Check out this short summary of the latest news from Britney Spear, Nine Inch Nails, Damon Albarn, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg and 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.
Carlita is set to shake things up with a unique pop-up show in a London tube station. On September 13th, the Turkish/Italian DJ and producer will present her Senza Fine multi-sensory party concept at a secret underground venue. This event will feature a performance by the Australian electro-pop duo Confidence Man, who will support Carlita.“Can’t wait to go underground with Confidence Man,” Carlita said in her Instagram story.
Scheduled for the Friday of London Fashion Week 2024, this show will be the seventh iteration of Senza Fine, blending high fashion, music, and art into an “unparalleled immersive experience.” The exact location will only be revealed to ticket holders closer to the date.
Tickets for the exclusive event sold out in just 40 seconds, and a re-sale queue is now available. Carlita’s recent highlights include a remix for RÜFÜS DU SOL, performances at major events like Burning Man, and high-fashion collaborations.
NASA has made history by broadcasting Missy Elliott’s hip-hop track “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” into space, marking the first time a hip-hop song has been transmitted beyond Earth. This transmission, which took place on July 12th, 2024, was sent to Venus, Elliott’s favorite planet, via NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN).
“I still can’t believe I’m going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!” Elliott said. The transmission of her music follows NASA’s 2008 broadcast of The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” aimed at Polaris.
This project is part of NASA’s broader efforts to integrate music and space exploration, including its “sonifications” series that converts space images into sound. As NASA continues to explore Venus with upcoming missions, Elliott’s music has now journeyed far beyond Earth, reaching new heights in space.
LALAL.AI is revolutionizing music production with its advanced AI-powered stem separation technology. Traditionally, splitting a mixed audio file into distinct components like vocals, drums, and bass was nearly impossible, but LALAL.AI has made it as easy as clicking a button.
While many stem separation tools use a ‘mask-based’ approach—covering unwanted parts with spectral masks—LALAL.AI stands out with its innovative method. Instead of masking, it uses a sophisticated neural network that synthesizes and recreates the audio stems, resulting in cleaner, higher-quality outputs with fewer artifacts. This technique excels particularly with vocal parts, offering a clearer sound compared to traditional methods.
LALAL.AI also features Enhanced Processing, which reduces cross-stem leakage and improves quality, and can be toggled on or off based on your needs. Unique to LALAL.AI is the ability to remove echo and reverb from vocals to produce ‘dry’ audio, which you can then further process. Additionally, a beta voice changer lets you alter recordings to mimic your favorite artists.
Snoop Dogg is stepping into a significant role at the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to light up the event as one of the torchbearers. The rapper will carry the Olympic flame on the penultimate leg through Saint-Denis, a Parisian suburb. His route includes iconic locations such as the Stade de France, the new Olympic Aquatics Center, and part of the Olympic Village.
Before Snoop takes on this prestigious task, several French celebrities, including rapper MC Solaar, actress Laeticia Casta, film director Alice Diop, Paralympian Charles-Antoine Kouakou, and rugby player Abdelatif Benazzi, will carry the torch.
Beyond his torch-bearing duties, Snoop Dogg will play a prominent role in NBC’s coverage of the Olympics. He’ll be both in-studio and on the ground, exploring the city’s unique sights, interviewing athletes and coaches, and providing a vibrant perspective on the Games. To prepare, Snoop recently competed in a 200-meter mock race at the US Olympic Team track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon.
Damon Albarn, the frontman of Blur and Gorillaz, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Exeter. The university recognized Albarn for his “creativity, innovation, and commitment to environmental causes,” as well as his significant impact on contemporary music, opera, and composition.
In his acceptance speech, Albarn encouraged graduates to “trust in your instincts and don’t take no for an answer,” while also advising them to stay open-minded and strive to do good.
Albarn humorously noted that receiving this honorary degree was a step up from his previous visit to Exeter for driving theory certificates. He also mentioned how his daughter’s recent graduation made this occasion even more meaningful.
In addition to his recent honor, Albarn has been previously recognized with the Order of the British Empire. His work continues to inspire aspiring artists and underscore the role of musicians in promoting environmental sustainability.
