We run down the colossal and breathtaking works by the genuinely excellent artist Elton John as he is our Artist Of The Month. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967, John is one of the most successful artists of all time, having sold over 300 million records in a six-decade career in music. We will run down four albums every post and go through his incredible catalogue. Enjoy! Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirty Cowboy (1975) "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" rightfully sat atop the charts in 1975, Elton and Bernie's first explicitly conceptual effort since 1970's "Tumbleweed Connection" that saw them reflect upon their rise to fame and fortune. It is no coincidence then that "Captain Fantastic" captures both gentlemen at the peak of their power; Elton crafts supple, elastic, versatile pop, and Bernie's inscrutable, personal wordplay is evocative, even moving. The album's sole smash hit with the heartfelt ballad "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" helped it enter the charts and did not cast any shadow over the rest of "Captain Fantastic's" strengths; it just works as a piece. The musical and lyrical skill displayed here is stunning. It bounces between country twangs and hard rock within the same songs and keeps up the traditional transition from soft ballads to stadium anthems. There seems to be a sense of making things bigger and more bombastic, perhaps to fit in with the larger capacity of audiences flocking to their shows. "Captain Fantastic" slowly builds before it reveals its treasures. Still, once it does, it rivals Elton's early albums, especially "Tumbleweed Connection," in terms of sheer consistency and eclipses it in scope. This album captures Elton and Bernie at their pinnacle. Rock Of The Westies (1975) Although it sold just as much as its predecessors and was certified, 1976's "Rock of the Westies" is retrospectively regarded as the end of Elton's hot streak. The main reason is that the album is overshadowed by the timeless "Captain Fantastic and the "Brown Dirt Cowboy," and the other is that the songs here, although hooky and punchy, are just not as strong as his earlier work. Nevertheless, "Rock of the Westies" still contains so much beloved Elton material. It maintains the perfect balance of harder-edged material and compelling ballads while leaving little room for experimentation. Opening with the unusual, laid-back funk medley of "Yell Help," it sets the scene for listeners to expect a different, toned-down album. The ballsy no-nonsense "Street Kids" and the aggressive gringo rock of the ZZ Top sound-alike "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" contrast with the poignant power balladry of "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" or the dark and brooding tale of addiction on "Feed Me." Perhaps inspired by the crossover R&B appeal of "Philadelphia Freedom," the up-tempo "Island Girl" bears a distinct and danceable groove that lies somewhere between a slightly Jamaican vibe and disco. Perhaps more soulful in the traditional sense is the boogie-based "Hard Luck Story" or propulsive Bo Diddley beat that drives "Billy Bones and the White Bird." Blue Moves (1976) By late 1976, Elton had released eleven studio albums and toured non-stop since first achieving commercial success. His immense creativity had begun to show signs of fatigue which was emphasized in the bloated follow-up "Blue Moves." At the time, "Blue Moves" was rumoured to be Elton's final album, which justifies the double-album heavy, unnecessary content; Elton seems to be getting out everything; high and ok quality developed and undeveloped. "Blue Moves" is strikingly personal; it breaks with the no-frills rock and roll of "Rock of the Westies" and purposefully focuses on moodier and more introspective sides, which gives the album a hard-hitting sense of immediacy and honestly not fully heard on other albums since. The single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," the achingly poignant "Tonight," and "Cage the Songbird," the latter of which is particularly noteworthy as it recalls the life of Edith Piaf. "One Horse Town," which John briefly revived as a dramatic show opener during late-'80s live performances, is one of "Blue Moves" most potent and straight-ahead rockers. While "Blue Moves" is a far cry from essential entries such as "Tumbleweed Connection" or "Captain Fantastic," the bright moments prove that John could still offer more than average material. A Single Man (1978) 1978's A Single Man is the first album that Elton made without his partner and lyricist Bernie, who was replaced by Gary Osbourne for Elton's twelfth studio album. "A Single Man" appeared less than a year after the singer's supposed retirement. Still, it was inevitably born out of Elton's restless piano tinkering and melody making, becoming full-length tracks. The whole album has a unique undeveloped, incoherent feel, most likely down to the music coming first and the lyrics coming second and wrapped around Elton's finished work. "A Single Man" does not exactly continue the Elton-Bernie hot streak of the '70s, but it does pave the way for Elton's song-based, hit-filled structure that would characterize his albums for the next fifteen years. The infusion of new musical associates takes notable effect on songs such as the opener, "Shine on Through," the gospel-tinged "Georgia," the hardcore length blues-rocker "It Ain't Gonna Be Easy," and the ultra-campy, lightweight "Big Dipper." Despite its catchy and danceable melody, the single "Part-Time Love" only impacted a little chart. A decent effort and a practical approach in Elton's career.

