HBO’s new music industry drama The Idol has everyone talking, in more ways than one. But good or bad, the show’s co-creators Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye are sure enjoying the buzz. Tonight (June 9), The Weeknd and superproducer Mike Dean have shared the latest taste of new music from the show.
On The Idol soundtrack’s latest song, “The Lure,” The Weeknd and Mike Dean put their production skills on full display, offering a chilling, instrumental theme song that encapsulates the terrifying, ominous nature of the show.
Only one episode of The Idol has aired so far, however, The Weeknd is in good spirits having finally begun sharing it with the world. He planned to drop all of the show’s music on the soundtrack, which will arrive shortly before the season finale. However, The Weeknd took to Instagram to reveal that he will share a good amount of the show’s music on a more frequent basis.
“I wanna drop new music from the show every week with each episode,” he said. “I’m excited for you guys to hear what we’ve been cooking and all these incredible artists that are a part of this show.”
Over the past couple of years, we’ve gotten to know and love Reneé Rapp through The Sex Lives Of College Girls. She is also starring in the upcoming film adaptation of the musical production of Mean Girls, in which, she plays Regina George. While we’ve seen her talent play out on-screen, music has always been Rapp’s first love. Tonight (June 9) Rapp has shared the first single and title track from her upcoming debut album, Snow Angel.
On “Snow Angel,” Rapp details the excruciating pain of keeping her composure while she is dealing with emotional pain.
“I’ll make it through the winter if it kills me / I can make it faster if I hurry / An angel in the snow until I’m worthy / But if it kills me, I tried,” she sings on the song’s chorus.
In addition to these poignant lyrics, the song’s instrumental — a melancholy piano, which is later joined with a clashing guitar and rolling percussion — encapsulates to mixed feelings Rapp has been grappling with over the course of her young adulthood.
Last November, Rapp released her debut EP, Everything To Everyone, which featured songs like “Too Well” and “In The Kitchen.” Her first full-length album will arrive later this summer.
You can listen to “Snow Angel” above and see the Snow Angel cover art below.
Via Interscope
Snow Angel is out 8/18 via Interscope. Find more information here.
Sam Smith and Madonna have a sexy new anthem, which has arrived right in time for Pride Month. On “Vulgar,” the two embrace the labels which they have been deemed by haters and naysayers over the years, owning their sexualities and provocative stylings.
Smith opens the song, detailing a spicy, scandalous outfit, giving no f*cks about how it may be received. In fact, haters are their motivators.
“Look like I’m dressed to kill, love how I make me feel / All black in stripper heels, move like Madonna / Rich like I’m in the Louvre, got nothin’ left to prove / You know you’re beautiful when they call you vulgar,” raps Smith on their verse.
Madonna then joins in with a scorching verse of her own, reminding us that she and her clique are not the ones to be messed with.
“If you f*ck with Sam tonight, you’re f*cking with me / So watch what you say or I’ll split your banana,” raps Madonna.
According to a press statement accompanied by the song’s release, Madonna and Smith recorded the song the day after this year’s Grammys in a Los Angeles studio. The two collaborated with ILYA for MXM Productions, Cirkut, Omer Fedi, Ryan Tedder, Jimmy Napes, Sam and Lauren D’elia, Madonna’s vocal producer and engineer.
You can listen to “Vulgar” above.
Madonna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
TikTok is a place where obscure music is celebrated, retro comedy is king and lives can be changed overnight. But it’s a rare feat for all three of those corners to intersect on the platform.
As is the way with many TikTok sensations, faux radio show “The Bun 91.3” started off as a fun hobby. The DJ, known only to listeners as “The Bun,” highlights songs by up-and-coming artists all while sporting aviator sunglasses and mastering that cheesy, old-school radio voice.
Much to his surprise, The Bun’s passion project has actually been bringing major attention to aspiring musicians who might otherwise go unnoticed, just like real radio shows did back in the day.
Take for instance the band Bird Photos. In his video playing their song “Dove,” The Bun said that the group had only 85 monthly listeners. After the clip was viewed over 650,000 times, Bird Photos’ reach skyrocketed to over 36,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
“Man really gave them a 7800% increase in listeners in four days. We LOVE small artist promoters,” one person commented.
Or singer/songwriter Sarah Crean, whose song “2:00 AM” blew up with over 4.6 million views after The Bun professed he “couldn’t get enough of it” (one of his signature phrases). Crean went from having only 295 monthly listeners to 170,000 monthly listeners and ended up signing with well-known record label AWAL.
“My gratitude for it all is immense,” Crean told Insider. “He’s putting really incredible artists forward to such an open-minded following and it’s opening so many doors for them…I think he’s got something really special there.”
Following successes like these, The Bun’s creative outlet has turned into something of a mission—one which he is fully committed to. The DJ also shared with Insider that he not only spends every morning scouring the internet for cool tracks, but he’ll also find local bands and solo artists to see them play at nearby venues.
Of course, with his newfound internet clout, musicians often reach out to him for coverage. Like Minova, who submitted their song “I Miss You So” and got so many new followers they released a whole new single. (Of course, The Bun covered that, too.)
