Category: News

Tucked into the hills of southwest Mallorca, Zafiro Palace Andratx isn’t just a hotel, it’s a lifestyle flex that can and should be seen on the ‘gram. Hotels that go the extra mile like asking what time you want your room cleaned and turn down service hold a special place in my heart.

It’s where private plunge pools meet Vespa daydreams, spa days blend into early evening cocktails, and “resort wear” finally makes sense. Whether you’re in it for the gourmet dishes, the golf, or the glow-up, this Mediterranean escape delivers five-star everything with just the right amount of ‘yes, I’m that girl’ energy. It’s sophisticated without being stuffy, luxurious without losing its soul, and somehow manages to make every hour feel like golden hour. If your dream vacation includes lemon trees, live music, and pretending you’re in a glossy travel campaign—this is your spot.

Why It’s Awesome

Zafiro Palace Andratx is a standout in Mallorca’s luxury landscape. This Mallorcan family-owned five-star resort is the only hotel in the Balearics to earn the 2024 She Travel Club Best Resort distinction and has been shortlisted for Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Resort in Spain and Favourite Resort in Spain in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards. It also won British Airways Holidays’ Customer Excellence Award and is part of the elite Great Hotels of the World collection.

From private plunge pools and lemon-tree courtyards to sea-green Vespa rentals and a peaceful adults-only vibe strategically placed throughout the resort, the luxe hotel oozes Mediterranean elegance while still feeling warm, personal, and you guessed it, fun in the sun. Because that’s the point, isn’t it? Speaking of fun, don’t miss the 3p daily Flamenco dancers by the pool to help get you in the vacation spirit.

In-House Food + Drink

The dining scene at Zafiro Palace Andratx strikes that perfect balance between high-end and approachable. The salted sea bass at Cailu Steakhouse is a showstopper—cooked in a salt crust and served perfectly tender after a 30-minute preparation time. It’s easily one of the best dishes on property, and absolutely worth the wait time (don’t worry, they’ll warn you in case you’re hangry) and presentation where they de-bone your fish for you in its entirety.

Evenings are best spent at the Blue Lounge Bar, where the espresso martinis are dangerously smooth. As the sun melts behind the mountains, live music drifts through the air, setting a relaxed yet romantic vibe. With several on-site restaurants—ranging from Mediterranean-inspired dishes to sushi and casual bites—the à la carte style makes every meal feel elevated, but never fussy.

I’ve stayed at my fair share of all-inclusives over the years, but this one stood out for one delicious reason: the wine list. Not only was there a thoughtful, top-tier selection of bottles included, but there was also a sommelier on hand to help pair your pour with the perfect dish.

Amenities

• Air Conditioning/Heating
• Whirlpool Bath
• Pillow Menu
• Makeup Mirror
• Daily Cleaning
• TV
• Bathrobe
• Nespresso Coffee Machine + Tea
• Steambrush
• Workstation
• Microwave
• Hairdryer
• Safe
• Rain Shower
• Minibar
• Wi-Fi

Room Types

Guests can choose from a variety of suites, including deluxe terraces and swim-up suites with private plunge pools. Each room is designed with clean lines, warm tones, and natural light. Inside, you’ll find rainfall showers, freestanding tubs, blackout curtains, and Nespresso machines.

The newer Zafiro Club level offers premium extras like private check-in, access to an exclusive pool area, and a more curated experience complete with concierge service and elevated minibar selections.

The Best Thing To Do Within A 15-Minute Walk

Head to Golf de Andratx, just a three-minute stroll from the hotel. This championship 18-hole course is famous for its sea views and the challenging ‘Green Monster’ 6th hole, one of the longest in Spain. It’s been featured by 59club Europe for service excellence and was a finalist in LLM Readers’ Travel Awards for Best Golf Hotel. One of the holes felt straight out of a Mediterranean rom-com — my husband’s ball veered into a private villa yard, where a sun-kissed blonde in a designer bikini gracefully ducked beneath her lemon tree and tossed it back with a wink: ‘Call me next time.’ Mallorca, you are pure magic.

Even if you’re not an avid golfer, the course is worth walking for the views alone—and there’s a terrace restaurant perfect for a post-round coffee or cocktail (or walk back to your all-inclusive free drinks at the hotel).

The Best Thing To Eat Or Drink Within A $20 Cab Ride

Just a short ride to nearby Port d’Andratx will take you to Es Fum, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its inventive tasting menu and unforgettable Mediterranean-Cuban fusion. The seaside terrace adds to the magic. It’s a perfect off-property indulgence and makes for an ideal date night or celebration meal.

Bed Game

The beds are plush, the linens soft, and the blackout curtains make sleeping in feel like an art form you wish you mastered earlier. Add in the island quiet and it’s easy to lose track of time.

