MADONNA

TO RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED 14th STUDIO ALBUM GLOBALLY ON JUNE 14th

‘MADAME X’ – PRE ORDER NOW

MTV PRESENTS MADONNA LIVE & EXCLUSIVE:
“MEDELLÍN” VIDEO WORLD PREMIERE ON APRIL 25th

Madonna’s highly-anticipated 14th studio album Madame X will be released on June 14th globally from Live Nation, Interscope Records and Maverick. The first track from the album “Medellín”, with Colombian superstar Maluma, will be Zane Lowe’s World Record today on Apple Music’s Beats 1. Madame X is now available for pre-order, with album pre-orders to include a download of Medellín. Select additional tracks will become available before the album release.

Madonna exclusively unveiled to  the world premiere of her video and single “Medellín” with Maluma, during a globally televised MTV music event, “MTV Presents Madonna Live & Exclusive: ‘Medellín’ Video World Premiere”, on Thursday April 25th at 6am Australian time.

Madonna  joined British DJ Trevor Nelson and fans live from London for a conversation about the influences of her new album, and the creative forces behind her transcendent career.  “Medellín” collaborator and Colombian pop star Maluma will join live from Miami. Madonna will also take questions during the global event via satellite from MTV’s Sway Calloway and fans in New York City, with additional MTV-hosted events in Milan and São Paulo. 

Influenced creatively by living in Lisbon, Portugal over the past several years, Madame X is a collection of 15 new songs that celebrate Madonna’s career-long affair with Latin music and culture as well as other global influences.  Singing in Portuguese, Spanish and English, highlights on the album include “Medellín,” which was co-produced by Mirwais and captures the spirit of Maluma’s hometown, the anthemic song “I Rise”, the Jamaican dance hall vibes of “Future” featuring Quavo, and co-produced by Diplo, as well as the sonically innovative Mirwais produced “Dark Ballet”. Recorded over 18 months in Portugal, London, New York and Los Angeles, Madonna collaborated on Madame X with longtime producer Mirwais, as well as with producers Mike Dean and Diplo, among others.

“Lisbon is where my record was born,” Madonna says. “I found my tribe there and a magical world of incredible musicians that reinforced my belief that music across the world is truly all connected and is the soul of the universe.”

Madame X will come in a standard and deluxe version of the album.  Further details regarding the album, videos and appearances will be announced in the coming weeks.

On a night that was unseasonably warm for this time of the year, hundreds of fans of all ages packed 170 Russell for an unforgettable night. The excitement had been building since the second the doors opened, and you could feel in the air that this night was going to be special.

With the lights dimmed a feeling of eagerness was filling the venue. The giant LED screen at the rear of the stage lit up with Flogging Molly’s “Life Is Good” logo. The entire venue erupted.

They came on with a bang, starting with “(No More) Paddy’s Lament” and from there they had the entire crowd captivated. Lead singer Dave King, had drawn in the crowd hook, line and sinker.

There was barely a moment when the crowd was not jumping as if their lives depended on it, bodies everywhere on top of the ever growing moshpit.

Dave introduced the band members before tracks that embodied their skills as musicians.

Spencer Swain was brought into the spotlight as their banjo player, greeted the crowd and started into “Drunken Lullabies” this surged the crowd harder towards the stage.

Dave King spent the time between tracks talking about his time spent in Melbourne, his upbringing and the memories of family members, both here and gone. He connected on a level with every single person in attendance.

There are not many places in the world where playing a tin whistle would be met with a roar of approval, fitting of a gladiators battle, but at a Flogging Molly performance that is almost an expectation.

Despite it being late in the night, and warm inside the venue, the crowd were in full voice the entire night, and making the entire band feel not only welcome, but as if they were family returning from a long vacation.

The band wound down the show with a medley of powerful classics from Aretha Franklin and Queen, followed by the traditional encore ending with “Salty Dog’ ensuring every one in attendance left with the biggest smile on their face.

If Flogging Molly was not already on your radar, it’s time to give them a listen, and if you haven’t seen them by now, you would be mistaken not to go and see them on their next visit. You’ll laugh, you’ll feel sad, you’ll drink and you will dance. And when it comes to how to feel about a Flogging Molly performance, I will quote Dave King’s late mother;

“Ensure you enjoy yourself. I certainly did”.

