This is our latest end of week round up and last one before Christmas.
1. Nathaniel Rateliff shares new track ‘Redemption’
Nathaniel Rateliff premieres “Redemption,” a new song the acclaimed singer-songwriter wrote for the forthcoming Apple Original film, Palmer. Premiering globally on January 29, 2021, exclusively on Apple TV+, Palmer stars Justin Timberlake (The Social Network, Bad Teacher, Alpha Dog), Alisha Wainwright (“Raising Dion,” “Shadowhunters”) and Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises, Atonement). The film, directed by Fisher Stevens (Stand Up Guys, Before the Flood, The Cove), tells the story of former high-school football star Eddie Palmer (Timberlake), who went from hometown hero to convicted felon, earning himself twelve years in a state penitentiary.
He returns home to Louisiana, where he moves back in with Vivian (June Squibb), the grandmother who raised him. While trying to keep his head down and rebuild a quiet life for himself, Palmer is haunted by memories of his glory days and the suspicious eyes of his small town community. Things become more complicated when Vivian’s hard-living neighbor Shelly (Temple) disappears on a prolonged bender, leaving her precocious and unique 7-year-old son Sam (Ryder Allen), often the target of bullying, in Palmer’s reluctant care. In time, Palmer is drawn into a more hopeful world as he forges a connection with Sam through their shared experience of being made to feel different by those around them. Life improves for Palmer, and a romance develops between him and Sam’s teacher Maggie (Wainwright). An inspiring and unexpected journey unfolds for the three of them, but soon Palmer’s past threatens to tear apart this new life.
2. Engelbert Humperdinck announces surprise release of ‘Blue Christmas’
Engelbert Humperinck is releasing his new studio version of ‘Blue Christmas’ on Thursday December 17th 2020. The Elvis Presley classic has been updated by Engelbert with a Texas Two Step arrangement and is being released by OK!Good Records. The surprise Christmas single follows the release of Engelbert’s Sentiments EP that saw the iconic vocalist record songs including Elton John’s ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’, Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’, Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’ as well as a duet with UK singer/songwriter Janet Devlin of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.
Following the success of his first ever Christmas Special on December 12th, Engelbert has announced today that the stream will now be available on demand. With a ticket price of $15 the show will be available until 11:59pm (PT) on December 26th. Tickets are available from Speaking on his weekly YouTube Vlog (Tuesday Museday) Engelbert said, “I hope you all enjoyed my livestream Christmas concert special over the weekend. Many of you have asked about being able to see it again so today we have some exciting news for you. If you missed it, or if you would just like to celebrate the magic of the holiday season with me again, we will be making the concert available On-Demand on Looped starting from today, through until December 26th. HERE
3. Enter Shikari release unique T.I.N.A video
Enter Shikari share their unusual video for ’T.I.N.A’, directed and animated by film maker Matthew Taylor.
’T.I.N.A’ is taken from the band’s sixth album, ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’, which was released in April and became the highest charting album of their career, landing at number 2 in the UK Official Charts
Frontman Rou Reynolds commented on the video:
“When Matt came to us with this idea for a video back in the summer, it intrigued us so much we couldn’t resist giving it a go! We each did two “performances” of the song, one with our faces and one with our fingers, and the next thing we know he’s welded them together into four grotesque, and quite frankly distressing, Boglin-esque blobs. And it was all recorded from a smart phone!”
Enter Shikari’s ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’ UK & European tour will begin on 10th May 2021,
4. Ladbaby share video for ‘Don’t Stop Me Eating’
It wouldn’t be Christmas without LadBaby. The foursome’s festive fun has seen them conquer the charts for two years in a row, shooting straight to #1 with ‘We Built This City on Sausage Rolls’ (2018) and ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ (2019). Today they release ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’’, their comedy take on the timeless Journey power ballad, which benefits The Trussell Trust, whose mission is to end the need for food banks in the UK.
LadBaby’s latest celebration of the tasty pastry snack offers a light-hearted take on the year’s events. But with the humour, there’s also a longing to be reunited with loved ones as shown by lyrics such as “A sausage roll for a shielding mate / In a bag thrown over the gate” and “Give anything to hug my nan / Just one more time.”
The song is released alongside an equally entertaining video. Clad head-to-toe in sausage roll Santa suits, the family hit the road in the fastest shed in the world. They’re shown spreading some Christmas cheer as they tour various landmarks in the UK. While the shed doesn’t reach its full speed (106 MPH!), decorating it as a Christmas grotto makes for a sensationally strange sight.
5. BlueBucksClan drop ‘Want Me To’ video
6. Jake Bugg shares Rudimental remix of ‘All I Need’
Following the release of his new single and cinematic short film All I Need, Jake Bugg has shared an alternate version of the track with a remix by Rudimental.
All I Need has received acclaim from fans and media alike since its release last month, with support from the likes BBC Radio 1, where Greg James made the track his Breakfast Show ‘Record of the Week’, and Radio X. Jake also performed an acoustic version of the song for Mahogany, which can be watched here.
All I Need is about a feeling of contentment. It’s about having absolute clarity in what you are doing and who you are. It’s about living in the moment and losing yourself. It’s a song written for all of us. The Rudimental remix of the track adds a drum & bass spin to the original, taking the euphoria up a notch, but also bringing things down to more mellow moments.
