Music

The singer Robert Plant knew was out of everyone’s league: “Better than we were”

• Plant saw Steve Marriott as a superior vocalist.
• The piece highlights Marriottu2019s overlooked influence on rock.
• It links Marriottu2019s style to Plantu2019s early Led Zeppelin sound.

The article says Robert Plant regarded Steve Marriott as a singer who operated on a level above most of his peers, presenting Marriott as a rare talent who even Led Zeppelin’s frontman felt he could not match. It matters because it reframes Plant not just as a towering…

CHTHONIC Frontman-Turned-Politician FREDDY LIM: ‘Artists Are Capable Of Doing A Lot Of Things That Politicians Cannot’

• Metal frontman Freddy Lim says artists achieve what politicians cannot.
• He served in Taiwan's parliament 2016u20132024, now ambassador to Finland.
• CHTHONIC faced official harassment during Taiwan's democratic transition.

Freddy Lim, frontman of the Taiwanese extreme metal band CHTHONIC and now a politician and diplomat, reflected on the relationship between music and political change during an appearance on the Bleeding Metal podcast, recorded at the Tuska festival in Helsinki. Lim argued that artists can achieve things politicians…

Born in the Motor City 79 Years Ago Today, the Country-Rock Pioneer Who Helped Introduce Roots Music Legends to a New Generation

This article marks the 79th birthday of Jeff Hanna, born in Detroit, Michigan, on 11 July 1947, and celebrates his role as a founding member of the country-rock group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It highlights his significance in roots music, particularly through the band's landmark 1972 album…

3 Songs From the 1950s That Will Instantly Turn You Into a Country Music Fan

• Three 1950s country songs picked to win over new fans.
• Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Cash feature.
• Tracks date from 1951, 1952 and 1956.

American Songwriter offers a short appreciation of country music from the 1950s, arguing that the decade laid the foundations for the modern genre. The writer picks three tracks they say will convert any newcomer into a country fan, framing the era's comparatively simple sound as the root of…

The 1972 album Keith Richards never gets tired of hearing: “I still love that”

• Keith Richards still loves *Exile on Main St.*
• The article treats it as a defining Stones album
• Its 1972 release and lasting legacy are central

The article says Keith Richards has remained especially fond of the Rolling Stones’ 1972 album *Exile on Main St.*, describing it as a record he still enjoys hearing years later. It presents that affection as significant because the album is widely seen as one of the band’s defining…

Lorde Speaks Out Against “Fucked Up” AI Glasses

While performing at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid on Thursday 9 July 2026, the pop star Lorde used her time on stage to speak out against AI-enabled smart glasses. Telling the crowd that "increasingly in our world it gets harder and harder to know what is real",…

‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Star Miranda Hope Talks Music Debut and Shares a Season 5 Update

Miranda Hope, best known for starring in Hulu's Emmy-nominated reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, has launched a music career with her debut single "FU4THAT", a country-pop track about reclaiming personal power and moving forward. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she framed the release…

TOMORA on soundtracking World Cup TV coverage ahead

• TOMORA's music soundtracks BBC and ITV World Cup coverage.
• Tracks 'Somewhere Else' and 'In A Minute' feature on both broadcasters.
• Aurora's Norway faced Rowlands' England in Saturday's knock-out game.

Norwegian-British duo TOMORA — made up of art-pop singer Aurora and The Chemical Brothers' Tom Rowlands — have spoken to NME about how their music is soundtracking UK television coverage of the 2026 World Cup. The interview coincided with a knock-out match on Saturday 11 July in which…

Orioles Host Turnstile Night

• Orioles held a Turnstile-themed night at Camden Yards.
• Commemorative jerseys were delayed to 22 August by supply issues.
• The band threw first pitches; the Orioles beat Kansas City.

The Baltimore Orioles dedicated a home game at Camden Yards to Turnstile, the city's Grammy-winning hardcore band, ahead of the group's forthcoming tour with several supporting acts. The tribute night celebrated the band in their hometown, with members taking part in on-field activities and the ballpark playing Turnstile…

FL Studio head Constantin Koehncke turns to Reddit for feedback and fun

• FL Studio's CEO reads the forums and Reddit daily for feedback.
• Koehncke has led Image Line since 2022, adding AI features to FL Studio.
• His picks include AirPods Pro, Reddit and long-form journalism.

The Verge has published a "Weekend Questionnaire" interview with Constantin Koehncke, CEO of Image Line, the company behind the popular digital audio workstation FL Studio (once known as Fruity Loops). The piece highlights how Koehncke stays close to his user base, checking the FL Studio forums and Reddit…