COVID-19 SUPPORT INTIATIVES
Rufus Wainwright, Alfie Boe, Baxter Drury and Idlewild's Roddy Woomble are among the artists announced for a series of virtual concerts from the Royal Albert Hall, beamed to the internet live from the performers' homes. The performances aim to raise funds for the charity-run London venue while it remains closed.
Calvin Harris will headline the third edition of Defected Records' virtual festival - the Defected Virtual Festival - taking place tomorrow. The event will raise money for the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
DIGITAL
TikTok has launched a series of live performances by musicians during lockdown. Ellie Goulding was the first last night, with Ashnikko, Mabel, Tinie Tempah and Jax Jones all coming up. "We're proud to be collaborating with some of Britain's top music talent, giving fans an all-access-pass to their favourite artist's living room - all from the comfort of their own home", says TikTok's UK Head Of Music Operations Paul Hourican.
MEDIA
BBC Radio 6 Music has announced that it will air a day of special programming about and related to Record Store Day on 18 Apr - the day on which the event was originally due to take place this year.
Max Richter's eight hour lullaby 'Sleep' will be aired on BBC Radio 3, starting at 11pm this Saturday. It will also be simultaneously broadcast to other countries within the European Broadcasting Union. "Five years ago I wrote 'Sleep' as an invitation to pause our busy lives for a moment", says Richter. "Now we are all facing an unexpected and unwelcome pause. At this time the magical ability of creativity to elevate our days and to connect us with one another is more valuable than ever".
RELEASES
Tones & I has released the video for new single 'Bad Child'. "I've always wanted to write a song in someone's else's shoes; writing from their perspective", she says. "'Bad Child' was the first time I got to do that. It's seeing life growing up through someone else's eyes".
Kojey Radical has released new single 'Proud Of You'. "I always seem to forget to reflect and really consider how far I've come since I started", he says. "The pace of life never really gave me the opportunity to. With all the chaos going on I felt like this song is a perfect way to help remind people to consider what makes you proud of you".
Aphex Twin has uploaded six new tracks to his SoundCloud profile.
Baauer has announced that he will release new album 'Planet's Mad' on 5 Jun. Here's the title track.
Ezra Furman has released a new collection of demos recorded during the making of his 2018 album 'Transangelic Exodus' on Bandcamp, titled 'To Them We'll Always Be Freaks'. Money raised will be split between Furman's band and tour crew, following the cancellation of their tour dates due to COVID-19.
Avey Tare has released new single 'Wake My Door'.
NZCA Lines has released the video for new single 'Pure Luxury'. Here's the title track.
Baths has released new track 'Mikaela Corridor', taken from new compilation 'Pop Music / False B-Sides II', which is out on 29 May.
Ohmme have released new single 'Ghost'. The duo's album 'Fantasize Your Ghost' is out on 5 Jun.
Attawalpa has released the video for new single 'Go To The Moon', taken from his new EP 'Spells'. "I strive to make music I will want to listen to in the next life", he says. "I feel music has the power to help one travel through time and realms. Music is magic".