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Sports Commentator Stephen A. Smith Signs Multi-Year SiriusXM Deal for New Shows

Eric Alper
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Sports Commentator Stephen A. Smith Signs Multi-Year SiriusXM Deal for New Shows

SiriusXM announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with media powerhouse and New York Times bestselling author Stephen A. Smith that will enable Smith to showcase his no-holds-barred perspectives on sports, current events and more to listeners across North America. Stephen A. announced the news this morning in an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” on SiriusXM.

Beginning this September, Smith will host and executive produce two new, original shows on SiriusXM. His new daily sports talk show will air weekdays on Mad Dog Sports Radio (channel 82), delivering his signature energy and unfiltered takes on the biggest headlines in sports. Smith’s new show will join a daily Mad Dog Sports Radio lineup that features the anchor program, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” hosted by the channel headliner and Smith’s weekly “First Take” teammate on ESPN, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo.

In addition, Smith will create a weekly current events, pop culture and social commentary-focused show that will debut on SiriusXM and be the first place for listeners to hear Smith’s sharp commentary and compelling discussions on everything beyond the world of sports – from politics and social issues to entertainment news, pop culture trends and more. The show will air each week on a non-sports SiriusXM channel, to be announced later.

Both shows will give listeners across North America a chance to engage directly with Smith, as he also sits down with high-profile guests from the worlds of sports, politics, current events, and beyond. As part of the agreement, Stephen A. will also host multiple in-person SiriusXM subscriber events during the year.

“To say that I’m excited would be an understatement,” Smith said. “I’ve been on Mad Dog before, had the time of my life. So I’m loving the fact that I get to reunite with my guy, Mad Dog, on his turf. That, in itself, is a beautiful thing. But to then add a weekly show where I have a potent platform to discuss riveting subjects in the world of Pop Culture, Politics and Social Commentary…let’s just say it doesn’t get any better than that. September can’t come soon enough. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in radio…especially going back and forth with the callers. Can’t wait to get re-started. Buckle Up! I’m coming!”

“Stephen A. is a singular talent and one of the most influential voices in media today,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “While so many people know him for his unparalleled sports commentary, his interests extend far beyond the borders of sports and into the worlds of politics, news, entertainment and so much more. SiriusXM gives him the unfiltered creative freedom to delve into any topic and allows him to showcase his unique talents and perspectives.”

Smith’s Mad Dog Sports Radio show will debut on Tuesday, September 2. Smith’s current events and pop culture show will debut in September on a date to be announced.

Stephen A. Smith is one of the most prominent personalities on the air today. He is a featured commentator and executive producer on ESPN’s “First Take” weekday mornings, discussing and debating the sports topics of the day with a cast that includes Molly Qerim and SiriusXM’s own Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo. Since 2021 Smith has been an analyst on “NBA Countdown,” ESPN and ABC’s longstanding NBA pregame show.

Smith has hosted radio shows for ESPN and Fox Sports Radio. He began his career as a print journalist, first as a reporter with the Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News and Record and the New York Daily News, before moving on to the Philadelphia Inquirer and serving as that paper’s NBA beat writer and NBA columnist, before becoming a general sports columnist, spanning 17 years.

In 2023 Smith released his New York Times bestselling memoir, “Straight Shooter; A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes,” where he revealed his untold personal story for the first time.

Tribute Spectacle ‘The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA’ Comes to Avalon Theatre October 17–19

Eric Alper
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Tribute Spectacle ‘The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA’ Comes to Avalon Theatre October 17–19

Enjoy one of the best tribute celebrations of ABBA music as we welcome The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA to the Avalon Theatre from October 17 to 19. Tickets onsale now through ticketmaster.ca.

“The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA not only showcases the music of ABBA, but also celebrates the costume designs, along with powerful vocals,” said Cathy Price, Vice President of Marketing and Resort Operations at Niagara Casinos.

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA, is the ultimate ABBA tribute show and is often described as “The closest to ABBA you’ll ever get!” The show continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling all who see with their fantastic performance while playing the most iconic hits, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” and “Dancing Queen.”

