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Reggie Watts Releases Five One-Of-A-Kind Vinyl Records Through Ghostnote Collaboration

Eric Alper
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Reggie Watts Releases Five One-Of-A-Kind Vinyl Records Through Ghostnote Collaboration

Ghostnote, an innovative new marketplace where music lovers can own a genuine piece of musical history, has partnered with musician/comedian/writer/actor Reggie Watts on a special opportunity for fans: Five self‑pressed and hand‑doodled, vinyl records – featuring unreleased music, and more.

Pressed in-house at LA’s Vinyl Ceremony, the A‑side features a live‑looped collaboration with Kyle Kaivita—who also designed the “tape‑and‑ice” liner image. Kyle live‑loops sample beats and warm Rhodes‑style keys, while Watts adds sprinkles and vocals – an improvisation at LA’s Gold Diggers. The B‑side is a bright, tight track—a Berlin studio session with Delwin Campbell.

Also available: two cassettes and two stamping plates from the pressing. Fans will be able to make offers on the items starting today via Ghostnote. 

On Ghostnote, every item is a one-of-a-kind creation, straight from the artist’s hands—written, played, drawn, or even worn during their creative journey. Each piece has its story told and authenticated by the artist on Ghostnote. With a secure resale model, each new owner joins the registry, and the artist receives a royalty—making everyone part of the creative adventure, with artists earning along the way.

Ghostnote founder, Brett Allen says, “It’s about getting everyone involved—each item becomes more special as it’s passed from one fan to another – and artists keep earning as their items find new homes. Our resale ecosystem enables artists and fans to continue experiencing something creative, together.” 

About the collaboration, Watts said, ““I love making stuff the easy, fun way and getting it directly to fans. I create a lot, and the traditional systems can’t keep up. These records are curated objects – (on Ghostnote) you experience the things you love, then let them go – I hope these records float around.” 

Jason Burkhart, Vinyl Ceremony owner, on the connection between the two companies, “At Vinyl Ceremony, we invite artists into the vinyl-making process—test pressings and on‑site personalization—but it’s Ghostnote’s artifact provenance that completes the picture, ensuring that fans get both the physical soul and the verifiable story of the work.”

To mark the special collaboration between Reggie Watts and Ghostnote, fans have the chance to win the “It’s not a recording, but it is a record” liner card prototype, with hand doodles and an autograph by Watts. Simply sign up for a Ghostnote account to enter the giveaway. For more details, visit HERE.

Rough Starts That Led to Greatness: When Legends Began Before They Arrived

Eric Alper
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Rough Starts That Led to Greatness: When Legends Began Before They Arrived

Not every icon comes roaring out of the gate. Some of the biggest names in music history started quietly, awkwardly, or far from fully formed. These early records did not define their legacies, but they do reveal something more human: artists learning who they were, and how to get there.

Below are ten of the most famous names whose early albums hinted at greatness without fully capturing it yet.

Bjork
Bjork released her first solo album, ‘Bjork’, while still a child, rooted in Icelandic pop traditions far removed from her later experimental brilliance. It is rarely counted in her official catalog, yet it shows an early comfort with voice and individuality that would define her future work.

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s debut, ‘Bob Dylan’, leaned heavily on folk standards with little hint of the lyrical revolution to come. While confident in delivery, it was ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ that revealed his singular voice. The leap forward remains one of music’s most astonishing evolutions.

David Bowie
David Bowie’s self-titled debut ‘David Bowie’ arrived closer to British music hall than the cosmic innovator he would become. Curious, theatrical, and searching, it captures an artist trying on identities before inventing an entirely new universe.

Genesis
Genesis began with ‘From Genesis to Revelation’, a soft, pastoral album shaped by late-60s pop expectations. Its modest impact masked the progressive ambition quietly forming beneath the surface. The band’s defining sound was still a few bold steps away.

Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson’s early albums ‘Janet Jackson’ and ‘Dream Street’ arrived under tight industry control, offering little sense of the authority she would later claim. By the time she reached ‘Control’, her voice, vision, and confidence fully aligned. The transformation was unmistakable.

Katy Perry
Before global pop stardom, Katy Perry debuted as Katy Hudson with the album ‘Katy Hudson’, a Christian rock release that found a small audience and then faded. Reinvention followed. Persistence and adaptability became the foundation of her eventual breakthrough.

