Backline, a nonprofit organization connecting music industry professionals and their family members with mental health and wellness resources, has partnered with Spotify to announce a groundbreaking global initiative, Heart & Soul, Mental Health for Creators. As part of the initiative, they are launching the first-ever Global Mental Health Resource Hub, a comprehensive support platform for music industry professionals around the world.
This collaboration marks a major milestone for Backline, as the organization expands its services beyond the United States for the first time. With the mental health crisis continuing to impact artists, touring crew, and industry professionals at every level, this initiative brings critical support to an international audience, removing barriers to care and meeting the global music community where they are.
“Backline is honored to serve as a steward of Spotify’s investment into the creative community, ” said Backline Executive Director & Co-Founder Hilary Gleason. “Bringing our work to scale is a meaningful way to uplift the well-being of artists all around the world. This collaboration is taking these invaluable mental health and wellness resources beyond borders. Music knows no bounds, and now people who make music happen have access to care and a compassionate community. Our work together will help ensure that artists have the resources, support, and stability they need to thrive both personally and professionally.”
A Global Expansion of Backline’s Resources: a first-of-its kind destination for mental health support. This international, multilingual database features trusted music industry and mental health support resources and crisis lines from around the world. Concierge Support for the International Music Community: To provide more personalized pathways to care, Backline has also launched global@backline.care, a dedicated email concierge service that provides one-on-one support to help individuals navigate local care options and mental health systems in their countries. Mental Health Matters: A Guide for the Music Industry: A free digital guide designed for every role in the music industry. Complete with tools to stay grounded on the road, this guide offers strategies that can be used in real time along with practical resources to help music industry professionals feel their best. Therapy Access for Ambassadors: Free support for EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR ambassadors in the U.S. via Music’s Mental Health Fund, a joint program from Backline and Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund that provides grants to cover the cost of therapy. Support for Songwriters: Spaces for songwriters to discuss mental health and access support through studio residencies, dinners, panels, and more. May ‘25 Spotify Songwriting Studio residency program included: The Altons, Sinseers, and Iman Jordan. Wellness Events: Backline and Spotify will be backstage at major festivals like All Things Go NYC, providing on-site wellness activations, self-care kits, and guided workshops.
For Spotify, this partnership underscores a long-standing commitment to mental health wellness and social impact within the music industry.
“It’s clear that the mental health challenges artists face are real, and that the current support systems often fall short. It’s on all of us in the industry to respond with action,” said Spotify Head of Artist & Label Partnerships, Monica Herrera Damashek. “That’s why Spotify is expanding its Heart & Soul for Creators initiative by helping Backline scale its Mental Health & Wellness Global Resource Hub internationally for the first time, and by offering 1:1 therapy access to EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR ambassadors in the US and UK. We know this is only one step but we look forward to building on this for a more supported, sustainable environment for the artists who shape culture every day.”
“Heart & Soul is our commitment to the creators behind the music. Artists and songwriters face immense pressure, and their mental health can’t be an afterthought,” said Lauren Siegal Wurgaft, Head of Social Impact, Spotify. “Supporting creators’ well-being is essential to sustaining a vibrant music ecosystem. By working closely with trusted partners like Backline, we’re not just offering resources, we’re helping drive lasting change in how the industry approaches mental health.”
This initiative is a statement of intent from both Backline and Spotify to build a healthier, more sustainable music industry for everyone.
Gallaudet University, the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world and remains the only higher education institution in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students, released a video collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, recreating the soft drink brand’s iconic “Hilltop” commercial from 1971 in American Sign Language (ASL).
The video wrapped up a project that gave four of their students the opportunity to work with one of the world’s most recognized brands. This is the story of how it happened.
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.
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, 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 .
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.
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.
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
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
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.