Show dates & performances

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

Dates: October 17 to 19, 2025

Showtimes: October 17: 9:00pm; October 18: 3:00pm & 9:00pm; October 19: 3:00pm & 7:00pm  
Venue: Avalon Theatre

Soulful Singer-Songwriter Ali McGuirk Announces New Album ‘Watertop’

Eric Alper
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Soulful Singer-Songwriter Ali McGuirk Announces New Album ‘Watertop’

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Ali McGuirk has announced that her highly-anticipated third album, Watertop will be released September 12th on Signature Sounds. Watertop is available for pre-save and pre-order here (and vinyl via Bandcamp).Her first release since the 2022 album Til It’s Gone, Watertop elevates McGuirk’s signature soulful and smoldering sound to new heights—this time, the production is richer, and the message is unflinching. McGuirk recently realized how much her voice as an artist has evolved while writing and arranging the new album. “I’m actually delivering a message, not necessarily processing my feelings, but delivering my thoughts on the matter. That felt like a different role to embody as a songwriter.”

Today, McGuirk shares the album’s second single, “More Than Enough.” Joined by Dwight Ritscher and Nicole Nelson of Dwight & Nicole, the track is a tender song about the highs of finding your person. Grounded by the creative use of an organ and D’Vibes keys, the song’s percussion literally shimmers.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that led to the freedom in McGuirk’s songwriting on Watertop. Perhaps it was when she began treating social activism—and her care for others—as a spiritual practice. This transformation gave Watertop its raison d’etre, which comes at you quickly with the opening track, “Love Goes First.”

On Watertop, McGuirk takes a magnifying glass to the complexities of human and societal value, unraveling the meanings of care, empathy, love, and even greed. Sonically, she leans into creating experimental soundscapes filled with her soulful, smoldering sound and aims right for the heart with her songwriting. Altogether, the songs are a microscopic look at our societal values. McGuirk shies away from nothing, exploring the meaning of things like God, empathy, love, and greed.

Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey. More new music is expected from Ali in 2025.

On her 2022 Signature Sounds debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivered a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”

McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.
McGuirk currently divides her time between touring North America and Europe and crafting new compositions in her lakeside Vermont cottage . She has performed spellbinding sets at Boston Calling, Merlefest, Americanafest, and NPR’s Mountain Stage.

Nashville Songwriter Adam Wright Shares Side Two of ‘Nature of Necessity’ Ahead of September Release

Eric Alper
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Nashville Songwriter Adam Wright Shares Side Two of ‘Nature of Necessity’ Ahead of September Release

GRAMMY-nominated Nashville songwriter Adam Wright has shared Side Two of his ambitious four-part solo record, Nature of Necessity: “a masterpiece” (WMOT) that brings his “richly crafted melodies” (Billboard) and intricate storytelling to the forefront. The complete 18-track collection arrives September 25.

Side Two finds Wright delving into rich character portraits and philosophical musings, anchored by the evocative new track “Warm Wind” – a lingo-cryptic swirl through a hot night at the table for a trick shot dice thrower. “There is something alluring about this professional enterprise built on the collision of skill and chance” says Wright. “I’m not much of a gambler, but I found myself reading some remarkable interviews and stories of high stakes players and some of their biggest nights. It was a fun song to write.”

Nature of Necessity finds Wright stepping out of the writer’s room and into the spotlight. “Unpredictable, transporting, and fiercely smart” (WMOT), the epic 18-track collection is produced by Frank Liddell (Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack) and recorded at East Iris in Nashville, TN with renowned musicians Glenn Worf on bass (Mark Knopfler) and Matt Chamberlain on drums (Fiona Apple). When it comes to the story behind the upcoming album, Wright says: “The story is there is no story. I didn’t get sober. There was no breakup. I didn’t awaken to some new awareness. I’m just a lyric junkie with a melody addiction. And this is rock bottom.

A songwriter’s songwriter, Adam Wright has penned songs for Garth Brooks, Brandy Clark, Sierra Hull, Alan Jackson, Randy Newman, Lee Ann Womack, Hailey Whitters and more. Hailed a “wildly brilliant genius” by Robert Earl Keen and “one of the best of the best songwriters and storytellers there is” by Buddy Miller, Wright is a lyrical force to be reckoned with. “Even if you don’t know Adam Wright’s name, you almost certainly know his songs,” says The Tennessean. Wright also collaborated with Parker McCollum on his self-titled album, which comes out this June. Earlier this May, Wright supported Robert Earl Keen at Texas’ legendary Gruene Hall.

