Dune isn’t only beautiful people walking around in the desert. I mean, it’s mostly that. But author Frank Herbert’s text also touches on politics, religion, capitalism (not a fan!), and environmentalism. “Men and their works have been a disease on the surface of their planets before now,” a character in the 1965 novel says. “Nature tends to compensate for diseases, to remove or encapsulate them, to incorporate them into the system in her own way.” It was timely in the 1960s, when the book was published; it was timely in the 1980s, when David Lynch’s film came out; and, as Oscar Isaac explained in an interview with Empire, it’s timely in the 2020, months away from Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation.

“It’s about the destiny of a people, and the different way that cultures have dominated other ones,” the Inside Llewyn Davis star, who plays Leto Atreides, explained. “How do a people respond when it’s at the tipping point, when enough is enough, when they’re exploited? All those things are things we’re seeing around the world right now.”

Dune comes out a week before Christmas, on December 18, although that assumes Christmas actually happens this year. Not for COVID reasons, but because of the anti-capitalist uprising among teens that Dune, and specifically Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune, inspires. That’s poor planning on Warner Bros.’ part, really.

(Via Empire)

Joe Rogan’s move to Spotify and Texas (while uprooting from California) appears to have gone smoothly, cowboy hat and all. Before he launched his first The Joe Rogan Experience podcast from the new abode, he visited with MMA analyst Jimmy Smith on the debut installment of SiriusXM’s Unlocking the Cage with Jimmy Smith. Naturally, the discussion turned to last Friday’s tragic death of Chadwick Boseman at age 43 from cancer. Rogan, who recently discussed how he’s not afraid to cry, did not hold back while revealing how upset and stunned he was to hear of Boseman’s passing.

“I just looked at the news and said, ‘F*ck!’” Rogan recounted. “Just instantly, ‘F*ck!” That guy was cool. He was a brilliant guy. It sucks so hard that some a**holes live forever. And some really cool people die young. He was one of them.”

From there, Rogan praised Boseman’s performance in Black Panther and noted the movie’s resounding (over $1 billion) success. While wiping his eyes, he recalled the monumental moment when Boseman’s King T’Challa materialized in Endgame to resounding cheers from theater audiences. “The Avengers movie — I’ll really tear up if I talk about this — there’s a video that someone took from the audience, where they see him show up onscreen, and the whole audience goes crazy, it’s amazing.”

Clearly, Rogan’s a fan not only of Boseman’s work but also the man himself. He spoke to how important Black Panther felt to audiences, beyond being a mere superhero movie. “That movie was such a spectacular box-office success, and he was so perfect in the role,” Rogan raved. “And as a human being outside of the movie, he was so perfect. To be that guy, to be this guy who embodies what you would want from a movie star and in a position of prominence, and a guy who has a voice. To see him die at 43 of cancer [sniffles], it’s just what I said when I looked at my phone.”

Of Boseman shielding the public from his diagnosis, Rogan believes that it “speaks to his character that he suffered in silence like that, and he didn’t make a big deal of the fact that he was trying to get through cancer. It’s a bummer, man.”

After years of touring behind Divide, Ed Sheeran announced in late 2019 that he would be taking a much-deserved break. He declared he would be staying away from social media during this hiatus, so fans were surprised to see him return to Instagram a few hours ago. His comeback post announces a new project, the biggest of Sheeran’s life: He and his wife Cherry Seaborn have welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran.

Sharing a photo of tiny socks on a knit blanket, Sheeran shared the news and reported that everybody is doing well, writing, “Ello! A quick message from me as I have some personal news that I wanted to share with you… Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here. We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Lots of love and I’ll see you when it’s time to come back, Ed x.”

It was rumored that Sheeran and Seaborn got married shortly before Christmas in 2018 in a private ceremony, and months later, he confirmed in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God that the two tied the knot.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In the words of noted tech journalist Kara Swisher, “When you need to be saved by Laura Ingraham, it’s not good.” But that’s what happened over and over tonight in a Fox News interview in which Ingraham repeatedly went out of her way to try to save the President of the United States from himself. Still, that did not stop him from saying utterly baffling and at times downright shocking (even for him) things.

Case in point: after being asked by Ingraham to comment on the dangers of being a police officer in 2020, Trump opined, “The police are under siege. They can do 10,000 great acts, which is what they do, and one bad apple or a choker — a choker, they choke.” Ingraham then jumped in, “You mean, they, they panic.”

Trump continued, “Shooting the guy in the back many times…Couldn’t you have done something different? Couldn’t you have wrestled him?…You know, in the meantime, he might’ve been going for a weapon. And you know there’s a whole big thing there. But they choke, just like in a golf tournament, they miss a 3-foot putt…” It was here that Ingraham apparently sensed that Trump was about to drive the car straight into the ditch and quickly interjected in an attempt to steer him back on course: “You’re not comparing it to golf, because of course that’s what the media would say” as she smiled and nodded her head. But, of course, the president was indeed comparing cops who kill to golfers who panic and miss easy putts.

Also in the interview with Ingraham, Trump claimed that people “in the dark shadows” are secretly controlling Joe Biden. He went on to add that he recently heard about a plane full of “thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms” who apparently control Biden? Or maybe Biden controls them? (Who knows!) When Ingraham pressed him for more details, the president claimed “I’ll tell you some time but it’s under investigation right now.

You can watch the full interview — which starts out with Trump falsely claiming that “Portland’s been burning for many years…for decades it’s been burning” — here. There are 63 days until the presidential election.

In a game marked by the absence of a double-digit lead for either team at any moment, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder put on an entertaining show in Game 6 on Monday evening. It wasn’t exactly an offensive exhibition, with both teams failing to score even one point per possession, but Chris Paul excelled in crunch time and the Rockets couldn’t keep up on the way to a 104-100 final margin that prompts a Game 7 on Wednesday in the NBA’s Orlando Bubble.

With that as the backdrop, here are three takeaways from Game 6, all with an eye on Game 7.

1. Chris Paul can still go

With the game on the line, Paul was the best player on the floor in Game 6. Yes, Harden is the superior player at this stage, but Paul was legitimately brilliant in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 3-of-3 from three-point range — he finished the night with 28 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, with no turnovers.

To be fair, Paul did get an ill-advised technical foul (air punch!) that could have burned the Thunder but, in the end, he was also the biggest reason that Oklahoma City lived to fight another day. The entire 2019-20 season has been something of a revenge tour for the “Point God,” leading an undervalued team to the playoffs and staying healthy and productive all the way through the campaign. That continues here, with Paul bringing his teammates along for the ride and prompting a winner-take-all matchup on Wednesday.

2. Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon have to be better

A lot will be made of Westbrook’s errant pass in the final seconds, as the Rockets trailed by two points and the future Hall of Fame guard tossed the ball out of bounds.

Make no mistake, it was a poor play at an inopportune time but, even with the ball, the Rockets are underdogs to win the game with a two-point deficit and no single possession is responsible for the final result. Still, Westbrook made quite a few errors in Game 6, committing seven turnovers in 27 minutes and submarining Houston’s defense at times. It is worth noting that he continues to ease his way back from an injury, including the fact that the Rockets have him on a pitch count in terms of minutes, but Westbrook was an overall negative in this game, even when accounting for his gravity as a rim-attacking force.

As for Gordon, it was just not his night. The veteran guard shot just 3-of-12 from the floor and 1-of-6 from three, joining Westbrook in committing four turnovers. His transition defense was also problematic, and the Rockets simply can’t reach their goals if their No. 2 and No. 3 shotmakers flounder to this degree. Of course, no one should assume Westbrook and Gordon will be this bad, but Game 6 was a reminder that Houston is going to ride with their shortened rotation, and they just need more from this duo.

