Before he became a guitar god, Jimi Hendrix made his TV debut in 1965 playing backup for Buddy and Stacy on Night Train. The song? A cover of “Shotgun.” The takeaway? Even then, you couldn’t ignore that sound.
Mel Brooks Announces ‘Spaceballs 2’ For 2027 And Yes, The Schwartz Is Still With You
After 40 years, Mel Brooks is finally giving us what we didn’t know we needed — Spaceballs 2! Coming in 2027, just in time for the original’s 40th anniversary. May the Schwartz be with our popcorn.
Neil Young Releases ‘Talkin To The Trees’ With The Chrome Hearts And Announces Love Earth World Tour 2025
Neil Young, along with his new band, The Chrome Hearts debut full-length album Talkin To The Trees, is available now via Reprise Records.
Talkin To The Trees feels like a full-on fresh-blooded leap forward as Young steps into his sixth decade in his creative odyssey filled with fearless twists and turns. The Chrome Hearts feature Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). All songs are written by Neil Young, co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu. Click HERE to order/stream Talkin To The Trees.
When “big change,” the first song from the album Talkin To The Trees, was released just in front of the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, It was a not-so-subtle announcement that Young was ready to step into the future. Not only America but the world. There could be no doubt where Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts stand in these challenging times.
These ten musical statements by Young take their rightful place among an ongoing creative tapestry.
Talkin To The Trees is available on black vinyl, limited edition clear vinyl, CD and Digital via the Greedy Hand Store at NYA and indie retail stores. Hi-res digital audio will be available at Neil Young Archives and all DSPs. All Greedy Hand Store purchases come with a free hi-res digital audio download from the NYA Download Store .
Tracklisting:
1. Family Life
2. Dark Mirage
3. First Fire Of Winter
4. Silver Eagle
6. Big Change
7. Talkin To The Trees
8. Movin Ahead
9. Bottle Of Love
10. Thankful
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts Love Earth World Tour 2025:
EUROPE:
Jun 18 — Rättvik, Sweden — Dalhalla
Jun 20 — Bergen, Norway — Bergenhus Fortress
Jun 22 — Copenhagen, Denmark — Tiøren
Jun 26 — Dublin, Ireland — Malahide Castle
Jun 28 — Glastonbury, UK — Glastonbury Festival
Jun 30 — Brussels, Belgium — Brussels Palace Open Air, Palace Square
Jul 01 — Groningen, Netherlands — Drafbaan Stadspark
Jul 03 — Berlin, Germany — Waldbühne
Jul 04 — Mönchengladbach, Germany — Sparkassenpark
Jul 06 — Montreux, Switzerland — Montreux Jazz Festival
Jul 08 — Stuttgart, Germany — Cannstatter Wasen
Jul 11 — London, UK — BST Festival
Jul 13 — Paris, France — Adidas Arena
NORTH AMERICA:
Aug 08 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
Aug 10 — Richmond, VA — Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Aug 13 — Detroit, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug 15 — Cleveland, OH — Blossom Music Center
Aug 17 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
Aug 19 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
Aug 21 — Gilford, NH — BankNH Pavilion
Aug 23 — New York, NY — Jones Beach
Aug 24 — Bethel, NY — Bethel Woods
Aug 27 — Chicago, IL — Northerly Island
Aug 29 — Milwaukee, WI — BMO Pavilion
Sep 01 — Denver, CO — Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Sep 05 — George, WA — The Gorge
Sep 06 — Vancouver, BC — Deer Lake Park
Sep 08 — Vancouver, BC — Deer Lake Park
Sep 10 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sep 12 — Mountain View, CA — Shoreline Amphitheater
Sep 15 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl
Jonita Unleashes Bold New Anthem “Berparwai” As She Redefines Indian Pop On The Global Stage
Jonita returns with “Berparwai,” a bold Punjabi pop anthem radiating main character energy via 91 North Records. The new track is an anthem about embracing inner peace and staying true to who you are, regardless of outside opinions. Backed by slick production from Yanchan and Ariza, “Beparwai” weaves upbeat drums, smooth synths, and subtle South Asian textures into a fresh, addictive sound.