Adam Wright’s songs are deeply rooted in the lives of people. A true singer-songwriter, Wright breathes life into his characters so vividly that you’d need a series of novels to fully tell their stories. A self-proclaimed bookworm with a fondness for classic literature, Wright quips, “I probably should’ve just written short stories instead of playing music. It would’ve been easier on my fingers.”

From heart-wrenching ballads like “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” (recorded by Alan Jackson, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song) to raw, defiant tracks like “All The Trouble” (recorded by Lee Ann Womack and nominated for both a Grammy and an Americana Music Association Song of the Year award), Wright has proven himself a master of the art of songwriting. His work has been recorded by Nashville heavyweights like Jackson, Womack, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood, alongside renowned artists such as Brandy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, and Bruce Robison. Wright has also contributed numerous songs to bluegrass bands like Lonesome River Band and Balsam Range, earning IBMA Song of the Year nominations for each.

Yet his solo albums carve out a distinct, deeply personal path that doesn’t always align with his collaborations. Across his solo releases to date, all but one song has been written solely by Wright. While this level of self-reliance isn’t uncommon in the singer-songwriter world, it’s rare in Nashville’s Music Row. From the playful optimism of “I Win” (which AP writer Steve Wine called “the antidote to 2020”) to the haunting beauty of Dust, Wright’s songwriting voice remains consistent—a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft.

Garage Rock Revivalists The Chesterfield Kings Return with Explosive Single “Your Strange Love” on Wicked Cool Records

Eric Alper
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Garage Rock Revivalists The Chesterfield Kings Return with Explosive Single “Your Strange Love” on Wicked Cool Records

Legendary garage rock revivalists The Chesterfield Kings return with their explosive new single “Your Strange Love” – out now via Wicked Cool Records on limited edition green vinyl. Co-written by founding King Andy Babiuk and Steven Van Zandt, the track marks another powerful collaboration between the longtime friends and rock ‘n’ roll purists. The single’s flip side is a cover of The Beatles’ “It’s Only Love”—the band’s first-ever Beatles cover in their decades-long career.

“I always like writing songs with Steven,” says Babiuk. “I had this song idea for ‘Your Strange Love’ and Stevie took the lyrics to a whole different level with a Venus in Furs vibe and had us add a tambura to give the song a more mystic feel. Stevie knows how to get the job done!”

“Your Strange Love” has already been selected as the Coolest Song in the World on Little Steven’s Underground Garage—a clear nod to the track’s psychedelic atmosphere, rich textures, and gritty, melodic hooks.

On the flip side, the band tackles the Beatles’ “It’s Only Love” with reverent swagger. “Through the years we never touched a Beatles song because we always felt it was almost like sacrilegious,” says Babiuk. “But when the label asked us to record some covers, I thought, ‘fk it, let’s do a Beatles song.’ After all, they are my favorite band! This is our tribute.”

The new single is pulled from the band’s thunderous new LP ‘We’re Still All The Same’, produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smithereens). The 14-track album features recent singles including “Fly The Astral Plane”, “Electrified” (also co-written with Van Zandt), “Meet You After Midnight,” and the title track.

The LP showcases the band’s signature sonic chemistry, fueled by over 50 vintage guitars and an arsenal of classic amps and keyboards from Babiuk’s vast collection—delivering a record that’s both timeless and unapologetically raw.

With the release of “Your Strange Love,” the band kicks off their first UK/European tour in decades beginning June 12. Fans can also catch an in-depth 7-page feature interview in the July issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine, where the band breaks down the making of the new LP and the vintage gear behind the sound.

Formed in the late ’70s and hailing from Rochester, NY, The Chesterfield Kings have long been heralded as architects of the 1980s garage rock revival. They’ve released 11 albums and 15 singles, toured worldwide, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Sopranos.

Indie Songwriter Duncan Lloyd Unveils New Single “Rituals” Ahead of ‘Unwound’ Album

Eric Alper
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Indie Songwriter Duncan Lloyd Unveils New Single “Rituals” Ahead of ‘Unwound’ Album

English songwriter-guitarist Duncan Lloyd presents his new single ‘Rituals’, a unique pop song born of a challenging year. Blending a modern sound with a deeply personal message about habits and healing, all while rotating through a circular, radio-like musical journey, this is the second taste from his new 12-track ‘Unwound’ album, forthcoming via Reveal Records.

