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Ian Flanigan Releases Calming Instrumental EP ‘Earth and Airwaves’ Inspired by Fatherhood

Eric Alper
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Ian Flanigan Releases Calming Instrumental EP ‘Earth and Airwaves’ Inspired by Fatherhood

Acclaimed singer-songwriter and The Voice finalist Ian Flanigan is proud to release ‘Earth and Airwaves,’ a deeply personal instrumental project inspired by his first year as a father to twin daughters. This new age ambient EP is available everywhere today.

Inspired by late nights spent soothing his newborn twin daughters, Ian Flanigan found that the gentle sound of his guitar helped calm and comfort them. Those quiet, meaningful moments led him to create Earth and Airwaves—an instrumental project blending soft acoustic melodies with natural field recordings like wind, water, and other natural sounds. Flanigan composed, recorded, and produced the entire EP himself, without the use of AI, as a way to capture the peaceful atmosphere of those early days of fatherhood and share that sense of calm with others.

“A year ago, I became a father to two beautiful twin girls, and music has been part of their lives since day one,” shares Flanigan. “We’d play with keyboards, synths, singing bowls—whatever instruments were around the house. Over time, I started creating ambient meditation tracks to help them unwind and fall asleep. I decided to gather those sounds into a project called Earth and Airwaves—a blend of nature recordings and organic ambient music. I hope these songs bring calm to your days, just as they have to ours.”

Earth and Airwaves Track Listing:
01. Phoenicia
02. Cold Air
03. Breathe And Balance
04. November Rain
05. Floreo
06. So Long

Flanigan recently released his highly anticipated new album, ‘The Man My Mama Raised.’ The album showcased Flanigan’s signature gravelly vocals and deeply personal storytelling, further cementing his place in modern country music.

Adding to the excitement, Ian’s single “Something Strong” from the album was added to Spotify’s official All New Country playlist—a coveted spot that put his music in front of millions of listeners worldwide. The placement marked a major milestone in Flanigan’s career and served as a testament to the growing recognition of his distinctive sound.

‘The Man My Mama Raised’ reflects Ian’s journey—both personal and musical—with songs that speak to resilience, love, and the lessons learned along the way. The album features a mix of soulful ballads and high-energy anthems, each track delivered with the raw emotion that has become Flanigan’s signature.

Hailing from Saugerties, New York, Ian Flanigan’s journey to the top of the country music scene has been marked by grit, passion, and perseverance. His road-tested voice and authentic style earned him a third-place finish on The Voice, where he gained a devoted fan following. Known for his soulful take on modern country, Ian’s music often reflects themes of love, resilience, and heartland values, appealing to a wide range of listeners.

Ian can be accurately described as slow, stoic, southern grace. He is humble yet focused, peaceful but engaged, and undisputedly talented. For the last decade, he has toured his distinct voice and evocative lyrics across America, with a country sound reminiscent of Joe Cocker and Chris Stapleton.

Ian found fame by becoming Blake Shelton’s finalist on NBC’s The Voice, where he was dubbed a “once-in-a-lifetime vocalist” by Shelton. Since that time, he has released an album with chart-topping singles (“Grow Up” reached #5 on the US iTunes sales chart, approaching 3 million streams), extensively toured with the likes of Trace Adkins and Chris Janson, and recently released his sophomore album, ‘The Man My Mama Raised.’ He has been featured on CMT, RFD-TV, Fox News, American Songwriter, Whiskey Riff, The Music Universe, Country Now, Everything Nash, Entertainment Tonight, People Magazine, USA Today, Yahoo News, and The Wrap.

Flanigan represents Taylor Guitars, Lucchese, KICKER AUDIO, and Hook and Cleaver Ranch as a brand ambassador. He also gained exposure as a Reviver Publishing writer in Nashville. He released his debut album ‘Strong’ (2022), the follow-up acoustic EP ‘STRONG: The Muscle Shoals Sessions’ (2023), and sophomore album ‘The Man My Mama Raised’ (2025) on Reviver Records.

Kurt Vile Shares Indie Rock Gem ‘Classic Love’ EP With Luke Roberts, Out Now on Verve

Eric Alper
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Kurt Vile Shares Indie Rock Gem ‘Classic Love’ EP With Luke Roberts, Out Now on Verve

Today, indie rock’s exemplary everyman Kurt Vile shares Classic Love, a five-track EP with Nashville songwriter Luke Roberts, out now on Verve Records. Classic Love is rooted in collaboration, succinct and infectious.

Prior to releasing Classic Love, Vile shared the title track with an official music video featuring Vile and Roberts and a pick-pocketing scheme. Directed by Lucky Marvel.

After packing an entire album’s worth of songs, licks, and winsome wisdom into his 2023 EP Back to Moon Beach, Kurt Vile stuck to the medium’s more traditional format with Classic Love. The project draws heavily on Vile’s friendship and creative partnership with Nashville songwriter Luke Roberts. After meeting via MySpace, they toured together for Kurt’s seminal B’lieve I’m Goin Down… album, while Roberts has gone on to release LPs on Thrill Jockey and Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace. Their collaborative work emanates an energy that’s “sad and funny at the same time,” something Vile says is a guiding ethos of his music. 

With a run of adored albums and EPs starting in the late 2000s, Vile quickly became a critical favorite and commercial stalwart thanks to 2013’s Wakin on a Pretty Daze and 2015’s B’lieve I’m Goin Down… A leading figure in Philadelphia’s robust indie rock scene, Vile has released nine solo LPs since 2019, as well as a cavalcade of EPs, collaborating with Courtney Barnett, John Prine, Hope Sandoval, The Avalanches, and many more.

