Beck shed some light on his long-awaited new album in an interview with the New York Times’ T Magazine. The musician says that he had met with Pharrell Williams a few years ago and wanted to write a “happy” song. However, Pharrell immediately played his soon-to-be smash hit “Happy” for Beck, sending him back to the drawing board. As for the new material, he says the tunes are indeed “really happy” but “It’s much easier to go out and get really down. There’s a multitude of things that will oblige you in misery in the culture and there’s only so many that will produce true happiness.” Beck says the album, previously expected out last November, will arrive this spring.
In the same T Magazine article, Kendrick Lamar also discussed his next record, saying his latest songwriting is inspired by “how wayward things have gone within the past few months.” He added, “my focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where they’re doing the groundwork. To Pimp a Butterfly was addressing the problem. I’m in a space now where I’m not addressing the problem anymore.” Lamar described the new tracks as “very urgent” but gave no further details about when we will hear it.
Nine Inch Nails (photo: John Crawford)
At the end of 2016, Nine Inch Nails released the EP Not the Actual Events. Those who purchased the EP could also buy a mysterious “physical element” which was assumed to be the EP on a CD, cassette or USB drive even. Instead, a black sleeve has arrived in the mail this week and fans have begun posting pictures online of the contents. An ominous warning is printed on the outside and the inside includes a variety of photos, images and text which are covered in a black powder (assumed to be toner). Each package appears to be slightly different as well.
Lil Wayne has announced a brief spring tour. Titled the “Kloser 2 U” tour, it will kick off April 14 in Louisville and wrap up on May 11 in Detroit. Wayne will also play the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami in early May as well as The Roots Picnic on June 3 in Philadelphia.
Snoop Dogg is expanding his “Mount Kushmore Wellness Retreat” festival into a full tour next month, with Wiz Khalifa, Cypress Hill, Method Man, Redman and Lil Uzi Ver on various dates. The trek will hit 16 cities this spring but so far only eight dates have been announced, starting on April 13 in Seattle.
The first single from Dreamcar, the side project featuring AFI singer Davey Havok and 3/4 of No Doubt, has arrived. Bassist Tony Kanal told Rolling Stone that the ’80s-influenced “Kill for Candy” “was one of the first four songs that we worked on with Davey, and I think it’s a great way to introduce the band to the world.” Their self-titled debut lands May 12 and Dreamcar will also play a handful of west coast dates in April around their performances at Coachella.
