THE WEEKLY WRAP | 01/03/2024
The Weekly Wrap is a look at the biggest stories in music all collected in one place for your reading ease.
By Tobias Handke
Flight Facilities & Owl Eyes Reunite for ‘Trouble’
Flight Facilities are back with new music for the first time since 2022, reuniting with long time collaborator Owl Eyes on the dance floor shaker 'Trouble'. Arriving as the duo are set to embark on an American tour that includes playing this year's Coachella Festival, 'Trouble' comes almost a decade after Flight Facilities and Owl Eyes first hooked up on 2015 banger 'Heart Attack'.“‘Trouble’, in many ways, is a return to our origins in taste, influence and collaboration,” Flight Facilities said in a presser. “Working with Owl Eyes and Bag Raiders’ Jack Glass, to reference some turn-of-the-century dance-pop was such a natural fit. We’ve always had a special nostalgia for the 2000s, so any excuse to inject its sound into today is one we’ll take.”"This silly little song is an ode to the chaotic energy of those early touring years with my lifelong friends Jimmy and Hugo", Owl Eyes added. "It’s also an anthem for anyone with a fun party alter ego. I like to think mine, aka Bailey, actually took over and wrote this song".In other Flight Facilities news, the DJs and producers have been announced as the headline act at this year’s Liv Golf tournament at Grange. Billie Eilish’s Third Album Is On the Way
American superstar Billie Eilish has hinted her third album is near completion, sending fans into meltdown. Eilish took to Instagram to share an update that included several images of her wearing a black balaclava with white stars. The caption accompanying the photos said: "my album is mastered🧍♀️".Eilish is yet to release any concrete details regarding the album, which is a follow-up to 2001’s Happier Than Ever. In a conversation she had on Dua Lipa’s At Your Service podcast, she revealed that her voice has changed and the impact that had on the album. “Everything is different about it,” she said during the podcast. “The way that I exist in the room is different; my voice has completely changed since then…The voice-changing thing is a trip! It’s all kind of shocking.”Hopefully, an announcement about the album’s release will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
TikTok Has Started Removing Universal Music Group’s Songs from It’s Platform
After Universal Music Group (UMG) got on their high horse last month and published an open letter explaining their intention to withdraw UMG songs from TikTok after their licencing agreement ended January 31, the social media platform has this week confirmed they are in the process of removing hundreds of songs.Artists including Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Drake, Billie Eilish, Adele and Bad Bunny will no longer be able to have their music soundtracking TikToks. According to BBC, TikTok has revealed that up to 30 per cent of the platform’s "popular songs" could be lost. TikTok has remained steadfast in its refusal to budge when it comes to paying UMG more for the use of its music catalogue, claiming in its own statement that UMG has "chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent".Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Cancel UK Tour After Frontman Jack McEwan Attacked By Dog
If it wasn't so serious it would be funny - Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have had to cancel the remaining dates of their UK and European tour after frontman Jack McEwan was bitten by a dog. Having played shows in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester, the band were gearing up to play Leeds when McEwan took to Instagram to share the bad news.“Leeds! We are so sorry to do this, but unfortunately a dog bite has put Jack out of action tonight,” said the caption accompanying a video of McEwan explaining the incident.A later video featuring McEwan hooked up to a drip detailed how he had to have surgery for the bite and that those behind the scenes are working on new dates for the tour to continue at a later time. Hopefully McEwan will be fully recovered before the band kick off their Aussie tour in mid-March. Charli XCX Shares New Banger ‘Von Dutch’
‘Von Dutch’ is the synth-heavy first taste of Charli XCX’s new album, Brat. Produced by Easyfun, the tune is sure to be the soundtrack of nightclubs across the world this weekend. The track comes with a music video directed by Torso that sees Charli being swarmed by paparazzi at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport before eventually ending up on the luggage carousel. An Instagram post announcing the album included the caption. “Brat - this summer. 15 songs. 41:23 minutes long. on repeat”. There is still no official release date for the album, but expect a summer (winter here) release.Kwame Changes Name To thatboykwame, Drops New Single
Aussie rapper and producer Kwame is now going by the alias thatboykwame. Taking to social media to announce the name change, thatboykwame stated: "the journey begins. i’m one of one, there is no one like me". This quote is a reference to American artist Kwamé, who thatboykwame has often been mistaken for. Along with a new name, thatboykwame dropped new music in the form of the single ‘Anecdote’. An accompanying music video co-directed with editor/director of photography Marcus Sternecker has also been released and features thatboykwame performing ‘Anecdote’ in various Sydney locations. You can check it out opposite. Alpha Wolf Hitting the Road This August
Metalcore act Alpha Wolf has just announced a national tour in support of their forthcoming third album, Half Living Things. The Australian band will be bringing along some overseas guests on the tour, with The Devil Wears Prada (Ohio), Invent Animate (Texas), and Thrown (Sweden) supporting. "We are insanely proud and honoured to be able to give Australia our biggest headliner to date", the band said in a press release. "These are some of the most iconic venues in the country that we all grew up going to see some of our favourite bands when we were younger, so to be able to play in these rooms alongside a stacked bill of some international friends of ours is truly a dream come true".Alpha Wolf plays The Gov on Sunday, August 4. Tickets available next week via Destroy All Lines, with pre-sale starting Monday at 12 pm and general sale on Tuesday at 11 am. FRIDAY FIVE
This week's Friday Five features a collection of awesome new singles from some of our favourite female-led bands and artists, both Australian and international. 1. Katy Steele - ‘Broken’
2. Mannequin Pussy – ‘Loud Bark’
3. Jess Locke – ‘The Place’
4. Kiesza – ‘Dancing and Crying’
5. Empress Of - ‘Preciosa’
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