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Megan Moroney Drops Bonus Track “Sorry… I Meant Tonight” From Acclaimed Album ‘Cloud 9’

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Megan Moroney releases “Sorry… I Meant Tonight (Bonus)” today, a new addition to her third studio album ‘Cloud 9,’ out now via Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. Written by Moroney, Luke Laird, and Jessie Jo Dillon and produced by Kristian Bush, the track is a bass-heavy, guitar-laced snapshot of sudden infatuation, moving from self-aware humor to slightly unhinged romantic projection across a chorus that is already built for sing-alongs. It arrives in the middle of her “9 Cities. 9 Days.” fan celebration, a series of exclusive appearances across the country tied to the album’s release.

‘Cloud 9’ landed last Friday to immediate and widespread acclaim. Rolling Stone called Moroney “the Poet of Gen Z Heartbreak,” Billboard praised her ability to distill “love, loss, disappointment and heartbreak into sharply crafted, witty lyrics,” and American Songwriter featured her on the cover of their February digital issue, noting the album “finds Moroney stepping deeper into her artistic identity and putting forth her confidence like never before.” The 15-track set includes the Gold-certified country radio No. 1 “6 Months Later” and Billboard Hot 100-charting “Beautiful Things,” with additional coverage in Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.

HAYLA Scores Five Award Nominations And Announces New Single “Heal”

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Fresh off her EDC Mexico Circuit Grounds appearance, one of electronic music’s most recognizable voices, HAYLA is in full celebration mode. The GRAMMY-nominated singer and songwriter is currently nominated for several notable awards including an iHeartRadio Music Award, a FEMMY Award and four Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs); winners will be revealed in late March.

Meanwhile, look for HAYLA to preview with strings and piano a new body of work set for release later this summer at a free intimate private event for fans at London’s iconic St Pancras Church on March 18. Following her London show, she will attend the iHeartRadio Music Awards happening March 26 in Los Angeles, and then she will join Bebe Rexha on March 26 as support at San Jose’s first multi-generational music festival Music Mania at SoFa Lot. Her solo debut at EDC Las Vegas is set for the weekend of May 15.

HAYLA will release her new highly-anticipated single “Heal,” previewed at her shows last year, in April. Details will be announced soon.

At the iHeartRadio Music Awards, which celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2026, HAYLA is nominated in the “Dance Song Of The Year” category for “In My Arms,” her song with GRAMMY-nominated producer and songwriter ILLENIUM. The track appears on his 2026 album ODYSSEY, which also featured collaborations with Ellie Goulding, Ryan Tedder and more. The iHeartRadio Music Awards take place March 26 in Los Angeles and will air live on FOX.

Hosted by Femme House, the second annual Femmy Awards event, happening March 26 during Miami Music Week, will again honor figures from the scene whose work has helped forge the genre, has expanded representation and has helped elevate others. HAYLA is being recognized for “Best Vocalist,” a community voted category recognizing the often heard but not seen voices of dance music. Cast your vote here.

A past winner, HAYLA is across four categories at this year’s Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMAs), the annual fan-voted awards show dedicated to celebrating top artists, producers, and songs across all electronic dance music genres. She’s up for Female Artist of the Year, Vocalist of the Year, Dance Radio Artist of the Year, as well as Best Collaboration for “FADED,” HAYLA’s last single release with multi-platinum pop icon Nelly Furtado release via Casablanca Records. Seamlessly blending Furtado’s signature pop sensibility with HAYLA’s soaring, emotive vocals, the track delivers a haunting and cinematic dancefloor anthem that melds electronic atmosphere with emotional storytelling. Fan voting for the EDMAs is now open at edmawardsmiami.com and will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place Friday, March 27, at The Clevelander South Beach during Miami Music Week.

Late 2025, coinciding with the release of “FADED,” HAYLA embarked on a headlining North American tour. Following an incredible summer that saw her debut at major PRIDE festivals across the U.S., as well as standout performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Ushuaïa Ibiza and EDC Mexico’s Circuit Grounds. The rising singer-songwriter brought her captivating solo show stateside for sold out shows in San Diego, Tucson, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Chicago, and more wrapping at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre. In addition to her award worthy tracks “FADED” and “In My Arms” live audiences heard a range of HAYLA’s chart-topping collaborations and stand-out solo hits from her debut solo album DUSK (Restless Minds/Believe UK), as well as new material to be released this year.

Drowning Pool Team Up With Sorry X On New Single “The Wrong One”

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Multi-platinum hard rock heavyweights Drowning Pool return with a ferocious new collaboration, teaming up with rising active rock force Sorry X on their brand-new single, “THE WRONG ONE,” out now through SBG Records.

The collaboration was sparked after the band discovered Sorry X’s brutal reinterpretation of Drowning Pool’s iconic anthem Bodies online.

“We stumbled on Sorry X’s cover of ‘Bodies’ and were impressed by the sheer brutality of her vocals. On top of that Alexa sings amazing. We knew we had to collaborate on something so we reached out,” says CJ Pierce.

Sorry X adds, “I’m a huge fan of Drowning Pool and I grew up listening to the 2000s nu-metal era, so I was stoked when they reached out to me. I’m really proud of how this track came together and I hope fans will feel the intensity and raw energy of this collaboration.”

Produced by Hiram Hernandez (Magnolia Park, Bush), “THE WRONG ONE” delivers everything fans expect from Drowning Pool, while Sorry X injects a multi-genre inspired edge that elevates the track into something entirely new. The result is a high-impact anthem built for mosh pits, playlists, and repeat listens.

Known for pushing boundaries and amplifying powerful new voices in heavy music, Drowning Pool once again proves why they remain a dominant force in hard rock—this time alongside one of the most exciting emerging talents.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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&BThe Line of Best FitClash, 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.