DEALS
š³
London-based independent label Akira Records has marked its tenth anniversary by re-signing its distribution deal with Sony Musicās The Orchard. "Weāve been with The Orchard since day one and weāre delighted to re-sign with themā, says label founder Steve Minn. āThe relationships we have built over those ten years are key. Akira started out as a bedroom label, as a one man operation, and there is no way we would still be here today without the investment and the love and support of The Orchardā.
RELEASES
š
The Rolling Stones have announced that they will release their first album for eighteen years, āHackney Diamondsā, on 20 Oct. Late drummer Charlie Watts will appear on two tracks, and Lady Gaga also guests on a song. Hereās first single āAngryā.
āļø
Sampha has announced that he will release new album āLahaiā on 20 Oct. Out now is new single āOnlyā. He will also play three nights at Londonās St John At Hackney Church on 12-14 Oct.
ā
Marika Hackman has released āNo Caffeineā, her first single in four years.
š
CMAT has released new single āStay For Somethingā, taken from her upcoming album āCrazymad, For Meā, which is out on 13 Oct. āIt's basically just about questioning why I stayed/suffered in a bad relationship for as long as I didā, she says of the song. āTrying to desperately find some kind of meaning in the mess and then being embarrassed when I remember the good partsā.
š”ļø
Tkay Maidza has released new single āWUACVā. āI wanted to write a song where I could express my bubbling anger toward people who had manipulated me during the last phase of my lifeā, she says. Her new album āSweet Justiceā is out on 3 Nov.
š„
Evian Christ is back with new track āOn Embersā. He has also announced that he will release new album āRevanchistā on 20 Oct. UK tour dates are set for December.
šŖ
MS MR have returned after a seven year hiatus. But only to release one final song, āSaturn Returnā. āWhen we realised we were coming up on the ten-year anniversary of our first album, āSecondhand Raptureā, we knew we wanted to do somethingā, say the duo. āIt felt like the right time to finally bring the band to a formal end while also celebrating and thanking our fans and each other for such an exciting and meaningful time in our livesā.
šæ
Sen Morimoto has released new single āBad Stateā, taken from his new album āDiagnosisā, which is out on 3 Nov. "āBad Stateā is about learning to ask for help and using real human connection to escape the shame and numbness that comes from constant forward momentum and our self-worth being so deeply tied to productivity under the logic of capitalismā, he says.