Check out this short summary of the latest news from Flea, Flying Lotus, Aphex Twin, Britney Spears, Arijit Singh and many more.
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Every month, our team will deliver a short roundup of the latest and most compelling music news gathered from across the internet. Stay tuned for a curated selection of the most relevant and interesting updates from the music world.
Aphex Twin surprised fans by DJing at a friend’s wedding. Known for his rare performances, the iconic producer, whose real name is Richard D. James, played a set to an intimate crowd of about 100 people. The event featured classic Aphex vibes, including trippy visuals, pounding techno, and drum-and-bass beats.
This unexpected gig, described as a gift to the groom, showcased Aphex Twin’s unique style in a cozy setting, far from the massive festivals he’s known for. A video shared on social media shows James behind a simple DJ setup, delivering his signature experimental sound to a sparse dancefloor.
Adding to the buzz, rumors have circulated about a possible A24 biopic starring Willem Dafoe. Although unconfirmed, the idea has sparked excitement online. Will Aphex Twin’s next venture involve weddings or Hollywood? Only time will tell.
Indian singer Arijit Singh has officially become the most-followed artist on Spotify, surpassing Taylor Swift. Singh has garnered over 119 million followers, edging past Swift, who has 118.9 million. This marks the second time the singer has briefly overtaken Swift; a similar event occurred in August 2023, but Swift soon reclaimed her top spot.
While Swift maintains a higher number of monthly listeners, with 95.7 million compared to Singh’s 40.3 million, Singh’s popularity continues to soar. Known for his emotional ballads, many of which are featured in Bollywood films, Singh has been the most-followed Indian artist on Spotify for four years running. His 2020 compilation album Ultimate Love Songs remains a fan favorite, with millions of streams on tracks like “Tum Hi Ho.”
Singh is set to embark on a UK and Europe tour, with shows at The O2 in London and other major cities like Birmingham and Manchester. Meanwhile, Swift is preparing for the next leg of her “Eras Tour” in the US.
Flying Lotus, the acclaimed producer and co-founder of Brainfeeder, has confirmed that he created two ringtones for Apple’s iPhone, titled “Daybreak” and “Chalet.” These ringtones have been available since 2019, introduced with iOS 13, but their origins were only recently revealed.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Flying Lotus, whose real name is Steven D. Bingley-Ellison, commented, “Apple leaked it so I can say it,” confirming his involvement after the ringtones were featured on the Apple podcast The Sound of Apple.
The ringtones have a soft, dreamy quality and have been used by iPhone users for years without many realizing the famous artist behind them. Flying Lotus joins other musicians, like Brian Eno and Ryuichi Sakamoto, who have composed iconic sounds for tech companies.
Beyond his secret contributions to Apple’s ringtones, Flying Lotus also recently released his first solo track in five years, “Garmonbozia,” marking his return to music after a brief hiatus.
Rapper Nelly was arrested at a St. Louis-area casino for possession of four ecstasy pills, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Nelly, 49, was taken into custody after an identification check revealed an outstanding warrant from 2018 for driving without proof of insurance. Nelly’s attorney claimed the rapper was unfairly targeted by an “overzealous” officer who conducted a search without probable cause after supervising Nelly’s jackpot winnings.
Rosenblum argued that Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, was unaware of the warrant and regularly provides proof of no warrants for international travel, including FBI checks. The attorney described the search as improper and expressed confidence that the case would not move forward, adding that an inquiry into the officer’s conduct would be requested.
Nelly, a three-time Grammy winner known for hits like “Hot in Herre” and “Country Grammar,” was released after being booked. The highway patrol did not provide further details, and Maryland Heights police did not comment on the incident.
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is stepping into a new role, hosting story time in Yo Gabba GabbaLand!, a fresh Apple TV+ series inspired by the beloved children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba.
In an exclusive clip, Flea reads a whimsical tale about a silly little otter, accompanied by his young co-host Levi. The duo crafts the story together, with Levi adding his imaginative touch, while animated visuals bring their adventure to life.
The new series, premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 9th, features an all-star lineup of special guests, including Anderson .Paak, Portugal. The Man, Thundercat, and more. This modern spin on Yo Gabba Gabba promises fun, music, and life lessons, continuing the original show’s legacy of engaging families through entertainment.
Flea’s appearance adds to his diverse resume, fresh off a 2024 tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, celebrating their latest albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen. Fans can expect his signature energy and creativity in this heartwarming children’s series.
