Global superstar Janet Jackson will return to arenas and amphitheaters across the U.S. this summer with an extension of her outstanding and in-demand State of the World Tour. The outing will showcase some of the legendary entertainer’s biggest dance anthems and powerhouse ballads that have become staples of the music icon’s career.
Produced by Live Nation, the newly announced U.S. dates will kick off July 11th in Austin, TX and visit cities across the country including Cincinnati, Hershey, Raleigh, Miami, and more. Full routing can be found below. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, April 27 at LiveNation.com.
Citi is the official pre-sale credit card of the State of the World Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, April 26 at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass® program. For complete pre-sale details visit https://www.citiprivatepass.com/.
Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her music has won her 6 GRAMMY® Awards, 2 Emmy Nominations, a Golden Globe Award, a nomination for an Academy Award along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actress as well including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Janet is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry has opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions. For more information please visit janetjackson.com.
“Jackson managed to expertly pull off an all-stops stadium pop show while still imbuing the affair with plenty of her own idiosyncratic personality.” – Variety
““Yep, the iconic choreography still holds up.” – USA Today
“Sunday’s concert provided a thorough overview of her expansive catalog, from the bracing pop-R&B of ‘Control’ to the exuberant disco of “All for You” to the dark, humid soul music she was making on ‘The Velvet Rope,’ a touchstone for some of today’s adventurous young artists” – LA Times
“…a new wave of inspiration hit the singer as the dance numbers, flawless looks and new confidence breathed new life into her…show.” – Vibe
Emily Hackett speaks the truth. The singer/songwriter raised in Atlanta, GA pulls these emotions into her music, stirring in an authentic blend of self-deprecation that is both unique and refreshing. What poises her against the rest of the soul of fiery artist ready to light up the stage, all the while still as honest as her southern roots.
The result of Emily’s insatiable passion is undeniable. In the last few years, Emily has made a splash in the music scene releasing two EPs – ‘As It Comes and Fury,’ ‘Fear and Heartbreak.’ In 2013, Emily released an acoustic cover with Megan Davies of Lorde’s hit “Royals.” The response has brought in over half-a-million views on Youtube, was featured on Buzzfeed, won “Best Coffeehouse Cover of 2013” on Sirius XM and reached the final round of “Best Royals Covers” on Ryan Seacrest. In 2014 Emily won the national Belk’s Modern Southern Music Showcase where she played tour dates with artists like Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Rascal Flatts. In the same line, her duet with Parachute frontman Will Anderson, “Take My Hand (The Wedding Song)” reached over 50k streams on Soundcloud in less than two months and peaked at the No. 4 spot on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart. The music video for the single currently sits at over 15 million views.
There’s a compatibility between the novelty and depth found in Emily’s artistry. Her music has the power to transform listeners in a direction where many songwriters fear to tread. With her organic honesty and raw-honey vocals, it’s no wonder that the possibilities continue to unfurl for Emily Hackett. Icon Vs. Icon recently caught up with the artist on the rise to discuss her musical roots, the challenges she has faced along the way, her creative evolution and much more!
Going all the way back to the beginning, how did music first come into your life?
I was introduced to great music very early on because of my dad. Both my parents were music lovers but my dad was a rock and roll critic in Cleveland and also played guitar around the house and with friend as a hobby so I knew all the words to “American Pie” by the time I was ten probably!
At what point did you realize music was something you wanted to pursue professionally?
When I figured out that I was actually good at it, probably. When I discovered that just by singing my favorite songs I could get people’s attention, there was some lightbulb moment that happened in my soul that realized I was meant to do that. It wasn’t until high school though that I knew anything about Nashville and the professional life waiting there.
Dedicating yourself fully to your art is a big step. Did you ever have any reservations about taking the plunge?
Absolutely! I think only the people who are following their dreams are the ones who have reservations at all. Fear is a truth-teller. If you are scared of failing but the desire still keeps you up at night, then you’re on the right road. You’ve just got to surround yourself with the right support system, and my family and friends were that times ten.
What can you tell us about the process of finding your creative voice as a young artist and finding your current creative direction?
It comes with finding out who you are. Who are you with your family? Who are you with the boy you have a crush on? Who are you after you break his heart? The more in-touch with yourself you are, the more authentic your creative voice will be. Don’t be scared to be honest.
Who were some of the performers and people behind the scenes who helped to shape the artist we see today?
