles debut show, multi-platinum artist Yeat has joined forces with the Liverpool rapper for “Made it On Our Own” – out now via Lyfestyle Corporation / Field Trip / Capitol Records. Stream “Made It On Our Own” HERE.

Produced by Lucid and BNYX® signee Mathaius Young, this long-awaited collaboration represents the meshing of two distinct regional superpowers: Yeat’s galactic rage rap meets EsDeeKid’s scouse style. The accompanying video–directed by the legendary Director X–was shot on site at Drake’s Toronto home, The Embassy, with cameos from long-time friends Caleb Williams and Cole Bennett. Watch official music video HERE.

For Yeat, the track arrives amid the rollout of his highly anticipated forthcoming album, ADL (A Dangerous Lyfe). Last week, commuters in New York City were met with Yeat’s arm hanging out of the back of a taxi—an ode to the infamous Sopranos marketing campaign—with a bumper sticker beside it reading “LYFE IS DANGEROUS”. On Tuesday, he continued the momentum by hosting Twizz City Night at the Portland Trail Blazers game, sitting courtside and handing out custom Yeat bobbleheads and Twizz City promo shirts. This rollout comes off the back of a run of singles and features, including a verse on Quavo’s “New Trip” (feat. BNYX®), “PIXELATED KISSES” (Remix) with Joji, and “Rendezvous” off Don Toliver’s #1 Billboard charting album OCTANE.

Yeat’s last album, the #1 Billboard 200 charting LYFESTYLE, launched in 2024 with a three-show run across New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, debuting at No. 1 with over 89K equivalent album units sold — marking his highest first-week sales and fifth top 10 debut in under three years following Lyfë (No. 10 in 2022), 2 Alivë (No. 6 in 2022), AftërLyfe (No. 4 in 2023), and 2093 (No. 2 in 2024). He continued that momentum into 2025, previewing “Feël no wayz (Yeat mix)” during his Coachella Sahara Stage set beneath a towering golden bell, releasing standout singles including “The Bell” and his feature on “Work” with Anyma, and completing a nine-city EU and UK tour capped by his first-ever London headline show, which The Guardian called a “ribcage-reverberating success”. His first and only EP of 2025, DANGEROUS SUMMER –with features from FKA twigs, Don Toliver, SahBabii, NGeeYL, and BNYX®– capped off his biggest summer yet, including a co-headlining performance with Don Toliver at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival, a gold certification for “COMË N GO”, a surprise appearance with Drake at Wireless Festival in London, drawing a 120K+ crowd at Romania’s Beach, Please! Festival, and closing out the three-day Clout Festival in Poland. Following this, Yeat linked with Drake and Julia Wolf for the single “Dog House”, and expanded his cultural footprint with his first Nike collaboration, the Nike Air Goadome Twizz, which coincided with a headlining “Yeat & Friends” set at ComplexCon Las Vegas featuring surprise appearances from Quavo, Lil Yachty, Don Toliver, Sexyy Red, xaviersobased, and Che.

Low-fi melodies, clever cutting lyrics, and a distinctly mysterious persona are all highlights that build up the enigma that is Yeat, one of the most interesting rises in music. The prolific rapper broke through in 2021 when his song “Gët Busy” began appearing in TikTok videos. The track became so ubiquitous that it caught the attention of heavyweight rappers, including Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, and many more. As his fame skyrocketed, so did the mania surrounding the artist’s cult-like following which led to the shutdown of a show in Los Angeles at The Roxy. Now, with two headlining tours under his belt, four Billboard Top 10 Album Debuts, and over 8 billion global streams, the young talent is well on his way to superstardom. Yeat was born Noah Smith in 2000. He began releasing music around 2015, taking notes from Young Thug’s melodic strangeness and the inventive production styles of rappers who were rising to prominence as he grew up. He started out using the moniker Lil Yeat, but shortened it to Yeat in 2018. That year, he released his first mixtape, Deep Blue Strips. From then on, he was in hyperdrive. As his fame skyrocketed, Yeat released the mixtapes Alivë and 4L, and the Trëndi EP, before the release of his first proper studio album. Up 2 Më was issued in September 2021 followed by a second studio LP, 2 Alivë, in early 2022. Just last year, Yeat was tapped by superstar Drake to collaborate on record “IDGAF” which is featured on Drake’s album For All The Dogs. The song, which was an instant hit, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Billboard Global 200. Recently, Yeat’s LYFESTYLE reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart selling 89K equivalent album units –– LYFESTYLE marked Yeat’s fourth entry into the Top 10 in only two years: Lyfë (No. 10 in 2022), 2 Alivë (No. 6 in 2022), AftërLyfe (No. 4 in 2023), 2093 (No. 2 in 2024) and now LYFESTYLE (No. 1 in 2024).

Nine Inch Nails Expands The TRON Universe With ‘TRON Ares: Divergence,’ A 20-Track Remix And Score Collection

Eric Alper
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Nine Inch Nails Expands The TRON Universe With ‘TRON Ares: Divergence,’ A 20-Track Remix And Score Collection

Out today, TRON Ares: Divergence reimagines the original TRON: Ares soundtrack with 20 songs – a mix of previously unreleased TRON: Ares score material from Nine Inch Nails alongside remixes from ARCA, Mark Pritchard, Boys Noize, Lanark Artefax, Chilly Gonzales, Danny L Harle, Jack Dangers, Pixel Grip, Working Men’s Club, The Dare and Schwefelgelband. See below for track listing. Stream / download TRON Ares: Divergence HERE. The 2-LP vinyl and CD editions are available for pre-order HERE.

TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – featuring all original music created by Nine Inch Nails for the third installment in the groundbreaking TRON film franchise – debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Dance Album charts and in the top five of the Billboard 200 last fall. In the UK, it  claimed the top spot on the Official Soundtrack Albums Chart. The soundtrack, which marked the first-ever film score by the pioneering group, is a bracing departure from the acclaimed scores that bandmates Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have composed under their own names, winning two Oscars, three Golden Globes, a GRAMMY® and an Emmy in the process.

Lead single “AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE,” which won a GRAMMY for Best Rock Song., was hailed by The New York Times as “a return to the buzz-bomb synthesizers, stomping march beat, stereo ricochets and gut-wrenching vocals of the band’s heyday.”  View the official video HERE.

Earlier this month, Nine Inch Nails launched the second North American leg of their critically acclaimed Peel It Back Tour with shows in such cities as New Orleans, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Boston, Newark, Montreal, and Hamilton. The run follows last year’s sold-out global tour across Europe, the UK, and North America, which drew more than 450,000 fans and earned widespread praise. The Times, in an opening night review, said, “The show was a revelation — a thrilling onslaught that combined angst, sincerity and a nightmarish otherworldliness…” UPROXX hailed it as “a triumph of sound, obviously, but also sight. It could have been a movie, and Nine Inch Nails were the stars.”

The tour continues tonight with a show in Tulsa, OK at BOK Center before making additional stops in Austin, Las Vegas, San Diego, and more. The run concludes on Monday, March 16, in Sacramento, CA at Golden 1 Center.

Founded in 1988 by Reznor, Nine Inch Nails is widely considered one of the most innovative, influential acts in modern music. Known for fusing industrial, electronic, rock and ambient sounds into emotionally raw and sonically aggressive compositions, the GRAMMY®-winning, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have redefined the boundaries of what mainstream music could be, selling over 20 million records worldwide, including over 11 million albums in the United States alone. Nine Inch Nails was named Live Act of the Year in 2025 by Consequence.

Track Listing – TRON Ares: Divergence
1. Converge
2. I Know You Can Feel It (Mark Pritchard Remix)
3. Godmode
4. A Question of Trust (Boys Noize Remix)
5. Operand
6. Zero State
7. Empathetic Response (Lanark Artefax Remix)
8. 100% Expendable (Chilly Gonzales Remix)
9. Who Wants to Live Forever? (Danny L Harle Remix)
10. Infiltrator (Jack Dangers Remix)
11. A Framework
12. Ghost In The Machine (Boys Noize Remix)
13. What Have You Done? (Boys Noize Remix)
14. As Alive As You Need Me To Be (Pixel Grip Remix)
15. The First Betrayal
16. I Know You Can Feel It (Working Men’s Club Remix)
17. Shadow Over Me (The Dare Remix)
18. Terminal
19. Forked Reality (Schwefelgelb Remix)
20. As Alive As You Need Me To Be (Arca Remix)

J Balvin and Ryan Castro Team Up With DJ Snake On Cinematic New Single “Tonto”

Eric Alper
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J Balvin and Ryan Castro Team Up With DJ Snake On Cinematic New Single “Tonto”

There’s an electricity that follows J Balvin and Ryan Castro lately: red carpets, surprise appearances, a quiet but undeniable alignment. Fans have been asking the same question: why have they been moving in tandem? With “TONTO,” the answer begins to surface.

As a collaboration between J Balvin, Ryan Castro, and global architect DJ Snake, the track feels less like a standalone release and more like the opening scene of a larger narrative – a record that understands the past while designing its own future. J Balvin moves with measured melodic cadence, gliding between sung hooks and rhythmic phrasing, while Ryan Castro counters with a slightly grittier, street-rooted tone that adds texture without overcrowding the mix. Nothing feels forced; their chemistry feels deliberate, each verse folding naturally into the next. As the track unfolds, slightly warped synths begin to surface, a subtle yet unmistakable touch from DJ Snake that broadens the sound without disrupting its pulse.

Directed by UN JACKALOPE and produced by BROKEN MINDS, “TONTO” unfolds like a gangster musical fantasy. It opens with a stark title card: “Érase una vez en paz” (once upon a time in peace). A quiet domestic moment unfolds as Valentina Ferrer holds their son, Río, the calm subtly interrupted by a man delivering a simple message: it’s time to go. Set against the streets of New York, J Balvin and Ryan Castro move in fur trench coats with a deliberate cool, channeling 1930s noir. The video revisits iconic films through a modern cinematic prism – echoes of Pulp Fiction, the playful coexistence of humans and cartoon characters from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the era’s cinematic textures that inspire mood and framing reminiscent of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. There’s choreography, restraint, and theatricality, a visual conversation with Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” with J Balvin leaning into the anti-gravity tilt as a salute to pop mythology reframed in their own style. “TONTO” feels meticulously staged without ever feeling stiff, a carefully controlled chaos that’s entirely intentional.

Which brings us back to the question: why now? Why this pairing, this aesthetic? If “TONTO” is the opening act, what story are they about to tell?

J Balvin and Ryan Castro recently premiered “TONTO” during this year’s Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, delivering one of the night’s most talked-about moments. Looking ahead, J Balvin is preparing to embark on a Mexico arena tour this spring, reinforcing his status as one of the most in-demand live performers worldwide. With a career defined by innovation and global influence, he continues to shape music trends and set the standard for contemporary urban and pop music.

Every detail in “TONTO” feels deliberate, a puzzle whose next piece is waiting to be revealed.

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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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