Singer-songwriter Mike Posner has released a new song, “Home,” accompanied by a music video. It was produced by Mike Shinoda and co-written by Mike Posner, Adam Freidman, and Mike Shinoda. The video is dedicated to Dawa Dorje Sherpa, Dawa Chirring Sherpa, and Dr. Jon Kedrowski. Back in 2021, Mike Posner climbed Mount Everest. He is singing about the experience in the song. In the video, Mike intersperses footage of his training and the actual expedition with captions about why he decided to climb Mt. Everest –“to find out who I'd become” — as well as what happened to him up there — “an avalanche nearly destroyed us” — and what he did when he reached the top: “I cried.” Mike Posner said in a statement, “If I did my job well, 'Home' pulls out the crystalized longing in my heart before I walked across America and climbed Mt. Everest so everyone else can see why I had to do those things.” Posner released his debut album, "31 Minutes to Takeoff," in 2010. The album includes the US Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single "Cooler than Me" and the top 20 single "Please Don't Go." In 2016 he released his second album, "At Night, Alone." A remix of his 2015 single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" from the album peaked in the top 10 on the charts in 27 countries worldwide, including hitting number one in many and the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Posner has also written songs for a significant number of fellow artists.

This past month, they announced their brand new LP "Harder Than It Looks" alongside the celebratory single "Congratulations." The Canadian pop-punk legends, Simple Plan have revealed the album’s opening track, "Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)." The band said of the album, “We made a classic, quintessential Simple Plan record that our fans will absolutely love, and it was amazing to go back to our roots and unapologetically embrace what has made this band special to so many people: fun, catchy, honest and emotional songs that will make you feel less alone, put a smile on your face and give you hope. We truly can’t wait for the world to hear these new songs and to play them live everywhere.” The new song will indeed prick up the ears of longtime band fans over their twenty-year tenure. Storming in with a radiant, upbeat, pop, punky rhythm, the music instils inner strength and confidence in ourselves that we’ve all been searching for in dark times. As we all come out the other side of this world pandemic, "Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)" mirrors reality and our emotions towards the world. Now with four tracks released, "Harder Than It Looks" sounds like the band has been reigning in feelings that sit firmly with the fans. "Wake Me Up" celebrates inner strength and adversity, and Simple Plan’s previous single "Ruin My Life" did, which also featured Sum 41 vocalist Deryck Whibley.

Dylan has dropped her new EP, "No Romeo," which consists of 6-tracks that feature previous singles "You’re Not Harry Styles," "Someone Else," and "Nineteen," as well as two new tracks, "Alone" & "Live Without It." Speaking about the EP, Dylan explains: “I’m finally at peace with the idea of emotion; this EP is about navigating all forms of love and the brutal consequences of falling for someone. I wrote these songs to empower myself through the process of letting someone in and their inevitable exit from my life. I think this is something that everyone experiences at some point in their life, a new kind of pain that is hard to put into words. It’s insane the number of times I have sat at my kitchen table with a mate talking about how we deserve better than how we’re being treated; life is too short for shit relationships. Within my writing, I was finally ready to talk about how I was feeling rather than attacking the idea of love in hope that others will relate to the situation. It’s time to claim the power back, baby, and no better way to do that than screaming to these songs.” Before 2021’s exponential rise, Dylan released two promising EPs, "Purple" (2019) & "Red" (2020), which she describes as records that chart growing up and exploring her identity and emotions. Dylan is currently on the road with Bastille before supporting Tate McRae in Europe. She’ll also play her own US dates this summer, with many UK dates later in the year, including a headline show at London’s KOKO.

Clara Mae describes her music as organic and honest with influences from the country, whose lyrics are about previously experienced heartache. In 2021, the singles "Not Sad Anymore," "Crash," and "Missing You Sucks" were released, and now, Clara Mae has unveiled her new EP "Learning Experience." The focus track "Miss The Party" is heard on the EP, which she makes together with the Copenhagen-based artist Maximilian. For Clara Mae, music is the best company you can have through life; she wants her lyrics and melodies to give the listeners the same experience that Clara herself experiences from listening to music. She wants to touch and invite the listener to her journey with narrative texts and the visual world. "I want it to feel like a movie when you listen to my songs; you should be able to close your eyes and see everything in front of you, says Clara. On the EP “Learning Experience,” you get to take part in Clara's lessons in the process through heartache, healing and hope and how the lessons have developed her as a person. The EP contains six tracks; on one of the tracks, "Crash," Clara describes how a person can affect someone's life so much, both positively and negatively and how it never really leaves one. The single "Not Sad Anymore" is about that moment one realizes that time heals wounds, even though it may feel impossible and ink-black at times. You can hear clear influences and soundscapes from the country in the music.