I was always infatuated with the female artists growing up, probably because I wanted to learn from them and follow in their footsteps. They impressed me most. Everyone from Joni Mitchell to Aretha Franklin to Michelle Branch and Spice Girls. It was especially the girls who I discovered wrote their own music too though. My parents were amazing about introducing me to new music too, via albums played around the house as well as a bunch of different concerts. I saw a lot of live music by the time I was 15.
You are clearly very driven when it comes to your career. Your passion is truly inspiring. What has kept you inspired throughout the years as an artist and fueled your creative fire?
It’s a little bit of the, “Well what else are you gonna do that’s gonna make you this happy? So have some coffee and get to work!” It’s also a lot of the feeling that you get when you know you have created something good. It’s magic. Who doesn’t want to feel magic?
Last year, you released single titled “Nostalgia.” Tell us a little about what inspired this song and what it means to you?
A very intricate guitar loop that Mikey Reaves created. He played it for me and for some reason I went right back to my hometown. I was having these flashbacks of growing up with my friends and writing poetry in my room. I couldn’t describe it any other way than “Nostalgia,” so after attempting to figure out how to rephrase it, I instead accepted it and said, “What if we just bring that feeling to life?”
The video for the song is great and captures the spirit of the song perfectly. It looks like you had a blast! What was that experience like for you and what memories spring to mind when you think of bringing it to life?
I don’t know if I’ll ever have another video experience quite like that one. It was all by the seat of our pants. What you see is what you get—candid laughter, real moments. I hired my videographer, Craig Hill, based off of the question, “Are you more of an ask for permission or beg for forgiveness kind of guy?” I knew we were in for a good time when he answered the latter.
In early 2018, you released “Once In A While.” Another beautiful song and video. Tell us a little about how this one came about.
Thank you. I wrote that song with Austin Taylor Smith a few years ago and knew it was a special one. I was just honest with him one day when I started telling him about how hard it can be when you think about an ex that you’ve hurt and you just want to know how they are doing—for your own sake! To feel better about what you did or whatever. But you know that it’s better to just let them be. So it became more of a letter that I never sent.
What I love about your songs is they come from a very real place. Was it a difficult process to get to a point where you were able to bare your soul?
Actually, no! That is funny to admit to, but I think I had a harder time baring my soul in real life so doing it in my songs was my outlet. I even performed some at a really young age in front of guys I wanted to date or that I wanted to apologize to for hurting, because it was easier to sing it to them then it would have been to say it to their face.
What can you tell us about the songwriting process for your music?
It’s never the same every time. Sometimes it starts with a bunch of words and no music. Sometimes it’s mumbling nothing to a cool melody idea. I just chase what feels right.
What was the first song you ever wrote?
“Dreams Come True.” I wrote it for the 6th grade talent show. My parents definitely have incriminating footage of it somewhere.
You brushed elbows and worked with some amazing artists along the way. How has had the biggest impact on you artistically?
I think I’m impacted, daily by the fantastic musicians and songwriters I get to write and perform with. I’ve been lucky to work with people who I’d also consider my closest friends. Will Anderson and the Parachute boys have all been crazy supportive of my artistry and have taught me a lot along the way. I also had the chance to watch and learn from the guys of Needtobreathe in the studio when they worked on their acoustic version of “Brother.” Talk about some crazy creativity and persistence. I was also super humbled (and thrilled) when they asked me to sing BGV’s on the track.
The majority of music fans don’t give much thought to the business side of the music industry. What are some of the major challenges you find yourself facing as a working musician?
The lack of equality in the field is definitely something that gets cast in the shadows. Females have had such a tough time in the music industry in general over the last decade or so and especially in the country genre. I think it stems from uncertainty about what the females are going to do or say in our music–God forbid we give a different perspective. I love watching more and more of these girls coming up, like myself, have the same attitude about it and decide to push those boundaries out because we’re tired of the scale weighing so heavy on what the guys have to say. No offense boys, we love you, but we want some time on the mic.
As an artist, so many things can be said about the current state of the music industry. What excites about the business in this day and age?
It’s tough that artists, and I mean that in the sense of creators in all aspects of the industry, don’t get paid what they deserve because of outdated laws and the global desire for free art. You could even say entitlement, and I have to include myself in that because I’m a Spotify and Apple Music user too. What’s exciting is that the accessibility to a ridiculous amount of music—new music—gives independent artists like myself an opportunity to find fans that we perhaps never would have found us.
How do you feel you have most evolved as an artist since you first started professionally?
