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The Beach Boys Announce Yearlong 60th Anniversary Global Celebration

Eric Alper
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The Beach Boys Announce Yearlong 60th Anniversary Global Celebration

Upon signing to Capitol Records in 1962 and releasing their first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year, the three young brothers, cousin, and friend from Hawthorne, Calif., known simply as The Beach Boys, soared to popularity with their ebullient sound that embodied the Southern California beach lifestyle with sunshiny vocal harmonies, twangy guitars, upbeat songs about surf culture, and their youthful exuberance. Propelled by the hits “Surfin’” and “Surfin’ Safari,” the album, which uncommon for its day, featured mostly original songs, spent 37 weeks on the Billboard chart and set the course for one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, who have gone on to sell more than 100 million records worldwide. With each album, The Beach Boys refined their songwriting and production skills, rapidly evolving from their early surf beginnings to create some of the most sonically exquisite and most important and beloved music ever made.

Sixty years after first transmitting their good vibrations around the globe, The Beach Boys, the first American pop band to reach the 60-year milestone, remain one of the most legendary and influential groups to date, with their timeless music reverberating through modern culture today as strong as ever. In celebration of their 60th anniversary, the group has released of some of the major initiatives planned to celebrate “America’s Band” throughout 2022-23.

The Beach Boys said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since we signed to Capitol Records and released our first album, Surfin’ Safari. We were just kids in 1962 and could have never dreamed about where our music would take us, that it would have such a big impact on the world, still be loved, and continue to be discovered by generation after generation. This is a huge milestone that we’re all very honoured to have achieved. And to our incredible fans, forever and new, we look forward to sharing even more throughout the year.”

To kick off the yearlong celebration and provide the perfect summer soundtrack, Capitol Records, UMe, and Universal Music Canada will release a newly remastered and expanded edition of The Beach Boys career-spanning greatest hits collection, Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys, on June 17. Originally released in 2003, the album soared to no. 16 in the US and stayed on the chart for 104 weeks. Now certified 4x platinum for sales of nearly four and a half million albums, the collection has been updated in both number of songs and audio quality, expanding the original 30-track best of with 50 more of the band’s most beloved songs for a total of 80 tracks that span their earliest hits to deeper fan-favourite cuts and from their 1962 debut album, Surfin’ Safari through to 1989’s Still Cruisin’.

Assembled by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, the team behind 2013’s GRAMMY Award-winning SMiLE Sessions and last year’s acclaimed boxed set, Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971, Sounds Of Summer features nearly every US Top 40 hit of The Beach Boys’ incredible career, including “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Surfer Girl,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” “Be True To Your School,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Kokomo,” “Barbara Ann,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “In My Room,” and many others. Fifty additional tracks showcase a broad mix of songs from across their wide-ranging catalog with some of the many highlights including “All Summer Long,” “Disney Girls,” “Forever,” “Feel Flows,” “Friends,” “Roll Plymouth Rock,” “Sail on Sailor,” “Surf’s Up,” and “Wind Chimes.”

The collection boasts 24 new mixes including two first-time stereo mixes, plus 22 new-and-improved stereo mixes, which in some cases feature the latest in digital stereo extraction technology, allowing for the team to separate the original mono backing tracks for the first time.

The expanded edition of Sounds Of Summer will be available in a variety of formats, including digitally, a 3CD softpack, and as a Super Deluxe Edition 6LP vinyl boxed set on 180-gram black vinyl in two options – a standard set or a numbered, limited edition version featuring a rainbow foil slipcase and four collectible lithographs. Both versions will feature colour printed sleeves that replicate the original “Capitol Catalog” sleeves that highlight the entire Beach Boys discography, and all formats will include a booklet with new liner notes and updated photos. The original 30-track version will also be available in its newly remastered and upgraded form on single CD or double gatefold LP on standard weight vinyl or as a higher-end limited edition numbered version pressed on 180-gram vinyl with a tip-on jacket and a lithograph.

Pre-order for Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys is available now, and the set is being previewed with the new stereo mix of “Good Vibrations” which is now streaming and available for immediate download. Pre-order and listen now HERE.

Additionally, all 30 tracks on disc 1 of Sounds Of Summer have been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos, joining the group’s Christmas Album which was mixed in spatial audio and released this past holiday season, and continuing the initiative to present the group’s catalog in the enveloping and exciting new audio format.

The timeless music of The Beach Boys will also be featured in several innovative official new music videos that are in the works along with a slate of lyric videos and visualizers to present these classic songs in the modern video era.

Following the release of Sounds of Summer, this fall Capitol/UMe/Universal Music Canada will release the next chapter in The Beach Boys’ archival releases, which will explore the bands often overlooked but pivotal albums, 1972’s Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” and 1973’s Holland. The deluxe multi-disc set follows last year’s acclaimed boxed set Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971 that topped many critic’s year-end lists and chronicled and explored the metamorphic and highly influential 1969-1971 period of the band’s career through tons of unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions. More details will be revealed at a later date.

