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Slightly Stoopid Release “Step Into The Sun,” First Single From Upcoming Tenth Album

Eric Alper
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Slightly Stoopid Release “Step Into The Sun,” First Single From Upcoming Tenth Album

Today, San Diego, CA based musical outfit Slightly Stoopid unveils their new single “Step Into The Sun,” a radiant feel-good summer anthem celebrating life, love and the uplifting sentiment of understanding. Recorded at the famed Sonic Ranch studios in El Paso Texas, the track captures the band’s unmistakable chemistry and the infectious energy that’s earned them a devoted global following over the course of 3 decades of creating music.

“Step Into The Sun” also marks the first single from Slightly Stoopid’s forthcoming tenth studio album, set for release next year. The record will be the band’s first full-length project in eight years, following 2018’s Everyday Life, Everyday People.

Opening with a breezy electric guitar riff layered over strummed acoustic chords, “Step Into The Sun” comes to life with warm flashes of organ, bursts of brass, and the signature vocal interplay of Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald. They ask, “When’s the sun gonna shine across your eyes again? / When’s the tide gonna hide your footprints in the sand?” before offering a gentle reminder: “Whether you’re right, whether you’re wrong / Whether you see it, or whether you don’t / All in all it’s the life that you’re given / All in all it’s the way that you live it.” Blending elements of acoustic soul and classic rock, the song channels Slightly Stoopid’s unmistakable live energy — a genre-hopping groove that has captivated fans worldwide since their 1994 debut.

Speaking about their new track, Miles Doughty notes: “‘Step Into The Sun’ takes you on a journey as the band reflects on life, love and the ones we share it with. Through the energy of Sonic Ranch Studios we were able to capture the organic feel with the whole band jamming. Hope you feel the love!”

Slightly Stoopid recently visited the KROQ Helpful Honda Sound Space, where they performed “Step Into The Sun” live, along with fan favorites like “2 AM” and their new cover of Sublime’s “Slow Ride.” Watch the performance HERE. 

The new track kicks off what promises to be a busy summer for Slightly Stoopid, with a cross-country headlining tour launching June 12. Supported by Iration and Little Stranger, the tour hits major markets like Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, and Charleston, with standout shows at the Santa Barbara Bowl and a return to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The band will also make several highly anticipated festival appearances, including sets at Bonnaroo, Cali Vibes, Brighter Daze, Point Break, and Reggae Rise Up (Oregon and Las Vegas). To get fans ready for the road ahead, Slightly Stoopid has launched a Step Into The Sun Summer Tour 2025 playlist on Spotify — a handpicked mix of sun-soaked tracks to set the vibe for the season. Listen HERE. 

A full tour itinerary can be found HERE. 

Along with the new music and summer tour, Slightly Stoopid recently announced the 11th edition of their Closer to the Sun all-inclusive concert vacation in Mexico. A one-of-a-kind concert experience known for its vibrant community of fans, artists, and crew, the vacation includes three shows by Slightly Stoopid with a stacked lineup of additional performers. Attendees can expect multiple shows by Dirty Heads, Pepper, The Elovaters, The Movement, HIRIE, DENM, Little Stranger, and Z-Trip. Additional concerts from Rebelution, and Rome, plus a special ‘Traffic Jam” performance by Damian Jr. Gong & Stephen Marley, and an Old Soul Unplugged set by Stephen Marley to round out the musical vacation. 

Julien’s Auctions and Grand Ole Opry Announce Exclusive London Fan Experience

Eric Alper
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Julien’s Auctions and Grand Ole Opry Announce Exclusive London Fan Experience

Julien’s Auctions continues making its music mark in Nashville through a new partnership with the Grand Ole Opry to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Bidding is NOW OPEN for the “GRAND OLE OPRY LIVE IN LONDON FAN EXPERIENCE” here – an exclusive auction package that provides a truly unforgettable, collector-worthy immersion into the making of a historic musical event: the Grand Ole Opry’s inaugural show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on September 26, 2025, featuring Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Marty Stewart, Ashley McBryde, and Darius Rucker. Bidding is now open and will end on September 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM PDT/1 PM EST.

For the first time in their 100-year history, the Grand Ole Opry is going global. On September 26, country music’s ultimate showcase is taking over London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall for one extraordinary night.