A new Fousheé era is upon us. The platinum-selling singer has released her new song, “Double Standard,” — and it’s just what you would expect based on its title. Fousheé said the following about the song in a press release: “‘double standard’ addresses outdated gender roles that I have experienced in past relationships and rebelling against them. The imbalance frustrates me. Don’t expect anything from me that you wouldn’t give me, including respect and loyalty. I match energy." Produced by BNYX (Lil Yatchy, Lil Uzi Vert, and Lancey Foux), “Double Standard” calls out men who don’t like when they get a taste of their own medicine after they’ve done wrong in a relationship. Fousheé’s advice to women is not to get mad but get even and do them just as dirty. “Double Standard” is the first offering from Fousheé’s untitled forthcoming project, due sometime this year via Trackmasters Entertainment/RCA Records. She made serious noise last June with the release of "Time Machine," a nine-track release that featured guest spots from Lil Yachty and Steve Lacy. “Deep End,” the focus track from "Time Machine," was certified gold by the RIAA in August 2021. So far, the song she co-produced with Biako has been played more than 220.3 million times on Spotify. Since the arrival of "Time Machine," Fousheé has kept a low profile, attaching herself to different songs by King Princess and Gwylo.

KiNG MALA has dropped yet another banger with "cult leader." The track oozes bold and daring energy, reverberating with a distorted driving beat and haunting vocals. The track has been teased on TikTok, where she has a "cult" following. It has already received nearly a million likes on TikTok. KiNG MALA is an alternative pop artist based in Los Angeles. AKA Areli Castro, the El Paso-born musician is not afraid to spill her guts. Setting out with the hopes to spark confidence in both herself and her listeners, she creates music that will make you walk taller and speak louder. Both her music and visuals experiment with masculine tropes, sharing "There's something about taking something traditionally masculine and wearing it as a woman that makes me feel really powerful." These masculine threads weave throughout everything she does, hence King rather than Queen and "MALA" which roughly translates to "bad bitch" in Spanish. Sharing her feelings from the bottom of her heart KiNG MALA encourages you to dig deep and connect with your inner self. Life is messy and we shouldn't feel ashamed to show our emotions and speak our minds. Dark, provocative and perhaps a little twisted, the new single "cult leader" has an empowering and confident disposition. Manifested with a 'fake it till you make it' mindset, the track was actually written when her confidence had taken a hit, though the songwriter decided that instead of leaning into the sadness, she would be overly confident and a bit narcissistic to try and boost her self-esteem.

