GoneTrending

In April, The National released First Two Pages Of Frankenstein. Next month, they’re hosting their Homecoming Festival after a five-year break, with artists like Patti Smith And Her Band, Pavement, The Walkmen, Weyes Blood, and more in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Now they’ve shared two new songs, “Space Invader” and “Alphabet City,” their first new material since the record. Both move gently with their slow-burning, intimate brand of indie rock. It also has their remarkably visceral lyrics sung in a hushed lull. “I’ll still be here when you come back from space / I will listen for you at the door,” Matt Berninger sings. “Take forever off anytime you want / I’ll save your place.”

Aside from their own music, The National is known for collaborating with Taylor Swift on Folklore and Evermore. Aaron Dessner also worked with Ed Sheeran for the pop star’s latest album – (Subtract). “I couldn’t be more proud of this record and the vulnerability and honesty Ed showed in making these songs with me,” Dessner wrote in a statement. “There’s something deeply vulnerable and ultimately cathartic and therapeutic about shifting sadness and pain and anxiety into music, transforming darkness into light in this way and sharing these sentiments with others.”

Listen to “Space Invader” and “Alphabet City” above.

Back in 2013, Sky Ferreira released her debut album, Night Time, My Time. Since then, fans have been waiting for a follow-up, but the project has been plagued by delays. Now, she has publicly agreed with a post that claims she’s being “held hostage” by Capitol Records, her label.

An Instagram post from Fader shows off a “Free Sky Ferreira” billboard that popped up in New York City’s Times Square on August 14. A text overlay on the video explains, “Sky Ferreira fans buy Times Square billboard, say she’s being ‘held hostage’ by Capitol Records.” Ferreirashared the video on her Instagram Story and wrote simply, “It’s true.”

The billboard appears to have been purchased by the @free.skyferreira Instagram account, or it’s at least endorsed by them.

Earlier this year, Ferreira shared frustrations with the current status of her career, writing, “Being ‘difficult’ or ‘high strung’ doesn’t give people the right to damage & stall my career. I am in a DIFFICULT situation & I have to be ‘difficult’ to get through it. I have to protect my work & myself somehow? A lot of it is not being allowed to say or do anything I want/need without being it being dismissed. the thing I actively tried to avoid happens & it somehow gets reversed. I can’t think of a time in the last 7 years where I’ve been able to just focus on what I’m supposed to do & my work being presented the way I want it to or my shows being the way one needs it to be to perform & play well.”

Ed Sheeran has some of the biggest pop hits of the past decade, but don’t expect to see him on music’s biggest stage: In a recent interview with Andy Cohen, Sheeran said he doesn’t think he’s the best candidate to headline his own Super Bowl Halftime Show.

He said:

“There was a conversation a while ago, I think it was when Coldplay did it, of me going on to play ‘Thinking Out Loud,’ and I think that would be the only way I would do it, is if I were joining someone else. I think it’s an American thing. I think…I don’t have pizazz. You watch Prince, you watch Michael Jackson, you watch Katy Perry, you watch Lady Gaga, you watch Rihanna, you watch Beyoncé, all these amazing performers: I’m just not that. I’m not gonna have dancers on stage, I’m not gonna have fireworks and… The Weeknd’s one was all of that. I just can’t… that’s not me. I don’t think that anyone wants to see me do the Super Bowl, either. […] I would do it as a guest, and then I could say I did the Super Bowl with.”

Sheeran also told Cohen about the status of his and Taylor Swift’s rerecording of “End Game” for Reputation (Taylor’s Version).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Elyse Lyons, a 28-year-old from Nebraska, is a money blogger and budgeting whiz who conquered a whopping $34,000 in debt over two years by having “no-spend months.” During no-spend months, the goal is to spend as little money as possible each day.

“When I was 22, I was in $34,000 worth of debt because I had student loans, car payments, and some credit cards,” she told Good Morning America. “And I knew that if I wanted to enjoy my life a little bit more, I had to pay it off.”

