Home Blog Page 2

Verve Jazz-Pop Charmer aron! Spins Romance Into “Shiny Stockings”

0


A pair of stockings is all it took to spark aron!’s most charming song yet. The jazz-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist releases his newest single “Shiny Stockings,” the latest installment in his monthly release series. He takes a tiny observation and turns it into something unexpectedly tender.

Inspired by stockings worn by someone he loves, the track pairs whimsical guitar melodies with laid-back orchestral strings. The result blends vintage jazz sophistication with playful pop sensibility, a charming little world all its own. He sings of timeless love, calling his mother to share the news that the feeling she once knew lives on. The song glides with the kind of effortless warmth that’s becoming his signature. Listen and watch the official music video now.

“Shiny Stockings” follows a strong run of recent monthly drops, including last month’s “Macramé,” April’s “Foolsong,” and March’s “Wonderful Thing.”

“Macramé,” a collaboration with indie-pop and jazz artist Mei Semones, fuses indie rock with jazz-inflected guitar work to capture the spark of a new relationship. On “Foolsong,” aron! writes an unlikely guidebook for the next person who dates his ex, recounting her love of sneaking into movie theaters and reflecting on the mistakes he hopes the next guy won’t repeat. The self-aware warning lands with a wink: “don’t be a fool / you’re looking at one.”

“Wonderful Thing,” a cozy-pop meditation on fearing love but falling anyway, earned praise from John Mayer, who spotlighted it on his SiriusXM channel Life with John Mayer. Mayer admired how aron! packs complex harmonic information into a tune while keeping it right for the song, calling it a pleasure to hear from someone who knows a lot of chords and knows how to use them.

The road here runs deep. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, aron! picked up a guitar at eight thanks to Guitar Hero, then fell for jazz under an 80-year-old teacher he met at Sam Ash. He studied classical composition at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, taught himself piano during COVID, and earned a full scholarship to the University of Miami, majoring in jazz voice and film scoring. In high school, he played Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra standards for retirement home residents, bow tie and all.

In 2023 he leaned into what he calls a vintage pop sound, built a following online, and signed to Verve to develop his brand of cozy pop. As he puts it, heartbreak is heartbreak and love is love, the same now as ever.

Backstreet Boys Drop “Bottle Up” From ‘Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,’ Penned By Ed Sheeran

0

The biggest boy band in history just landed on a soundtrack built for the whole family. The Backstreet Boys have released their new track and music video “Bottle Up (from Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie),” out now via Visva Records/Republic Records. Written by Savan Kotecha and Ed Sheeran, the song features in ‘Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,’ arriving August 14, 2026. Listen here.

The pairing of pop royalty and a blockbuster songwriting team gives the track instant pull. The video is streaming now alongside the single, with the movie tie-in setting it up for a massive summer.

The release lands ahead of the group’s Into the Millennium residency at Sphere in Las Vegas this summer. Since launching in July 2025 as the first pop act to headline Sphere, the Backstreet Boys have performed for more than 575,000 fans across 35 sold-out shows. Night after night, crowds have filled the venue dressed in all white, a nod to the iconic cover of the band’s 1999 blockbuster album ‘Millennium.’

The numbers behind this group stay almost hard to fathom. Across more than 30 years, the Backstreet Boys have racked up countless No. 1s, record-setting tours, and worldwide sales topping 130 million, earning their place as the best-selling boy band of all time.

Their 2019 GRAMMY-nominated album ‘DNA’ debuted at No. 1 and delivered the Top 10 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” their first Billboard Hot 100 hit in a decade. The DNA World Tour followed as their biggest arena run in 18 years, selling over 3 million tickets across four continents.

In 2023 they released their first-ever Christmas album, ‘A Very Backstreet Christmas,’ which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart. Decades in, the group keeps captivating millions and stays larger than life.

Rap Titans Ludacris And GloRilla Link For The First Time On “Real Hustla”

0


Two of hip-hop’s heaviest hitters just met in the booth for the first time. Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning legend Ludacris taps GRAMMY-nominated powerhouse and CMG signee GloRilla for a brand new single, “Real Hustla,” out now via DTP Records/Def Jam Recordings. It’s the first-ever collaboration between the two, and it arrives swinging. Listen here.

The track rides a distorted synth loop that twists around a loose beat, punctuated by booming 808s and jittery hi-hats. Ludacris and GloRilla lock into an incendiary back-and-forth stacked with quotable bars, then drive it home on a chantable hook: “This the real hustla, this the real flow.” The chemistry crackles from the first bar. A wild cinematic music video is on the way, with the official visualizer streaming now.

