Grateful Dead fans are in deep mourning. Yesterday (October 25), a representative for the band took to their official Instagram page to announce that founding bassist Phil Lesh had died at the age of 84.

As tribute poured out from users online, Lesh’s surviving bandmates Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and even the family of late member Jerry Garcia penned heartfelt messages.

“[Lesh] introduced me (and us) to the wonders of modern classical music, with its textures and developments, which we soon tried our hands at incorporating into what we had to offer,” wrote Bob Weir.

Mickey Hart spoke to their sibling-like relationship, writing: “[Lesh was] bigger than life, at the very center of the band and my ears, filling my brain with waves of bass.”

Bill Kreutzmann echoed Hart’s family sentiments, penning: “[Lesh] wasn’t just like a brother to me — he was like an older brother. A roommate. A bandmate. A mentor.”

The family of Jerry Garcia shared their condolences, writing: “[We] will miss his sharply dry humor, wry smiles and brilliant insights.”

In an initial joint statement, Mickey, Billy and Bobby mustered up the words to break the gutting news to the world, writing: “Today we lost a brother. Our hearts and love go out to Jill Lesh, Brian and Grahame. Phil Lesh was irreplaceable. In one note from the Phil Zone, you could hear and feel the world being born. His bass flowed like a river would flow. It went where the muse took it. He was an explorer of inner and outer space who just happened to play bass. He was a circumnavigator of formerly unknown musical worlds.”

For weeks, rumors of a Beyoncé performance in connection with Vice President Kamala Harris flooded online chats. Yesterday (October 25), the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer final took to the stage of Harris’ presidential campaign rally in Houston. But instead of a hip shaking set, she released Sasha Fierce for another reason.

Beyoncé, alongside her Destiny’s Child sister in music Kelly Rowland, the entertainment powerhouses and proud Houston natives threw their support behind Kamala Harris’ stance on women’s bodily autonomy.

Rowland kick things off with a rousing speech (viewable here). “We are grabbing back the pen,” she said. “Houston, you already had a hand in creating ‘Destiny.’ So do what you do and do this thing again.”

Beyoncé followed that momentum with an equally inspirational speech (viewable here). “I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” she said. “A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided. Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations. We must vote, and we need you.”

Texas is sure to be a battleground state in this tight presidential election between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. With the 2024 election around the corner the public will learn if the sea of celebrity endorsements on each side were effective (or not).

The enduring Scream franchise’s appeal lingers to such a degree that Drew Barrymore recently mused about her character somehow surviving being the first Ghostface victim. Can you imagine Casey making a come back at this stage after those injuries? She had to be trolling, but then again, we have seen Barrymore portray a zombie, and this is the second time this week that I’ve referenced Santa Clarita Diet in passing. That must mean that it’s time to cut the chit chat and hop into what we can expect from Scream 7.

Plot

Spyglass Media Group and Paramount Pictures have kept their lips zipped on the plot front, although we can infer from the extensive shuffling of directors (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett being replaced by Kevin Williamson) and cast (detailed below) that this installment should feel decidedly different than what arrived in the past few movies.

We do know that Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is back in Final Girl form, and the Carpenter sisters are MIA. That last detail is down to Melissa Barrera being fired from Spyglass over (and this is an oversimplification of the issue) her social media postings on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Then Jenna Ortega left the project for complex reasons, possibly due to salary issues or a scheduling conflict. So, there shall be no more Sam or Tara, which is awkward considering how much this franchise favors ongoing stories.

Yet although the plot remains a mystery, other than knowing that a Ghostface (or multiple Ghostfaces) will embark upon another killing spree, a script clearly exists with Neve Campbell teasing those goods on Instagram. Likewise, Campbell revealed to Indiewire that filming will begin in December. With that, let’s move onto more specifics on the casting front.

Cast

Heck, the surviving core four might not be present at all with both Barrera and Ortega gone and both Mason Gooding (Chad) and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin) unconfirmed for Scream 7.

