The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.
As usual, Rina Sawayama is one step ahead of us. She's back in the office, clad in a periwinkle blazer with waist cut-outs and a high ponytail cleaner than the view of the city skyline. Make no mistake: even in fluorescent lighting, the Japanese British pop star performs with the same tenacity and drama you hear in her 2020 debut album, SAWAYAMA , a lustrous pop epic peppered with early aughts R&B, nu-metal and classic rock.
Unable to tour because of the pandemic, the artist has been holding onto these songs for the last year. Sawayama's Tiny Desk (home) concert successfully reminds us — in just three tracks — of her range and versatility as both artist and performer. Tears calcify in "Dynasty," a song like a salve to wounds inherited from generations past. The heaviness of the music never overshadows her voice, which ascends heroically. "Won't you break the chain with me?" she belts out.
As if turning the other cheek, Sawayama swiftly moves into the sweet, cha-ching pop of "XS," and later the soft-hearted ballad "Chosen Family," rendered in the style of her 2021 collaboration with Elton John. The song was reborn, in part, because of John's admiration for Sawayama and her ability to cross-pollinate genres, but also because the two held "Chosen Family," both the song and concept, dearly. Funny enough, the song's thesis — "I chose you / You chose me" — reflects their meeting, too.
Rina Sawayama, Elton John & More New Music: First Out | Billboard
Looking for some new tunes from queer artists? Look no further; Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
From Rina Sawayama and Elton John's touching duet, to Troye Sivan's latest collaboration with Tate McRae & Regard, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below.
"This song, I thought, 'God, this is exactly what we need to be saying right now.' It's a song about peace," John told Sawayama of the track on the latest episode of his Apple Music 1 radio show Rocket Hour . "I don't care if someone wants to vote Republican or Democrat or be gay or be straight or be Asian or be Black or be Indian. I didn't care about that. But people are using that to stir up hatred. And I don't know whether they mean it or not. I just think they're stoking the furnaces, and I don't like it."
If there ever were a group of artists capable of putting their talents together to make a certified bop, it would be Troye Sivan, Tate McRae and Kosovan DJ Regard. "You," the trio's brand-new single, is a synth-laced, lovestruck jam session, where all three artists pine for that one person they just can't seem to get out of their minds. Regard's smooth-as-silk production perfectly blends with Sivan's laid-back, sonorous vocals, which bleeds perfectly into McRae's breathy falsetto voice. "You" is bound to get stuck in your head sooner or later, so why not make it happen right now?
Chicago alt-rockers Beach Bunny knew that they wanted to get some special guests for their revisit of 2020's "Cloud 9" -- and they found the perfect candidates in Tegan and Sara. Keeping the original's beach-rock sound fully intact, the new version of "Cloud 9" stands apart when the sister duo jumps in for the viral song's second chorus, adding their brand of harmonized, indie-rock perfection to the already excellent track.
"We're massive fans of Beach Bunny , and when we heard 'Cloud 9' for the first time fell in love with the brilliant lyrics and addictive melody," Tegan and Sara said in a statement about the song. "We love that Lili was up to let us experiment with changing the pronoun in the chorus to she. The efforts made to make the song relatable to everyone, isn't just about inclusivity, we think it's a great indication of the flexibility and creative spirit of the band at its core!"
In his first album since leaving Warner Records, ILoveMakonnen is making sure that his voice is being heard the way he wants it to be. Throughout My Parade , Makonnen plays around with new sounds, from psychedelic funk ("If It's Cool"), to classic trap ("Whoopsy"), to even an acoustic session ("My Parade"). But one think stands out on the new project — Makonnen remains more confident and clear-eyed than on any record before, as he embraces his own artistry to its fullest extent yet.
"The My Parade project is my first album being back in control over my art and creativity," he says of the album. "It's about celebration of self and having your own parade even if the world is raining down on it. My Parade album is a collection of genre bending styles that I like to experiment in and showcase my versatility as an artist putting no limits on my musical expression. It's for my fans who appreciate and enjoy all of the different eras of ILoveMakonnen 's music so far and for new ones joining in now on my artistic journey. This is releasing music in its purest form. The artist creates and then releases it to the world. No major label, no distributor."
Rina Sawayama: ' I've done a song with Elton John.
Watch Rina Sawayama and Elton John duet on powerful LGBTQ+ anthem Chosen Family | Louder
Rina Sawayama has shared the video for her new version of LGBTQ+ anthem Chosen Family, which the London-based singer/songwriter has re-recorded with Elton John .
The original version of Chosen Family appears on Sawayama's debut album, Sawayama , which was released on Dirty Hits in April 2020.
The Japanese/British pop star will tour the UK in November:
09 November Manchester, Albert Hall
11 November Leeds, Beckett Students' Union
13 November Glasgow, SWG3 TV Studio
15 November Birmingham, Institute
16 November London @ Electric Brixton - SOLD OUT
17 November London @ Roundhouse – SOLD OUT
Sophie Brussaux Shares Pics Of Drake's Son Adonis | Billboard
Drake poses in the press room during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas.
