Category: News

Christine And The Queens is a creative chameleon, in the best way. The French artist’s ability to evolve and express from different yet always authentic vantage points is poignant. Last November, Chris released his Redcar Les Adorables Etoiles album under the Redcar moniker.

Today, March 8, he announced its follow-up album, PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE, which was co-produced by Mike Dean. The 20-track project features Madonna (three times) and 070 Shake (twice). Its first single, “To Be Honest,” released simultaneous with the news.

Christine And The Queens directed an accompanying black-and-white “To Be Honest” video. In it, there are no distractions — just an uninhibited stream of consciousness. “And I’ve been through so much,” Chris sings. “That sometimes it feels far / It is like a movie / Played by another star / She’s a stranger / To be honest.”

In a statement, Chris delved further into what fans can expect once PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE drops this June:

“This new record is the second part of an operatic gesture that also encompassed 2022’s Redcar Les Adorables Etoiles. Taking inspiration from the glorious dramaturgy of Tony Kushner’s iconic play, Angels in America, Redcar felt colourful and absurd like Prior sent to his insane dream-space. The follow-up PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE is a key towards heart-opening transformation, a prayer towards the self — the one that breathes through all the loves it is made of. Prior’s real agony in Angels in America is a deep, painful becoming, a shedding of all waters and memories, that then allows angels to immerse deep too, and offer back profound, narrative-altering love — a rest in true love.”

PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE will arrive as Christine And The Queens curates the nine-day Meltdown Festival at Southbank Centre in London and weeks ahead of his set at Glastonbury Festival. The (semi-controversial) lineup was revealed last week. Chris is also slated to perform at Coachella 2023 in April.

Below, check out the PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE album art and tracklist, as well as Christine And The Queens’ confirmed upcoming live dates.

1. “Overture”
2. “Tears Can Be So Soft”
3. “Marvin Descending”
4. “A Day In The Water”
5. “Full Of Life”
6. “Angels Crying In My Bed” featuring Madonna
7. “Track 10”
8. “Overture” featuring Mike Dean
9. “He’s Been Shining For Ever, Your Son”
10. “Flowery Days”
11. “I Met An Angel” featuring Madonna
12. “True Love” featuring 070 Shake
13. “Let Me Touch You Once” featuring 070 Shake
14. “Aimer, Puis Vivre”
15. “Shine”
16. “We Have To Be Friends”
17. “Lick The Light Out” featuring Madonna
18. “To Be Honest”
19. “I Feel Like An Angel”
20. “Big Eye”

03/25 — Manchester, UK — 6 Music Festival, Victoria Warehouse
04/13 — San Francisco, CA — Regency Ballroom
04/16 — Indio, CA — Coachella
04/18 — San Diego, CA — Humphrey’s
04/19 — Los Angeles, CA — The Fonda Theatre
04/23 — Indio, CA — Coachella
05/19 — São Paulo, Brazil — C6 Fest, Ibirapuera Park
05/28 — Saint-Brieuc, France — Art Rock
06/02 — Barcelona, Spain — Primavera Barcelona
06/09 — Madrid, Spain — Primavera Madrid
06/11 — Hilvarenbeek, NL — Best Kept Secret Festival
06/15 — Oslo, NO — Pipfest
06/9-18 — London, UK — Meltdown Festival
06/28 — Gdynia, Poland — Open’er Festival
06/30 — Roskilde, DK — Roskilde Festival
07/02 — Werchter, BE — Rock Werchter Festival
07/06 — Luxembourg — Neumunstter Abbey
08/05 — Cornbury Park, UK — Wilderness Festival

PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE is out 06/09 via Because Music. Find more information here.

Ever wonder what an ideal date for a lemur would be? Or a lizard’s favorite Disney princess?

Thanks to one YouTube poster with a passion for animals and an endearing sense of humor, all questions shall be answered. Well, maybe not all questions. But at the very least, you’ll have eight minutes of insanely cute footage.

In a series titled “Tiny Mic Interviews,” Maya Higa approaches little beasties with a microphone so small she has to hold it with just her thumb and forefinger. And yes, 99% of the animals try to eat it.

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There’s Ginger, the pig with a lot of stored up resentment toward the big bad wolf. She ain’t afraid to talk about it, either. Or so her passionate snorts would indicate.

Then there’s Brazilian porcupine Boris (at least, I think that’s what Boris is after Googling, I’m no zoologist), who is asked to name his favorite food. For the record, it’s corn. And no, you may not touch his snoot.

Godzilla, the itsy bitsy turtle that fits into one hand, gets asked, ironically, “what’s it like being land’s fastest animal?” Though Godzilla remains stoically silent, an image of super cool speedster sunglasses gets superimposed onto his face, along with the words “I am speed.”