Besides the new music releases from Capitol/UMe/Universal Music Canada, The Beach Boys are also catching new waves by participating in a feature length documentary currently in the works, a tribute special, prestigious exhibitions and events, unique brand partnerships, and much more to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

For six decades, The Beach Boys’ music has been an indelible part of American history. Their brilliant harmonies conveyed simple truths through sophisticated, pioneering musical arrangements. The Beach Boys transcended their music and have come to represent California culture. They provided fans around the world with a passport to experience love, youthful exuberance, and surf culture. Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl, and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbour David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits with Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing for the group.

The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year. The band’s initial surf rock focus was soon broadened to include other styles and such themes as spirituality, meditation, and environmentalism, making The Beach Boys America’s preeminent band of the 1960s. The Wilson/Love collaboration resulted in many huge international chart hits.

The Beach Boys are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Between the 1960s and today, the group had over 80 songs chart worldwide, 36 of them in the US Top 40 and four topping the Billboard Hot 100. Their influence on other artists spans musical genres and movements. Countless artists have cited Pet Sounds as their inspiration for creating their own musical masterpieces. Rolling Stone ranked Pet Sounds No. 2 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” and the Beach Boys No. 12 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are a beloved American institution that remains iconic around the world.

Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys – Expanded Edition
3CD/Digital Tracklisting

Disc 1
1. California Girls (1965)
2. I Get Around (1964)
3. Surfin’ Safari (1962)
4. Surfin’ U.S.A. (1963)
5. Fun, Fun, Fun (1964)
6. Surfer Girl (1963)
7. Don’t Worry Baby (1964)
8. Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
9. Shut Down (1963)
10. Help Me, Rhonda (1965)
11. Be True To Your School (Single Version) (1963)
12. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (1964)
13. In My Room (1963)
14. God Only Knows (1966)
15. Sloop John B (1966)
16. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (1966)
17. Getcha Back (1985)
18. Come Go With Me (1978)
19. Rock and Roll Music (1976)
20. Dance, Dance, Dance (1964)
21. Barbara Ann (1965)
22. Do You Wanna Dance? (1965)
23. Heroes And Villains (1967)
24. Good Timin’ (1979)
25. Kokomo (1988)
26. Do It Again (1968)
27. Wild Honey (1967)
28. Darlin’ (1967)
29. I Can Hear Music (1969)
30. Good Vibrations (1966)

Disc 2
1. All Summer Long (1964)
2. Good To My Baby (1965)
3. This Whole World (1970)
4. All I Wanna Do (1970)
5. Disney Girls (1971)
6. Kiss Me Baby (1965)
7. Let The Wind Blow (1967)
8. Forever (1970)
9. Sail On Sailor (1973)
10. Long Promised Road (1971)
11. Cotton Fields (1970)
12. Pom Pom Play Girl (1964)
13. Wind Chimes (Smile) (1966/1993)
14. I Went To Sleep (1968)
15. Farmer’s Daughter (1963)
16. Let Us Go On This Way (1977)
17. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (1972)
18. The Night Was So Young (1977)
19. Marcella (1972)
20. You’re So Good To Me (1965)
21. Aren’t You Glad (1967)
22. Baby Blue (1979)
23. It’s About Time (1970)
24. Roll Plymouth Rock (1966/1993)
25. Surf’s Up (1971)

Disc 3
1. Add Some Music To Your Day (1970)
2. It’s Ok (1976)
3. Goin’ On (1980)
4. San Miguel (1969)
5. The Warmth Of The Sun (1964)
6. Everyone’s In Love With You (1976)
7. All This Is That (1972)
8. California Saga (1973)
9. Feel Flows (1971)
10. Wendy (1964)
11. Girl Don’t Tell Me (1965)
12. Let Him Run Wild (1965)
13. All I Want To Do (1968)
14. Susie Cincinnati (1970)
15. Vegetables (1967)
16. Time To Get Alone (1969)
17. Where I Belong (1985)
18. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (1966)
19. Little Bird (1968)
20. Til I Die (1971)
21. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (1971)
22. Friends (1968)
23. Devoted To You (1965)
24. Can’t Wait Too Long (1968)
25. California Feelin’ (1978)

Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys – Expanded Edition
6LP/Tracklisting

LP1
SIDE A
1. California Girls (1965)
2. I Get Around (1964)
3. Surfin’ Safari (1962)
4. Surfin’ U.S.A. (1963)
5. Fun, Fun, Fun (1964)
6. Surfer Girl (1963)
7. Don’t Worry Baby (1964)
8. Little Deuce Coupe (1963)

SIDE B
1. Shut Down (1963)
2. Help Me, Rhonda (1965)
3. Be True To Your School (Single Version) (1963)
4. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (1964)
5. In My Room (1963)
6. God Only Knows (1966)
7. Sloop John B (1966)
8. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (1966)

LP2
SIDE C
1. Getcha Back (1985)
2. Rock and Roll Music (1978)
3. Rock and Roll Music (1976)
4. Dance, Dance, Dance (1964)
5. Barbara Ann (1965)
6. Do You Wanna Dance? (1965)
7. Heroes And Villains (1967)
8. Good Timin’ (1979)