This unique opportunity allows a single winner and a guest to be among the very first to witness the Opry’s debut on a UK stage and gain unparalleled behind-the-scenes access during rehearsal at Abbey Road Studios. This rare VIP access will not be offered anywhere else.
The exclusive auction package includes:

Two (2) Premium Grand Ole Opry Tickets for the London show at the Royal Albert Hall on September 26, 2025.

Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Rehearsal Experience: A private session on September 22, 2025, to watch the Opry band rehearse as they prepare for the big evening at London’s most celebrated recording venue – Abbey Road Studios.

A commemorative “Opry at the Royal Albert Hall” poster, signed by the artists on the program.

Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000
For anyone who cherishes cultural milestones, this auction shouldn’t be missed. The winner and a guest will witness a piece of country music history, gain intimate behind-the-scenes rehearsal access with musical legends at Abbey Road Studios, and celebrate the Opry’s centennial in style at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Opry Trust. Please note that travel and accommodation are not included in this package. Bidders are responsible for arranging and covering their own flights, hotel stays, and transfers.

Paul Bradshaw Edits Landmark Anthology ‘Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music’

Eric Alper
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Paul Bradshaw Edits Landmark Anthology ‘Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music’

The story of Black British music is a five-hundred-year journey from the court of King Henry VIII to the ‘Ends’ of South London; from Africa to the Caribbean to the UK and back; from subterranean shebeens and church halls to royal command performances and sold-out stadiums; and from outsider influence to domestic chart domination. It is a story that grapples with the slave trade, the prejudice of unwelcoming institutions and the bias of ignorance while ultimately celebrating the creativity and perseverance of the pioneers and today’s digital age innovators.

Published alongside the major British Library exhibition, Beyond the Bassline is a landmark volume of essays, features and interviews which traces a new timeline underpinned by the Black artists and musicians who, over centuries, have shaped Britain’s unique and globally significant musical culture. Illustrating this vibrant history which traverses musical genres from classical, gospel and jazz through to reggae, jungle and Afrobeats are more than three hundred images including contemporary and classic photographs, paintings, posters and record sleeves.

Introduced by the exhibition’s curators, Dr. Aleema Gray and Mykaell Riley, and edited by Paul Bradshaw, music journalist and publisher of Straight No Chaser magazine, Beyond the Bassline tells its essential story through specially commissioned pieces from musicians, composers, DJs, writers and photographers, as well as important voices in politics and history.

Authors/Contributors include Tej Adeleye, Christian Adofo, Ishmahil Blagrove Jr., Stephen Bourne, Garth Cartwright, Monique Charles, Dalia Al-Dujaili, Tracy Durrant, Juliet Fletcher, Vivien Goldman, Julian Grant, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Anthony Joseph, Julian Joseph, Cassie Kinoshi, Kevin Le Gendre, Charis McGowan, Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm, Tony Montague, Malik Al Nasir, Sharon O’Brien, Michael I. Ohajuru, Lisa Amanda Palmer, Amar Patel, Ade Egun Crispin Robinson, Angus Taylor, Chardine Taylor-Stone, Andy Thomas, Julia Toppin, Ayanna van der Maten McCalman, Derek Walcott, Richard Williams, Val Wilmer, Anthony Wright, Benjamin Zephaniah.

Dylan Jones Declares ‘1975: The Year the World Forgot’ the Greatest Year in Rock

Eric Alper
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Dylan Jones Declares ‘1975: The Year the World Forgot’ the Greatest Year in Rock

There is a myth that the long, dark days before punk were full of legions of British prog rock groups; that the likes of Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer and Jethro Tull roamed the land, soiling the culture like university-educated Orcs.

Wrong.

The mid-seventies were dense with extraordinarily sophisticated, mature rock music made by singers, songwriters and musicians who had no problem calling themselves artists. And the records they made aspired to artistic status: everyone was trying to make their own masterpiece, and the sense of competitiveness was like something not seen since the mid-sixties. Three-minute pop singles had given way to concept albums and pop-package tours had been supplanted by rock festivals, and rock in general had a renewed sense of ambition.

1975 was the apotheosis of the adult pop, the most important year in the narrative arc of post-war music, and a year that was rich with masterpieces: Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan, The Who by Numbers by the Who, Young Americans by David Bowie, Another Green World by Brian Eno, The Hissing of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell and A Night at the Opera by Queen, amongst countless other legendary albums.