Every week, we highlight the cream of the crop in music through our best music of the week column. Here's our round-up of the best tracks and music videos across our desks. This week, we're bringing you the best new music that popular culture offers. Genres mean nothing to us, so be prepared to take a vision quest down many different avenues. ALICE MERTON | BLINDSIDE With over a billion streams to date and Top 10 chart positions across Europe, Alice Merton established herself as a major player on the alt-pop landscape with her debut album "MINT." But as shown by recent tracks "Same Team," "Vertigo," "Hero," and "Island" are presenting a confident new sound - bigger, bolder and more experimental - as she looks set to make a more extensive international impact. Now Alice extends growing anticipation for the June 17th release of her new album "S.I.D.E.S." by sharing the brand new single ‘Blindside,’ along with its official video. ‘Blindside’ is another compelling example of Alice’s desire to push alt-pop in thrillingly unpredictable directions. Its opening minute sets its stall with Alice’s angelic vocal supported by a simple synth pattern and a rolling drum beat. But as Alicequestions “Who’s to blame?” a rumbling funk-bass line takes the song somewhere else entirely, its exuberance building further still during the song’s dazzling conclusion. It’s also a song demonstrating how Alice excels at matching uplifting sounds with dark, introspective themes. The song is Alice’s latest collaboration with Tobias Kuhn. The pair previously worked together on "Trouble In Paradise," a song from her debut album "MINT," released in 2019. BISHOP BRIGGS | HIGH WATER Bishop Briggs is opening a new and painful journey as she explores the complexities of grief through her powerful singles. Her latest track, "High Water," represents two important parts of her story that addresses losing her sister last year to Ovarian Cancer. The song's heaviness is immediately felt, but empowering energy shines through as she finds her voice and power to sing again. "High Water" is found in the deepness of grief. It’s the song about the initial pain of letting her go and needing to find the direction to go in without her. It’s heavy, but it’s required. It’s a release of emotions equally cathartic as it is emotionally hard. But they contrast it with soft guitar at the beginning before building into a steady beat that allows her vocals to soar and be the main focus intertwined with the important lyrics. “And I hatе that I lost you when I’m not lost anymore. And I hate that I got to lеt go of what I adore,” she emotionally sings. The dominative production is intoxicating and will light a fire underneath you. She released her debut album, "Church of Scars," released in April 2018, including her single "River," which peaked at number three on the US Alternative Chart. PEACH TREE RASCALS | GOOD ADVICE After dropping their debut EP "Camp Nowhere" last year, San Jose band Peach Tree Rascals are back with a new track, "Good Advice." The versatile group can’t be put in a box, as they know to morph genres into their own unique style effortlessly. “Good Advice” is no different, as it goes from the uplifting pop-esque chorus to exceptional bars in the verse. “Go 'head and pick yourself up, don't need anyone else. Take my advice; I know you'll be okay,” it is as uplifting of a chorus that you’ll get over a bouncy piano melody and a rippling bass that ultimately completes the track. Here is what Peach Tree Rascals said of the track, “We wrote ‘Good Advice’ as an anthem for us and anyone else that feels like they’re making decisions on behalf of others instead of trusting their gut,” the collective explains, “We hope this song shows the importance of trusting yourself and knowing that at the end of the day, as long as you’re genuine to what you love, the success always comes later.” Peach Tree Rascals has yet to put out a song you can’t bop your head to or at the very least have you relating to their clever songwriting. While Peach Tree Rascals already has a few smash hits in their catalogue, they are only scratching the surface of their potential, and “Good Advice” is a perfect start to their 2022 plans. MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD | BRIGHTER DAY Michael Franti has long been revered for his inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Deemed by NPR as “equal parts musician and activist,” Franti continues to offer opportunities for gratitude, solidarity and celebrating how we get through the greatest ups and downs of our lives with our body, mind and soul still in one piece with his upcoming album "Follow Your Heart," set for release June 3rd via Thirty Tigers. The release follows the lead single "Good Day For A Good Day," which marked the band’s 10th Top 25 AAA hit. Joining “Good Day LA” to chat about and perform the song live in the studio, Franti shared that the song is “speaking to the fact that sometimes we have to retune our minds to feel like we can have a good day because we’re not always going to get one. Not every day is perfect, but we can retune our minds to find those good days and good moments.” Michael Franti & Spearhead will be kicking off the Follow Your Heart UK tour in February 2023. They will play St. Luke’s Music & Arts Venue, Glasgow (Feb 7th), Manchester Academy 2 (Feb 8th) and London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Feb 10th). ALMOST MONDAY | SUNBURN Alt-pop trio Almost Monday releases their first single of the year, “Sunburn,” via Hollywood Records/Universal Music Canada, the country's leading music company. “Sunburn” has all the makings for the song of the summer. With its addicting beat and funky guitar licks, the new single begs to be played at full volume with the windows down and carries on the band’s signature California sound. This upbeat track is the perfect vehicle for vocalist Dawson Daugherty to proclaim the spirit of a summer fling, “You’ll always be that sunburn on me.” After teasing the song on TikTok in March, almost Monday, rounded out by guitarist Cole Clisby and bassist Luke Fabry, it quickly caught the attention of fans with over 3.2M views to date. “Sunburn” follows the release of almost Monday's momentous single “Cool Enough.” In the summer of 2021, the band released their second EP, "Til The End Of Time," featuring singles “Hailey Beebs” and “Live Forever,” The EP received praise from Forbes and the trio was hailed as a band to watch by Alternative Press, GQ Australia, Flaunt, Ones To Watch and more, with People Magazine declaring them an “emerging artist making their mark on the musical landscape.” EMPRESS OF | SAVE ME Since her 2020 album "I’m Your Empress Of," synthpop performer Lorely Rodriguez has hopped on tracks with other artists, notably last year’s “Note To Self” by Jim-E Stack, “Love In Reverse” by MNDR, and “Vacío” by Jarina De Marco. Now, Rodriguez is sharing her first new music of 2022 in the form of a dramatic, orchestral song called “Save Me.” “Save Me” is, frankly, a super horny song. Screeching strings and distorted voice samples slur in and out as Empress Of sings, “If you need me, baby, take me in the back of the room/ I want you to save me.” The single’s Alexis Gómez-directed video splices cinematic vignettes of physical touch with shots of very on-the-nose floral imagery. So, you know, horny but remaining classy. The artist worked with sexual wellness company Dame on the visuals — you might see some of their products in the video.“ This is probably one of my favourite songs I have ever made,” she says. “I’ve never put live strings on a recording before; it was very emotional. There’s a sexual urgency. There’s a power play. I think it’s one of the sexiest songs I’ve made.” Rodriguez initially gained attention in 2012 for anonymously releasing a series of one-minute-long demos (via YouTube) prefaced only by a solid colour entitled "Colorminutes." Her first 7" single, "Champagne," was released soon after on November 5, 2012. MORE NOTEWORTHY NEW MUSIC CIAN DUCROT | ALL FOR YOU SKAAR | GET HIM AWAY FROM ME GRACE IVES | LULLABY SOPHIA ALEXA | BURIED ALIVE JACK HARLOW | FIRST CLASS