SIDE D
1. Kokomo (1988)
2. Do It Again (1968)
3. Wild Honey (1967)
4. Darlin’ (1967)
5. I Can Hear Music (1969)
6. Good Vibration (1966)

SIDE E
1. All Summer Long (1964)
2. Good To My Baby (1965)
3. This Whole World (1970)
4. All I Wanna Do (1970)
5. Disney Girls (1971)
6. Kiss Me Baby (1965)
7. Let The Wind Blow (1967)
8. Forever (1970)

SIDE F
1. Sail On Sailor (1973)
2. Long Promised Road (1971)
3. Cotton Fields (1970)
4. Pom Pom Play Girl (1964)
5. Wind Chimes (Smile) (1966/1993)
6. I Went To Sleep (1968)
7. Farmer’s Daughter (1963)

SIDE G
1. Let Us Go On This Way (1977)
2. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (1972)
3. The Night Was So Young (1977)
4. Marcella (1972)
5. You’re So Good To Me (1965)
6. Aren’t You Glad (1967)
7. Baby Blue (1979)

SIDE H
1. It’s About Time (1970)
2. Roll Plymouth Rock (1966/1993)
3. Surf’s Up (1971)
4. Add Some Music To Your Day (1970)
5. It’s Ok (1976)
6. Goin’ On (1980)
7. San Miguel (1969)

SIDE I
1. The Warmth Of The Sun (1964)
2. Everyone’s In Love With You (1976)
3. All This Is That (1972)
4. California Saga (1973)
5. Feel Flows (1971)
6. Wendy (1964)
7. Girl Don’t Tell Me (1965)

SIDE J
1. Let Him Run Wild (1965)
2. All I Want To Do (1968)
3. Susie Cincinnati (1970)
4. Vegetables (1967)
5. Time To Get Alone (1969)
6. Where I Belong (1985)
7. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (1966)

SIDE K
1. Little Bird (1968)
2. Til I Die (1971)
3. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (1971)
4. Friends (1968)
5. Devoted To You (1965)
6. Can’t Wait Too Long (1968)
7. California Feelin’ (1978)

Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys
1CD Tracklisting

1. California Girls (1965)
2. I Get Around (1964)
3. Surfin’ Safari (1962)
4. Surfin’ U.S.A. (1963)
5. Fun, Fun, Fun (1964)
6. Surfer Girl (1963)
7. Don’t Worry Baby (1964)
8. Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
9. Shut Down (1963)
10. Help Me, Rhonda (1965)
11. Be True To Your School (Single Version) (1963)
12. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (1964)
13. In My Room (1963)
14. God Only Knows (1966)
15. Sloop John B (1966)
16. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (1966)
17. Getcha Back (1985)
18. Come Go With Me (1978)
19. Rock and Roll Music (1976)
20. Dance, Dance, Dance (1964)
21. Barbara Ann (1965)
22. Do You Wanna Dance? (1965)
23. Heroes And Villains (1967)
24. Good Timin’ (1979)
25. Kokomo (1988)
26. Do It Again (1968)
27. Wild Honey (1967)
28. Darlin’ (1967)
29. I Can Hear Music (1969)
30. Good Vibrations (1966)

 

Neneh Cherry’s New Album ‘The Versions’ Gets Released June 10

Eric Alper
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Neneh Cherry’s New Album ‘The Versions’ Gets Released June 10

Neneh Cherry announces a new project titled The Versions out June 10th, a collaboration album of covers from her expansive catalogue by an all female lineup of some of the most exciting and revered artists of our time. Listen to superstar songwriter Sia’s version of Neneh’s hit “Manchild” out today.

The Versions is a 10-track album featuring Neneh Cherry reworks from artists that have a personal connection to the artist and her music. Sia expresses her love for Neneh and her family saying, “Neneh was my favorite artist when she hit the scene. I saved my pocket money for red filas and dreamt one day we would meet. When I was struggling with my mental health in my early twenties, I somehow ended up in their house being taken care of as if I was one of their own children. I called her husband during a suicide attempt, who had been mentoring me as an incredible music producer, and they gave me all the love I could have dreamt of. I owe them a huge thanks and would sing ‘a-b-c’ for them if they asked.

Neneh, my very first queen, Cameron my bonus dad, I love you forever amen!”

Other artists involved include long-time friend, one of pop’s treasured musical geniuses and woman behind some of the most memorable songs of recent decade, Robyn who teamed up with Mapei to re-imagine the seminal track “Buffalo Stance” into a slinky, scandipop song with the help of Dev Hynes on production. Pop provocateur, ANOHNI lends her haunting vocals to “Woman”, delivering an arresting remake of the empowering track and south London nomad Greentea Peng transforms “Buddy X” into a garage infused number. Singer-songwriter and poet Jamila Woods adds her soulful touch on “Kootchi” with artist and violinist Sudan Archives completely reconstructing “Heart” into a sparse and delicate offering. Seinabo Sey adds Scandinavian soul to “Kisses On The Wind”, Kelsey Lu’s ethereal vocals on her version of “Manchild” transports the track into unworldly heights with Neneh’s daughter TYSON bringing her own sensual attitude to “Sassy” before Honey Dijon wraps things up, taking things to the dancefloor with her house remix of “Buddy X”.