On “Berparwai,” Jonita delivers her most unapologetic performance yet, saying, “With this track, I feel like I’m embracing myself as an artist, as a woman, as a human. From the sound to the visuals, everything about this release is raw, bold, and a side to me that perhaps hasn’t been seen before. I hope it makes people feel like the main character in their own story too.” The powerful single is matched with a visually striking music video that captures Jonita’s captivating presence.
This year has been full of major milestones for the groundbreaking Punjabi artist. She earned her first Juno Award nomination at the 54th annual ceremony and opened the televised show with Canadian icon Michael Bublé. In March, Jonita also made history at Lollapalooza India—India’s largest music festival—by performing in a prime slot just before Shawn Mendes.
Jonita is India’s foremost female pop star, a powerhouse vocalist redefining the sound of contemporary Indian music on the global stage. With over 16 million monthly listeners, she has built an unstoppable career, seamlessly bridging Bollywood and international pop with a voice that resonates across cultures.
Born in New Delhi, India, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Jonita’s diverse upbringing has fueled her genre-defying artistry. She has delivered some of India’s biggest playback anthems, including “The Breakup Song,” “Arabic Kuthu,” “Deva Deva,” and “Vida Karo”, working with legendary composers A.R. Rahman, Anirudh Ravichander, and Pritam. Whether electrifying dance floors or evoking deep emotions, her vocals have defined anthems for a generation.
Expanding beyond Bollywood, Jonita signed with 91 North Records to carve out her own lane in global pop music. In 2024, she released the iconic “Love Like That” EP, which became an instant fan favorite and earned her a Juno Award nomination for ‘South Asian Music Recording of the Year’, solidifying her presence on the world stage.
A magnetic live performer, Jonita has performed at Lollapalooza India 2025 directly before Shawn Mendes, delivered a standout performance with Michael Bublé at the Juno Awards, and has been the chosen supporting act for global superstars Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa on their India tours. With every performance, she continues to captivate new audiences and elevate Indian music on the global map.
Adding to her accolades, Jonita was crowned ‘Musician of the Year’ at Harper’s Bazaar’s first-ever Women of the Year Awards in 2024, a testament to her game-changing impact. As she continues to push boundaries and evolve as an artist, Jonitai is shaping the future of Indian pop music—one hit at a time.
Ludovico and Leo Einaudi Announce Collaborative Remix Album ‘Einaudi vs Einaudi’ Ahead of Royal Albert Hall Residency
Ahead of his performance on Later… with Jools Holland this weekend (10PM, BBC2) and 6-night headline residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall this summer (29th June – 4th July 2025), the ground-breaking composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi today announces a very special project that has been a long time in the making: Einaudi vs Einaudi.
Ludovico has collaborated with his son, the multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, and arranger Leo Einaudi, for a rework of Ludovico’s latest chart-topping album The Summer Portraits.
Having composed from a very young age, Leo Einaudi has built a diverse career spanning songwriting, film composition, production and live music. Over the years, Leo has collaborated with Ludovico Einaudi numerous times, contributing to film scores and multidisciplinary projects across theatre as well as recorded music. This unique, long-standing creative partnership has now culminated in this new body of work, in which Leo remixes eight mesmerising tracks.
Ludovico explains, “For several years now, I have been engaged in a musical exchange with Leo, collaborating on various projects, films, and more. There has always been a strong understanding between us, and in addition to having a musical sensibility very close to mine, Leo possesses an artistic sensitivity that I perceive as deeply personal. This is why ‘Einaudi vs Einaudi’ offers a renewed perspective on my original versions, bringing a fresh interpretation to the pieces while preserving their spirit.”
Leo adds, “From the outset of our musical connection, working with my father has always been marked by a deep sense of complicity and a true symbiosis of ideas. What has always amazed me is how natural our collaboration felt. Reimagining his songs happened with that same ease — it became a journey of constant discovery through the endless details at the heart of his music. It allowed me to see new sides of it, to let those elements enter my own imagination, and to shape them into a new form — one that respects their essence while giving them a new life.”
