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On Friday, April 23rd, Luke Bryan announced a summer 2021 tour. The tour, which is called the Proud to Be Right Here Tour, includes 36 shows. It starts in Syracuse, NY on July 8th, and ends on October 16th in San Bernardino, CA. There are a number of special guests, and supporting acts for Bryan’s tour, including Dylan Scott, Caylee Hammack, Runaway June, and DJ Rock. Some tickets for the tour’s shows are already on sale, while others go on sale on April 30th. Most shows have both a regular ticket and a VIP ticket option available. 

For more information about Luke Bryan’s Proud to Be Right Here Tour, check out his website here. 

Luke Bryan announced the tour on his social media as well. The post on his Instagram included the following caption, “There is nothing more gratifying about writing and recording music than getting to play it live for y’all. I can’t believe this moment is nearly here when we get to hop on the tour bus and roll into towns across America. Let’s get back to doing what we do best! #ProudToBeRightHereTour select dates are on sale now. Remaining dates will go on sale 4/30! Visit the #linkinbio for more info.”

Check out Luke Bryan’s post about the upcoming tour on his Instagram here. 

Luke Bryan recently tested positive for COVID-19, which took him off an episode of American Idol, which he is a judge on this season. Just this past week, Bryan was also announced as the 2021 ACM Entertainer of the Year. 

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On Sunday, April 25th, during the 93rd Academy Awards, the teaser for the documentary “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” aired. Questlove makes his directorial debut on the documentary, which looks at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The film will be released in theaters and on Hulu on July 2nd. 

The Harlem Cultural Festival took place in Mount Morris Park in New York, during the same year, and just 100 miles south of Woodstock. Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sly & the Family Stone, and many more performed at the festival in 1969. Footage from the festival is seen for the first time in “Summer of Soul,” which also features interviews from many individuals, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Chris Rock. The music documentary “shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present.”

Watch the teaser trailer for “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” here.

Questlove talked with Variety about the documentary and why he decided to make it, saying “Woodstock happens in two weeks after this and it defines a lifestyle, it defines a generation. Woodstock, the city name alone, just defines a whole movement. And I kept wondering what would have went down if this were allowed to happen for [Black people]. If this were allowed to unfurl and spread across the world as Woodstock did, how much of a difference could that have made in my life as a music lover and as a music collector? So, then I just felt this the sense of purpose that I have to tell the story.”

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By now we’ve all heard “Peaches” starring the singing trio Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar & Giveon. But did you know the role co-producer Shndō played in bringing the song to life?

Rather than give it away ourselves we caught up with the rising producer and asked him how the song came to life and what his role was in turning a song idea from Justin Bieber’s IG into a single on his latest album.

Introducing Shndo.

Let’s start with congrats on co-producing “Peaches” by Justin Bieber, did you know Justin prior to working together?

S: Thank you so much!! I’m so grateful to be a part of this song. I don’t know Justin personally – I met him once at a birthday party for Poo Bear’s son about 2 years ago, but it was a brief “hey nice to meet you sort of thing.” There was catered Chick-Fil-A at that party, I’ll never forget it. So amazing! 

So you saw JB’s video on IG and added some layers on Ableton, but how did you get your cut over to Bieber?

S: So on the morning of September 7th, 2020…I was staying at Poo Bear’s penthouse. This was also one week after I had just been dumped by my girlfriend at the time. I was working on a beat and I went to take a quick ear break (when you blast loud music in your ears for a long period of time your ears can become fatigued.) I hopped on Instagram and JB’s post came up on my screen. It was him playing the piano and singing the hook for what we now know as “Peaches.” I really loved the idea he had initially, so I decided to screen record that, throw it into Ableton real quick, and I added a pseudo live drum groove to it. (I really tried to emulate the swing and pocket of an actual drummer) I sped up the original idea to 90bpm because it was much slower. Next, I took the little piano jam Justin did at the end of the Instagram video, used it as the intro, and pitched it down an octave. So with that done, I bounced the idea to an mp3 (I named the file “Peaches” thinking it was just a cool little placeholder fun title) shot it over to Harv to see if he maybe wanted to add some live elements to it (bassline/guitars etc.) I also texted it to Poo Bear as well in case he had any ideas for it. Long story short, Harv and I got the song idea to a presentable state and Harv would then text it to Justin. Justin heard it, loved it and re-cut the hook vocals, did a verse and sent them back over to Harv. We both got in the studio together and produced it out from there! 

For those who haven’t gotten a big placement yet, how has this moment changed your life?

S: I’m definitely busier now haha! Other than that, I’m kinda doing the same stuff really – making music, working out, watching Anime, playing PS4, putting DJ sets together. Getting such a huge placement definitely has made me aware that whatever you want in this life is yours…you just have to go and get it. Don’t expect things to just happen to you, take the initiative!