Neneh Cherry has continued to define and redefine culture, style and music, releasing five studio albums, including 2018’s Broken Politics, produced by Four Tet, which was met with critical acclaim by the likes of The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Times, Q and Pitchfork. 2020 saw her reissue her radically influential debut album Raw Like Sushi to celebrate its 30th anniversary and recently received the honorary Icon Award at the NME Awards 2022.

Tracklisting:
Buffalo Stance (Robyn feat. Mapei)
Manchild (feat. Sia)
Woman (feat. ANOHNI)
Buddy X (feat. Greentea Peng)
Kootchi (feat. Jamila Woods)
Sassy (feat. TYSON)
Heart (feat. Sudan Archives)
Kisses On The Wind (feat. Seinabo Sey)
Manchild (feat. Kelsey Lu)
Buddy X (Honey Dijon Remix)

Live Nation’s Annual Concert Week Is Here: Get $25 Tickets To More Than 3,700 Concerts

Eric Alper
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Live Nation’s Annual Concert Week Is Here: Get $25 Tickets To More Than 3,700 Concerts
Live Nation today announced the return of Concert Week, offering fans access to $25 all-in tickets to more than 3,700 shows across North America this year. The week-long program celebrates one of the biggest and most exciting years for live music and marks the kick-off to an epic summer concert season.

The ticket offer includes performances in clubs, theaters, amphitheaters, arenas, and stadiums, featuring some of today’s biggest acts across a large variety of genres, including Country, Hip-Hop, Latin, Metal, Pop, Rock, and more. Artists include, but are not limited to: Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Florence + The Machine, Halsey, Keith Urban, OneRepublic, Swedish House Mafia, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas, Zac Brown Band, and many more. See list below for additional artists included.

Concert Week gives all live music fans access to participating Live Nation events with a special $25 ticket offer, including taxes and fees. For $25 flat, any fan can enjoy seeing their favorite artist live at their local venue this year.

TICKETS:  $25 Concert Week tickets will be available starting Wednesday, May 4th at 10 a.m. ET at livenation.com/concertweek through Tuesday May 10th, or while supplies last.

5 Seconds of Summer Haim Primus
Action Bronson Halsey REO Speedwagon
Airbourne Hanson Rod Stewart
Alicia Keys Heaven 17 Russ
Arkells Home Free Santana
Avril Lavigne Il Volo Sasha Alex Sloan
Bachman Cummings Jack Harlow Sebastian Yatra
Backstreet Boys Jack Johnson Shakey Graves
BANKS Jack White Shinedown
Barenaked Ladies Jacob Banks Slipknot
Bastille Jacob Collier Stereos
Big Time Rush James Taylor Swedish House Mafia
Bill Burr Jann Arden Tash Sultana
Billy Talent Jason Mraz The Beaches
Black Pistol Fire Jesse Cook The Black Crowes
Blackie and The Rodeo Kings Jessi Cruickshank The Black Keys
Bleachers John Fogerty The Chicks
Blue Rodeo Josh Groban The Doobie Brothers
Booba Josh Ramsay The Head and The Heart
Brett Kissel Keith Urban The Killers
Brit Floyd King Princess The Marcus King Band
Car Seat Headrest LANY The Sheepdogs
Celeste Barber Lauren Sanderson The Tea Party
Charlotte Cardin Lawrence The Tenors
Charlotte Day Wilson Maren Morris The Trews
Chelsea Handler Mastodon Tim Baker
Chris Rock Maverick City Music Together Again: Celebrating the Music of the Guess Who
Clannad Metric TONES AND I
Coheed and Cambria mewithoutYou Tori Amos
COIN Miranda Lambert Train
Colin James Modest Mouse Vance Joy
Dallas Smith Moist Walk off the Earth
David Gray Mother Mother Weird Al Yankovic
Deftones Nation Extreme Wrestling (NEW Wrestling) Welcome to Night Vale
Diljit Dosanjh OneRepublic Wu-Tang Clan
EarthGang Our Lady Peace Yungblud
Edwin Raphael Pam Ann Zac Brown Band
Florence + The Machine Peaches ZZ Top
Gerry Dee Pink Martini
Goo Goo Dolls Pitbull

Special 50th Anniversary Vinyl Editions Of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Will Be Released On June 17

Eric Alper
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Special 50th Anniversary Vinyl Editions Of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ Will Be Released On June 17

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s STARMAN, the first single from THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS. To celebrate, Parlophone Records is proud to announce release details for two very special vinyl releases to mark the album’s Golden Jubilee.