Who will definitely be back? Neve Campbell, obviously, following a high-profile salary dispute that left her feeling “undervalued.” Everything changed in March when Campbell announced that the only thing that could thrill her more about returning would be if Wes Craven was still alive and involved. Still, she “dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening.”

Likewise, Courteney Cox will return as Gail Weathers, and she told People that the world wants to see Deputy Dewey Riley (portrayed by David Arquette) to return, too, despite him dying in the fifth movie. “Dewey is so loved by Scream fans. They have to figure it out,” she insisted. Alright?

Additionally, Patrick Dempsey revealed (to TODAY via Entertainment Weekly) that he’s in talks to reprise his role as Sidney’s husband, Mark Kincaid, for the first time since Scream 3. He added, “I’m waiting on the script. There has been a conversation about it … so we’ll see what happens.” In other words, we’ve got more ambiguity.

Release Date

Mark your calendars for February 27, 2026.

Trailer

Since no trailer exists, and everybody remembers the most effective scenes (with Drew Barrymore and Rose McGowan) in the first film, we’re going to roll with recency bias and relive Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega’s bodega scene.

Additionally, watching the franchise nearly lose Courteney Cox’s Gail Weathers was a nail biter.

We’re getting closer to Rick and Morty, forever and forever, a hundred years.

The Adult Swim animated series was renewed through season 12, meaning it will be on until at least 2029. By then, the episode count will be around 120. Still a ways off from The Simpsons, South Park, and even Bob’s Burgers, but it’s not bad for a show about a drunk scientist and his nervous grandson.

Here’s everything we know about the next season of Rick and Morty, season 8, including plot details and whether there’s a premiere date.

Plot

Rick and Morty showrunner Scott Marder is aiming for season 8 to have “a cool balance of silly and one-up canonical stuff. That’s the stuff I want as a fan. And that’s the stuff that [co-creator Dan] Harmon and I work on all jammed together,” he told Variety. “I’m really proud of these last couple of seasons; they’re sort of the perfect blend of what I look for as a fan.” He also confirmed that Evil Morty will be back. “We can expect to see him in the future. We certainly have plans and grand designs with him, for sure,” Marder teased.

He had more to say in an interview with Gizmodo:

“I could have confidently told you when we were going to see it before all the strikes this year sort of pushing everything. I can tell you that we’re working on them all right now. We’ve got a plan, we’ve got a plan for some things up through season 10 already. So there are a lot of chess pieces that are moving, and I’m excited for everyone to see where they fall.”

The Rick and Morty crew — including Marder, Harmon, and stars Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden, Sarah Chalke, Spencer Grammer, and Chris Parnell — recently shared details about season 8 at New York Comic-Con. According to Comic Book, Grammer and Parnell teased “both a Summer specific and Jerry specific episode,” while everyone had nice things to say about Cardoni and Belden, who took over as the voices of Rick and Morty following Justin Roiland’s firing.

“They’re just so good, and also, I just love their story so much,” Chalke said. “They were actually fans of the show. The fact that they had done the Rick and Morty voice impressions in their college dorms… they were actually rehearsing this whole time for this moment. You couldn’t find two nicer, funnier human beings.” Parnell added, “My first thing was, ‘Are they really gonna sound like them?’ But then, when I heard them… you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Cast

All the voice cast regulars will be back, including Ian Cardoni as Rick, Harry Belden as Morty, Chris Parnell as Jerry, Sarah Chalke as Beth, and Spencer Grammer as Summer. The guest stars are currently “TBA.” Maybe we can get a Solar Opposites crossover with Dan Stevens?

Release Date

Rick and Morty season 8 won’t premiere until 2025, which is also when another very funny Adult Swim animated series is expected to return.

Trailer

Below, you can watch the first (partially animated) look at Rick and Morty season 8.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 1-0 lead in the World Series thanks to the sweet swing of Freddie Freeman. The former MVP hit an absolute tank to right field with the Yankees leading 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 10th and the bases loaded, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 win that had all of Los Angeles going crazy.