The Summer Portraits, released at the beginning of this year (giving Ludovico his 13th No.1 in the Official UK Classical Album Chart), is the result of a cascade of personal memories triggered by sun, summer and family holidays. On ‘Einaudi vs Einaudi’ Leo Einaudi takes the lush sound and subtle electronica of tracks such as first single ‘Rose Bay’ and enhances it still. Here, driving rhythms penetrate the stillness of the original track, offering another side to the hypnotic piece and taking the immersive sound and textures to another place.
Brandee Younger Releases ‘Gadabout Season’ on Impulse! Records, Her Most Personal Album Yet
Grammy-nominated harpist Brandee Younger has released Gadabout Season, her third album for Impulse! Records. Hailed byThe New York Times as a “a persuasive argument for the vast potential of her instrument” and praised by The Financial Times for “[moving] a niche jazz tradition into a contemporary mainstream path,” Gadabout Season finds the NAACP Award Winner and newly-minted Doris Duke Artist Awardee reflective and exploratory on what is hermost personal project to date, on which she has written or co-written nearly every composition.
“The album reflects the journey — the search for meaning and beauty amid life’s most complex moments, ultimately emerging with a deeper sense of self,” says Younger. “Musically Gadabout Season is more creative and slightly more cerebral than my other works.”
Prompted by a word-of-the-day email while on tour, Younger and her bandmates, bassist-producer Rashaan Carter and drummer Allan Mednard took inspiration from the word “gadabout” – a carefree pleasure-seeker who is always in motion, seeking out fun no matter the circumstances. The word of the day turned into the word of the tour, and seemed to describe their mission. These three simpatico travelers, whose shared history as trusted collaborators reaches back two decades, were always chasing and finding joy both onstage and off — through music, art, food and new experiences.
For Younger especially that joy was a healing force, so the gadabout concept acted as a helpful reminder that life’s challenges happen to everyone. “When it came time to write a piece to represent happiness, ‘Gadabout Season’ felt like the perfect title, ” says the harpist, a Grammy nominee and NAACP Image Award winner who has garnered widespread acclaim for her soulful, spiritual meld of jazz, R&B and hip-hop’s essence.
Known for her revelatory interpretations of harp legends Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, Younger now steps boldly into her own compositional voice, crafting music that carries her forebears’ language forward without paying direct tribute.
“This writing process forced me to be completely honest,” she says. “I’m not hiding behind someone else’s work.” Self-taught as a composer, Younger draws instinctively from a hybrid of influences — jazz, classical, old-school R&B, and hip-hop. Younger wrote most of this new music at her cousin’s cabin in bucolic upstate New York — a place where she could focus and where “you get a lot of peace and quiet and birds chirping and you can see the stars at night,” she says. Eventually, Carter and, later, Mednard joined her to workshop the new tunes, and the game plan coalesced: Carter would produce and engineer the entire album himself at Younger’s Harlem apartment. The bassist turned Younger’s second bedroom into a makeshift studio, and Gadabout Season was tracked over several months in the second half of 2024.
“I’m used to doing one and done in the studio,” Younger says. “This recording process was slow and intentional, allowing the sound of the album to reveal itself over time and mirroring a journey of discovery.” The trio dedicated time at the end of each session to sketching out ideas and improvising, which led to the tracks “Reckoning,” “Discernment,” and “End Means.”
Along the way, Younger found transcendence in an instrument she calls “life-changing”: the harp that belonged to Alice Coltrane. Younger became its custodian last year, after it’d been restored in honor of “The Year of Alice,” a series of high-profile releases, events, and exhibits co-sponsored by Impulse! Reflecting on how the harp’s energy guided her performances, Younger explains that it took time before her comfort matched the instrument’s majesty and power.