Ludacris first teased “Real Hustla” with a social clip that sent anticipation soaring across his global audience. The two had already shared a stage last month at the 2026 American Music Awards, where they presented the Song of the Summer award to BTS. His post-show Instagram photo dump, packed with candid moments alongside the K-Pop superstars plus Katseye, Leon Thomas, Teddy Swims, Queen Latifah, Blackpink, and more, pulled in over 1 million likes.

The single keeps the momentum rolling from “Pull Over,” whose hilarious Dave Meyers-directed video has already racked up nearly a million YouTube views. The Source praised the clip’s blend of comedy, storytelling, and hip-hop culture, while Complex noted it kicks off the rollout for Luda’s first solo album in over 10 years. Ahead of release, HBCU marching bands nationwide turned “Pull Over” into a Friday Night Lights anthem just in time for graduation.

In 2025, Ludacris marked the 25th anniversary of his breakout album ‘Back For The First Time’ with a limited-edition vinyl reissue. The record bowed at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 back in 2000, earned a 3x-Platinum certification, and spawned classics like “What’s Your Fantasy” featuring Shawnna and “Southern Hospitality” featuring Pharrell.

GloRilla brings serious firepower of her own. The Memphis native broke through with 2022’s viral “FNF (Let’s Go),” then dominated 2024 with four Hot 100 top 30 hits and the highest opening week for a female rapper on the Billboard 200 with her debut album ‘GLORIOUS.’ Billboard crowned her the Hottest Female Rapper of 2024 and her Top Female Rap Artist of 2025.

Toosii Lays It All Bare On New Single “Yesterday”

0

The most emotionally resonant voice in hip-hop just opened up again. Platinum-selling recording artist Toosii continues his run with the release of his new single “Yesterday,” out now via South Coast Music Group/Capitol Records. The track offers another glimpse into the next chapter of his story, leaning hard into the vulnerability, melody, and introspection that define his work. Listen here.

Produced by Ant Chamberlain and Bino Beats, “Yesterday” finds Toosii at his most exposed. He reflects on distance, longing, and the pull toward someone who still occupies his every thought. The record sits in that uncertain space where a relationship hangs in the balance, blending heartfelt songwriting with his signature melodic delivery. The honesty cuts through with a warmth that’s tough to shake.

The release follows “Proud of Me,” a viral fan favorite that grew into an anthem of perseverance and self-belief. That song arrived with a cinematic video shot in Baton Rouge, during a transformative stretch for Toosii, who recently enrolled at Louisiana State University to pursue his bachelor’s degree. The move speaks to his commitment to growth beyond music while staying tied to his roots.

“Yesterday” extends an impressive streak of deeply personal songwriting. It follows last year’s emotionally charged “Even Then” and his acclaimed collaboration with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Please Don’t Go.” That track landed during YoungBoy’s record-breaking MASA Tour, where Toosii served as direct support on one of the highest-grossing rap tours of 2025.

Onstage, he’s become one of the genre’s most compelling performers. From his sold-out headline tour to arena runs alongside YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Rod Wave, Toosii connects with audiences on every stage he steps onto.

The track record speaks loud. With more than 7 billion streams worldwide, the platinum-selling album ‘NAUJOUR,’ and the 4X platinum smash “Favorite Song,” Toosii stands among the most impactful artists of his generation. As anticipation builds for his next full-length project, “Yesterday” is one more reminder of why his music lands so deep.

Kodak Black Drops Surprise 26-Track Mixtape ‘Kodak The Blessing’ On His Birthday

0

A birthday gift straight to the streets. South Florida superstar Kodak Black just dropped 26 brand new tracks with his surprise mixtape ‘Kodak The Blessing,’ out now via Vulture Love / Capitol Records. The set captures his full range while leaning into the raw greatness his oldest fans have loved from day one.

Features run deep across the project, with cameos from Rylo Rodriguez, Fridayy, Lil Crix, Albee Al, Reese Youngn, and more. It arrives alongside a music video for “Nunchucks” with 1900Rugrat.

Early standout “Move” featuring G Thugg captures that off-the-cuff style that made Kodak a star. Produced by Buddah Bless and Jabz, the eerily minimal beat leaves plenty of room to cut loose, and Kodak leans back into it, drip-feeding hypnotic, endlessly quotable lines. It’s some of the most effortless work he’s put to tape in a while.

The “Nunchucks” video, directed by Kodak himself, goes trippier. The clip unfolds inside a club packed with dancers, famous rappers, guys in karate outfits squaring off, menacing twin bouncers, and plenty of slime. The chaos onscreen matches the song’s delirious energy as Kodak and 1900Rugrat (in corpse paint) flex over distorted bass, chiming crystal keys, and pummeling drums.