Freeman’s blast was just the third walk-off home run in World Series history for a team that was trailing, joining Joe Carter in 1993 and Kirk Gibson in 1988 (also for the Dodgers). It was a gut-wrenching way for the Yankees to lose, as Aaron Boone turned to Nestor Cortes who hadn’t pitched in a full month to get them out of a 10th inning jam, saw him pop up Shohei Ohtani on one pitch, intentionally walk Mookie Betts, and then give up a home run that is going to live in MLB lore forever.

However, the Yankees and their fans weren’t the only ones left fuming after Freeman deposited a ball into the Dodger Stadium bleachers, as those who bet the Under 8.5 in Game 1 found themselves dealing with an all-time bad beat. All they needed was an out or a hit that stayed in the yard to get home, but instead the one thing that couldn’t happen happened when Freeman hit a ball to the moon — after walking Betts to load the bases and bring the Over into play.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Megan Thee Stallion, Tyler The Creator, and Leikeli47.

What a busy week! While the year might be wrapping up soon, it looks like hip-hop is sending 2024 out with a bang.

Just days after announcing the impending release of his new album, Chromakopia, Tyler The Creator dropped off the video for “Noid,” giving fans a glimpse at his latest musical direction:

Lil Yachty dropped not one, not two, but three new music videos, including the controversial “We Ball Forever”:

Not to be outdone, Aminé released two singles of his own, including the Smino collab, “Passenger Princess”:

Saba & No ID continued to tease their upcoming collab album with “How To Impress God“:

And Leikeli47 shocked the world with a face reveal in the video for “450” from her upcoming fourth album, Lei Keli Ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending October 25, 2024.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Che Noir — The Lotus Child

Buffalo native Che Noir has long been one of the names I always look out for on New Music Friday, but this one is extra special. Not only is it her first full solo album in two years, but she also produced the entire project herself, releasing it independently through her own Poetic Movement, Inc. Like many of the releases from the region, it’s a soulful, bar-heavy affair, but it’s also personal and introspective, including collaborations from fellow rap pioneers Rapsody and Jack Davey. Don’t overlook this one.

DC The Don — Rebirth

The basketball player turned rapper tries on a new direction for his latest, combining punky alt-rock with anthemic raps (think Kanye’s “Black Skinhead”) and the result isn’t half bad. While he’s not quite as dark as Travis Scott or inspirational as Kid Cudi, there’s a likeable earnestness to his “split the difference”/Kanye-lite approach, and hey… he’s way less problematic than two-thirds of his major inspirations. That’s gotta count for something.

Hunxho — Thank God

Pain rap by way of Atlanta rapper Hunxho has always been a little more compelling than the average for some reason. Maybe it’s Hunxho’s world-weary vocals or maybe it’s his open admission that he is so over the street life his raps express, but he feels a little more … down to earth, perhaps. Where so many of his peers are willing to become cartoon caricatures of themselves, Hunxho is bluntly honest about just how un-fun this stuff can be. Also, I’m a sucker for a Big Rube interlude, and Hunxho sneakily slips one in at the end of the second track.

Megan Thee Stallion — Megan: Act II

As strong as the first half of Thee Stallion’s self-titled project was this spring, this extended reissue — which adds another 13 tracks (i.e., a whole new full-length album) — is even stronger. Opening with a stand-up Houston block beater, then goes on a rampage, throwing a few more nails at the coffins of those who threw shots at her over the past few years (for those keeping track, she’s standing tall at 3-0, sorry Drake, sorry Nicki, go to hell, Tory). “Roc Steady” is the hit here, sampling Ciara’s “Goodies” and adding a fire verse from Flo Milli. If it had hit during the summer months, you’d be sick of it by now.