The best part to me is a bird, aptly named Giggles, gloriously laughing at a cheesy joke. In fact, here’s a nod to all the birds with impeccable names in this video.

Mordecai, Costello, Bartholomew (these include stars from Higa’s first interview) … I’m looking at you.

Though these critters provide some top notch entertainment, there’s plenty of valuable information being thrown into the mix as well.

All the exotic “interviewees” are part of Zoo To You Conservation Ambassadors, a permitted facility in California, Higa informs her viewers. Rescued or surrendered from the illegal pet trade, or permanently injured, these animals receive permanent care and become a part of Zoo To You’s education program. Pretty sweet gig, right?

Higa herself is a wildlife rehabilitator, falconer and streamer who focuses a lot of her content on conservation. Though her online persona veers toward the upbeat and positive, she isn’t afraid to shed light on some darker facts around certain threats many species face.

“The natural world that these animals come from is being absolutely decimated,” Higa states in another video. “The UN estimates that over one million plant and animal species face extinction today. Pollution, habitat loss, climate change, the wildlife trade, exploitation, general human intervention…is causing us to lose species at rates unprecedented in human history. We’re experiencing a mass extinction.”

Wanting to be part of the solution, Higa has founded her own nonprofit organization called Alveus, which, like Zoo To You, acts as an exotic animal sanctuary and virtual education center.

If you’d like to support Higa’s sanctuary, you can do so by donating to [email protected] via PayPal.

And if you’re already jonesing for more adorable “Tiny Mic Interviews,” you’re in luck! You can find even more on Maya’s YouTube channel here.

This article originally appeared on 09.02.22

Selena Gomez has been at the center of attention lately for all of the alleged drama involving Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey. She even said she was “taking a break” from social media toward the end of February. But today, March 8, is International Women’s Day, so the actress and singer took the opportunity to share a thoughtful statement on social media.

The “Lose You To Love Me” performer posted a photo of herself as a kid on Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, “Dear younger me, please don’t be afraid to ask for help.” She continued: “Today is International Women’s Day and I want each of us to be gentler to ourselves. Write your younger self a @RareBeauty #rarereminder and stick it on your mirror to remind yourself that you deserve the world. Love you.”

One of the latest updates of the viral, inescapable gossip was Gomez asking fans to be kinder to others earlier this week.

“Thank you and love you all so much,” she wrote in the comments of a TikTok video. “I’m deeply grateful for each and every one of you humans. You make me unbelievably happy.” A few minutes later, she added in another comment, “Please, please be kinder and consider others mental health. My heart has been heavy and I only want good for everyone. All my love [folded hands emoji].”

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. What the hell happened this week? Seriously, where did all the sneaker brands go? Aside from a single release, every notable drop is coming directly from Nike. Adidas has nothing, New Balance has nothing. I even checked PUMA and Reebok and it just looks like none of the brands want to try this week.

What’s up with that?

Well, blame the Air Jordan 3 White Cement Reimagined. If I was a sneaker brand that wasn’t Nike, I too would take a vacation if I had to compete with a re-release of what just might be the greatest sneaker of all time. So… this is a great week for Nike fans and a horrible week for everyone else. Luckily, like most sneakerheads, we’re Nike fans.

Let’s dive into this week’s best drops, even though we all know what’s going to steal everyone’s attention!

Nike Air Force 1 x Tiffany & Co 1837

A luxury sneaker at its finest, this Nike and Tiffany & Co. collaboration hit the Nike SNKRS app this week and sold out nearly instantly. It may not look like it at first glance, but this sneaker is as New York as it gets, it takes a classic NYC brand, Tiffany, and combines it with a silhouette that speaks to the city, the AF-1, in one of the most classic colorways popularized by the rise of streetwear, the Triple Black, and filters it all into one design.

Rounding out the Triple Black look are bright Tiffany blue accents with sterling silver heel details and a premium leather upper. It’s a work of art and one of Nike’s best releases of the year so far.

The Nike Air Force 1 x Tiffany & Co 1837 is out now for a retail price of $400. Pick up a pair at aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Nike Air Max 97 Golden Bullet

The first color that comes to mind when thinking of the Air Max 97 for many sneakerheads is without a doubt the metallic silver rendition. It is the silhouette’s signature color. But what if it wasn’t? Nike makes the case for gold this week with the Golden Bullet 97.

Featuring a synthetic leather and mesh upper with a polished Metallic Gold colorway across the entire sneaker, the Golden Bullet sports reflective details throughout and a crimson red mini swoosh. This is a dope pair of sneakers but we’d be lying if we didn’t say that it immediately brings to mind C-3P0. Be prepared for your nerdiest friends to call you ‘3P0’ when you step out in these.

