Georgia-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sydney Rose shares an emotionally charged new single entitled “I Stopped Trying” featuring Delaney Bailey out now via Mercury Records / Island Records UK, marking their first collaboration together; listen HERE. On the track, Sydney’s breathy hum glides through the haze of softly strummed chords. “I Stopped Trying” follows the recent favourite “Before & After You” – inspired by the HBO hit series The Last Of Us, it reeled in over 1.3 million Spotify streams and earned praise.
Throughout 2025, Sydney will continue to perform across Europe and the US on her newly announced headline I Know What I Want Tour. Following October gigs in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and France, Sydney will play Islington Assembly Hall in London. See the full list of tour dates below, fans can purchase tickets HERE. Earlier this year, Sydney served up I Know What I Want. Breakout single “We Hug Now” has impressively gathered over 111 million Spotify streams. Plus, the project received widespread tastemaker acclaim. This week, Sydney discussed the lyrics of the track on a new episode of Genius’ coveted “Verified” series- watch HERE. This summer, Sydney joined a massive lineup at BST Hyde Park on July 4, including Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams, FINNEAS, Gigi Perez, and many more, as well as two sold-out nights at Omeara in July.
Following a quiet grind, “We Hug Now” has fuelled Sydney’s reintroduction this year. Initially, it overtook TikTok, inciting 500k “creates” and generating 6.5 billion cumulative views, reaching the Top 15 of the TikTok Top Songs Chart. Approaching nearly 190 million global streams, the song landed in the Top 3 of the Spotify US and Global Viral 50 Charts, the Top 15 of the Shazam US Top Songs Chart, Top 30 of the Apple US Songs Chart, and Top 20 of the Genius Overall Chart. Plus, she entered and quickly hit Top 20 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Chart and hit Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs Charts. Not to mention, she has now attracted over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and just made her debut on Spotify’s Top Songs Chart in the U.S. Stay tuned for more from Sydney Rose as she takes flight.
‘I KNOW WHAT I WANT’ TOUR DATES
10/15 Brussels, BE Le Botanique
10/16 Amsterdam, NL Tolhuistuin
10/18 Copenhagen, DK Vega Jr
10/20 Berlin, DE Lido
10/21 Cologne, DE Luxor
10/22 Paris, FR La Bellevilloise
10/24 London, UK Islington Assembly Hall
10/25 Manchester, UK Club Academy
10/27 Glasgow, UK Saint Luke’s
10/29 Dublin, IE Green Room at The Academy
Indie artist Blackbird (BB) released a new single from her upcoming album Gospel of Judas on Friday, August 29. The track Once We Were Able to Stop the Time, like the forthcoming full-length, is primarily a one-woman creation—but this church was not built entirely alone. Alongside BB’s one-woman orchestra, the single and album also feature Thomas Rönnholm (drums), Olli Tanttu (guitar), and Nils Ursin (bass).
“Once We Were Able to Stop the Time is a song that has everything. It carries you to a truly wonderful place and looks at life with merciful and accepting eyes. Through the eyes of love. It’s about the human touch—the kind of loving touch that makes everything else disappear and stops time. It’s a beautiful song.” – BB
Blackbird’s first release, a self-titled EP, arrived in November 2021. It was the debut project entirely written, recorded, and produced by Krista Ruusunen, the woman behind BB. The follow-up single Hold Your Breath (March 2023) introduced more collaborators, including Nils Ursin (bass), Juha Räihä (guitar / mixing), and Minerva Pappi (mastering).
“At first, doing everything myself felt liberating. I’ve always played by ear. Once I began recording and took the first steps in editing, I felt like I could really do this. But the world of sound is so vast that you can only take it in one step at a time. You have to recalibrate your ear over and over so the song in your head doesn’t become just a subjective impression. Then I realized I didn’t know anything yet. That’s when the real work began—a process that, many times over the years, I wished would simply disappear. The sheer amount of learning often crushed me, but eventually I always returned to the studio and reopened the sessions. The production and quality were never good enough, and I always started again.
The songs themselves are what kept me going to this point. They’ve been playing inside me for a long time, and that’s why I know that once realized, they’re worth all the work. I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. My mind speaks in music. Life has brought me challenges where, against my will, I’ve had to give up parts of myself. Gospel of Judas is a raw album. It reflects a very heavy time in my life when I had to look both life and death in the eye. But it’s not ugly or oppressive. On the contrary, it’s a deeply beautiful album. When you come face to face with your fate, you see more broadly. You see what truly matters. This album is a human-sized journey that musically captures emotions essential to everyone.