Samara Cyn — The Drive Home

I’ve been keeping track of this rising star since early this year, so if you’re late to the bandwagon, blame yourself for not listening to me. Bearing a strong stylistic resemblance to another Tennessee rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Samara Cyn is a vivid songwriter with a gift for melodic raps, hypnotic chants, and emotive lyricism that draws the listener in. If you liked Doechii’s standout debut earlier this year, Samara Cyn is one of those you should be checking for, as well.

Singles/Videos

Gucci Mane — “You Don’t Love Me” Feat. Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red is officially outta here. Not that she needed it, but that Gucci Mane co-sign is a surefire sign of longevity for the St. Louis Rapper. A threatening Goldwrist beat offers a slightly different backdrop for the two rapper to spit some dismissive but mellow boasts, as opposed to the high-energy stuff Sexyy is mostly known for.

Kyle — “Good Neck”

The West Coast rapper might have a nice-guy image, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of enjoying the more carnal aspects of life — or making a startlingly lyrical, tongue-in-cheek anthem about it.

Lady London — “Brand New”

You know what’s fun? When folks get whacked on social media and actually learn a lesson. After taking his licks over his “pussy rap” comments a few years ago, Hitmaka puts his production where his Twitter fingers were, giving Lady London a murky beat to show off her intricate rhyme schemes and flex her newfound trappings of wealth.

Sa-Roc — “Amazing Grace”

Half-autobiographical, half-boastful, the Rhymesayers rapper’s latest should satisfy those fans who say they want to hear women in rap spit different subjects. And hey, even fans of party rap may find something to enjoy in Sa-Roc’s sinuous rhyme schemes and breathtaking breath control.

Veteran hip-hop DJ Clark Kent has died at age 57 after a prolonged battle with colon cancer. Born Rodolfo Franklin in Panama, Clark Kent had a long and storied career. Beginning in the late ’80s as Dana Dane’s DJ, Franklin became a well-respected rap record producer, with credits including Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s Anthem,” Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn’s Finest,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Sky’s the Limit,” and more. He was also known as a vanguard of sneaker collector culture, appearing on Uproxx’s podcast People’s Party with Talib Kweli to share his knowledge.

Clark Kent’s time as director of A&R for Atlantic resulted in record deals for the likes of acts such as Original Flavor and The Future Sound — whose manager, Damon Dash, Kent introduced to Jay-Z, leading to the formation of Roc-A-Fella Records. Kent also introduced Jay-Z to The Notorious B.I.G. at the session for their collaboration “Brooklyn’s Finest” from Jay’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. In addition to introducing Jay to longtime collaborators like Dame and B.I.G., Kent also connected him with Foxy Brown, Kent’s cousin.

Kent’s death was confirmed in a post on his official Instagram account, which read: “It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent. Clark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio. Clark quietly and valiantly fought a three year battle with Colon Cancer, while continuing to share his gifts with the world. The family is grateful for everyone’s love, support and prayers during this time and ask for privacy as they process this immense loss.”

Prior to 2024, Skylar Simone’s last project arrived in 2021 thanks to her Earth Signs. Back then, things were a bit different for the Los Angeles-bred singer. She was still an independent singer finding her way in the music world. Now, despite being just 22 years old, Simone feels much more comfortable thanks to the experience she’s gained over the years. “I feel like I’m this veteran, even though I’m only 22 years old because I’ve been out here hustling for over a decade,” Simone says in a press release.

Simone’s pursuit of a music career began at the age of nine, and her biggest moment yet came 13 years later thanks to the release of her Shiver EP. The project is a roaring epic in all the right ways. Simone is bold in her writing as she conquers heartbreak and reestablishes confidence in herself, love, music, and more. The EP’s title track is sensual and enticing, as Simone elevates the impact of a simple touch of the skin. “Permission” is light and carefree thanks to a blend of R&B, pop, and dance, thanks perfectly soundtracks an afternoon in the sun while “Shut Up” turns the lights low and begs for action and intimacy. Shiver is strong showcase thanks to Simone’s powerful voice and production from D’Mile (“Shiver” & “Shut Up”), Scribz Riley (“Permission” & “Someone Who Cares”), and Trackside (“I Wish I Lied”).