Rating: 9/10

Sexiness Rating

From private pools and live music to Vespa rides and candlelit dinners, this hotel has strong date energy. It’s laid-back luxury that invites romance without trying too hard. As travelers without kids, it’s important to note it is still a kid-friendly property.

Rating: 8/10

The Views & Pic Spots

The best view is from your private pool terrace, where you can soak in sweeping mountain or sea views framed by palms. For the most Instagram-worthy shot, head to the adults-only infinity pool just before sunset with a cocktail in hand or go to Blue Lounge Bar for golden hour for the perfect postcard background. We took a photograph here the first night and it became our nightly outfit shot the background and lighting were so good.

Best Season To Visit

May, June, and September are ideal according to the experts, but according to me, September is the only right answer. The summer in Mallorca is behind hot, so come prepared with extra anti-perspirant if you go in June – August. Overall, you’ll enjoy warm weather, fewer crowds, and the best chance at getting a table with a view or a private pool suite. July and August are busier and hotter.

If I Had To Complain About One Thing

The only real complaint is that the hotel is so comfortable and well-rounded that it makes leaving a challenge. And when you’re in Europe, that’s a bit of a shame. We did the all-inclusive option (they call it full board), which made us not want to venture out as much. Part of the charm of Mallorca is exploring the small towns and hidden beaches nearby, but it’s hard to pull yourself away from the private pools, live music, and incredible service. If I went back, I wouldn’t get this (every reservation already comes with breakfast included).

Book Here

You can book your own Mallorca five-star vacation directly on their website.

Opt for the Zafiro Club upgrade for extra perks (all-inclusive stays also come with airport transfers, which is ideal for the travel who wants to show up and get taken care of. Whatever you do, reserve one of the private pool suites—they’re absolutely worth it.

Wednesday’s Bleeds, one of the most anticipated indie albums of the year, is out today (September 19). To mark the occasion, the band has shared a video for album highlight “Townies.”

The group’s Karly Hartzman shared a lengthy statement about the song, writing:

“The song Townies is about how a young woman’s sexuality, especially when they are first encountering it at a young age, is often weaponized against them in the gossip cycles of a highschool. I write from experience, both my own and a dear friend of mine, who had rumors spread about them that could deeply affect or potentially define our social standing.

At the end of the song I look back and forgive anyone who contributed to this. Even I, as a victim of the rumor mill, wasn’t immune to sharing little scandals with my friends when I came across them. Cause the end of the day, teenagers have no idea who the f*ck they are or how what they do might be hurting someone, all you can do is hope everyone grew up to become decent and empathic adults.

The Townies video was filmed by Lance [Bangs] and his crew in Durham, North Carolina. I told Lance I wanted to incorporate the visuals of southern sorority rushing, which is deeply fascinating to me. We played a surprise Wednesday show to a crowded backyard. No one’s legs got chopped off by the boat engine in the hot tub in the process.”

Hartzman previously said of the album, “Bleeds is the spiritual successor to Rat Saw God, and I think the quintessential ‘Wednesday Creek Rock’ album. This is what Wednesday songs are supposed to sound like. We’ve devoted a lot of our lives to figuring this out — and I feel like we did.”

Watch the “Townies” video above and find the Bleeds cover art and tracklist below, along with Wednesday’s upcoming tour dates.

Wednesday’s Bleeds Album Cover Artwork

Wednesday’s Bleeds Tracklist

1. “Reality TV Argument Bleeds”
2. “Townies”
3. “Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)”
4. “Elderberry Wine”
5. “Phish Pepsi”
6. “Candy Breath”
7. “The Way Love Goes”
8. “Pick Up That Knife”
9. “Wasp”
10. “Bitter Everyday”
11. “Carolina Murder Suicide”
12. “Gary’s II”

Wednesday’s 2025 Tour Dates

09/27/2025 — Austin, TX @ LEVITATION Festival
10/09/2025 — Santa Fe, NM @ Tumble Root *
10/10-12/2025 — Las Vegas, NV @ Best Friends Forever Festival 
10/11/2025 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
10/14/2025 — Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *
10/17/2025 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre *
10/18/2025 — Oakland, CA @ The Fox Theater *
10/20/2025 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell *
10/22/2025 — Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre *
10/23/2025 — Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre *
11/10/2025 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
11/11/2025 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^
11/12/2025 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^
11/13/2025 — Montreal, QC @ Club Soda ^
11/15/2025 — Toronto, ON @ Concert Hall ^
11/16/2025 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre ^
11/17/2025 — Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theater ^
11/19/2025 — Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron ^
11/20/2025 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre ^
11/21/2025 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^
02/04/2026 — Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset #
02/05/2026 — Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret #
02/06/2026 — Stockholm, SE @ Debase r#
02/08/2026 — Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Musikclub #
02/09/2026 — Berlin, DE @ Lido #
02/10/2026 — Munich, DE @ Strom #
02/11/2026 — Milan, IT @ Circolo Arci Bellezza #
02/14/2026 — Bilbao, ES @ Bilborock #
02/15/2026 — Madrid, ES @ Copernico #
02/16/2026 — Barcelona, ES @ La Nau Locales de Ensayo (La Nau) #
02/19/2026 — Brussels, BE @ Botanique Orangerie #
02/20/2026 — Paris, FR @ Le Trabendo #
02/21/2026 — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord #
02/23/2026 — Bristol, UK @ The Fleece #
02/24/2026 — Leeds, UK @ The Leeds Irish Centre #
02/25/2026 — London, UK @ Electric Ballroom #

* with Friendship
^ with Daffo
# with Bleary Eyed

Bleeds is out now via Dead Oceans. Find more information here.