The Nike Air Max 97 Golden Bullet is out now in a full-size run for a retail price of $185. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Women’s Air Jordan 2 Gym Red and Dark Powder Blue

If you were looking for even more evidence that the Jordan 2 is back, aside from, you know, all the dope colorways that have come out in the last year, then check out this women’s exclusive low-top pair in Gym Red and Dark Powder Blue. A women’s exclusive pair means the 2s are selling, and Nike is looking for even more people to sell them to.

This low-top features a premium leather upper and a collar with extra padding for an even more comfy fit. The colorway is dominated by a white upper with small red accents and a blue heel piece.

The Nike Women’s Air Jordan 2 Gym Red and Dark Powder Blue is out now for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike SB Blazer Low x Doyenne Coconut Milk and Rattan

Nike has teamed up with the Glasgow-based skate brand Doyenne for a milky white take on the Blazer Low. Featuring a canvas upper made from pineapple waste, this durable skate shoe sports a neutral-toned coconut milk upper with brown accents along the collar and swoosh, with a blurred graphic insole and dual-branding.

The Nike SB Blazer x Doyenne Coconut Milk and Rattan is out now for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

END. X Reebok Club C 85 ‘Stout’

Reebok is saving SNX from being an all-Nike list this week, and for that, we thank them. The Club C is one of the greatest sneaker silhouettes of all time and to celebrate the design UK based streetwear brand END. Clothing is dropping a super premium rendition that serves as both a celebration of the design and St. Patrick’s Day with its Stout-inspired colorway.

Featuring a black suede upper with a Terry lining sockliner, the Reebok branding gets a slight redesign here with a four-leave clover graphic to help round out the concept. If the beer connection wasn’t obvious enough, the insoles read ‘Drink Responsibly,’ and the release drops with a co-branded beer towel.

The END. X Reebok Club C 85 Stout is set to drop on March 9th for a retail price of $105. Enter the raffle at END’s official drop page.

Nike LeBron NXXT Gen x FaZe Clan Black and University Red

LeBron has teamed up with the e-sports team FaZe Clan for a moody and sinister take on the NXXT Gen silhouette. Featuring a textile upper and a double swoosh design that brings together a cross-stitch oversized logo and a small embroidered gem-style logo, this NXXT Gen is rounded out by a black and red midsole, and dual branding at the tongue.

An e-sports sneaker doesn’t need to go this hard (hell, you can game in slippers) but we’re not complaining that LeBron put together something that looks this mean for his FaZe Clan team-up.

The Nike LeBron NXXT Gen x FaZe Clan Black and University Red is set to drop on March 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Air Jordan 3 White Cement Reimagined

Jordan fans rejoice, the Air Jordan 3 White Cement is back! This reimagined classic celebrates the sneaker’s 35 years with a slightly aged aesthetic across its original design. Vintage design details, like the eyelets, backtab, elephant print mudguard, and Nike Air branding are restored while the midsole features some light yellowing got a vintage look.

The colorway is that classic combination of white, sail, and Fire Red and it looks just as good as when it dropped in 1988. We could’ve done without the artificially aged midsole but it’s hard to be mad at it when it still looks this good.

The Nike Air Jordan 3 White Cement Reimagined is set to drop on March 11th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $210. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

As you may have heard, there was a new Chris Rock stand-up special Saturday. The comic said some shocking things. For one, he revealed that he secretly got his daughter kicked out of school (for a good reason). Oh, and he also broke his silence over the Will Smith Oscars slap. His scorched earth tirade, in which he showed he hadn’t moved on, drew a ton of gasps, even allegedly from Jada Pinkett Smith’s former sidepiece. Alas, that guy is now denying he even watched it.

Page Six had previously reported that August Alsina — the singer who was previously involved in an “entanglement” with Will Smith’s spouse — had tuned in to watch Selected Outrage, Rock’s live Netflix special. A source said Alsina, unlike Jada, enjoyed it.

“August watched the Netflix special and he laughed,” a source claimed. “He thought it was not only funny but truthful. That was the best part for him.”

Alas, it was not to be. A rep for Alsina reached out to ET, denying that he’d even watched it. “Mr. Alsina has not seen Chris Rock’s special at all, as he’s been busy on tour,” the rep said. So apparently Alsina has not taken an hour to kick back and watch an old flame — and her understandably hurt husband — get torched by one of the planet’s most famous comics.

