"Surf is a metaphor for how we want to live life - care-free, kinda coasting by," say three-piece creative collective, BLACKSTARKIDS, who share about their empathetic new album 'Surf' (released only in February of this year and with another already on the way) that it "was started at a very stressful time in all of our lives and we viewed it as an escape from our stresses, and hoped it would lead to relief from a lot of life problems."
Los Angeles-based artist Kiana Ledé recently shared her debut album, 'KIKI', an introduction to every side of herself to the world - from the empowering opener 'Cancelled' she wrote for her friend (the introduction samples TikTok user Jasmine Orlando and her speech which includes the lines, "Fuck men these days, fuck them all / They will hurt everyone's feelings and fuck them all"), to Ledé's all-time favourite song of hers, 'Attention', a piano-ballad in which she earnestly declares, "I'm tryna keep you around / Don't go walkin' out on me."
"I wanted to write a more positive song but it still came off as having everything and nothing at all," says Pennsylvania-based artist ARTHUR, about his feverish new song, 'No Tengo'. He further explains, "Some kind of nightmarish internal exorcism, like being in the movie 'Alien' but in the comfort of the sparsely decorated room in the back of your small apartment. Love flicking on and off like a light switch, here for a moment and then gone."
NBC and 'Parks and Recreation' have made the announcement that we've all been waiting for - that they will return for one special episode on April 30th, which will fund-raise money for Feeding America's Covid-19 Response Fund.
The whole gang will be there, with the cast including all the originals: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Retta, and Jim O’Heir.
SZA recently performed as part of the 'Jersey 4 Jersey' benefit as organised by Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, where proceeds were donated to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund - and she performed a re-worked version of her song '20 Something' from her 2017 album 'CTRL'.
In the song, the lyrics were slightly changed, with SZA singing, "Everybody safe at home / Everybody scared outside / Everybody all alone / God bless you."
Watch the performance below...
Clairo has taken to social media to announce that her upcoming New Zealand show (as well as the rest of her tour dates through to July) are being cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement, she shared: "We've been working hard to reschedule these shows but given the current climate, there are too many unknown variables right now. We've decided to refund all tickets. We will keep you posted on our return in 2021."
BENEE's 'Supalonely' is having a moment right now. Currently being played approximately 2.7 million times a day across the world, the sentiment is undeniably relatable right now, and BENEE has now broken down the lyrics and meaning behind the song for Genius.
Watch the video below...
After returning with 'Knew You' last month, Kailee Morgue has shared her new EP, 'Here In Your Bedroom', which sees her exploring new sounds like the lullaby-esque 'Tied Up', to 'This Is Why I'm Hot'; Morgue's most punk-inspired song to date.
In the EP's closing track 'Wisconsin Ave', Morgue reminisces on her fear of a past love, singing, "I’m scared completely that you’ll up and leave me."
Rising New Zealand artist Paige has shared a new song, 'Yellow', which sees her reflect on the importance of hope in dark times.
She also acknowledges the unseen pain that can exist in people, with Paige questioning in the opening lines, "Did my soul arrive safely? / Cause the packaging’s fine but the inside’s breaking."
In a handwritten note about the creation of the song, Paige shared that she was inspired by her friend Marie to write the song, who told her, "You've gotta stay to see your dreams, make your life count."
Ahead of releasing her new album 'how i'm feeling now' on May 15th, Charli XCX has shared another new taster 'Claws' from the unique project, which is being written and recorded during this time of quarantine.
'Claws' was produced by 100 gecs' Dylan Brady, and sees Charli declaring in the chorus, “I like everything about you."
Listen to 'Claws' below...