I think I just discovered production and how it could change the sound of a song of mine so drastically. It took time and a little experimenting with recording and performing for a few years before I really felt confident about vocalizing how I wanted to hear something. Now I know. Even if I don’t know the music-theoretical way to communicate it to a roomful of session players, I know how to describe it and reference it and most importantly, know when we get it or if we need to try something else.
What do you consider your biggest milestones along the way?
Choosing to be a performing artist and not just a songwriter. Making my first full-length record. Making my first music video. This is just the beginning for me and I’m so excited.
You have a lot of productive years ahead of you. Where do you see yourself headed musically in the future — with short and long term?
I think it’s too soon to tell! I like a lot of different kinds of music and I’m influenced by it all. I hope to get a chance to collaborate with inspiring artists.
What is the best way for fans to help support you at this stage in your career?
Listen to the music. Come to the shows. Just be a fan! That’s why I love you.
We would love to help spread the word on any causes or organizes you support. What is closest to your heart at this point in time that we can help shine a light on?
It’s honestly hard to choose one charitable organization I recommend more than another right now. My heart is pulled in a lot of directions when it comes to what the world needs. I think my best answer would be to just choose the one that strikes you as important and act on it—give blood to the Red Cross, adopt an animal instead of breeding one, donate old clothes to a bettered women’s shelter. It doesn’t have to be about the money. Time is money too.
You can serve as a great inspiration for so many aspiring artists and young people. What is the best lesson we can take away from your journey so far?
Following the declaration of intent of lead single ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ Kim Wilde releases the thrill ride of raucous second single ‘Kandy Krush’.
‘Pop Don’t Stop’ was playlisted on BBC Radio 2, declared “a huge pop anthem” by the Express and a “pop wrecking ball that’s about to smash its way through your brain” by Popjustice and included the prescient lyrics “The seasons come and go again and what was old is new again.”
Kim Wilde’s return to recording isn’t a comeback, but it does mark a fresh start in the iconic singer’s extraordinary career. Proud of her past, but focused on the future, Kim has never stopped singing or selling out tours – she has played more shows in the past decade than ever before, finding fans in countries she never dreamed she’d visit and turning new generations on to her songs – such huge hits as ‘Kids In America’, ‘Chequered Love’, ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’ and ‘Cambodia’.
Named after a real-life Close Encounter that occurred in Kim’s back garden in 2009, ‘Here Come The Aliens’ contains 12 tracks of swagger and sweetness that delve in to disco, new wave, electro and glam rock, but are really just smart, stylish, arms-aloft pop. From the slinky, stomp-along opener 1969 and the electro monster ‘Stereo Shot’ to the shimmering ballad ‘Solstice’, the addictive, riff-drenched ‘A Different Story’ and the boisterous ‘Birthday’, ‘Here Come The Aliens’ pairs Kim’s trademark lust for life with the strongest set of songs of her nearly 40 year career.
Vocally, Kim has never sounded better, the result of a hectic gig and festival schedule that has taken Kim and her six-strong band around the world for the past decade, playing not only her classic ‘80s tracks, but the hits she has continued to enjoy throughout Europe, Scandinavia and Asia up to the present day. In fact, it’s in Britain where Kim has been off the road the most.
“I’ve played more in the past 15 years than I did in the first two decades of my career,” says Kim, the UK’s most successful female pop star of the 80s, whose early tours included opening for David Bowie and Michael Jackson. “My band and I have headlined several tours abroad, but this is the first one for almost 30 years at home. But I’ve had fantastic experiences here touring with Rewind and Let’s Rock so our fans know that they have a very special place in my heart. I cannot wait to see them all up close and personal.”
A true family affair, ‘Here Come The Aliens’ was largely co-written by Kim and Ricky (who produced the record) and also features her niece Scarlett, who has played in the band for a decade and sings and songwrites on the album. The multi-talented Scarlett is also responsible for the album’s phenomenal artwork.
‘Here Come The Aliens’ tracklisting:
1 -1969 – written by Kim Wilde & Ricky Wilde.
2 – Pop Don’t Stop (duet with Ricky Wilde) – written by Kim, Ricky & Scarlett Wilde.
3 – Kandy Krush – written by Kim, Ricky, Frederick Thomander & Anders Wikström (‘Epicentre’).
4 – Stereo Shot – written by Ricky & Scarlett Wilde.
5 – Yours Til The End – written by Ricky Wilde & Neil Jones.
6 – Solstice – written by Kim, Ricky & Scarlett Wilde.
7 – Addicted To You – written by Sean J Vincent, Ricky, & Roxanne Wilde.