That’s when she devised her no-spend month strategy.

See on Instagram

If you’re looking to save money like Lyons, she recommends buying a calendar and jotting down the few days you might need to part with some cash, such as buying gas for your car or going food shopping. The calendar is also a way to track and celebrate your money-saving wins. It’s a fun, visual reminder of your journey to financial freedom.

She also recommends making a list of things you didn’t buy, and if you keep returning to that item, find a way to put it in the next month’s budget. The entire process is all about being intentional and conscious about your spending habits.

“The goal is not to create shame around spending. It’s to see who you are at your core and what your actual spending habits are about,” Lyons said. She also said the goal shouldn’t be to restrict yourself to spending $0 daily.

“Extreme deprivation is not going to work for your budget for long,” she added.

Being transgender in America isn’t easy, especially given the current political climate around trans rights. But it seems that people forget it’s not just policies that make it difficult to be trans, as the cost of transitioning can be astronomically out of reach for some individuals.

No matter how badly a person wants to do more than socially transition, medical transitions are not typically covered by insurance. So any medical procedures someone has to affirm their gender can cost thousands and thousands of dollars out of pocket. Even socially transitioning can come with a hefty price tag.

One trans woman, Jory, who goes by Alluring Skull on TikTok, is setting the record straight on the cost for trans people to “pass” in society. Jory recently saved enough money to get facial feminization surgery, which can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000. This surgery helps to soften the facial features of trans women who went through testosterone-driven puberty.

Jory explains in her video that before she had the facial surgery and extensions, people were chastising her for not trying harder to pass. The criticisms even came from fellow members of the trans community. But she found that after the surgery, people continued to criticize her.

“From the second day of coming out, I was told by other trans women that I don’t try enough to pass. Six months later, I would receive my facial feminization surgery, to receive hundreds of comments telling me that I looked disgusting and I messed up my face,” Jory says.

She goes on to say that she has been open about her transition online to show how difficult it is to be trans before listing some of the things she has to pay a lot of money for. These expenses include hundreds of dollars on her makeup, extensions and an entirely new wardrobe. This doesn’t include the cost of hormones or surgeries.

Being able to afford to pass as a trans person is a privilege that not every trans person has, so they make do with what’s available.

“I want people to know that being trans is extremely difficult. It’s not as simple as just waking up one day and deciding you’re going to pass, or you’re going to be seen as the gender you are inside,” Jory explains. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of money that most of us don’t have access to. The median income for trans people in America is $10,000. Most of us will never be able to present in a way that aligns with who we are.”

She ends the video by calling for people to be kinder to trans people by not leaving hateful comments on their videos. You can watch her heartfelt video below.

@alluringskull

#stitch with @Alluringskull #trans

Michaël Brun hit the collaboration jackpot last month when J Balvin added “a surprise verse” to “Jessica,” Brun’s standout track from his newly released FAMI Summer EP. He just hit the jackpot again. On Wednesday, August 16, Brun released his “Coming Your Way” single with Becky G and Anne-Marie. The FOMO-inducing video is set to premiere here on Thursday, August 17.

“I wanted to cap the summer off with one of my favorite songs I’ve ever produced,” Brun said in a statement. “‘Coming Your Way’ is a mix of so many genres that have influenced me across the years, from electronic music to Caribbean and Latin sounds. It’s also an honor to have global superstars Anne-Marie and Becky G present on this one. It feels like a global anthem.”

Brun also discussed the track on BBC Radio 1, which can be seen below:

Like Brun, Becky G is semi-fresh off a smash collaboration. She released “La Nena” with Mexican singer-songwriter Gabito Ballesteros on June 28. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie released her Unhealthy album on July 28 and even more recently announced tour dates.

Listen to “Coming Your Way” and check out Brun’s upcoming tour dates below.

