Author: bella.king

Streaming service TIDAL promises “to re-establish the value of music”

Jay Z has formally launched his streaming service TIDAL at an all-star event in New York City. Apparently, Jay Z is simply a co-owner and shares ownership with Win Butler and Régine Chassagne from Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Jack White, Daft Punk, Beyoncé, Chris Martin of Coldplay, and Madonna.

These artists all were at the event today and signed their commitment on-stage by signing a declaration. 

The streaming service is described as a “platform owned by artists” and has a goal “to re-establish the value of music.” Keys explained on the behalf of the group, “We want to create a better service and experience for fans and artists. Our mission goes beyond commerce and technology.”

The video following the event had footage from a summit recently where the owners of TIDAL to talk about their vision. Daft Punk talked about the summit as “the Avengers of Music.”

It was previously reported that TIDAL offers two different subscription offers: $19.99 for a month of high-fidelity audio and $9.99 for standard audio. TIDAL could be streamed on the web, and downloaded with iOS and Android devices. 

TIDAL owners will exclusively release music through the platform but it is not yet confirmed. 

The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist

1. Chinese New Year – Sales

2. Air – Waxahatche

3. Dust in the Gold Sack – Swearin’

4. Hadley, MA – California X

5. Tame – The History of Apple Pie

6. Teenage – Veronica Falls

7. First Love/Late Spring – Mitski

8. Above My Ground – Landlady

9. Southern Skies – Yuck

10. Teen Creeps – No Age

11. Chambers – Cymbals Eat Guitars

12. California Nights – Best Coast

13. Crystal Veins – Hanoi Janes

14. Bed Island – Christmas Island

15. Hair – Ganglians

16. No Time to Live – Times New Viking

17. Creepy Crawl – Lovvers

18. Black Sail – Chasity Belt

19. Borders – Honduras

20. Foot – Krill

Brian May says Freddie Mercury biopic announcement was merely a joke

It was announced yesterday that Sacha Baron Cohen had rejoined the long in the making biopic about Freddie Mercury and would be the writer, director and star in the film. This announcement came from longtime Queen manager, Jim Beach during his Artist and Manager Awards speech this week. However, it now seems that it was all just a joke. 

Brian May, the guitarist for Queen, said that Beach was simply kidding when he announced Cohen’s participation and he was misquoted by the press. In a recent posting on his website, he explained, “There’s a report … but it doesn’t mention a small joke that Jim threw in during his acceptance speech. He said that, in response to enquiries about the progress on the Freddie feature film, that Sacha Baron Cohen had been re-engaged to write, produce, and direct the film, as well as starring in all four major roles! I’m afraid some folks might have taken it seriously!”

Cohen left the project after being cast for Mercury for years, because of disagreements with the surviving members of Queen about the tone and direction of the film.  in 2013 due to disagreements with the surviving members of Queen over the film’s direction and tone. It was reported previously that Ben Whishaw, who played in movies such as Skyfall, Cloud Atlas, and I’m Not There has been a favorite to play Mercury in place of Cohen. It remains unclear what will happen however. 

Update: Sacha Baron Cohen will not write, direct,  and star in new Freddie Mercury biopic

The on-and-off again biopic about Freddie Mercury starring Sacha Baron Cohen seems to be back in progress. Cohen, last year, had reportedly left the project because of disagreements with the surviving members of Wueen over the direction and tone of the film. However, now Jim Beach, the manager for Queen, has announced that Cohen is back on the project and will also be writing and directing the project. 

Beach said during a speech at the Artist and Manager Awards this week: “You have probably followed the saga of the famous Queen-Freddie Mercury biopic which has been developing in Hollywood for the last seven years. An important breakthrough is that we have now managed to persuade Sacha Baron Cohen to write, produce and direct this movie, and he has also agreed to star.”

Update March 29th: According to Brian May, guitarist for Queen, Beach was just joking about his new participation in the Mercury biopic.

“You have probably followed the saga of the famous Queen-Freddie Mercury biopic which has been developing in Hollywood for the last seven years,” Beach said during a speech at the Artist and Manager Awards this week. “An important breakthrough is that we have now managed to persuade Sacha Baron Cohen to write, produce and direct this movie, and he has also agreed to star.”

Even though Beach did not talk about the timetable for the film production, the IMDB shows that there is nothing scheduled for Cohen once he finished filming a comedy named  Grimsby so production could begin even this year presumably. 

New albums will be released on Fridays and not Tuesdays beginning July 10th

It was announced last month that Friday will become the new global release date for new music releases. This was to put into motion by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry as a hope to prevent music piracy. The first international Friday date is set to be July 10, 2015.

