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Anderson Paak Steps Behind The Camera With ‘K-Pops!’ Musical Comedy Feature

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Anderson Paak makes his feature film directorial debut with K-Pops!, now out nationwide in AMC theaters via Stampede Ventures. Written, directed, and led by Paak, the film centers on BJ, a worn down musician who heads to Seoul and lands in the house band of a K pop competition show. What starts as a career reset quickly turns personal when BJ discovers his long lost son is one of the contestants chasing global stardom.

Paak stars opposite his real life son Soul Rasheed, who plays Tae Young, grounding the story in lived experience and family chemistry. The film moves through comedy and music while focusing on connection, reconciliation, and creative growth across cultures. There is a warmth and openness running through the performances that gives the story momentum and emotional clarity without drifting from its playful tone.

The cast also includes Jee Young Han, Jon Dumbfoundead Park, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cathy Shim, and Kevin Woo. Original music for the film was created with Dem Jointz, drawing from his deep roots in the K pop world. The soundtrack also features collaborations with artists including Suga, Vernon, Crush, The Rose, Jessi, and G Dragon, expanding the film’s musical world with precision and color.

Behind the camera, Paak builds on his experience directing music videos and steps confidently into long form storytelling, supported by teams at Live Nation Productions, Big Dummie, and EST Studios. ‘K-Pops!’ presents a vivid blend of performance, humor, and heart, shaped by collaboration and anchored in music, family, and movement between worlds, leaving a strong first mark in Paak’s film career.

Lost 1977 Blue Eyed Soul Classic David Forman Unveils ‘Who You Been Talking To’

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High Moon Records releases ‘Who You Been Talking To,’ the long unheard 1977 album by David Forman, recorded in Los Angeles for Arista Records and shelved until now. Produced by Jack Nitzsche, the record captures Forman at a creative peak, surrounded by an extraordinary group of L.A. musicians including Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner, David Lindley, Fred Tackett, Tim Drummond, and Flaco Jimenez. Blending blue eyed soul, doo wop, Brill Building craft, and sharp street level writing, the album opens with the smoldering title track and moves through vivid highlights like “Let It Go Now,” “A-Train Lady,” and “Little Asia.” There is a rare thrill in hearing a record this confident, this textured, and this emotionally present finally step into the light.

The release arrives with deluxe packaging and liner notes by Joe Hagan, drawing from new interviews and rare archival material, including photographs by Peter Hujar. The album’s journey spans decades, from its original sessions at the Sound Factory in Hollywood to its rediscovery through a small circle of friends who tracked Forman down and heard the music firsthand. Restored from rough mixes sequenced by Nitzsche and mastered by Steve Addabbo, ‘Who You Been Talking To’ stands as a fully realized portrait of a singular songwriter, rich with character, wit, and soul, and finally available on CD and LP as it was always meant to be heard.

Portland Alt Rock Outfit Rayon Capture Tape Echo Tension On “Running” Single

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Portland alt rock and post punk outfit Rayon return with “Running,” a tightly wound single driven by nervous momentum and tape soaked urgency. Built around a relentless bass and drum groove, the track channels anxiety into motion, threading guitars and vocals through a barely hanging on Dynacord tape echo that bends pitch and speed in real time. The result is a tense, pulsing recording that moves fast, sweats hard, and hums with unstable electricity. It stands as a striking document of sound shaped by friction, mechanics, and instinct.

“Running” appears on the flip side of the ‘Shopping / Running’ single, available now digitally and as a 7-inch release via Little Cloud Records. Founded by long time North Portland resident and Detroit area native Eric Sabatino, Rayon also features members of Sun Atoms, Yuvees, Pastilla, and Martha Stax. The accompanying Handycam shot video follows the band through lo fi capers in a meticulously restored Citroen wagon, ending on grainy freeway signs rolling toward Seattle. There is something thrilling about how this record locks tension, movement, and texture into a compact, replay ready statement that stays loud in the mind long after it ends.

Wizkid and Asake Share New Joint Single “Jogodo”

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Wizkid and Asake reunite on “Jogodo,” a silky, swagger-filled new single that arrives as the first taste of their forthcoming joint EP REAL, Vol. 1. Effortlessly smooth and rhythm-forward, the track leans on pulsing percussion and bold brass arrangements, creating a soulful groove that highlights the chemistry between two of Afrobeats’ most influential voices.

