All photo credits belong to Tim Snow and Osheaga.
Elton John Receives QVC’s First-Ever Icon Award for Home Fragrance Innovation
QVC announced that legendary musician, humanitarian, and retail innovator Elton John will be honored with QVC’s first-ever Icon Award. This award is to recognize his exceptional impact on the world of home fragrance and his innovative collaboration with Slatkin + Co.
The QVC Icon Award was established to celebrate individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the QVC community through innovation, creativity, and a commitment to excellence that aligns with QVC’s core values. Elton’s business partner and friend, Harry Slatkin of Slatkin + Co., nominated him for this award that recognizes trailblazers whose vision and talent have transformed product experiences.
“Elton John’s unique ability to connect with our customers and bring his creative vision to life through our platform has resulted in the kind of success that is as remarkable as he is,” said Mara Sirhal, Chief Merchandising Officer, QVC and HSN. “The QVC Icon Award celebrates not only his achievements in retail, but his ability to bridge the worlds of entertainment and commerce in a way that resonates with, and is appreciated by, our QVC customer.”
The award follows Elton’s remarkable success with QVC, which includes a high performance for his Today’s Special Value (TSV) offer and standout sales across his collection.. “You had an amazing launch,” noted Harry Slatkin, founder of Slatkin + Co., during a recent interview. “Over 5 billion views, and we sold 350,000 candles, it was a tremendous day.”
“This is a fantastic honor,” replied Elton. “I usually receive awards for my music; so, this is genuinely a first for me. It was such a pleasure putting this collection together and creating such sensational scents for everyone to enjoy.”
Elton John’s second collection with Slatkin + Co. is available exclusively on QVC here.
Foster The People Teams Up with MPH for ‘See You In the Afterlife’ Remix
RIAA Multi-Platinum and Diamond-certified group Foster The People have joined forces with fast-rising UKG/Bassline producer MPH for the exhilarating “See You In the Afterlife (MPH Remix).”
The new rendition of this standout track fuses the band’s genre-bending sound with MPH’s new wave of UK Garage & House. This remix collaboration is a bold statement on the band’s evolving identity. As they continue to fuse shimmering synths with introspective lyrics, Foster The People prove they’re at the forefront of the dance-alternative crossover. The remix was a staple element of their afterparty DJ sets after a select number of Paradise State of Mind tour dates this past spring, and continues to energize the dance floor as they approach a few different summer afterparties.
The original version of “See You In The Afterlife” is one of the many highlights found on Foster The People’s acclaimed new album, Paradise State of Mind. The track was recently joined by a hauntingly powerful official double-feature music video alongside a second standout track from the album, “Feed Me.” Directed by Weird Life Films’ Laura Gordon, Jackson James & Ryan Ohm and co-starring Foster The People lead singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Mark Foster alongside his 3x Emmy Award-winning wife, Julia Garner (Ozark, The Fantastic Four: First Steps) as themselves, “See You In The Afterlife / Feed Me” is streaming now.
“These videos are transmissions from somewhere between a fever dream and a digital afterlife,” says Mark Foster. “If ‘See You In The Afterlife’ is a satirical take on what life feels like now, ‘Feed Me’ is the hell that follows. It was interesting to tie these two songs together in a short to explore the two sides of consumption – the dopamine rush of intake, and the void that follows.
“Filming ‘Feed Me’ with Julia felt like stepping into a lucid hallucination – a secret world stitched together by static and memory. One where fear and desire intersect and the result is something beautiful and deeply unsettling. The line between the digital and the divine is thinner, and stranger, than we think.”
Lord Huron Releases ‘The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1’ Featuring Kristen Stewart and Kazu Makino
 Lord Huron – the project of Los Angeles-based songwriter, musician and visual artist Ben Schneider – announces The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, their new album out now along with the new single, “Looking Back.” Known for creating “atmospheric music of exquisite craft” (Wall Street Journal), the band began teasing the new album over the last few months with singles/videos, “Who Laughs Last” and “Nothing I Need,” which is currently in the Top 10 at Adult Alternative radio.
The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, Lord Huron’s fifth album, was written and co-produced by Schneider. Alongside Schneider are his band members Tom Renaud, Mark Barry and Miguel Brise-o, and a host of collaborators, including actress Kristen Stewart (on “Who Laughs Last”) and Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino (on “Fire Eternal”). The album title references the mysterious machine featured on the cover art. Schneider asks: “What if you could choose your fate like choosing a song on a jukebox? What if your finger slipped and you got the B-side instead? What if you misunderstood the meaning of the dang song to begin with?”
Lord Huron’s most recent release “Looking Back” also serves as the album’s magnetic opener. Schneider’s voice glows over misty instrumentation: shuffling guitar, ethereal harp, and luminous cello. There’s an eerie throughline in his lyrics: “Something changed the day you left and I’ll never know just what // I’ll spend my whole life looking up and wondering who I am // Something tells me you and I will never meet again // Gonna see if I can live outside the lines of my body and mind.”