Earl Sweatshirt continues his magnificent Live Laugh Love rollout with the video for “Well Done!” As an independent artist, you have to really know how to spend that promo budget, and Earl has placed his bets wisely.

The “Well Done!” video is simple but effective, putting together a striking collage of still images to create a herky-jerky, semi-animated visualization of Earl’s bars, which encompass references to Greek mythology, LA street life, and more.

He’s employed similar, off-beat tactics throughout his latest album cycle, from employing an obvious body double at the listening event announcing the album to documenting that process for his “Crisco” video. Meanwhile, the blown-out visuals of his “Exhaust” video gave it a stark, unique aesthetic that sets his lo-fi efforts apart from other self-funded artists’ clips.

You can watch Earl Sweatshirt’s “Well Done!” video above and check out the dates for Earl’s 3LWorld Tour below.

Earl Sweatshirt Tour Dates

10/31 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks (w/ Denzel Curry & Freddie Gibbs)
11/05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex – Rockwell
11/07 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
11/08 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
11/09 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
11/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
11/13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/14 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA
11/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Camp Flog Gnaw
11/19 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Midtown
11/20 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11/21 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
11/23 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
11/25 – Miami FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
11/26 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
11/28 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven
11/29 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
12/02 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
12/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
12/04 – New Haven, CT @ Toads Place
12/06 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre
120/8 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
12/10 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
12/11 – Chicago, IL @ Ramova Theatre
12/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
12/15 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
12/16 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox SoDo
01/20 – Helsinki, Finland @ Ääniwalli
01/22 – Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller
01/23 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Slaktkyrkan
01/24 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Amager Bio
01/26 – Hamburg, Germany @ Uebel & Gefahrlich
01/27 – Berlin, Germany @ Metropol
01/29 – Prague, Czech Republic @ ROXY
01/31 – Vienna, Austria @ Flex
02/02 – Rome, Italy @ Hacienda
02/03 – Milan, Italy @ Farbique
02/04 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage Werk
02/06 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Rote Fabrik
02/07 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Batschkapp
02/08 – Cologne, Germany @ Essigfabrik
02/10 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ TivoliVredenburg
02/12 – Antwerp, Belgium @ De Roma
02/13 – London, UK @ Exhibition
02/14 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
02/15 – Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy
02/17 – Paris, France @ Trabendo
02/19 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Apolo
02/20 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Lisboa ao Vivo

Live Laugh Love is out now via Tan Cressida/Warner Records. You can find more info here.

Destroy Lonely is “Screwed Up” in his latest video, which accompanies the release of his new album, Broken Hearts 3 (or 3³, if you prefer meme speak). The video is pretty straightforward, following the rule-bending Atlanta rapper on a walkthrough of a crowded nightclub as various slogans related to his label Opium’s favorite themes flash on the screen.

Broken Hearts 3 is the fourth Opium project of 2025, completing the full circuit of the label’s core acts ahead of their Antagonist Tour, kicking off in October. Those projects include Playboi Carti’s Music, Ken Carson’s More Chaos, and Homixide Gang’s Homixide Lifestyle 2. 3³ features a guest appearance from Ken Carson, and is produced by Destroy Lonely’s early collaborators, Clayco, Cxdy, Cade and Bugz Ronin.

You can watch Destroy Lonely “Screwed Up” video above.

Destroy Lonely 2025 Tour Dates

10/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
10/05 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
10/08 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
10/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
10/12 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
10/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
10/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ PHX Arena
10/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
10/20 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
10/23 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/24 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
10/25 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
10/28 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
10/30 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/31 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
11/01 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
11/04 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
11/06 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
11/07 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
11/08 – Hartford, CT @ PeoplesBank Arena
11/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Xfinity Mobile Arena
11/11 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
11/13 – Raleigh, NC @ Lenovo Center
11/14 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
11/16 – Sunrise, FL @ Amerant Bank Arena
11/28 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
11/30 – Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena
12/01 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

Broken Hearts 3 is out now via Opium/Interscope. You can find more info here.

Lil Yachty keeps morphing, showing off new facets of his sound with every new release. Just when you think you’ve got him pinned down, he jukes, popping up with another surprising evolution of his flow or unexpected beat choice.

