Acclaimed 1970s soul singer, Bill Withers died on Monday in Los Angeles at the age of 81. His death was announced in a statement by his family, which said he died of “heart complications.”
Withers is known for his smooth baritone vocals and soulful arrangements. He was already in his 30s when he released his first album, Just as I Am, in 1971. The album included the hit “Ain’t No Sunshine” which reached the Billboard Top 10.
His hit “Lean on Me,” an anthem of friendship and support, hit No.1 in 1972. Withers is also known for hits like “Use Me” (1972), “Lovely Day” (1977), and “Just the Two of Us” (1981). After his 1985 album Watching You Watching Me, Withers stopped recording and performing due to frustration with the music business.
“He spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other,” the statement by his family read. “In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones.”
Frank Ocean unexpectedly shared the previously vinyl-exclusive singles “Dear April” and “Cayendo” on all digital platforms, and has us deep in our feels.
Frank premiered both “Dear April” and “Cayendo” back in October during his PrEp +club party in New York City. Last week, after a lengthy wait, the singles were made available as double A side vinyls via his website, along with remixes of the tracks by Justice and Sango.
Frank croons in Spanish on the heart-wrenching “Cayendo,” while on “Dear April” the singer, who is backed by an organ instrumental, explains to his lover how their relationship will never be the same.
Frank released several singles last year including “In my Room,” which he dropped in November, and “DHL.” It’s not yet clear whether the singles will appear on his much-anticipated third album.
In an interview with Rolling Stone last year, Frank said that his upcoming album was being influenced by “Detroit, Chicago, techno, house and French electronic” and that it would be a “full motion picture fantasy.”
During his “183rd day of quarantine” Bad Bunny made the announcement on Instagram that he would be dropping the visual for his song “Yo Perro Sola” on Friday (March 27). The Puerto Rican artist dressed in complete drag in an effort to defend women’s rights.
The song which translates to “I twerk alone” is about a women who likes to dance reggaeton alone and doesn’t need anyone’s company at the club. The song features vocals from up-and-coming singer Nesi. “I wrote this from the perspective of a woman,” Bad Bunny explained in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I wanted a woman’s voice to sing it–‘Yo Perreo Sola’– because it doesn’t mean the same thing when a man sings it. But I do feel like that woman sometimes.
Directed by Stillz and Bad Bunny himself, the colorful music video starts off with him dressed in a red latex skirt and knee-high boots, as he brushes off a group of men trying to dance with him. Other women dance freely on their own as he sports a kilt and chains, “Te llama si te necista/Pero por ahora está solita/ Ella Perreo Sola (She’ll call you if she needs you/ But for now she is alone/ She twerks alone).”
The final frame reads a necessary public service announcement on sexual harassment: “If she doesn’t want to dance with you, respect her, she twerks alone.”
Rosalía has surprised her fans during these hard times with the release of “Dolerme” or “Hurt Me,” a heartbreaking ballad.
“Dolerme,” showcases Rosalía’s graceful search for balance between her traditional flamenco roots with a modern, pop-infused vibe. A simple acoustic guitar backs the track as she sings “Yo ya no sé for qué no quire dolerme/Acelero pa’ ver si consigo esterllarme/Quiero que lo vea’, no piense’ en detenerme/Asì demuestra’ que has podío’ olvidarme (I don’t know why it doesn’t want to hurt me/ I accelerate to see if I can crash/ I want you to see it and don’t think about stopping me/ So you show that you’ve been able to forget me.”
This definitely a new direction for the Spanish singer, but Rosaliá has proven her range, navigating from flamenco to reggaetón without losing her essence.
The album artwork features a drawing of a sad-faced woman lying on a bed next to a knife and a cat. It exudes a heartbreaking quality that accompanies the song’s tone, and has a certain Picasso Sleeper Near the Shutters aesthetic in blue.
She also included a note to her fans providing them with an update and a message of solidarity to help them through quarantine. Here’s the English translation:
“Many of us are in quarantine and not leaving our homes. I was in quarantine and I lost a bit of time because I decided that I was not going to think about it too much and that instead I was going to put my energy and my heart into doing something for others in my own way. I know what I do as an artist may seem expendable, for some it will be, but for me to be able to make music is good for my mental health. This song is called “Dolerme” and I hope it makes you feel a little better than I did when I made it. Please take care of yourself and take care of everyone you have around, with all my love.”
In January, Rosaliá released her single “Juro que,” which she performed at the 2020 Grammys. She also took home the award that night for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative album for her 2018 album EL MAL QUERER.
Happy Friday! The music world has blessed us with new music from our favorite artists once again. What’s a better way to kick start the weekend then new music? As COVID-19 continues to spread across the nation keeping us at home in self-quarantine, it’s the little things like a new single or new album that continue to lift our spirits during these dark times. Today NAV, Gunna, and Travis Scott have teamed up on a new single, and we have new albums from Dua Lipa, Comethazine, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Jessie Reyez.