10/19 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
10/20 — Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
10/21 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
10/28 — Miami, FL @ Little Haiti Cultural Center
11/04 — Paris, FRA @ La Boule Noire
11/07 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
11/09 — London, UK @ Corsica Studios

Anne-Marie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Michaël Brun hit the collaboration jackpot last month when J Balvin added “a surprise verse” to “Jessica,” Brun’s standout track from his newly released FAMI Summer EP. He just hit the jackpot again. On Wednesday, August 16, Brun released his “Coming Your Way” single with Becky G and Anne-Marie. The FOMO-inducing video is set to premiere here on Thursday, August 17.

“I wanted to cap the summer off with one of my favorite songs I’ve ever produced,” Brun said in a statement. “‘Coming Your Way’ is a mix of so many genres that have influenced me across the years, from electronic music to Caribbean and Latin sounds. It’s also an honor to have global superstars Anne-Marie and Becky G present on this one. It feels like a global anthem.”

Brun also discussed the track on BBC Radio 1, which can be seen below:

Like Brun, Becky G is semi-fresh off a smash collaboration. She released “La Nena” with Mexican singer-songwriter Gabito Ballesteros on June 28. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie released her Unhealthy album on July 28 and even more recently announced tour dates.

Listen to “Coming Your Way” and check out Brun’s upcoming tour dates below.

10/19 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
10/20 — Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
10/21 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
10/28 — Miami, FL @ Little Haiti Cultural Center
11/04 — Paris, FRA @ La Boule Noire
11/07 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
11/09 — London, UK @ Corsica Studios

Anne-Marie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On Wednesday, August 16, TMZ broke the news that Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, her husband since last June, were headed toward divorce.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … about a week ago, Sam confronted Britney over rumors she stepped out on him. We do not know if the rumor has any basis in fact, but we’re told Sam believed it and the two had a huge fight,” TMZ reported. “Our sources say Sam has moved out of their house and is now living in a place of his own. As one source put it, ‘It’s only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce.’”

Hours later, TMZ shared photos of Spears driving her Mercedes, her wedding ring noticeably absent from her hand. To be fair, TMZ noted, “It’s not the first time we’ve seen her without a ring on, but this time is obviously more significant.”

Later Wednesday night, Entertainment Tonight, People, and TMZ reported that Asghari has filed for divorce. Per TMZ, Asghari cited “irreconcilable differences.”

TMZ also noted, “He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees … but on the issue of finances, there’s something way more interesting. Sam’s lawyer, Neal Hersh, is making rumblings that Sam will contest the prenup.”

Meanwhile, Spears posted to her Instagram without acknowledging any of this is happening. The post features a photo showing her riding a horse on the beach, with a caption that reads, “Buying a horse soon [horse emoji] !!! So many options it’s kinda hard !!! A horse called Sophie and another called Roar [horse emoji] ??? I can’t make up my mind [see-no-evil monkey emoji] !!! Should I join the camaraderie and put a pink cowboy hat on [tongue-out emoji] ??? Either way I think I found my sweet spot with Roar [kissy face emoji] !!!”

However, her Instagram activity is not an accurate representation of how this is impacting Spears.

“She has been denying any cheating allegations and going through a lot of emotions,” an unnamed source told Entertainment Tonight. “She is hurt because the situation brings up old feelings for her. This is the last thing she needed, especially after her boys moved to Hawaii, being worried about the fires there, and so on. She has been trying to get back on her feet and be healthy emotionally, physically, and mentally. Britney has people by her side and her immediate circle is there for her. They are rallying around her.”

Variety reported that Spears “has retained top divorce lawyers to the stars, Laura Wasser, and will continue to work with her powerhouse attorney, Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor who famously got her out of her conservatorship and out of the hands of her father’s control.”

Asghari proposed to Spears in September 2021, and her controversial 13-year conservatorship was finally terminated by Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny on November 12, 2021.

On Wednesday, August 16, TMZ broke the news that Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, her husband since last June, were headed toward divorce.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … about a week ago, Sam confronted Britney over rumors she stepped out on him. We do not know if the rumor has any basis in fact, but we’re told Sam believed it and the two had a huge fight,” TMZ reported. “Our sources say Sam has moved out of their house and is now living in a place of his own. As one source put it, ‘It’s only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce.’”