How did you come up with the name Shndo?

S: A few years ago, I was struggling to find a cool producer/artist alias that I really loved. I knew I wanted something really broad and simple. I didn’t want any generic name. I knew I wanted something special and simple enough a child can pronounce it. I was watching a lot of anime at the time, more specifically Naruto and I was obsessed. I thought to myself,  “I want a cool Japanese inspired name”. I started typing in random words on google translate and I ended up putting ‘vibrations’ and it came out as “Shindō.” I remember thinking it had a cool ring to it, but then I kept searching for more names and for some reason I just kept coming back to “Shindo.” I  called my good friend David  and told him about the couple of options I picked out. He even told me that “Shindo” sounded super cool so I rolled with it from there. I eventually took out the “i” because “shndo” looked way cooler. The “h” and “n” just flowed nice from left to right. I love having cool aesthetics in everything haha! 

Poo Bear only works with a handful of artists and producers, what has your relationship with him been like?

S: I love Poo Bear! He’s definitely like a big brother to me…he always has me cracking up too. I’m really grateful to have such a legend in my corner. It’s pretty crazy honestly whenever I think about it. I really appreciate him…he’s always checking in and making sure I’m good. Especially whenever I’m visiting LA and before I had my own place here, he would make sure I had a place to stay in. Such a great guy! That’s Poo Beezy! 

What was your first major placement? 

S: My first major placement was on Lecrae’s Church Clothes 3 project. Shout out to my brother Symbolyc One for giving me the opportunity to work on that! That placement made me feel like I had a real shot in this music stuff for sure, shout out to Lecrae and S for instilling that hope and faith in me!! 

JB, Giveon & Daniel Caesar, what a lineup! If you could put any 3 artists together for your next produced single who would it be?

S: Skrillex, Drake, and Alicia Keys. I feel like this would be an insane song!! haha 

Whats on the horizon for Shndo?

S: Only god knows! But I definitely am going to be releasing my own songs with my cool ass rockstar friends haha. I have a lot of different songs that touch and blend all kinds of genres and sub genres. I’m just so happy to be able to do music full time, it’s all I’ve wanted since I was a kid. Now I feel like a kid at a candy shop everyday! 

Do you plan on releasing more of your own music this year? 

S: Absolutely! I have been very busy and blessed with a ton of opportunities around me, so I’ve just been taking full advantage of them. I also felt like I wanted to wait a bit to put out my own original music and on hold until I reached a personal standard. I’m now pretty confident that my sound, both quality wise and sonically, are where I want them to be to start releasing my own music 🙂 

How did you get your start in producing, did someone teach you or self-taught?

S: Self taught for the most part. Also, YouTube university and just collaboration with other producers over the course of my career really.

What’s your DAW of choice?

S: When I first started making music, I used Fruity Loops when people called it that haha. Now it’s referred to as FL studio. I eventually switched over to Ableton Live after seeing my bro Nitti Gritti creating with it and witnessing how fast he could execute ideas/manipulate sounds. I knew I needed to hop on that and here I am today using Ableton 11. I often find myself jumping back and forth though just to switch up the workflow and get in a lil nostalgia with FL studio haha. I also have always loved the drum programming on there to this day! 

If you could go back and be a part of creating any song in history, what song would that be? 

S: That’s a tough one, but I feel like “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley & The Wailers would be the one. I love how it brings so much joy and encouragement to people far and wide. You could put that song on anywhere and it just puts you in the best of moods.

Get used to the name Shndō because we promise you this isn’t the last you will hear from him.

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Ted Lucas’ Slip-N-Slide record label is an iconic Miami institution, churning out multiple legacy artists throughout the tenure of their history. Next up from their roster is Miami’s own Mike Smiff, who aims to be the voice of the voiceless.

Having faced his fair share of battles throughout his life, it wasn’t always sunny days in Miami for Mike.  Overcoming homelessness to receiving a roster spot on Slip-N-Slide was quite the story but the work doesn’t stop there as it’s just beginning

Today Mike Smiff releases the music video for the lead single off of his forthcoming album, which is still untitled, due out this year. World premiering on BET Jams and Papa Keith’s Local Clout of the Day track on Miami’s 103.5 The Beat, “Cheese” features Orlando rapper Hotboii who has been making a heavy impact on streaming. The Drew Filmed It and Mr. Surge directed visual is the epitome of South Florida, taking place in an opulent villa, and should motivate a lot of fans due to Mike’s past history and overcoming that adversity.

Mike Smiff states, “Cheese” to me sounds like payday! I love the energy in the song. It feels good and it’s one of the first songs I let breathe. I sat with the beat for a while, did the hook and sat with that for a while, went back and did my verse, sat with that and when Hot came through with his verse, I knew it was up! The energy at the video shoot just confirmed how I felt about this record.

