Beyonce just posted a moving video in response to Wednesday night’s mass shooting at a church in Charleston.”My heart is with the families, loved ones, and all of those affected by the senseless tragedy in Charleston. May they rest in peace,” Beyonce wrote alongside the video.
The Evolution of the Hipster 2010—2015
Ah, the hipster. The term seemed to come out of nowhere and take over youth subculture as we knew it. While many will argue that the hipster is a thing of the past, the term has gotten so broad that it seems to point to more of an evolution. Back in 2009, Paste took a look at the inaugural ten years of the hipster, and, now, they’re looking at the past six. Yes, times have changed a lot since 2000s guyliner wearing, soulful emo guy.
Lorde and Lena Dunham talk sexuality in the music business
ena Dunham: I was thinking about questions and I really wanted to make sure that, even though it’s the Girls Rule the World issue, we talk about more things than being a girl. The first thing I wanted to know was if you feel, as I do, that a lot of your interviews end up being exclusively about being female and being young in a way that you find exhausting.
Lorde: (laughs) Yeah, I mean… There are only so many times you can answer those questions. People always want to know if it’s ‘hard being a girl in this industry’ and it’s kind of like, ‘Well, it is hard sometimes. But also, I’m good, you know?’
Lena Dunham: Totally! You’re like, ‘I’m also a young person who’s really enjoying her career and having the career that she wants.’
Lorde: Yeah. I think people like hearing the horror stories about old male executives having the wrong idea (about my music), which happens, but, you know…
Lena Dunham: It’s not like you’ve come into this as a Disney star, or had lots of people trying to commodify your sexuality. It feels to me, as an outsider, like you’ve been able to keep control of your work in a very important way.
Lorde: I sometimes get asked, ‘Did people try to sexualise you early on in your career?’ But I came into this with such a strong viewpoint – even when I was 13 or 14, my sense of self felt too permanent for anyone to fuck with. You know, whenever there was a makeover suggestion or like, ‘Do you wanna try this push- up bra?’ I think I freaked enough people out – or intimidated enough people – that it didn’t happen. But also, does that still happen these days? Is that a thing? I feel like people think more of teenage girls than that.
Via Dazed
You’ll Never Guess Where Soul-Man Leon Bridges’ Signed His Record Contract
While most people visiting the Fort Worth branch of office suppliers Staples last December probably just needed envelopes or boxes for last-minute Christmas presents, Leon Bridges’ visit was somewhat more life-changing.
That Yuletide, he made use of the stationery giant’s ‘Office On The Go’ facilities to sign and fax back a contract to Columbia Records. When he left the store he was Bob Dylan’s labelmate. “I was thinking about that on the way home,” laughs the quietly-spoken 26-year-old. “It felt like a dream. I didn’t really know what to make of it! We did have some champagne afterwards though, for sure.”
Via MOJO Magazine
Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See You Again’ Is Now 2 Weeks Away From Longest-Leading #1 Rap Song On Billboard Hot 100
As it extends its run atop the Hot 100, Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See You Again’ is one of just nine rap hits (defined as titles which have appeared on Hot Rap Songs) that have led the Hot 100 for nine weeks or more. Here’s an updated look at the rap No. 1s that have ruled the Hot 100 the longest:
Longest-Leading Rap Hits on the Hot 100
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist(s), Date Reached No. 1
12, “Boom Boom Pow,” the Black Eyed Peas, April 18, 2009
12, “Lose Yourself,” Eminem, Nov. 9, 2002
11, “I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112, June 14, 1997
10, “Low,” Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, Jan. 5, 2008
10, “Gold Digger,” Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, Sept. 17, 2005
10, “Dilemma,” Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland, Aug. 17, 2002
9, “See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, April 25, 2015
9, “Candy Shop,” 50 Cent feat. Olivia, March 5, 2005
9, “In Da Club,” 50 Cent, March 8, 2003
Via Billboard
Twitter Canada Predicts The Winners For The MMVAs
The MMVAs air live on MuchMusic and CTV on Sunday, June 21 and here are the winners, if the amount of tweets got to pick them.
SiriusXM Canada and Open Roof Festival Introduce the SiriusXM Audience Choice Award
Returning for its sixth year tonight at 99 Sudbury, the Open Roof Festival, in partnership with SiriusXM, introduces the first-ever SiriusXM Audience Choice Award. The winning artist will be determined by a combination of onsite voting and social media engagement, and will be awarded $7,000 by SiriusXM. Second and third place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. Winners will be announced at the final Festival screening on Wednesday, August 19.