Classic Love is a concise but emblematic entry in the Kurt Vile canon: infectious, yet unvarnished, showcasing his natural ability to craft his own songs and interpolate others that you want to keep listening to.

Kurt Vile is currently on tour throughout North America and playing both headlining dates and shows with Pixies. See all Kurt Vile tour dates here and listed below.

CLASSIC LOVE EP TRACKLIST
1. classic love
2. hit of the highlife
3. classic love (kv version)
4. slow talkers ’22
5. wildflower

KURT VILE TOUR DATES
7/25 Washington, DC The Anthem *
7/26 Washington, DC The Anthem *
7/28 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit *
7/29 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit *
7/31 St. Paul, MN Palace Theatre *
8/1 St. Paul, MN Palace Theatre *
8/2 Evanston, IL SPACE
8/3 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue

* w/ Pixies

Daniil Trifonov Explores the Private World of ‘Tchaikovsky’ on New Double Album

Eric Alper
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Daniil Trifonov Explores the Private World of ‘Tchaikovsky’ on New Double Album

In June 2011, Daniil Trifonov shot to fame with a spectacular victory at the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition. Now the pianist is devoting an entire double album to some of the music Tchaikovsky wrote for solo piano. Revealing the composer’s more intimate, private side, TCHAIKOVSKY is threaded through with themes of childhood and mothers, youth and family. In addition to the early Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, the Theme and Variations in F major and Children’s Album, Trifonov has recorded the Concert Suite from the Ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” created by a young Mikhail Pletnev in 1978.

TCHAIKOVSKY will be released by Deutsche Grammophon digitally and on 2 CDs on 3 October 2025. The Andante from Pletnev’s suite will be issued for streaming/download on 25 July, followed by “Sweet Dreams” (Children’s Album) on 22 August and “Silver Fairy” (The Sleeping Beauty) on 12 September. The two Sleeping Beauty tracks will be accompanied by e-videos from a performance filmed earlier this season at Barcelona’s historic Palau de la Música Catalana. The full recital, in which the Tchaikovsky Sonata and The Sleeping Beauty suite frame works by Chopin and Barber, is available to stream on STAGE+.

Tchaikovsky wrote the Piano Sonata in C sharp minor in 1865, during his final year at the St Petersburg Conservatory, but the work was only published after his death. It is, says Trifonov, a neglected masterpiece, one full of touches of genius (the composer repurposed its third movement for the Scherzo of his Symphony No. 1) and changing moods, from the lyrical main theme of the Andante to the youthful fire and exuberance elsewhere in the sonata.

Trifonov discovered the Thème original et variations in F major via a recording made during the inaugural Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 by its eventual winner, the 23-year-old Van Cliburn. Originally conceived as a finale to the Six Morceaux for solo piano op. 19 of 1873, this is now often heard as a standalone piece. With affinities to the pianism of Schumann, the simple theme and its 12 variations form a satisfying whole, offering moments of grace, playfulness and brilliance.

Schumann was unquestionably the inspiration behind Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album, written in 1878 to emulate the former’s collections for young pianists and thus enrich the repertoire. There is darkness as well as light in this set of 24 pieces, perhaps reflecting the fact that Tchaikovsky’s happy childhood had come to an abrupt end with the death of his mother when he was just 14. Together with the Sonata and Thème original et variations, it offers a glimpse of what Trifonov sees as a “private dimension to Tchaikovsky – a spirit conditioned by memories of youth and family” and, for both composer and pianist, stands as a kind of homage to mothers and maternal love.

The album ends with the suite from The Sleeping Beauty realised in 1978 by the then 21‑year-old pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev. That same year, Pletnev – like Van Cliburn 20 years earlier and Trifonov 33 years later – won the International Tchaikovsky Competition. Calling the suite “a masterful piano work in its own right”, Trifonov praises the organic manner in which Pletnev weaves together music from different parts of the ballet score.

Daniil Trifonov presents his Tchaikovsky-based recital again at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens (19 July), and at the Verbier, Menuhin and Salzburg Festivals (23/27/31 July). He rounds off the summer with Rachmaninoff’s Second and Third Piano Concertos at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Daniel Harding (19/21 August).

Chess Records Celebrates 75 Years of Blues, Rock & Soul With Audiophile Vinyl Series

Eric Alper
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Chess Records Celebrates 75 Years of Blues, Rock & Soul With Audiophile Vinyl Series

In 2025 Chess Records, one of the most influential music labels in history, proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary.  Many scholars cite the 1951 Chess single “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats as the first rock and roll recording.  The Rolling Stones literally took their band name from the title of the Muddy Waters Chess single, “Rollin’ Stone.”  And the story of the pioneering label inspired the 2008 feature film, Cadillac Records, starring Beyoncé. From electrifying Chicago blues and rock & roll to stirring soul and R&B, Chess Records helped shape American music and inspired generations worldwide.  To mark this historic milestone, Chess will launch a comprehensive 75th anniversary campaign this October with a curated series of audiophile vinyl reissues.

Kicking off the campaign on October 17th are two definitive blues albums, Muddy Waters’ The Best of Muddy Waters, a powerful collection of blues songs that include essential tracks like “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “Rollin’ Stone” and Howlin’ Wolf’s Moanin’ in the Moonlight, the haunting debut that introduced Wolf’s signature growl on classics such as “Smokestack Lightnin’” and “Evil.”  Each release will be remastered from the original analog tapes and cut to lacquer by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab at Quality Record Pressing (QRP).  Housed in archival quality tip-on gatefold jackets and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at QRP, it will offer both audiophiles and collectors a premium listening experience. To pre-order the October releases please go here.