“It had to become my own,” she says. “This was not my first time playing the harp, but as this new music was unique to me, I had to become one with it at home.”Gadabout Season also showcases Younger’s evolving use of electronic textures and extended harp techniques, culminating in what producer Carter describes as an “Afrofuturist sonic palette.” Additional sonic brilliance arrives courtesy of some extraordinary guests. The alternately dreamlike and inquisitive title track — an expression of Younger’s fun, quirky “external personality” — features vibraphonist Joel Ross and Makaya McCraven on percussion, as well as Shabaka drawing clarinet lines atop the staccato groove.
“Surrender” was written for and features pianist-composer and MacArthur Fellow Courtney Bryan, a frequent Younger collaborator who shares the harpist’s rich church background, as well as her willingness to bring a church spirit to any musical context. Inspired by Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, “Surrender” summons up that moment of “going to the altar and giving all,” says Younger.
“To me, this is the most revealing piece on the album. It’s about seeking solace in quiet surrender.” Another highlight, “BBL,” is both airy and laced with a smoldering tension. “I think of it as a musical confrontation,” Younger says. “If it had lyrics, it would have an advisory warning. I left no room for a civil conversation.” At the recommendation of Younger’s friend and collaborator
Meshell Ndegeocello, saxophonist Josh Johnson contributed to “Discernment,” where his dubby harmonies imagine classic soul in a psychedelic haze. Shabaka also lends his flute to the ether of “End Means,” and his presence here comes on the heels of his own recent Impulse! release, Perceive its Beauty, Acknowledge its Grace, on which Younger appears.
“I think of us as being part of the Impulse! continuum,” the harpist says. Gadabout Season is a welcome new development in the Impulse! story, bolstering the label’s reputation for fearless original music from generation-defining voices. “When you take a step back and look at what was and what is now,” Younger reflects, “it’s really kind of beautiful.”
Among the most celebrated jazz artists to emerge in the 21st century, Brandee Younger is a harpist, composer, and bandleader whose music connects spiritual jazz and classical training to the rhythmic soulfulness of R&B and hip-hop. She grew up on Long Island, where she sang gospel, studied the harp classically, and became enamored of both hip-hop and the vintage soul that rap producers sampled. When Younger was a teenager, her father introduced her to Alice Coltrane’s music — a transformative moment that all but defined her life’s journey. In Coltrane and, later, Dorothy Ashby, Younger saw two strong, empowering Black women whose brilliance on the harp inspired Younger to stake her own claim on jazz history. Over the past two decades, Younger has honored these two artistic heroines while carving a singular path. On top of recording their music, she has collaborated with John and Alice Coltrane’s son Ravi, a spellbinding saxophonist, and with iconic figures in the Coltrane legacy, like the late Pharoah Sanders. Along the way, she’s also become a go-to player in popular music, contributing to projects and performances by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, the Roots, Common, John Legend, and many others.
As the New Yorker wrote, “Her radiant playing is as cogent on hip-hop and R&B albums as it is set against classical and jazz backdrops.”Her first LP for the storied Impulse! Records label — a.k.a. The House That Trane Built — was 2021’s Somewhere Different. A track from that album, “Beautiful Is Black,” earned Younger a Grammy nomination in the Best Instrumental Composition category, making her the first Black female solo artist to achieve this. Two years later, on Brand New Life, Younger revitalized newly discovered Ashby compositions, and that LP won the 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album. Gadabout Season, released in 2025, is a more reflective and personal work focusing on Younger’s inimitable original music. In addition to her non-stop performance schedule, Younger is a dedicated educator, teaching on the faculties of New York University and the New School.