The tape comes complete with hooks for the club, bars for the streets, and introspection for the quiet stretches in between. Kodak’s blues and joy, his struggles and dominance, the romantic and the rugged are all on display across a filler-free, spontaneous-feeling run of cuts. To mark the release and his 29th birthday, Kodak throws a listening party tonight at Mr Jones Miami Beach and a blowout Sunday at LIV Nightclub Miami Beach.

The mixtape follows his eighth official studio album ‘Just Getting Started,’ a 20-track set that unveiled a bigger, more stately sound and a stacked guest list including Chance the Rapper, Pharrell Williams, Gunna, Lil Yachty, and Don Toliver. Tracks like “No Flagging,” “Imma Shoot,” and “Still Get Chanel” with Chance drew love from Billboard, HYPEBEAST, Rolling Stone, and Grammy.com.

The numbers stay staggering. Kodak holds 44 Billboard Hot 100 placements, 30 RIAA certifications, 26 million monthly Spotify listeners, and over 25 billion global streams. He’s been a sought-after collaborator for Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Playboy Carti, and he keeps giving back to his Florida community through rent coverage, summer AC drives, and an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive.

Tracklist:

  1. “Blessing”
  2. “Move” feat. G Thugg
  3. “Chicken And Waffles”
  4. “Thunder Baby” feat. Shadea Charai
  5. “Nunchucks” feat. 1900Rugrat
  6. “Carrie P”
  7. “Ima Be Cool”
  8. “Most Of All”
  9. “Prayers Call”
  10. “Peter Roll” feat. Albee Al
  11. “Loitering”
  12. “Neckless”
  13. “Running It Up”
  14. “Better Or Worse” feat. Fridayy
  15. “Idols Turn To Rivals”
  16. “Who What”
  17. “Yak Gone Do It”
  18. “Killin Her”
  19. “Dearfield”
  20. “Gift Of Love”
  21. “Handling The Death” feat. Reese Youngn
  22. “Lemon Squeeze”
  23. “Love Letters”
  24. “Bodymore Murderland”
  25. “Kumbaya”
  26. “American Dream” feat. Rylo Rodriguez & Lil Crix

Slovakian Pop Riser ADÉLA Bares Her Heart On New Single “Red Bottoms”

0

A sold-out tour and a brand new heartbreak ballad in the same breath. ADÉLA shares her new single and music video “Red Bottoms,” out now via Capitol Records, just after announcing her first-ever headline tour that vanished in minutes. The latest from the rising pop star marks a striking turn from the bold sound that put her on the map.

On “Red Bottoms,” the 22-year-old leans into her gift for clever lyricism, opening her heart for an intimate reflection on a draining relationship while showing off real musical range. She dwells on a toxic connection wrought with mixed signals, inconsistency, and the fear of speaking up. The song moves with a quiet ache that lingers long after it ends.

The track uses the classic red shine of a Louboutin sole as its central image. ADÉLA turns a worn-out red heel into an analogy for the toll of a partner’s absent affection, and the worry that her own flaws might keep him from being emotionally available. The music video, directed by Emma Drew Berson, brings that fire to the screen.

This past April she opened her year with “KGB,” co-produced by Blake Slatkin, Dylan Brady of 100 gecs, and The Dare. That single came with a stunning video shot in the LA Theater, drawing on her professional background as a ballet dancer, with lyrics tracing her drive to make it out of Slovakia and become the artist she is today.

Less than a year ago, the Slovakia-born singer released her debut EP ‘The Provocateur’ via Capitol Records. Each track tells the dramatized story of a young woman willing to do whatever it takes, pulling from real experiences of betrayal, defiance, and exploitation, all blown up to larger-than-life scale.

The praise has poured in from Vogue, Interview Magazine, The FADER, Harper’s Bazaar, NYLON, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, i-D, and PAPER Magazine, which declared her fame comes at no surprise. She quickly sold out solo shows in London, New York, and Los Angeles, then wrapped an opening run on Demi Lovato’s North American tour, teasing unreleased songs that lit up socials.

Her 21-date headline tour kicks off this September, with stops in Toronto, Boston, Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Nashville, Dallas, Los Angeles, two nights in Mexico City, and a London date this August. More from ADÉLA is coming very soon.