All I Need, produced by Steve Mac, is the second official single release since Kiss Like The Sun at the end of last year, which was co-written with Andrew Watt (Post Malone) and marked Jake’s debut release since signing to RCA Records and a new start in his musical career. Jake also released two new tracks and short films Rabbit Hole and Saviours of the City earlier this year.
Jake and his band played 9 sold out UK dates this Spring before lockdown erupted, which followed his November tour performing at venues including The Roundhouse in London and a hometown show at Nottingham Rock City.
7. Lowes share stunning acoustic remix of Silience single ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’
Lancaster band LOWES have delivered a stunning acoustic mix of Silience’s latest single ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’. Listen HERE.
A stripped back and haunting edit of ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’, LOWES’ reimagining replaces the electronic element of the original, pairing string melodies and subtle piano keys that bring the emotive vocal performance to the fore.
The mix follows on from the recent release of Grammy-nominated producer and Toolroom Records label head Mark Knight’s remix of the track which has hit #1 on the Music Week Club Chart, who blessed his own rework with uptempo hooks and a disco tinge. Listen HERE.
The original version of ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’ is continuing to fly. The single has just crossed 7 million streams on Spotify alone, and continues to build around the globe including Australia where it hit Top 10 on Shazam. The track has received a wealth of support from the likes of Kiss, Kiss Dance, Capital Dance as well as Radio 1.
French producer duo Silience’s first single, ‘Everything Gonna Be Better‘, was released on Spinnin’ Records and was supported by dance music heavyweights including Lost Frequencies and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Their follow up singles, ‘Remember Me‘ and ‘I Found Love‘ featuring Cubworld, were released on Armada Music/The Bearded man. Their latest single ‘I Dont Wanna Know’ released via B1 Recordings/RCA UK heralds the start of an exciting future for the rising producer duo.
8. Layton Greene Returns With Sexy New Single
As one of Quality Control Music’s brightest young stars, singer & songwriter Layton Greene has shared her newest single “Chosen One.” Greene returns with a heartfelt track that puts her powerful voice over classically smooth R&B production accompanying a video that follows her and a love interest on the run as they set all evidence ablaze.
In late 2019, Greene shared her debut EP Tell Ya Story which introduced the world to her sincere storytelling talents and inspired listeners to embrace their imperfections. Since the release of Tell Ya Story, Layton was named one of Vevo DSCVR’s Artists to Watch for 2020, nominated for a Soul Train Award, Billboard named her an Artist to Watch in 2020, and has been steadily at work on new music. She joined forces with mainstay producer Like Mike for the dance meets R&B crossover single “I Lose Me”, displaying a unique adaptability that is baked into her sound. During a tumultuous year when some artists have slowed down, Layton has poured her heart into writing the next chapter of her story. Watch for more to come soon.
9. Jerry Castle shares new track ‘With The Band’
Having recently released his acclaimed Appalachian soul album ‘Midnight Testaments’, Jerry Castle today shares a brand new track with a fascinating backstory. His new song ‘With The Band’ features the legendary saxophonist Bobby Keys, who is best remembered for his work with The Rolling Stones. The late musician’s work with the band spanned 1969 to 2014, with highlights including the famous sax that features on ‘Brown Sugar’ and numerous world tours. His countless other credits include John Lennon, Marvin Gaye and Eric Clapton.
The story starts in 2013. Jerry was at the height of his Stones fandom, constantly playing ‘Exile on Main St.’, rewatching the ‘Stones in Exile’ documentary and reading Keith Richards’ autobiography ‘Life’
‘With The Band’ pays tribute, says Jerry, “to Bobby and all of those that try to navigate a life of love while being on the road.”
10. Camelphat release video for ‘Easier’
Multi-platinum, Grammy nominated producer duo CamelPhat have unveiled the official video for their latest anthem ‘Easier’.
Directed by Tom Haines,the video portrays a series of dancers performing alone in empty London nightclub FOLD. The visual is a tribute to struggling night clubs which are still closed due to the pandemic. CamelPhat have been throwing their support behind nightlife & hospitality industries affected by Covid 19, petitioning for campaigns such as Let Us Dance and recently recording their BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix at an empty Printworks.
The director Tom Haines says:There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing all that energy and potential we collectively enjoy is hanging in the balance, mothballed while it waits to be reanimated. That’s what I wanted to conjure with the video for Easier, the idea that it’s just within reach, that the rich history of clubbing and dance music and all that brings with it, is in the ether. I hope that it’s by parts joyous, ecstatic and also emotional as a video. Shooting it was just a dream, having been holed up at home so much, to then be in a club environment with a creative team was truly amazing and hearing the song blasting on a proper system, watching Dominant our dancer do their thing, genuinely gave me goosebumps.
11. Steve Hackett releases new track ‘Mdina’
Iconic guitarist Steve Hackett, releases his new acoustic album Under A Mediterranean Sky on 22nd January 2021 as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and Digital Album via InsideOut Music. Under A Mediterranean Sky is Steve Hacketts first acoustic solo album since Tribute in 2008 and takes inspiration from Steve’s extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife Jo.
Today he launches the second single, the epic Mdina (The Walled City).
Steve comments: At the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta has always been a crossroads, a battle ground and a cultural melting pot. Both its turmoil and its beauty are held within the ramparts of its walled city, Mdina, and celebrated in this track.
He recently launched the first single from the album, titled Andalusian Heart, and you can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/7QpPXqldanI
The album is now available to pre-order as Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and Digital Album here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/
