Today, singer, songwriter, producer Joji shares “PIXELATED KISSES.” The single marks his first new music since 2022’s SMITHEREENS, which featured the RIAA 2x Platinum, #1 Spotify Global 50 hit “Glimpse of Us.”
Entirely written, produced, and recorded by Joji, “PIXELATED KISSES” marks a sonic return to form. Joji’s quintessential pared-down vocals and an indelible hook unite with a gritty trap beat for a masterclass on the art of simplicity. The resulting product is haunting, moody, and indelible, representing the core of his artistry and what makes it so special.
Since his breakthrough in 2017, Joji has released four critically-acclaimed studio albums BALLADS 1 (2018), which included the RIAA-certified 5x Platinum single “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK,” Nectar (2020), and SMITHEREENS (2022), which featured his highest-charting single to date “Glimpse of Us.” In support of these projects, he has toured internationally and performed at major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Reading & Leeds. In 2023, he embarked on the OBLIVION and PANDEMONIUM arena tours, spanning 41 shows with sold-out dates at Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Kia Forum, Crypto.com Arena, United Center, and London’s Gunnersbury Park.
K-pop sensations Riize are turning up the volume this fall with the launch of their first major North American tour, the 2025 Riize Concert Tour [Rizing Loud] in North America. Set to bring their dynamic performances and global hits to stages across the country, the group is gearing up to connect with American fans like never before. Produced by SM Entertainment and promoted by AEG Presents, the tour will hit eight major cities in North America beginning October 30th in Rosemont, IL, with additional stops in cities including New York, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and concluding in Mexico City on November 13th.
The run will bring all songs from Riize’s full-length debut album, Odyssey, to the live stage for the first time in the U.S., giving fans a chance to experience the group’s evolving sound and vision in person. Released on May 19th, Odyssey marks a major milestone in Riize’s artistic journey, celebrating their ongoing growth and creative exploration since their debut nearly two years ago. Featuring ten tracks – including the soaring title song “Fly Up” – the album blends Riize’s signature Emotional Pop style with deeply personal storytelling and a powerful message of self-reflection and ambition. With ODYSSEY, Riize invites fans to join them on a new chapter of their real-time journey – and now, through electrifying live performances, North American audiences will be part of that story like never before.
The tour officially kicked off on July 4th with three sold-out shows in Seoul, collectively drawing an astonishing 31,000 fans and setting the tone for what promises to be a global phenomenon. The massive turnout not only demonstrated Riize’s explosive popularity at home, but also underscored their growing international reach. With fans from around the world already rallying behind this next chapter, the group is poised to bring that same electrifying energy to North American stages, cementing their status as one of K-pop’s most exciting and globally resonant acts.
2025 Riize Concert Tour [Rizing Loud] in North America Dates:
Oct 30 – Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre Nov 1 – New York, NY @ The Theater at Madison Square Garden Nov 2 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem Nov 4 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena Nov 7 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater Nov 9 – San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Nov 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Peacock Theater Nov 14 – Mexico City, MEX @ Velódromo Olímpico
Multi-platinum selling rock band Puddle of Mudd have released their new lyric video for the song “Firefly.” This track comes from the band’s latest album, Kiss the Machine, which was released earlier this year in the spring.
Frontman Wes Scantlin says, “I wrote ‘Firefly’ as a tribute to Layne Staley, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, and all the fallen soldiers who gave their lives. Their voices and sacrifices lit a fire in me, and I wanted this song to be a way of keeping their light alive.”
Scantlin also notes, “They all struggled with demons most people couldn’t see, and the song is my way of recognizing that pain while keeping their light alive. I’ve been through my own battles too, and I’m in a better place now. I feel lucky to still be here. I’m a lucky dude. Music heals me, and I hope it heals others as well.”
“Firefly” was cathartic for Scantlin to create, as the song serves as both a tribute and a personal reflection. The track weaves together themes of grief and resilience. “Firefly” had been an idea that Scantlin thought about for several years, but it wasn’t until last year when he came up with the guitar part that completed it.
