Free-jazz band Irreversible Entanglements has shared 'Open the Gates' from their upcoming new album, a short and energetic, groovy-jazz song. Polyrhythmic percussion is expanded by alto sax and trumpet, as vocalist Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother) adds a sinister touch to the freedom song.
Joni Mitchell has been named the 2022 Person of the Year by the Recording Academy’s MusiCares organization, Variety reports. Mitchel is being honored "for breaking down barriers for women in the music industry; for tenacity in creating and following her own voice and for her ability to bring comfort, joy and inspiration to countless listeners and artists alike".
Spencer Elden, who was the baby featured on the cover of Nirvana’s 'Nevermind' reaching for a dollar in a swimming pool, now a 30-year-old, is suing Nirvana, its individual surviving members, Kurt Cobain’s estate, photographer Kirk Weddle, and the labels involved in releasing the album, alleging that the 'Nevermind' cover is child pornography. According to Elden’s lawsuit, neither his legal guardians nor he (obviously, as he was four months old at the time) consented to his naked genitalia appearing on the 'Nevermind' cover. He alleges that the band promised to cover his genitals with a sticker, which was never incorporated into the album art, and that Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl failed to protect him from being sexually exploited. He is hoping to receive $150,000 from each party named in the lawsuit, TMZ reports.
Charlie Watts, longtime drummer of The Rolling Stones, has “passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family” at the age od 80, NME reports. Watts joined The Rolling Stones shortly after their formation in January 1963. He was the only member of the band other than Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to have been featured on all of their studio albums, and also never missed a gig.
China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has banned any music that breaches a fresh set of government rules from being played within the country’s near-50,000 karaoke venues. Among other rules, tracks deemed “contrary to public morality”, and/or content “that which insults or defames others” will be banned from October 1. The new set of rules are most likely to target domestic Chinese music and, in particular, Chinese hip-hop.
"Don Everly, half of one of rock and roll's pioneering groups, The Everly Brothers, has died. The musician, known for singing close harmonies with his brother, was 84" - NPR reports. They left behind hits such as 'All I Have To Do Is Dream', 'Wake Up Little Susie', 'Bye Bye Love' and 'Cathy's Clown', influencing the likes of music giants the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and many others.
Music teacher Sakira Ventura has created an excellent new tool that encompasses more than 500 women who are often forgotten in the classical music world, from Mozart's sister to Byzantine abbess Kassia born in 810. The tool is "pushing back against the sexism, stigmatisation and societal norms that have long rendered them invisible", the Guardian insists. Great stuff!
The New Yorker shares a profile on NY City underground rapper Ka, who has just released his new album 'A Martyr’s Reward' (the only official way to listen to it online is to purchase a zip of the wav files on his Web site). "Ka has preserved a certain strain of bars-first New York City rap that prioritizes its stark, ascetic music-making practice as much as its hardscrabble tone and acerbic lyricism. Ka’s voice is gruff, yet he raps discreetly, as if recounting secrets under his breath. The verses themselves are almost like incantations muttered in code; it takes intent listening to puzzle them out. His wordplay is its own sort of quicksand, shiftily multisyllabic and crowded by entendre. But he is a philosopher above all: his lyrical feats are performed in pursuit of wisdom".
“When I’m gone please don’t release any posthumous albums or songs with my name attached. Those were just demos and never intended to be heard by the public” - new Anderson.Paak's tattoo says. He also posted a photo of it to Instagram, making a key part of his last testament perfectly clear, XXL reports. Luckily, .Paak is known for being fairly prolific in life.
The two biggest American concert promoters, Live Nation and AEG, have imposed vaccine mandates on all their venues and festivals. New York City began requiring proof of vaccination for entry to all indoor performances. Plenty of artists have canceled shows and tours, others are demanding proof of vaccination to attend a show - Music REDEF publishes a thread on the rules of attending a show.