Speaking to the enduring legacy of the label, Steve Berman, Vice Chairman Interscope Capitol, says “Chess Records didn’t just help birth rock & roll—it gave voice to the legends who defined it. This 75th anniversary series honors that legacy by bringing these foundational recordings back to life, cut with extraordinary care directly from the original masters. These releases are a gift to lifelong fans and a revelation for new listeners discovering the roots of modern music.”

Representing the labels deep and diverse catalog, from the initial offering of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf the ongoing monthly series will showcase cornerstone releases from legendary artists that will span across its renowned roster. Set for release on November 21st are two genre-defying albums: Chuck Berry’s Berry On Top, featuring fundamental rock & roll anthems that include “Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven,” and Etta James’ landmark  album At Last, an incredible vocal blending of soul, jazz, blues and gospel that contains the timeless title track, “At Last,” (and for which a new analog master tape was recently discovered) and the dazzling classic “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” Rounding out the initial wave of releases, on December 12th are two influential blues harmonica driven records: Little Walter’s The Best of Little Walter,  that showcased his groundbreaking instrumentals on hits like “Juke” and “My Babe,” and Sonny Boy Williamson II’s The Real Folk Blues, a brilliant collection of postwar blues with scintillating tracks that include “Bring It On Home,” and “One Way Out.”

“Chess Records electrified the sound of American music,” says Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO, UMe, on the cultural impact of the label. “The legendary rhythm and blues label released albums from Muddy Waters to Howlin’ Wolf to Etta James, becoming one of the most influential labels in history. These new albums showcase incredible artists and their legacy on peerless audiophile quality vinyl releases.”

Founded in 1950 by Polish immigrant brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, Chess Records emerged from the south side of Chicago and quickly crossed lines of color and culture to create rhythm and blues music that influenced listeners the world over. Chess’ unmatched roster – and its canny founders – enhanced and transformed the blues from folk music to popular sound.

In addition to a roster that included Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, and Big Bill Broonzy, Chess’ spin-off labels included Checker, which issued hits by Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Bo Diddley; and Argo/Cadet, a home for jazz and R&B artists like Etta James, Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal.

The influence of Chess Records is felt across generations of popular music—from the British invasion and acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton citing Chess artists as influences to today’s marquee acts that include Beyoncé, Jack White, Questlove, and Bruce Springsteen.

In celebrating its 75th anniversary, Chess Records is not only recognizing its own rich musical heritage but inviting fans and new audiences to discover their storied roster and the music revolution that was born over seven decades ago in Chicago.

Check out all the new offers commemorating the campaign at the newly revamped Chess Records website here.

Country’s Newest Star Carter Faith Drops ‘Bar Star’ and Surprise Track Ahead of Debut Album ‘Cherry Valley’

Eric Alper
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Country’s Newest Star Carter Faith Drops ‘Bar Star’ and Surprise Track Ahead of Debut Album ‘Cherry Valley’

Rising Nashville star Carter Faith shares a new song, “Bar Star,” today. The track offers an early look into her highly anticipated debut album, Cherry Valley, set for release October 3 via MCA—pre-order/pre-save here. “‘Bar Star’ is a fun song about a lovable honky-tonk man,” says Carter. “In simple terms, he’s the star of the bar—for better or for worse—but damnit, she loves him.” Carter unveils a surprise bonus track, “Billy Bob Thornton (Worktape),” today alongside the new single—listen here.

Carter says, “I wrote this song about Billy Bob Thornton because I literally love him. I’ve always thought he was so talented, and I’ve wanted to marry many of the characters he’s played over the years,” she continues. “I just had to write about it, and I hope people like this little glimpse into my one-track mind.”

“Bar Star” follows previous album offerings “If I Had Never Lost My Mind…,” “Grudge,” and most recently, “Sex, Drugs and Country Music

.” The tracks have served to tide fans over since her The Aftermath EP last fall, which featured a duet with Alison Krauss and drew praise from Billboard, The Tennessean, American Songwriter and more.

Cherry Valley is a document of Carter’s time in Nashville, working chronologically through her breakout successes and gut-punching breakups, new loves and family dustups. It’s named for an imagined place, a road sign Carter once saw that came to signify her creative home, a sweet spot where her old school influences like Tammy Wynette, Nancy Sinatra, Pet Sounds and Revolver meet today’s country. The album synthesizes all that into a signature Carter Faith sound.

The songs on Cherry Valley span Carter’s journey from her North Carolina hometown to Nashville, with all the heartbreak, triumph and hazy nights in between. Carter and longtime producer Tofer Brown spent two years crafting tracks for the album before finally entering the studio in 2024 to lay it down. All the while, Carter was working relentlessly to climb the ranks of country music, signing to MCA and Universal Music Publishing Group, gracing the Opry stage a dozen times, sharing stages with idols like Willie Nelson, and racking up hundreds of millions of streams.

Fresh from her Stagecoach debut and runs with Ella Langley and Carly Pearce, Carter is back on the road with Little Big Town through August. She’ll join Noah Cyrus in September and finish off the year supporting Marcus King and Kelsea Ballerini this winter. See below for full routing.

