This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist News Business News Deals Digital Gigs & Festivals Industry People Media One Liners Releases
One Liners: Hipgnosis, Beastie Boys, BTS, more
By Andy Malt and Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 17 January 2020
DEALS
The Hipgnosis Songs Fund has announced that its latest signing is songwriter Ammar Malik. He co-wrote Maroon 5’s ‘Moves Like Jagger’, so I’m not sure why he’s receiving this sort of encouragement. “I am THRILLED to be part of the Hipgnosis family and to know that my songs are in amazing hands”, he says.
————————————————–
APPOINTMENTS
Music marketing agency and creative studio Blackstar London has announced the launch of an LA office led by Matt Cohen, as well as two new hires back in London: campaign strategist Breyner Baptista and social coordinator Holly Glanvill.
————————————————–
MEDIA
A new Spike Jonze-directed Beastie Boys documentary, titled ‘Beastie Boys Story’, is set to air on Apple TV+ on 24 Apr. It will also be screened in IMAX cinemas on 3 Apr. “I owe Beastie Boys a lot”, says Jonze. “One time, they pulled me out of a burning ship, and another time they helped me cheat on my college exam to get into Florida State. So, it was a real privilege to get to reunite with them and help them tell their story”.
————————————————–
RELEASES
BTS have released ‘Black Swan’, the first single from their upcoming new album ‘Map Of The Soul: 7’. It comes accompanied by what some would call a music video, but they are calling an “art film”. The album’s out on 21 Feb.
The 1975 have released new single ‘Me & You Together Song’. “I wrote it for that film I started writing, but I haven’t done anything about it besides make this”, frontman Matty Healy said of the song in an Instagram Live video earlier this week. In the same video, he also confirmed that the band’s new album, ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, has now had its release date pushed back to 24 Apr.
Eminem has surprise released a new album, titled ‘Music To Be Murdered By’, this morning. It’s already drawing criticism for the track ‘Unaccommodating’, on which the rapper compares himself to the Manchester Arena suicide bomber.
Louis Tomlinson has released a new single called ‘Walls’. “I pretend not to be romantic, but I am”, he says. “It really hit home when I was in the studio to hear the strings being recorded. There must have been 25 musicians in there, all for my song. It was a proper tear-jerking moment already and I’ve never felt a shiver like it”. I live in quite a draughty house, so I know what he means.
The Jonas Brothers have released new single ‘What A Man Gotta Do’. So that’s a thing that’s happened.
Tove Lo has released two new tracks – ‘Bikini Porn’ and ‘Passion And Pain Taste The Same When I’m Weak’ – co-written and produced by Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas O’Connell.
Bugzy Malone has released new single, ‘Cause A Commotion’, featuring Skip Marley, through Island Records.
The Shires have released new single ‘Lightning Strikes’. We can’t wait to put ‘Lightning Strikes’ into our live set”, say the duo. “The opening line ‘Standing outside, raining in the summer’, is going to be perfect for the festival season”. Bloody pessimists. Their new album, ‘Good Years’, is out on 13 Mar. They’ll be touring music venues (so less chance of getting wet) in May too.
Freya Ridings has released the video for her most recent single, ‘Love Is Fire’. “We open the live set with this song and have done for five years”, she says. “Every time I hear that guitar, I feel adrenaline in my system, my heart going, and I know I’m ready to play”.
Torres has released new single, ‘Dressing America’. Her new album, ‘Silver Tongue’, is out on 31 Jan.
LA Priest has announced that he will release his second album, ‘Gene’, on 24 Apr. First single, ‘What Moves’, is out now. “This song asks ‘what moves?’ 20 times”, he says. “The answer is in the guitar solo!”
Okay Kaya has released new single ‘Psych Ward’. The song, she explains, is written from personal experience, saying: “The last few days I was in a hospital a nurse unlocked one of the cabinets and let me use the rec room guitar, to play outside of art therapy class. I wrote what I saw to understand how I felt. It turned into this funny bop, I wanted it to feel like a Ramones song or something”. Her new album, ‘Watch This Liquid Pour Itself Out’, is set for release next week.
Boysetsfire frontman Nathan Gray has released new solo single ‘Refrain’. “‘Refrain’ is such a deeply personal song to me, and it brings up intense emotions every time I hear it”, he says. “Although I like to leave my pieces up for everyone to interpret in a way that is meaningful to them, I think many will find that this song resonates when reflecting on life’s great cycles – both joyful and sorrowful’. Gray’s new solo album, ‘Working Title’, is out on 31 Jan.
Catholic Action have released the video for their latest single ‘People Don’t Protest Enough’. Their new album, ‘Celebrated By Strangers’, is out on 27 Mar.
Sløtface have released new single ‘Tap The Pack’, ahead of the release of their second album ‘Sorry For The Late Reply’ on 31 Jan.
Tiña have announced that they will release new single ‘Dip’ through Speedy Wunderground on 20 Jan.
GIGS & TOURS
Back in the ‘if you can still stomach it’ file, Morrissey has announced two UK shows in March, ahead of the release of his new album. He’ll play the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 6 Mar and Wembley Arena in London on 14 Mar.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily – updated every Friday.