3. Game 7 is looming and there is a lot at stake

The stakes are always high in Game 7’s, just by nature of the win-or-go-home setup. Still, both teams have a lot riding on Wednesday’s tilt, albeit in far different circumstances.

For Houston, the pressure is immense. The Rockets are widely seen as the superior team and, with the Lakers looming, many seemed to overlook even the possibility that Houston could fall short of the second round. From there, Mike D’Antoni has an uncertain contractual situation beyond this season, and Houston’s small-ball approach could be in for further investigation if they are not able to prevail in the clincher. And, on top of all of that, they’d be losing a series to the player they dealt away this past summer.

On the Oklahoma City side, the pressure isn’t as significant, if only because the Thunder were not “supposed” to be here. Paul has been masterful all season long, Danilo Gallinari flashed some of his brilliance with 25 points in Game 6, and the Thunder have overachieved when compared to any reasonable expectation. In the same breath, Oklahoma City could be considering a full-fledged rebuild if things don’t break the correct way, with Gallinari on an expiring deal and both Paul and Steven Adams owed considerable money for the future.

Do the Thunder blow it up if they fall short? Do the Rockets look for a major tweak if this season ends with a first round exit amid lofty expectations and real buzz? Let’s just say that Game 7 could dictate a lot of decisions, for better or worse.

After several months of not knowing what the next day will hold, 2020 is beginning to normalize, at least in terms of music releases. Looking ahead to the slate of announced and expected albums for the fall, some of music’s biggest names could be dropping new efforts, ranging from hip-hop elites like Drake and Cardi B, indie royalty like Sufjan Stevens and Coldplay, and pop icons like Blackpink and Miley Cyrus. Not only will fans be hearing albums intended for this time period, but the many records delayed due to 2020’s unprecedented events could also drop, much like autumn’s colorful leaves or Starbucks’ pumpkin-spiced menu.

The following list is obviously only the tip of the iceberg and is broken down by what is announced, expected, and rumored. So buckle in and start planning your listening for the rest of 2020 with Uproxx’s most anticipated albums of fall.

Announced

Sukihana — Wolf P*ssy (September 2)

September’s month of releases will kick off with Sukihana’s latest project, Wolf Of P*ssy. It arrives after her 2019 effort, I Said What I Said, Vol. 1 and shows promise for the Delaware native who shared singles like “Pretty And Ratchet” and “All In Your Throat” to build up anticipation for the new album. While many recognize the name from her appearance in Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” video, fans will have plenty more to know Sukihana by when she drops Wolf Of P*ssy on September 2.–Wongo Okon

Big Sean — Detroit 2 (September 4)

Big Sean’s last album, I Decided, arrived in 2017, but it’s the critical acclaim he received with his 2012 mixtape, Detroit, that the “I Don’t F*ck With U” rapper hopes to return. Confirming the sequel last summer, Big Sean labeled it as a return to his roots while he found the fun in music once again. “I felt like it might have started to become like a burden, or like work, but now it’s just fun,” he said in an interview about Detroit 2. Confirmed for a September 4 release date, the Detroit native looks to show off the fun in his art while returning to a level untouched since 2015’s Dark Sky Paradise.–W.O.

Total Revenge — Total Revenge (September 4)

Though he’s only released two singles thus far, Total Revenge’s Ryan Pollie is already pushing boundaries. His upcoming self-titled debut, Total Revenge, combines fuzzed-out rhythms with distorted samples and his textured vocal track, aiming to bring lo-fi’s heyday into the new decade.–Carolyn Droke

Conway The Machine — From King To A God (September 11)

Conway has released two 2020 projects with Alchemist and Big Ghost Ltd., but Fron King To A God will be a solo showcase where Conway’s admitted: “I want to show growth; how much I’ve grown as an artist and how much I’ve grown as a man.” He’s already shown he can tear through any beat; what else will From A King To A God show?–Andre Gee

The Flaming Lips — American Head (September 11)

Wayne Coyne and company have been productive in recent years, releasing a pair of albums since 2017. They’ll up that number to three when they drop American Head on September 11. Citing Grateful Dead and Parliament-Funkadelic, Coyne told Rolling Stone of his group’s latest endeavor, “For the first time in our musical life, we began to think of ourselves as ‘an American band’… telling ourselves that it would be our identity for our next creative adventure.”–Derrick Rossignol

Ava Max — Heaven & Hell (September 18)

Even though she’s praised as a global pop icon, been releasing a slew of tracks for the past four years, and boasts a triple-platinum single, Ava Max has yet to release a full-length album. That’s why fans were over the moon when the singer announced her debut record Heaven & Hell was to arrive in September. Building on her signature maximalist pop, Heaven & Hell is expected to take the pop star to new heights.–C.D.

Anjimile — Giver, Taker (September 18)

Anjimile draws upon a wide variety of influences on his upcoming Father/Daughter Records debut, Giver, Taker. Genres like the jaunty African pop he grew up listening to, ‘80s dance music, and the soft ballads of Sufjan Stevens can be credited for his album’s lead singles, which stand as a strong preview of the anticipated record.–C.D.

Fenne Lily — Breach (September 18)

Following her earnest 2018 debut album Hold On, UK songwriter Fenne Lily is just about ready for its follow-up. Her sophomore record Breach was written during a time of isolation in a foriegn country — unexpectedly apt in light of current events — and delicately copes with themes of solitude and diffidence. So far, the singer has previewed the album with three wistful singles, signaling a salient upcoming effort.–C.D.

Gus Dapperton — Orca (September 18)

While touring behind his full-length debut record, Gus Dapperton befell hard times. The bedroom pop singer coped with the oscillating highs and lows of life of the road with alcohol and drugs, which eventually took a toll on his health — mental and otherwise. But the singer managed to work through the dark times with music, using his lyrics as a tool for vulnerability on his sophomore record Orca, comprising his most mature collection of music to date.–C.D.

Into It. Over It. — Figure (September 18)

Emo revival leader Evan Weiss hasn’t released a new Into It. Over It. project since 2016’s Standards, but now he’s ready to drop another. Figure arrives on September 18, and he says of the album, “It’s about trying to make peace with poor decisions that I’ve made, and how I can try to reconcile as much as I can, and what I can’t reconcile, how I’m going to cope with that moving forward, and what I can do to be better to the people around me.”–D.R.

Joe Wong — Nite Creatures (September 18)

Wong has worn multiple hats over the years, from drummer to podcast host to TV composer. After racking up experience in a variety of fields, he’s gearing up to release his debut solo album, Nite Creatures, on May 15 via Decca Records. The record has drawn stylistic comparisons to The Zombies and features contributions from Mary Lattimore and members of The War On Drugs and Flaming Lips.–D.R.

Nana Adjoa — Big Dreaming Ants (September 24)

Nana Adjoa got her start in music by studying jazz at the Amsterdam Conservatory, developing a signature style which elegantly blends soul, folk, and jazz while tackling intricate issues such as race, gender, religion, and sexuality. The singer already boasts a large collection of tracks in her catalog, but now she’s setting her sights on a full-length, Big Dreaming Ants, arriving in late September.–C.D.

2 Chainz — So Help Me God (September 25)

2 Chainz’ So Help Me God album is coming on September 25th. There’s not much known about the project, besides what he told The Breakfast Club: “I’m done playing. Bars up to par…they ain’t never went nowhere.” Most hip-hop heads already knew this much, but we’ll surely appreciate the reminder.–A.G.