8 – Birthday – written by Ricky, Scarlett Wilde & Shane Lee.
9 – Cyber.Nation.War – written by Kim & Ricky.
10 – Different Story – written by Kim, Frederick Thomander & Anders Wikström (‘Epicentre’).
11 – Rock the Paradiso – written by Kim, Ricky & Scarlett Wilde.
12 – Rosetta (duet with Frida Sundemo) – written by Kim & Ricky.
As her sultry and show-stopping video for “Coming In Hot” crosses 1 Million YouTube streams, 21-year-old rock phenom Diamante shows she’s more than meets the eye in the brand new video for her female empowerment video anthem “Had Enough”.
Shot on location in Palm Springs CA, Diamante enlisted an all-female team to create the ultimate gal-pal road trip video, which pays homage to the classic pissed-off-chick-flick Thelma and Louise. Taking the desert by storm alongside actress Mackenna Johnson, the video features a behind-the scenes cast including Director/Producer Sofia Lane, production crew Rose Lu and Alyssa Mordal, and camera work by Tania Espinosa Cueva. Each woman is up-and-coming in her respective field.
“It’s critical to see more women at the top of fields traditionally dominated by men,”explains Diamante on her decision to hire women for this shoot. “But in order to do that, we need to give women a chance to get their foot in the door. It was very important to me to create opportunities for other women in the making of this video.”
Originally recorded by Lower Than Atlantis, Diamante decided to put her stamp on the song because the strong lyrical content struck a chord. “Something about its unapologetic honesty really captivated me. I think that level of honesty and bluntness of being able to tell the world: ‘Hey! I’m pissed off!’ is very powerful and something that music has been craving, especially in today’s climate.”
“Had Enough” is the fourth track released from her forthcoming debut record due out later this year on Better Noise Records, following “Haunted”, “Sleepwalking” and the breakout track “Coming In Hot”.
Produced by Howard Benson [Chris Cornell, Kelly Clarkson, My Chemical Romance, Halestorm], the upcoming collection brings to light a signature sound the artist has been developing meticulously since age 13. With her edgy style, sultry vocals, pop sensibility, and unabashed swagger, the Mexican-Italian-American solo artist draws from myriad influences and calls to mind legends from a spectrum of rock icons including Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Bowie.
Today multi-platinum, GRAMMY® Award-winning bandIMAGINE DRAGONSrelease a brand new single entitled “Next To Me” via KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records, and also reveal summer dates for their Evolve Tour. “Next To Me” is available via all participating digital retailers HERE. Listen to “Next To Me” HERE. The Evolve Tour returns June 5 in Hartford, CT and will hit major cities including Boston, Toronto, New York and more (see full listing below).
“Next To Me,” produced by Alex Da Kid, was today’s World Record with Zane Lowe on Beats 1. “Next To Me” is the first new music released from Imagine Dragons since Evolve, the band’s 2017 platinum-selling third album. Evolve, the biggest rock album of 2017, has sold over 1.3 million albums in the US and over 4 billion streams globally.
Produced by Live Nation, Imagine Dragons’ Evolve Tour will feature special guest Grace VanderWaal throughout the North American leg. The 14-year-old singer/songwriter rose to fame on “America’s Got Talent” with her signature ukulele sound and released her first full length album Just the Beginning in late 2017. Imagine Dragons sold out their initial run of the Evolve Tour in 2017, with support from Grouplove and K.Flay.
Tickets are on sale to the general public starting Saturday, March 3rd at 10am local time at LiveNation.com and via the Live Nation app. Fans can register starting now, Wednesday, February 21st at 12pm ET through Sunday, February 25th at 3pm ET for free access to the Ticketmaster Verified Fan presale HERE, which will allow vetted fans to purchase tickets before the general public starting Tuesday, February 27th at 10am local time through Friday, March 2nd at 10pm local time.
Imagine Dragons has once again partnered with CID Entertainment to offer VIP Packages on tour. All 3 VIP Packages include the option of a premium reserved or General Admission pit ticket with early venue entry for prime concert viewing. ‘Whatever It Takes’ and ‘Believer’ VIP Packages include access to the ‘Evolve’ Pre-Party where fans can interact with Imagine Dragons show sets and memorabilia, including the band’s taiko drum used during their live performances of Radioactive. To view Imagine Dragons VIP Package details, visit CID Entertainment.
Also this summer, HBO Documentary Films will release the Live Nation Productions documentaryBeliever, which follows Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds as he takes on a new mission to explore how the Mormon church treats its LGBTQ members.