Metallica
Metallica’s debut ‘Kill ’Em All’ arrived through underground channels rather than mainstream platforms. Its reach grew slowly, driven by word of mouth and live shows. Over time, it became a cornerstone of thrash metal and a blueprint for a new genre.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s earliest solo albums, beginning with ‘Got to Be There’, framed him as a youthful prodigy rather than a fully realized artist. Though successful in their moment, they feel distant from the creative control he later achieved. His true solo identity emerged later.

Prince
Prince’s debut ‘For You’ showcased strong instincts within familiar late-70s R&B conventions. It hinted at talent without revealing the full scope of his ambition. Within a few short years, his sound and creative control expanded into something unmistakably his own.

Tori Amos
Tori Amos debuted with ‘Y Kant Tori Read’, a polished pop-rock album shaped by industry expectations rather than personal instinct. Its reception was muted. Her later work revealed a fearless songwriter who transformed vulnerability into lasting artistic power.

Why Everyone Suddenly Wants a ChatGPT Caricature and Why It Totally Works

Eric Alper
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Why Everyone Suddenly Wants a ChatGPT Caricature and Why It Totally Works

Scroll your feed for five minutes and you will see it. Big heads. Bigger smiles. Eyes doing more emotional work than a power ballad chorus. The ChatGPT caricature trend is everywhere, and it is doing exactly what great pop culture moments do best: turning everyday people into instant icons.

Caricatures have always lived at the sweet spot between art and ego. Boardwalk sketches. Magazine illustrations. Album liner notes that made musicians look cooler than real life. What has changed is the speed. With ChatGPT, a single photo can become a playful, exaggerated version of you in seconds. No sitting still. No awkward small talk. Just pure personality, amplified.

The secret sauce is that these caricatures are not about realism. They are about vibe. Editorial. Cartoon-adjacent. Fun without feeling sloppy. And the internet loves a look that feels intentional.

Here is how to make one that actually works.

Start with the right photo. Clear lighting. Front-facing. Head and shoulders. No sunglasses, no heavy filters, no mysterious shadows. Think passport photo, but happier.

Upload that photo directly into ChatGPT with image generation enabled. Then comes the most important part: the prompt.

Ask for a colorful caricature-style illustration. Tell it to exaggerate facial features slightly while keeping them recognizable. Request clean, bold outlines, expressive eyes, and a polished editorial illustration style. Bright but natural colors. Smooth shading. Fun, modern, and finished.

If the first result is close but not perfect, tweak it like a producer in the studio. Ask for a slightly bigger head. More expressive eyes. Less cartoon, more magazine illustration. Softer lines. Sharper colors. This is remix culture, not one-and-done.

What makes the ChatGPT caricature trend stick is its flexibility. Musicians use them for promo. Writers use them for bylines. Editors use them for newsletters. Fans use them just because they can. It is low-stakes creativity with high personality payoff.

Caricatures exaggerate what makes us unique. ChatGPT just handed that power to everyone. And honestly, that is a pretty great look.

Kesha Turns “Delusional” Into A Trance Floor Moment With Armin van Buuren

Eric Alper
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0
Kesha Turns “Delusional” Into A Trance Floor Moment With Armin van Buuren

Kesha continues reimagining tracks from her chart-topping sixth studio album ‘Period’ with the release of “Delusional (Armin van Buuren Remix),” available everywhere now via Kesha Records. The collaboration with the legendary DJ and producer transforms the album standout into a high-energy, trance-forward anthem that has already proven its power in front of massive crowds.

“Kesha and I first connected in the studio a few years ago, and since then we’ve continued writing and creating together,” says Armin van Buuren. “Our chemistry and connection made this remix feel completely natural.” He adds, “I wanted to preserve the emotion and message while shaping it into something that really reflects my sound.” The result lands as an uplifting, driving remix rooted in classic trance melodies.

The remix has quickly become a favorite across social media, fueled by van Buuren’s recent spins at Amsterdam Music Festival and Tomorrowland Brazil. The track hits with confidence and momentum, earning enthusiastic reactions for its euphoric lift and club-ready intensity. “Delusional” shines here as a bold, emotionally charged moment built for communal release.