CARTER FAITH—CHERRY VALLEY
1. Cherry Valley
2. Sex, Drugs, and Country Music
3. Arrows (Die For That Man)
4. Bar Star
5. Betty
6. Grudge
7. Six-String
8. If I Had Never Lost My Mind…
9. Misery Loves Company
10. Drink Up, Baby
11. Burn My Memory
12. Sails
13. So I Sing
14. Changed
15. Still A Lover

CARTER FAITH LIVE
July 25—Maryland Heights, MO—Hollywood Casino Amphitheater†
July 26—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheater†
August 7—Gilford, NH—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion†
August 8—Holmdel, NJ—PNC Bank Arts Center†
August 9—Wantagh, NY—Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater†
August 21—West Palm Beach, FL—iTHINK Financial Amphitheater†
August 22—Tampa, FL—MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater†
August 23—Orange Beach, AL—The Wharf Amphitheater†
September 4—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater†
September 5—Chula Vista, CA—North Island Credit Union Amphitheater†
September 6—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheater†
September 12—Santa Ana, CA—Observatory+
September 13—San Diego, CA—House of Blues+
September 15—San Francisco, CA—The Regency Ballroom+
September 18—Vancouver, B.C.—Queen Elizabeth Theatre+
September 19—Seattle, WA—Showbox SoDo+
September 20—Spokane, WA—Knitting Factory+
September 21—Portland, OR—McMenamins Crystal Ballroom+
September 23—Salt Lake City, UT—The Union Event Center+
September 24—Denver, CO—Fillmore Auditorium+
September 26—Kansas City, MO—Uptown Theater+
September 27—Minneapolis, MN—The Fillmore Minneapolis+
September 29—St. Louis, MO—The Pageant+
September 30—Chicago, IL—Riviera Theatre+
October 2—Detroit, MI—Masonic Temple Theatre+
October 4—Montreal, QC—MTELUS+
October 7—Boston, MA—Citizens House of Blues+
October 8—Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Paramount+
October 10—Philadelphia, PA—The Fillmore Philadelphia+
October 11—Silver Spring, MD—The Fillmore+
October 13—Charlotte, NC—The Fillmore Charlotte+
October 15—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium+
October 17—Atlanta, GA—Tabernacle+
October 18—St Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live+
October 20—Houston, TX—House of Blues Houston+
October 21—Dallas, TX—House of Blues Dallas+
October 22—Austin, TX—Emo’s Austin+
October 24—Phoenix, AZ—The Van Buren+
October 31—Little Rock, AR—The Hall*
November 2—Corpus Christi, TX—Concrete Street Amphitheater*
November 5—Lubbock, TX—Cook’s Garage*
November 6—Albuquerque, NM—Revel*
December 6—Sydney, AU—ICC Sydney Theatre§
December 7—Melbourne, AU—Margaret Court Arena§
December 11—Melbourne, AU— Margaret Court Arena§
December 13—Brisbane, AU—Brisbane Entertainment Centre§
†with Little Big Town
+with Noah Cyrus
*with Marcus King
§with Kelsea Ballerini

Sienna Spiro Unveils Soulful New Single ‘You Stole the Show’ and Stunning Vevo DSCVR Performance

Eric Alper
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Sienna Spiro Unveils Soulful New Single ‘You Stole the Show’ and Stunning Vevo DSCVR Performance

 Today, London-based singer/songwriter SIENNA SPIRO releases her new single “You Stole the Show.” Out now via Capitol Records, the 19-year-old’s latest is a soulful ballad with a haunting narrative set to piano and strings — minimal in production, but maximal in emotional impact. Listen HERE and watch her stunning Vevo DSCVR live performance of the song, also released today.

SIENNA debuted “You Stole the Show” supporting Teddy Swims on his US tour this month, sitting down at the piano each night for a show-stopping rendition of the song. She has also brought her spellbinding live presence to at-home audiences of late. Recently named a Vevo DSCVR artist, she performed her breakout hit  “MAYBE.” for the video series and made her late night television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. To date, “MAYBE.” — which appears on her acclaimed February debut EP SINK NOW, SWIM LATER — has surpassed 100 million streams and topped four viral Spotify charts across the globe. To celebrate the song’s first birthday, SIENNA has just announced a forthcoming limited-run 7-inch vinyl version, out August 2, available for pre-order HERE. 

Following the May release of “Dream Police” — a darkly charged but exhilarating track inspired in part by Christopher Nolan’s surreal sci-fi action film Inception — “You Stole the Show” further brings SIENNA’s bold new era into view. As she explains, the new song has a captivating and heartwrenching meta-narrative of its own.

“‘You Stole the Show’ explores the idea of performance — not just as an artist, but also as a person and the various ways we ‘perform’ in our own lives,” says SIENNA. “The song was inspired by a moment I had during my last tour when I realized that so many of my songs are about a person who isn’t part of my life anymore. During each show, I would try to imagine being back in the moment I wrote the songs about — to sing them with the most conviction and emotion. In doing that, I became overwhelmed by the very thought of him being in the audience each night and I would fantasize about what I hoped or imagined would happen if he actually was.”

Produced by SIENNA’s long-term collaborators Yakob (Kali Uchis, 6LACK) and Eddie Lopes, “You Stole the Show” opens on heavy cinematic strings that part to reveal her evocative vocal and the poignant piano. She sets the scene immediately: “You stole the show, got a standing ovation / I lost control from the stage, from your face and / You don’t say hello, I can’t wait, I’m impatient.” As SIENNA’s voice soars and dives with the score, she drifts into fantasy, wishing to be back in his arms but safe this time. All the same, even her dream ends in crushing disappointment: “Before we get closer / I ask if you love me, and you just… shrug your shoulders.”

The Vevo DSCVR performance of “You Stole the Show” highlights the song’s raw emotionality. Similarly, SIENNA brought “Dream Police” to COLORSxSTUDIOS — watch HERE — pushing her staggering voice and charisma to the fore of the hypnotically sprawling track with its noir-ish bass, gritty beats, thick synths, and eerie textures. As she continues to expand her sonic breadth and real-world reach, SIENNA will embark on a headlining UK/European tour in September.  View itinerary HERE. 