Just check out “Silver Lining,” his new single with cult-hero Texas rapper Sauce Walka. It’s another instance of Boat zigging when you expect him to zag; after revamping his “Michigan Boy” persona alongside Babyface Ray on “Wavy Crete,” Yachty goes full-on backpack rapper on “Silver Lining.”

Over a spacey, almost drumless loop, Yachty defends his spot in hip-hop: “The hatred comes from GMs in my DM’s / Never CEOs creeping, leaking spillage out the mouth / How they say hip-hop ain’t a n**** house when he ain’t got a housе?” It turns out Yachty is just as cozy on a Griselda-style soul loop as he is on the cloudy 808s of “Won’t Diss You” or the futuristic funk of “Murda.”

Although Yachty has kept up a steady stream of single releases over the past couple of years since Let’s Start Here, he seems hesitant to announce a new album. Still, he’s got plenty of new material for whenever he decides to do so.

Watch Lil Yachty’s “Silver Lining” video featuring Sauce Walka above.

Raye is stacking her plate high right now. Today (September 19), she released the single “Where Is My Husband!” and announced a big run of 2026 tour dates. There’s also a new album on the way, although it hasn’t been officially announced yet.

In a new British Vogue profile, Raye discussed her second album. She said, “My first album was very devastating in parts. In the second album, I feel this need for hope for myself and wanting that to translate to others.” Of the new song, Raye also said, “I’ve been single for so long. My last devastating break-up was four, five years ago. I was like, ‘I’m gonna marry him.’ We was together for two years and it ended up not working out. I have never experienced a more crippling emotion. It took me three, four years to get over him. Like, I can’t allow myself to fall in love again until it’s safe.”

As for the tour, the run is called This Tour May Contain New Music. Fans can sign up for pre-sale access ahead of the pre-sale’s start on September 23 at 10 a.m. local time. The general on-sale begins on September 25 at 10 a.m. local time. More information can be found here.

Watch the “Where Is My Husband!” video above and find Raye’s upcoming tour dates below.

Raye’s 2026 Tour Dates: This Tour May Contain New Music

01/22/2026 — Lodz, Poland @ Atlas Arena
01/24/2026 — Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena (FKA Mercedes Benz Arena)
01/25/2026 — Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
01/27/2026 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
01/30/2026 — Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena
02/01/2026 — Antwerp, Belgium @ AFAS Dome
02/03/2026 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
02/05/2026 — Oslo, Norway @ Unity Arena
02/07/2026 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
02/10/2026 — Cologne, Germany @ Lanxess Arena
02/11/2026 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
02/13/2026 — Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Saint Jordi
02/15/2026 — Paris, France @ Accor Arena
02/17/2026 — Manchester, UK @ Co-Op Live
02/20/2026 — Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
02/23/2026 — Birmingham, UK @ bp pulse LIVE
02/26/2026 — London, UK @ The O2
02/27/2026 — London, UK @ The O2
03/04/2026 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
03/31/2026 — Sacramento, CA @ Channel 24
04/02/2026 — Vancouver, BC, CAN @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Center
04/03/2026 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater @ Lumen Field
04/06/2026 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
04/08/2026 — Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre
04/10/2026 — Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
04/12/2026 — Montreal, QC, CAN @ Place Bell
04/13/2026 — Toronto, ON, CAN @ Coca Cola Coliseum
04/15/2026 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
04/19/2026 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Presented by Highmark
04/20/2026 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
04/26/2026 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
04/28/2026 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca Cola Roxy
04/29/2026 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
05/01/2026 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
05/03/2026 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
05/04/2026 — Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
05/07/2026 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
05/08/2026 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
05/10/2026 — San Francisco, CA @ The Theater At Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
05/12/2026 — Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre

A crumbling relationship meets a tragic end in the video for Cardi B’s new single, “Safe” featuring Kehlani.

Although the song itself is an ode to a man who makes Cardi feel safe, the narrative of the video sees her paired up with one who is anything but. Don Benjamin plays the lead, who starts out as a seemingly doting beau, but his secret activities strain their bond, and over the course of a pregnancy (message!), Cardi begins to feel increasingly isolated. After a climactic argument, Benjamin hits the streets, but by the time he returns, the consequences of his actions have already caught up with them both. No spoilers, but ladies: Leave that thuggin’ love ALONE.

“Safe” is the latest single from Cardi’s long-awaited sophomore album, Am I The Drama?, which also includes “Outside” and “Imaginary Playerz.” In addition to Kehlani, the album features guest appearances from Janet Jackson, Selena Gomez, Summer Walker, Tyla, and more. The album dropped today after multiple delays and false starts spanning over five years as Cardi’s perfectionist tendencies kept her tweaking the tracklist until earlier this year. With the album finally out, Cardi has designs on her first-ever tour, and her fourth baby is on the way with her new man, NFL star Stefon Diggs, who might just be the inspiration for “Safe.”