Track Listing:
- Reckoning [2:05]
- End Means Feat. Shabaka [4:12]
- Gadabout Season [4:45]
- Breaking Point [2:43]
- Reflection Eternal [2:18]
- New Pinnacle [4:49]
- Surrender Feat. Courtney Bryan [5:26]
- BBL [4:55]
- Unswept Corners Feat. NIIA [4:34]
- Discernment Feat. Josh Johnson [6:51]
Tour Dates:
- June 19, 2025 – Groton Hill Music Center – Groton, MA
- June 21, 2025 – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club – Portsmouth, NH
- July 3, 2025 – Ljubljana Jazz Festival – Krizanke, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- July 4, 2025 – Ghent Jazz Festival – De Bijloke, Ghent, Belgium
- July 8, 2025 – Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland
- August 10, 2025 – NoMad Jazz Festival – Sofia, Bulgaria
- October 5, 2025 – Jazzfest Brno – Cabaret des Péchés, Brno, Czech Republic
- October 7, 2025 – Enjoy Jazzfestival – Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg, Germany
- October 10, 2025 – Jassmine – Warsaw, Poland
- October 18, 2025 – Hopkins Center for the Arts – Hanover, NH
- November 3, 2025 – Jazzfest Budapest – Eiffel Art Studios, Budapest, Hungary
- November 4, 2025 – Conservatori del Liceu Auditori – Barcelona Jazz Festival, Barcelona, Spain
- November 6, 2025 – Teatro Isabel la Católica – Granada, Spain
- November 8, 2025 – Rockit! Festival – De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands
- November 13, 2025 – Bowker Auditorium – Amherst, MA
- November 14-16, 2025 – SOUTH Jazz Kitchen – Philadelphia, PA
Tyla, Rihanna, Cardi B, and More Shine on Star-Packed ‘Smurfs’ Movie Soundtrack
The SMURFS movie unveils its complete soundtrack featuring Tyla’s new track “Everything Goes With Blue” – listen to “Everything Goes With Blue” HERE and the full soundtrack HERE.
The soundtrack was heralded by Rihanna’s highly praised new song “Friend Of Mine” and “Higher Love” by DESI TRILL featuring DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania & Subhi which was accompanied by an official music video.
“It’s My Party” by Shenseea and “Always On The Outside” by James Corden are exciting standout collaborations on the new soundtrack. Listen to the full soundtrack HERE via Roc Nation Distribution and see the full tracklisting below.
When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe. SMURFS features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.
SMURFS MOVIE SOUNDTRACK TRACKLIST
- Milenge by Natania
- Celebrate by Natania
- Friend Of Mine by Rihanna
- Higher Love by DESI TRILL feat. DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania & Subhi
- Liar For A Living by Natania
- It Takes A Village by Natania and The Indian Connect
- Big Dreams by James Fauntleroy
- To Me by Lous and the Yakuza
- Did We by Natania
- Balle Balouza by Natania, Subhi and The Indian Connect
- Everything Goes With Blue by Tyla
- It’s My Party by Shenseea
- Always On The Outside by James Corden
- Higher Calling by The Indian Connect
j-hope Unleashes Bold New Single “Killin’ It Girl” Featuring GloRilla in Grand Finale of Solo Project
j-hope of 21st century pop icons BTS releases a new solo single “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)” out today. Following the release of chart-favorite smash hits “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” and “MONA LISA,” released back in March, j-hope’s solo single project culminates in a grand finale with the unveiling of this new track. “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)” is a hip-hop track with an addictive hook that demands to be played on repeat. j-hope’s rhythmic finesse stands out against the track’s minimalist arrangement, exuding confident charisma with a sensual edge. The track conveys the sheer thrill of falling in love at first sight. With raw honesty, j-hope articulates the emotional rush and magnetic pull toward someone who radiates perfection with her own unique brilliance.
Following his participation in the production of “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” and “MONA LISA,” j-hope once again took part in the creation of “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla).” While staying true to his distinct musical taste, j-hope also ventures into new stylistic territory, experimenting with different genre elements.
The track serves as a further expansion of j-hope’s musical spectrum and a testament to his artistic growth. “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)” brings together the hottest collaboration in the spotlight. World-renowned hitmaker Cirkut, known for his work with artists such as Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5, and Sam Smith, took the lead as the main producer, setting the track up for chart success. Additionally, GloRilla, one of today’s most prominent and commanding voices in hip-hop, joins as a featured artist, adding fierce energy and presence. With this new release, the global game-changer continues to build on his widely diverse portfolio of collaborators, a wide array of artistic influences.