Expanding on the song’s theme, Schneider notes, “The weight of your past can distort your present and future, the way massive celestial objects warp the fabric of the universe. Like a bowling ball on a trampoline. This song wonders if it’s possible to let go, or if looking back is a fundamental law of existence.”
Dierks Bentley Shares New Song ‘Standing in the Sun’ from Upcoming Album ‘Broken Branches’
Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley’s newest offering “Standing in the Sun” burns with the simple, life-giving power of true love.
Written by Kyle Sturrock, the track opens with a sparse guitar while Bentley’s signature gravel grounds the lyrics building into a full blown effort laced with emotion and gratitude. Bentley recently captured a single video take of the track just as the sun rose over his farm just outside of Nashville.
“This is one of those songs that I never in a million years could have written on my own, but I’m so glad someone in this town did and gave me temporary custody of it for awhile,” said Bentley. “Love is such a classic theme in country music, but Kyle was able to write it in a way that is so personal to me… it’s the way I feel it. And, I love how sonically it builds to feel like a sunrise, tying back to the lyric of the song.”
BROKEN BRANCHES marks Bentley’s 11th studio album and fittingly features 11 new tracks, including the already Top 30 lead single “She Hates Me.” Hailed for linking “country’s roots to its present in the most seamless and timeless-feeling manner possible” (Tennessean), Bentley whittled down his essential sound to its rooted and most resolute. The album finds a proud broken branch celebrating the outliers of country life – and of country music – embracing unruly characters wherever they’re found, ultimately adding beauty to the whole. It includes collaborations with Miranda Lambert, John Anderson, Riley Green and Stephen Wilson Jr., with its early-released tracks already catching the attention of fans and critics. “Cold Beer Can” has been praised as “a song that celebrates fixing things – from busted alternators to broken hearts” (Rolling Stone) while the “refreshing, very bluegrass-driven” (Country Central) “Well Well Whiskey” finds Bentley doubling down on what makes his music stick: well crafted songs with dynamic musicianship and a commitment to doing things a little differently.
He counts eight Number One albums, 22 Number One songs, and over nine billion global streams to his credit – plus 15 Grammy nominations and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry. Continuing the path built from the ground up, as an entrepreneur, Bentley has four locations of the gastropub and live music venue “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row,” has a Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection “Desert Son” and recently released ROW 94 – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted with only “three ingredients and the truth” at Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co.
Candlemass Marks 40 Years with ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ Cover and ‘Black Star’ EP
To celebrate 40 years of doom metal mastery and the release of their brand new four track EP, Black Star, Swedish epic doom metal pioneers Candlemass have unveiled a cover of Black Sabbath’s legendary hymn “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”. Originally cut from the classic 1973 Sabbath album, Candlemass present their own version alongside an official music video.
With solemn intensity and seismic presence, Candlemass transform the track into a funeral march worthy of doom’s highest pantheon. A majestic tribute that honors the past while shaking the crypt walls of the present.
Candlemass mastermind Leif Edling comments: “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” needs no introduction, one of the best songs ever recorded if you ask me. Maybe not the obvious choice, but it’s been a dream for me to do it one day and here it is! Our rendition of S.B.S. (Mass Bloody Mass?)”
Three Days Grace Reunites with Adam Gontier for New Album ‘Alienation’
After Three Days Grace surprised fans with the return of the band’s original singer Adam Gontier, the rock giants have announced their epic upcoming record, Alienation, available on August 22 via RCA Records. The twelve-tracks on the record all play a pivotal role in defining this significantly new, but nostalgic, chapter of the band.
Amid the album announcement, Neil Sanderson, drummer of Three Days Grace shares “‘Alienation’ is a journey through inner collapse and outward defiance-The songs reflect isolation as a condition of existence, not just circumstance. Some of what we write about – anxiety, addiction, heartbreak, disconnect, are often a different wave of the same storm. And yet, buried in all the wreckage is something human-still reaching out”
In addition to sharing details of the new record, the band released their second single off the album, “Apologies”. Produced by Zakk Cervini, Dan Lancaster and Howard Benson, “Apologies” bursts to life with riveting guitar riffs, immediately pulling listeners into the dynamic soundscape. Echoing the raw spirit of classic 2000s rock, the energetic tempo drives momentum forward into the chorus, creating an urgent and electrifying atmosphere. Soaring vocals cut through the mix, amplifying the emotion behind the lyrics, while the tight rhythm section anchors the track with steady intensity.
Sanderson adds, “This song’s a mirror for anyone who feels like they’re too far gone to be loved. How it hurts more knowing someone did love you-just not enough to save you from yourself. Apologies don’t rewind time.”
Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen Release ‘Drunk and Alone’ from New Album ‘IV’
Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen have released their latest single/video “Drunk and Alone,” from their highly anticipated fourth album IV (MoMojo Records) out now.
For the bracing “Drunk and Alone,” the ferocious singer, songwriter, and guitarist and his band teamed up with his friend, director Nyke Van Wyk, for the gritty, moving clip which Douglas explains is autobiographical.