On 17th June, 2022, 50 years and one day after the original U.K. release date, THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS will be issued as a limited edition 50th anniversary half speed mastered LP and a picture disc, featuring the same master and a replica promotional poster for the album.

This new pressing of THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS was cut on a customised late Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics from 192kHz restored masters of the original Trident Studios master tapes, with no additional processing on transfer. The half speed was cut by John Webber at AIR Studios.

THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS is the breakthrough album that catapulted David Bowie into the international spotlight. Over the past 50 years it has remained a touchstone record, growing in stature with each passing year. It is now ingrained in popular culture, its undeniable influence spanning musicians from Arcade Fire to Lady Gaga, to Harry Styles’s androgynous fashion sense to Noel Fielding’s shirts on The Great British Bake-Off to Ziggy make-up challenges on Tik-Tok.

David Bowie laid to rest the Ziggy Stardust persona in July 1973 at his infamous last show with the Spiders From Mars at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, but Ziggy’s impact reverberates to this day.

DAVID BOWIE – THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS Tracklisting
SIDE ONE
Five Years – 4:42
Soul Love – 3:34
Moonage Daydream – 4:40
Starman – 4:10
It Ain’t Easy – 2:58

SIDE TWO
Lady Stardust – 3:22
Star – 2:47
Hang On To Yourself – 2:40
Ziggy Stardust – 3:13
Suffragette City – 3:25

Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide – 2.58

Faouzia Announces New Project ‘Citizens’ Out May 19

Eric Alper
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Faouzia Announces New Project ‘Citizens’ Out May 19

Internationally acclaimed Moroccan-Canadian singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Faouzia has announced her new project, CITIZENS due Thursday, May 19. Pre-save is now HERE. On the prequel to her forthcoming debut album, Faouzia explores what it means to be a citizen. Born in Morocco and growing up in Canada, the tri-lingual artist takes a vulnerable approach in exploring how it feels to be “swallowed” up by the power of a big city and living as insignificant as a citizen.

The announcement of the project will include Faouzia’s recent single, “RIP, Love,” alongside a lyric video streaming now HERE. The track – which incorporates elements of Moroccan and Arabic music styles, inspired by the music of Faouzia’s upbringing – has proven an immediate global smash, with over 14.3M worldwide streams spanning such far-flung countries as the US, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, Morocco, Germany, Singapore, Egypt, France, the United Kingdom, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, India, and the Netherlands, to name only a few. The track has been prominently featured a stunning range of high profile global playlists, including Spotify’s “Women of Pop,” “Arab X,” “Global X,” and “Pop Rising,” Apple Music’s “Today’s Pop,” “New In Pop,” and “Future Hits,” and Amazon Music’s “Breakthrough Pop,” “Fresh Pop,” and “Girl Squad,” Deezer’s “Pop Top,” Tidal’s “Pop Queens” and “Pop Life,” and many more around the world.

Written by Faouzia and co-written and produced by Jakke Erixsen and Tor Eimon (Lauren Spencer Smith’s “Fingers Crossed”), “RIP, Love” has also drawn ecstatic praise from such top outlets as Rolling Stone, PEOPLE, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, UPROXX, and more. Faouzia initially teased “RIP, Love” on her hugely popular TikTok – currently boasting over 3M followers – and quickly racked up over 430K individual video creates, 10M engagements and 707M total views. An official companion video is currently in production, featuring local creator Selvi who kicked off the “RIP, Love” TikTok dance trend.

Currently nominated for a prestigious JUNO Award for “Breakthrough Artist Of The Year,” Faouzia kicked off her run of new music with the empowering single, “Puppet,” joined by an electrifying official music video, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kyle Cogan (Charlie Puth, Machine Gun Kelly, Madison Beer) and streaming now HERE.

Recently gracing the cover of VULKAN, Faouzia stunned at this year’s New York Fashion Week sitting front row at shows for Christian Cowan, Alice + Olivia, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Markarian, and more. Her incredible looks were featured in VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, TMRW, WWD and more.

Named one of Variety’s “Artists to Watch for the 2022 Grammys,” Vogue’s “Style Stars Set to Make 2022 Exciting,” PEOPLE’s “Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape,” and Entertainment Weekly’s “Artist to Watch in 2022,” the 21-year-old artist also made an exclusive visit to Genius’s influential Verified series, following earlier appearances including ELLE’s Song Association, Seventeen’s Tik Tok Reacts, Cosmopolitan’s TikTok Reacts and Refinery 29’s Spill It. Faouzia made her television debut in 2019 on The TODAY Show + The Kelly Clarkson Show alongside John Legend for stunning performances of their rising single “Minefields.” Currently boasting over 220M streams, “Minefields” continues to rise, still streaming over 2.5M times per week after over a year after release.

A true global artist, Faouzia has found fans in VOGUE Arabia, GQ Middle East, Gazelle Magazine, and more. Faouzia recently performed “Minefields” with Legend at an exclusive Chanel Event in Dubai. The Canadian-Moroccan artist was also featured in a YouTube Canada campaign “Every Day, Canadians Count on YouTube” and recently nominated for “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” at Canada’s JUNO Awards and “International Breakthrough of the Year” at France’s NRJ Awards.