SIENNA possesses the type of voice that stays with you long after her music has left the room. With her effortlessly soulful tone, cinematic storytelling, and subtly modern yet timeless sound, it’s almost impossible to believe that the London-born singer and songwriter is just 19 years old. And yet, her stirring debut EP, SINK NOW, SWIM LATER, captures a striking array of emotions both raw and deep, complex and instantly relatable.  

Rolling Stone named her track  “ORIGAMI” a “Song You Need To Know,” and SIENNA opened the year featured on Stereogum’s “Artists to Watch: The Sounds of 2025,” as well as the coveted “10 Musicians to Watch in 2025” list from Dazed (who hailed her voice as “huge enough to rival all the pop greats”). Made with leading producers like J Moon (Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa), Sol Was (SG Lewis, Beyoncé), Max Wolfgang (Sia, Kelly Clarkson), and Fred Ball (Rihanna, Jessie Ware), the EP also contains “BACK TO BLONDE,” a gloriously fierce ballad that landed her on Pigeons & Planes’ round-up of “10 New Artists You Should Listen To This Week.”

SIENNA’s debut single “NEED ME” instantly captured the attention of all the right ears, prompting early co-signs from superstars like SZA, Mark Ronson, FINNEAS, Sam Smith, and more. A DIY-minded artist who first started penning songs when she was only 10, SIENNA’s longtime influences include Frank Ocean, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and Amy Winehouse.  She soon began integrating jazz elements into her music while gently leaning toward a more contemporary sonic aesthetic. Stay tuned for more from SIENNA soon.

Ayra Starr and Wizkid Set the Summer Ablaze With ‘Gimme Dat’ as Global Momentum Builds

Eric Alper
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Ayra Starr and Wizkid Set the Summer Ablaze With ‘Gimme Dat’ as Global Momentum Builds

Making a ubiquitous impact worldwide in 2025, GRAMMY-nominated global Afrobeats popstar Ayra Starr shares a brand new single entitled “Hot Body” out now.

The track revolves around a head-nodding Afrobeats groove that pulsates at a punchy and sultry pace. Simultaneously, loose electric guitar practically melts into a silky backdrop of handclaps and synths. Ayra Starr seduces over the production with a flirty and fiery cadence.


This Spring, Ayra starr linked up with Wizkid on “Gimme Dat.” The cinematic music video has landed plugs from DORK and Rolling Stone who promised, “Ayra Starr and Wizkid make it hot in ‘Gimme Dat’ music video.” Billboard touted it on “African Fresh Picks,” going on to rave, “Ayra Starr and Wizkid are ready to fill up the ‘freakin’ dancefloor’ this summer with ‘Gimme Dat.’”

“Gimme Dat” has surged as not only Ayra Starr’s biggest smash out of the gate, but also as a record-breaking making anthem. It impressively bowed at #6 on the Billboard U.S. Afro Songs Chart, earning “the biggest debut for a female artist in Nigeria’s history.” Moreover, it has generated over 40 million total streams in addition to receiving widespread acclaim. Additionally, she recently took the stage as a headliner during Summer Jam 2025, and earlier this year, she made her show stopping debut at the Met Gala, and was styled by Ozwald Boeteng.

With an action-packed year ahead, for her acting debut, she was recently unveiled as one of the cast of the highly anticipated film Children of Blood and Bone, a book adaptation by Tomi Adeyemi. She is also currently on tour with Coldplay through August and she will be taking the stage at Central Park’s Great Lawn in NYC for the Global Citizen Festival on September 27.

Since debuting in 2021, Ayra Starr has quickly become one of this generation’s most undeniable new voices in music. Renowned for her anthemic Afrobeats tracks and unapologetic style; the Beninese-Nigerian artist has amassed critical acclaim from tastemaker press, a huge international following, over 3 billion global streams and 1 billion YouTube views. Following the release of her defining debut album 19 & Dangerous (which has over 500 million streams); her position as Africa’s hottest rising star has seen Ayra Starr tapped for collaborations with some of music’s biggest names, including Wizkid, Stormzy, Tiwa Savage and Leigh-Anne, to name just a few. Ayra Starr has gained major traction over the last few years, but vaulted to the forefront of Afrobeats with 2022’s “Rush,” which gathered nearly 1 billion global streams and attracted R&B icon Kelly Rowland on a high-powered remix. Recognized as a phenomenon in 2023, she notably picked up a nomination for “Best International Act” at the BET Awards as well as two MTV VMA nominations in the category of “Best Afrobeats Song” for both “Rush” and WizKid’s “2 Sugar” [feat. Ayra Starr]. She picked up a GRAMMY nomination for Best African Music Performance for “Rush,” cementing her as the first and youngest Nigerian female artist to be nominated in that category. She garnered a Soul Train Award nomination in the Best New Artist category and a Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song. During 2024, Ayra Starr achieved one benchmark after another around the arrival of her sophomore LP, The Year I Turned 21, boasting “Commas” and more. On Spotify, it scored the “Top 5 Biggest Opening Day Streams for a Nigerian Album” and the “Biggest Opening Day Streams Ever for a NigerianFemale.” Moreover, she reached rarified air as “the first Nigerian female artist to receive a RIAA Latin Diamond certification” in recognition of the album’s smash “Santa” with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro. She joined Coldplay on the “Music of the Spheres” World Tour and teamed up with the legendary band and The Weirdos for an unforgettable performance of “GOOD FEELiNGS” on TODAY. Among other standout performances, she graced the Pyramid Stage during her debut at Glastonbury Festival. Expanding her sphere of influence, she starred in Amazon’s Dare to Dream documentary and emerged as the first Afrobeats artist to be named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist. Beyond three 2024 BET Award nominations and praise from UPROXX, Variety, Conde Nast Traveler and more, she graced the covers of Teen Vogue and Dazed Magazine. Additionally, she claimed a spot on BBC’s Sound of 2024 and a nod for MOBO Awards’ Best African Music Act for the second time. This marked her as the first African woman to win Best international Act and the first woman in 16 years to win Best African Music Act. However, this genre-breaking generational talent continues to turn up the heat in 2025 with “Gimme Dat” feat. Wizkid and more to come!