Another important theme of “Firefly” is childhood nostalgia. Scantlin shares, “I miss my grandma. She used to kick us kids out of the kitchen before supper and send us outside, where we’d catch fireflies in jars and turn them into makeshift lanterns. Those sweet, beautiful memories stayed with me and are woven into this song. I wanted that feeling of joy and light to live inside the song alongside the sadness. The Firefly is that spark of hope we hold onto, even in the darkest times.”
Scantlin hopes “Firefly” resonates with anyone who has felt loss or struggled in silence. At its core, the song is about connection.
Last month, trailblazing pop duo Goldfrapp celebrated two decades of their seminal third album Supernature by announcing the upcoming release of the 20th Anniversary deluxe edition, arriving November 21 via MUTE/BMG. Today they share a brand new remix of “Koko” reimagined by Sun’s Signature, the transcendent project of Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) & Damon Reece (Massive Attack, Spiritualized).
Sun’s Signature bring their singular dreamlike palette to “Koko,” weaving together Fraser’s ethereal vocals and Reece’s cinematic atmospherics to transform the track into a lush, otherworldly reverie. Known for blurring the boundaries between ambient, avant-garde, and pop, the duo infuse the remix with their signature alchemy–mysterious, expansive, and deeply emotive.
This follows the recent release of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory’s remix of the acid-tinged, bewitching “You Never Know” – their first fresh Goldfrapp release in years, which was a thrilling moment for longtime fans.
Originally released in 2005, Supernature was Goldfrapp’s era-defining masterpiece, a multi-layered sonic-pop thriller that shattered the electronic rulebook, replacing it with a radical, high-gloss vision of pop music at its most seductive and strange. It took everything Black Cherry achieved and booted it into infinity, bathed in lip-glossed euphoria and mixed to ecstatic perfection by the legendary Spike Stent (Madonna, Björk, Massive Attack, U2), and became the blueprint which inspired a new wave of pop.
Supernature catapulted Goldfrapp into the pop stratosphere, spawning now-classic singles like “Ooh La La,” “Number 1,” and “Ride A White Horse.” The album topped charts worldwide, earned multi-platinum sales, garnered multiple BRIT and GRAMMY nominations, while their live shows became legendary for their mesmerising visuals and unforgettable performances. The duo’s impact continues to resonate in pop culture, with their music appearing as the enigmatic soundtrack to a wide spectrum of films, TV and advertisements, an Ivor Novello award for “Strict Machine” in 2004 and the prestigious Ivor’s Inspiration Award in 2021, solidifying their lasting legacy as one of the most innovative acts in pop history.
Now reissued for its 20th anniversary, the deluxe edition offers fans the classic original album alongside B-sides, classic & brand new remixes, unreleased live radio session recordings and a Blu-ray 5.1 surround mix. The release is presented across 3 CDs in deluxe packaging, alongside a stunning peacock-coloured double vinyl edition featuring a remix EP, with everything cut at half speed for enhanced sound quality. The new edition includes two brand new Goldfrapp remixes by Alison Goldfrapp & Will Gregory, with exclusive reinterpretations from Richard X, Sun’s Signature (Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) & Damon Reece (Massive Attack, Spiritualized) and more.
With the release of this deluxe edition, Goldfrapp don’t just revisit Supernature, they reaffirm its enduring influence in 2025’s musical landscape and beyond. A shimmering, defiant triumph of glam-pop futurism, it remains lightyears ahead and continues to inspire a new generation of sonic iconoclasts.
Today, Grammy-nominated artist and cultural icon Wale released “Mirroronnabenz” with BNYX, the latest single off of his widely-anticipated upcoming eighth studio album. The deeply personal track arrives following the recent announcement of everything is a lot., set to drop on November 14, 2025 via Def Jam Recordings.