These records were magisterial; records that couldn’t be bettered. Who could realistically make a more sophisticated album than The Hissing of Summer Lawns? Or a more complex hard-rock album than Physical Graffiti? Or indeed a record as unimpeachable and as prescient as Horses?

1975, as Dylan Jones expertly illustrates, was the greatest year of them all. 1975: The Year the World Forgot is a 2025 book by British journalist and author Dylan Jones that argues that 1975 was an unfairly overlooked, highly significant year for music and culture, positioned between the end of the idealistic 1960s and the punk revolution of 1976. Jones, a former editor of i-D, The Face, and GQ, explores this “adult pop” era of sophisticated songwriting, concept albums, and artistic ambition, highlighting the period’s rich output of classic albums by artists like Bob Dylan, The Who, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell, and Queen.

Harry Freedman Explores Dylan’s Heritage in New Biography ‘Bob Dylan: Jewish Roots, American Soil’

Eric Alper
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Harry Freedman Explores Dylan’s Heritage in New Biography ‘Bob Dylan: Jewish Roots, American Soil’

From the day that Bobby Zimmerman first turned on the radio in his parents’ home in Hibbing, he’d had a pretty good idea that big things were happening.

When Bob Dylan arrived in New York one winter morning in 1961 he was a complete unknown. His music and spirit would go on to capture the hearts and minds of a generation, but what no one knew then was that, like so many before him, Dylan was concealing his Jewish origins.

Covering the same turbulent years as the hit film starring Timothée Chalamet, this entertaining biography offers new insights into Bob Dylan’s early career. For Harry Freedman, Dylan’s roots are the key to grasping how this young musician burst onto the scene and reinvented not only himself, but popular music. The instinct for escape and reinvention has defined Dylan’s long career.

Freedman traces the heady atmosphere of the 1960s and the folk-rock revolution spearheaded by Dylan. Right up until the moment in 1966 when Dylan stepped out onto the stage and went electric – exploring how his musical decisions, genius for reinvention and his Jewishness go inescapably hand in hand.

Harry Freedman is Britain’s leading author of popular works of Jewish culture and history. His books include Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius, Shylock’s Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice’s Jews and the Ghetto, The Talmud: A Biography, Britain’s Jews: Confidence, Maturity, Anxiety and Kabbalah: Secrecy, Scandal and the Soul. He has a PhD on an Aramaic translation of the Bible from the University of London. He lives in London with his wife Karen. You can follow his regular articles on harryfreedman.substack.com.

Lakelin Lemmings Debuts Official Video for “Parking Lot”

Eric Alper
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Lakelin Lemmings Debuts Official Video for “Parking Lot”

QHMG / Stone Country Records’ newest signing, girl-next-door singer-songwriter Lakelin Lemmings, has released her debut official music video, “Parking Lot.”

A laid-back modern country waltz offering the perfect groove for just hangin’ out with friends, “Parking Lot” is Lakelin’s loving tribute to a favorite meeting spot among small-town teenagers.

Directed by Sam Aldrich, the track’s official music video was filmed in the parking lot of Chester County High School in Lakelin’s hometown of Henderson in West Tennessee, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nashville. The video captures Lakelin and her friends tailgatin’ and talkin’ amidst the highs and lows of teenage life.

Penned by Lakelin alongside co-writer Tiffany Goss and the track’s producer, Ash Bowers, the official audio for “Parking Lot” was released on Sept. 5.

“It’s your friends you meet there who make it special, but I wanted to write a song that shows some love to country parking lots,” says Lakelin. “This is a song for all my friends, and anyone else our age, who knows what it’s like to live in a small town, to sometimes have nowhere better to hang out than the parking lot, and all the memories you make at that place.”

Mobb Deep Return With “Against The World” Ahead of New Album ‘Infinite’

Eric Alper
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Mobb Deep Return With “Against The World” Ahead of New Album ‘Infinite’

Legendary hip-hop group Mobb Deep makes their long-awaited return with the release of “Against The World,” the group’s first posthumous offering since the passing of Prodigy. Produced by Havoc, the single will be available via Mass Appeal across all streaming platforms, offering a first glimpse of Mobb Deep’s highly anticipated new album, Infinite, set for release on October 10.