With co-signs by other South Florida artists like Kodak Black and Trick Daddy, as well as Boosie Badazz, Mike Smiff is destined for success, as he has yet to throw in the towel no matter what life threw at him. Get ready for his forthcoming album due out at some point this year.

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By now we’ve all heard “Peaches” starring the singing trio Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar & Giveon. But did you know the role producer Shndō played in bringing the song to life?

Rather than give it away ourselves we caught up with the rising producer and asked him how the song came to life and what his role was in turning a song idea from Justin Bieber’s IG into a single on his latest album.

Introducing Shndō.

Ted Lucas’ Slip-N-Slide record label is an iconic Miami institution, churning out multiple legacy artists throughout the tenure of their history. Next up from their roster is Miami’s own Mike Smiff, who aims to be the voice of the voiceless.

Having faced his fair share of battles throughout his life, it wasn’t always sunny days in Miami for Mike.  Overcoming homelessness to receiving a roster spot on Slip-N-Slide was quite the story but the work doesn’t cease and it’s just beginning

Today Mike Smiff releases the music video for the lead single off of his forthcoming album, which is still untitled, due out this year. World premiering on BET Jams and Papa Keith’s Local Clout of the Day track on Miami’s 103.5 The Beat, “Cheese” features Orlando rapper Hotboii who has been making a heavy impact on streaming. The Drew Filmed It and Mr. Surge directed visual is the epitome of South Florida, taking place in an opulent villa, and should motivate a lot of fans due to Mike’s past history and overcoming that adversity.

Mike Smiff states, “Cheese” to me sounds like payday! I love the energy in the song. It feels good and it’s one of the first songs I let breathe. I sat with the beat for a while, did the hook and sat with that for a while, went back and did my verse, sat with that and when Hot came through with his verse, I knew it was up! The energy at the video shoot just confirmed how I felt about this record.

With co-signs by other South Florida artists like Kodak Black and Trick Daddy, as well as Boosie Badazz, Mike Smiff is destined for success, as he has yet to throw in the towel no matter what life threw at him. Get ready for his forthcoming album due out at some point this year.

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Young Stoner Life Records & Young Thug blessed us today with Slime Language 2. The new label project features almost every major artist releasing music right now including Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott, Future, Rowdy Rebel and others. Not to mention the artist features the entire YSL roster. Needless to say Young Thug and YSL delivered what will be one of the most remembered projects in 2021.

London Grammar is releasing their third album, Californian Soil today. The album is honest, romantic, and touches on break-ups, relationships, and the death of the American dream. 12 songs will be included on the new album, a few of which have already been released, including “Californian Soil,” “Lose Your Head,” and “Baby It’s You.” Hannah Reid, the lead singer of the indie-pop band said this album is about her “gaining possession” of her own life. 

Griselda MC, Conway The Machine, dropped La Maquina. The new project features his Griselda family Westside Gunn & Benny The Butcher as well as 2 Chainz, Ludacris & others. The album is another great body of work for Griselda, one of the hottest teams in music right now.

Mick Jagger along with some help from Dave Grohl on drums, bass, and guitar, released a new song “Eazy Sleazy” on Tuesday. The song touches on a lot of aspects of our lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jagger talked about the song and its meaning saying “I wanted to share this song that I wrote about eventually coming out of lockdown, with some much needed optimism – thank you to Dave Grohl for jumping on drums, bass and guitar, it was a lot of fun working with you on this – hope you all enjoy Eazy Sleazy!”

SYML will be releasing his new EP, Dim today. SYML is the project of producer, singer, and songwriter Brian Fennell. On the EP, Fennell worked with an outside producer for the first time, with Paul Meany. Additionally, he received mixing support from Joe Visciano for Dim. The tracks “Stay Close,” and “True” were released in the last couple of months, and will be included on the new EP. 

Two Feet releases their new album today called Max Maco is Dead Right? The album captures Two Feet’s signature moody and atmospheric sounds and general feelings. His hit song “Think I’m Crazy” along with “Time Fades Away” and “Never Enough” will be included on the new album. 

On Tuesday, Lucy Dacus released a new song “Hot and Heavy.” The song is to be included on her new album Home Video which is to be released on June 25th. “Hot and Heavy” was accompanied by a music video that was directed by Dacus and features her in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, at the Byrd Theatre. Lucy Dacus talked about the new single in a statement saying, “I thought I was writing ‘Hot and Heavy’ about an old friend, but I realized along the way that it was just about me outgrowing past versions of myself.”