Stay tuned for more from Ayra Starr who will continue to bring Afrobeats to the forefront here in the U.S. and around the world.

Alessi Rose Releases ‘Voyeur’, a Bold Confessional Pop EP, and Kicks Off Global Tour Run

Eric Alper
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Alessi Rose Releases ‘Voyeur’, a Bold Confessional Pop EP, and Kicks Off Global Tour Run

Today, breakout star Alessi Rose releases her highly anticipated new EP, Voyeur, out now via Capitol Records / Universal Music Canada. The 8-song set fully reveals the 22-year-old’s talent for turning her messiest and most secret feelings into arena-sized anthems. Her most realized work yet dives headlong into the kinds of experiences that reveal truths about the nature of love, lust, and longing — wrapped in a mix of tender vocals, sticky-sweet melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, and brightly gritty alt-pop.

Today also sees the release of Alessi’s new single, “Dumb Girl,” a slow-building epic that captures the whirlwind of unrequited love while showcasing her singular lyrical sensibilities (from the opening lines: “Tactile and gentle / Could laugh or even cry / Your tongue fits in my mouth / Like it’s by design”). “That’s exactly the kind of off-kilter lyric that I love,” says Alessi. “You hear it and you feel a bit uncomfortable, but to me it’s a direct translation of that feeling of being with someone and knowing they’re just going to go off with someone else as soon as they leave you.”

Voyeur arrives as Alessi hits a major milestone — she’s currently on the cover of NME, who declare, “Soundtracking the messiness and uncertainty of growing up, pop’s most brutally honest newcomer is on an unstoppable rise.” Read the full story, HERE. Fresh off of a breakout Glastonbury debut and a UK/EU run supporting Dua Lipa, Alessi is also gearing up to join the North American leg of Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive Tour, bookended by festival stops and her own headlining Voyeur Tour. Find her full itinerary below and get tickets HERE.

Made with taste-making producers like Sam De Jong (Gracie Abrams, Lennon Stella), John Hill (Cage the Elephant, Carly Rae Jepsen), Sammy Witte (SZA, Halsey), and Couros (Dora Jar, Saya Gray), Voyeur serves up a sing-along-ready, ultravivid exploration of Alessi’s complex inner world and uncompromising vision.

“On Voyeur, the voyeurism is twofold,” says Alessi of the EP’s guiding concept. “The audience becomes a voyeur of my innermost thoughts and feelings through the music, but additionally I am a voyeur of myself and my own sometimes self-sabotaging decisions. I wanted this EP to feel like the unfiltered version of events that you tell your closest friends, and I feel like the bluntness and stream-of-consciousness lyrics reflect that. I don’t care how I’m perceived because I trust the listener.”

That openness plays out on unheard highlights like “Take It or Leave It,” a sweetly tender portrait of an excruciating crush; “Stella,” which sifts through the devastating heartache of a friend breakup.  Those songs and more join singles “Everything Anything,” the real-life tale of a problematic ex moving onto her street without warning; angsty alt-rock-edged bop “That Could Be Me”; and her Capitol Records debut “Same Mouth.”

Voyeur is a culmination for Alessi. Hailed as one of the “15 Rising U.K. and Ireland Acts to Watch in 2025” by Billboard, she amassed millions of streams across a pair of EPs before this one and emerged as a fascinating artist on the rise, garnering critical praise from NME, Line of Best Fit, The Face, and more. In this cover feature, Dork Magazine named her “the voice of a new confessional pop generation.” She also made a splash with her June Glastonbury debut, which Billboard called “superstar-cementing” in their “Best Moments of Glastonbury 2025” recap, while DIY Magazine noted, “Rose has firmly secured her status as pop’s hottest new It-girl,” and the BBC dubbed her “a pop queen on the brink of stardom.”

Growing up in Derby, England, Alessi first explored her creative side through poetry at age 13. With inspirations including pop visionaries like Lorde and Kate Bush, she soon began writing songs and later taught herself to produce while working as a bartender to save up for college. After building a following online, Alessi made her official debut in the summer of 2023 with the self-written and produced “say ur mine,” which amassed over 40K views in less than a week. From there, she released “hate this part” and a string of singles leading up to her 2024 EP, rumination as ritual. In early 2025, Alessi shared her second EP, for your validation, quickly earning a global following with highlights like “IKYK” and “oh my.” 

Alessi wrapped her first U.S. dates earlier this year (including sold-out two-night stands at New York’s Baby’s All Right and Los Angeles’ Moroccan Lounge) before joining Dua in arenas and stadiums across the pond on the Radical Optimism tour. With two U.K./European headline tours already under her belt (both of which sold out in less than 10 minutes, subsequently upgraded venues, and immediately sold out again), Alessi’s upcoming tour dates are hotly tipped to say the least.  Stay tuned for even more music from Alessi coming soon.