“Mirroronnabenz” is Wale’s third single this year, following the delivery of “Where to Start” (June 2025) and “Blanco” (March 2025). Featuring the genre-bending sounds of chart-topping producer and songwriter BNYX, the song marks one of Wale’s most introspective records to date. With a rhythmic hook and nimble lyricism, “Mirroronnabenz” acts as a mirror, reflecting on Wale’s past and the events that shaped him.
On the track, Wale reckons with identity, success and self-worth. The legendary, DMV-born rapper revisits early ambitions, relatable insecurities, and the mental toll of navigating fame. The recurring mantra “You deserve everything you do,” serves as both an affirmation and a reminder of self-love amid life’s challenges.
As one of the DMV’s most celebrated MCs, Wale has collaborated with chart topping artists including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, SZA, Miguel, Rick Ross and more. Wale returned to music in 2023, following a brief hiatus, with a new deal under Def Jam Recordings. Peaking #1 on Billboard 200 with its 2015 release, Wale’s acclaimed album, The Album About Nothing is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year.
Universal Music Canada (UMC), the country’s leading music company, and GRAMMY-nominated, JUNO Award-winning songwriter / producer Lowell, today announce a new creative partnership.
This strategic collaboration officially integrates Lowell’s unparalleled creative insights and proven hitmaking abilities across UMC’s industry-leading A&R team. Specializing in artist development, Lowell is a proven powerhouse in consistently breaking artists. Whether producing, writing, or A&R’ing projects, her ability to anticipate stylistic and production trends has launched countless artistic projects into successful careers.
“Working with the best in the industry to support artists achieve their greatest potential is the UMC standard, and this partnership further solidifies that commitment,” said Amanda Kingsland, VP A&R, Universal Music Canada. “Her remarkable success as a songwriter and her ability to craft global hits speaks volumes, but more than that, Lowell has an exceptional gift for finding and nurturing talent while helping artists grow into their best selves.”
“Lowell is a creative force. Her incredible passion and fearless approach to music make her one of one. We exist to help artists achieve artistic and commercial success on a global stage out of Canada, and we are so excited, and grateful Lowell is joining us to supercharge that mission,” said Julie Adam, President & CEO, Universal Music Canada.
Lowell is one of the most in-demand creative forces in music today, known for her collaborations with Beyoncé, Madison Beer, Charli XCX, Tate McRae, Charlie Puth, The Beaches, Lennon Stella, Hailee Steinfeld, Sofia Camara, bülow, and many more. Her work includes co-writes on global hits for superstars like Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em” and “Bodyguard”), Tate McRae (“r u ok”), recent tracks with UMC’s rising pop star Sofia Camara (“Who Do I Call Now” and “Girls Like You”), and much more.
“Universal Music Canada and I have been unofficially working together all the way back to our joint work with bülow, and more recently, Valley, Sofia Camara, and more. I’m so excited to be able to be even more involved with the team and all their amazing artists,” said Lowell. “Julie and I have quickly become kindred spirits, and I have so much respect for her, not only what she has already achieved in a short time in her position but what I know she will do moving forward. She has quickly shown me her uniquely immense respect for creatives, and in thinking outside of the box, which is imperative in this rapidly changing industry. Her willingness to grow and learn even from the top inspires me. I can’t wait to see what we can do together!“
Recently recognized with the inaugural JUNO Award for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer), SOCAN’s International Achievement Award, and honoured as part of Billboard Canada’s Women in Music Industry Spotlight, Lowell is one of Canada’s most talented songwriters / producers.
The Icy Girl Saweetie is back in her bag and hotter than ever. The multi-hyphenate, Grammy-nominated artist, style icon, and global trendsetter returns with a flawless new EP, Hella Pressure, out now via Warner Records, and a sizzling single, “Boffum” (pronounced bow-fum), a high-energy banger produced by Grammy-winning hitmaker J White Did It.
Built around a hypnotic bassline, slick Bay Area bounce, and her signature West Coast swag, “boffum” brings Saweetie back to her hyphy roots, with a modern-day twist. Laced with slick talk, savage punchlines, and Saweetie’s slang-laced dialect, the track is playful, powerful, and primed to take over every speaker from the club to the cookout.