Idles — Ultra Mono (September 25)

Brow-raising phrases have been thrown around in promotion of Idles’ upcoming album, phrases like, “rejoices in the sinister flesh-eating virus of the pedestrian.” If that sounds intense, well, Idles are an intense group, and that’s an energy they’ll bring with Ultra Mono when it drops on September 25. The promotional cycle has featured highlights like “Model Village,” which got a Michel Gondry-directed video.–D.R.

Sad13 — Haunted Painting (September 25)

Sadie Dupuis is perhaps best known as the lead vocalist of Speedy Ortiz, but the musician has an illustrious solo career under the moniker Sad13. Gearing up for her sophomore release, Dupuis has already given fans a taste of her upcoming effort. As seen through a handful of singles, Dupuis continues to expertly moulds tongue-in-cheek humor, sly political commentary, and self-assured quips into effervescent and playful pop-punk-adjacent tunes.–C.D.

Sufjan Stevens — The Ascension (September 25)

Sufjan Stevens already gave the world an album this year, although the new age project he made with his stepfather may not be for everybody. However, he is quickly following that project with his first proper solo album in five years, The Ascension, which drops on September 25. It’s an adventurous record, as is evidenced by the 12-minute song “America” (and its 10-minute B-side, “My Rajneesh)”).–D.R.

Tim Heidecker — Fear Of Death (September 25)

Tim Heidecker is best known for the silly, lovable nonsense he purveys on Tim And Eric (and to some, for his standout role in Us), but he’s pretty good at serious music, too. He has so far shared some previews of Fear Of Death (out September 25), and he got a talented roster of musicians to help him out, including Weyes Blood, Drew Erickson, the Lemon Twigs’ Brian and Michael D’Addario, and Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado.–D.R.

Will Butler — Generations (September 25)

Arcade Fire’s Will Butler hasn’t released a solo record since 2016’s Friday Night, but he’s looking to change that this fall. Ushering in a new era with two comforting singles, Butler attempts to figure out his place in the world, and obligation to it, with the impending album Generations.–C.D.

Sylvan Esso — Free Love (September 25)

Composed of working couple Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, Sylvan Esso are just about ready to take their exuberant indie-dance sound to new territory with Free Love. So far, the band has only shared two singles from the release, but, according to Meath, the record aptly deals with “being increasingly terrified of the world around you.”–C.D.

Joji — Nectar (September 25)

Joji’s 2018 debut album Ballads 1 impressively rose to No.1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and secured the singer an ever-growing fanbase, whose members are closely watching out for his late September release Nectar. Joji remains playful in his videos, bringing his humor to the forefront while simultaneously remaining poignantly vulnerable in his music. If his 2020 releases are any indication, Nectar will be interlaced with thumping earworms and atmospheric introspections.–C.D.

Rituals of Mine — Hype Nostalgia (September 25)

After previously working as a duo, Terra Lopez is now operating Rituals Of Mine as a solo project and readying to release her first album as a solo artist, Hype Nostalgia, which is out on September 25. The alt-R&B record is nostalgic, but not just reflective of the good times: She says of the album, “We went back before loss, before grief to write an album that carried the duality of grief and joy.”–D.R.

Deftones — Ohms (September 25)

Chino Moreno has been generous in teasing Deftones’ upcoming album, Ohms (out September 25). The title track should provide an indication of the album’s sound, as Moreno called it “a good scope of where this record’s at.” He also said the album incorporates elements of their past but introduces enough newness to keep the proceedings fresh.–D.R.

Public Enemy — What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down (September 25)

In a surprise announcement, Public Enemy revealed in late August that their first album in over two decades, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down, would arrive at the end of September. Preceded by their “Fight The Power” remix with Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, YG, Jahi, and Questlove, the group will look to reinforce their message of revolution, social justice, and racial equality to a new generation, one that experiences the many pains of being Black in America that the group did more than two decades ago. Fans will not have to wait too long for the project’s release, as it has already been confirmed for a September 25 release date.–W.O.

Mxmtoon — Dusk EP (October 2)

At 20 years old, Mxmtoon has already released two EPs and a full-length album. The singer shared her quietly introspective EP Dawn earlier this year, and now Mxmtoon is preparing for its counterpart, Dusk. On the upcoming effort, Mxtmoon aims to reimagine connotations that come with the night — isolation and darkness — and transform it into the themes of joyful rebirth and renewed creativity.–C.D.

Blackpink — Blackpink: The Album (October 2)

Ever since the K-Pop four-piece Blackpink took last year’s Coachella by storm, the group’s massive backing of stans are anticipating their next release, The Album, while also promoting Blackpink on Twitter through hoards of fancams. If their record-breaking YouTube premiere of “How You Like That” is any indication, the upcoming Blackpink release is sure to be a chart-topper.–C.D.

Gabriel Garzón-Montano — Agüita (October 2)

On October 2nd, Gabriel Garzón-Montano will be releasing his first project since 2017 with Agüita. He announced the release along with a genre-bending title track that certainly bodes well for his Jagjaguwar debut.–A.G.

Matt Berninger — Serpentine Prison (October 2)

The National have firmly established themselves as one of the century’s finest indie-rock bands, and now their leader is trying something new: He has a solo album, Serpentine Prison, out on October 2. Berninger isn’t going about it alone, though. Guests who contributed to the record include Booker T. Jones (who produced and arranged the whole thing), Andrew Bird, Mike Brewer, Hayden Desser, and others.–D.R.

Jonsi — Shiver (October 2)

Sigur Rós leader and CBD magnate Jonsi released his first solo album in 2010, months after his band went on a hiatus. Now, over a decade later, the musician is finally returning with a new solo album, Shiver, on October 2. Also Jonsi is mostly solo here, he did get guest appearances from Robyn and Cocteau Twins’ Liz Fraser.–D.R.

Shamir — Shamir (October 2)

Shamir has toyed with a number of styles since his 2015 debut Ratchet, and it appears he’s getting back to his roots on the upcoming self-titled release, which press materials call “his most accessible album” since Ratchet. The album is also said to “re-imagine” ’90s pop and rock for the modern world,” and that vision is played out excellently on advance tracks like “Running.”–D.R.

Bartees Strange — Live Forever (October 2)

With his upcoming debut album Live Forever, Bartees Strange is truly coming into his own. The musician worked with various producers before realizing his experience of being the only Black guy in the studio was hindering his sound. “I don’t think the engineer always knew what I wanted to capture, what I was trying to do or what I was referencing,” he said. But with his upcoming release, the singer melts the confines of indie rock, incorporating jangly guitar and fluidly moving between singing and rapping his song’s lyrics.–C.D.

Future Islands — As Long As You Are (October 9)

Future Islands signaled that a new album was on the way when they played a bunch of previously unheard songs at a show last fall. Now, months later, they’ve officially announced that As Long As You Are drops on October 9. Expect more powerfully emotional performances from Samuel T. Herring, like the subtle yet impactful one he gives in the “Thrill” video.–D.R.

Petey — Checkin’ Up On Buds EP (October 9)

California musician Petey had a four-track EP this year, High Life From The Bottle On The Beach, that has more memorable moments than a lot of full-length albums. The EP was the latest in a slew of them, and now the eclectic songwriter has another on the way, as his Checkin’ Up On The Buds EP is slated to drop on October 9.–D.R.

Juicy J — The Hustle Continues (October 14)

Juicy J has wished for a Verzuz with Nas and a collaboration album with Jay-Z this year. He’s apparently in a collaborative mood, which explains the loaded guest list for The Hustle Continues, which is coming on October 14th. Juicy will be turning up with the likes of Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, A$AP Rocky, Logic, 2 Chainz, Conway The Machine, Ty Dolla $ign, Rico Nasty, and others.–A.G.