You can watch Cardi B’s “Safe” video featuring Kehlani above.

Am I The Drama? is out now via Atlantic Records. You can find more info here.

Ashnikko has a lot going on in the coming months. She announced a huge tour slated to start in 2026, but before that, she’s dropping Smoochies, a new album, next month.

The latest taste of the project, “Smoochie Girl,” was shared today. In a statement, Ashnikko says of the catchy pop number:

“i wrap myself up in steel plated bravado sometimes. i wanted to break from that and celebrate the fact that i am a sensitive lover girl. i’m like an open wound. it can be grotesque and painful but i ultimately love that about myself.”

Listen to “Smoochie Girl” above. Find the Smoochies cover art and tracklist below, along with Ashnikko’s upcoming tour dates.

Ashnikko’s Smoochies Album Cover Artwork

Ashnikko’s Smoochies Tracklist

1. “Smoochie Girl”
2. “Liquid”
3. “Trinkets”
4. “Chichinya”
5. “Skin Cleared”
6. “Microplastics”
7. “Full Frontal”
8. “She’s So Pretty”
9. “Wet Like” Feat. Cobrah
10. “I Want My Boyfriends To Kiss”
11. “Sticky Fingers”
12. “Lip Smacker”
13. “Itty Bitty”
14. “Baby Teeth”
15. “It Girl”

Ashnikko’s 2026 Tour Dates: Smoochies Tour

01/26/2026 — Warsaw, Poland @ Stodola
01/27/2026 — Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle
01/29/2026 — Hamburg, Germany @ Inselpark Arena
01/30/2026 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Poolen
01/31/2026 — Tilburg, Netherlands @ 013
02/03/2026 — Cologne, Germany @ Palladium
02/04/2026 — Paris, France @ Olympia
02/06/2026 — Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof
02/07/2026 — Brussels, Belgium @ La Madeleine
02/11/2026 — Glasgow, United Kingdom @ O2 Academy
02/14/2026 — Manchester, United Kingdom @ Manchester Academy
02/17/2026 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia
02/20/2026 — London, United Kingdom @ O2 Academy Brixton
03/18/2026 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
03/20/2026 — Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Exposition Hall
03/21/2026 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
03/23/2026 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
03/24/2026 — Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum
03/26/2026 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center
03/28/2026 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
03/30/2026 — Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
03/31/2026 — Saint Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
04/02/2026 — St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
04/03/2026 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
04/04/2026 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
04/28/2026 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
04/29/2026 — Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
05/01/2026 — Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
05/02/2026 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
05/05/2026 — Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
05/06/2026 — Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore
05/08/2026 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
05/09/2026 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
05/12/2026 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
05/13/2026 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
05/15/2026 — New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
05/16/2026 — Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
05/18/2026 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
05/19/2026 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
09/16/2026 — Auckland, New Zealand @ Town Hall
09/19/2026 — Sydney, Australia @ Enmore Theatre
09/23/2026 — Melbourne, Australia @ Forum
09/25/2026 — Brisbane, Australia @ Fortitude Music Hall
09/27/2026 — Adelaide, Australia @ Hindley Street Music Hall
09/29/2026 — Perth, Australia @ Metro City

Smoochies is out 10/17 via Warner Records. Find more information here.

We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of Halsey’s latest album, The Great Impersonator. The project was Halsey’s first full-length release with Columbia Records, but she appears to be frustrated with the label.

In a new interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Lowe called Halsey a “career artist” and she responded, “I hope I get to be.” Lowe then wondered who’s stopping her from doing that and after a shrug, she replied, “I can’t make an album right now. I can’t make an album right now. I’m not allowed to. I can’t make an album right now.”

Lowe said he didn’t “like the sound of that” and Halsey continued:

“Yeah, well it’s the reality. Because The Great Impersonator didn’t perform the way they thought it was going to. And if I’m being honest with you, the album sold 100,000 f*ckin’ copies first week. That’s a pretty big first week, especially for an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time. The tour is the highest-selling tour of my entire career. But, they want Manic numbers from me. Everyone wants Manic numbers from me. I can’t do that every single time. It should be good enough I do it once in a while. But it’s not, it’s not.

And what would be considered a success for most artists, a success story… 100,000 albums first week, in an era where we don’t sell physical music, OK? With no radio hit, nothing. But it’s a failure in the eyes of, you know… in the context of the kind of success that I’ve had previously. And that’s the hardest part, I think, of having been a pop star once, is because I’m not one anymore, but I’m being compared to numbers and to other people that I don’t consider lateral to me.”

Halsey’s 2020 album Manic is the one that produced the No. 1 single “Without Me.” The biggest chart success from The Great Impersonator, meanwhile, was “Lucky,” which peaked at No. 88 on the Hot 100. Both Manic and The Great Impersonator peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the full interview above.