“Delusional (Armin van Buuren Remix)” follows the recent release of “Glow (Blusher Remix),” featuring Australian pop trio Blusher. Next month, Blusher will join Kesha as special guests on the Australia and New Zealand leg of her world headline run, “The Tits Out Tour,” beginning February 19 at Brisbane’s Riverstage and including sold-out arena dates across the region.

Both “Delusional” and “Glow” appear on ‘Period,’ the album that also fueled Kesha’s largest headlining tour to date. After Australia and New Zealand, Kesha heads to the UK and Europe for her first headline run there in over a decade, opening March 4 in Berlin and closing March 31 in Dublin, continuing a global chapter defined by creative freedom and undeniable live power.

Hunter Hayes Announces New Single “Too Late” and Forthcoming Album ‘Evergreen’

Eric Alper
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Hunter Hayes Announces New Single “Too Late” and Forthcoming Album ‘Evergreen’

Hunter Hayes shares “Too Late,” the newest track from his forthcoming album ‘Evergreen,’ arriving Friday, March 6, 2026 via LP Entertainment. The song lands with emotional clarity, offering a grounded message about patience, renewal, and choosing growth on your own timeline. “Too Late” resonates as a striking reminder that healing remains available at every stage of life, delivered with warmth and conviction.

“‘Too Late’ is me telling myself, and anyone who needs to hear it, that there’s no expiration date on healing,” Hayes says. “You can always change your mind about yourself, your story, or what’s possible.” The sentiment carries real weight, and the song’s openness has already earned praise as one of his most affirming and emotionally generous releases to date.

‘Evergreen’ completes a trilogy that began with ‘Wild Blue’ and ‘Red Sky,’ mapping a journey from optimism through conflict to resolution. Across ten tracks, Hayes blends pop, country, folk, R&B, and indie rock, with lyrics centered on renewal, self-discovery, compassion, and presence. The record moves with intention and confidence, unfolding as a cohesive statement rather than a collection of moments.

Hayes calls the album “a letter from your future self,” framing it as both an emotional reset and a statement of manifestation. Guided by his motto, “Be good to yourself and the world around you,” the album reflects an artist writing toward the life he wants to inhabit, not reacting to the noise around him.

Recorded with co-producer Alex Flagstad, ‘Evergreen’ captures the full scope of Hayes’ creativity. Standout moments include the blues-leaning “Until She Comes Along,” the cinematic reassurance of “Around the Sun,” the playfully vulnerable “Every Piece,” the infectious “Wait,” and the atmospheric title track. The album stands as a vivid, fully realized chapter in Hayes’ evolving body of work.

Wolverhampton Newcomers FRIEDA STAR Debut With Poignant Single ‘Mothers and Sisters’

Eric Alper
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Wolverhampton Newcomers FRIEDA STAR Debut With Poignant Single ‘Mothers and Sisters’

Wolverhampton-based outfit FRIEDA STAR has officially arrived with their debut single, ‘Mothers and Sisters’, out now. The track introduces the band’s signature Black Country sound, characterized by Xavier Al-Naqib’s “life-affirming” basslines, James Knott’s intricate guitar work, and the textured drumming of Scarlett Churchill. This debut effort serves as a vehicle for songwriter Garran Hickman’s idiosyncratic lyrics, blending fuzzy indie sensibilities with a sharp, scintillating energy. To celebrate the launch, the group will perform their first headline show next week on February 7 at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham.

The single carries a heavy and vital message, born from a distressing real-life experience. The band revealed that the track “was inspired by an up-skirting incident involving Garran’s girlfriend, while returning home from Birmingham via the railway.” Hickman used his songwriting as a cathartic outlet for the “frustrations and angst” following the event. In a collective statement, the band expressed their hope that the song “demands the attention this injustice deserves,” noting that these “monstrous forms of misogyny are still present in modern society yet having been highlighted for decades.”

Toronto’s Katie Dauson Blends 70s Rock And Rockabilly On New Single ‘Get Ready’

Eric Alper
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0
Toronto’s Katie Dauson Blends 70s Rock And Rockabilly On New Single ‘Get Ready’

Toronto singer-songwriter Katie Dauson has released her latest single, ‘Get Ready’, a high-energy track that merges blues, rockabilly, and classic 70s rock and roll. Produced and engineered by James Nickle, the song features Dauson on rhythm guitar and harmonica, the latter of which was a spontaneous addition to the arrangement. Dauson noted that while there was originally no harmonica on the track, “after hearing Bob Seger’s Katmandu and his iconic harmonica solos, I knew I had to add them—and play them myself.” The artist drew further technical inspiration from legends Junior Wells and James Cotton, blending their soulful grit with a vocal style reminiscent of Wanda Jackson.