Beabadoobee — Fake It Flowers (October 16)

Following a handfull of EPs, 20-year-old Beabadoobee has her debut album ready to go. Singles like “Care” show off her ’90s alt-rock chops, of which Fake It Flowers should have plenty. She shared her perspective about the album in a behind-the-scenes video, saying, “I spent so f*cking long writing and going through it emotionally, and it just means a lot to me, and I just can’t wait for people to see that side of my life, and for people to listen to the music, rock out to the music, and cry, and just kind of understand me more.”–D.R.

Helena Deland — Someone New (October 16)

Helena Deland made a name for herself with two EPs, her latest being the five-part collection of songs Altogether Unaccompanied. Now, with her long-awaited debut album Someone New, Deland is learning from a newfound sense of self-assurance. Through crafting her impending release, the singer was able to work through fears of aging and FOMO, emerging transformed on the other side.–C.D.

Tomberlin — Projections EP (October 16)

Saddle Creek signee Tomberlin wooed fans with quiet musings on her buzz-worthy debut album At Weddings and has since shared a stage with the likes of Alex G, Andy Shauf, and American Football. Now, Tomberlin is taking all she learned with her on the five-track EP Projections. Recorded with Alex G’s Alex Giannascoli, Projections is expected to build on her debut’s structure, adding up-tempo rhythms and fleshed-out harmonies.–C.D.

THEY. — The Amanda Tape (October 23)

Forming THEY. after a chemistry-filled studio session with Timbaland, Dante Jones and Drew Love have always strived to present their music from a different angle — something their debut album Nü Religion: Hyena accomplished. Following 2018’s Fireside EP, the duo will return this October with their sophomore album, The Amanda Tape. This time around, THEY. will explore and celebrate all the emotions present in relationships, a concept they’ve alluded to on the album’s first three singles — “Count Me In,” “Play Fight” with Tinashe, and “All Mine” — on the upcoming album that touches down on October 23.–W.O.

Kylie Minogue — Disco (November 6)

Kylie Minogue is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time. And with her upcoming 15th studio album Disco, Kylie aims to continue her global success. The veteran pop star recently announced her new era of music with the shimmering single “Say Something,” and even though clubs won’t be open for the foreseeable future, Kylie’s upcoming album will arrive as the perfect soundtrack for cathartic living room dance parties.–C.D.

Expected

Action Bronson — Only For Dolphins

Action Bronson has been cooking up Only For Dolphins since at least summer 2019. Earlier this year, he announced it for April — but a global pandemic has a way of changing plans. Bronsolino still has the album as his Twitter name, suggesting it’s a priority, so maybe we’ll be getting it soon off the heels of “Latin Grammys.”–A.G.

Armani Caesar — The Liz

Armani Caesar, the self-proclaimed “first lady of Griselda,” will be officially releasing her The Liz project soon. She pushed the project back from its initial August 21st release date while grieving, and unfortunately had parts of the project recently leak. But despite the obstacles, Armani is set to release the project soon and further let the world know that she can “RAP rap.”—A.G.

Benee

All eyes are on 20-year-old New Zealand singer Benee after her single “Supalonely” became an overnight hit among alt-pop lovers on TikTok and even Elton John, who named it the “next global smash” hit. Following her breakout success, the singer has been awarded the opportunity to collaborate with the likes of Kenny Beats and continues to cook up her new tunes for her highly-anticipated full-length debut.–C.D.

Benny The Butcher

Benny The Butcher has been one of the busiest artists in the world over the past two years — and he hasn’t even released a solo project since last June’s The Plugs I Met. A frequent work rate has its benefits, including having enough fire to release the Tana Talk 4 &5 double album he hinted at in July.–A.G.

DJ Khaled — Khaled Khaled

Preparing a number of major keys for his fans to enjoy once again, DJ Khaled is readying what would be his twelfth studio album and follow-up to 2019’s Father Of Ashad, an album that gave Khaled a Grammy win thanks to “Higher.” Entitled Khaled Khaled, the campaign for the upcoming album began with his Drake-featuring singles “Greece” and “Pop Star.” The singles gave Khaled his fifth and sixth top-ten appearances on the Billboard singles chart. With its release confirmed for later this year, Khaled Khaled would be his fifth album in six years.–W.O.

Drake

Drake’s grip on 2020 is undeniable and it’s all come without the Toronto rap star’s highly-anticipated sixth album. From the surprise release of “When To Say When/Chicago Freestyle” to Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Drake has made the wait for his upcoming album more bearable than fans may have expected. However, fresh off the release of “Laugh Now, Cry Later” with Lil Durk as well as a confirmation that the album, entitled Certified Lover Boy, is 90% complete, Drake may take over the fall for the first time since Nothing Was The Same, an album his fans adore and hope he can recreate in terms of its quality.–W.O.

Elzhi

Somewhere in between the surprise project release and a traditional, anticipation-building drop is what Elzhi is doing. Throughout August, he’s been posting lyrics on his Instagram page, stirring awe and intrigue amongst his fanbase. On August 12th, a fan asked if he had new music coming, to which he replied, “it’s on the way fam. Hope you stick around for it.” We surely will be.–A.G.

Fivio Foreign

Fivio Foreign dropped his debut 800 B.C. release in April. Since then, he’s continued to represent for Brooklyn drill, including appearing on Nas’ recent King’s Disease album. In mid-August, he tweeted that he was “in Album Mode,” and may be set to the feed the New York streets this fall.–A.G.

Lana Del Rey — Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Lana Del Ray’s 2019 Norman F*cking Rockwell received a Grammy nomination for Album Of The Year and made first place in the 2019 Uproxx Music Critics Poll. Despite facing backlash on social media for a tone-deaf critique of several artists of color, fans and critics alike are eager to hear her eighth studio release. The singer has already shared a few snippets of new songs, signaling that Chemtrails Over The Country Club will be infused with a bit more instrumental energy compared to her latest, slow-burning effort.–C.D.

Miley Cyrus

Last year’s EP She Is Coming surprisingly arrived without any bangers, but Miley Cyrus is back with a new era, and she’s promising some new bops. After a vocal surgery and a very public divorce, “Midnight Sky” signaled the singer’s return, complete with nostalgic imagery and ‘80s-inspired synths. The single will arrive on the forthcoming She Is Miley Cyrus, which by all accounts sends the singer into new territory. The singer recently said she won’t release the album until she can tour again, meaning the prospect of Cyrus’ new album depends on us Americans wearing a mask and continuing to socially distant.–C.D.

Octavian

Born in France and raised in London, Octavian shared his first project back in 2016 with 22. The rapper’s stock boosted when a video of Drake singing his “Party Here” track landed on social media. Since then, Octavian delivered his Essie World EP as well as his Spaceman and Endorphins mixtapes, but the time has come for his debut album. The album remains untitled and is led by “Rari (Chapter 1)” with Future and “Famous” with Gunna and Saint JHN. Despite no release date in place, Octavian’s manager did confirm on his Instagram story that the album is complete.–W.O.

Porter Robinson — Nurture

Porter Robinson returned with his first single in 6 years this January, ushering in a new era of glitchy samples and expansive synths. With his upcoming record Nurture, Robinson gets real about his recent struggles. From being his own worst critic to finding a reason to keep going, the musician is slated to morph real-life experiences into glinting bops.–C.D.

Rexx Life Raj

In August, Rexx Life Raj dropped “Canvas,” a reflective track that speaks to the tumultuous times. He also announced the impending release of California Poppy 2, a followup to his 2018 album with producer Kyle Betty. He didn’t offer a time frame for the project, but fall may be a perfect time for the self-proclaimed “Berkeley superhero” to flex his power.–A.G.