For The Bun, helping aspiring artists potentially get out of any side hustles and instead focus on what they love is the best part of the job. “I just get a lot of joy out of them winning,” he told Insider.
We see plenty of videos on TikTok with folks sharing their art, but it’s not every day that we see someone going out of their way to showcase someone else’s. The Bun is out there doing the dang thing, and doing it all with a huge dose of quirky charm. It’s something we can’t get enough of.
By the way—you can also find The Bun’s special curated playlist featuring these artists, and more, over on Spotify.
Social media has made it very easy to alter your appearance using filters. They may come in handy when you need to record a video but look a bit under the weather—just turn on a soft glow or a makeup filter, and boom, you’re camera-ready in less than two seconds. But there has been a lot of talk around the use of filters and teen girls’ self-esteem and unrealistic expectations seemingly placed on women.
One woman has taken it upon herself to strip away the filters to prove that, while she is beautiful, her face doesn’t actually look the way it does with the filter on. The most interesting thing about these filters is that they’re so good, you can’t tell they’re filters. Gone are the days of filters that made everyone look like a Glamour Shot from the 90s. These filters move with you and even have pores so no one can tell it isn’t actually your face.
Well, it is your face—kinda.
Mimi Webb starts off the 20-second clip using the infamous Bold Glamour filter. It’s the filter that has people questioning their perception of their own faces because the contrast is so jarring. But Webb doesn’t stop with one filter. She puts on another and makes sure she emphasizes her use of a ring light. After turning the ring light off and taking all the filters off as the video is ending, the woman removes her makeup, revealing an inflamed, irritated and blemished face.
People flocked to the comments to thank her for exposing the truth behind filters.
“You’re beautiful & this message is SO important thanks for the reminder,” one person wrote.
“You are beautiful. In real life, we all have imperfections. As a mature woman, I appreciate your honesty. Thank you,” another said.
“Thank you so much. You did not know how much this was needed,” a woman commented.
Social media can really do a number on people’s self esteem, especially when they’re comparing themselves to something that’s not real. Messages like the one Webb shared can help pull back the curtain on the reality of social media. Watch her video below.
If you’re looking for career advice, there are few better people to ask than former President Barack Obama. After all, he got the most prestigious job in the world after only spending four years in the U.S. Senate and seven in the Illinois State Senate.
Now, he’s investigating what it means to have “good” work in his new Netflix show, “Working: What We Do All Day.” According to Netflix, the show explores compelling ideas and issues about labor and work, while focusing on the lives of individuals in various professions.
Obama sat down with LinkedIn Editor-in-Chief Daniel Roth to talk about employment-related topics, including the role of work in our lives, disruptions in the workplace in the new Millenium, and the coming AI revolution. During the 15-minute conversation, Obama shared his most important career advice for young people, and it was simple, especially for such a thoughtful, well-spoken man. The former president said, “Get stuff done. Just learn how to get stuff done.”
He then unpacked what he meant by his simple motto.
“I’ve seen at every level people who are very good at describing problems, people who are very sophisticated in explaining why something went wrong or why something can’t get fixed, but what I’m always looking for is, no matter how small the problem or how big it is, somebody who says, ‘Let me take care of that,’” Obama said. “If you project an attitude of, whatever it is that’s needed, I can handle it and I can do it, then whoever is running that organization will notice. I promise.”
Obama is spot-on with his analysis. You can talk about things all day, but what really matters is taking action and making things happen. Maybe that’s why his campaign slogan in 2008 was a simple three-word phrase about taking care of business, “Yes, we can.”
“The best way to get attention is, whatever is assigned to you, you are just nailing. You’re killing it. Because people will notice, that’s someone who can get something done,” Obama continued.
As someone who has managed people at the top levels of government, Obama has a rare understanding of the importance of relying on people to carry out essential orders and knowing who to trust to get it done efficiently and correctly. When you’re president of the United States, you must have complete trust in the people you delegate work to because thousands or even millions of lives could be at risk.
Obama also added that young people shouldn’t focus on a specific job title but on things that interest them. “The people that I find are the most successful are the people who say, ‘I’m really interested in computers and figuring this stuff out,’ and they end up being a Bill Gates,” he said.
People will be happier with careers that are rooted in their interests because they’re doing what they love. We only get 24 hours in a day. Most people sleep eight, work eight and enjoy eight for themselves. Everyone loves sleeping and time off, but you can be happy 24 hours a day when you love your job.
Skrillex and Nai Barghouti have shared their video for “Xena,” from Skrillex’s Quest For Fire album.
In the video, directed by Amara Abbas, several women are seen uniting and expressing their emotions in a rebellious manner, defying the restraints placed upon them. These women are seen grappling with a whirlwind of emotions, and navigating conflict, resistance, fear, love, festivities, prayer, and dance.
“The film is around female passion/rage, liberation, duality of culture, freedom of choice, and resistance,” said Abbas in a statement. “It is about the women who are leading revolution in systems that are designed against them…it’s about what this movement represents, what these young women represent — and what they inspire. Not a lot of us have experienced being in regions where such intense events have occurred and the bones of what has happened is still very much there. This film is, in some way, the phoenix moment of women who are living this reality.”
