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Blackpink’s Lisa Expands ‘Alter Ego’ Universe With ‘Lisa Alter-Ego: The Official Comic’

Eric Alper
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Blackpink’s Lisa Expands ‘Alter Ego’ Universe With ‘Lisa Alter-Ego: The Official Comic’

Global pop phenomenon Lisa expands the world of her debut solo era with a new release of ‘Lisa Alter-Ego: The Official Comic’. Originally issued in 2025 as a companion to her top ten debut album ‘Alter Ego’, the comic returns in a new hardcover edition packed with 40 additional pages of material. The project arrives through a collaboration between Lisa’s LaLisa Comics and Zero Zero Entertainment, bringing the album’s visual universe into a vivid graphic narrative.

The premium hardcover edition is now available through Walmart with expanded content, while Barnes & Noble presents a limited run of 500 copies featuring an exclusive alternate cover. The comic is also available through Amazon, widening access for fans eager to explore the story behind Lisa’s creative alter egos.

Illustrated by acclaimed Japanese artist Minomiyabi, the book channels the themes of transformation, courage and unity that power the ‘Alter Ego’ album. The artwork bursts with movement and colour, carrying readers through a visually rich story that mirrors the energy and identity shifts explored throughout the record.

Lisa’s momentum across entertainment continues to build. The Thai-born rapper, singer and dancer gained global recognition as a member of Blackpink before launching a dominant solo run. Her debut album ‘Alter Ego’ debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart, marking a major milestone in her expanding career.

Beyond music, Lisa continues to move across film, television and fashion. She made her acting debut as Mook in season three of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ and is set to appear in Tygo, a new chapter in the Extraction universe. With music, visual storytelling and performance all feeding into the same creative ecosystem, ‘Lisa Alter-Ego: The Official Comic’ stands as another bold extension of her artistic world.

Big Room And Mainstage Techno Titan Hardwell Announces 2026 North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Big Room And Mainstage Techno Titan Hardwell Announces 2026 North American Tour

Global electronic heavyweight Hardwell locks in a major return to North America. The Dutch DJ and producer has officially announced a five-date U.S. headline tour for June 2026, bringing his high-impact mainstage techno sound to New York, Washington D.C., Dallas, Denver and San Francisco. The run follows three standout U.S. performances in 2025 and marks his biggest capacity American tour in recent years.

The announcement arrives during another relentless global chapter for Hardwell. Recent appearances include Ultra, Tomorrowland and Coachella, alongside a massive performance at EDC Mexico where he delivered a set for 75,000 fans. He is also slated to appear as one of the headline acts at EDC Las Vegas later this year, reinforcing his presence across the world’s largest electronic stages.

This new run arrives with a sharpened sonic direction. Hardwell’s post-‘REBELS NEVER DIE’ era pushes deeper into driving techno textures while maintaining the melodic tension and cinematic scale that defined his rise. The music hits with force. The sound design feels massive, precise and built for the largest rooms on the planet.

Each show on the tour is built as a tailored experience. Sets will feature unreleased material, bespoke edits and exclusive live IDs alongside reworked versions of the anthems that shaped festival main stages for the past decade. The result lands as a powerful reminder of Hardwell’s continued influence in global dance music.

“Last year’s run of shows was so much fun. Every single night the fans brought that crazy energy, so I knew we had to do it again in 2026, and here we are! After the voting campaign, a lot of fans were really vocal about their desire for an extended tour, so I’m seriously pumped for this one. We’re hitting five cities this time, and it’s going to be even crazier. Let’s go one more time!”

TOUR DATES – JUNE 2026:
New York, NY
Washington, D.C.
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
San Francisco, CA

Bristol Avant Indie Pop Outfit Modesty Blaise Unveil “Carol Mountain” From ‘Melancholia’ Remaster

Eric Alper
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Bristol Avant Indie Pop Outfit Modesty Blaise Unveil “Carol Mountain” From ‘Melancholia’ Remaster

A quietly influential British indie pop record returns with renewed presence. Bristol-based avant indie pop outfit Modesty Blaise share a newly remastered version of “Carol Mountain”, a centrepiece from their landmark album ‘Melancholia’, available now on Bandcamp. The track arrives as the first preview of the album’s 25th Anniversary reissue, an expanded three-disc edition featuring restored audio, session outtakes and refreshed artwork. The full ‘Melancholia – Remaster’ collection lands April 24 via From Lo-Fi To Disco!.