Britney Spears and the Osbournes are in a heated feud after the Osbourne family criticized her Instagram dance videos on their podcast. During the latest episode of The Osbournes Podcast, Ozzy Osbourne expressed frustration over seeing Britney dance daily, calling it “sad” and “very, very sad.” Sharon Osbourne and their children, Kelly and Jack, echoed his sentiments, with Kelly saying she felt “sorry” for Britney and Sharon describing it as “heartbreaking.”
In response, Britney took to Instagram, slamming the Osbourne family. She called them “the most boring family known to mankind” and told them to “kindly f–k off.” Her post also included a defense of actress Kate Beckinsale, who had been criticized for her social media posts, and ended with a cheeky video of Britney dancing in a hot pink bikini to “Love Story” by Indila.
The dispute has captured public attention, with Britney’s Instagram post receiving significant support and media coverage. The Osbournes’ podcast has been noted for its candid and often controversial commentary, and this latest episode has only added fuel to the fire.
Alternative fashion lovers and industrial music fans have something to celebrate—Nine Inch Nails has teamed up with iconic footwear brand Dr. Martens for a special edition shoe line inspired by NIN’s legendary 1994 album, The Downward Spiral.
John Crawford, Nine Inch Nails’ creative director, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “This collaboration just makes so much sense, not only because of the fans who wear Dr. Martens to our shows, but because both NIN and Dr. Martens reject convention and push boundaries. This collection feels authentically Nine Inch Nails.”
Fans can snag the collection starting on July 19th via Dr. Martens’ website. This collaboration follows Dr. Martens’ previous music-inspired collections with bands like Joy Division, New Order, Sex Pistols, and Black Sabbath, marking another milestone for the brand’s connection to alternative culture.
In addition to this footwear release, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have teased exciting new projects, including a forthcoming NIN album.
Just weeks after his arrest for drunk driving, Justin Timberlake has gained approval to open a luxury sports bar in Scotland alongside golfing legend Tiger Woods. The duo’s venture, T-Squared Social, will transform the historic New Picture House Cinema in St. Andrews into an upscale entertainment venue. The bar will offer sports simulators, duckpin bowling, darts, and retain two of the cinema’s original screens, blending modern fun with the building’s history.
St. Andrews holds personal meaning for both Timberlake and Woods. Woods won two Open Championships at the legendary course, while Timberlake competed in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Fife Council praised the project’s potential to boost the local economy, creating 40-45 new jobs and offering a unique entertainment experience for locals.
Timberlake’s arrest occurred on June 18 in Sag Harbor, New York. Addressing it during a concert, he admitted, “It’s been a tough week,” even injecting humor into the situation at a later performance. NIN album.
Will Ferrell is back behind the DJ booth, this time teaming up with Swedish House Mafia for a special charity event in Chicago. On October 26th, the “Anchorman” star will host the Ultimate DJ House Party at Wintrust Arena, benefiting Cancer for College. The event will feature performances by top DJs, including A-Trak, Felix Da Housecat, and more, with Swedish House Mafia headlining the night.
In a playful YouTube video titled “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT,” Ferrell, dressed in sunglasses and a Swedish House Mafia shirt, says, “I’ll be playing with my band, Swedish House Mafia.” He then introduces Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso, ending with a humorous warning: “Be there — don’t piss these guys off.”
Ferrell is a longtime supporter of Cancer for College, an organization that provides scholarships and medical debt relief to cancer survivors. With Swedish House Mafia in the midst of their Ibiza residency, this Chicago event promises to be a memorable night for a great cause.
Don’t expect new music from Adele anytime soon. In a recent interview with German broadcaster ZDF, the singer revealed she has “no plans” to create new material. After finishing her current commitments, she’s looking forward to taking a break and exploring other creative endeavors. “I want a big break after this, and I think I want to do other creative things, just for a little while,” she said.
This echoes previous statements Adele made in 2023, where she expressed concern about overusing her voice during her Las Vegas residency. She added, “I haven’t even thought about [new music].” In January, during her “Weekends With Adele” show, she mentioned that it might be a while before she writes a new album but promised to visit fans when she does.
Before her break, Adele will perform in Munich next month. The massive pop-up shows will feature impressive staging, including a 30-meter LED screen. She’ll then wrap up her Las Vegas residency later this year, with fans eagerly awaiting what she decides to do next.
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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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