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What is your earliest memory of music?

Probably riding in the car when I was little with my mom and listening/singing along to Destiny’s Child & Mariah Carey.

Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?

Myself really. I discovered my love for music randomly (through a school talent show I signed up for last minute). I was immediately hooked & knew that was what I wanted to do with my life & career. But my family has always been so supportive and encouraged me from the beginning to pursue my goals & love of music and artistry.

Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?

I do! I play the piano & drums.

What is your most prized possession?

My parents gifted me a star necklace that my dad originally gave to her, and I wear it every day! So, I’d say that or my piano.

What is your biggest fear?

Biggest “funny” fear are spiders. The minute I see one I turn into a chicken with its head cut off [laughs].

Who is on your R&B Mt. Rushmore?

Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys.

You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!

I’d start the day with some matcha (I’m a little obsessed), turn on and listen to some of my favorite songs, and maybe spend all day in the kitchen. I love to bake and try new recipes so that would be fun to try out a few things and test my cooking skills. Then for dinner maybe try a new restaurant… I also love trying new food & restaurants. And then spend the evening writing/creating new music with my favorite collaborators and walking away with a few new pieces of work.

What are your three most used emojis?

,, and .

What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?

Bruno Mars.

If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?

I love The Boys on Prime! And I’m also obsessed with Law & Order: SVU too.

Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?

Rihanna, 100%. I love how unapologetic she is when it comes to trying new things and just being true to her identity. Her commitment to everything she does is truly inspiring.

Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.

Aliens and ghosts are real.

What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?

That’s such a hard question to answer because I don’t have just one! I might have to sit this question out because that feels impossible to answer without feeling guilty.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?

I haven’t toured outside of the US yet but will be very soon! A place I’d love to perform would be anywhere in Europe or Asia….Japan would be amazing too.

You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.

Let’s go with Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Rihanna & maybe as a wild card pick to mix in there, Future.

What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?

Call me predictable but there isn’t a second or world where I could ever think about anything other than music.

If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?

Five years into the future. I’m such a planner and curious person that I would love to see a sneak peak of all the achievements & accomplishments the future holds.

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

Always trust your gut! Listen to yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up, lead, and voice your thoughts & opinions.

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

Since I grew up listening to powerhouse divas (Whitney, Mariah, etc.) & being mesmerized by their powerful voices, it’s always been important for me to carry that tradition of striving for excellence for generations to come. So, while crafting my songs, I focus not only on being lyrically impactful, but also utilizing my full vocal range to move the listener in the same way I was/am listening to the greats.

Shiver is out now via Def Jam. Find out more information here.

It’s easy to overreact to things in the NBA these days. There’s a lot of air time that needs to be filled and a lot of traffic that needs to be generated, so there is a major incentive to give people stuff to talk about all the time. Having said that: While some overreactions end up being true, there are plenty that end up looking silly in retrospect.

With every team playing one team and some teams playing a whole two games, we wanted to go through and look at some of the natural overreactions that we’ve seen as we are either 1/82nd or 1/41st of the way through this year. Some, we think, are real, others are not, and a bunch of others exist in a gray area.

The Celtics are a juggernaut, and Jayson Tatum is the MVP favorite

Boston hitting the ground running to start the season after running it back was hardly a surprise — their opener was a chance to make a statement against a reshaped division rival, their second game was against the Wizards — but boy, they’ve looked incredible so far. Jayson Tatum, in particular, looks excellent, as his jumper looks so much quicker and more natural. He’s not going to keep up his 55 percent shooting clip from three all season in all likelihood, but if the Celtics win a ton of games (they will) and he has his best season yet, he’ll be in MVP talks. The favorite? That might be a stretch, but he’ll deserve to be high on ballots.