Sigur Rós are a millennial band in the truest sense — not because they are inordinately popular with millennials compared to other demographics, though that might be somewhat true. Rather, Ágætis byrjun literally bridged the millennium. You might have seen Sigur Rós’ international breakthrough topping both “Best Of The 90s” and “Best Of The 00s” lists and justifiably so. The Iceland quintet’s sophomore album was released domestically in June 1999, followed by the UK a year later, no doubt sparked by the most important thing Sigur Rós had going for them at the time — Radiohead were fans. Which was more than enough to convince people like me, in addition to the fact that they were from Iceland. This being 2000, before such a thing became truly cliche, I don’t think I had a single friend who didn’t long to travel to Iceland one day.

On the strength of Thom Yorke’s word of mouth, Ágætis byrjun had landed a four-star review in Rolling Stone and finished No. 2 on Pitchfork’s Best Albums Of 2000 list (behind Kid A, of course) before it was even available in America. I was absolutely dumbfounded to learn that finally came to pass in May 2001. But the extraterrestrial beauty of Ágætis byrjun didn’t sound like the year 2001 so much as any number of the scenes that bookend 2001: A Space Odyssey. Jonsi’s ghostly falsetto and the galactic reverb conjured the dawn of mankind but also, you know, Radiohead. It was the stuff of ancient Scandinavian pagan rituals or a post-human religious ceremony.

About seven months after Ágætis byrjun was made crassly available alongside microwaves in Best Buy, “Svefn-g-Englar,” otherwise known as the “it’s youuuuuuuuu” song, made a crucial appearance in Vanilla Sky, a film whose theme — “what is reality?” — felt particularly resonant around that time. For what it’s worth, the chorus is actually “tjú” in Icelandic, a sound used to comfort babies.

In the time since, Sigur Rós existed in their own orbit, releasing music at an appropriately glacial pace that could never be confused with anyone else. And yet, taking the long view, their artistic trajectory hovers over the greater arc of the 21st century in parallel. Sigur Rós was slightly ahead of the curve when it came to post-rock becoming a preferred syncing choice for prestige TV and car commercials and when indie rock became big and brassy in the mid-2000s, they did, too. And when it started to get all day-glo and pop, there’s Jonsi’s 2009 solo album, Go. But the last two Sigur Rós albums, released in 2013 and 2023, were respectively their angriest and the one most concerned about global warming, proof that even these guys weren’t immune to global enshittification.

This past week, Sigur Rós celebrated the 20th anniversary of Takk…, the closest thing they’ve had to a Good News For People Who Love Bad News or Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, i.e., the album that came slightly after their consensus artistic peak but delivered their biggest hit, which somehow appeared in trailers for both Children Of Men and Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, they were so sure of its future prospects that Sigur Rós had a nickname for “Hoppípolla” during its writing process — “The Money Song.” So, you were today years old when you learned that Sigur Rós, creators of some of this millenia’s most spellbinding, unabashedly gorgeous and inscrutable music, also have a sense of humor about themselves.

8. Valtari (2012)

Sigur Rós went on their first “indefinite hiatus” in 2009 and it was a productive one for Jonsi — having released his kaleidoscopic, Euro-pop-inspired solo album Go, the self-titled multimedia ambient project from Riceboy Sleeps, and the We Bought A Zoo soundtrack. If Sigur Rós was to return, one might assume that it would have to accommodate Jonsi’s broadened artistic appetite. Or, with Jonsi having gotten all that out of his system, they’d do a “back to basics” album.

Most long-running bands reach this point, even if “basics” means capes, bowed guitars, and “ten-minute songs in a made-up language.” Valtari stripped away the bombastic orchestration of Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, but also the volcanic dynamics of their earlier work as well, leaving the first Sigur Rós album that validated their perception as Pure Moods. The title translates to “steamroller,” and one reviewer of Valtari pointed out “the music kind of rolls over you.” That’s actually a quote from Jonsi himself (though he added, “in a good way”).

Squint hard enough and there are interesting textures, an intriguing melodic scrap or two, and Jonsi finding new ways to blend into Sigur Rós’ music rather than dominating it. What you won’t find are memorable songs on what amounts to a pretty good ambient album from a band that wouldn’t merit a list like this if that’s all they were capable of doing.

7. Von (1997)

With Ágætis byrjun, Sigur Rós came across like they had been birthed fully-formed from an alien womb. However, this narrative is inconvenienced by their actual debut Von, which betrays their origin as a good ol’ fashioned post-rock band. And by “old fashioned,” I mean “ca. 1997.” The influences are obvious — My Bloody Valentine, of course (who invented “glide guitar” but didn’t think of using a violin bow), Smashing Pumpkins, Spacemen 3, Mogwai. The ambition is there, as it’s actually 16 seconds longer than Ágætis byrjun, but the production is raw and jagged. Jonsi had locked in on a vocal tone, but lacks command and confidence, like he’s still unsure of what to do with such a remarkable instrument. It’s literally the sound of a band learning on the job, recorded over the span of two years with Sigur Rós painting the studio as a form of payment.