Hours later, TMZ shared photos of Spears driving her Mercedes, her wedding ring noticeably absent from her hand. To be fair, TMZ noted, “It’s not the first time we’ve seen her without a ring on, but this time is obviously more significant.”

Later Wednesday night, Entertainment Tonight, People, and TMZ reported that Asghari has filed for divorce. Per TMZ, Asghari cited “irreconcilable differences.”

TMZ also noted, “He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees … but on the issue of finances, there’s something way more interesting. Sam’s lawyer, Neal Hersh, is making rumblings that Sam will contest the prenup.”

Meanwhile, Spears posted to her Instagram without acknowledging any of this is happening. The post features a photo showing her riding a horse on the beach, with a caption that reads, “Buying a horse soon [horse emoji] !!! So many options it’s kinda hard !!! A horse called Sophie and another called Roar [horse emoji] ??? I can’t make up my mind [see-no-evil monkey emoji] !!! Should I join the camaraderie and put a pink cowboy hat on [tongue-out emoji] ??? Either way I think I found my sweet spot with Roar [kissy face emoji] !!!”

However, her Instagram activity is not an accurate representation of how this is impacting Spears.

“She has been denying any cheating allegations and going through a lot of emotions,” an unnamed source told Entertainment Tonight. “She is hurt because the situation brings up old feelings for her. This is the last thing she needed, especially after her boys moved to Hawaii, being worried about the fires there, and so on. She has been trying to get back on her feet and be healthy emotionally, physically, and mentally. Britney has people by her side and her immediate circle is there for her. They are rallying around her.”

Variety reported that Spears “has retained top divorce lawyers to the stars, Laura Wasser, and will continue to work with her powerhouse attorney, Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor who famously got her out of her conservatorship and out of the hands of her father’s control.”

Asghari proposed to Spears in September 2021, and her controversial 13-year conservatorship was finally terminated by Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny on November 12, 2021.

Chances are you’re probably doing better than Rudy Giuliani right now. The former “America’s Mayor” has fallen on hard, pathetic times. He’s so broke his lawyers are begging courts for leniency. He might go to the slammer, to the delight of all the mobsters he jailed (under the same laws, too). And it’s all because he came out of what could have been a happy retirement to help Donald Trump. Is the former president at least grateful enough to help the poor guy out of a sticky situation? Sort of, not really.

As per CNN, back in late April, a desperate Giuliani flew with his lawyer down to Mar-a-Lago to beg his pal — the same pal for whom he effectively torched his life — for money. He could use it, too: Giuliani’s bills are reportedly now in the seven figure range, and it’s not as though he can still practice law in New York City or D.C.

Alas, after two meetings and “several pitches,” Trump “didn’t seem very interested,” according to the report. He “verbally agreed” to offer some help, but “without committing to any specific amount or timeline.”

Trump reportedly did help out a little:

Another source told CNN that Trump only agreed to cover a small fee from a data vendor hosting Giuliani’s records. And months later, Trump’s Save America PAC paid $340,000 to that vendor, Trustpoint, federal campaign filings show. CNN has now confirmed the payment was intended to settle Giuliani’s outstanding bill with the company.

Trump hasn’t offered any other financial help since then. But he did offered him something else: He told him he would “stop by” not one but two Giuliani fundraisers. What a guy.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday a Giuliani lawyer team told a New York state judge that his client couldn’t pay additional costs to supply records pertaining to the hefty Smartmatic lawsuit against him.

Earlier this month it was reported that not only has Trump refused to offer Giuliani much financial assistance, but was also considering throwing him under the bus to save his hide. Giuliani, of course, has steadfastly refused to do the same to him. But one person close to the situation told CNN it’s “not a smart idea” for Trump not to help out Rudy, as Rudy could very well turn into his next Michael Cohen, only with arguably dirtier dirt on him.

(Via CNN)