A Macklemore fan’s dream moment onstage quickly turned sour when she was arrested right after performing with the rapper at Slovakia’s Lovestream festival. The 24-year-old fan, wanted by Slovakian police, joined Macklemore for a duet during his set, only to be escorted off in handcuffs once the song ended.
The Slovakian Police Department shared the incident on Facebook, explaining that the woman, a bartender, had been avoiding paying a fine for running shirtless during a 2019 football match. After she posted about her performance with Macklemore on social media, a festival attendee recognized her from a “wanted” photo and alerted the police. Officers waited until her moment onstage concluded before arresting her.
Macklemore, who likely had no idea about the fan’s background, continues his 2024 tour with more international stops. So, a word to the wise: if Macklemore invites you onstage, make sure you’re not on any wanted lists!
Deftones have just released their latest brew, Bored Blueberry Wheat Ale, perfect for those lazy moments. This new beer, a collaboration with Belching Beaver Brewery, is named after “Bored,” the opening track from Deftones’ 1995 debut album Adrenaline. With a blend of blueberry and a hint of vanilla, this 4.5% ABV brew is light but flavorful.
Available starting August 9th at all Belching Beaver taprooms and online via CraftShack, Bored is the latest in a series of Deftones’ beer collaborations. Previous hits include Phantom Bride IPA and Good Morning Beautiful brown ale. The launch of this new beer comes on the heels of Deftones’ Lollapalooza performance and ahead of their upcoming show with System of a Down in San Francisco on August 17th.
This new beer arrives right after Deftones’ Lollapalooza performance and ahead of their highly anticipated one-off show with System of a Down and the sold-out Dia De Los Deftones festival.
Britney Spears has exciting news for her fans: a biopic about her life is officially in the works. Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to the film, which will likely explore her impressive music career and the 13-year conservatorship that sparked the #FreeBritney movement.
Spears teased the project on X, with a statement that read, “Excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favorite movies … stay tuned.”
In her memoir, Spears revealed details about her conservatorship from 2008 to 2021, describing it as “abusive” due to her father’s control over her finances, travel, and relationships. The trial to end it drew massive public attention, fueled by the #FreeBritney movement and her loyal fans.
While she has hinted at not returning to the industry, rumors of new music continue to circulate, as fans eagerly await more details about the upcoming film, which, with such a talented team behind it, is sure to be a major hit!
Flavor Flav continues his support for Team USA by assisting Paralympian Nick Mayhugh in bringing his parents to the Paris Paralympics. After the Paris Olympics ended, the Public Enemy co-founder used his social media platform to promote Mayhugh’s GoFundMe campaign.
“Imagine spending 18 years taking ya kid to every practice and game and working 2-3 jobs to buy equipment,” Flavor Flav tweeted, “and then not being able to watch them play the biggest game of their life.” Thanks to Flav’s push, Mayhugh reached his fundraising goal in just one day.
This will be Mayhugh’s second Paralympics, following a successful Tokyo Games where he won three gold medals. Due to the pandemic, his parents couldn’t attend Tokyo, making Paris even more special. In addition to supporting Mayhugh, Flavor Flav has funded 35 other GoFundMe campaigns for Olympians and Paralympians, supported Team USA discus thrower Veronica Fraley with her rent, and has been a prominent supporter of the US women’s water polo team, even signing a five-year sponsorship deal with them.
Meta and Spotify are testing a new feature that might let Instagram users share what they’re listening to directly from Spotify through Instagram’s Notes.
This potential feature was discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who spotted it on Meta’s Threads. While there’s no guarantee this will become available, it would enhance Instagram’s existing ability to share short song clips that was introduced in 2022.
If rolled out, this feature would build on Instagram’s previous updates, allowing continuous sharing of Spotify music, unlike the current method of selecting from Instagram’s own music catalog. This integration could offer a seamless way for Instagram users to share their musical tastes, potentially driving more engagement across both platforms.
Both companies have collaborated before, like with Spotify’s miniplayer on Facebook in 2021, and are seen as competitors to Apple, which could be influencing their partnership. Spotify and Meta haven’t confirmed or commented on this feature yet, but it could appear in 2025.
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Luca is an underground music expert with more than ten years
of DJing and playlist curation,
focusing on new artists. He has appeared at Primavera Pro and BIME Pro, and he writes for the Playlo blog about music news,
tips, and independent artists.
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