A first-ballot entry into the “Album Before The Album” Hall Of Fame,” joining the likes of Broken Social Scene’s Feel Good Lost, The Hotelier’s It Never Goes Out, Deafheaven’s Roads To Judah, and Mobb Deep’s Juvenile Hell — solid debuts so obscure and timid that they end up being just as intriguing than the masterpiece sophomore albums that came two years later. Like, seriously… the same people made that?

6. Átta (2023)

“Climate change, doom-scrolling, and going to hell” — you could probably find Sigur Rós songs suitable for soundtracking these subjects. As far as Sigur Rós songs about such matters, that’s where Átta comes in. It’s the angriest Sigur Rós album and also, the first one that is unmistakably about something.

At least that’s what I gathered from the press release and the video that accompanied lead single “Blóðberg,” ten minutes of drone shots surveying a barren wasteland. The words escape me, but I’m left to assume that Jónsi sees our earth dying a slow, painful death rather than an extinction-level event more suited for the climax of “Ný batterí.” Even compared to Valtari or ( ), Átta is the most forbidding Sigur Rós album, initially delivered as a single 56-minute track before being split up for its official release. It also features the most subtle use of a 41-piece orchestra in rock history and almost no drums whatsoever. It’s an intriguing work that nonetheless feels incomplete strictly as an audio album; It’s not my favorite Sigur Rós album by any stretch, but the one that I’m most interested in seeing performed live.

5. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (2008)

“Gobbledigook” wasn’t just the first Sigur Rós song in over a decade that could be accurately compared to another band. The clap-happy lead single of Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust sounded a lot like Animal Collective. Which, by extension, made Sigur Rós sound squarely within “2008 indie rock,” an aesthetic defined by a lysergic, nature kid optimism far removed from even the sunniest parts of Takk... Sigur Rós hasn’t made a song like that since, but it did hint at a more conventional and accessible direction for the band, as that album cover is truth in advertising — in comparison to the spellbinding chill of their past work, was a ray of sunshine on your bare skin.

Over half of the songs are less than five minutes long and “All Alright” isn’t one of them; but it is the first time Sigur Rós has sung in English. They swapped out longtime producer Ken Thomas for Flood, whose recent resume included Smashing Pumpkins, U2, New Order, and The Killers. It was no longer all that far-fetched to imagine a Sigur Rós song alongside those bands on classic rock radio.

And yet, somehow this doesn’t all add up — their sunlit strolls aren’t as compelling as their plunge into the darkness, the brass orchestration occasionally tipped over into garish pomposity, and the sprawling epics could feel like a retreat into old habits rather than a consolidation of new strengths. Also, the first two songs are by far the best things here. It’s an album that still has its pleasures and it always sounds better than I remember when I actually play it, but that might be because Sigur Rós hasn’t revisited this sound at all ever since.

4. Takk… (2005)

Flash back to 2002. In so many words, I would tell you that Sigur Rós had made some of the most awe-inspiring music I’d heard in my life to that point. My actions would probably tell you something different. A statistical account of my listening habits would show that David Gray’s White Ladder or Ours’ Distorted Lullabies were getting far more run. Look, there are a lot of superlative adjectives that you can throw Sigur Rós’ way, but “versatile” wasn’t one of them. To properly engage with Ágætis byrjun or ( ), the laundry needs to be folded, the dishes need to be put away, the homework needs to be done. These aren’t albums you can gingerly spin while a football game is in the background or you’re driving back and forth to the mall.

Takk…, on the other hand, is that kind of album. “Hoppípolla” proved that Sigur Rós’ brand of orchestral movie magic could be aligned with the likes of Arcade Fire and Coldplay, “Sæglópur” and “Gong” proved that they could actually make body-moving and not just head-trip music when they give the drummer some, “Mílanó” and the elfin oom-pah brass of “Sé lest” proved that there was always as much as prog- as post- in their rock. And hey, “Með blóðnasir” just goes to show that Sigur Rós could achieve their cymbal-bashing crescendos in three minutes when you don’t have eight (the title translates to “with a nosebleed”). Again, my words will tell you that Takk… isn’t the best or most accomplished Sigur Rós album. My actions would probably tell you it’s my favorite.

3. Kveikur (2013)

Sigur Rós have always made heavy music, but never metal — which is exactly why metal bands seem to love them. Covering a Sigur Rós song is virtually impossible, though Thursday made an admirable attempt with “Ný batterí,” the closest Ágætis byrjun’s post-rock came to post-hardcore. Still, much of what defined Ágætis byrjun and ( ) are easily transferable to even the most forbidding metal genres, be it the supersized song lengths or the skyscraping reverb or the invocation of elves and orcs through Jonsi’s vocals alone.