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A musical alchemist at heart, 5GODZ collides the elements of earth, fire, wind, thunder and water within his compositions. The result is one of epic proportions, an amalgamation of electronic subgenres and orchestral elements that showcase the breadth of his musical vocabulary.

Having emerged onto the EDM scene in 2013, LA-based 5GODZ has been cultivating a loyal following of fans ever since. By merging orchestral elements with monstrous sub-bass, weighty drum hits and creative sound design, his epic sound has manifested itself as a strain of electronic dance music that is unique to him.

A self-taught musician from an early age, 5GODZ has been practicing and performing live music for many years. Now professionally trained at the Matrix Sessions school of Los Angeles, 5 GODZ’s was influenced by the revered Hans Zimmer who inspired the orchestral integration within his productions.

For 5GODZ, it’s the adrenaline of playing his music out live, whether it be in an intimate club or a huge festival setting, that keeps him constantly motivated to create music. It’s this undeniable passion for creating music that has led to him receiving accolades from other top EDM artists such as The Chainsmokers, Alesso, Tiesto and many more.

Currently touring the Los Angeles area, putting the final touches on numerous forthcoming projects, and hoping to win the remix competition for Tiesto’s ‘The Business’, 5GODZ looks sure to continue to grow his blossoming reputation within the electronic music genre through his emotionally provocative, orchestral-inspired sound.

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On this past weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, Kid Cudi appeared as the show’s musical guest. Throughout his performances of songs off of his 2020 album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, Cudi paid tribute to Kurt Cobain and Christ Farley. The 37-year-old rapper did so through his outfits for the night. 

During his performance of his song “Sad People” Kid Cudi wore a floral print dress, which is similar to ones worn by Kurt Cobain in his performances in the 1990’s. 

In his performance of “Tequila Shots” Cudi wore a fuzzy green cardigan similar to the one Cobain wore in Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged show. Additionally, underneath the cardigan, Cudi wore a shirt with a headshot of Chris Farley on it. 

After the show, Cudi went to his Twitter to talk about the dress he wore, saying “Virgil designed the dress for me. I told him I wanted to show love to Kurt w a floral print sundress and this man made a masterpiece. Thank You @virgilabloh ur a fuckin genius!! Love you man we did it!!!”

Kid Cudi continued with another tweet, saying, “Im doin a collection w Off White and the dress will be included!!”

Check out Kid Cudi’s tweets about his SNL performances on his Twitter here. 

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Brockhampton released their 6th studio album today titled Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. The whole album was recorded during the pandemic. Themes of the group members being separated for the first time in years due to COVID-19 can be found throughout the album’s tracks. Brockhampton also said this album will feature a “wider group of collaborators for the first time.” The album is to include the track “Buzzcut” featuring Danny Brown which was released last month. 

Taylor Swift releases her album Fearless (Taylor’s Version) today. The album includes 26 songs total, including the 19 tracks from the platinum edition of Fearless, re-recorded. Additionally, a re-recorded version of her 2010 track “Today Was a Fairytale,” and 6 new songs “From The Vault” will be included on the album.  Swift has already released a few songs off of the album, including “Mr. Perfectly Fine,” and “You All Over Me,” featuring Maren Morris both tracks are “From The Vault” and the re-recorded version of “Love Story.” 

Los Angeles very own Charm La’Donna dropped her debut EP, (La’Donna), featuring 7 songs from the rising star. Charm recently choreographed The Weeknd’s Superbowl Halftime show and has done choreography for some of the biggest artists in the game. Now she’s set to take the forefront and make a name for herself. She dropped a new video for her single “Palm Trees” today as well.

A new EP from Miguel called Art Dealer Chic Vol. 4 comes out today. This release marks the fourth volume of the artist’s Art Dealer Chic series. When talking about the EPs, Miguel said, “I’ve been doing a lot of work to consider and refine my beliefs in the last few years. Inevitably, this brought me back to Art Dealer Chic as ADC is more or less an moniker for active mindset curation; Choosing the thoughts, emotions, and actions that reflect my truest self instead of letting what I’ve experienced or what is expected of me dictate my choices. As a basic operating system this mentality has made a profound impact on my life and I want to continue to share how, through the music and the conversation around ADC.”

Brooklyn-based chillwave group, Small Black releases their first new album in 5 years today titled Cheap Dreams. The album includes previously released tracks “Tampa,” “The Bridge,” and “Duplex.” Cheap Dreams acts as a follow-up to Small Black’s 2015 album Best Blues. 

LA rapper G Perico came back on the scene today with No Love In LA. The project includes 7 new songs and features Hatai Babii. Slip-N-Slide records signee Mike Smiff dropped his new single “Cheese” featuring Hotboii today. The emerging rap star is set for a big year and ready to put the world on notice. You can watch the video for “Cheese” here. 

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