Participating Open Roof Festival bands are eligible for prizing, beginning with Tomi Swick, kicking-off the Festival’s premiere tonight. For a full list of programming, visit www.OpenRoofFestival.com
Co-founded by Michael MacMillan, Sandra Singer, Jordan Nahmias, and Burzin Contractor in 2010, Open Roof Festival is Toronto’s summer outdoor film and music festival. For more information, visit www.openrooffestival.com, facebook.com/openrooffestival and follow @openrooffest on Twitter. Along with SiriusXM, the Open Roof Festival is proud to include 99 Sudbury, the Amsterdam Brewery, Toronto Arts Council, Slaight Music and Wavelength Music as some of its sponsors and presenting partners.
Open Roof Festival is held at 99 Sudbury, running every Wednesday evening beginning tonight, June 17 through to August 19. The 10-week festival offers urbanites an al fresco take on hit cinema from Canada and across the globe paired with live music by emerging artists in a variety of genres — a combination that has established Open Roof Festival’s reputation as Toronto’s ultimate summer date night and meeting spot.
Tickets on sale now for $15 and available at www.OpenRoofFestival.com. For all events, doors open at 7:30pm with the musical act coming on shortly thereafter and the films commencing at sundown.
Keisza, Alvvays, Dear Rouge Among Ten SOCAN Songwriting Prize Finalists Announced
SOCAN today announced the finalists for its annual SOCAN Songwriting Prize, a competition that recognizes outstanding songs written by emerging English and French Canadian songwriters over the past year, as selected by a panel of esteemed music industry experts.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the award, permanent changes have been introduced: the number of finalists for each of the English and French prizes has been expanded from five to 10, and the cash prize has doubled to $10,000, making it the largest cash prize in the Canadian music industry for a single song.
The 10 English SOCAN Songwriting Prize finalists:
“Archie, Marry Me” – written by Alec O’Hanley and Molly Rankin; performed by Alvvays
“Old Knives” – written by James Anderson and Cold Specks; performed by Cold Specks; published by Kobalt and Cold Specks Music Ltd.
“I Heard I Had” – written by Andrew McTaggart, Danielle McTaggart; performed by Dear Rouge; published by dear Rouge
“In My Solitude” – written by Laura Bates,Tyler Belluz, Aaron Brooks, Lisa Conway, Karen Ng, Chris Sandes, Ira Zingraff; performed by Del Bel
“Hideaway” – written by Rami Afuni and Kiesza; performed by Keisza; published by Universal Music Publishing Group, Afuni Music (BMI), Music Of Liberal Arts Publishing (BMI), Songs Of Universal (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music Canada Ltd., Elephant Eye Publishing, and Stellar Songs Ltd.
“You Look Like Trouble (But I Guess I Do Too)” – written and performed by Lisa Leblanc; published by Third Side Music Inc.
“The Bells” – written by Lowell, Justin Broad and Paul Herman; performed by Lowell; published by BMG Rights, BMG Rights Management Ltd. (PRS), Peermusic, Submarine Music Ltd., Fintage, and Voxwatch Ltd. (PRS)
“It’s A Burn” – written and performed by Samantha Savage Smith
“Young Gunner” – written by Joel Chambers, Nevon Sinclair and Renee Wisdom; performed by Shi Wisdom
“Private Island” – written by Daniel Jacques and Allie Ho-Sang; performed by 2nd Son featuring Allie
From June 14 to July 1 2015, Canadian music fans can vote for their favourite song by either visiting www.socansongwritingprize.ca or through Twitter, by using the hashtag #mySSPvote and identifying the artist’s name in the tweet. Fans can vote once a day.
This year’s finalists were determined by an independent panel of 15 music-industry experts who were each asked to nominate two songs, from any genre, that they felt were the most artistic and creative songs written by emerging music creators over the past year. All of the songs were compiled, reviewed and shortlisted by these panelists to determine the 10 finalists. SOCAN has no role in the selection of nominees or winners.
Once public voting closes on July 1 and the votes are tabulated, the winner will be announced the week of July 6, 2015.
Along with $10,000 cash, the winning songwriter(s) will receive a Martin D-16GT acoustic guitar, a Yamaha PSR-S950 keyboard, a $500 Gift Card from Long & McQuade, a certificate for up to 20 hours of studio time with Timothy Abraham and certificate for up to six hours of vocal coaching with Amanda Mabro.
“This competition is about celebrating the art of songwriting and recognizing the abundance of emerging talent in Canada”, said Mike McCarty, chief membership & business development officer at SOCAN. “We hope being nominated helps these up-and-coming songwriters expand their fan base while providing more opportunities for them to grow as creators. Given the calibre of their creations this year, we anticipate they will continue to wow us for years to come.”