With over 775M global streams to date, Faouzia has a combined social reach of over 8M followers. Boasting over 1.8M YouTube subscribers, 1.9M Instagram followers and more than 3.1M Tik Tok followers, Faouzia has cemented herself as a surefire artist to watch. With collaborations with John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, David Guetta, and more, the landmark star has been praised in global publications spanning VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, PEOPLE, ELLE, Rolling Stone, Genius, Seventeen, Billboard, and UPROXX, to name but a few. Currently hard at work on her eagerly awaited debut album, Faouzia remains focused on turning her unbridled self-expression into a powerful outlet for her audience.

“My favorite thing is hearing that one of my songs helped someone feel motivated or empowered, or even helped them to have a good cry – which sometimes is all you need,” Faouzia says. “I really believe that immersing yourself in music can help you through the tough times in life, and I always hope that my songs can do that for everyone.”

FAOUZIA – CITIZENS Tracklist
RIP, Love
Thick and Thin
Anybody Else
SoLie
I Know
Don’t Tell Me I’m Pretty
Minefields
Puppet

Gavin Stephens’ Hilarious Observation of Middle Age, ‘All Inclusive Coma’ Gets JUNO Nominated For Best Comedy Album

Eric Alper
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A lot of fun things happen when you’re over 40… You look down at your belly and realize you’re not as svelte as you used to be; you can no longer wear ironic cat T-shirts without seeming very weird; you’re easily irked by younger generations… It’s with blistering, spot-on humor that Canadian comic Gavin Stephens deals with the indignities of middle age on All Inclusive Coma — nominated for a 2022 JUNO award for Comedy Album of the Year.

“My process on this one was very Yoda,” Stephens reveals. “I think at surface-level, this is an album about age, but also creatively it was my age that helped to create it. I was very patient working on bits for months at a time until I felt they were exactly how I wanted them. It was an album where I really began to know myself.”

Stephens jokes on All Inclusive Coma about being reclusive now that he’s “old,” but the discipline to stay in rather than go out worked to his advantage; home became his sanctuary, which allowed him to concentrate.

“I’ve been in comedy for a long time,” he shares. “I’m at the point where younger comics refer to you as a ‘legend’ — which is a nice way of saying you’re old.

“It’s fine; I’m old,” he continues. “What are you gonna do? But with age comes craft, I think, because as an older comic there’s less reason to go out and grind.”

Besides dealing with the topic of age, Stephens employs a stream-of-consciousness style on All Inclusive Coma to riff on topics as diverse as corporate HR departments, the uncoolness of Ottawa, late-night tattooing, Millennial business ideas like axe-throwing locales, and some of the unexpected, um, messiness that comes with childbirth. The result is non-stop, side-stitching laughs, no matter how random or even gross the topic.

Some of the randomness he jokes about even recently proved itself to be wholly true: “I riffed about Ottawa being an HR town so, for me, it was funny to see that HR mentality in real-time with the Truckers Convoy,” he said. “Ottawa didn’t riot or burn down buildings to get the truckers out — they filed papers.”

Stephens regularly hosts Uncolonized, a comedic leftist podcast that deals with topics of racism, social issues, and politics in Canada. When he’s not performing or hosting his podcast, he can be found practicing his knitting or cheering on the Raptors. His perfect day includes watching cartoons, reading comic books, and watching indie wrestling.

Stephens was voted by Star TV as one of the “10 Funniest Canadians” and, for five seasons, he was a star and writer on the Gemini-nominated sketch show Comedy Inc. on CTV. A multi-media sensation, Stephens has filmed multiple one-man specials for The Comedy Network and has appeared at international festivals like Montreal’s Just For Laughs and Austin’s SXSW with indie comedy legends Margaret Cho, Janeane Garofalo, and Andy Kindler.

He has toured throughout Canada, England, the United States, and South Africa as a highly sought headliner with his one-man show “Meeting Of The Audio Visual Squad,” his Lenny Bruce tribute nights “The Ghosts of Lenny Bruce,” and as an acclaimed opening act for Russell Peters. He was also chosen as “Best Local Stand-Up Comic” in NOW Magazine’s Readers Choice poll.

Macabre & Mysterious, Canadian Alt-Electronic Artist Rick Christian’s New “Contagious” Taunts & Teases Danger

Eric Alper
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Macabre & Mysterious, Canadian Alt-Electronic Artist Rick Christian’s New “Contagious” Taunts & Teases Danger

While his previous single asked if you’ll “Dance With Death,” Canadian alt-electronic artist Rick Christian now gets up close and personal with more macabre-meets-music themes in this, his new single, “Contagious.”

No stranger to the thrill of horror-savvy songs that invite listeners into a dark realm of fantasy-meets-nightmare, “Contagious” is plucked from the twisted inner workings of Christian’s mind to both taunt and tease with danger.