I still don’t want to define my music by genre, because it doesn’t work like that—no single genre can capture every emotion.” – BB
After releasing her debut EP ‘heading into blue’in March 2025, which saw a sold-out run of limited edition baby blue vinyl, as well as a predominantly sold-out debut headline tour, Manchester-based better joy has today shared new single “plugged in” – a follow up to most recent single, “this part of town”. In addition, she has announced a new EP ‘at dusk’ which will be released on 31st October; 3 weeks before she ventures on tour across the UK with Amy Macdonald, including a sold out 13,000 capacity Glasgow OVO Hydro.
“I like that the better joy sound is evolving; it’s what we do as people, so it’s only natural the sound grows with me” says Bria Keely, better known by her stage name – better joy. A vivid indie-pop guitar project backed by a band, better joy fuses sparky melodies with strong guitars and pulsating bass lines, coated in lyrics that delve deep into all things vulnerable. The upcoming EP ‘at dusk’, a sister EP to her debut ‘heading into blue’, reflects a moment in her life “where I just stopped trying to please anyone or caring whether the music I wrote ‘fit’ a mold. It’s not on anyone else to define what better joy is: it’s on me”.
New single “plugged in” and previous “this part of town” are taken from better joy’s forthcoming second EP ‘at dusk’, produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Manic Street Preachers, Travis). The 6-track EP will be the second full-length project from better joy and is both a perfect segue from ‘heading into blue’ which introduced better joy’s alt-pop sound, and an exciting taste of more to come this year. The vinyl version of the EP will be available to pre-order soon!
Bria says “for me, this song captures the moment of finally connecting with someone and understanding love for the very first time. Suddenly you see the world differently because you’ve unlocked another part of yourself, you’ve been ‘plugged in’.”
It is announced today that actress, comedian, singer, and recently crowned RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars WINNER, Ginger Minj has added 11 new cities to her upcoming North American tour of Hokus Pokus Live! kicking off September 4. Due to high demand, the spellbinding theatrical production co-starring Minj, Sapphira Cristál (“RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16”), Jujubee (“RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “DRAG: The Musical”) and Landon Cider (“Dragula”) will now visit 33 cities through October 26. Written, directed, and co-produced by Minj, this marks her biggest touring production to date.
Additional cities include: Toronto, Buffalo, Portland (Maine), Boston, Red Bank, Wilmington, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Phoenix, and Anaheim.
It’s also announced that the original Los Angeles tour date set for October 6 has been moved to October 26 at The Novo, closing out the 2025 tour.
Visit HokusPokusLive.com for tickets (VIP packages are also available).
Hokus Pokus Live! is a true love letter to the classic film, inspired by Bette Midler encouraging Ginger on the set of “Hocus Pocus 2.” As Ginger recalls, Midler told her, “I just really love the way that you do me. I would like to see you take this and run with it and turn it into something.” This enchanting new narrative production promises an evening of raucous laughter, unparalleled talent, stunning vocals, spellbinding performances, jaw-dropping drag artistry, and unforgettable entertainment as these queens and king bring their unique brand of sorcery to stages across North America.
Ginger said previously, “We are incredibly excited to bring Hokus Pokus Live! to audiences everywhere. This tour brings together an extraordinary lineup of talent, each a master of their craft. It’s more than just a drag show; it’s a magical theatrical experience that will leave audiences spellbound.”
This marks the third iteration of Hokus Pokus Live! but don’t expect to see the same show you’ve seen before. Ginger’s masterful work as a writer will showcase new songs that connect with the characters of the story we all know and love, and adds in the magic of each new cast member that only they can bring, while still staying true to the heart of the original film.
Hokus Pokus Live! is produced by Ginger’s production company Fruit Wine Productions, AEG Presents and Producer Entertainment Group (PEG).
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2025 Tour Dates:
*NEW CITIES
September 4 – Orlando, FL (Plaza Live) – LOW TICKET ALERT
September 6 – Atlanta, GA (The Eastern)
September 8 – Washington D.C. (Lincoln Theatre)
September 9 – Richmond, VA (The National)
September 10 – New York, NY (Town Hall)
September 11 – Glenside, PA (Keswick Theatre)
September 12 – Columbus, OH (KEMBA Live!)