Performed in Nigerian Pidgin, “Jogodo” plays with themes of intoxication, freedom, and late-night release, with Wizkid and Asake trading verses in a relaxed, conversational flow. Their vocal interplay feels natural and unforced, reflecting a collaboration rooted in shared culture and mutual respect. Wizkid describes the process as instinctive, noting that they “speak the same musical language,” while Asake adds that the record comes from a place of genuine friendship and creative alignment.

The release follows the duo’s Grammy-nominated hit “MMS” and continues a run of landmark moments for both artists, each of whom has helped push Afrobeats to the center of global music culture. “Jogodo” also marks Asake’s first new release since his historic Red Bull Symphonic performance in the United States. As anticipation builds for REAL, Vol. 1, the single sets a confident, celebratory tone for what promises to be one of the most talked-about collaborations in contemporary African music.

Athens Punk Lifers The Overjoyed Double Down On DIY Grit With New Album

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The Overjoyed return with their third studio album, arriving February 20, 2026, and it stands as their most confrontational and clear-eyed statement yet. Built on years of relentless European touring and sweat-soaked live shows, the record channels the band’s uncompromising DIY ethic and the urgency that’s made them a staple of the underground punk circuit.

For the first time, the band wrote the album entirely as a collective, sharpening both the sound and the emotional weight. Self-produced once again, with support from Athens-based engineer and mixer Marios Adamopoulos, the album confronts mental health, addiction, identity, and burnout without soft edges. Songs like “Can’t Write Music” and “Sleep” document moments of collapse and recovery, while tracks such as “Spark” reconnect with the defiant, forward-driving energy that’s always defined the band. Rooted in classic punk spirit but unmistakably their own, this new release is raw, personal, and unapologetic, with extensive European touring set to follow.

Jenna Paulette Gets Back In The Saddle With 2026 Tour And ‘Horseback’ Deluxe

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Jenna Paulette enters 2026 back on the road with her Back In The Saddle Tour, a 26-date run marking her full return to touring after navigating a year defined by new motherhood and recalibration. The tour reflects a renewed sense of balance and momentum, with Paulette embracing life onstage again while expanding her reach into new markets across the U.S.

In tandem with the tour, Paulette will release ‘Horseback (Deluxe)’ on January 30, expanding her sophomore album into a 20-track collection. The deluxe edition builds on the original record’s themes of independence, grit, and authenticity, blending high-energy cuts like “Outside” and “Run The Damn Ball” with reflective storytelling and collaborations featuring John Morgan, Jake Worthington, and Ashley McBryde. The album continues to trace the personal and professional values that have shaped her identity as both an artist and individual.

While touring was scaled back in 2025, Paulette’s creative output never slowed. Beyond music, she expanded her entrepreneurial footprint with footwear and apparel collaborations, setting the stage for a busy and ambitious year ahead. With new music, a growing business portfolio, and a packed live schedule, Back In The Saddle signals a confident next chapter.

2026 Back In The Saddle Tour Dates
Jan 24 New Braunfels, TX @ Gruene Hall
Jan 31 Tulsa, OK @ Mercury Lounge
Feb 1 Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
Feb 3 Venice, NE @ Buck’s Bar and Grill
Feb 4 Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
Feb 5 Yorkville, IL @ Law Office Pub & Music Hall
Feb 6 Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Feb 7 Clinton, WI @ BOXCARS Pub & Grub
Feb 14 Dunn, NC @ Bird’s Nest Listening Room
Feb 15 Greenville, SC @ Doc’s Tavern
Feb 19–21 Alpine, TX @ Lonestar Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Feb 26 Fort Worth, TX @ Rhinestone Saloon
Mar 7 Conroe, TX @ Table at Madeley
Apr 1 Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
Apr 2 Nashville, TN @ Chief’s on Broadway
Apr 11–16 Galveston, TX @ Rock the Coast
Apr 23 Corpus Christi, TX @ Brewster Street Icehouse
July 11 Woodland Park, CO @ America’s Mountain Festival

Nothing Pushes Into Harsher Territory With “Toothless Coal” Ahead Of New Album

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Nothing begin 2026 with “Toothless Coal,” the latest single from their forthcoming album ‘A Short History of Decay’, out February 27 via Run For Cover. The track highlights a grinding, industrial edge that contrasts with earlier singles “Cannibal World” and “Purple Strings,” underscoring the band’s continued interest in reshaping texture and form. Together, the three songs introduce the wide-ranging palette of an album that confronts time, physical decline, and emotional reckoning with unusual directness.

Recorded with a newly solidified lineup, ‘A Short History of Decay’ finds frontman Domenic “Nicky” Palermo at his most exposed, addressing aging, illness, and memory without abstraction. The release sets the stage for a packed year of touring, beginning with February dates in Japan alongside Whirr, followed by an extensive North American run, a UK tour, and multiple editions of the band-curated Slide Away festival celebrating the 10th anniversary of ‘Tired of Tomorrow’.

