The Weekly Wrap | 13/09/2024
The Weekly Wrap is a look at the biggest stories in music collected in one place for your reading ease.
Confidence Man Share Video for Single ‘SO WHAT’
Image by Julian Buchan
Confidence Man, the cover stars of this month’s edition of The Note, have shared an elaborate music video for their upbeat single, ‘SO WHAT’.
Directed by India Harris, the music video features Janet Planet and Sugar Bones cutting shapes in various apartments before ending up on the streets of London.
Speaking on the new tune, Confidence Man says, “We’re back with the on shoulders anthem you never knew you needed. It’s hard. It’s fast. It’s basically Muhammad Ali and your ears are everyone he ever boxed. They say it gets lonely at the top, so we made this banger to share the view.”
The Aussie act, who relocated to the UK last year, are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, 3AM (La La La), which arrives October 18 via CHAOS/Polydor/I OH YOU.
The band are also embarking on an Australian tour this October and November before returning to the UK for more gigs.
Pre-order/pre-save 3AM (La La La) here and grab tickets to their Australian shows here.
Kendrick Lamar To Headline Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show
Image by pgLang and Apple
Kendrick Lamar continues to win at life, with the Cali rapper confirmed as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowl LIX next year.
Lamar, who’s been the talk of the hip hop world after dominating Drake in their rap beef, will take the stage at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025.
This will be Lamar’s second Super Bowl performance after he made a special guest appearance when Dr. Dre headlined the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in 2022.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.” Lamar reveals in a press statement.
While Lamar’s selection as the halftime entertainment was roundly applauded at first, there has been considerable backlash in recent days, with many questioning why New Orleans' own Lil Wayne wasn’t chosen to headline.
Many are blaming Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation co-produces the halftime show, but it turns out he has nothing to do with choosing who performs, with a committee in charge of selecting the artists who perform.
Soft Cell Announce DEbut Australian Tour
Image supplied
It’s hard to believe but UK synth-pop act Soft Cell are performing in Australia next year for the very first time.
The duo of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball are touring in support of their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which they will perform in its entirety. Fans will be treated to the band’s biggest hits, such as 'Tainted Love' and 'Where Did Our Love Go', along with a wide variety of tunes from Soft Cell’s five-album discography. Almond will also perform a set of his solo material.
"I have always wanted to go to Australia," Almond says in a statement about the tour. "Over my 45-year career (yes that long) fans have always asked me when it might happen, so overjoyed to say that it is happening; and to perform both as Marc Almond with my solo hits, and then transform into Soft Cell on the same night will be another first. Everyone tells me Australians love to party and it promises to be something very special."
In unsurprising news, Soft Cell won’t be making the journey to the City of Churches, with shows booked for Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne only.
Early Bird pre-sale commences on Tuesday, September 17 at 8:30am local time. You can register here. General sale begins on Thursday, September 19 at 8:30am via Destroy All Lines.
Frye Festival To Return in 2025
Image via posh.vip
Billy McFarland hasn’t learnt his lesson, with the Frye Festival founder announcing he’s planning on hosting a follow-up event.
In an interview with NBC News, McFarland revealed the imaginatively titled Frye Festival 2 “is happening April 25, 2025, so we’re seven and a half months away. We have a private island off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean, and we have an incredible production company who’s handling everything from soup to nuts.”
Although he hasn’t booked any bands, McFarland claims he’s hired a production company to “handle the stages and the bathrooms and all the stuff that I clearly don’t know how to do.”
While he didn’t expand on who he was working with or where he was getting the finances to help fund the event, McFarland believes he is much wiser now than when he attempted to run the original festival back in 2017. That failure saw him serve four years of a six year sentence for fraud with around d $26 million in restitution still owing.
For more details on Frye Festival 2 visit the official website here.
Brazilian Bosa Nova Legend Sergio Mendes Passes Away
Image via @sergiomendesmusic (Facebook)
Brazilian musician and bosa nova great Sérgio Mendes has passed away at the age of 83. The international superstar died while surrounded by family in Los Angeles, on September 5 after the “effects of long term COVID.”
Born in Niterói on February 11, 1941, Mendes learnt to play piano as a young boy before turning his attention to jazz. Beginning his musical career as a teen in the late 50s, Mendes was mentored by Antônio Carlos Jobim before moving to the States in 1964.
Mendes released 35 albums during his career, including the worldwide smash Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.
Throughout his career, Mendes collaborated with a wide range of artists including his band Brasil '66, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and the Black Eyed Peas.
Below is the statement released by Mendes’ family after his death:
“International music icon Sergio Mendes, who brought the joyous sounds of his native Brazil to the world, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. He was 83 years old. His wife and musical partner for the past 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes, was by his side, as were his loving children.
“Mendes last performed in November 2023 to sold out and wildly enthusiastic houses in Paris, London and Barcelona. For the last several months, his health had been challenged by the effects of long term COVID.
“One of the most internationally successful Brazilian artists of all time, Mendes recorded more than 35 albums, many of which went gold or platinum. Mendes, a three-time Grammy Award winner and Oscar nominee, leaves us with an incredible musical legacy from more than six decades of a unique sound first showcased by his band Brasil ’66.
“The family is processing this loss and more details regarding funeral and memorial services will be provided at a later date.”
Taylor Swift Dominates the Video Music Awards
Image via @VMAs (Facebook)
Taylor Swift walked away with an impressive seven statues at this year’s Video Music Awards (VMAs). Not only did she take home the most awards, but Swift bettered Beyoncé’s career haul of 25 VMA awards, with her total now at 29.
Post Malone took home five awards while Eminem overtook Peter Gabriel to become the male solo artist with the most VMAs (15 in total) after winning in the Best Hip Hop and Best Visual Effects categories. Katy Perry was awarded the VMA for Most Iconic Performance and Chappell Roan took out Best New Artist.
Other winners on the night included Sabrina Carpenter for Best Song for ‘Espresso’, SZA for Best R&B for her tune ‘Snooze’, Lenny Kravitz for Best Rock for the thumping ‘Human’ and Tyla for Best Afrobeats for ‘Water’.
You can check out the full list of winners at billboard.com.
Friday Five
You love music. We love music. Here are five songs we can’t get enough of this week.
1. The Linda Lindas – ‘No Obligations’
2. RÜFÜS DU SOL – ‘Break My Love’
3. Nia Wyn - ‘Your Team’
4. Three Sacred Souls – ‘Waiting on the Right Time’
5. Everyone Says Hi – ‘On the Same Side’