Rico Nasty — Nightmare Vacation

Rico Nasty announced Nightmare Vacation in the most sentimental way possible: with a handwritten letter to fans. Along with releasing ‘iPhone” in mid-August, she said that she was feeling anxiety about the album because “I’m so ready to get it out and share it with you.” She can be assured that her fans are just as eager to hear what’s sure to be a fun, empowering listen.–A.G.

Ski Mask The Slump God

In July, Ski Mask released the timely “Burn The Hoods,” which was paired with a fiery Lyrical Lemomade-crafted music video. In his tweet announcing the video, Ski Mask ominously clarified that “this is only the beginning,” hinting that there’s more music where that came from. In a March Instagram post, he noted, “So Much New Music Been Inspired By How Artists Are Making Being A Genuine Creative Without Gimmicks The Standard For Musical Respect Again,” setting an exciting precedent for his next project.–A.G.

Spillage Village

Members of the Spillage Village collective have been busy doing their individual thing over the past couple years, but the eight-man group is set to drop their first album since 2016. In March, Earthgang took to Reddit to announce an album, crediting the quarantine with getting everyone settled and ready to record. In June they released a taste of what to expect with “End Of Daze.”–A.G.

Tobi Lou — Parrish Blue

Chicago native Tobi Lou saw his breakout moment arrive with his Smino-featuring track, “Troop.” Sharing three EPs between 2017 and 2018, Tobi frolicked through the fields with his carefree spirit before he invited listeners to his grand opening show of a debut album Live On Ice in 2019. Ready to bless 2020 to yet another body of work, the “Buff Baby” rapper revealed his sophomore effort, Parrish Blue, would arrive in October. Preparing fans for the upcoming album, Tobi has shared a number of singles since the release of Live On Ice including “Skin Care Tutorial 2020” and “Lingo Starr.”–W.O.

Rumored

6lack

Rising to prominence thanks to his gloomy ballads and bars on the pains and pleasures of love, 6LACK was thrown into the mainstream light with his “PRBLMS” single in 2016. However, the Atlanta native’s best body of work came in 2018 with his sophomore album East Atlanta Love Letter. Now, following his 6pc Hot EP, 6LACK prepares his third album for a fanbase that has grown to be stronger than ever. Backed by LVRN, who has flawlessly navigated project promotion in the midst of a pandemic (see Summer Walker’s Life On Earth EP), fans can expect 6LACK to touch down with his third album later this year.–W.O.

Bon Iver

Justin Vernon has involved himself in a number of endeavors since his 2019 album i,i came out last summer, including a collaboration with Taylor Swift. He has also dropped a pair of Bon Iver singles, “PDLIF” and “AUATC,” the latter of which features guests like Bruce Springsteen and Jenny Lewis. Here’s hoping this flurry of activity leads to a new Bon Iver record in the coming months.–D.R.

Brockhampton

While most artists keep their fans patiently — and sometimes impatiently — waiting for their latest body of work, Brockhampton opted to deliver almost an EP’s worth of songs this year, sharing seven tracks that they confirmed would not appear on their upcoming album. While the group said their next effort would see the light of day in the summer, unknown circumstances have pushed it back to what could be a fall release. Whenever it arrives, fans can be sure a second album would be released shortly after as the self-proclaimed boy band confirmed they would release two albums by the year’s end.–W.O.

BTS

The BTS guys are a productive team of workhorses, often putting out multiple releases per year. They’ve already released two albums in 2020, but it’s possible they could have another coming soon. Their newest single, “Dynamite,” is their first English-language song, and since it doesn’t come from any released or announced album, perhaps some news in that arena is forthcoming.–D.R.

Buddy

Last October, Buddy announced that his sophomore album was coming this spring, but the pandemic may have sullied those plans. He’s been working, though. In June he released “Black 2.” In July he dropped “Faces” with Lucky Daye, and August saw the release of “Ain’t Sweet” with Matt Ox. Speaking with Apple Music, Buddy revealed, “I mean, I’m shooting for a December release. I’m not really supposed to talk about it. Hopefully I’ve got some Christmas gifts for you all with a bunch of music. I was just in Jamaica with Meek, JID, & EarthGang. We was getting a little zoinked out. We made so many songs. I just got to holler at Smino, see what guap they’re talking about and it might be way more than the little bit.”–A.G.

Cardi B

One of today’s queens of not only rap, but music altogether, Cardi B is well on her way to impress fans and critics alike with another project as she continues work on her sophomore album. While it may not be released until after the pandemic, Cardi is off to a phenomenal start thanks to its lead single, “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion. Raunchy and NSFW from start to finish, the single captivated fans, upset a candidate for Congress, inspired a TikTok dance, and broke records in just the first two weeks following its release. As for the upcoming album, Cardi has delivered a number of updates including being a “couple of club hits” away from completion, so fans may not have to wait too long for its arrival.–W.O.

Chika

Rising artist and XXL Freshman Chika has new fans catching on to the brilliance of her Industry Games EP every day. Little do they know, new music may be coming from the “My Power” artist. The social media-savvy MC has periodically played snippets of her next project online, and fans are hoping they’ll get to hear the full thing ASAP.–A.G.

Coldplay

Chris Martin and company haven’t announced anything officially, but signs indicate that it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see a full-length release from them this year. Mark Mitchell, co-president of Coldplay’s record label Parlophone, said in 2019, “There’s nothing set in stone, but what we can say is there’s a desire to do another record to follow this up quickly. [‘Everyday Life’] came very, very quickly. They worked on tracks for the rest of the summer, so there’s a lot of ideas left off this record which they’re hoping to follow up as soon as possible.”–D.R.

J. Cole — The Fall Off

Word of J. Cole’s upcoming project The Fall Off first arrived when the rapper closed his 2018 album KOD with “1985 (Intro to “The Fall Off”).” Almost two years later, Cole would confirm the project’s existence at his Day N Vegas festival performance, where he revealed it would arrive in 2020. Approaching the final months of the year, Cole shared two singles from The Fall Off with fans — “The Climb Back” and “Lion King On Ice” — and reiterated that he was still hard at work on the project. Despite contemplating an attempt at pro basketball, J. Cole is preparing his return to the rap world, one his diehard fans cannot wait for.–W.O.

Jim-E Stack

Jim-E Stack has established himself as a jack of all trades in the music industry, collaborating in various capacities with Charli XCX, Bon Iver, Diplo, Haim, and many others. Now it appears he is prepping his first solo album since 2014: He has a handful of singles from the past few years, including recent tracks with Empress Of and Dijon.–D.R.

Joey Badass

Joey Badass gave his fans a three-song appetizer with The Light Pack in July, but he already knows they’re looking for a more robust follow-up to 2017’s All-Amerikkkan Badass. In March, he told ASAP Rocky that his next album was “almost done,” which may bode well for a fall release.–A.G.

Kanye West — Donda

Album rumors from Kanye West are nothing new to the music industry, as he’s left fans waiting for a new project year-round for the past three trips around the sun. Looking to honor his mother for his latest effort, Kanye revealed his upcoming album would be titled Donda and shared an initial release date of July 24 for its arrival. Going as far to share its tracklist, Kanye pump-faked on the album’s release, forcing fans to re-up on patience for its release. Despite sharing its artwork days after its intended release, Kanye has yet to release the project or share an update with fans. With a number of possibilities in store for Donda, fans will just have to wait and see if 2020 concludes with its release.–W.O.

Migos

Migos were pushing the pedal on releases, then abruptly stopped to do their own solo things. There’s not much known about when we can expect it, or whether it will be with Quality Control after their contract dispute. What we do know is that it won’t be called Culture III, and Quavo is promising the “best album of 2020 and 2021.”–A.G.