Tracklist for Voyeur by Alessi Rose

SIDE A:
1. “Same Mouth”
2. “Take It or Leave It”
3. “Everything Anything”
4. “Stella”

SIDE B:
5. “That Could Be Me”
6. “RIP”
7. “Bittersweet”
8. “Dumb Girl”

Alessi Rose tour dates
Aug 13 – Vienna, Austria @ Frequency Festival *
Aug 22 – Reading, UK @ Reading Festival *
Aug 23 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival *
Aug 31 – Munich, Germany @ Superbloom *
Sep 1 – Berlin, Germany @ Huxleys
Sep 2 – Warsaw, Poland @ Proxima
Sep 4 – Hamburg, Germany @ Docks
Sep 6 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Klubben
Sep 7 – Oslo, Norway @ Vulkan Arena
Sep 8 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Pumpehuset
Sep 10 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ Tivolivredenburg
Sep 11 – Cologne, Germany @ Carlswerk Victoria
Sep 12 – Zürich, Switzerland @ Radar Festival *
Sep 14 – Brussels, Belgium @ La Madeleine
Sep 15 – Paris, France @ Elysee Montmartre
Oct 2 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena ^
Oct 3 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena ^
Oct 5 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center ^
Oct 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center ^
Oct 9 – Omaha, NE @ Chi Health Center ^
Oct 11 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center ^
Oct 13 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena ^
Oct 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena ^
Oct 17 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden ^
Oct 18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena ^
Oct 21 – Chicago, IL @ United Center ^
Oct 22 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena ^
Oct 24 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center ^
Oct 25 – Raleigh, NC @ Lenovo Center ^
Oct 28 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center ^
Oct 29 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center ^
Oct 31 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center ^
Nov 1 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center ^
Nov 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center ^
Nov 5 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center ^
Nov 7 – Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena ^
Nov 8 – Inglewood, CA @ The Kia Forum ^
Nov 16 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia Theatre
Nov 17 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia Theatre
Nov 19 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
Nov 20 – Sheffield, UK @ Octagon
Nov 21 – Liverpool, UK @ Mountford Hall
Nov 24 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town Forum
Nov 25 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town Forum
Nov 27 – Brighton, UK @ Dome
Nov 28 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
Nov 30 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
Dec 1 – Bristol, UK @ Beacon
Dec 3 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Dec 4 – Newcastle, UK @ O2 City Hall

* festival
^ supporting Tate McRae

Jordan Davis Previews ‘Learn The Hard Way’ With New Single ‘Turn This Truck Around’ Ahead of Fall Tour

Eric Alper
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Jordan Davis Previews ‘Learn The Hard Way’ With New Single ‘Turn This Truck Around’ Ahead of Fall Tour

Multi-platinum award-winning singer/songwriter Jordan Davis released new track “Turn This Truck Around,” off his highly anticipated upcoming album, Learn The Hard Way, out August 15. Listen to “Turn This Truck Around” here and pre-save/order Learn The Hard Way here.

Out August 15th, Davis’ new album, Learn The Hard Way, also features his Top 15 and climbing single “Bar None,” (#13 Billboard Country, #14 Mediabase/Aircheck).

 earlier this month with an official premiere in Times Square. The award-winning singer/songwriter also recently visited Live With Kelly And Mark to perform “Bar None” and made stops at Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and CBS Mornings to discuss the new single, upcoming album release and the fall launch of his Ain’t Enough Road tour, which includes headlining dates at Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and numerous cities across the US. The tour kicks off September 11th in Greater Palm Springs, CA, at Acrisure Arena. For more information on the Ain’t Enough Road tour and to purchase tickets, visit here.

Learn The Hard Way follows Jordan’s Platinum-selling debut album, Home State and his Platinum-selling album Bluebird Days, which was released on February 17, 2023 and produced four consecutive #1 singles (“What My World Spins Around,” “Tucson Too Late,” “Buy Dirt” and “Next Thing You Know”) and two “Song of the Year” winning song titles “Next Thing You Know” (ACM) and “Buy Dirt” (CMA and NSAI) off of one album – the first artist in history to ever do so. His RIAA Gold-certified single “I Ain’t Sayin’,” off Learn The Hard Way, earned Davis his 8th official chart-topping single in the US and topped the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart for more than 8 weeks, earning the single the most weeks at No. 1 on UK Radio Charts in 2024. Pre-add/pre-save Learn The Hard Way here.

Ain’t Enough Road Tour Dates
Thursday, September 11, 2025 – Greater Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena
Friday, September 12, 2025 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Thursday, September 18, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Friday, September 19, 2025 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Friday, September 26, 2025 – Independence, MO – Cable Dahmer Arena
Saturday, September 27, 2025 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Thursday, October 2, 2025 – New York City, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Friday, October 3, 2025 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Thursday, October 9, 2025 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
Friday, October 10, 2025 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
Saturday, October 11, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion
Thursday, October 16, 2025 – Dayton, OH – Wright State University Nutter Center
Friday, October 17, 2025 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center
Thursday, October 23, 2025 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
Friday, October 24, 2025 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena

Award-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter Jordan Davis’ highly-anticipated second full-length album, Bluebird Days, produced four consecutive No. 1’s and two “song of the year” award-winning titles including the 5X Platinum-selling hit “Buy Dirt,” (CMA Awards 2022, NSAI Awards 2023) and 3X Platinum-selling “Next Thing You Know” (ACM Awards 2024). All penned by Davis, the Louisiana-born and raised star also released the chart-topping hit singles “What My World Spins Around” and “Tucson Too Late,” in addition to “Next Thing You Know” and “Buy Dirt,” earning numerous award nominations, including CMA, ACM, CMT, American Music Award, Billboard Music Award and iHeart Award nods as well as his second Platinum-Certified album, Bluebird Days. Davis previously notched four consecutive No. 1 hits-totaling eight No. 1s on Country radio – off of his Platinum-Certified debut album Home State including the 4x Platinum “Singles You Up,” and 2x Platinum-selling songs “Take It From Me” and “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot” along with his most recent No.1 single “I Ain’t Sayin’” off his upcoming album Learn The Hard Way. 