Words by Mathew Went

Behind the lens Lucas Packett

Fresh off the back of a scorching run of shows in Austin for SXSW, Illawarra cranks The Pinheads have dropped another hint of what to expect from their forthcoming second LP, ‘Is This Real’ with the third single, ‘Feel It Now’. A thumping hyper energetic banga that gets you dancing in your chair. Rich and repetitive, carrying themes of losing control over time and self.

Filmed across a wild night, around the streets of Austin, it takes a behind the scenes, front-row look at the band’s Texas adventure. Stripping down and literally exploding onto the sidewalk, the five-piece deliver a sound and performance that can only be described as …. The Pinheads.

Check out the previous singles ‘Not Like You’, ‘Innocent Crime’.

Is This Real is the triumphant return that we’ve all been waiting for. The Pinheads have come back swinging – fresh and refocused with a burning determination to make things happen.

The Ninth Chapter possess a powerful ability to groove. Layering elements of funk, blues and folk, the Australian six-piece revel in exciting songwriting that takes listeners on a diverse musical journey. With over a decade of touring and three EPs to their name, the band successfully launched their first full-length over the weekend with two massive shows –  to keep the good vibes flowing, The Ninth Chapter will be taking their shit-hot show through NSW and Qld over the coming months.

Top 5 Most memorable moments with The Ninth Chapter

1. New Years Eve at Woodford Folk Festival. This was a highlight of our career to date playing to thousands over two hours and included the famous candle lighting ceremony Woodford is renowned for.

2. Playing after the legendary Ben Ottewell (Gomez) at the Bellingen Winter Music Festival and right before The Teskey Brothers. A highlight from a fan standpoint was that we were sandwiched between two of our favourite acts and enjoyed the atmosphere that they created, allowing our set to be one of our most memorable moments.

3. Being joined by Damon Downey, formally of Sneaky Sound System, for a show in Bellingen, NSW. A small town with a big love for music has made us regulars over the years and this show was certainly unusual for a number of reasons but mainly for Damon’s epic 30 minute MC take over.

4. Venturing up to the highlands of Mt Hotham for their Cool Summer Festival. We were lucky enough to witness Tash Sultana right before she took off globally. An amazing festival on the ski slopes in January on a cool night watching Tash tear it up was certainly a memorable moment.

5. We love small towns with big hearts and it’s a privilege to play regional shows in Australia where you see music lovers at their purist. They’re not there for any sort of trend, they just loving being in the moment with creativity and this in itself is certainly a highlight of our career to date.

Upcoming shows

Saturday March 30 – Plunge Festival, Grafton
Friday April 12 – The Rails, Byron Bay
Saturday April 13 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Saturday May 4 – Federal Hotel, Bellingen
Sunday May 19 – Blues On Broadbeach, Gold Coast

Julianne Moore will dance like no one’s watching in Gloria Bell – Review

By Irena Bee

It’s never a good sign when there’s a big gap between the critics’ and audience tomatometer score — and the gap in this case is huge.

Why do audiences hate Gloria Bell? It is not a bad film. It’s beautiful to look at, meticulous in its atmospherics. The acting is very strong and the story is mature and zeitgeisty.

Julianne Moore as Gloria is striking in her detailed performance, and she executive produced it too; so it’s subtle and respectful to the woman’s POV. What’s more this film has real pedigree. It’s an American remake of Oscar-winner, Sebastián Lelio’s award-winning 2013 Chilean film,Gloria.

So why the low score?

Consider who would choose to see an art-house intimate portrait of a woman of a certain age navigating life and love alone in America. Critics may love the washed out day scenes, the moody night scenes and the shadowy, bathed-in-orange love scenes; but moviegoers want to see Gloria win at life! Sure it’s artsy that she talks politics topless and smokes pot and has a drunk montage with Samwise Gangees (Sean Astin) but people pay to see grit and hope.