“Carol Mountain formed one of the main tracks of the whole album. It was recorded in multiple parts and using three different drum kits. It’s inspired by Steven Gaines’ book ‘Heroes & Villains’ about The Beach Boys, and written in about half an hour on a Sunday morning,” says Jonny Collins. The recording story moves in the opposite direction. Months of sessions followed, including orchestral musicians from a Bristol orchestra and a barbershop quartet assembled for the arrangement.

The newly edited video draws from footage filmed in New York during a 2002 Modesty Blaise performance. At the time, the band featured Jonny Collins, David W Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney and Julien Clapperton. The visuals capture the group at a moment when the record’s reputation continued to grow beyond its original release.

Originally issued as a standalone single, “Carol Mountain” distills the sonic language that defines ‘Melancholia’. The track unfolds slowly, built on layered instrumentation, orchestral colour and deliberate pacing. The result lands with remarkable poise. It stands as a beautifully constructed piece of English pop songwriting that still carries weight decades later.

The anniversary edition expands the album into three discs: the remastered original record, the ‘Melancholia [de]Construction’ outtakes collection, and ‘Melancholia – The Singles’. The remaster, completed by original engineer Martin Nichols, brings greater dynamic range and deeper detail to the recordings while maintaining the character of the original sessions. The album’s atmosphere remains intact, now presented with renewed depth and dimension.

Ozomatli Co-Founder Raul Pacheco Releases New Man Boy Brown Single “Golden Ride”

Eric Alper
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Ozomatli Co-Founder Raul Pacheco Releases New Man Boy Brown Single “Golden Ride”

Man Boy Brown, the solo project of Ozomatli co-founder Raul Pacheco, has released a new single titled “Golden Ride.”

The buoyant track blends swirling synths with a laid-back dancefloor groove, drawing inspiration from 1970s disco and R&B influences such as Silver Convention and Andrea True. With its smooth pulse and nostalgic feel, “Golden Ride” captures the uplifting spirit of music as both escape and celebration.

“Give me medicine of dance all day / Take it to the night away,” Pacheco sings, summing up the song’s message of joy, movement, and freedom.

While best known as a founding member of the Grammy-winning Los Angeles collective Ozomatli, Pacheco uses Man Boy Brown as a more personal outlet. The project allows him to explore themes of connection, reflection, and self-discovery while revisiting the music that shaped his youth.

Splitting his time between New Mexico and Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles, Pacheco continues balancing his work with Ozomatli while developing this solo creative path. With “Golden Ride,” he delivers a feel-good reminder of the power of music to move both body and spirit.

Ryan and Rory Release Honky-Tonk Party Anthem “Wasn’t Thinkin’”

Eric Alper
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Ryan and Rory Release Honky-Tonk Party Anthem “Wasn’t Thinkin’”

Ryan and Rory are turning up the neon-lit energy with their latest single “Wasn’t Thinkin’,” out now via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

Produced by Kevin Bard and written by Joey Hyde, Ryan Follesé, and Emma-Lee, the track leans into the rowdy side of modern country with cranked-up guitars, a boot-stomping groove, and a chorus built for crowded dance floors and last-call singalongs. The duo recently premiered the song during a return appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.

“Yep, the song is about ‘one of those nights,’” says Ryan Follesé. “Sometimes you don’t need to overthink a good time. Just roll with it.”

“Even in the fog of a morning-after hangover,” adds Rory John Zak, “once you piece together what happened the night before, this song makes you want to run it back again.”

Filled with snapshots of karaoke bars, double pours, and questionable rides home, “Wasn’t Thinkin’” captures the duo’s mix of humor, relatability, and high-energy country attitude.

Ryan and Rory will soon take their momentum overseas with a three-show run in London beginning March 14 as part of the C2C Festival.

The pair have quickly built buzz in country music, earning recognition as a SiriusXM The Highway Find while releasing fan-favorite tracks like “Pour Decisions,” “This Town,” “What’s Mine Is Yours,” and “Truck Stop.” Their growing following has also led to tour dates alongside artists including Sam Hunt, Jamey Johnson, Brett Young, and Tyler Braden.

Dogstar Announce ‘All In Now’ Album And North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Dogstar Announce ‘All In Now’ Album And North American Tour

Los Angeles rock trio Dogstar are back with a new album and a major tour. The band, featuring guitarist and vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Robert Mailhouse, and bassist Keanu Reeves, will release their fourth studio album ‘All In Now’ on May 29 through their own Dillon Street Records.

Produced by Nick Launay, known for work with IDLES, Amyl and the Sniffers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the new record builds on the momentum of Dogstar’s 2023 reunion album ‘Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.’ The band describes the project as energized by their time back on the road playing clubs, theaters, and festivals around the world.