Tour Dates
2/8 Tokyo Daikanyama, JP @ UNIT ^
2/9 Tokyo Shindaita, JP @ FEVER ^

3/4 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage ~
3/5 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ~
3/6 Asheville, NC @ Eulogy ~
3/7 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Heaven ~
3/8 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn ~
3/10 Dallas, TX @ Trees ~
3/11 Austin, TX @ Mohawk ~
3/13 El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace ~
3/14 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ~
3/15 San Diego, CA @ SOMA Sidestage ~
3/18 Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco ~
3/19 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom ~
3/21 Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall ~
3/22 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile ~
3/26 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line ~
3/27 Chicago, IL @ Metro ~
3/28 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop ~
3/29 Detroit, MI @ El Club ~
3/30 Toronto, ON @ Opera House ~
3/31 Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz ~
4/2 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ~
4/3 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ~
4/4 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ~

4/9 Dublin, IE @ Button Factory ~
4/10 Belfast, UK @ Oh Yeah Centre ~
4/12 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo ~
4/15 Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach ~
4/16 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ~
4/16 London, UK @ Moth Club ~

5/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount *
5/16 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount *
5/22 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *
5/23 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *
5/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium *
5/30 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium *

^ with Whirr
~ with Full Body 2, Cryogeyser, Violent Magic Orchestra

  • Slide Away Festival with Hum, Chapterhouse and more

Ella Mai Raises The Stakes With “100” As New Album ‘Do You Still Love Me?’ Nears

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Ella Mai shares her new single “100,” continuing the lead-in to her third studio album ‘Do You Still Love Me?’, out February 6 via 10 Summers and Interscope Records. Produced by Mustard and Keanu Beats, the track leans into direct emotion and steady devotion, extending Mai’s long-running relationship with stripped-back, classic R and B songwriting that prioritizes clarity and feeling over excess.

The official video for “100,” directed by Yussef Haridy and Logan Fields, places Mai in a stylized casino environment where tension and intimacy unfold during a game of Blackjack, with Mustard appearing onscreen as the dealer. The visual plays on themes of risk and commitment, mirroring the song’s lyrical focus on trust and emotional buy-in, while keeping the presentation sleek and controlled.

Mai recently introduced “100” to audiences during a run of intimate fan shows, performing the song acoustically at her Los Angeles date on the Did You Miss Me? Anniversary Tour. Those performances revisited the close-knit settings that marked the beginning of her career and drew a strong response across social platforms. Following earlier singles “Little Things” and “Tell Her,” “100” adds another defining piece to the emotional arc of ‘Do You Still Love Me?’, reinforcing Mai’s steady, assured progression into her next chapter.

Babylon A.D. Salute Lifelong Influences With “Power Of Music” Single

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Hard rock veterans Babylon A.D. share their new single “Power Of Music,” taken from their sixth studio album ‘When The World Stops’, out now via Kivel Records and Apocalypse Records. Written by vocalist Derek Davis, the track draws directly from the sounds that shaped his musical foundation, spanning Motown, early blues, classic rock, and arena-sized hard rock, and delivers that lineage through a driving, melodic performance rooted in the band’s long-established grit. The accompanying video blends current live footage with archival performance clips from influential artists across generations, reinforcing the song’s reflection on music as a throughline connecting past, present, and influence.


Seattle Pop Punk Outfit palettes Return With “magenta. (restless)” And A Sharper New Chapter

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eattle pop punk band palettes share their new single “magenta. (restless)” on January 14, marking their first release since the 2023 self-titled EP. The track builds on the band’s punch-forward sound, pairing grooving rhythms with heavy pop punk melodies and a vocal performance that balances confidence and emotional exposure. It continues palettes’ use of color as a thematic anchor, with “magenta. (restless)” signaling a new era shaped by tension, momentum, and personal reckoning.

Written from lived experience, the song reflects frustration, helplessness, and care colliding at once. Vocalist Adam Blasi frames it as an honest response to being unable to protect someone you love, while guitarist Austin Esry brings in broader influences that stretch beyond traditional pop punk, drawing from reggae and blues to add movement and texture. palettes formed in 2021 and quickly built a following through relatable songwriting and high-energy shows, sharing stages with The Home Team and Arrows In Action in sold-out rooms. With new material produced alongside Kyle Black and Brian Butcher set to arrive later this year, “magenta. (restless)” opens the door to a restless and intentional next phase.