Turks (featuring Travis Scott)- NAV & Gunna
NAV, Gunna, and Travis Scott proved they were the perfect trifecta back in 2018 with track “YOSEMITE,” off LaFlame’s Astroworld. The trio is back today with their new single “Turks,” which had been previewed three times over the past couple of months, but had no official release date. Nav and Gunna decided to drop the Wheezy produced track after they appeared on Instagram live together. The three outline what their successes have brought them over a bouncy beat with melodic flow. It’s unclear yet whether the single will appear on a bigger project such as NAV’s third studio album, but for now we’re grateful to be enjoying the new track.
Future Nostalgia- Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa’s long awaited sophomore album Future Nostalgia, is a dazzling disco and funk-influenced pop masterpiece. Drawing inspiration from 80s and 90s pop-icons like Madonna, Oliva Newton-John, and Mariah Carey, Dua gives us an album with back-to-back dance tracks that are reminiscent of both the future and past, living up to it’s title. Dua Lipa is the pop icon we didn’t know we needed.
Pandemic-Comethazine
Image via Comethazine’s Instagram.
The album’s title is fitting considering the time we’re living in, but Comethazine actually picked the name prior to all the ongoing chaos. After watching the Netflix documentary Pandemic, the rapper felt inspired to write an album based on the end of the world. “I was on tour in Europe in February and started watching the documentary Pandemic in the hotel,” he explained. “It got me thinking about the end of the world and shit. The music I made for this album has that energy and fit perfectly.” Pandemic is a quick listen, with tracks spanning around two minutes. Each track is filled with lots of energy and low key clever bars, that showcase Comethazine at his most fast-paced ever.
PARTYMOBILE- PARTYNEXTDOOR
After years of teasers and multiple pushbacks PARTYNEXTDOOR has finally released his finally anticipated album PARTYMOBILE. This is his first release since his 2017 EP Seven Days.PARTYMOBILE spans 15 tracks, including “Believe It” featuring Rihanna, and the previously released songs “Split Decisions,” “The News,” “Loyal” featuring Drake, and the “Loyal (Remix) with Bad Bunny. “This album was inspired by the experience you get when riding in your car and you’re listening to music by yourself,” he said in a press release. “It is the soundtrack of those late night drives.” It’s an album where PARTYNEXTDOOR showcases his vulnerability, and emphasizes his voice and thoughts on modern love.
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US- Jessie Reyez
Jessie Reyez’s debut album Before Love Came To Kill Us is finally here, and she’s holding nothing back. She immediately grabs our attention within the first few seconds singing “I should’ve F*cked your friends/It would have been the best revenge.” The album spans 14 tracks and includes features from Eminem and 6lack. The singer digs deep into her emotional core in this LP speaking on everything from heartbreak, to independence, to spearheading her own career and human nature, and even immigration on the track “Imported.”
The Weeknd has finally dropped his highly anticipated album, After Hours, keeping fans up after hours. Pun intended. As the coronavirus forces us all into a period of quarantine, self isolation, and uncertainty, the Weeknd offers a light in what feels like a dark time.
The LP spans 14 tracks and is completely featureless. Abel Tesfaye invites us to take a deeper look into his dark and somewhat paranoid universe, that is of course filled with distortion and drugs. There are also hints throughout of a much more mature and self reflective Abel, which may be due to the fact that he turned 30 last month.
Abel has clearly departed from his Starboy days, as the album is filled with moody records with retro and electronic inspired beats. The album starts off with gentle quieter songs that are synth-heavy. The album’s mood is set with tracks like the haunting “Alone Again,” and “Too Late,” which are filled with ominous keyboards and sinister sub-bass. We then shift into the aching “Hardest to Love,” followed by the slow ballad “Scared to Live,” before transitioning into the autobiographical “Snow Child.”
“Snow Child” and “Faith” are clearly standout tracks on the LP as they perfectly showcase what Abel has always been best at: creating a distorted reality with his muffled vocals. These two tracks along with “Escape From LA,” will leave his House of Balloon era fans very satisfied. The songs feature production from his day-one producer Illangelo, bringing back his 2010 tones.
On “Snow Child,” he makes reference to 2011’s “The Morning,” and 2015’s “Tell Your Friends,” where he used the line “Cali is the mission,” and now flips it to, “Cali was the mission now a n—- leaving.”
Now we’re 25 minutes into the album, and here comes the dance bangers we’ve all been waiting for. “Blinding Lights” and “Heartless” are probably the biggest hits of his career thus far. “In Your Eyes” and “Save your Tears” are filled with infectious 80s synth pop sounds, while “After Hours” house beats will find you dancing around your kitchen alone. Or maybe thats just me.
On “Repeat After Me (Interlude),” Kevin Parker helps Abel mellow things out again. On the Parker produced track, Abel sings delicately and sounds sweet over the layer of synth chords throughout. If you listen closely you can even here a Tame-Impala-like electronic squiggle or two.
The fun ends and the ominous atmosphere returns with the final track “Until I Bleed Out,” and what we presume to be an unhappy ending.
After Hours is clearly Abel’s best work. During this difficult time I’m sure we’ve all been leaning on music to get us through more than ever. The Weeknd offers us a perfect and brief escape from reality with After Hours.