Abramorama, in association with Concord Music, announced today they will present a special limited theatrical run of Concert for George, remastered in 5.1 Stereo Surround Sound beginning February 20th, 2018. February 25th marks what would have been George Harrison’s 75th birthday. Due to an overwhelming response from theaters in North America, the film has already been booked into more than 75 theaters in the US and CAN with the list growing daily. The International rollout of the film will be announced next week.
Over the years, Abramorama has a proven track record in the music driven film space, partnering several times with Neil Young, Green Day, Pearl Jam and now once again with a member of The Beatles. Abramorama released the Ron Howard documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years in 2016. Through limited engagements and event screenings, the film grossed close to $3 million in the US and more than $12 million worldwide.
On November 29, 2002, one year after the passing of George Harrison, Olivia Harrison and longtime friend Eric Clapton organized a performance tribute in his honor. Held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured George’s songs, and music he loved, performed by a lineup that included Clapton, Joe Brown, Dhani Harrison, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr and many more.
Directed by David Leland (Wish You Were Here, HBO’s Band Of Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys’ video “Handle With Care”), Concert for George captures stunning renditions of some of the most significant music of the 20th century, including “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, Paul McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), “Taxman” (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and “The Inner Light” (covered by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Lynne, Harrison’s longtime friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the concert, while Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical Director.
Concert for George has been certified 8-times platinum by the RIAA since its initial release and earned a 2004 Grammy® Award for Best Long Form Music Video.
In conjunction with the theatrical release, the sound recordings from Concert for George will also be reissued for the very first time on vinyl (available as a 4-LP Box Set, as well as a Limited Edition Deluxe 10-disc Box Set) and on audio streaming services, as well as on 2CD/2DVD, 2CD/2Blu-Ray and 2CD formats via Concord Music. This is the first time that all songs from the performance have been available on an audio configuration.
About Concord Music
Concord Music is the independent, worldwide leader in the development, acquisition, and management of recorded music, music publishing, and theatrical performance rights. With offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, Berlin, and Cleveland, Concord Music has a diverse and vibrant roster of active recording artists, composers, and songwriters, and a vast and historic catalog of works by some of the most treasured names in music history. Concord Music’s historical labels, which are managed by its Craft Recordings team, include such storied imprints as Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Pablo, Prestige, Riverside, Savoy, Specialty, Stax, Telarc, Vee-Jay, and Wind-up.
About Abramorama
Abramorama is the preeminent global rights management partner for music films today and is recognized for the consistent high quality of its work on award winning feature films. An innovator in the focused, personalized form of film distribution and event cinema, Abramorama provides invaluable alternatives to filmmakers and content owners. An industry leader in marketing, promotion, and global distribution, Abramorama continues to trail-blaze exciting new pathways for filmmakers to find their audience. Over the course of more than 15 years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films, including Ron Howard’s Grammy Award®-winning The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years; Danny Clinch and Pearl Jam’s Lets Play Two; Amir Bar-Lev’s Long Strange Trip – The Untold Story of the Grateful Dead; Corbett Redford and Green Day’s Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, John Scheinfeld’s Chasing Trane – The John Coltrane Documentary; Sam Pollard’s Two Trains Runnin’; Brett Bern’s BANG! The Bert Berns Story; Brett Morgen and National Geographic’s seminal Jane; Tomer Heymann’s Mr. Gaga; Charles Ferguson’s Time To Choose; Asif Kapadia’s Senna; Neil Young’s Greendale; Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty; Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil! The Story of Anvil; Banksy’s Academy Award® nominated Exit Through the Gift Shop; the surprise indie hit Awake: The Life of Yogananda; Laurie Anderson’s astonishing New York Times critics’ pick, Heart of a Dog, Showtime’s National Board of Review Winner Listen to Me Marlon and Draft House Releasing’s 2016 Documentary Academy Award®-nominee and IDA Best Documentary Winner The Look of Silence. Abramorama is a founding partner of The Seventh Art Stand program, an act of cinematic solidarity against Islamophobia, that ran in more than 50 theaters across the United States in May of 2017. For more information visit www.abramorama.com
When pop moves on, it leaves some stars behind. For others – the ones who were in it for the music – it opens new avenues.
Kim Wilde’s return to recording isn’t a comeback, but it does mark a fresh start in the iconic singer’s extraordinary career. Proud of her past, but focused on the future, Kim has never stopped singing or selling out tours – she has played more shows in the past decade than ever before, finding fans in countries she never dreamed she’d visit and turning new generations on to her songs.
