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Chance The Rapper‘s penchant for dense, poetic wordplay shows up in force on his latest writing exercise, “Quiet Storm.” An uncompromising reflection on the shortcomings of the culture around us, “Quiet Storm” is presented as a call-in to a late-night radio show to request “something to remind her of her missions and militias.” It’s clear by mid-verse that the “extra special listener” to whom he’s dedicating this theoretical slow jam is America herself — and Chance’s goal is to remind her of her shortcomings and hold her to her promises.

“I know your specialties; espionage, sabiotage,” he intones. “I know your tendences; crashing out, caviar / You like the finer things, designer things / China things, things from Africa / You so good at f*ckin’ findin’ things” — as in, the exploitation of resources from developing nations. “I dedicate this song to Miss Congeniality,” Chance rhymes. “Double-lifing pageant queen living two realities.”

Chance’s writing exercises and singles have been creating a trail of breadcrumbs leading up to the release of his second album, Star Line, which he’s been teasing for some time. In 2024, he released a handful of singles and held listening events for the album at Miami Art Basel, so it sounds like it’s closer than ever to its eventual release.

Listen to Chance The Rapper’s “Quiet Storm” above.

Tyler, The Creator, Kacey Musgraves, and Lana Del Rey have been revealed as the headliners for the Hinterland Music Festival, which is scheduled for Friday, August 1, through Sunday, August 3, in St. Charles, Iowa. Other big-name acts include Clairo, The Marías, Still Woozy, Bleachers, Sierra Ferrell, and Scowl.

The pre-sale for the 2025 edition of Hinterland Music Festival begins Thursday, January 23, at 11:00 am CT (sign up for the code now on the festival’s website), while tickets for the general public go on sale on Friday, January 24, at 11:00 am CT. Hinterland is also offering a new feature called the “90 Degree Guarantee,” in which “ticket holders the option to request festival admission ticket returns for any day that is predicted to reach 90 degrees or higher.” You can find more information here.

Check out the complete Hinterland lineup below.

Hinterland Music Festival 2025 Lineup

Friday, August 1

Tyler, The Creator
Clairo
Remi Wolf
Royel Otis
Rebecca Black
Good Neighbours
INJI
Scowl
+ Campfire Stage TBA

Saturday, August 2

Kacey Musgraves
The Marías
Still Woozy
Role Model
Glass Beams
Gigi Perez
Willow Avalon
hey, nothing
+ Campfire Stage TBA

Sunday, August 3

Lana Del Rey
Bleachers
Sierra Ferrell
Wyatt Flores
Michael Marcagi
Evan Honer
Orla Gartland
Sam Austins

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week, we got new music from Lucy Dacus, Anxious, Perfume Genius, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

The Weather Station – Humanhood

Tamara Lindeman has long been enamored of human connection. On recent albums like 2021’s Ignorance and its companion piece, 2022’s How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars, the Toronto musician underlined the necessity of climate activism through a deep appreciation for the natural world and the ways in which we share it. Humanhood, her seventh album as The Weather Station, adopts a decidedly humanistic viewpoint. In an age of technocrats and (de)generative AI, Humanhood isn’t a balm so much as a reminder of why we should preserve everything — and everyone — that is precious to us. Who knows when it could all be lost?

Florist – “Have Heaven”

Florist’s music has always leaned into a spellbinding mysticism. Gentle, homespun tunes about friendship, such as those on their 2022 eponymous album, and the wintry folk tunes that embody 2019’s Emily Alone showcase a hypnotic quality to Florist’s work. For Jellywish, out April 4, the New York four-piece are no longer being subtle about it. They embrace the fantastical more than ever. “Have Heaven” is the type of song that a reclusive sorcerer would make, its bucolic acoustic guitars and whimsical hand percussion conjuring images of dense fog blanketing a mysterious yet peaceful forest. If Florist’s previous songs merely hinted at the supernatural, then the enchanting milieu of “Have Heaven” makes it all the more real.

Perfume Genius – “It’s A Mirror”

Reuniting with longtime collaborator Blake Mills, Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas returns with “It’s A Mirror,” the lead single of the forthcoming Glory. Whereas 2022’s Ugly Season predicated itself on classical arrangements literally fit for a ballet, “It’s A Mirror” signals a homecoming to the densely rich indie rock terrain of 2020’s masterful Set My Heart On Fire Immediately. Accompanied by earthen guitars that yield to bursts of distortion, Hadreas succumbs to his inner saboteur. “It’s a mirror, holy terror / Taking focus off the horizon,” he sings. Strangely enough, he sounds resolved and focused, delivering one of his most confident vocal performances to date.