In tandem with the video, Skrillex has partnered with OXFAM International, supporting donations to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. OXFAM is working to provide clean water, food, heating, and hygiene kits to those affected by the disaster.
You can see the video for “Xena” above.
Skrillex is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
However, we rarely get a glimpse of what happens after those feel-good stories take place. It’s not often that we get to witness firsthand the lasting impact made from one good deed. That’s what makes this story so special.
Xavier Dimples was only 2 years old when his house caught fire, leaving him trapped inside. Without a firefighter named Jeff Ohs bravely entering the burning building to pull the toddler out of the wreckage and resuscitating him, Dimples would have perished.
Twenty-three years after the incident, Dimples was able to reunite with Ohs, introducing him to his son who was the exact same age as Dimples when Ohs rescued him.
“After I was resuscitated I was in a coma for a month after that. I could never repay [Ohs] for giving me a chance at life, I can only live a great life for him & my son. I owe him my life,” Dimples wrote on Twitter, along with a side-by-side photo showing him as a toddler in the firefighter’s arms and a picture of Ohs holding his two-year-old.
When I was 2 years old my house caught on fire & I was trapped inside, I ended up dying that day & this firefighter, Jeff Ohs, saved me from that building & brought my back to life. Now 23 years later he is holding my 2 year old son. I literally wouldn’t be here without him pic.twitter.com/FLxmKG19DF
The moment was equally profound for Ohs. Soon after Dimples published this post, Ohs replied. “Dude!!!! You are a fighter through and through. And honestly you scared the sh*t out of me that day. So so blessed for the outcome. Love you guys.”
“I thank God that you lived to tell your story. I thank God for my firefighter brother Jeff! Sometimes firefighters/medics don’t always know the outcome of the ppl they rescue once they’re delivered to the hospital. But hearing [your] story brings tears to my eyes!” one person wrote.
“The look on her face in the older picture? He’s definitely determined not to let you go down. I’m so happy that he got you back!” added another.
“I worked with Jeff and I know his story well. You make our jobs worth everything we go through. Thank you for sharing,” a former coworker of Ohs commented.
Since that fateful day a little over two decades ago, Dimples and Ohs have been friends. Dimples later quipped that he could pull up to Ohs’ house right now if he wanted. That kind of closure is rare. Firefighters risk their lives for complete strangers out of a genuine desire to help, but they don’t often get to see how their efforts truly paid off. This must have been such a rewarding experience for Ohs.
We never really know where any of our good deeds may lead. But knowing the results isn’t what drives people to commit brave acts. It’s that impulse we all have to help one another and the inner knowing that somehow we are inexplicably connected. The impulse is louder for some than others, or more or less frequent, but answering it can lead to amazing things.
Rosalía is happy and in love — not only with her beau Rauw Alejandro, but with Japan. Her newest song, “Tuya” takes inspiration from Japanese culture.
On “Tuya,” Rosalía sings of steamy, intimate moments with someone special, shutting out the world around them..
“Solo esta noche soy tuya, tuya / Solo esta noche eres mío, mío / Tú me quieres ver desnuda, uh-ah / Yo a ti debajo de mi ombligo,” she sings on the song’s chorus, which means, “Tonight I’m yours / Tonight you’re mine / You want to see me naked / I’ll bring you under my navel.”
The song’s instrumental utilizes the reggaeton drums Rosalía loves, but also incorporates strings from the koto, the national instrument of Japan.
“Exploring is part of who I am as a musician and in the case of ‘Tuya,’ inspirations such as reggaeton, Japanese instruments, flamenco, and gabber techno coexist at the same level,” said Rosalía in a statement.
In the song’s accompanying video, Rosalía is seen in Japan, which is one of her favorite places to travel. She enjoys lunch in a noodle shop, a relaxing day at a spa, and spends time wandering the streets of Japan with an adorable dog at her side.
The queen of short, sweet hits is back with another saccharine single. Today (June 8), PinkPantheress has shared “Angel” from Barbie: The Album.
On “Angel,” PinkPantheress reflects on a lost love, holding onto the butterflies he gave her before he up and disappeared.
“‘Cause one day / One day my baby just ran away / My angel / You’re what haunts me now that you’re away,” she sings on the chorus, over a percussive instrumental.
At the bridge, we hear a violin solo, adding a heartbroken, melancholy feel to the song.
“Angel” is the latest of star-studded singles from the Barbie soundtrack. Last month, Dua Lipa released the soundtrack’s first single and the film’s official theme song, “Dance The Night.” Shortly after, Karol G and Aldo Ranks dropped their steamy collaboration, “Watati.”
Barbie: The Album is executive produced by Mark Ronson, and will feature new music from Lizzo, Khalid, Tame Impala. PinkPantheress’ “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2” collaborator Ice Spice will also appear on the soundtrack, alongside Nicki Minaj and Aqua for “Barbie World,” a rework of Aqua’s 1997 hit, “Barbie Girl.”
In the meantime, you can listen to “Angel” above.
Barbie: The Album is out 7/21 via Atlantic. Find more information here.
PinkPantheress is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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