The performance of “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)” oozes sensuality, further amplifying the song’s allure. With the performance, j-hope delivers a bold and sultry display of confidence like never before. Alongside the grand production, his fluid yet dynamic choreography highlights his absolute mastery of stage presence, reaffirming his status as one of the most celebrated performers in demand.
In the official music video for “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla),” j-hope’s magnetic charisma is front and center. The video oscillates between intimate moments of introspection and high-energy, electrifying performances that showcase j-hope’s finest stage prowess.
In the video, j-hope’s energy as he boldly races through the vast urban landscape feels incredibly visceral. Striking bursts of contrasting colors add visual flair, offering a highly stylish and visually captivating experience with grunge-inspired aesthetics. GloRilla also makes an appearance in the music video, making it a standout collaboration that grabs everyone’s attention.
Njerae and Preston Pablo Bridge Continents With Soulful New Collab “Gone”
In a bold cross-continental collaboration, Kenyan Afro-Indie sensation Njerae pairs up with Canadian pop star and JUNO Award-winning artist with global hits like “Flowers Need Rain” and “Dance Alone” – Preston Pablo. The two have teamed up to release a one-of-a-kind musical masterpiece dubbed, “Gone.”
The record is Njerae’s first release following her February-released EP Four Letter Word that has grossed over 1.5 million streams across music platforms accumulatively. On the back of the successful EP and a run of collaborations including “Find Me” alongside Kenyan rap royalty King Kaka & Scar (from Wakadinali) – to her velvety outing on the Femi One and Brandy Maina embellished cut, “Sema” – Njerae is enjoying momentum coming into this release. After being selected to represent East Africa in Apple Music’s “Africa Rising Class of 2025,” and helmed as Spotify Africa’s Global Ambassador for the EQUAL campaign, award-winning crooner Njerae induces her emotionally rich vocals and Afro-Indie aptitude into “Gone”. Her unparalleled artistry, marked by authenticity and innovation, has steadily garnered acclaim across Kenya and beyond.
“It’s a huge moment for me to release this collaboration with Preston, who is someone I’ve seen blow up and rise in the music scene. He has a huge fan base in East Africa, and I’m happy to combine our worlds on this song to tell one story of love and heartbreak” Njerae mentions.
“Gone” tells the story of a love lost, but not forgotten. Through gripping melodies and honest lyricism, Njerae reflects on a relationship that once felt like a symphony. Unable to accept its end, she aches to understand what went wrong and clings to the hope that love can find its way back. Preston Pablo’s soulful delivery adds depth and texture, capturing the emotional tug-of-war between letting go and holding on.
“Gone” is a crossover pop record that bridges continents, merging Njerae’s African-rooted Afro-Indie sound with Preston Pablo’s North American pop-R&B talent. The collaboration offers a fresh, cross-cultural musical experience that transcends geographical boundaries, appealing to diverse audiences worldwide.
Their combined artistry not only showcases their individual talents but also represents a harmonious blend of different musical traditions, among Njerae’s efforts to tap into the international market and create music that can be felt all over the world.
In essence, the Njerae and Preston Pablo collaboration in “Gone” exemplifies the power of music to unite diverse cultures, creating a unique and compelling sound that resonates on a global scale.
Award-winning artist Njerae is a Kenyan born and raised singer, songwriter and producer. Her music identifies as Afro-Indie with a touch of RnB and soul. She has played at Folk Fusion, Jamhuri Jam Sessions, Gig Dynamics Open House and a number of her own curated events.
Njerae’s debut album ‘Unintentional’ has grossed over 10 million streams with hit song “Aki Sioni” amassing over 6 million streams and charming fans to interpret it as a girl’s handbook when going through a breakup. The album allowed her to be featured in a number of radio and Tv shows.
Taking a more significant step toward modern RnB and contemporary Afro-pop sounds, Njerae has released two follow-up EP’s namely ‘Out With The Old’ and her latest effort ‘Four Letter Word’ – the latter being her first offering under her major record deal with Universal Music East Africa.