September 14 – Milwaukee, WI (Pabst Theater)
September 15 – Royal Oak, MI (Royal Oak Music Theatre)
September 16 – Pittsburgh, PA (Stage AE)
September 18 – St. Paul, MN (The Fitzgerald)
September 19 – Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)
September 20 – Iowa City, IA (The Englert Theatre)
September 21 – Kansas City, MO (The Midland Theatre)
September 22 – Boulder, CO (Boulder Theater)
September 25 – Salt Lake City, UT (Rockwell at The Complex)
September 28 – Boise, ID (The Egyptian Theatre)
September 29 – Seattle, WA (Neptune Theatre) – STANDING ROOM ONLY
October 1 – Portland, OR (Revolution Hall)
October 2 – Eugene, OR (The McDonald Theatre)
October 5 – San Francisco, CA (The Palace of Fine Arts) – MATINEE ADDED
October 5 – San Francisco, CA (The Palace of Fine Arts) – SOLD OUT
October 9 – Toronto, ON (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)*
October 10 – Buffalo, NY (Buffalo State Performing Arts Center)*
October 11 – Portland, ME (State Theatre)*
October 13 – Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)*
October 15 – Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)*
October 16 – Wilmington, DE (The Playhouse on Rodney Square)*
October 18 – Tampa, FL (Tampa Theatre)*
October 19 – Fort Lauderdale, FL (The Parker)*
October 21 – Dallas, TX (The Bomb Factory)*
October 23 – Phoenix, AZ (Celebrity Theatre)*
October 25 – Anaheim, CA (Grove of Anaheim)*
October 26 – Los Angeles, CA (The Novo)* – moved from Oct 6
Philadelphia band Her New Knife are excited to announce chrome is lullaby: re, a deluxe version of their 2024 EP featuring remixes from TAGABOW, Angel Emoji (Frost Children), Grimace, Red Rakes, Certain (Sword II), and SILICONE VALLEY, arriving everywhere October 31, 2025 via the tastemaking Philly label Julia’s War Recordings. For the first time ever, the standout EP will be available on vinyl and cassette with the remixes appearing on the B-side; pre-orders are live now.
The first preview of chrome is lullaby: re arrives today in the form of “kittyriff – They Are Gutting a Body of Water: re,” in which Julia’s War labelhead and TAGABOW bandleader Doug Dulgarian contorts the bone-shattering riffage of the original track into a blown-out, drum-heavy track that slinks slowly into the abyss. Edgar Atencio’s caressing vocals are sampled with a metallic edge, cutting through the song’s laidback progression with precision. Dulgarian also made an official video for the track, which premieres today.
“kittyriff has always been one of my favorite songs of ours,” says drummer Elijah Ford.“When we thought of having a bunch of friends remix the ‘chrome is lullaby’ tracks, Doug was the first person we thought of. We’ve always wanted to work with him in some capacity, so it’s super cool to have him not only do the remix but also direct the accompanying music video. Doug has really been a huge part of our lives up here in Philly – he totally transformed the song into a beautiful trip hop banger – and for that – I love him forever.”
BANA, the boundary-pushing pop artist bridging Kurdish heritage with contemporary global sounds, follows up recent single “Kiss Your Best Friend” with a scintillating new offering titled “Air”. Continuing to establish herself as one of the most captivating and distinctive new voices in global pop, BANA shapes a unique artistic identity drawn from her dual cultural heritage. Already a celebrated young star in the Kurdish music scene and now a bold new entrant into English-language pop, BANA’s latest single “Air” showcases an artist in full evolution. Blending rich musicality, emotional storytelling and global ambition, “Air” emerges as an irresistible house-inspired track, layered with infectious percussion, vibrant synth-lines, and BANA’s powerful vocals. It arrives as a definitive summer anthem, perfectly timed for the season’s final months. With “Air”, BANA fully faces the estero pop landscape, embracing contemporary pop sensibilities and a razor-sharp aesthetic. Speaking on “Air”, BANA explains: “Air is a love song about someone so essential to you that living without them feels as impossible as living without air. The song captures the intensity of a love so deep, it feels like oxygen – without it, there’s no life.”