A critically acclaimed solo artist, Lloyd is the primary musician behind internationally renowned art-rockers Maximo Park and also a member and co-writer (with Sarah Suri) in the indie band Nano Kino. Through a career spanning over two decades, Duncan Lloyd is a Mercury Music Prize nominee, has won an NME award, had A-listed singles at BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music (including lyric of the year), and has seen success with worldwide platinum and gold selling records. His songs have featured on eight hit albums with Maximo Park, consistently charting in the Top 10 U.K.

‘Rituals’ follows his latest invigorating single ‘Laugh So Loud’, which features a guest appearance by Joe Boyer (Cloud Nothings, Autopolitan) and accompanied by an adrenaline-rush of a video, this song is about self-doubt and passing things off as being fine.

“If there is a pop song on the album this is the closest song to one, although it didn’t start out that way. I wrote it during a difficult year and as with a few of the songs on the record it’s fundamentally a personal message to a loved one. I got a little obsessed with the sound of the production as i wanted it to be different from anything i’d done before so it has this modern sense to it,” says Duncan Lloyd.

“The song is about habits, good and bad. It’s also a song about trying to help someone recover. Musically i was thinking of it being like a circle where the rhythm changes but the chords keep rotating, i wanted it to sound like it was coming through several broken radios with only one being crystal clear.”

‘Unwound’ is the first studio album of new material that Lloyd is releasing via Reveal Records, his previous albums having been released by Warp Records or independently. With cover artwork derived from Lloyd’s own paintings, this record weaves a unique musical maze of free and varied personal expression, deep and transient, spare, intense and urgent with a balance of grit, beauty and melody.

Partly recorded by Julie McLarnon (The Vaselines, Lankum, King Creosote, Jeffrey Lewis, Brigid Mae Power) at Analogue Catalogue Studios in Ireland and by Lloyd himself at his studio in Newcastle Upon Tyne, this album also features contributions by Maximo Park keyboardist Jemma Freese and drummer Tom English.

Writing, recording (and painting) under his own name over the last decade, the Derby-born songwriter received an enthusiastic message from UK indie label/manager Tom Rose of Reveal Records in 2019, suggesting a future collaboration on his solo works (Rose had been listening to Lloyd’s 2019 album ‘Outside Notion’ whilst on tour with now label-mate Joan As Police Woman). Requesting Duncan sent everything he’d recorded to date in whatever form, reissues of Lloyd’s early solo albums followed. The colossal 31-track selected works collection ‘Green Grows Devotion’ came out in 2022, followed by ‘Fun City’, a trilogy of three EPs recorded in succession throughout 2024.

While ‘Unwound’ is very much an album with Duncan Lloyd stepping front and centre, his career is dotted with collaboration with various musicians and producers, including Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Glass Animals, Rihanna), Gil Norton (The Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen), Nick Launay (Nick Cave, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Ben Allen (Gnarls Barclay, Deerhunter), Rudimental, Dave Okumu, Batida and as part of Africa Express with legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen.

‘UNWOUND’ ALBUM TRACK LIST

  1. Gothic Pill
  2. I’m On It
  3. One Step Closer To The Dam
  4. Swim
  5. Bright Field
  6. Radio Silent
  7. Laugh So Loud
  8. Together, So To Speak
  9. Lightning Bottle
  10. Rituals
  11. Thin Place

Folk-Punk Rebels The Dreadnoughts Unleash ‘Polka Pit’ on Punkerton Records

Eric Alper
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Folk-Punk Rebels The Dreadnoughts Unleash ‘Polka Pit’ on Punkerton Records

The Dreadnoughts’ ‘Polka Pit’ a riot of punk, polkas, and protest anthems for the end of the world.The Dreadnoughts are trying to start a revolution, and Polka Pit is the soundtrack. Polkas, tarantellas, sea shanties and protest songs are mixed with gut-crunching street punk, and it sounds like the end of the world… and the beginning.

The Dreadnoughts, now based in New York but rooted in Vancouver, British Columbia, have been redefining folk-punk since their formation in 2006. With a fiery fusion of sea shanties, polkas, waltzes, and street punk, they champion the seamless union of folk traditions and punk energy.

Unlike bands that use folk elements as a gimmick, The Dreadnoughts delve deeply into these styles, bringing raw power and authenticity to their music. They have become renowned for their electrifying live performances, which transform venues into raucous celebrations of community, music, and revelry.

Their most recent album, Green Willow, is a testament to their dedication to preserving and invigorating folk traditions. Featuring folk-punk renditions of traditional songs, with the standout exception of the closing track “Roll Northumbria,” the album embodies their ethos of breathing new life into historical sounds.