Lucy Dacus – “Limerence”

Lucy Dacus has taken off in the four years since her last solo album, Home Video. Alongside Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, Dacus’ star power ascended to new heights with 2023’s The Record, accruing Grammys, arena shows, and late-night television appearances. Forever Is A Feeling, her fourth studio record, takes cues from classicism and Baroque stylings; ornate paintings and harpsichord; Blake Mills and orchestral strings. It’s the kind of left turn that stays true to Dacus’ work while incorporating elements completely new to her songwriting. “Limerence” underscores the obsession with obsession itself (a true Dacusism if there ever were one) atop twinkling piano and swooning violins. At its heart is heartbreak, one of her greatest muses. “Is there a difference between lying to you / If it feels just as bad as telling the truth,” she asks in the second chorus. The romantically tragic instruments in the background hold the answer.

Anxious – “Some Girls”

When emo quintet Anxious released their 2022 debut LP Little Green House, it was immediately clear that there was something special about this band. They possess a certain je ne sais quoi that sets them apart from their peers. Every single from the forthcoming Bambi has only further affirmed that. The latest preview, “Some Girls,” is the additional proof that we didn’t need to know that Anxious are of their own ilk. Drawing from the sugary sweet hooks of Bleed American, the Connecticut group stacks thick, double-tracked power chords on top of Jonny Camner’s dense drums. There may not be a house on the cover of this one, but this is pristine emo through and through. This is music brimming with raw feeling.

1010benja – “Incent”

The chameleonic singer-songwriter-producer 1010benja is back with another one-off single. “Incent” sees the Kansas City-based artist locking into a syncopated groove with his characteristic bravado, toeing the line between growling ad libs and a soothing R&B falsetto. The biggest surprise comes when everything breaks out into a fiery shredder of a guitar solo that’d make John Frusciante proud. “Incent” simultaneously contains everything we’ve come to love about 1010 while pushing his artistry forward.

Horsegirl – “Switch Over”

The second Horsegirl album is less than a month away now, but the Chicago trio have given us another tidbit of what’s to come. “Switch Over” continues the band’s recent spate of tunes featuring jangly, bright guitars and steady percussion. Members Gigi Reece, Penelope Lowenstein, and Nora Cheng drive forward with the unity of a single organism. They already sounded cohesive on 2022’s Versions Of Modern Performance, but “Switch Over” sees the three musicians lock in their playing like never before.

Porridge Radio – “Don’t Want To Dance”

Pour one out for Porridge Radio. They’re officially calling it quits. But on Feb. 21, the Brighton post-punk group are sharing one more EP, The Machine Starts To Sing, before they leave forever. Taken from the recording sessions of last year’s excellent Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me, lead single “Don’t Want To Dance” contains ringleader Dana Margolin’s signature warbly vocals, which skate atop warm acoustic guitars and ambling drums. Even though Porridge Radio will soon break up, it’s a gift to receive one more batch of wonderful songs from them.

Drop Nineteens – “Mayfield”

Boston shoegazers Drop Nineteens are mere weeks away from the official release of 1991, a treasured predecessor to their 1992 masterpiece Delaware. The latest preview, “Mayfield,” is another glimpse into the noisy, enveloping world the group constructed ahead of their magnum opus. Even casting its successor aside, this iteration of Drop Nineteens is special on its own terms. Colloquially known as “Mayfield” among fans, this quasi-title track unearths the foundation that makes this band an enduring touchstone for many. Stirring, cacophonous guitars tend to steal the show, but Greg Ackell’s wistful vocal delivery is another key factor of their appeal. Submerged beneath a sea of rich, swoonworthy effects pedals, Ackell’s voice never fails to rise to the surface, radiating like a lighthouse in the distance.

Jasmine.4.t – You Are The Morning

The first detail you notice is jasmine.4.t’s voice. Meeting the middle point between Mike Hadreas’ wavering coos and Phoebe Bridgers’ colloquial delivery, jasmine.4.t sounds vulnerable and self-assured. She’s the first British signee on Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records, and her debut LP, You Are The Morning, was produced by Bridgers alongside her boygenius bandmates Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. But Jasmine’s voice is a singular force of its own. Alongside members of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Jasmine documents her varied experiences as a trans woman, and how identity itself is often a conduit for a deeper understanding of community and belonging. Adorned with finger-picked guitars and ornate string arrangements, You Are The Morning is a transfixing opening statement from a talented songwriter.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Grammy Awards ceremony that was hosted by somebody other than Trevor Noah. Well, that streak won’t end this year: It was just announced that Noah is returning to host the 2025 Grammys, as Variety reports.