With her forthcoming EP, Saweetie reminds the world she’s not just in the conversation- she is the conversation. Stay tuned for the official “Boffum” music video and more music dropping soon.
Saweetie’s “Icy Hot” juxtaposition is on full display in the cover art, as she stuns in a bikini with snow white fur, diamonds, and a luxe trapper hat with a bold red visor. Saweetie embodies the spirit of her new single, “Buffum,” meaning both of ‘em. She’s a bold, confident woman who doesn’t have to choose between sides because she’s all of it, all at once.
“New music? New era? Why not boffum?” Saweetie teases. “This track is all about embracing your duality and owning every side of who you are. I’m so excited for the Icy Gang to hear it, and I can’t wait to finally share the project I’ve been working on.”
This latest chapter follows a series of major milestones that cemented Saweetie’s place in music and culture. With nearly six billion global streams, she’s delivered chart-topping hits like the platinum-certified “Tap In,” the quadruple platinum smash “My Type,” and the multi-platinum anthem “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat, which earned her two Grammy nominations. Beyond music, Saweetie has landed roles in Starz’s BMF and the fashion comedy Idiotka, which premiered at SXSW.
Whether through her viral moments, bold fashion statements, or community-driven initiatives, Saweetie continues to shape the culture, and with “boffum,” she’s turning up the temperature and stepping fully into her power.
The story of Manic Street Preachers is unique in pop. Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, they were bonded by friendships, family ties and a self-styled ‘geometry of contempt’, whereby James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore would orchestrate the daring intellectual broadsides written by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire. Seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair, the story took an agonising twist when the tragedy of Edwards’ 1995 disappearance was followed by a remarkable rebirth built upon ‘A Design For Life’s hymn to the band’s working-class roots, and then the award-winning, multi-million-selling album Everything Must Go, a majestic soundtrack to history and loss.
Less than five years later, Manic Street Preachers played to 60,000 at the national stadium of Wales and had their second UK Number 1 single. Subsequent output has confirmed the band as both a wellspring of restless creativity and a barometer of the cultural conversation.
Because it was music that saved them, it’s through the prism of their music that Keith Cameron tells the definitive history of Manic Street Preachers, drawing on many hours of new interviews to dive deep into 168 songs, from 1988’s debut single ‘Suicide Alley’ to the late day peaks of 2025’s album Critical Thinking. Writing with the band’s full co-operation, his book charts the dynamic evolution of a universe in which Karl Marx and Kylie Minogue happily co-exist, that accords Rush and The Clash equal favor, and where Morrissey & Marr meet Torvill & Dean via Nietzsche and New Order in a single four-minute pop song – all in the name of what Nicky Wire himself calls ‘the fabulous disaster’ of Manic Street Preachers.
A journalist since 1988, Keith Cameron is currently a contributing editor at MOJO. He previously worked for Sounds and New Musical Express, and his writing has appeared in the Guardian, TheTimes, the Sunday Times, Scotland On Sunday, Kerrang! and Q. He is author of Mudhoney: The Sound and the Fury from Seattle, acclaimed by Mark Lanegan as ‘the definitive book on ’90s Seattle music’.
Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, earns the biggest first week in music history with over 4 million U.S. and 5.5 million global album-equivalent units. Upon release, the album shattered countless records and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking another historic milestone in Swift’s career. Dominating across all platforms, The Life of a Showgirl amassed more than 1.5 billion global streams, securing the largest debut of 2025.
Taylor Swift commented, “I’ll never forget how excited I was in 2006 when my first album sold 40,000 copies in its first week. I was 16 and couldn’t even fathom that that many people would care enough about my music to invest their time and energy into it. Since then I’ve tried to meet and thank as many people as I could who have given me the chance to chase this insane dream. Here we are all these years later and a hundred times that many people showed up for me this week. I have 4 million thank you’s I want to send to the fans, and 4 million reasons to feel even more proud of this album than I already was. Thank you for going out to celebrate this project in the movie theaters, investing in vinyl, streaming, watching the video, buying CDs, reading the poems I wrote inside the packaging, and immersing yourselves in The Life of a Showgirl. I’ll cherish this feeling forever.”