When she walked in to the famous RAK Studios last year to begin recording ‘Here Come The Aliens’ (her first new album of original material to have a UK release since 1992), Kim felt instantly at home. Not only because RAK was where, in 1981, she recorded ‘Kids In America’ and ‘Chequered Love’, the seminal singles that made her famous at the age of 21, but because making music is what Kim has always done.
Now, as then, Kim was produced by her brother Ricky Wilde, who also guests on lead single ‘Pop Don’t Stop’, the first time that the pair have duetted on record. A glorious blend of rock riffs, electro beats and Kim’s infectious effervescence, with an earworm chorus that would work in any decade, ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ is a celebration of the role pop has played in the siblings’ lives and a tribute to the power of a great melody.
“Ricky and I share the same passion for pop,” says Kim. “We grew up together with the same influences, we speak the same language when it comes to all things musical. Some love affairs never die and our love affair with pop continues to this day, stronger than ever in fact!”
That passion is apparent throughout ‘Here Come The Aliens’ – lyrically, musically and in the patently genuine joy with which Kim always sings. Named after a real-life Close Encounter that occurred in Kim’s back garden in 2009, the album contains 12 tracks of swagger and sweetness that delve in to disco, new wave, electro and glam rock, but are really just smart, stylish, arms-aloft pop.
From the slinky, stomp-along opener 1969, the thrill ride of raucous second single ‘Kandy Krush’ and the electro monster ‘Stereo Shot’ to the shimmering ballad ‘Solstice’, the addictive, riff-drenched ‘A Different Story’ and the boisterous ‘Birthday’, ‘Here Come The Aliens’ pairs Kim’s trademark lust for life with the strongest set of songs of her nearly 40 year career.
Vocally, Kim has never sounded better, the result of a hectic gig and festival schedule that has taken Kim and her six-strong band around the world for the past decade, playing not only her classic ‘80s tracks, but the hits she has continued to enjoy throughout Europe, Scandinavia and Asia up to the present day. In fact, it’s in Britain where Kim has been off the road the most.
“I’ve played more in the past 15 years than I did in the first two decades of my career,” says Kim, the UK’s most successful female pop star of the 80s, whose early tours included opening for David Bowie and Michael Jackson. “My band and I have headlined several tours abroad, but this is the first one for almost 30 years at home. But I’ve had fantastic experiences here touring with Rewind and Let’s Rock so our fans know that they have a very special place in my heart. I cannot wait to see them all up close and personal.”
A true family affair, ‘Here Come The Aliens’ was largely co-written by Kim and Ricky and also features her niece Scarlett, who has played in the band for a decade and sings and songwrites on the album. The multi-talented Scarlett is also responsible for the album’s phenomenal artwork.
“It’s easily the best artwork I’ve ever had and this is probably the album of which I’m most proud,” says Kim. “I can’t wait for people to hear it. It was made with a lot of love and supernatural energy.”
Once upon a time, three brothers and two friends came together to form the Dance Rock powerhouse that is FF5. A decade half later, two remain: the originators, the brother’s duo, Jacob and Joshua Olds. Although the Nashville-based duo have endured much upheaval over the years, FF5 now returns with a new look and music that proves their chemistry to be more potent than ever.
Jacob and Joshua founded FF5 with their older brother and began to carve out their singular sound. “We started melting rock-and-roll and hip-hop and dance music together in a way that was very anarchy-like,” says Jacob. “That fusion of all these different styles became the thing that we lived by-our thinking was, ‘We don’t care if you like us or not, we are who we are, and it’s who we’re meant to be”.
Over the years the group has released four full length albums, three remix albums, one Christmas album, and a plethora of EPs. Even when you thought they were down and out, they come back with a vengeance. Their newest single, “Fire on the Highway”, redefines the possibilities of pop and shows the strange synergy at the heart of FF5. With its shimmering textures, the song draws from Jacob’s affection for ’80s pop and Joshua’s raw rock-and-roll energy to dream up a hypnotic yet hook-driven sound. Like most of their new material, the synth-laced track was shaped by the band’s belief in following through on the beautiful mistakes that so often occur in the creative process.
Dylan Lyles, an avid listener of Family Force 5 since 2006, had the chance to chat with the brothers. They had a chance to chat about the early days, the hardships they have faced in recent years, and their massive comeback. Welcome to the new era of FF5!
For our readers who may not be familiar with the band at all, can you give us a little bit of a background on the early days of FF5 and your first experiences with music?