Recently, there were rumors this year’s ceremony would be postponed, but a letter from Harvey Mason Jr. (Recording Academy CEO) and Tammy Hurt (the chair of the Academy’s board of trustees) refuted that, saying in part, “This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours. In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.”

In a 2022 interview, Noah explained why he continues to host the Grammys, saying, “I’m enjoying the fact that we’re juggling flaming swords. Just putting it all together, combining different genres, getting the musicians in sync with each other and the audience, keeping the audience in tune with what’s happening. One of my favorite things about the Grammys as a whole is it is one of the few places where you get to experience artists in their rawest element, which is performing their music live. Brandi Carlile performing a song live and you’re hearing her voice and listening to her play her instruments — there’s nothing like it. You develop a deep appreciation for what these people are doing beyond just the music that they make.”

It looks like Joey Badass is still feeling just as ornery as he was earlier this month when he released “Ruler’s Back.” In his new video for “Sorry Not Sorry” — which appears to be a possible response to Ray Vaughn’s “Crashout Heritage” — Joey doubles down on his combative comments from that song over a pair of jazz-infused Conductor Williams beats, refusing to back down or apologize for seemingly looking to reignite coastal divisions.

“51 Hart Street, 193 Vernon Avenue / N****s Wit Attitude mad I’m bigging up my city, that’s something I had to do,” he jests, obliquely referencing the competitive reactions from West Coast natives like Vaughn to his New Year’s declaration of supremacy. And in the spirit of keeping the same energy, he tosses in a nod to J. Cole’s halfhearted Kendrick Lamar diss record: “Might Deletе Later, I know damn sure that Joey won’t,” he vows.

Joey’s latest releases have adopted the tried-and-true promo strategy of courting controversy for views, but fortunately for him, he’s got the bars and the track record to actually make it worth fans’ whiles to pay attention. I wouldn’t be surprise if it turns out that all this was just a prelude to an album announcement — and that a new album would be his most commercially successful yet, beef or no. The only real potential loser here is J. Cole, who is probably going to be catching strays all 2025 for waving the white flag last year. The winner? Conductor Williams, whose soulful samples have backed two of the most viral standouts of the year.

Watch Joey Badass’ “Sorry Not Sorry” video above.

Is it too late now to change your password?

After fans noticed that Justin Bieber unfollowed his wife, Hailey Bieber, on Instagram, he claimed that it wasn’t him. “Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife,” he wrote in an Instagram Story. “Shit is getting suss out here.”

The timing of Justin unfollowing Hailey seemed suspect since he called her “the greatest woman I have and will ever know” a day earlier.

US Magazine reports that last month, Hailey “appeared to clap back at separate social media speculation surrounding her marriage when she shared a viral video of TikTok user EyeGotThyme repeating the phrase, ‘You’re not well, and it’s OK.’ Hailey wrote over the video, ‘Me to all of you on the internet.’ The social media upload came after another TikTok fan speculated whether Hailey and Justin spent the holidays together.” She also came to his defense over his ranking on a greatest pop stars of the 21st century list.

Justin Bieber has been very active on social media lately, including sharing a photo of Hailey in a bikini, stripping down to his underwear in the snow, and even teasing new music. His last album, Justice, came out in 2021 and launched four top-10 singles, including No. 1 hit “Peaches.”

The Last of Us was hailed as one of the greatest video games of all-time when it was released by 2013. Since then, it’s been remastered by developer Naughty Dog roughly 75 times, received an equally great (albeit controversial) sequel, and been turned into a TV series. Season 1 was a huge hit for HBO and won eight Emmys, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Nick Offerman’s performance in the show’s best episode so far.

What do creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have in store for season 2? Let’s find out.

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us season 2.

Plot

The Last of Us season 1 covered the first The Last of Us game. The Last of Us season 2 (which is seven episodes long, two fewer than season 1) will do the same with The Last of Us Part II, but not the entire game. “The story material that we got from Part II of the game is way more than the story material that was in the first game, so part of what we had to do from the start was figure out how to tell that story across seasons,” Mazin told Deadline. “When you do that, you look for natural breakpoints, and as we laid it out, this season, the national breakpoint felt like it came after seven episodes.”