Lyrically, ‘Get Ready’ explores the tension between self-doubt and the motivation it provides to succeed. Dauson uses the track to confront detractors with a challenge to “rise up or step aside,” while maintaining a vibrant, positive atmosphere throughout the song. She explained that the track is “full of energy, from the vocals to the rhythm guitar and harmonica solos.” By channeling the influence of George Harrison through her 2014 Gretsch Duo Jet, Dauson continues to showcase the genre-defying versatility that has become her signature. The result is a timeless rock and roll anthem that encourages listeners to face their challenges with an upbeat perspective.

Wille And The Bandits Unveil Latin-Rock Inspired Single “Reina Del Mar” From Upcoming Album

Eric Alper
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Wille And The Bandits Unveil Latin-Rock Inspired Single “Reina Del Mar” From Upcoming Album

Wille and the Bandits have released their new single and video “Reina del Mar,” a Latin-rock influenced track that highlights the group’s diverse musical identity. The song is the third release from their forthcoming ten-track album Salt Roots, which was produced by frontman Wille Edwards alongside Josiah Manning and is set for release on February 27, 2026. Describing the track’s origins, Edwards noted: “I wrote the initial riff around 10 years ago while travelling around Cuba and listening to some of the Buena Vista Social Club members still playing in Havana.” The title, which translates to “Queen of the Sea,” reflects the band’s deep spiritual connection to the ocean.

Atmospheric and restrained, the recording features Harry Mackaill on double bass and Stevie Watts on piano. Beyond the music, the single reinforces the band’s partnership with Surfers Against Sewage to combat ocean pollution. Edwards explained that living by the water is vital to his family life, stating: “Swimming in the ocean almost every day isn’t just something we do, it’s how my children and I stay connected to nature and to each other.” The band will support the release with an extensive UK tour throughout March and April.

Salt Roots UK Tour Dates:

  • March 4 – Bristol – Fleece
  • March 5 – Southampton – The Brook
  • March 6 – Stowmarket – John Peel Centre
  • March 7 – Guildford – The Star
  • March 11 – Manchester – Night and Day
  • March 12 – Edinburgh – Voodoo Rooms
  • March 13 – Glasgow – Rum Shack
  • March 14 – Newcastle – Cluny
  • March 18 – Cardiff – Acapela
  • March 19 – Shrewsbury – Albert’s Shed
  • March 20 – Liverpool – Adelphi
  • March 21 – Huddersfield – Amped
  • March 22 – Nottingham – Bodega
  • March 27 – Sheffield – Greystones
  • March 28 – Liskeard – Carnglaze Caverns
  • April 29 – London – Half Moon Putney

JAYLER Announces Exclusive Limited Edition White Label Vinyl For Fan Community

Eric Alper
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JAYLER Announces Exclusive Limited Edition White Label Vinyl For Fan Community

JAYLER has announced the release of a limited edition, signed 7-inch white label double A-side, created exclusively for members of the band’s fan community, The Voices. This collector’s item features the new single “Down Below” on Side A and “Riverboat Queen” on the AA side, both taken from the group’s forthcoming debut album. Each copy will be numbered, signed by the band, and delivered on May 29. The band emphasized the rarity of the release, noting that “once they’re gone, they won’t be repressed.”

The release is intended as a gesture of appreciation for their most dedicated listeners. Speaking on the project, the band commented: “This release comes from a place of gratitude. It’s a quiet thank you to the people who’ve been listening, showing up, and carrying the music with them along the way.” While the physical vinyl is reserved for The Voices, “Down Below” will debut as a digital single on February 17. JAYLER described the community as being “part of our circle,” and this 7-inch serves as a tangible way to honor that connection before their full album arrives in late spring.