Adam Levine is the symbolic leader of the group Maroon 5, to whom we owe the hits "This Love," "Sugar," "Girls Like You," or "Beautiful Mistakes." But the 43-year-old musician also offers solo getaways, collaborating with Kanye West, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Gym Class Heroes (the hit "Stereo Hearts") or even Jason Derulo recently on "Lifestyle," which has more than 150 million streams on Spotify). Also an actor, the artist made his debut in front of the camera in the series "American Horror Story: Asylum" in 2012, before playing in the film "New York Melody" with Keira Knightley, "Lost Stars," which has 284 million plays on Spotify. Now, a few months after singing "Good Mood" for the film "La Paw Patrol," it is for Netflix that Adam Levine gives his voice. Interscope Records has released the original song "Wings of Stone" from the new Netflix original film "The Bubble." The track was written by the movie’s director Judd Apatow, Josh Klinghoffer, Andrew Watt, Louis Bell & Dan Bern. "Jurassic Park" meets "Tropic Thunder" as the film charts the chaotic production process of "Cliff Beasts 6" as arguments among the cast, wayward producers and the ever-looming pandemic have everyone on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Throughout "The Bubble," music plays a crucial part, whether through the use of licensed pop songs, cover versions by the cast or even a special cameo from Beck. In total, The Bubble makes use of 22 songs and pieces of music, including Amy Whinehouse, Doja Cat, Stevie Wonder. Miley Cyrus, The Chemical Brothers and many more.

R3HAB has been on fire in the first quarter of 2022, and he’s only adding to the heat with his newest single, “My Pony.” Following his stellar collaborations from March with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Armin van Buuren, as well as his stunning performance at Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Jeddah, R3HAB switches gears to create a euphonious pop-house record, showcasing the Platinum artist’s signature groovy basslines, instrumental melodies, and his readiness to experiment with cheeky and feel-good vibes, as heard earlier on “Put Your Hands On My_” with Saucy Santana, released in February. With that impressive first three months into the new year, things are only expected to get bigger for R3HAB. Read on for his words on the latest release – “My Pony,” that’s sure to be a hit on the dancefloor and radio airwaves. “I’m constantly experimenting with different styles and sounds. ‘My Pony’ is a bit more bass-driven and laid back than my catalogue so far, and I’m excited for the variety it brings. This record has been coming for a long time, and I’m glad to share it. I’m sure ‘My Pony’ will lift moods in the blink of an eye, and I can’t wait to play it live,” says R3HAB. Multi-Platinum DJ and producer Fadil El Ghoul, better known as R3HAB, has been trailblazing his way through dance music for the past fifteen years. From his breakthrough remixes for Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, to anthems such as Platinum-certified “All Around The World (La La La)” and “Lullaby,” to his collaborations with the likes of Ava Max, ZAYN, Luis Fonsi, Sean Paul, and more, R3HAB has proven to be one of the most forward-thinking artists in the game.