“This one is extremely personal for me. It’s one of those songs where I was reluctant to even put it on the record due to the vulnerability of it all. I wrote this on one of my darker days,” he adds, revealing he hasn’t had a drink in two years. “Sometimes you have to see the bottom to realize enough is enough.”
Fronted by Dustin Douglas, The Electric Gentlemen-rounded out by drummer Tommy Smallcomb and bassist Matt Gabriel-are known to deliver a heavy dose of swagger, groove, and rock ‘n’ roll attitude both on stage and in the studio.
IV is a raw, unapologetic, Blues-Rock Master course. It is a powerhouse album drenched in whiskey-soaked riffs and soaring Rock n’ Roll vocals that once again display Douglas’ meteoric rise as one of the heaviest hitters in the Blues-Rock world. The album was recorded at Eight Days a Week Studios in Northumberland, PA by Paul Smith (Badlees), who engineered and co-produced the album with DOUGLAS. It was mixed and mastered by Nick Coyle (Lifer, Drama Club, Death Valley Dreams). IV is the follow-up album to DDEG’s 2023 release, Black Leather Blues.
Oasis Catalogue Now Available in Spatial Audio on Apple Music
Apple Music has offically released the entire Oasis catalogue in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The seminal band’s groundbreaking albums including ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?,’ ‘Be Here Now’ in addition to three compilation albums, ‘The Masterplan,’ ‘Time Flies… (1994-2009)’ and ‘Stop The Clocks,’ join the band’s seminal debut, ‘Definitely Maybe,’ ‘Oasis Knebworth 1996 (Live)’ and ‘Familiar To Millions (Live)’ released on Big Brother Recordings Ltd available on Apple Music.
Big Brother Recordings commissioned Grammy award-winning producer, mixer and engineer Ryan Hewitt to recreate these mixes from scratch. Painstakingly and lovingly reconstructed, this was a huge undertaking for over 18 months, with the end result adding an extra emotional depth that will give listeners a feeling akin to hearing these era-defining songs again for the first time.
“Honouring the original mixes, and the original intention of the sound of these records, which are so loud and explosive, and transferring that to Dolby Atmos was one of the greatest challenges of my career. These records sounded big in the first place, and now they sound even bigger on Apple Music in Spatial Audio whilst honouring the original spirit of the recordings.” – Ryan Hewitt, Grammy award-winning producer, engineer and mixer – Ryan Hewitt, Grammy award-winning producer, engineer and mixer
Described as the next generation of sound, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is a premium listening experience that brings you closer to the music you love than ever before. It’s an evolution from traditional stereo and allows you to step inside songs and hear sounds all around and above you. It’s a giant leap forward that’s revolutionised the way the fans listen. The impact on the original recording is a hugely significant one that is not only about the sound, but also about the feeling of the music. Delving into the band’s early work and meticulously placing each track back together piece by piece, Ryan says felt like “a game of Jenga where if you move one wrong piece, it all comes tumbling down.”
To celebrate the launch, The Matt Wilkinson Show chatted to Ryan Hewitt about the process of adapting each album for a new, immersive experience.
“Oasis music was always produced impeccably – Noel Gallagher, Owen Morris, Mark ‘Spike’ Stent and Dave Sardy all understood that the band truly came alive when the jaw-dropping, raw intensity of their gigs was mixed with a touch of studio wizardry. Listening to Ryan’s new spatial mixes heightens the rush, taking these timeless songs to places anew. Coming ahead of the most talked about live shows of the decade, it’s a timely reminder of how Oasis’ music completely changed the game.” Matt Wilkinson, Apple Music 1 host
The completion of Oasis’ lauded catalogue arriving on Apple Music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos lands ahead of the eagerly anticipated Oasis Live ’25 tour. The reunion ended years of feverish speculation, as unprecedented demand and a resounding global appetite made the announcement the popular culture story of 2024. Last year also saw the 30th anniversary edition of Definitely Maybe reach No. 1 in the UK album charts for a second time in its history as appetite for Oasis catalogue from fans new and old alike reached new heights.
The Matt Wilkinson Oasis radio special is available to listen to here.
Attack Attack! Returns with ‘Attack Attack! II’ and Two Explosive New Singles
After throwing the internet into a frenzy of chaos, speculation, and unexpected genre detours, Attack Attack! are officially back in full force as announcing, “Attack Attack! II”, their first full length record since 2012, out now.
Today, they unleash not one, but two massive new singles, “Dance!” featuring Will Ramos of Lorna Shore and “Chainless”. Fresh off blindsiding fans with a country remix, the real version of “Dance!” sees the metalcore titans teaming up with one of deathcore’s most recognizable voices, Will Ramos, for their first ever official feature that blends sheer aggression with off-the-wall energy. On the other hand, “Chainless” offers a powerful, anthemic counterbalance that’s wrapped in explosive riffs with unshakable momentum.
Coming off a week of confusion, cowboy hats, and conspiracies, Attack Attack! are setting the record straight: “selling out is sick”