VERDICT: Mostly real

Denver is in serious trouble

Denver’s roster right now is their four main guys (Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon), a bunch of young dudes who need to get better, and then Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric. We saw some of the limitations of that roster construction in their loss to Oklahoma City in the opener, when they looked like the much slower team without a ton of shooting. Now, not everyone will be as good as the Thunder, Michael Malone is a good coach, and betting against Jokic is silly, so we won’t say they’re in serious trouble. But we’ll be dog-earing this one and keeping tabs on it.

VERDICT: Not real … for now

Anthony Davis has an MVP season loading

For years, the line out of L.A. has been that this is AD’s team, and that the best thing for everyone is for LeBron James to no longer be the most important player on the team. We’ve seen bits and pieces of this, but when the chips are down, LeBron frequently takes over because, well, he’s LeBron James. Davis, meanwhile, was outrageous in the team’s season-opening win over the Wolves, with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal. Betting on him to be an MVP candidate might be a bridge too far — he has to stay healthy and they have to go through him, not James, with games on the line — but our bet is that he’ll have his best season as a Laker yet.

VERDICT: Real-ish

A LaMelo Ball All-Star season is in the works

Ball has played in a total of 58 games over the last two seasons as the Hornets have seemed addicted to being irrelevant. The hope is, and has been, that a healthy Ball in the right system (and with the help of some ankle braces) will be able to get back to being an All-Star, and despite an injury to Brandon Miller, he was able to tear up the Rockets to the tun of 34 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, a steal, a block, and two turnovers in 38 minutes of work. If he stays healthy, we’re willing to bet on the ultra-talented young guard to start looking like an All-Star again.

VERDICT: Real

Cam Thomas is going to average 36 points per game

I want this to be real. However, he is not going to do that, but Brooklyn is going to be terrible and Cam Thomas WILL shoot the basketball. His bad games are going to be wretched, but his good games are going to be a blast. Also: Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and all the other high lottery picks next year should start to figure out the best way to get to the Barclays Center.

VERDICT: Not real

James Harden will put up big numbers on a team that loses a lot

The Clippers went into this season hoping that Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and a roster filled with experienced NBA players with to would be able to offset the loss of Paul George and compete for a playoff berth in the West. And then, Leonard’s injury issues flared up again, which meant this will be the Harden show until he’s back. He had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in the season opener against the Suns, but he also turned it over eight times and the Clippers lost at home in overtime. We’re not certain Harden can do it on a nightly basis again, and winning in the Western Conference is going to be really tough, but the Clippers should have a good defense and Ty Lue is a good coach.

VERDICT: More real than not

The Knicks might be in trouble

There was plenty of skepticism about the Knicks cashing in most of their trade chips for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, and that was before Bridges’ shot because A Thing. Of course, anyone going up against the Celtics is going to be in trouble, especially a team breaking in new players and figuring things out, but still, the way Boston got good look after good look from three wasn’t encouraging. Having said all of this, the Knicks have a ton of talent, Tom Thibodeau knows how to win games in the regular season, and, uh, not everyone is the Celtics. We think they’ll be ok.

VERDICT: Not real

Planning a wedding is a time-consuming commitment (there’s a reason it’s flower girl, not flower gator), so you can forgive Lana Del Rey for the delayed release of her album Lasso. But it is coming out… eventually.

“I think all the songs have been Americana and I want to wait to see what the musical atmosphere feels like,” the “A&W” singer told People at the Instyle Imagemaker Awards on Thursday. “I don’t usually feel like I need a pause in the creation process, but if there’s a literal energetic pause that almost feels like physical, then I have to wait and I don’t know why. I’ll have to see if it’s because of something someone’s done or because it’s going to take a turn.”

When asked about a specific release date for Lasso, Del Rey replied, “We’ll see. But the songs I have, I love, so I don’t want to turn it into something that’s half cooked, even if it’s super stripped back. I want it to be what it was supposed to be.”

Del Rey announced Lasso earlier this year. “If you can’t already tell by our award winners and our performers, the music business is going country. We’re going country. It’s happening,” she said. “That’s why Jack [Antonoff] has followed me to Muscle Shoals, Nashville, Mississippi, over the last four years.”