Upcoming Live Dates:
8/2 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/25 – London, UK @ HERE at Outernet
9/9 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
9/11 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
9/12 – Montréal, QC @ Théâtre Fairmount
9/14 – Boston, MA @ Royale
9/15 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
9/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
9/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
9/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel *
9/20 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA
9/21 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
9/22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Hell
9/24 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
9/25 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
9/27 – San Francisco, CA @ TBA
9/29 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
9/30 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
10/2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
10/3 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
10/6 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
10/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
10/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre *
10/15 – Mexico City, MX @ Foro Puebla
10/16 – Mexico City, MX @ Foro Puebla

Afrobeats Superstar Ayra Starr Unleashes “Tornado” Ahead Of New Album ‘Starrgirl’

0

The summer just got its anthem. 2x GRAMMY-nominated, 3x MOBO Award-winning global Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr has released her new single “Tornado,” out now via Mavin Records/Republic Records. It’s a confident, dancefloor-ready statement from one of the genre’s brightest forces.

Produced by Skillies, Shizzi, and RiotUSA, “Tornado” rides an infectious beat and a chorus that locks in on the first listen. Ayra’s commanding tone makes it impossible to sit still. The official music video is out now.

The track marks the next chapter ahead of her highly anticipated third studio album ‘Starrgirl,’ arriving August 14th. Earlier this week she debuted the song during a captivating Tiny Desk performance, giving fans an early taste of what’s coming.

Momentum has been building fast. Ayra recently made her daytime television debut on The Jennifer Hudson Show with a show-stopping take on her hit “Where Do We Go,” a track that’s gathered over 1.3 billion streams worldwide and spawned an electric remix with DJ and style icon Peggy Gou.

The numbers tell the story. Ayra now sits at over 7 billion global streams and 1 billion YouTube views, breaking barriers and creating firsts for African artists at every turn. Her culture travels with her wherever she goes.

2025 was a banner year. Her smash “Rush” crossed 500 million Spotify plays, making her the first African female artist to land two songs at that mark on the platform. She earned her second GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, scooped two MOBO Awards (including becoming the first female artist in 16 years to win Best African Music Act), and picked up her first BET Award for Best International Act.

The Beninese-Nigerian star has shared the studio with Wizkid, Stormzy, Rema, Coldplay, Tiwa Savage, and Leigh-Anne, earning co-signs from the likes of Rihanna along the way. Her genre-blending sound and fearless storytelling keep pushing Afrobeats further onto the world stage.

Asha Banks Drops “Come Down” From Prime Video’s ‘Your Fault: London’ Sequel

0

The multi-hyphenate everyone’s been watching just raised the stakes again. Rising British singer, songwriter, and actress Asha Banks has released her new single “Come Down,” out now via Polydor Records. The emotionally charged track features in Prime Video’s eagerly awaited film ‘Your Fault: London,’ which arrives June 17th in more than 240 countries and territories.

Banks stars in the film alongside actor Matthew Broome (My Fault: London, The Buccaneers). The song lives at the heart of the story, mirroring the charged connection between main characters Noah (Banks) and Nick (Broome). It’s intimate, cinematic, and built to land.

“Come Down” was written by Banks with frequent collaborator Josh Bruce Williams, Carrie K (Noah Kahan), and Annika Bennett (Chappell Roan, Role Model, Conan Gray). The track captures the strength it takes to finally break a cycle of heartbreak and repetition, anchored by Banks’ delicate lyricism and a delivery that pulls you straight in.

“‘Come Down’ was written about breaking a pattern,” Banks shares. “About not being there for someone when they decide to come back to you again. I wrote this song from my own perspective, and it wasn’t until afterwards I realized how perfect it could be for Noah and Nick in ‘Your Fault: London.’ When I listened back, it felt like I’d purposefully written it for the film. After ‘Feel The Rush’ being included in My Fault: London, I really hoped I’d be able to do the same for the sequel, so I’m very excited that ‘Come Down’ is the song being used. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written, and I can’t wait to see how fans of both my music and the film react.”

The single caps a landmark stretch. Last month Banks released “Too Busy Missing You,” which earned her a career-high streaming peak and landed on the soundtrack for Prime Video’s critically acclaimed series Off Campus. This spring she dropped her collaborative EP ‘Everything Is About You’ with Novo Amor and Lowswimmer.

Last year she unveiled her sophomore EP ‘How Real Was It?,’ drawing praise from NOTION, HUNGER, and DORK, who named her to its 2026 “Hype List.” She also headlined her first tour across North America, the U.K., and Europe, with dates selling out within hours. Along the way she opened for Noah Kahan at BST Hyde Park and teamed with BRIT Award-winning artist Holly Humberstone on the fan-favorite track “Dive.”