Rihanna

The Navy has been waiting impatiently for Rihanna and her ninth album for nearly five years. The singer has spent the year slowly chipping away at the upcoming album while excelling in her other endeavors like her Savage X Fenty and Fenty Skin brands. Aside from teasing her impatient fans, Rihanna have given fans miniscule tidbits including “aggressively” working on it earlier this year and reminding The Navy that “it’s going to be worth it” upon its release. With the possibility of a 2020 release up in the air, the music world will just have to see if Rihanna desires to bless our ears.–W.O.

Rubi Rose

Most famous at one point for her appearance in Migos and Lil Uzi Vert’s “Bad And Boujee” music video, Rubi Rose has ventured out, and found success, on her own in the music world. Inking a deal thanks to her “Big Mouth” single, Rubi caught the ears of the industry with her 2019 track, “He In His Feelings.” Now, the Kentucky native is readying her upcoming debut album, one she says should arrive by the end of September. Confirming it in an interview with Uproxx, Rubi said that aside from a few visuals that are in progress, the project is complete and ready for fans.–W.O.

Sky Ferreira

The wait for the follow-up to Ferreira’s 2013 debut album Night Time, My Time has been a long one. There’s hope that a new project might be nigh, though. Last year, she shared her first new single, “Downhill Lullaby,” in a long time, and gave a bit of an album update. She described “insane obstacles” she was having with her record label, but acknowledged the existence of a new album, saying, “I still managed to make this album & every aspect of it happen by MYSELF.”

Saweetie — Pretty B*tch Music

Saweetie has been promising her Pretty B*tch Music album was on the way for most of the year. In July, she dropped her “Pretty B*tch Freestyle” and “Tap In,” which caught a buzz in part because of the clever revitalization of Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle.” Paying homage to the classics is her lane, and supporters are eager to hear more of it. Maybe they will this fall.–A.G.

SZA

Much like her diehard fans, SZA has been itching to have a new album placed into the world. The “Love Galore” singer has shared little music since she blew fans away with her phenomenal debut album, Ctrl, back in 2017. Unfortunately, the pandemic has seemingly halted all moves at her label, TDE, with not one artist on the label delivering a project in 2020, despite the year being claimed as a “TDE Year” for the celebrated label. Voicing her own frustrations with TDE’s president Punch, it’s clear that SZA has been itching to put out music for her fans. We can’t wait.–W.O.

Trey Songz

Standing as what would be his first full-length release since his 2018 double album 11.28, Trey Songz has already shared two singles from the upcoming album, “Back Home” with Summer Walker and “Circles.” The album is currently untitled and without a release date, but his fans hope that they can get their hands on it before the year comes to a close.

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

Brandy and Monica joined forces Monday night for a record-breaking edition of Verzuz, a live series where musicians go head-to-head with their biggest hits. The event garnered over a million concurrent viewers and Kamala Harris even surprised the singers with a cameo. While the battle when off without a hitch, there was one big question on everyone’s mind. Was Monica wearing beige vinyl pants or just very high-cut boots?

Because Monica was seated for most of the battle, fans weren’t easily able to decipher what exactly her outfit consisted of, and the pants versus boots debate ensued in the comment section. Even celebrities like Tyler The Creator and Solange went back-and-forth on the topic. Tyler was convinced that Monica was rocking a pair of long boots while Solange stood her ground on the fact the singer was sporting pants with sandals.

Solange decided to settle the debate once and for all. The singer hopped on Twitter and created a poll which simply asked: boots or pants? But the answer wasn’t so simple and fans were nearly split down the middle.

Though the Verzuz matchup broke viewing records, it almost didn’t happen. When asked about the potential for the battle, Brandy revealed she was under the impression that Monica had turned down the opportunity. “I heard that she doesn’t wanna do it,” Brandy said. “The last thing I heard is she pretty much turned it down, she didn’t want to be a part of that, but I understand.” Thankfully, the singers were able to work things out and reunite for the first time in nine years on the Verzuz stage.

Five years ago, when Charlie Kaufman was promoting (the wonderful) Anomalisa, he couldn’t get his movies made. Here’s the human being behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich, yet to get Anomalisa made the project had to have a crowdsourced fundraiser. Then, after all that – after Anomalisa received all the film festival accolades, which resulted in a massive bidding war – not many people went to see the movie. To Kaufman, this whole process seemed like nonsense.

At the time, I asked Kaufman if crowdsourcing was the future of making his type of movie. He called it a “dangerous” way to make a movie, but didn’t have a choice. Smash-cut to now and we have a much better sense of the future of movies as streaming platforms are doling out money in a mad dash to build up a library of content. Kaufman’s first film in the last five years, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, is on Netflix and the streaming wars seem like a perfect time for Kaufman. In theory, this could wind up being the most prolific time in Kaufman’s career. The days of worrying about box office, something he hates, could be behind him. So is Kaufman excited? Is this everything he had hoped for? When I asked him this his answer was basically, “Eh, I don’t really care anymore.” Which, as a huge admirer of Kaufman’s work, is somehow both infuriating and hilarious.

It’s a weird thing, Zooming with Charlie Kaufman. Well, it’s still a weird thing to Zoom with anyone, but especially Kaufman, because the need to do this feels like some sort of never-explained, establishing plot point of one of his movies. The thing about Kaufman that’s always surprising is that he’s not “aloof.” In fact, he’s surprisingly straightforward for anyone, let alone someone who’s made movies in which everyone seems to have their own individual different interpretation. Kaufman, as an interviewee, perfectly threads that needle of being incredibly smart, yet not at all a dick, which makes him even more interesting (and, frankly, intimidating).

His new film, well, I suppose this is where I try to explain I’m Thinking of Ending Things (based on the Iain Reid novel), which like a lot of Kaufman movies is almost impossible. Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley play a couple who have been dating for a short amount of time, who visit his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis) and then, well, a lot of strange things happen, especially in relation to our sense of time. Ahead, yes, is the weird zoom call conversation with Charlie Kaufman … which, maybe is the perfect way to talk to Charlie Kaufman, as he pops up on your computer as you try to plead with him to make more movies as he tells you he’s just not as interested anymore.

Oh, we have started?

Yeah, I think we started.

My view is weird. Okay, now you’re big on my screen. How are you doing?

I’m fine. How are you?

It seems fitting in these times that you’ve come to entertain us. I don’t know if that makes sense.

Well, I appreciate it. I don’t know if it makes sense either, but I thank you.

Watching this film, I have no concept of time right now, but this movie made perfect sense to me, which surprised me.

Well, I’m glad to hear it.

But your concept of time in the movie, is that something you’ve thought about with the concept of time to humans now as we go through this?

I haven’t thought about it. I mean, other people have said similar things to me, about the experience of this movie and how it seems to pertain to the time that we’re in, but I hadn’t thought about it. Obviously, when I was making the movie, this wasn’t a thing.

The last time we spoke you were talking about how it’s so tough to get a movie made. Kind of more than anyone, I’m more interested to know your opinion of where we are with streaming services. Has this changed things for you? Do you feel more optimistic because of the way they’re set up and the way they seem to be taking more chances on a wide spectrum of films?

I mean, I got this movie made. Really, aside from Anomalisa, it’s the first movie I made since Synecdoche in 2008. So, I mean, I don’t know if I’m optimistic, but I do think it’s possible. Certainly, if I keep budgets low, then there’s more of a chance that could happen. But I also just don’t have the same kind of drive I used to have, so I don’t really know. I don’t think about it as much. I had a lot of tension about it and worry about it, and I don’t feel that way anymore in my life. So if this is the last movie I get to make, I’m okay with that.