Metal took and took and took without giving back, until the shocking turn on Kveikur, which bears almost no resemblance to any other Sigur Rós album, aside from the cover. It typically takes three or four years for a Sigur Rós LP to come to fruition; this one followed Valtari by thirteen months. It’s the first and only time they were affiliated with trendsetter imprint XL, making them temporary labelmates with Arca and King Krule. It’s the first Sigur Rós album where the low end hits you in the gut, the first where the guitars sound like they’re being bowed by a hacksaw, the only one you could classify as “gym music”; though the dizzying electro-pop of “Ísjaki” and “Rafstraumur” are more suited for a super-intense Soulcycle session than deadlifting.

Despite being the most thrilling Sigur Rós album in over a decade, Kveikur got memory-holed almost immediately and I can tell you exactly why. It was released on the same day as Deafheaven’s Sunbather, a paradigm-shifting metal album that would not exist without the influence of Sigur Rós. No good deed goes unpunished!

2. ( ) (2002)

In 2002, I had a job with odd hours and a resultant, terrible case of insomnia. I got prescribed Ambien and, to be honest, I played fast and loose with the recommendations. This was around the time that Sigur Rós released ( ), the follow-up to their international breakthrough — another album that paired well with certain controlled substances or something I’d put on at 2 a.m. hoping to quell my restlessness. But not both at the same time. And so what I’d notice with ( ) is that, by the end of “Untitled 3,” my mind was playing tricks on me. The best way I could describe it was that the music was in 4D for about two minutes before I’d nod off. And so that was how ( ) existed in my life up to that point, an incredible auditory experience that I couldn’t last past 15 or so minutes.

Fast forward 20 years or so and if ( ) hasn’t exceeded its insurmountable predecessor, it provides a compelling, even necessary, mirror image that complicated Sigur Rós’ reputation as friendly ghosts. The crescendos are some of the most concussive in the entire catalog, but the quiet parts (of which there are many) are far more unnerving. Few albums sound more legitimately haunted or haunting, like Sigur Rós laid these songs to tape and then discovered a way to completely erase themselves by removing all attack on these traditional rock instruments, leaving nothing but sustain, decay and release. I’ve had a lot of visions while listening to ( ) and not once have the actual members of Sigur Rós made it into them.

1. Ágætis byrjun (1999)

Magic is a collaborative effort — even the most skilled performer requires a suspension of disbelief from the audience, enough awareness to register what’s happening but not enough knowledge to pick it apart. As I grow older, I long to be in that same cloud of unknowing even when I encounter the most obvious masterpieces of the current day. Would I have been antisocially obsessed with Kid A had I absorbed an entire decade of Aphex Twin and Squarepusher and Autechre? Would I consider Bleed American a masterpiece if I was as astute of an emo historian as I am now? Does Moon Safari sound as otherworldly if I knew who Serge Gainsbourg was? Is it any wonder all of these dropped while I was in college, a time that provides an unlimited amount of emotional and social stimuli upon which to map these irreplaceable musical experiences?

Within this era, I first encountered Ágætis byrjun, an album that felt like an extraterrestrial being crash landing into my life out of nowhere despite emerging on a comet trail of hype that lasted at least a year before it landed on our radar. Until that point, I experienced Ágætis byrjun like many others did in those days — on a burned CD cobbled together from excruciatingly long Napster downloads. I shudder thinking about how Jonsi would feel knowing “Svefn-g-englar” and “Starálfur” were being consumed on 128 kpbs rips. Maybe it’s the greatest testament to Ágætis byrjun saying that it blew my mind anyways. What did it for you? Was it the part of “Starálfur” where everything drops out but the strings? The crash on a bent cymbal they found on a Reykjavík street during “Ný batterí”? I could name a dozen parts of “Svefn-g-englar” alone but talking about Ágætis byrjun in such granular ways cheapens it. This album doesn’t grow on you: it asks for complete submission.

And frankly, who’s got the time for that sort of thing now? Besides that, “it’s breathtakingly gorgeous” is one of the hardest things to take at face value since it’s all superficial; It doesn’t quite have the same impact as sonic innovation or political valence. Sigur Rós sang in an invented language, they played their guitars with bows, all things that a more educated or cynical listener could have heard as gimmicks. At least within my milieu, Ágætis byrjun was unequivocally understood as a generational masterpiece. As my understanding of musical discourse expanded over the next few years, I was able to see the haters who felt more emboldened to speak up.

Over 25 years later, there’s still literally nothing quite like Ágætis byrjun, except for other Sigur Rós albums. It cannot be described with influence, just with the most grand emotion — every instrument weeps, beams, explodes, anything that goes into it will come out feeling exponentially more profound. I do not apologize for how many times I insisted on playing this for my friends when we got high in our college apartment. I figured this would be the music I’d want to listen to when I had my first kid. There is absolutely no way an album could penetrate my defenses like that in 2025. I don’t get high anymore and I don’t have kids, but Ágætis byrjun remains a time machine, transporting me and anyone else back to the first time they heard it.