Over the years, The Dreadnoughts have built a formidable discography, including standout records like Polka’s Not Dead (2010), Foreign Skies (2017), and Into the North (2019), showcasing their versatility and ability to weave poignant storytelling with spirited rhythms.
From their origins in the dive bars of Vancouver to performing on stages in over 30 countries, The Dreadnoughts have never wavered in their mission.

Their music is influenced by legends like The Pogues, Stan Rogers, and Gogol Bordello, but their sound remains distinctly their own. Now joining Punkerton Records, The Dreadnoughts continue to champion the marriage of folk and punk, inviting audiences worldwide to immerse themselves in their wild, cider-soaked, musical adventure.

R&B Duo Rosita & P.U.R.P. Debut with Funky Single ‘Jody’ Featuring Akeem Ali

Eric Alper
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R&B Duo Rosita & P.U.R.P. Debut with Funky Single ‘Jody’ Featuring Akeem Ali

Mississippi’s finest are stepping into the spotlight with a bold debut collaboration. Born in Jackson, MS, and raised in Inglewood, CA, Rosita got her start in the entertainment world after returning to the south to study music at the University of Southern Mississippi. Though an interest in journalism briefly took her off her musical path, leading her to New Orleans’ bustling film scene, where she worked behind and in front of the camera, her true calling never faded.

“I always knew that music was my passion,” she says. Enter P.U.R.P.—rapper, songwriter, engineer, and a friend from her university days, born and raised in Hattiesburg, MS. The two reconnected when Rosita returned to LA and shared a creative chemistry that sparked this effortless collaboration.

Their signature sound is a seamless fusion of R&B, soul, and funk: smart, groovy, and dripping with personality—just what this summer has been waiting for. Their debut single “Jody” puts all that flavor front and center, not only introducing Rosita and P.U.R.P. to the world, but making it clear-hey’re an emerging force to be reckoned with.

Their debut single just so happens to feature another Mississippi standout, an up-and-comer who’s taken the world by storm with his 70s nostalgic branding. Akeem Ali joins Rosita & P.U.R.P. for a silky-smooth verse, helping unravel the tensions of a complicated love triangle. Wrapped in a sultry blend of lo-fi R&B and modern-day flair, “Jody” follows the hearts of two men entangled in a no-strings-attached romance love affair, yet, both more than willing to sweep “their girl” off her feet when the moment calls. It takes a lot of courage to break new ground, yet, despite being new to the game, Rosita’s steady, self-assured delivery stands on its own two feet. Her vocals are silky and expressive, carrying the cool confidence of a woman who knows exactly what she wants. P.U.R.P.’s decadently smooth flow glides on a mellow bassline, soft keys, and shimmering synths, crafting a track that glistens with a summer sheen, evoking smiles and late-night laughter. Then Ali steps in: charismatic, candid, and commanding, laying it all out without room for confusion. The chemistry between all three artists is unmistakable. The track oozes grown-and-sexy energy without losing its playful charm, making it the perfect track to keep on repeat all season long.

Rosita’s film background and sharp eye for visual storytelling truly shine in the “Jody” music video. Presented almost like a mini-film, this tangled, dramatic love affair comes to life on screen: where both “Jody’s” discover that they’re not the only ones. As soon as her man leaves for work, “Jody” escapes for a sultry, romantic getaway, free from the dull constraints of her relationship. But there’s a twist: her other lover, played by Akeem Ali, assumed he was the only one. Perplexed and furious, the first love interest calls in reinforcements, suspicious of her two-timing ways. The video has all of the elements that keep viewers hooked: intrigue, surprise, and a touch of humor are just a natural part of the experience with these three. But beyond the storyline, it offers a rare glimpse into the magnetic personalities of Rosita, P.U.R.P. and Akeem Ali—vibrant, quirky, and full of life—with much more to come.

Jazz Pianist Gerald Clayton Releases ‘Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition’ on Blue Note

Eric Alper
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Jazz Pianist Gerald Clayton Releases ‘Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition’ on Blue Note

Pianist and composer Gerald Clayton has unveiled Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition, an expanded digital release of his 3rd Blue Note album which presents the culmination of the project. “Ones & Twos is an experiment-an idea inspired by the art of turntablism,” says Clayton. “I set out to create a record where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side-a nod to that moment in the club when the DJ transitions from one song to the next, when you hear two separate pieces at the same time.”