He continued:

“We just want to put people’s minds at ease that the idea that this season coming up is a little bit shorter than the first one is not because we’re taking less time to tell the stories, it’s because we want to take more time. The story that we’re telling is much bigger than the story of Season 1, there’s just a lot more going on, it’s a lot harder to produce but we want every episode to feel like its own blockbuster to be honest with you.”

The new season picks up five years after the season 1 finale, where Joel kills a bunch of Fireflies to save Ellie, and then lies to her. Now, they’re “drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind,” according to the official logline.

The biggest change to the show is the introduction of jacked Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. “Our casting process for season 2 has been identical to season 1: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” Mazin and Druckmann said about her casting. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella, and the rest of our family.”

Abby is such a polarizing character from the game that extra security was brought in to protect Dever from internet weirdos.

“There’s so many strange people in this world because there are people that actually genuinely hate Abby, who is not a real person. Just a reminder: Not a real person,” actress Isabel Merced, who plays Ellie’s love interest Dina, said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “Kaitlyn had to be extra secured by security when it came to the filming of this.”

Please, everyone, just be normal. For once.

Cast

The returning cast members from season 1 includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. The most notorious newcomer to The Last of Us is Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, but there’s also Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Catherine O’Hara in an undisclosed role.

Release Date

HBO has confirmed that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere in April 2025, although it wasn’t specified which weekend in April. But it’s not tough to figure out the options: The White Lotus is HBO’s next big Sunday night program, and it debuts February 16. The season is eight episodes long, which puts the finale on April 6. So, expect The Last of Us season 2 to kick off on April 13 or April 20.

Trailer

Check out the latest teaser trailer for The Last of Us season 2 below.

Travis Scott has performed an unreleased song called “4X4” live three times so far (per setlist.fm). The latest performance was yesterday (January 20) at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game (here’s a clip).

He performed about 90 seconds of the track during halftime, on a custom rooftop stage on the top of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

We also know when the song is set to finally get an official release: January 24, this Friday. The song’s release will also be part of an effort to support Los Angeles wildfire relief: Scott is releasing a t-shirt and hoodie honoring the Los Angeles first responders, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Direct Relief’s California Wildfire Response Fund, as will a CD single of the song. More information about all that is available on Scott’s webstore.

Meanwhile, Scott is currently facing a lawsuit, alongside SZA and Future, over the song “Telekinesis.” In the suit, Roc Nation singer-songwriter Victory Boyd alleges lyrics and melodies in her 2019 song “Like The Way It Sounds” were used in “Telekinesis” without permission. Boyd claims she shared the song with Kanye West (who is not named as a defendant in the suit), who then allegedly recorded his own version and shared that with Scott, SZA, and Future.

What lengths would you go to hear “the greatest album of modern times”?

It’s a question Ayo Edebiri asks herself in the trailer for Opus. The A24 film from writer and director Mark Anthony Green stars The Bear and Bottoms actress as Ariel, a writer for a music magazine who is invited to hear the new album from Moretti (John Malkovich), a pop star who disappeared from the public eye for 30 years. His home is, well, less of a home and more of a cult-like compound, with blue lobsters, odd requirements (“So, how’s the lady garden?” Ariel is asked about her shaving routine), and creepy voodoo-looking dolls. The tagline for the film: “There’s no cult like celebrity.”

The rest of the Opus cast includes Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder (so good in Prey), Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means. You can watch the trailer above.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

A young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.

Opus opens in theaters on March 14.

On “American Idiot,” the title track from Green Day‘s 2004 rock opera, Billie Joe Armstrong sings that he’s “not a part of a redneck agenda.” That lyric was changed to “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda” while the band performed on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, and it got another tweak during a show this week at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Armstrong now sings, “I’m not a part of an Elon agenda,” a reference to Elon Musk’s cozy relationship with President Donald Trump.

You can watch the video here.

Musk previously accused Green Day of “raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it.”

When speaking about the “MAGA” agenda” lyric change, Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt told Rolling Stone, “The song’s 20 years old, and we’re Green Day. What did you expect? Come on.” He continued, “I think the best part about it is that it provoked conversation. It got people talking. First it was rhetorical, and then it got into conversation. Anytime you can get people talking, you’re always going to have the loudest voices [heard first], and then everyone else in the room is going to figure out what it really means.”