Onetime Odd Future member Syd is back with her second solo LP, "Broken Hearts Club," and is the result of a period of personal artistic growth. R&B artist Syd began working on "Broken Hearts Club" — her first album since releasing the solo projects "Fin" and "Always Never Home" in 2017 and "Hive Mind" with her band the Internet in 2018 — she was writing love songs, not a breakup opus. She was in the thick of a relationship she thought “was gonna last forever,” but ended in the 29-year-old’s first-ever broken heart. At first, she tried to push ahead and keep writing, to use the heartbreak as motivation. But the songs were “dark with a capital D.” So she paused, tended to her 60 houseplants, and healed. “It felt like a rite of passage,” Syd says of heartbreak. “And so I embraced it as best I could.” Syd’s latest project is the audio embodiment of her evolution in the past two years. The production—aided by Darkchild, Troy Taylor, and G Koop—provides a suitable ’90s-inspired melodic palette to bring Syd’s real-life pandemic breakup to wax. “I went through a really crazy heartbreak,” she admits. “My first broken heart.” All of which is chronicled in "Broken Hearts Club." The 13-track project walks through the evolution of a relationship through its eventual demise. Its first track, “CYBAH”—an acronym for “could you break a heart”—details the trepidation displayed in the early stages of a relationship. “Fast Car,” the album’s third track, chronicles the utter bliss of the honeymoon stage when both parties believe the feeling will last forever. When her heart shattered last year, she says her buds came to the rescue, providing pep talks and solace and inspiring Syd to use her latest project as a pick-me-up for listeners sharing her pain.

Lizzy McAlpine has released her new album, "five seconds flat." Predominantly produced by Philip Etherington and Ehren Ebbage, the 14-track album was recorded in Eugene, OR and at The Laundry Pile in Los Angeles. "five seconds flat" also includes contributions from Grammy-Award winners FINNEAS and Jacob Collier as well as Ben Kessler and Laura Elliot. In a 4-star review of the record, we wrote: “Lizzy McAlpine’s ‘five seconds flat’ is all flashes of clean white sheets, sunlight streaming through the blinds, the first stir of your coffee on a morning. Over the course of the album, the 22-year-old finds herself traversing through gut-punching heartbreak: each track feels like another step on tentative feet.” McAlpine takes five seconds flat in a bold new direction, using her evocative lyrics to create a story arc about heartbreak. The latest music finds McAlpine stepping into her own as an artist, building on her past while looking toward the future. "I want to give my fans something different with each record because I'm different each record," notes McAlpine. "I want to always be growing and moving forward as an artist." McAlpine is also set for an extensive run of North American tour dates with Dodie. The shows kick off in early February and include performances at New York's Kings Theatre, Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, Chicago's Riviera Theater and Philadelphia's The Fillmore, and multiple shows at Los Angeles Theatre at Ace Hotel. Born outside Philadelphia, McAlpine initially gained recognition when she began to share original songs and covers on Soundcloud and YouTube.

Rhys Lewis has already caught the public's attention with his songs of heartbreak, many of which have featured on some of the biggest television shows. But it is his love of performing live, a curiosity about his craft, command of his instruments, and impressive vocal ability that have taken him around the world, racking up legions of loyal fans along the way. His brand new single, "Alone," signifies a major life shift for the Oxfordshire-born artist. After years of living in the capital city, Rhys decided to step away. On a bit plot of land in the countryside, he found comfort in simple loneliness. While the performer missed touring and the thrill of the stage, it was here that Rhys had the space to redefine who he was as a musician and ever-growing creative and discover his new sound. In contrast to its title, "Alone" is an optimistic song. This perfectly crafted pop gem sets mesmeric strings against Rhys’ soaring vocals as he dreams of escape. With a phenomenal 620 million lifetime streams to date, the BBC Introducing favourite has seen 200 million streams for the standout single, "No Right To Love You," the same song that caught the attention of Decca Records. Heading into his biggest summer yet, Rhys is set to take his new music around Europe, having landed an extensive international tour with American singer, songwriter and television host Eric Nam. Kicking off this weekend in Scotland, Rhys will play in Manchester before two London shows (O2 Forum Kentish Town and O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire), then embarking upon 12 European dates.