Drake's son Adonis, 3, is seen smiling with his mom and posing in front of one of her paintings in a new series of snaps.
The mommy-and-me day was chronicled by model/painter Sophie Brussaux, who posted a series of pics on Instagram over the weekend (April 17). In one snap, Adonis smiles in front of a large painting featuring swirls of blue and gold.
"Was trying to take a high res pic of my latest painting, best photobomb ever... ma plus belle creation mon fils! (my most beautiful creation, my son)," Brussaux wrote in the caption .
Earlier this month, Drizzy posted a video with his little man showing off some impressive basketball skills. Adonis threw down a series of mini jump shots in the visual, tossing a colorful ball into a hoop while getting some off-screen encouragement from a woman speaking to him in French and English.
Drake rarely shares images of his son, who he co-parents with French-Canadian artist and former video model Brussaux. The curly-haired kid made his Instagram debut last March when both parents commented on their "beautiful family" in a series of cute pics of their toddler.
Chika Shares Update & Thanks Cardi B | Billboard
"Thank you, @iamcardib for reaching out & showing such kindness to me in a time I don't even think you knew was as serious as it was. You've always shown love to me & don't think I could take that for granted," Chika continued. "You're appreciated."
The singer also announced she will be taking a social media break. "I will be stepping back from social media for the time being, whether that means silence or just having someone else post for me. I'm too valuable to be tampered with. And it took almost not being here to realize this internet s--t isn't worth it," she wrote.
Finally, Chika posted a typed statement about the "vulnerable moments" she has recently experienced. "It's a chance for me to process all of this and protect the joy I have left," she explained of her choice to take a break.
In a second video posted on her account, Chika said, "I'm in therapy. I'm literally working through s--- and sometimes I need to just talk. Sometimes I need to just tweet something. Me saying I want to retire, which is something I told my manager yesterday, you know, you just think that it's funny, it's all fun and f---ing games ... attack me, like I'm the issue."
And in a note dated April 10, written at 7:23 p.m., she wrote, in part: "the mental toll being in the industry has taken on me is not something you bounce back from easily. i've told my team, i've told my therapist, i've told friends and acquaintances. today i told twitter. what followed was a hoard of psychotic fans rejoining in the decline of my mental health, harassing me as if i spoke to them first. when you have depression, the negative self talk you have towards yourself is deafening. now imagine a slew of weirdos dogpiling on top of thoughts you already have to fight off yourself. it's not f---ing cool, it's not 'trolling' or 'stan culture,' you're pushing people to the point of no return."
Dave Grohl's 'From Cradle to Stage': When to Watch | Billboard
The six-part series, directed by the rocker and inspired by Virginia's book of the same title, will explore the relationships between famous musical artists and their mothers, their upbringing and the skills they learned as children that would go on to prepare them for success.
New episodes will roll out each Thursday, beginning May 6. The first episode features Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds and mom Christene; episode three focuses on Pharrell and Dr. Carolyn Williams; the third on Miranda Lambert and her mother Bev; the subject of the fourth is Brandi Carlile and mom Teresa; the fifth shines a spotlight on Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and his mother Mary; and the final episode will feature Geddy Lee of Rush and mom Mary Weinrib.
Paramount+ also unveiled a teaser for the series. In it, Virginia and her famous son hit the road to visit his fellow musicians and their mothers to discuss their upbringing. Watch:
Grohl's also hitting the road for another documentary. The rocker's What Drives Us documentary, which he also directed, is coming to the Coda Collection streaming service and Amazon Prime on April 30.
"This film is my love letter to every musician that has ever jumped in an old van with their friends and left it all behind for the simple reward of playing music," said Grohl in a statement at the time. "What started as a project to pull back the curtain on the DIY logistics of stuffing all of your friends and equipment into a small space for months on end eventually turned into an exploration of 'Why?' What drives us?'"
Like with From Cradle to Stage , What Drives Us will feature a multitude of musicians, including Ringo Starr, Flea, St. Vincent, Slash, Steven Tyler, Lars Ulrich and many more.
Lady A's 'Like a Lady' at the ACM Awards 2021 | Billboard
Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood of Lady A perform at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2021 in Nashville.
Lady A didn't take the conventional stage when the country band performed at the 56th annual ACM Awards held in Nashville on Sunday (April 18).
While other performers entertained from iconic locations The Bluebird Cafe, the Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry House, Lady A instead rocked their new song "Like a Lady" from the waterfront, with the lights of Nashville behind them. The group delivered an energetic and upbeat performance, as stage lights flashed and reflected off the dark water.
Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban hosted the 56th annual ACM Awards, which were broadcast from three iconic Nashville locations: The Bluebird Cafe, Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry House.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.
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