See below for other key highlights and listen to The Life of a Showgirl – HERE.
Billboard 200 Achievements
The Life of a Showgirl posts the largest sales week for any album in US music history.
Marks Swift’s 15th No. 1 album, breaking the record for the most No. 1 albums in the 21st century.
Sets the record for the most No. 1 albums by a solo artist.
Extends her record as the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in Billboard 200 history.
Continues her streak of 11 consecutive studio albums debuting at No. 1, beginning with Fearless (2008). Including four “Taylor’s Version” re-recordings, Swift has now achieved 15 consecutive No. 1 debuts.
With this release, Swift reaches her 87th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, extending her records for:
Most weeks at No. 1 in the 21st century
Most weeks at No. 1 by a solo artist in history
Most weeks at No. 1 by a female artist in history
Billboard Hot 100 Achievements
“The Fate of Ophelia”
13th #1 single on the Hot 100
Ties for fourth most #1 hits in chart history
Third most for a female artist
Ties for second most #1 hits in the 21st century
Ties as the only soloist to have 13 #1 singles and 13 #1 albums
Album
First album in history with all its songs appearing uninterrupted from #1 through #12
Joins Taylor’s ‘Midnights’ and ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ as the only albums in history to produce #1 through #10 on the Billboard Hot 100
Vinyl Records
The Life of a Showgirl earned the largest vinyl sales week in Nielsen history, surpassing 1 million units sold – the first album ever to achieve this milestone.
Streaming Records
Spotify:
“The Fate of Ophelia” set the record for the most daily and weekly streams of any song in Spotify history.
The album achieved the largest standard edition debut in Spotify history with 250 million streams.
Swift now holds the top 19 biggest song debuts and the top 4 biggest album debuts in Spotify history.
“The Fate of Ophelia” also became the fastest song to surpass 100 million streams.
Swift is now the only artist to simultaneously hold the platform’s top single-day and weekly records across song, album, and artist categories.
Taylor Swift holds the top 4 biggest album debuts in Spotify history
“The Fate of Ophelia” fastest song to surpass 100 million streams in Spotify history
Taylor Swift now holds top song, album and artist single day and weekly records on platform
Taylor Swift now holds top 3 fastest albums to 1 Billion on Spotify
“Opalite” fastest non-single to reach 100 million streams in Spotify history
Apple:
The Life of a Showgirl posted the largest iTunes and Apple Music debuts of 2025.
“The Fate of Ophelia” posted the largest Apple Music debut of 2025.
Amazon:
The album achieved the largest debut in Amazon Music history
Global Performance
#1 Debuts reported as of Sunday
#1 UK
#1 Australia
#1 Canada
#1 Germany
#1 France
#1 Austria
#1 Belgium
#1 Denmark
#1 Finland
#1 Ireland
#1 Italy
#1 Netherlands
#1 New Zealand
#1 Norway
#1 Portugal
#1 Spain
#1 Sweden
#1 Switzerland
UK
With 423k sold, The Life of a Showgirl surpasses The Tortured Poets Department, as the biggest debut since 2017
Taylor is the first artist in history to consecutively hold the #1 album, #1, #2, #3 singles, and #1 airplay song in the UK
Taylor is officially the international artist with the most No.1 albums in UK chart history (14)
The Life of a Showgirl is the biggest selling week one album by an international act in UK chart history
‘The Fate Of Ophelia’ biggest Week 1 streams by an international artist ever
‘The Fate of Ophelia’, ‘Opalite’ and ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ 3 biggest Week 1 singles sales of 2025 in the UK
Australia
The Life of a Showgirl debuts with the biggest week one sales since 2015
Taylor Swift extends her record for most #1 albums by a female artist in Australian history (14), and ties for the most #1 albums for an International artist (14)
Taylor Swift extends her previous record as the only artist to hold the #1 album and #1 single simultaneously, now for the 8th time.