The film sets up a quiet expectation of fulfillment for Gloria. She at first tentatively, then enthusiastically, takes up with Arnold (John Turturro at his best since Fading Gigolo), the newly-divorced guy she meets at an over-40s club. From their dates you see she’s been through this unsuccessfully many times. She’s friendly but cautious.

The one outstanding feature in Gloria’s muted pale pink and grey style are her large, dark spectacles. They are an odd choice for a woman who prefers elegant soft-sleeved floral and flowy blouses. Neither flattering nor feminine, they’re eventually revealed as a Chekov’s gun when Gloria confronts her ageing eyesight, which spur her decision to rekindle a romance with Arnold.

Recent films about mature women feel more satisfying. Emma Thompson (The Children’s Act) and Glenn Close (The
Wife), like Moore, gave nuanced, intense performances. But while Moore is a masterful actor,Gloria isn’t those films. Nothing truly changes for her at the end, she hasn’t resolved or evolved. There’s no soulmate or dream trip or righteous victory. Gloria’s life at the end of the film is no different. She’ll go to work, hang out with friends, love her kids and dance at the club. She’s now just a little more broken and humiliated by life.

Older female audiences get a raw deal at the movies and sometimes at life. A trip to the cinema can be a break from endless caring and work commitments. I think audiences hate this film because they just want – and deserve – to see a happy.

Gloria Bell
is in cinemas from April 25.

Irena Bee is a movie and TV critic and PhD business student. She works as a communications expert for nonprofits, start-ups and community groups. She runs 44 Playbook and you can find her @PRproAus and at 44Playbook

BLUSH’KO

REVEALS SOUL-INFUSED CUT ‘TOO LATE’ (FT. J WILS) AND ANNOUNCES ‘BLUSH’KO IN LOVE PT.2’

Following soul-infused releases ‘Japanese Hotel’ and ‘Like a Heartbeat’, Macedonian born, Melbourne based Blush’ko releases ‘Too Late’ (ft. J Wils), the third single of his EP ‘Blush’ko in Love PT.2’. The track, in true Blush’ko-esque style, draws in with its pushing beats backdropped against silky vocals – the result an effortless rhythmic testimonies that dreamily echo and transport us throughout the track.

Speaking on the track himself, Blush’ko says: “We started playing around with the idea of the song being about two people so far away but connected somehow and both trying so hard to make it work. The line ‘I promise that I won’t give up’ kept rolling through my mind and we built the song around it. I wanted our voices to come together in the pre-chorus because both people in the story felt a great connection and fear from one another.. relying on someone is always extremely hard, but it’s always made easier when you know the feeling is mutual”.

Blush’ko continues to own his unique style of smooth, electronic hip hop, a year on from his critically acclaimed debut single ‘Another Love‘ which garnered over a million streams. Intrigue around Blush’ko continues to build, with BBC1 Xtra’s Jams Supernova naming it as one of her top 5 EPs. The musician has further solidified his name in support of Jhene Aiko and SG Lewis on stages around Australia and New Zealand, as well as collaborating with DC rapper Goldlink on his triple j Like a Version performance of ‘Herside Story’ with Billy Davis and The Good Lords.

‘Too Late’ pioneers Blush’ko’s second EP as a continuation on his journey through love, explored by a plush blend of electronic and soul. A kind of production that layers emotion and talent as one further cementing his sound in the current musical climate as one that is set to stand against the rest this 2019.

‘Too Late’ (ft. J Wils) is available now

Click to stream ‘Too Late’ (ft. J Wils)

Leading audiences and listeners through a journey of uncompromising arrangements, crushing heavy riffs and soaring melodies, Perth’s enigmatic prog metal five-piece CHAOS DIVINE have well and truly immersed themselves in a realm of sound and style matched by few, and admired by many. Today they are releasing their brand new, beautiful animated video for new single ‘Unspoken’. The single will be released into the world on Friday April 12 into all good online outlets and streaming platforms.

With a suite of industry accolades, national and international tours, and appearances at major music festivals under their belt, CHAOS DIVINE have carved out an impressive reputation for delivering a powerful and dynamic live show. The band has played alongside some of the biggest names in rock and metal including SLAYER, MASTODON, TESSERACT, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, ARCH ENEMY, KATATONIA, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, FEAR FACTORY, TRIVIUM, and many more. In 2019 the band joined the likes of THE OCEAN, MONUMENTS and SKYHARBOR for the national PROGFEST tour, one of the country’s most exciting Progressive music festivals.