(Via ET and Page Six)

High-level talent competition shows have been around for a long time. And from them, we’ve come to expect spectacular performances from trained artists completely dedicated to their craft. While that’s remarkable to watch, sometimes it’s just as inspiring to witness average folks doing something they love.

Take it from Sara Beth, a mother of three recently dubbed the “Accidental American Idol.”

First of all, Sara Beth is filled to the brim with quirky charm and does nothing to try to hide her nervousness. Judge Katy Perry accurately described her as a “comic strip character brought to life.” In a sea of ultra confident divas, it’s refreshing, to say the least.

Second, as a 25-year-old who married and started a family young, Sara Beth admitted that she had been focused on being there for her kids and only recently began pursuing music. Or as she called it, having “a minute for me.”

So when asked if singing was her dream, Sara Beth was hesitant.

“I’m still processing…I can’t even answer. This is so much,” she confessed.

That answer didn’t impress judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, but it certainly resonated with people—parents in particular.

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“As a mother of two young boys I can easily relate to this not being her dream yet,” one mom wrote. “She has spent years pouring into others and taking it day by day and she just recently pulled her head out of water and remembered that she is a person with talents and hobbies and interests outside of being a mom…she doesn’t even have the mental capacity for [“American Idol”] to be a dream yet but she took a huge bet on herself.”

Despite Sara Beth not fitting the usual parameters for an American Idol, there was no denying her incredible voice once she started singing.

Watch:

Sara Beth might have moved forward with only two out of three yes votes, but let’s just say her audience approval rate was pretty damn unanimous.

“Sara Beth is wonderfully herself and a breath of fresh air, judges are faced with a woman who is open with no filters of fear. I think she’s amazing.”

“I think she IS the hidden gem in this competition. She could definitely win.”

“I won’t be surprised if she wins this whole thing.”

Just take it from the “Accidental American Idol”: It’s okay to be unsure…and go for the thing anyway.

It’s been nearly six years since we last got a solo album from H. Hawkline, the moniker of UK musician Huw Evans. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy in the time since. He’s been touring with Aldous Harding, collaborating with Cate Le Bon (who produced his latest effort) and translating his quiet ruminations into song for his fifth studio album, Milk For Flowers.

Milk For Flowers, out Friday via Heavenly Recordings, stands as Hawkline’s most intimate and touching work to date. Songs like “Empty Room” touch on themes of grief and loneliness underscored a longing slide guitar, while others like the upbeat piano ballad “Milk For Flowers” and “Plastic Man” juxtapose lyrics about loss with a jaunty rhythm. “I’m not so good at showing vulnerability and I think that’s why, in the past, there’s been a tendency to obscure or make abstract any real emotion, either lyrically or musically,” Evans said in a statement. “It was impossible to do any of those things with this album: I had to sing.”

Ahead of his album Milk For Flowers, H. Hawkline talks friendly strangers, Jockstrap (the band), and making the most of life in our latest Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Square peg, round hole.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

Like a useful man.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

I played in Caracas recently in Devendra Banhart’s band, it was pretty special and I doubt I’ll ever get to play there again. There and Newcastle.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

Newcastle Travel Lodge, UK.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

It’s all the people all the time, there was an old lady on the bus once who told me her entire life story whilst slowly stealing my coffee. People like that.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Marcello’s in Cardiff, a molten hot pasta bake called a ‘James Bowman’ (all the dishes were named after classical composers and singers), garlic bread and a can of coke.

What album do you know every word to?

Abbey Road.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci in Venue Cymru in Llandudno when I was 16.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

A silk dressing gown, it’s comfortable, chic, has a good silhouette and is easy to put on.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Mestre Ensinador on Instagram, I think he’s Brazilian, he has a puppet, it dances, he ticks all my boxes. I also like the usual stuff, cats knocking things over, children getting hurt, any kind of video that involves the restoration of something that looks beyond repair, all the mindless junk that rots your brain. Twitter is just pure hell, I don’t know why I do it to myself.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

It changes every tour. I remember once a friend in Glasgow made us a compilation for the van and the first song on it was “You Got It’ by Roy Orbison and we listened to it about 15 times, the CD had to be taken away from me in the end, I lost it.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“10x10cm cream tiles.”

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

At the minute, Jockstrap. I was also listening to the radio in the bath earlier tonight and Jessica Pratt came on and it was a nice moment.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Give birth to me and then love me every day, I was lucky.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Make the most of it, kiddo.

What’s the last show you went to?