He has, in his words, “escaped from the depths below to spread his Dark Jams into your mind in an attempt to regain a soul” and admitted to tapping into the dark recesses of his mind while penning the track.

“I decided to write a song that was very honest for the listener,” Christian says. “In that process, I’ve exposed my emotions in a vulnerable way…

“Relationships can be very volatile at moments, the energy you put out is contagious and malicious at times.”

The result is a contorting, synth-heavy exchange of Eurobeat and industrial. Christian succeeds in masterfully homing in on minor chords, with beats you can dance and lose yourself inside.

The pièce de résistance is the static scattered throughout the track. Don’t turn down your speakers. Don’t check your headphone wire. It’s Christian and his ability to inhabit each of your senses.

“The undertaking of producing and recording the song was the most involved of any song I have ever done,” Christian reveals. “The post-production was the most time-consuming aspect, using old vintage Roland drum machine emulators while layering and blending more synth tracks than I have previously attempted.”

“Contagious” also captures — quite literally — with a visual component that gives audiences an intimate peek behind the curtain to gaze inside his visceral commitment to the track.

“The majority of the filming was done in ‘The Foundry on Whyte’ — a beautiful room with modern industrial styling,” he shares. “The wallpaper alone offered us a creepy Victorian vibe that channeled the movie ‘The Shining’.”

Christian once again collaborated with Dan Gadowski of DBG Visuals, All Over Your Face YEG for makeup effects, and Amanda Brown returned to play the protagonist, portraying the “contagious and malicious relationship that takes place in reality and a dark mental realm.”

The benevolent journey down Rick Christian’s devious and delicious music is a rock and roll of the dice with the devil. Whether you turn up snake eyes or doubles, allow it to invoke you with a Cheshire smile.

Rick Christian is, as we know, “Contagious.”

Australian Folk Singer-Songwriter Tim Withano is Up on the “High Wire” with Zen-Enhancing New Single

Eric Alper
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Australian Folk Singer-Songwriter Tim Withano is Up on the “High Wire” with Zen-Enhancing New Single

Relax. Take a break. Breathe in the air around you. Plug your headphones into your device and walk into the ethereal new song offering from folk singer/songwriter Tim Withano, “High Wire.”

The Finnish-born, Australian-based singer/songwriter is back with a brand-new song that reaches into your soul and promises to understand everything you’ve got going on around you.

It’s the song that plays over the final credits. The track that rolls with you down an empty highway. The melody that pierces the very part of where you know you want to be — and finally have found solace in hearing it.

“None of us are spared moments when the turmoil of life leaves us balancing on a precarious path where the destination is unclear or unknown,” Withano says. “‘High Wire’ emerged because I finally found time to catch my breath and take stock.”

Having performed and recorded the track in a home studio, Geoff Zenner and Alan Bruce played drums and bass, respectively. All the vocals and guitar parts were performed by Withano, an award-winning artist who has seen Top 10 success on country charts in Australia with his former outfit, Strum. Both an original artist, and an experienced performer, Withano has even taken the stage in a theatre production dedicated to the music of James Taylor.

His first single, “Bob Dylan and Me” was a precursor to his undeniable talent as a yarn-spinner. “High Wire” made its debut in February of this year. “Basically, in the song I tried to discern the difference between what is important in life and what isn’t. When things go against you, how do you respond?” Withano explains. “The ‘High Wire’ metaphor is basically saying to the listener that I may seem to have everything under control but there are times when I feel that one stumble could see my whole world come falling down.”

“You feel the heat and you feel the cold
And you watch the ones you love grow old
And you realise that time is gold and it’s slipping away
And all the things you thought were real
They’re just things for men to steal
But sometimes I feel like I’m up on the high wire”

So, take a break from the everyday. Allow the tidal wave of stress and concern to wash away, and replace it with the tide of “High Wire,”the enchanting prayer of peace and well-being.

A song so touching, it reminds you that we’re all on this tight rope together — balancing high above the world on a wire.

Lizzo Announces ‘The Special Tour’ With Special Guest Latto

Eric Alper
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Lizzo Announces ‘The Special Tour’ With Special Guest Latto

3x GRAMMY Award-winning, RIAA multi-platinum certified artist Lizzo is fresh off the release of her anthemic new single “About Damn Time,” available now via Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records. Now, the superstar is continuing the launch of her new era by announcing The Special Tour; extensive North American arena dates with support from special guest, Atlanta rapper Latto. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on September 23rd in Sunrise, FL and runs through November with stops including New York City on October 2nd and Los Angeles on November 18th, full routing is available below.

New single “About Damn Time” heralds Lizzo’s highly-anticipated upcoming album SPECIAL, due July 15th with pre-orders available now HERE. Lizzo has already had a packed 2022 with a double duty hosting and performance gig on Saturday Night Live, and visits to NBC’s The TODAY Show and CBS’ The Late Late Show with James Corden, the latter of which saw Lizzo teasing “About Damn Time” by giving fans an exclusive first listen (watch HERE), followed by an “80s v Today Dance Bop Riff-Off” (watch HERE). Lizzo can also currently be seen in Amazon Prime Video’s #1 reality show, Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, streaming now exclusively via Prime Video.