Rising singer-songwriter Role Model has released his debut album, "Rx." The album contains recent singles "if Jesus saves, she’s my type" and "neverletyougo." Sharing the new track "if Jesus saves, she’s my type" alongside the news, Role Model adds, “As much as I love being alone, I think even the strongest people have a breaking point. I spent years completely alone and got to a point where I needed help, which later came in the form of a girl who I fell in love with. This song is that stage of desperation that I felt could be compared to the way some people find God. When you’re on your knees just begging for something or someone, it sets up the album perfectly.” He also spoke about the former, Role Model explains: “As much as I love being alone, I think even the strongest people have a breaking point. I spent years completely alone and got to a point where I needed help, which later came in the form of a girl who I fell in love with. This song is that stage of desperation that I felt could be compared to the way some people find God. When you’re on your knees just begging for something or someONE, it sets up the album perfectly.” In 2018, the lyrical artistry in “minimal” caught the attention of Interscope Records. “The first time I heard Tucker effortlessly ride the track on “minimal,” I knew he was something special,” Sam Riback, Executive Vice President IGA and Head of A&R at Interscope, says. “From the storytelling to the unique vocal delivery, I could hear and feel every word of the world he was creating on that song. He has come a long way since that moment, having dropped two perfectly crafted projects, and he’s just getting started.”

Legendary rock band Pink Floyd has released its first new music in almost 30 years to raise money for the people in Ukraine, with vocals from a Ukrainian singer who was wounded fighting for his country following Russia’s invasion. The single, "Hey Hey Rise Up," marks the first time they recorded music together since the 1994 album "The Division Bell." "Hey Hey Rise Up" was recorded on March 30, and its music video was shot the same day. In it, the band is seen performing, intercut with footage of anti-war protests and destruction in Ukraine. "We want to express our support for Ukraine and, in that way, show that most of the world thinks that it is totally wrong for a superpower to invade the independent democratic country that Ukraine has become," Gilmour said. The video opens with text explaining that Khlyvnyuk ended a U.S. tour he was on with Boombox to return to Ukraine and defend his homeland. He posted the Instagram video from which his vocals were taken three days later. The band said Khlyvnyuk suffered a shrapnel wound and was recovering at a Kyiv hospital when Gilmour got in touch with him. All proceeds from "Hey Hey Rise Up" will go toward Ukrainian humanitarian relief, according to the band. On Thursday, the U.N. suspended Russia from its Human Rights Council for what its resolution called "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" and "violations of international humanitarian law" in the invasion of Ukraine.

Vance Joy has released a spirited new single titled "Clarity," sharing it alongside the news of his third full-length effort, "In Our Own Sweet Time." The new track was produced and co-written over Zoom with Joel Little. The accompanying video follows Vance Joy through surreal, moving projections as he performs along to the tune. “It’s very upbeat and poppy,” Vance Joy explains of the track. “Dan Wilson says if there is a song you might be a bit shy about because it feels poppy or makes you feel uncomfortable because it’s saying something really directly, that’s probably the single. I got that feeling from ‘Clarity.’ When we finished the song Joel said he could imagine the feel of the production – when he sent it back to me with the full production, it just exploded. I didn’t see that coming. The original voice memo was me doing mouth trumpet. He even sampled my weak mouth trumpet in the original demo, then that got replaced with the real thing.” "In Our Own Sweet Time" marks the follow-up to Joy’s acclaimed 2018 album, "Nation Of Two." Though it comes over four years since that record was released, Joy has kept busy in the interim: in 2020, he shared two unique cover tracks, putting his distinctive twist on "The Pogues," "Fairytale of New York" and DJ Sammy’s "Heaven." That year also saw him drop a concert film recorded during his ‘Nation Of Two’ world tour. Recently, Joy was also nominated for three titles at this year’s APRA Music Awards: Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Alternative Work for "Missing Piece," and Most Performed Pop Work as a co-writer on "You."

Singer-songwriter Chloe Bailey, aka Chlöe, released a new song, “Treat Me,” with an accompanying music video. The song samples Bubba Sparxxx's 2005 hit “Ms. New Booty” with the Ying Yang Twins and serves as her second solo single, following Have Mercy, released last September. Among those also contributing to the latest video from Chlöe are Parkwood Entertainment’s Andrew Makadsi, director of photography Xiaolong Liu, producer Christopher Lopez, and production company Object & Animal. Justin Benoliel, Amanda Leya Andrews, and Jill Kaplan are credited as executive producers. The track itself, meanwhile, is produced by Oak. The stacked-with-cameos “Have Mercy” video arrived back in September and featured direction from Karena Evans, whose previous credits include multiple Drake hits, including “God’s Plan” and “In My Feelings.” In November, Chlöe brought “Have Mercy” to life with a memorable American Music Awards performance. In August 2021, Chlöe, during an interview with Billboard, announced that her highly anticipated album is “90% done.” And when asked about her biggest aspirations for her record, she declared, "Of course, I wanna get some hits with this project. That’s always a fun thing. But I just wanna have fun and let people get to see the real me.” More recently, Chlöe fans were treated with the special Valentine’s Day-timed release of the official video for the Gunna collab “You & Me.” The singer also pops up on Fivio Foreign’s just-released "B.I.B.L.E." album, joining KayCyy on the track “Hello.”