I can’t imagine that. I’m sure there’s something else you’re going to want to make, but I understand what you mean by that. But was there a specific moment where you decided this, or was this a gradual thing over the last five years? Because to go from, Kickstarting money to make a movie to, “It’s not my drive anymore,” is big shift.

Yeah, but I didn’t Kickstart that movie. That was something that they did at Starburns, which was the studio that produced it. They wanted to make that movie. I was like, “Okay, if you could raise the money, we’ll do it.” Assuming they wouldn’t. And then when they did, they did. And so, we made the movie, but I wasn’t desperate to make that movie.

Well, I’m glad you made it.

I’m glad I made it, too. And I’m glad I made this movie. But I don’t feel… It’s probably gotten less and less urgent for me to make movies over the last five years, sure. I’m getting older. My life has changed in a lot of ways. I just don’t feel that ambitious in that way. I don’t feel like I need to be part of this. I have a weird, antagonistic relationship with the business.

Right. But you’ve always had that.

Yeah, but I think a lot of the antagonism before might’ve been more, “I’m angry that I’m not getting to do things.” And now it’s sort of like, I don’t care about it. I don’t want it. I mean, I like working with actors and I like making movies. And if it happens, cool. But if it doesn’t, fine. That’s how I feel now. And it feels better to me.

It is funny to hear you say you’re not very prolific right now when you have a movie and a 700-page book that came out within two months of each other.

But I didn’t say I’m not prolific. I never said that, and I’m not sure what I said that may have sounded like that, but I didn’t say that. [Note: He is correct. He said, not ”ambitious,” but the point still remains.] I just don’t care about it. The fact that the movie and the book are coming out at the same time is coincidence. I’ve been working on the book since 2012, so it’s not like it was a planned event or I did them both at the same time. I finished the book, and then I made the movie. That’s how it worked.

Okay, but as someone who’s an admirer of your movies, to go back to my word, “prolific,” I think the way things are set up right now, with streaming services looking for content, you could be at your most prolific right now. You could probably knock out anything you wanted over the next five years. So it is interesting to hear, now, finally when that’s available, you don’t feel the same way.

But it doesn’t mean I’m not going to work. You know what happened? We’ve hit Anomalisa. We made it ourselves. We made it in the middle of nothing in the middle of nowhere. We didn’t know what we had. We finished it. We started sending it to Telluride and Venice and Toronto [film festivals], and these people went crazy for it. And it won! And everybody was bidding on it to buy it, because we didn’t have distribution. And we won the Silver Lion at Venice. And I thought, holy cow. And then … nothing happened. The movie didn’t do any business. And I really felt weird about that, because this is the second time that’s happened to me. And it’s like, I just stopped caring. And this thing with Netflix is … It doesn’t matter. There’s no box office. The movie will play on Netflix forever – and it won’t disappear in a week because the box office isn’t doing well. And that’s fine with me. And so, that sort of pushed me in the direction of not caring I think. Not that I don’t want to work or not be interested. It just means that it’s outside of my control.

It almost sounds like you just don’t like the fuss of it. Maybe that’s the wrong word, fuss.

I don’t like thinking about box office. I don’t like thinking about commercial viability. All those things that get put into your head, that turn you into some kind of numbskull and unable to do the thing that’s important. I want to be rid of it. I’m done with it. It’s not important to me. I understand that now. And the fact that I don’t care anymore, it makes easier, because I can do the work if I get the work. When I said that this was going to be my last movie, that was basically what I was saying. I mean, I wasn’t making a public pronouncement. I was saying, “I don’t care how this is perceived. I’m going to make the movie I want to make.”

Well, I guess, maybe I’m wording this in a poor way, but I guess the bigger point is it sounds like Charlie Kaufman and streaming is the perfect marriage, because you don’t have to worry about the box office, you don’t have to worry about the fuss. You get make your movie and people are going to watch it.

Who knows? I mean, if those offers come through, and it’s interesting to me, I’ll do it. If it doesn’t, I’m fine.

But I’m just speaking selfishly, because I don’t want to wait five more years, and before that, Synecdoche, it was, what, seven years between your movie?

Well, if that happens, cool.

There’s one particular scene in the movie I did want to ask about. There’s a movie within the movie and you do poke some fun, at least it’s perceived as poking fun, but it looks like you’re poking some fun at another director in this movie. And I want to know where that came from.

You mean Zemeckis?

Yes.

It’s really just luck of the draw. I wanted to stick a credit on the end of that movie within a movie, and our assistant director pulled a name online and just stuck it on the movie. And it was Zemeckis from Contact and it just made us laugh. So we decided to try to contact him and see if he would allow it. And he did. So I’m not poking fun.

Okay.

I’m not poking fun at him. I met him once and we had a very nice conversation about a project. And I liked him very much.

Okay, that’s why I wanted to ask. Knowing you got permission, it seems more in nice fun now knowing he was okay with that.

Yeah. It’s an interesting problem, because we didn’t know if we were going to get permission. There’s something really perfect about Zemeckis and that movie, because it’s a movie that he would never make. But it’s also a movie that he could possibly make. You couldn’t put Scorsese on there, because it would just be so part of a joke. But Zemeckis works a little bit, and I think that’s why we used it.

By the way, before we go, I didn’t want this to come off like, “Make more movies,” and you’re thinking, “What else do you want from me, man?” I just like your movies.

I appreciate your support. I don’t feel pressure.

‘I’m Thinking Of Ending Things’ will being streaming via Netflix on September 4. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Fall is barreling towards us like a ball of dried leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and light jackets rolling down a hill. It’s coming soon and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. If you’re anything like us, you spent a lot of time outside during the last few months in an attempt to feel some semblance of a normal summer. But, it’s all coming to end. Don’t fret though. Sweater weather isn’t so bad. It’s the best time of year to enjoy a warming dram of Scotch whisky.

Gavin Humes, bartender at Scratch Bar & Kitchen in Encino, California prefers the warming nature of a long-aged whisky near a roaring fire as the leaves turn. “Scotch by its very nature is a personal drink, so your mileage may vary.” He adds, “But my go-to scotch for a cool day, maybe by a fireplace, is The Balvenie Doublewood aged 17 years. For me, the finish in sherry casks imparts a unique flavor that I love. If I can’t get my hands on the 17 year, I’ll always default to something with a sherry cask age.”

He’s not the only bartender who looks forward to the warming feeling of fall whisky. That’s why we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the most warming whiskies for fall 2020.

Springbank 15

Veronica Flores, bartender based in Austin, Texas

I guess you can call me Ron Swanson because I love scotch so much. I’d honestly say it’s worth spoiling yourself for the Springbank 15 Year. I love me a good Campbelltown whisky. It’s really easy drinking and it’s something (that if I lived somewhere without erratic weather) I would sip on when it’s chilly enough outside to warrant wearing a scarf and feeling the chill of the air make the tip of your nose cold.

Glenfiddich 21

Reniel Garcia, bar director of Havana 1957 in Miami

Glenfiddich 21 has the flavors of fall. The cinnamon, toffee, and fig. It’s matured in Caribbean rum casks which increases it with exotic notes of ginger, fig, lime, and banana with a vibrant spicy toffee warmness. That all makes it perfect for fall.

The Macallan 12

Christopher Farzanrad, bartender at Mila Rooftop Bar in Glendale, California

The Macallan 12 has a very crisp finish that pairs well with the fall weather. Plus, it’s a great beginner scotch that you’ll continue drinking for years to come.

Aberfeldy 12

Jon Joseph, director of food and beverages at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Texas

Aberfeldy 12 is so smooth and full of hints of honey, vanilla, and caramel, it keeps you sipping for hours on end.