Lizzo recently added “fashion entrepreneur” to her multi-hyphenate career by joining forces with parent company Fabletics, Inc. for the launch of her revolutionary new shapewear brand, YITTY. Named after her childhood moniker and based on the principles of self-love, radical inner confidence, and effortless, everyday wear, the game-changing, size-inclusive brand marks an industry first: no-shame, smile-inducing shapewear designed for all body types, with sizes ranging from size 6X to XS. For more information, please visit yitty.fabletics.com/splash.

A 3x GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and so much more, Lizzo has shifted the sound, soul, and spirit of popular music and culture. 2019’s now-classic, RIAA platinum certified debut album, CUZ I LOVE YOU, bowed at #4 on the Billboard 200, fueled in part by such history-making hits as the platinum certified “Tempo (Feat. Missy Elliott),” the 2x platinum “Juice,” the 4x platinum “Good As Hell,” and the 7x platinum “Truth Hurts.” The latter of which ascended to #1 on Billboard’s “Hot 100,” affirming Lizzo as only the third female rapper to top the chart without a featured artist, as well as the first black solo female R&B singer to claim the top spot since 2012. “Truth Hurts” dominated the chart for seven weeks, further making history as the longest running #1 by a solo female rap artist ever. Named by Rolling Stone as one of the “500 Greatest Songs Of All Time,” “Truth Hurts” went on to earn a 2020 GRAMMY® Award for “Best Pop Solo Performance,” with CUZ I LOVE YOU (DELUXE) receiving that year’s GRAMMY® for “Best Urban Contemporary Album” and “Jerome” earning “Best Traditional R&B Performance.”

Crowned 2019’s “Entertainer of the Year” by both TIME and Entertainment Weekly, Lizzo has adorned the covers of countless publications around the globe, spanning Rolling Stone, Billboard, Elle, British Vogue, and many more. Among her many unforgettable TV appearances, Lizzo has lit up the stage at the American Music Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards, Saturday Night Live, and an epic opening performance at the GRAMMYs, to name just a few. Expanding her imprint and influence across media, Lizzo lent her voice to the 2019 animated film,UglyDolls, and joined Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, and Cardi B in the all-star cast of that same year’s critically acclaimed Hustlers.

Lizzo maintained this unstoppable momentum on 2021’s RIAA gold certified “Rumors (Feat. Cardi B)” and is now set to create her biggest, boldest, and brightest revolution thus far with her massively anticipated second full-length offering SPECIAL for Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records, due July 15th.

The Special Tour North America 2022
September 23 – Sunrise, FL – FLA Live Arena
September 24 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
September 27 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
September 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
September 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
October 2 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
October 6 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
October 7 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
October 11 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
October 14 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
October 16 – Chicago, IL – United Center
October 18 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 20 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
October 22 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
October 23 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
October 25 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
October 26 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
October 28 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
October 31 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
November 2 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena
November 4 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
November 7 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
November 9 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
November 12 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
November 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Journey Set To Release First Studio Album Of All New Songs In Over A Decade

Eric Alper
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Journey Set To Release First Studio Album Of All New Songs In Over A Decade

As one of the world’s most beloved rock bands, Journey continues to create new music and thrill audiences night after night in sold out arenas worldwide in conjunction with AEG as their promoter.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, Journey have 25 gold and platinum albums, including the fifteen-million selling Greatest Hits collection, with total sales adding up to 80 million records around the world.

Emerging from the pandemic with a supercharged new studio line-up, today, the members of Journey unleash the first single “You Got The Best Of Me” off their forthcoming studio album, Freedom – due out July 8.

“You Got The Best Of Me” will be followed this summer by an epic, fifteen-track set of new original songs that brings back the grand scale of the group’s greatest moments, along with updated and bold new directions and sounds.

“I wanted kind of a punky rendition of ‘Any Way You Want It’”, says the group’s founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer Neal Schon about the single. “I usually don’t go in saying I’m going to look for something like that, but then it just came to me, like “Wheel in the Sky” did years ago. It just kind of flew out of my mouth.”

While the forthcoming album was made with visions of arena and stadium stages, it started from humble beginnings. In 2020, as COVID swept the globe, Schon was stuck at home like the rest of us. “During the pandemic, there wasn’t much to do,” he says. “I spent a lot of time in my little studio at home, learning how to play keyboards and looping. Some of those ideas ended up being songs. So it kind of came out of nowhere.”

As the band’s legend continues to grow larger and their touring gets bigger, Freedom will be the first album of new material to be released in eleven years, since 2011’s Eclipse, and in addition to longtime keyboard player and primary lyricist Jonathan Cain and vocalist Arnel Pineda, one more member was recruited for the upcoming album — bassist extraordinaire Randy Jackson, who had played on Journey’s 1986 album Raised on Radio.

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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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