The IFPI wrote last month about the industry shift: “The compelling logic of Friday is that it is the day that best suits consumers … the highest footfall in physical retail stores and the highest levels of purchasing traffic online. It’s also the time of greatest activity on social media, helping amplify the buzz around new releases everywhere. And the weekend is a time for greater spontaneous purchasing.”

However, this news does not been widely accepted by everyone. Beggar’s Group found Martin Millis said: “I fear this move will also lead to a market in which the mainstream dominates, and the niche, which can be tomorrow’s mainstream, is further marginalised, I fear it will further cement the dominance of the few – and that that is exactly what it is intended to do.”

The co-founder of Play It Again Sam, Michel Lambot also had similar concerns. He wrote in a blog post: “If a global chart reigns supreme, development artists and local artists will have to get used to hearing the voice of America, everywhere. Big money, big global campaigns, will dominate.”

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin announces new album and release new song “Step Brother City”

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin return with a new album, The High Country, which is set to be released through Polyvinyl Records on June 2nd. This is the follow-up to their 2013 Fly By Wire and features eleven tracks. The album was recorded in the Hall of Justice studio, owned by Chris Walla, with Beau Sorenson who also engineered for Garbage and Superchunk. The former member of Death Cab for Cutie said that he helped “in an unofficial capacity” durijg the early stages of the recording process. 

The press release names this upcoming album something that Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin “has been building up to its entire career,” and described the album as “a raw pop record infused with undeniable hooks, distortion pedals, passion, grit, and maybe a little insanity.” Philip Dickey, guitarist and vocalist, also adds, “We’ve always cranked our amps up in practice and at shows, but we always kept it off our records. This time we wanted to go beyond our mid-tempo tendencies and make something really satisfying.”

The first look at The High Country is the new song, “Step Brother City”. Listen to the track below.

The High Country Tracklist:
01. Line On You
02. Step Brother City
03. Goal Mind
04. Full Possession
05. Madeline
06. What I Won
07. Trevor Forever
08. Foreign Future
09. Song Will
10. Magnet’s New Summer ‘Do
11. Total Meltdown

Kendrick Lamar performs a surprise show on the back of a truck
After dropping a sudden album, Kendrick Lamar seems to continue surprising fans with a surprise concert. His groundbreaking album does not seem to need much of a boost from the media as To Pimp A Butterfly is currently the most streamed album on Spotify ever but Lamar still rode around the streets of Los Angeles for a show Tuesday night. Rather than a traditional stage, he performed on the back of moving trucks as his fans ran behind and next to the vehicles to catch a glimpse of the rapper. 

This was apparently another collaboration with Reebok after the “I am” campaign in December and a few days after thousands of Compton fans lined up for an intimate signing event for the album.

Hudson Mohawke premieres new song “Very First Breathe”

Hudson Mohawke is prepping to release his upcoming album, Lantern, through Warp Records on June 16th. This will be the follow-up to the Chimes EP which was released last year and it will feature collaborations with Miguel, Antony, and Jhené Aiko, among others. The producer today released the first song from the LP titled “Very First Breath”.

The special guest on this track is French vocalist Irfane who has airy vocals making sure the track will make it onto playlists this summer. Listen to it here.

 Lantern Tracklist:

01. Lantern
02. Very First Breath (feat. Irfane)
03. Ryderz
04. Warriors (feat. Ruckazoid & Devauex)
05. Kettles
06. Scud Books
07. Indian Steps (feat. Antony)
08. Lil Djembe
09. Deepspace (feat. Miguel)
10. Shadows
11. Resistance (feat. Jhené Aiko)
12. Portrait of Luci
13. System
14. Brand New World

Hudson Mohawke added a new leg of North American tour dates which includes stops at festival shows at Movement Electronic Music Festival, The Roots Picnic, and Osheaga.

Hudson Mohawke 2015 Tour Dates:
03/28 – Miami, FL @ RBMA Guest House, Sagamore Hotel
05/23 – Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop & 1st Ward
05/24 – Detroit, MI @ Movement Electronic Music Festival
05/28 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
05/29 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
05/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Roots Picnic
05/31 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
06/06 – London, UK @ Field Day
06/06 – London, UK @ Field Day After-Party
06/07 – Manchester, UK @ Parklife
06/20 – Eersel, NL @ We Are Electronic Outdoor
06/27 – Madrid, ES @ Mula Fest
07/17 – Graefenhainchen, DE @ Melt! Festival
07/18 – Marley Park, IE @ Longitude
07/24 – Niigata, JP @ Fuji Rock
08/01 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Festival
08/21 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
08/28 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival
08/30 – Reading, UK @ Reading Festival

Alamo Basement Sessions: March in photos
Buttercup
Buttercup

Paper Tiger Grand Opening Day 3 in photos