Her sound pulls from a wide well. Banks grew up inspired by Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Johnny Cash, and AC/DC, and she’s shaped something that feels both timeless and entirely her own. She wrote her first song at barely six years old. The dream never wavered.

More is coming from Asha Banks this summer.

LOCASH And Parmalee Turn The Piña Colada Song Into A Country Singalong

0


Two of Country’s most reliable hitmakers just delivered a summer jam built for tailgates and lake days. PLATINUM-selling duo LOCASH and chart-topping four-piece Parmalee have teamed up for “Let The Country Music Play,” a freewheeling reinvention of Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).” It’s out now via LOCASH’s own Galaxy Label Group.

The track flips the yacht-rock classic into a hands-in-the-air ode to Country tradition. It name-checks a pantheon of trailblazers, from Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson to Dolly Parton, while celebrating the heritage that shaped both acts. LOCASH (Preston Brust and Chris Lucas) and Parmalee (Matt Thomas, Scott Thomas, Barry Knox, and Josh McSwain) bring real-life storytelling and hook-heavy songcraft to every bar.

The song lands with a soul-stirring ease, then explodes into one of the most singable choruses of the season. Produced by Tommy Cecil and Jacob Rice, it opens on a rush of childhood memories before soaring into a payoff that begs to be blasted out on the water. The melody sticks fast and refuses to let go.

Session heavyweights round out the sound, including keyboardist David Dorn (Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan) and multi-instrumentalist Tim Galloway (Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson). Written by Rupert Holmes, Matt Thomas, Tommy Cecil, and Brinley Addington, the song doubles as a love letter to Country and a piece of personal autobiography.

The collaboration follows LOCASH’s romantic May single “YES,” their first release distributed through Intercept Music. The new partnership between Galaxy Label Group and Intercept gives the duo access to premium distribution, marketing, and promotional tools built for independent artists.

It’s been a banner year. LOCASH recently won Independent Artist of the Year at MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Awards, honored alongside Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen, and Rascal Flatts. The win rode on the strength of “Hometown Home,” a multi-week No. 1 that ranked as Country Aircheck/Mediabase’s No. 4 Overall Song of 2025, topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, and cracked the all-genre Hot 100.

That smash opens ‘Bet The Farm,’ LOCASH’s 2025 album and the first LP released through Galaxy Label Group. More new music from the duo is on the way soon.

Ronnie Schell, “America’s Slowest Rising Comedian” and Gomer Pyle Star, Dies at 94

0

Ronnie Schell, the actor, comedian, and voice artist whose warm wit and unmistakable presence made him a fixture of American television for more than six decades, has died. He passed away on June 12, 2026, in Los Angeles of natural causes at the age of 94.

Born Ronald Ralph Schell in Richmond, California, on December 23, 1931, Schell first honed his comedic instincts while serving in the United States Air Force. After developing a stand-up act in San Francisco’s legendary hungry i nightclub scene, he steadily built a career that would span television, film, animation, and live performance.

Schell became a household name as Duke Slater, the wisecracking Marine and best friend of Gomer Pyle on the hit CBS sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Appearing in 92 episodes, he became one of the show’s most beloved cast members and later returned after starring in his own sitcom, Good Morning World.

Though television audiences knew him best from his live-action work, generations of viewers also heard Schell’s voice in some of animation’s most enduring programs. His credits included Battle of the Planets, Shirt Tales, The Smurfs, DuckTales, Scooby-Doo, Recess, Rugrats, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, and countless other animated classics. Hockey fans knew him as the voice of Peter Puck, the animated character who educated viewers about the game during NHL broadcasts in the 1970s.

Over the course of his remarkable career, Schell accumulated hundreds of television and film appearances, including roles on The Andy Griffith Show, Sanford and Son, Happy Days, The Golden Girls, Saved by the Bell, Coach, Phil of the Future, and Jessie. His long and steady rise through the entertainment industry earned him a nickname he wore proudly: “America’s Slowest Rising Comedian.”

Away from the spotlight, Schell was married to Janet Rodeberg for nearly six decades. Together they raised two sons, Greg and Chris.

Even into his later years, Schell remained active as a performer and mentor. In 2019, he served as comedy advisor to Richard Dreyfuss for the Netflix film The Last Laugh, a fitting role for a man whose career had been devoted to bringing laughter to audiences across generations.

From sitcom stages and comedy clubs to cartoon sound booths and hockey broadcasts, Ronnie Schell’s career reflected the golden age of American entertainment. His humor, versatility, and enduring charm left an indelible mark on television history and on the countless fans who grew up watching and listening to him.