The album is the fourth release of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It campaign, celebrating 7 iconic artists all releasing new music, including: Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L, De La Soul and Nas/DJ Premier. Infinite features production by Havoc as well as four tracks produced by The Alchemist, further deepening the album’s connection to Mobb Deep’s storied legacy.

“Against The World” is a testament to Mobb Deep’s enduring legacy, steeped in the gritty, cinematic energy that defined the group’s reign as one of the most influential duos in hip-hop. The track carries the unmistakable DNA of the group’s biggest hits, from “Shook Ones Pt. II” to “Survival of the Fittest,” delivering a haunting yet timeless soundscape that feels both nostalgic and urgently relevant.

Havoc, who continues to carry the torch for the group’s legacy, crafted a beat that channels the rawness of 1990s Queensbridge while pushing the sound forward for a new generation of fans. His unmistakable production brings back the atmosphere of New York’s golden era, while serving as a poignant reminder of why Mobb Deep’s influence has endured for decades.

Since their groundbreaking debut, the duo has not just remained a cultural cornerstone but also a driving force, influencing countless artists and producers worldwide. With “Against The World” and the forthcoming Infinite, the duo reclaims their place in hip-hop’s present moment, blending legacy with immediacy in a way only Mobb Deep can deliver.

Skip Waiters Shares Heartfelt New Single “chanGES” Ahead of Forthcoming EP

Eric Alper
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Skip Waiters Shares Heartfelt New Single “chanGES” Ahead of Forthcoming EP

Skip Waiters unveils the first preview of his upcoming EP with the release of his new single “chanGES,” available now via ADA Canada.

Produced by Juno-award winning powerhouses Genesis and Lord Quest, the single fuses smooth, R&B-inspired melodies with heartfelt lyrics, reflecting the excitement of new beginnings and the emotional changes that come with falling in love. The track mirrors the excitement of fresh connection—moments filled with possibility, openness, and vulnerability—while exploring the balance between stability and the inevitable transformation love brings.

Acting as both narrator and participant, Mr. Piks leads the journey with stories of growth, renewal, and exploration through life’s ever-changing seasons.

Bebe Buckskin Reimagines Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” in Cree

Eric Alper
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Bebe Buckskin Reimagines Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” in Cree

Bebe Buckskin’s take on “Immigrant Song” doesn’t just honor Zeppelin—it transforms it. Her soaring vocals in Cree turn the rock classic into something elemental, a bridge between heritage and timeless sound. It’s both thunderous and tender.

OLLIE Unveils Soul-Stirring New Ballad “Guardian Angel”

Eric Alper
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OLLIE Unveils Soul-Stirring New Ballad “Guardian Angel”

Tallinn-based alt-rock artist and producer OLLIE (Oliver Mazurtšak) returns with his most emotionally powerful release to date, “Guardian Angel,” a soul-stirring ballad that dives deep into the complexity of grief, memory, and hope. Known for his genre-fusing productions and raw honesty, OLLIE once again delivers a track that balances vulnerability and power, channelling soft rock, pop-rock, and alternative country into a cinematic, heartfelt anthem.

Coming off a wave of national recognition following his back-to-back second-place finishes in Estonia’s Eurovision pre-selections with “Venom” (2023) and “My Friend” (2024), OLLIE continues to strike a deep chord with fans both at home and abroad. With “Guardian Angel,” he reaches new emotional heights, offering listeners a mirror into their own experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning.

Written in a single sitting while reflecting on his own grief and that of loved ones, “Guardian Angel” came together in a rare and inspired flow. From its haunting “huuuuu-huuuu” opening to its sweeping production, the track blends acoustic intimacy with soaring emotional peaks. Collaborations with bandmates Karl (drums) and Charles (keys) brought depth and groove to the arrangement, creating a warm, layered soundscape that feels both cinematic and deeply personal.

In classic OLLIE fashion, the production strikes a delicate balance between polished detail and raw authenticity. His signature blend of modern rock aesthetics with 2000s post-grunge, nu-metal, and alternative influences is here given a softer, more introspective twist, without losing the dynamic energy that defines his sound.

With “Guardian Angel,” OLLIE once again proves that his greatest strength lies in emotional honesty. The track is a timeless ballad for anyone who’s ever mourned, remembered, or hoped. A reminder that love doesn’t disappear, it transforms.

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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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