The Macallan 18

Aaron Miyakawa, director of restaurants and special events at Prince Waikiki in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

I remember enjoying scotch one evening with friends and someone bought a round of The Macallan 18. It was the first time I tried it and was very surprised at its complexity of flavors with hints of cinnamon. Since that night, this has certainly become one of my favorite go-to scotches for special gatherings. Every sip is very smooth and enjoyable. It’s perfect for warming you up during the cooler weather months.

Aberlour A’bunadh

Andrew Erickson, lead bartender at Fable Lounge in Nashville

When sitting on the porch enjoying the fact 2020 is almost over and appreciating autumn colors, I will enjoy sipping Aberlour A’bunadh, neat. This cask-strength sherried whisky has notes of dried stone fruit and berries that shine through the long-spiced finish. You will feel the whisky beckon you to colder weather with the baking spices and nut. It will remind you the warm days are still right around the corner with its powerful sherry flavors.

Highland Park 15

Nestor Marchand, director of food and beverage at Plunge Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Highland Park 15-year-old is my pick. This scotch is excellent. Very high quality, smooth, and good pricing for a 15-year-old at around $90.

GlenDronach 12

Adam Steely, owner and manager of Blue Talon Bistro in Williamsburg, Virginia

Fall calls for a Highland malt, preferably one with a sherry cask aging component. That subtle fragrance makes the whisky warming and welcoming. The most famous of these is The Macallan, but my personal preference is GlenDronach 12-year-old Single Malt. It’s non-chill filtered and full of creamy, sherry sweetness from aging in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry butts.

Lagavulin 16

Sabari Kanth, lead bartender at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt. This 43 percent ABV single malt offers a rich dried-fruit sweetness with strong smoke. It has a little spiciness that lightens the grip of peat and vanilla.

The Macallan Double Cask 15

Jonah Dill-D’Ascoli, bartender at The Office in New York City

Currently, I am super excited about The Macallan’s new release of the Double Cask 15 Years Old which has quickly become the whisky I plan to drink this fall and winter. The Double Cask 15 Years Old is deep and rich with beautiful wintertime baking spices. It is the height of a luxurious experience. The American oak gives it notes of French vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a fig quality while the European oak gives some exotic spice notes like cardamom, roasted coffee, and a long, almost chocolate finish. The Macallan’s signature sherry seasoning comes through to ground the whole thing.

Highland Park Dark Origins

Zachary Shore, bartender at The Nest in Seattle

For me, it doesn’t get better than Highland Park Dark Origins. With the leaves changing colors, and the air starting to get crisp, you start to look towards the chill of winter. Before it gets too cold, there is still plenty to do outside with Halloween and Thanksgiving on the way. Dark Origins is perfect for fall with scents of smoke, floral, and peach. The mouthfeel has a smooth, creaminess with flavors of candied apples and apricots. And at around 47 percent ABV, it gives a nice warming sensation as it goes down. Perfect for drinking on a patio in the day, a porch at night, or wrapped up in a blanket in front of the fire.

Glenfiddich 15

Kurt Bellon, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

A nice spicy and sweet scotch to have on hand for a crisp autumn evening is Glenfiddich 15 Year served neat or with a bit of room temp water depending on the vibes.

The most popular upset pick of the second round of the NBA Playoffs was the Miami Heat taking down the Milwaukee Bucks in their 1-4 matchup, with the Bucks playing below their dominant regular season level in the Bubble and Miami dominating Indiana in a first-round sweep.

On Monday night, that prediction got off to a great start as the Heat, led by a sensational performance from Jimmy Butler, pulled away late for a 111-104 win to take a 1-0 series lead. Butler had 40 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, and was the best player on the court for most of the game. Goran Dragic was terrific as well, scoring 27 points with six rebounds and five assists, as the Heat backcourt thoroughly outplayed Milwaukee in the opener.

For the Bucks, it was Khris Middleton who led the way with 28 points, followed by Brook Lopez adding in 24, as Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled to get into a rhythm after picking up three early fouls, ending the night with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Going forward, the Heat will feel even more confident, while the Bucks will have to make some adjustments after yet another Game 1 defeat.

Playoff Jimmy Butler is unbelievable

Butler set a new playoff career high with 40 points on Monday night as he took over down the stretch, hitting big bucket after big bucket for the Heat to help them pull away from the Bucks and seal a victory. He had 13 of the Heat’s last 16 points, scoring at will no matter what the Bucks did defensively or how good of a contest they got on his shot.

After Milwaukee had cut the lead to Miami lead to 99-98, Butler outscored the Bucks on his own 13-6 to close out the final 4:47 of the game. It was a sensational performance and one his team desperately needed, as the Heat could not lose a game in which they played near-perfect defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo all night. It was interesting that it seemed the Bucks made a defensive adjustment going into this game, looking to take away the three-point line more aggressively than they typically do. This made them more susceptible inside, and that meant there was opportunity for Butler — and Goran Dragic, who had 27 points — to feast in the paint.

It’ll be interesting to see what adjustments we see from the Bucks in Game 2 if they effectively dare Butler and Dragic to try and replicate their sensational play in Game 1, or if they go back to packing the paint and leave themselves more vulnerable to Miami’s shooters. In any case, we know where the ball will be in late game situations, and that’s in Butler’s hands, where he was the best player on the court in the fourth quarter.

Giannis has to find a way to assert his presence

The Heat had a masterful plan for Antetokounmpo in this one, much like they’ve displayed in previous matchups where Bam Adebayo has frustrated him with his length and strength and they do a great job forming a wall on him. Giannis was aggressive early, but after he picked up three early fouls, he seemed to just kind of fade away and turn things over to Khris Middleton. The Bucks other All-Star carried the load in the first half with Giannis sitting much of it with foul trouble, but he wasn’t nearly as effective in the second half with just seven points.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, which for most normal humans would be a great stat line, but he was just 6-of-12 from the floor and, most detrimentally to the Bucks, was a putrid 4-of-12 from the free throw line. There’s something to be said for passing out of double teams and making the right basketball play, and giving it to Antetokounmpo at the top of the key and trying to let him iso simply isn’t the answer in this series given how Miami approaches him. That means it’s incumbent on Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks to figure out how to get Giannis the ball more on the move in action that begins before he has the ball, because he can’t have nearly half of his shot attempts from three-point range (five of his 12 were from beyond the arc).

As with how Milwaukee approaches the defensive adjustments from this game, seeing how they try to work the ball into Giannis in different ways is going to be critical for their success going forward. Part of that is Antetokounmpo himself being more assertive, but with how Miami commits so many defenders to him when on the ball, the Bucks must find a way to get him moving when someone else has it and trying to get him into quicker actions, because he has a propensity to be very methodical and that allows defenses to collapse on him.

Miami winning when they lose the three-point battle is huge

Milwaukee outshot the Heat in this one and still lost, which has to be something that will only further make Miami believe in their chances of not only winning this series, but possibly putting the Bucks away early. The Bucks were 16-of-35 from distance (45.7 percent) compared to 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) for Miami. That was the one area just about everyone agreed was the Heat’s greatest advantage over Milwaukee, and that they were able to win that game without bombing away from three is pretty incredible.

The Bucks are going to have to keep up their hot shooting and figure out how to close games out, especially if Giannis isn’t going to be able to take over. Their late game offense was painful to watch, often leading to pull-up jumpers from Middleton. Overall, it was a thoroughly impressive performance for the Heat, who have to feel good about their gameplan to force the rest of the Bucks to beat them, as even in a game where the others shot the ball great, Miami still pulled away for a win in crunch time.