The 10 finalists for the 2015 Prix de la chanson SOCAN, the Francophone counterpart to the SOCAN Songwriting Prize:
“De pluie et de cendre” – written and performed by Guillaume Beauregard; published by Les Éditions de La Tribu
“Kryuchkova” – written by Alexandre Bernier Leclerc; performed by Bernhari; published by Avenue Éditorial
“Le nouveau vocabulaire” – written and performed by Antoine Corriveau; published by Coyote Records
“Publi Sac” – written by Louis-Nicolas Imbeau and Emmanuel Blouin Lajoie; performed by Eman X Vlooper; published by Disques 7e Ciel
“Piscine” – written by Fanny Grosjean and Étienne Dupuis Cloutier; performed by Fanny Bloom; published by Les Éditions Dare to Care
“Mardi Gras” – written by Alexandre Bilodeau, Jacques Alphonse Doucet and Pierre Kwenders; performed by Pierre Kwenders
“Arlon” – written by Salomé Leclerc and Philippe Brault; performed by Salomé Leclerc; published by Avenue Éditorial
“Neguac and back” – written by Julie Aubé and Katrine Noel; performed by Les Hay Babies; published by Hay Babies Music, Éditions Ladilafe
“Ficelle” – written by Julien Sagot and Antoine Binette Mercier; performed by Julien Sagot; published by Simone Records
“Jolie Anne” – written by Benoit Pinette; performed by Tire le Coyote; published by Les Éditions de La Tribu
For all of the latest updates, follow the SOCAN Songwriting Prize on Twitter at @SOCANmusic and via the #SOCANprize hashtag, as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SOCANmusic.
This Might Be The Coolest Thing To Do AT NXNE
Ever wanted to take the NXNE Yonge-Dundas stage but never had the headlining, superstar status it inevitably requires? Good Enough LIVE KARAOKE is here to help your dreams come true.
If you think you’re ready to belt your heart out to the heart of Toronto, it’s time to make the difficult, life-changing decision: choosing your song. There are hundreds to choose from including tracks from Radiohead, 10CC, Alvvays, Pixies and The Smiths.
You can sign up here and go belt your heart out, you indie rocker, you.
Ricky Gervais, Jordan Peele, Fred Armisen, Don Cheadle, Will Forte and Thomas Middleditch on their dream comedy collaborators
Present company excluded, who are your dream comedy collaborators?
GERVAIS You can all still say me.
ARMISEN I would say Prince. (Laughter.) I’ve worked a little bit with Louis C.K. on SNL, but doing something with him on Portlandia would be fun. And maybe Woody Allen?
MIDDLEDITCH My top one — besides everyone at this table — would be Jim Carrey. But Jim Carrey in The Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He can do everything. On the other side of the spectrum — Wes Anderson. After seeing [The Grand] Budapest [Hotel] so many times, I just want to know, how can I get into his dollhouse world?
PEELE Christopher Guest and Catherine O’Hara — that whole crew is legendary. If I could be in one of his movies, I’m done. I’m hanging up the gloves.
CHEADLE You actually have an audition next week.
GERVAIS Don’t do the acting!
ARMISEN You know who would be great whom I haven’t seen in a long time is Rick Moranis.
MIDDLEDITCH He’s retired. I think that’s the word.
FORTE John Cleese?
MIDDLEDITCH Can we pick nonliving people?
ARMISEN Alec Guinness. Dead. Remember him in Kind Hearts and Coronets?
GERVAIS He’s perked up now that dead people are in.
ARMISEN Also, Dracula.
GERVAIS He’s a fictional character, isn’t he?
ARMISEN No, I think he’s just dead.
GERVAIS He didn’t exist.
ARMISEN You’ve seen him with the fangs and everything.
PEELE That was Prince.
GERVAIS I like Bill Murray and Kristen Wiig.
PEELE You already worked with Kristen in a movie.
GERVAIS I know. Wait, does this roundtable count now? Have I officially “worked with” all of you now?
ARMISEN Yes, actually.
GERVAIS Also, Bill Murray for me. And Mickey Mouse.
ARMISEN He’s dead.
GERVAIS He’s not dead, he’s fictional. (Laughter.)
ARMISEN Wait — Steamboat Willie … that guy is still alive?
GERVAIS Steamboat Willie — hey, that’s what I called Fred in the toilet earlier, isn’t it? (In a high-pitched voice) “OK, who’s going to have a wee now? Into the train, into the station, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee!”