In 2019, Davis was awarded Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, in addition to being a 2X nominee for ACM New Male Artist of the Year, and was named Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2018. He’s appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, CBS Mornings, College GameDay, and more. He has earned praise from Billboard, saying Davis is a “modern-day storyteller” with MusicRow noting, “this man never disappoints.”

Starting 2025 off internationally, Davis served as direct support for Luke Combs’ stadium tour in New Zealand and Australia. Additionally, Davis was direct support for Luke on his 2024 Growin’ Up and Getting Old Tour and followed with his string of U.S. and international shows headlining his DAMN GOOD TIME TOUR in the fall of 2024. Davis announced his Ain’t Enough Road Tour for fall of 2025- the nationwide tour kicks off Thursday, September 11th in Greater Palm Springs, CA at Acrisure Arena, with additional stops in Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, St. Louis, Rosemont, Savannah and more before wrapping up on Saturday, October 25th in Estero, FL at Hertz Arena. Davis’ highly anticipated upcoming album Learn The Hard Way is set to be released August 15th and includes certified Gold and 8th career No. 1 “I Ain’t Sayin’,” alongside recent releases “Turn This Truck Around,” “Bar None,” “In Case You Missed It,” “Know You Like That,” “Jesus Wouldn’t Do,” and title track “Learn The Hard Way.” 

Mabel Shares Self-Titled Mixtape ‘Mabel’ and Focus Track ‘Turn Me Up’ Ahead of Intimate Headline Tour

Eric Alper
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Mabel Shares Self-Titled Mixtape ‘Mabel’ and Focus Track ‘Turn Me Up’ Ahead of Intimate Headline Tour

Today, BRIT award-winning artist Mabel releases her self-titled mixtape ‘Mabel’, including new focus track ‘Turn Me Up’, out now via Polydor Records.

The mixtape marks a bold reintroduction to the BRIT award-winning artist, offering a raw and unfiltered statement of who Mabel is today. Recorded over the past few months, largely at her home studio, the 9-track mixtape features a number of close collaborators, including a verse from Clavish and production by Oscar Scheller (PinkPantheress, Shygirl), Arthur Bean (Central Cee) and more. Blending multiple genres and reconnecting with her acclaimed earlier sound, the project captures the full spectrum of Mabel’s artistry and identity.

Speaking about the mixtape, Mabel said: “This mixtape being self-titled is an important moment for me because it feels like a reintroduction. It’s the first time since the very beginning of my career that I’ve felt this free making music and the project is a beautifully chaotic blend of all the things that make me who I am. When writing it I reflected a lot on my ten years in the industry and the tape ended up being a somewhat toxic love letter to the ups, downs and in between of everything I’ve experienced. I hope that when people listen to this project they truly get to know me better!”

The project includes previous singles ‘Benz’ ft. Clavish, ‘January 19’ and ‘Love Me Gentle’, as well as new focus track ‘Turn Me Up’. Produced by Oscar Scheller, the standout track is a dreamy, guitar-led cut laced with hypnotic riffs and deep, crashing percussion. Mabel glides effortlessly over the woozy production with understanded confidence. Speaking about ‘Turn Me Up’, Mabel added: “This track is definitely my favourite on the mixtape. It’s about the imperfect side of relationships and meeting your match for better or for worse!”

 Mabel’s self-titled mixtape marks her first project since 2022’s studio album ‘About Last Night…’ and follows a string of critically acclaimed singles over the last year including, ‘All Over You’ ft. King Promise, ‘Vitamins’, ‘Stupid Dumb’ ft. Ty Dolla Sign and ‘Chat’.

Later this year, Mabel will embark on the ‘Right On Time’ UK and European headline tour, her first tour since 2020. Kicking off in Bristol on November 3rd, this tour will see Mabel perform seven dates across the UK and Europe, including shows in London, Paris, Stockholm and more. Reflecting the deeply personal nature of the mixtape, these special intimate shows will be a return to her roots and offer fans a closer, more personal experience with Mabel than ever before. Full dates below and limited tickets available here.

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
MON 3 NOV – THEKLA, BRISTOL
WED 5 NOV – CLUB ACADEMY, MANCHESTER
FRI 7 NOV – VILLAGE UNDERGROUND, LONDON
FRI 21 NOV – NALEN KLUBB, STOCKHOLM
MON 24 NOV – FRANNZ CLUB, BERLIN
TUE 25 NOV – PARADISO TOLHUISTUIN, AMSTERDAM
THU 27 NOV – NOUVEAU CASINO, PARIS

Mabel, born Mabel Alabama-Pearl McVey, is one of the UK’s brightest popstars. She has amassed twelve top 20 singles with hits like ‘Don’t Call Me Up’, ‘My Lover’ and ‘Fine Line’, two UK top 3 albums and won Best Female Solo at the BRITs. Mabel released her platinum-selling debut album ‘High Expectations’ in 2019 – the biggest-selling debut by a British woman that year. Released in 2022, Mabel’s sophomore album ‘About Last Night’ became her highest charting release to date, debuting at number two on the Official Charts and received critical acclaim from the likes of NME, The Observer and DIY. Mabel has now surpassed over 4.5 billion streams, and 8 million singles sold worldwide. She has also graced the cover of numerous publications including British GQ, Glamour, ES Mag and more.

‘Mabel’ Tracklist:
1. January 19
2. Right On Time
3. Lay Me Down
4. Run Me Down
5. Turn Me Up
6. Venus
7. Love Me Gentle
8. Benz ft Clavish
9. Is It Love?

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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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