“The album really sets up the energy at the heart of this album and the fun that we’ve always had playing together,” says Robert Mailhouse. Keanu Reeves adds, “Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, ‘let’s work hard and let’s go.’”

TOUR DATES:
May 28 – Highland, CA – bEATS at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
May 29 – Rohnert Park, CA – Graton Resort & Casino

June 11 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre
June 13 – London, UK – Roundhouse
June 14 – Donington Park, UK – Download Festival
June 16 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
June 17 – Paris, FR – L’Olympia
June 19 – Sierre, CH – Sierre Blues Festival
June 21 – Landgraaf, NL – Pinkpop Festival
June 22 – Hamburg, DE – Große Freiheit 36
June 23 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt
June 25 – Stockholm, SE – Gröna Lund
June 26 – Oslo, NO – Tons of Rock Festival
June 27 – Odense, DK – Tinderbox Festival
June 29 – Prague, CZ – SaSaZu

July 1 – Cologne, DE – Carlswerk Victoria
July 2 – Wiltz, LU – Festival de Wiltz
July 4 – Werchter, BE – Rock Werchter
July 7 – Barcelona, ES – Paral·lel 62
July 8 – Madrid, ES – Mad Cool Festival
July 9 – Lisbon, PT – NOS Alive Festival
July 11 – Rome, IT – Auditorium Cavea – Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone
July 12 – Bari, IT – Nuova Fiera del Levante
July 14 – Pordenone, IT – Pordenone Blues & Co. Festival
July 15 – Milan, IT – Teatro Arcimboldi
July 17 – Vienna, AT – Gasometer
July 18 – Budapest, HU – Akvárium Klub

August 1 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theatre
August 2 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
August 4 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
August 5 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
August 7 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
August 8 – Richmond, VA – The National
August 11 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
August 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
August 14 – Atlantic City, NJ – Sound Waves at The Hard Rock
August 15 – Mashantucket, CT – Great Cedar Showroom – Foxwoods Resort & Casino
August 16 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues Boston
August 18 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre
August 19 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
August 21 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino
August 22 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
August 24 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
August 25 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
August 27 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
August 28 – New Buffalo, MI – Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds New Buffalo
August 29 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
August 31 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha

September 2 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
September 3 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex

Electronic Producer Tycho Releases New Instrumental Single “Forge”

Eric Alper
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Electronic Producer Tycho Releases New Instrumental Single “Forge”

San Francisco electronic musician and producer Tycho has released the new instrumental single “Forge.” The track traces its origins to an early demo that eventually evolved into “Boundary Rider,” Scott Hansen’s recent collaboration with Paul Banks.

“‘Boundary Rider’ started life as a demo called ‘Forge,’ a driving open-ended extension of the Epoch-era sound,” Hansen explains. After completing the vocal collaboration, he revisited the original idea to shape it into a fully realized instrumental, pushing Zac Brown’s guitar work forward and opening the arrangement to highlight the song’s atmosphere.

The release continues the creative momentum following Tycho’s 2024 album ‘Infinite Health.’ Alongside the new music, Hansen will bring the project’s immersive visuals and live performances to audiences throughout 2026 with festival appearances and headline shows across North America.

TYCHO ON TOUR 2026:

MARCH

14–15 – San Diego, CA – CRSSD Festival 2026

19–22 – Okeechobee, FL – Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2026

28 – San Francisco, CA – The Castro Theatre

APRIL

03–04 – Pelham, TN – Tycho w/ Washed Out

JUNE

20 – Bellvue, CO – The Mishawaka

JULY

24-27 – Shambhala Music Festival

Rap-Pop Hitmaker Paul Russell Releases New EP ‘Miracle Mile’

Eric Alper
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Rap-Pop Hitmaker Paul Russell Releases New EP ‘Miracle Mile’

Dallas-born rapper, singer, and songwriter Paul Russell has released his new seven-song project ‘Miracle Mile,’ out now through Arista Records. Named after the Los Angeles neighborhood he now calls home, the EP reflects on the importance of community, friendship, and the moments that bring people back to the people who matter most.

Russell wrote much of the project during a year spent slowing down and reconnecting with family and friends. “Miracle Mile is about appreciating your community and the people you love,” he explains. Many of the songs were shaped by real conversations and everyday experiences, creating a reflective collection rooted in gratitude and personal growth.

Across the EP, Russell blends upbeat celebration with laid-back reflection. Songs like “High Maintenance” and “Party” carry the feel of a neighborhood cookout, while tracks such as “No Other Place” and “Last Thing I Do” lean into a calmer, more intimate mood. Russell will celebrate the release with a special live performance at Blue Note in Los Angeles on April 21.