Jacob: The early days in FF5 were a grind. Just like any starting band we had our share of sleeping on peoples floors that we met at the our shows (most of the time fans haha) and barely making it to gigs, but making it in time for the show. Always getting sick from lack of sleep from driving all night, but it was worth every bit of it. My first experience with music on the road was just being very thankful that I was playing music and getting to travel, and seeing how our music made people feel something. It was very cool to see and be apart of.
I always was like, “is this really happening or is someone gonna pinch me and it’s gonna be just a dream?”
The uniqueness of FF5 is that every album sounds different. You’ll never mistake a “Dance or Die” song for a “Business Up Front” song, just like nothing off of “Time Stands Still” sounds like “III”. Do you guys approach each record with the idea of creating a different sound?
Jacob: We approach each record with a new perspective. I think the sound follows it’s own path on each record. We get inspired by different sounds and what mood we are in when we write and what we want to say and convey at that particular moment in time. I think that’s why it’s alway a wild card. We want to keep pushing ourselves to be better at what we do, that’s why we try and change it up some.
In 2013, Solomon (Soul Glow Activatur) leaves the band to focus on other ventures. Can you give a little insight on how you guys were feeling at the time? As brothers you guys have been making music since you were kids. What was the atmosphere in the FF5 camp around this time?
Jacob: I think we all knew Soli wanted to move on and there were talks of FF5 hanging it up, but I think we all wanted to keep moving and try it without our older bro. It was hard but we all understood that Soli wanted to try something new and we couldn’t keep him from that.
Jacob, you have always played a vocal role on many tracks in your discography. What was it like going from drummer/vocalist to full blown frontman?
Jacob: It was a little scary. I knew I always wanted to step out from behind the drums but I also knew that people would hate me because I was taking over a job that my older bro was really good at. I think the transition from Soli leaving to me taking his spot went as smooth as it could have gone. I knew I was not gonna try and fill his shoes and be like him, but I was gonna be me. And ……I think I’m a better dancer than I am a drummer. haha. I got the gig because I could sing and play drums at the same time.
FF5 making the magic happen in the studio.
It’s 2018, FF5 has entered an entirely new chapter. How are you guys feeling at this moment?
Jacob: I feel invigorated this year. I’m glad we have new music and art coming out and I’m really looking forward to people getting to hear it.
You guys have truly been through it all together, the highs and the lows. Was there ever a point where you guys honestly weren’t sure of the band’s status? A time where you guys maybe felt that enough was enough?
Jacob: Yeah 2017. We had just finished what we thought was gonna be our record in late 2016. And it never came out. We had members of the band leave because they all wanted to pursue other things than FF5. It was a dark year for us and at every turn there seemed to be something else, but we believed in the music and that’s honestly what helped us push through.
I’ve seen you guys mention that you have an album already completed and ready to go. You guys have even gone as far as playing that album in its entirety live this past year. With the many changes you’ve gone through since then, will this album eventually see the light of day or is it a clean slate from here forward?
Jacob: You know I think some of the songs will, but not the full album that was finished in 2016.
I’m absolutely loving the new track, “Fire on the Highway”. Like I’ve mentioned before, there’s a distinction between this track and the music you guys have done previously. What was your inspiration behind this song; what’s its story?
Josh: The inspiration for the song – is that freedom you get when you’re a teenager and you FINALLY get your license….you’re able to just drive, and blast music, and kinda start becoming your own person.
This is definitely a new chapter for FF5 as a whole. What can we expect from you two as we go through 2018?
Josh: I think you can expect what FF5 has always brought to the table which is a great live show, as well as music that you can get lost in and forget everything that’s going on in the World.
We can’t forget to mention that FF5 has always, no matter the era, put on some of the best live shows ever seen. The high energy is infectious and I’d be hard pressed to say there are any butts left in the seats when you guys play. Can we expect a few shows, maybe a tour this year, or is the focus at the moment to adjust to the changes and keep putting on great tunes?
Josh: There’s most DEFINITELY some tours in 2018 with incredible energy behind them, and a multitude of unexpected guests! ;-)
Speaking of live shows, over the Christmas holiday you guys did something very special. After 4 years away from the FF5 mic, save for an appearance here and there, Mr. Soul Glow Activatur joined you guys for a full set in Nashville. How did that feel having all three of you back on stage again? Was this a one off, or could we expect any future shows to come of this?