Singer-songwriter Noah Cyrus surprised fans with the release of her haunting new single, “I Burned LA Down,” accompanying with a music video. The song is the first single from her highly anticipated debut album, "The Hardest Part," which will be released on July 15. Using California’s dreaded wildfire season to describe a painful breakup, Cyrus’ artful lyricism and vocals shine. The track, “I Burned LA Down,” is a crushing break-up ballad inspired by the end of a relationship and the lurking anxiety of California wildfires. “Living in California, you’re constantly living with this dread of wildfire season,” Cyrus said in a statement. “At the time, I was reeling from my breakup, and Caldor was dominating the news. All this internal, emotional pain I was feeling was intertwined with the anxiety around this out-of-control fire and climate change in general.” Cyrus calls “I Burned LA Down” the “perfect introduction” to her album, which she worked on with producer Mike Crossey, who has collaborated with Arctic Monkeys and Wolf Alice. “I found a safe place to make music with people I love and trust. The process was really healing for me,” she said. “For the first time, I’m revealing my complete and honest truth.” The music video hones in on the imagery of wildfires’ beauty and ultimate destruction. As the flames take over buildings, they almost dance along to the music with Cyrus. She delivers a deeply emotional performance, standing powerless as the world burns around her, knowing that she started the fire herself.

French DJ David Guetta teamed up with British singer-songwriters Becky Hill and Ella Henderson to release a new song, “Crazy What Love Can Do”. It is not the first time David Guetta and Becky Hill have joined forces; they released “Remember” in 2021, which has garnered over 150 million streams to date. While Ella Henderson, this marks the first collaboration with David Guetta and is written by Becky Hill, David Guetta, Ella Henderson, Jordan Riley, Lewis Thompson, Neave Applebaum and Rob Harvey. It was produced by David Guetta, Jordan Riley, Lewis Thompson, Neave Applebaum and Rob Harvey. David Guetta said of the song, “This to me is a summer dance record, and I think it spreads an important message of love and just how powerful it is. I really enjoyed working once again with Becky since our first successful single, "Remember," and working with Ella for the first time was also very exciting. It was a pleasure to work with both these incredible artists.” David Guetta, one of the biggest figures in global music, with some 50 million record sales and more than 14 billion streams to his name, entered into a career-spanning, a groundbreaking new agreement with Warner Music last year. The worldwide pact sees Warner Music acquire Guetta’s legendary recorded music catalogue from the last two decades and ink a new deal for future recordings. Since the beginning of the millennium, Guetta has been a defining influence in electronic music and dance culture as both a game-changing recording artist and record-breaking live performer.

British singer-song­writer James TW releases "Heartbeat Changes (Part 1)" via Island Records, the first part of his long-awaited second album. The new album includes both of James’ most recent 2021 single + video releases, “Butterflies” (whose lighthearted visual takes the viewer on a hilarious journey inside of a photo booth) and “Hopeless Romantics” (continuing the thread of “Butterflies” with a vivid snapshot of the breakup’s aftermath, with organic instru­ment­ation and emotional refrain). Of the album, James says: “Heartbeat Changes Part 1 is a collection of songs documenting the emotions & realizations I had after the only break up I’ve ever gone through last year. It’s honest & as personal as my music has even been.” "Heartbeat Changes (Part 1)" is the next eagerly awaited episode in James TW’s saga. Following the release of his debut album Chapters in April 2019 (featuring his billion-streaming “When You Love Someone” along with “Say Love” and “You & Me,” and accompany­­ing sold-out 10-city European tour, James had commenced work on his next musical ‘chapter’ at the top of 2020. As the world went into pandemic lockdown, he found himself at the end of a six-year relationship. Confronting a flurry of turbulent emotions, he turned to music. Over a year would elapse before the March 2021 arrival of “Butterflies,” which fluttered from a hypnotic riff and finger snaps towards confessions such as “I get drunk. I feel lonely. Try to drown all the noise in my mind, but alcohol doesn’t hold me the way you did.” The verse’s gritty admissions belied the infectiousness of the chorus – and resonated with legions of loyal fans.