Oxnard, CA indie rock duo Chatterton are excited to announce their new EP, Tiny Empire, arriving September 19, 2025, via 7th Heaven. Lead single and closing track of the EP “Blouse” is out now, with crescendoing bossa nova-inspired instrumentals and shimmering vocals. Along with an official music video, “Blouse” waltzes its listener with biting lyricism and saultering brass solos.
““This song [Blouse] was the last one we recorded for the EP. It started as something I was absentmindedly strumming between sessions,” bandleader Brock Pierce explains. “Logan really liked it so we spent some time working on it before eventually shelving the idea. It wasn’t until the final few sessions that we decided, on impulse, to finish it for the EP. We even cut a song to make room for it. I’m glad it worked out that way.”
“I remember the demo was just the line, ‘you trip on hollow earth, hahaha,’ repeated over and over. A few days earlier someone at a bar talked my ear off about their theory that the earth was hollow, mixed with a bunch of other ideas about the bible and the world, so I think that concept was still stuck in my head. I wanted the lyrics to sound like an argument, and Lily’s added vocals rounded that idea out really well.”
Omaha, NE rock band Space To Play announce their immersive debut self-titled album with its first taste “Daylight’s Comin” out now. Space To Play, the album, is due out September 12 via Omaha Music Group and is available for pre-save now. Celebrate the new record with the band’s official hometown release show at Omaha’s Slowdown on release day, featuring Matt Beck of Matchbox Twenty, with tickets and more information available here.
The album as a whole came together organically, with no firm expectations other than to make art that felt true to the band. When writing the music, bandleader Matt Banta (vocals, guitar, piano) noticed a shift in his approach as he has evolved as a person and an artist. Banta notes, “Specifically, in my earlier years, I tended to write to process feelings and what I was going through in life–now, I’m writing purely from an artists’ perspective and am able to be much nimbler thematically.” The album touches on a wide range of themes–failing relationships, hope in the face of adversity, living life to the fullest, and observations of society.
The newly established Omaha Music Group allows the group complete creative control and hands-on development opportunities. Banta shares, “Our goal with the label is to create a vehicle not only for our own music but for others that are seeking a place where their creativity can be cultivated and developed in order to help them become the best version of themselves artistically.”
With pounding drums, groovy guitar riffs and optimistic lyricism, “Daylight’s Comin” is an encouraging tune that looks to a promising future. Banta says it came together when the album was being tracked, adding, “I was searching for a vibe that had sufficient funk and groove, and felt inspired to write a song about dreaming big dreams and working to be ready when your opportunity comes.”
Critically-acclaimed, multi-platinum selling band Young the Giant have shared a new acoustic EP, In The Open Volume One, featuring warm, stripped back renditions of fan-favorite songs including “Mind Over Matter,” and new, previously unreleased song “Bitter Fruit.” The EP heralds their upcoming In The Open Tour, an intimate concert experience performed in beautiful spaces and venues around the country, with support from Cassandra Coleman (debut album produced by Jack Antonoff) throughout. Limited edition vinyl will be available throughout the tour, as well as for pre-order. The EP will be pressed on 100% recycled, green vinyl.
Petey USA might be known for his viral sketches but that’s the least interesting thing about this Chicago raised and Los Angeles based songwriter.
Produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab, Foxing, Ratboys), his recently-released album The Yips is equal parts gut punch and group hug, it’s a nervous, heart-on-its-sleeve indie rock record that lands somewhere between The Mountain Goats, Modest Mouse, The Wonder Years, and Weezer.
The album title comes from a sports term used when an athlete unexpectedly loses their stride or focus. With The Yips, Petey applies it to moments when you’re blindsided by your own inadequacy, and turns the perspective over to fictional patrons of a dive bar. Each song becomes a vent session from a regular processing their own shortcomings.
The title track follows someone who realizes they’re the root of their own problems; “As Two People Drift Apart” finds childhood friends becoming strangers; and “Spirit Animal” turns a bro chat into therapy. Elsewhere, standouts “The Milkman” and “I Am Not A Cowboy” are told from the POV of a middle-aged addict who hits rock bottom, while “Breathing The Same Air” is a mid-tempo heavy-hitter about being there for a friend going through it.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