Josh: Haha, it always feels incredible to play with our brother. And there might be something in the works… :)
Not to be selfish, but I promised myself that I would ask this question if I ever had a chance to speak with you guys. Your Christmas album, “Christmas Pageant” has become a main stay for my holiday since 2009. What are the odds that we get a sequel, “Christmas Pageant II” sometime in the future?
Josh: That’s a very good question. I think we we’re always playing around with the idea of another Christmas record. They are fun to do – we’re just on the hunt for the correct songs to put on it.
With the many changes that have taken place over the years, what are your goals as artists going into the future?
Josh: I think the goal is always to make great music, and always be evolving. I want to put out music that people want to listen to.
Thank you so much for talking with us guys. Like I said before, I’m a huge fan and it’s been a true honor. Where are the best places we can keep up with your continuing adventures, and the path that lies ahead?
Josh: Well, you can always talk to our on our social media channels! @ff5band as well as Facebook! We’re always looking!
You heard the man! Check out the latest happening from FF5 on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out “Fire On The Highway” today!
It’s 2018 and 21-year-old DIAMANTE is ready to take on the world. Today, she shares the new single “Had Enough” (out now on all DSPs), also revealing a lyric video in which she channels superman.
Originally recorded by Lower Than Atlantis, DIAMANTE’s take on “Had Enough” turns the song into an empowerment anthem.
“I decided to cover ‘Had Enough’ because of its strong lyrical content and sentiment really struck a chord with me,” DIAMANTE explains. “Something about its unapologetic honesty really captivated me. I think that level of honesty and bluntness of being able to tell the world: ‘Hey! I’m pissed off!’ is very powerful and something that music has been craving, especially in today’s social climate.”
“Had Enough” is the fourth track released from her forthcoming debut record due out later this year on Better Noise Records, following “Haunted”, “Sleepwalking” and the breakout track “Coming In Hot”. Produced by Howard Benson [Chris Cornell, Kelly Clarkson, My Chemical Romance, Halestorm], the upcoming collection brings to light a signature sound the artist has been developing meticulously since age 13.
With her edgy style, sultry vocals, pop sensibility, and unabashed swagger, the Mexican-Italian-American solo artist draws from myriad influences and calls to mind legends from a spectrum of rock icons including Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Bowie.
Pop Icon Kim Wilde has announced the release of Here Come the Aliens, her first studio album in seven years! The album will be released via earMUSIC on March 16, 2018.
Here Come the Aliens, produced by Ricky Wilde, contains 12 brand new songs and was recorded at RAK Studios in London — the very same recording studios where a number of albums that changed pop and rock music were born and where Wilde began her career back in 1981, recording seminal hits such as “Kids on America,” “Chequered Love,” and “Cambodia.”
The album combines Wilde’s pop roots with her love for rock music, presenting great guitar riffs and drum beats.
Here Come The Aliens marks a milestone in Wilde’s exciting career.on March 16, 2018.
Here Come the Aliens, produced by Ricky Wilde, contains 12 brand new songs and was recorded at RAK Studios in London — the very same recording studios where a number of albums that changed pop and rock music were born and where Wilde began her career back in 1981, recording seminal hits such as “Kids on America,” “Chequered Love,” and “Cambodia.”
The album combines Wilde’s pop roots with her love for rock music, presenting great guitar riffs and drum beats. Here Come The Aliens marks a milestone in Wilde’s exciting career.
Visit Kim Wilde’s official website, www.kimwilde.com, for tour updates!
ABOUT KIM WILDE:
The multi-award-winning artist – who has sold over 30 million records worldwide – burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the worldwide hit “Kids in America.” Wilde followed with some of the most memorable hits of the 80s: “Chequered Love,” “Cambodia,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (#1 USA), “You Came,” “Never Trust a Stranger,” and “Four Letter Word.”
Voted Best British Female Singer at the BPI Awards in 1983 (forerunner to the Brits), Wilde supported Michael Jackson during the Bad European tour, playing in front of more than two million people. She also opened the shows of David Bowie across Europe on his 1990 Greatest Hits stadium tour.
The ’90s saw Wilde continue to remain in the spotlight with the albums like Love Moves and Love Is, which featured the singles “Love Is Holy” and the Bee Gees’ classic “If I Can’t Have You.”
After a break from music and focus on her family life, Wilde returned on stage in 2001 and appeared on various festivals across Europe and Australia.
Since then, she continues releasing chart albums —Never Say Never (2006), Come Out and Play (2010), Snapshots (2011), Wilde Winter Songbook (2013)— and performing with her band live all across the globe as well as continuing her own, very popular UK radio show on Magic FM.