In 2015 the band staked their claim with their critically acclaimed third studio album Colliding Skies, branded by many as a benchmark in modern progressive metal and one of the year’s best progressive heavy albums. The success of the record landed the band a two-week European tour and the second-headline spot at the 2016 PROGPOWER EUROPE festival alongside TEXTURES. ‘Soldiers’, the first single from the album, shot to #1 on the Australian iTunes metal charts.

The band now delivers Unspoken, the epic first single from the band’s new album that teases but a taste of what is in store, and showcases just why CHAOS DIVINE are one of the most formidable acts in the country.

Unspoken is out through Firestarter Distribution on 12 April 2019.

With Splendour in the Grass now completely sold out, Live Nation is pleased to announce that this year’s festival headliners CHILDISH GAMBINO and SZA, alongside fellow Atlanta hip-hop sensation RUSS, will each play a run of headline sideshows across the country. With the annual Byron Bay festival selling out within a matter of hours, fans will need to move swiftly to secure tickets to some of this year’s most anticipated festival sideshows.

Promises made are promises kept. The multi-talented recording artist and innovator Donald Glover, a.k.a. CHILDISH GAMBINO has confirmed his return to Australia in 2019 after vowing “i will be back” and the shock news of having to postpone his SOLD-OUT Australian tour in late 2018. Confirmed at the top of this year’s Splendour in the Grass line-up and Spinoff Festival in Adelaide, the Grammy, Golden Globe and Emmy-Award winning artist will perform to fans across Australia with a run of sideshows through Perth, Melbourne and Sydney starting July 14 at RAC Arena.

Tickets for all shows go on sale at 12pm Thursday, April 18.

Patrons who purchased tickets to the cancelled Childish Gambino 2018 Australia tour will receive first access to purchase tickets during an exclusive pre-sale commencing 11am Tuesday, April 16.

Please note: Live Nation will only be able to provide pre-sale details to those patrons who opted-in to receive marketing communications from Live Nation at the time of purchasing tickets to Childish Gambino’s 2018 tour. Pre-sale access does not guarantee tickets.

For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, visit: livenation.com.au.

Student Flights will have travel packages on sale at 12pm Thursday, April 18. For more information and to register interest, visit: studentflights.com.au.

Claiming ‘Record of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Music Video’ and ‘Best Rap/Sung Performance’ at the 2019 Grammy’s for his pointedly powerful hit single “This Is America”, Childish Gambino has left fans hungrily awaiting new music. Teasing his highly anticipated fourth record with a “Summer Pack” of singles, the breezy tracks “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer” have been left to tide fans over in the meantime.

Since his debut album “Camp” (2011), “Because the Internet” (2013) and “Awaken, My Love!” (2016), Gambino’s impressive catalogue of music have continuously received critical praise – beginning with Grammy Awards in 2015 which saw him claim ‘Best Rap Album’ for “Because the Internet” and ‘Best Rap Performance’ for his single “3005″. In 2018 he was nominated for five Grammy Awards including, ‘Album of the Year’ for “Awaken, My Love!”  and ‘Record of the Year’ for the hit “Redbone,” winning the Grammy for ‘Best Traditional R&B Performance’.

Stepping away from Childish Gambino, Donald Glover’s scope of talent is seemingly boundless, extending to writing, directing and acting credits on hugely successful TV shows such as “30 Rock” and “Community”, and he is the force behind the critically acclaimed series, “Atlanta”. Additionally, Glover has numerous movie credits, most recently playing Lando Calrissian in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and is cast as the voice of Simba for Disney’s remake of “The Lion King”.

With Childish Gambino’s 2018 Australian tour selling out within minutes of going on general sale to the public, these select festival sideshows are not to be missed. With the Grammy-award winning artist repeatedly stating that any upcoming performance is likely to be among his final ever, there’s no doubt that fans will need to move swiftly to secure tickets.