Johnny Orlando Returns With New Single “Have Your Lovin”

Eric Alper
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0
Johnny Orlando Returns With New Single “Have Your Lovin”

Johnny Orlando returns with “Have Your Lovin,” a sleek, pop record that channels pure confidence into two and a half minutes of tension and desire.

Built around blown-out drums, snappy basslines, and unchained vocals, the track pairs a glossy pop backbone with darker, mood-driven textures. Inspired by the energy of early-2010s darker pop and reminiscent of the Starboy-era The Weeknd, “Have Your Lovin” feels sharp, current, and intimate.

Lyrically, it stays in Orlando’s familiar space of romantic push-and-pull, but this time with sharper edges and more self-awareness. It’s less about longing, more about control. “I tried to think up a pop song that I would want to listen to and then made it.” Orlando says.

This release gives fans a bit more insight on Orlando’s creative process and what they can expect from the new album. “Have Your Lovin” marks a decisive turn in this new era, stepping confidently into his new chapter. Culturally, he sits at the intersection of modern pop and indie-leaning alternative, part of a new wave of artists redefining what pop can sound like in 2026.

Oscar Peterson Trio Unveil 1960 Detroit Recordings On ‘Live At Baker’s Keyboard Lounge’

Eric Alper
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0
Oscar Peterson Trio Unveil 1960 Detroit Recordings On ‘Live At Baker’s Keyboard Lounge’

Today, Verve Records is thrilled to announce the release of Oscar Peterson Trio: Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, due out April 17. The stunning collection of previously unreleased performances was recorded in August of 1960 at Detroit’s legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. The album unveils Oscar Peterson’s only recorded performance of the 1929 standard “S’posin,” which debuts today offering a thrilling preview of the trio at full tilt. Listen to the “S’posin” and pre-order the album here.

Captured during a two-week engagement at the height of the trio’s powers, the recordings feature Peterson with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. Already one of the most celebrated groups in jazz, the trio breathes as one throughout these performances, phrasing with uncanny unity no matter the tempo or complexity. Whether roaring through flag-wavers or caressing ballads with lyrical grace, the ensemble’s seamless interplay and aristocratic swing embody what pianist Roger Kellaway famously described as Peterson’s “will to swing.”

The setting was equally iconic. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, located on Detroit’s historic Livernois corridor, has a legitimate claim as the oldest continuously operating jazz club in the world. In 1960, Detroit was a thriving cultural capital and a national jazz stronghold, and Baker’s—with its intimate 99-seat room that hosted the era’s greatest artists—was its epicenter. Peterson himself performed there 18 times between 1957 and 1972, forming a deep bond with the club and its devoted audiences. These recordings now join a short list of historic live documents captured within its storied walls.

Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge will be available in multiple formats. The standard version (CD and 1LP) features key selections from the five sets performed that evening, while the complete recordings (D2C exclusive 3LP and digital) present all five sets in the order they were played, accompanied by extensive liner notes by Detroit jazz historian Mark Stryker. Discovered decades later in a mislabeled box in the Verve vaults, these tapes surface in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Oscar Peterson’s birth on August 15, 1925. More than six decades after they were recorded, these new-to-the-world performances stand as a powerful reminder: there has never been, and will never be, anyone quite like Oscar Peterson.

Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Standard Tracklist
1. Politics & Poker
2. Dancing on the Ceiling
3. S’posin
4. Django
5. Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away)
6. Where Do I Go From Here?
7. Yesterdays
8. Softly As In a Morning Sunrise
9. The Touch Of Your Lips

Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Complete Recordings Tracklist

LP1/SIDE A
1. Autumn Leaves
2. Django
3. Confirmation
4. Whisper Not
5. Closing/Billy Boy

LP1/SIDE B
1. The Touch Of Your Lips
2. Ill Wind
3. Chicago

LP2/SIDE A
1. I Love You
2. Closing/Blues For Big Scotia
3. Dancing On The Ceiling
4. Politics & Poker
5. Where Do I Go From Here?

LP2/SIDE B
1. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
2. Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away)
3. Yesterdays
4. Softly As a Morning Sunrise
5. S’posin

LP3/SIDE A
1. I Remember Clifford
2. Let There Be Love
3. Swamp Fire
4. Closing/Intros/Blues For Big Scotia
5. Satin Doll

LP3/SIDE B
1. Woody ’n’ You
2. My Funny Valentine
3. Scrapple From The Apple
4. Closing/Intros/Billy Boy/When The Saints Go Marching In

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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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