Tim Presley singing karaoke at Giant Rock in Landers, he sang “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins, at one point I looked out the window and saw a coyote with a tear in his eye.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Alien, if it’s on, it stays on. I watch it every Christmas. I think I watched it for the first time when I was 9, it was the Christmas holidays, I was allowed to stay up late, maybe my parents had friends over, I can remember switching through all 4 channels, I got to channel 4 and the announcer said “Next on Channel 4, Ridley Scot’s 1979 sci fi classic, Alien.” And I thought “Hmmmm, that sounds cool.” I knew by the end of the titles that it was going to be terrifying but I watched it anyway. The first half hour is so calm and cosy and then… chestbuster. For the rest of the film I would switch channels every time it got too scary. My dream house would look like the kitchen on the Nostromo.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

I’m not a terrible hairdresser.

Milk For Flowers is out 3/10 via Heavenly. Find more information here.

Ja Morant has been away from the Grizzlies since Saturday when he went on Instagram Live in the early hours of the morning from a nightclub in Colorado and flashed a gun to the camera.

That led to investigations into the incident from the NBA (which is still ongoing) and Colorado police, who found no criminal wrongdoing and announced Morant would not face any charges on Wednesday. However, while the league continues to look into the matter to determine if the pistol was Morant’s and whether he had it on the team plane or at an NBA venue, which could lead to a longer suspension, the Grizzlies announced Morant will not remain away from the team for at least four more games.

After dropping both games in L.A. without Morant, Memphis will now face Golden State, Dallas, Dallas (again), and Miami without their star guard, making the task of holding onto the 3-seed in the West over the red-hot Phoenix Suns all the more difficult. While that is the short-term hurdle for the Grizzlies, they are much more concerned long-term with ensuring the face of the franchise is in a good place on and off the floor to be able to lead them. For now, Morant is seeking help and trying to get on the right path off the floor so he can keep himself and the young Grizzlies on an upward trajectory.

You may have heard that Netflix recently livestreamed Chris Rock’s new special, Selective Outrage. You may also be aware that the standup comic used the latter third of the special to absolutely ream Will and Jada Pinkett Smith over the slapping incident at last year’s Academy Awards. During that extended bit, Rock — who loves to name-check rappers in his act — cited the controversial hip-hop podcast Drink Champs as one of the reasons Smith was so angry at him that he resorted to violence over Rock’s jokes about Jada.

“Everybody called him a bitch and who did he hit? Me!” Rock complained, apparently including Drink Champs, which did discuss rumors that Jada had an extended “entanglement” with singer August Alsina (she even coined that phrase on an episode of her own podcast, Red Table Talk). However, the hosts want it made clear that they never called Will anything of the sort. In their latest episode preview on Instagram, NORE, DJ EFN, and guest Joe Budden discussed Selective Outrage and the shout-out their show got.

In the clip, NORE asks EFN, “You called Will Smith a bitch?” to which his co-host emphatically replies, “No, man! That was you! Nah, nah. Nobody here called him a bitch.” After playing the Rock joke, Budden offered his view, “I don’t agree with anything he did, but I’m not calling another man a bitch. I’m not going to do that, but Chris Rock said y’all did that, Drink Champs.” For what it’s worth, he has a point there; he just makes “careless” jokes about Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting, asks inane questions about Isaiah Rashad’s sexuality, and hashes out accusations of abuse and sexual harassment. But he doesn’t call men “bitches.” Round of applause for Joe.

The Drink Champs hosts seemed enthused about the reference, though. “I love the way he named us, because he put us in the rapper category,” said NORE, giving his signature catchphrase: “Let’s make some noise for Chris Rock, God damn it!”

You can stream Selective Outrage now on Netflix and watch the Drink Champs preview clip above.

Jenna Ortega has a lot going on these days: a new Scream sequel, a new Hot Ones episode, a new BFF in Aubrey Plaza. But people still want to talk about Wednesday. The Addams Family spinoff is still all the rage, despite what a bear it was to make it. Indeed, that dance she made up while beyond frazzled is still all the rage. So it was inevitable that in the promo for Ortega’s upcoming SNL episode, they’d address that particular dancing elephant.

The ad finds her reluctant to do the dance yet again, arguing that “we’ve seen so much of it already and I think it’s time to do something new.” Alas, Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy — aka Please Don’t Destroy, who’ve been doing pre-recorded digital segments for the show since 2021 — have other plans. That is, all three are dressed like Wednesday Addams in the instantly iconic dance scene. They feign ignorance, saying they just happen to all be decked out in black dresses and claiming their knowledge of the show and its long-running character is scant at best.

Some reverse psychology later and sure enough Ortega is strutting beside them, doing the Wednesday dance one last final time, or at least until the next time someone goads her to bust those specific moves.

Ortega’s SNL will air, as it always does, this Saturday at 11:30pm on NBC. The musical guest is The 1975. You can watch the promo in the video above.