Soul Revivalist Brother Wallace Announces Debut Album ‘Electric Love’ and Major Spring Tour

Eric Alper
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0
Soul Revivalist Brother Wallace Announces Debut Album ‘Electric Love’ and Major Spring Tour

Some artists spend their whole lives getting ready for the moment the world finally hears them. Brother Wallace is one of them. Today, the West Point, Georgia-bred singer, pianist, and soul revivalist announces his debut album, Electric Love, out May 8 via ATO Records, and shares the album’s title track—a Motown-esque number that’s equal parts playful, revelatory, and gloriously cathartic—alongside an official music video. The track arrives with major international momentum, having been premiered by The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC Radio 6 Music. It’s a bold first chapter from a voice that feels less like a “new artist” and more like a force that’s been building quietly for years, waiting for the right voltage.

On “Electric Love,” Brother Wallace doesn’t just sing about joy—he fights for it. The song moves like a shot of sunlight through a storm cloud: Stax-and-satin soul, piano-driven, and bursting with momentum, it’s built for the exact moment when you decide you’re not going to let the world harden you. “It’s about choosing connection,” Wallace says. “Finding that current again—the thing that reminds you you’re alive.”

Raised in a small rural town where the church was both community and classroom, Wallace began singing early and started formal piano training at six years old. By 14, he was directing a 100-member choir—leading not from ambition, but from instinct. Music wasn’t extracurricular; it was identity. Still, his path didn’t follow the typical industry arc. Wallace built a life at the intersection of art and service, becoming a K–12 music teacher and shaping young voices day after day, even as his own kept growing into something undeniable.

Over time, that “teacher” story expanded into something bigger: including sharing the stage with gospel legend Kirk Franklin performing at Madison Square Garden. But it wasn’t until a chance meeting sparked a creative partnership—one that stretched across years and continents—that Brother Wallace’s vision began assembling into the album it was always meant to become.

That partnership was with Dan Taylor (The Heavy), who became not just a collaborator but a catalyst. Recorded at Real World Studios (the legendary facility founded by Peter Gabriel) and produced/co-written by Taylor, Electric Love captures the breathless immediacy of Wallace’s performances—engineered and mixed by Bob Mackenzie (James Blake, The 1975, King Krule, SAULT) and Jim Abbiss (Adele, Arctic Monkeys). The result is soul music that feels alive in your hands: gritty, radiant, and built around the kind of vocal that turns rooms silent before it turns them inside out.

Across its 13 songs, Electric Love is less a debut than a revelation—a body of work fueled by gospel roots and classic soul lineage (Sam Cooke, Little Richard, Southern soul greats) while refusing to live in nostalgia. Wallace writes in lived-in scenes and hard-earned feeling: heartbreak without defeat, joy without naïveté, vulnerability without apology. The album’s rhapsodic opener “Who’s That?” (released last fall as his first ATO single) entered the Top 30 at Triple A radio in the US for the first time this week—an amazing feat for his first-ever single. Now, the title track “Electric Love” expands the frame: this is an artist building a world where joy is radical, and connection is survival. Now, the title track “Electric Love” expands the frame: this is an artist building a world where joy is radical, and connection is survival.

This spring, Brother Wallace will bring that world to the stage supporting St. Paul & The Broken Bones on his first-ever tour—an ideal match for a performer whose voice and presence were made for big rooms, shared air, and nights that feel like revival.

For Brother Wallace, Electric Love isn’t just a record. It’s proof of concept: a lifetime of music, faith, teaching, and grit distilled into something that hits like lightning—then stays.

Electric Love Tracklist
Who’s That?
You’re The Man
Gone With The Wind
Electric Love
Top Shotta
No God In This Town
Who Do You Love?
Any Day Now
Patient Man
Midnight Valley
Jealous
Hope Of Fools
Let’s Get Together

TOUR DATES, w/St. Paul & The Broken Bones
4/17/2026 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore
4/18/2026 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
4/19/2026 – Raleigh, NC – Ritz
4/21/2026 – Richmond, VA – Botanical Garden
4/23/2026 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
4/24/2026 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
4/25/2026 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
4/26/2026 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
4/28/2026 – Toronto, ON – Danforth
4/29/2026 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews
5/1/2026 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
5/2/2026 – Minneapolis, MN – Palace Theatre
5/3/2026 – Madison, WI – Sylvee
5/5/2026 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
5/6/2026 – Lexington, KY – Burl Outdoors
5/8/2026 – Atlanta, GA – Eastern
5/9/2026 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

UK/EUROPE TOUR DATES
5/13/2026 – Brighton, UK – The Great Escape Festival
5/24/2026 – London, UK – Cross The Tracks Festival
More Dates TBA Soon

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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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