The Life of a Showgirl breaks record for biggest streaming week in Australian history
Taylor Swift becomes first artist to capture the entire Top 12 on the Official Singles Chart in Australian history
Germany
The Life of a Showgirl debuts #1 in Germany with the highest grossing week for an international solo artist since the current German chart (GFK) launched 25 years ago
First International Artist to ever debut at #1 on both the Album and Singles charts
First artist to ever land 8 singles in the Top 10
Biggest weekly vinyl sales in German chart history
Canada
The Life of a Showgirl is the biggest album debut in Canada (of the modern streaming era) and the biggest album debut in Canada since 2015
Taylor Swift now holds the Top 5 highest album debuts (of the modern streaming era)
This is Taylor Swift’s 15th #1 album in Canada. She is now tied for the most #1 albums of all-time in this country and is the only non-Canadian artist to reach this milestone in this country
“The Fate of Ophelia” becomes the most streamed song in a single day and a single week in Canadian History
The 12 songs on The Life of a Showgirl capture the top 12 spots on the Billboard Canada Song Consumption Chart
France
The Life of a Showgirl debuts as the biggest selling English-language album since 2015
Austria
The Life of a Showgirl debuts at #1 and singles at #1, #2 and #3 single – the first non-GSA artist in history to consecutively hold the #1 album, and #1, #2, #3 singles, in Austria
Ireland
The Life of a Showgirl debuts with the biggest week one sales since 2017
Taylor Swift has the most #1 albums in Irish history
Taylor Swift is the only artist to consecutively hold the #1 album, and #1, #2, #3 singles, this decade
Italy
The Life of a Showgirl is the biggest selling debut by an international act in Italian chart history
The Life of a Showgirl is the biggest selling debut by any female artist (Domestic and International) in Italian chart history
Netherlands
The Life of a Showgirl debuts with the biggest week one sales since 2015
New Zealand
Taylor’s 15th #1, extending her record with the most #1 albums in the market.
The Life of a Showgirl debuts with the biggest week one sales since 2017
Sweden
The Life of a Showgirl debut’s #1, surpassing The Tortured Poets Department as the biggest debut ever by an international artist
Switzerland
The Life of a Showgirl debuts at #1 and singles at #1, #2 and #3 single
Will.i.am returns with the new single, “East LA,” featuring fellow Black Eyed Peas member Taboo via Epic Records. A heartfelt tribute to their California roots, the track arrives alongside an official music video, directed by Will.i.am and Sterling Hampton IV.
Drawing inspiration from their upbringing in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights, the song begins by deftly reimagining Santana’s iconic “Maria Maria,” which references the area with the refrain, “Maria, Maria, she fell in love in East LA.” Will.i.am and Taboo infuse the track with personal storytelling and deep cultural pride. The result is a powerful celebration of community, identity, and resilience.
Will.i.am was inspired to write the song after feeling a need to recognize the deep sense of community and pride felt in his hometown in light of recent political events. He channels that urgency into the spirit of the song.
As a member of one of the few black families in the predominantly Mexican-American Estrada Courts housing project in East Los Angeles, Will.i.am witnessed firsthand the strength and solidarity of his community. In response to ongoing ICE raids that continue to impact immigrant neighborhoods across the country—including in Boyle Heights, East LA—he felt a renewed urgency to uplift and support the place that shaped him. With nobody better than Taboo to add an even further personal touch, they pay tribute to an enduring spirit, celebrating the same feeling of resilience and unity of their East LA community.
![Riize Bring Their Emotional Pop Sound To North America With ‘Odyssey’ Tour [Rizing Loud]](https://www.thatericalper.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/download-7-15-768x432.jpg "Riize Bring Their Emotional Pop Sound To North America With ‘Odyssey’ Tour [Rizing Loud]")
