Topic: Music

Music news, from stadium-filling icons to the artists shaping the charts this week, covering new releases, reissues and the interviews and anniversaries that put a record's story in context. It ranges across genres and eras, so a look back at how a soul classic or disco anthem came together sits alongside coverage of what's charting or making headlines right now.

Beyond the music itself, this is where the people and decisions behind it get examined: why a band turned down a big break, how a songwriter settled on a lyric overnight, or what a veteran musician makes of the industry and the world today. There's also room for the wider culture around music, from touring and nightlife to the health and social benefits some readers get from it.

Taken together, it's a mix of nostalgia and the present tense, useful for anyone who wants to understand not just what's playing now but the stories and decisions that shaped the music they already know.

  • Hole Reissuing Classic Albums on Vinyl

    Hole will reissue its first three albums on vinyl on 18 September: Pretty on the Inside, Live Through This and Celebrity Skin. The releases revisit key records from the band’s catalogue, with remastering and several special-edition formats aimed at collectors and fans. Pretty on the Inside will include a remastered 12-inch of “Teenage Whore” with…

  • On This Day in 1977, Dire Straits Recorded the Demo That Landed Them a Record Deal and Produced an International Hit

    On 24 July 1977, Dire Straits recorded their first five-song demo at Pathway Studios in London, including “Sultans of Swing”. Although MCA Records rejected the tape, BBC Radio presenter Charlie Gillett began playing the song, attracting record-label interest and helping the band secure a deal with Vertigo. “Sultans of Swing” was first released in May…

  • Braxton Keith Reveals the Touring Tricks He’s Learned from Luke Bryan and Cody Johnson Ahead of His Own Headlining Trek (Exclusive)

    Country singer Braxton Keith is preparing to launch his first headlining Real Damn Deal Tour after supporting artists including Luke Bryan and Cody Johnson. He says observing their stagecraft, lighting, song transitions and on-stage presence has helped him develop as a live performer, as he moves from opening slots into the spotlight himself. The tour…

  • What I track in a day

    Victoria Song describes the extensive health and fitness data she tracks each day as a wearables reviewer, stressing that her routine is designed to test products and their claims rather than to provide a model for ordinary users. She argues that the pursuit of a highly quantified lifestyle can become excessive, particularly as health technology…

  • Kelsea Ballerini and Patrick Droney Duet on Tender New Single ‘Math of Us’

    Kelsea Ballerini has joined singer-songwriter Patrick Droney on ‘Math of Us’, a reflective duet from Droney’s newly released album Made You Look. Accompanied by a video filmed in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the collaboration explores fear, presence and the desire to hold on to meaningful relationships. Ballerini said she was immediately drawn to the song’s emotional…

  • In Praise of a 90-Year-Old Song That Simply Never Ages

    ‘The Way You Look Tonight’, written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, marks 90 years since its copyright and remains one of the most enduring songs of the 1930s. First performed by Fred Astaire in the 1936 film Swing Time, it became a standard across film, jazz and popular music, demonstrating its unusual ability to…

  • The first Tom Waits album he ever enjoyed: “Trying too hard”

    Tom Waits has said he did not enjoy his own records until the 1983 album ‘Swordfishtrombones’, describing his earlier work as feeling like it was “trying too hard”. The comment highlights the sharp creative change represented by the album, which began the experimental, rough-edged style that became central to his later reputation. Before ‘Swordfishtrombones’, Waits…

  • 9 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Charli XCX, the Strokes, Tyla, and More

    Pitchfork recommends a selection of newly released albums spanning pop, indie rock, Afrobeats and hip-hop. – Charli XCX’s Music, Fashion, Film is described as a garage-rock-leaning, vulnerable follow-up to BRAT. – The Strokes’ Reality Awaits is their seventh studio album and first full-length release in six years. – Tyla’s sophomore album A*Pop reflects on global…

  • NONPOINT Drops Two Versions Of New Single ‘Red Yeti’ From Upcoming ‘The Last Word’ Album

    NONPOINT has released two versions of its new single, “Red Yeti”, ahead of its eleventh studio album, “The Last Word”, which is due on 18 September through the band’s independent label. One version features the band alone, while the other includes Skye Sweetnam of SUMO CYCO; the release signals the group’s next creative phase and…

  • It’s Passion Pit Day In Boston

    Boston has officially designated 24 July 2026 as Passion Pit Day, marking 20 years since Michael Angelakos began the indie electronic pop project while associated with Emerson College. The recognition coincides with the band’s anniversary Pretty Penny Tour and a concert at Boston’s House of Blues, highlighting the city’s role in the group’s early development.…