In 2024, Njerae signed her first major recording deal with UMG East Africa, and has become one of the most streamed female artists in East Africa topping charts with singles such as “Aki Sioni” and numerous others.
JUNO Award-winner and five-time nominee, Preston Pablo is one of the fastest growing global pop artists right now with over 3.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 186 million streams from his quadruple-platinum breakthrough hit “Flowers Need Rain” with multi-platinum producer-songwriters Banx & Ranx, a feature on Punjabi hit “Admirin’ You” from Karan Aujla’s highest-charting Punjabi album in Canadian history, and 718K UGC creates from his viral social media hit “Dance Alone” with a Spanish remix from Colombian singer-songwriter Juliana and another remix from Nigerian singer-songwriter Qing Madi and Nonso Amadi.
Preston started 2024 by touring with Jon Vinyl in major cities all over the U.S. while engaging with over 387K followers on TikTok. The past year of exponential growth and working with top producers like Banx & Ranx, Rico Love, Ikky, Sammy Soso, Euro, Milano, and Nate Ferraro, is the main inspiration behind Preston’s debut EP Anywhere but Here, out now via 31 East and Universal Music Canada.
Sammy Virji Announces Album ‘Same Day Cleaning’ With Surprise Times Square Pop-Up and Star-Studded Summer Tour
Sammy Virji lifts the lid on his new album, Same Day Cleaning, landing on September 19 via Capitol. To celebrate, he’s taking over New York’s iconic Times Square today for a surprise pop-up with a host of soon to be announced special guests.
UKG don Sammy Virji has been creating serious noise on either side of the Atlantic leading up to the announcement of Same Day Cleaning. In April, across three debut shows, he drew some of Coachella’s biggest crowds (clip here) ahead of dropping the anticipated first single “Nostalgia” (stream here) ft. Issey Cross.
Alongside a B2B with Four Tet at Blackstone Street Warehouse and shows at U.S. festivals like Lightning in a Bottle and Movement Detroit, Sammy went on to drop the LP’s second single, “Cops & Robbers”, featuring grime legend, Skepta, in May. To launch the single, they hosted a huge pop-up party at Canning Town-based venue London East, after receiving over 10,000 sign-ups for the event (clip here).
More on Sammy Virji’s sophomore album, Same Day Cleaning, including details on guest collaborations with the finest from electronic music and beyond, will be revealed over the coming months. In the meantime, Sammy is gearing up for a stacked summer schedule that keeps the momentum sky-high. He’ll play his biggest headline show yet at Forest Hills Stadium in New York, followed by festival sets at Hideout, Outside Lands, Lowlands, All Points East with Chase & Status, Pukkelpop, and Reading and Leeds Festivals. He’ll also bring his signature energy to Boiler Room Ibiza in July. September closes out the run with huge appearances at Circoloco Ibiza, 10K-capacity shows in LA and Denver, all paving the way to the album’s release on September 19th.
Stream the first two singles, “Nostalgia” and “Cops & Robbers” from Sammy Virji’s upcoming album, Same Day Cleaning, now and head down to the pop-up party today at Times Square, where he’ll play unreleased gems from the album, releasing on September 19.
Oxford-born Sammy Virji is driving the evolution of UKG, as the genre takes the world by storm – again. The London producer/DJ, nominated for Best Producer at DJ Mag’s Best Of British Awards in 2023, is an in-demand dance music maker, whether that’s for his brighter garage cuts like “Find My Way Home” (33M streams), screw-face belters like “Shella Verse” featuring Grammy-nominated Flowdan (19M streams), or synth-heavy bass house singles like “Summertime Blues” with Chris Lake and Nathan Nicholson, now sitting at a whopping 32M streams. His catchy 2023 single “If U Need It” was arguably his biggest hit yet, now cruising towards 80M streams, having reached #85 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2024, he and fellow UKG don Interplanetary Criminal unleashed arguably the track of the year in the form of “Damager.”