The initial release of Ones & Twos consisted of the separated tracks featuring vibraphonist Joel Ross, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, trumpeter Marquis Hill, and drummer Kendrick Scott with post-production by Kassa Overall. The Expanded Edition includes two bonus tracks plus a second disc consisting of the combined overlayed tracks, revealing the end result of his experiment.

As Clayton formed his concept, he posed several questions: “Is it really possible for two separate melodies to coexist harmoniously? Does one inevitably become a counter melody to the other—a support of the more dominant melody? What does the experiment teach us about coexistence more broadly? I’m fascinated with this concept of coexistence in more than just the music. Not only the question: Can two songs coexist?… but can two people?… two cultures? One of the lessons we may gain from the music is that there will be moments of friction/tension, and there will be moments where two things fit together smoothly/peacefully.”

Classical Guitarist Alexandra Whittingham Announces ‘Letters From Paris’ Album on Decca Classics

Eric Alper
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Classical Guitarist Alexandra Whittingham Announces ‘Letters From Paris’ Album on Decca Classics

British classical guitarist Alexandra Whittingham will release her new album Letters From Paris on 3 October 2025 on Decca Classics. The album is a celebration of French music and a tribute to the country in which her performing career began.

Already one of the most-watched classical guitarists in the world, Alexandra has more than 65 million views across YouTube and social media. Her viral video revealing the classical roots of the Nokia ringtone has been viewed over 12 million times on Instagram alone. Known for her engaging online presence and expressive playing, she is fast becoming one of the most exciting young classical artists in the UK.

Last month, Alexandra made her Royal Albert Hall debut at Classic FM Live: At the Movies. Her performance of La Vie en Rose, arranged by Laura Snowden, was a standout moment of the evening and features on the new album in a special studio recording.

From Édith Piaf’s La Foule, a song about two lovers united then separated by a crowd, to Hymne à l’amour, recorded six months after the death of Piaf’s lover Marcel Cerdan, this album captures both the thrill of romance and the heartbreak of parting.
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Alexandra has a strong personal connection to southwest France, where her journey as a soloist began. At 19, she gave her first professional recital at a guitar festival in the village of Puy-l’Évêque. Her parents joined her, and the trip became a special family holiday. They fell in love with the region and later bought the presbytery next to the church where she performed. Since then, Alexandra has spent a lot of time in France and built close ties with the local music community, including the guitar and cello festivals in the Lot region. She recalls: “France is where it all started for me.”

Other highlights include Roland Dyens’s arrangement of Erik Satie’s Gnossienne No. 1, a piece which feels at once ancient yet totally modern, and Julian Bream’s arrangement of Debussy’s La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin. The album also features Danse Rythmique by Ida Presti, Alexandra’s personal guitar heroine, and Chanson in B minor by Francis Kleynjans, where the guitar sings with tender simplicity.

In a newly commissioned arrangement of Reynaldo Hahn’s L’heure Exquise, Jess Gillam’s saxophone leaps to life with delicate melodies. Hahn’s waltz also appears in a duo with fellow guitarist Stephanie Jones. Elsewhere, Alexandra duets with Margarita Balanas on Fauré’s Romance sans Paroles and Barbara Pravi’s Voilà (which secured France 2nd place in the 2021 Eurovision song contest), both arranged by her former teacher Michael Lewin.

The album visits the cabarets and fêtes of French life, with Paul Durand’s Mademoiselle de Paris and Yann Tiersen’s La Valse d’Amélie from Amélie. Alexandra also includes She by Charles Aznavour, arranged by Stephen Goss, a song once championed by Piaf and a chart-topping hit in the UK.

Raised in Greater Manchester, Alexandra began playing guitar at the age of six, taught by her father. She won a scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with first-class honours and a master’s distinction. Her mix of classical training and digital creativity has helped her build a wide global audience.

Classic FM has praised her as “a young artist with huge potential to shape the classical world”, while The Guardian has described her as “a young 21st-century virtuoso”.

Speaking about the album, Alexandra said: “I’m incredibly excited to release this album. This is a project I’ve had in mind for so long, and it’s been such a lot of fun being able to realise these ideas whilst collaborating with such great friends and musicians. I’ve always loved pairing music by popular household names alongside composers that might be less well-known outside of the guitar world, and this record does exactly that.”

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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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