Assembling an essential collection of generational anthems, LINKIN PARK will present their first-ever career-spanning greatest hits album entitled Papercuts (Singles Collection2000-2023).

In addition to the classics, LINKIN PARK uncovered the never-before-released track “Friendly Fire.” Recorded during the 2017 sessions for their seventh album One More Light, it features a powerhouse vocal performance from the late Chester Bennington. About ‘Friendly Fire’ Brad Delson added,

‘Friendly Fire’ was always one of our favorite songs from the One More Light sessions. Something about it wasn’t quite right so as close as it got to the finish line, we chose to set it aside for later. When we started looking for an unreleased track to include on our greatest hits collection, I was blown away by the power of the song, the power of the storytelling, the power of the vocal, the sonic landscape and I actually thought that it was closer than maybe we had realized at the time.

We got together to work on it and connect some of the missing pieces that for whatever reason hadn’t revealed themselves during the recording of One More Light. I can’t wait for people to hear it. It’s such a beautiful, compelling, heartbreaking, hopeful story and it really resonates with me today.”

Papercuts will release on April 12, 2024 via Warner Records.

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Turning the page on another chapter, Linkin Park’s multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Mike Shinoda makes a stunning return to form on his new single “Already Over” out today via Warner Records.

Presenting a visceral and personal vision, Shinoda notably wrote, recorded, sang, and performed every instrument on the track. Powered by kinetic live drums, coarse distorted guitar, and his uncanny vocal delivery, “Already Over” channels the signatures of the sound he pioneered with Linkin Park. Accompanying the song is a frenetic, hand-painted visual by Dusty Deen incorporating images by legendary photographer Mike Miller.

About the song, Shinoda shared, “‘Already Over’ came to me as I was sitting with my favorite guitar in my hands—the same guitar I used on songs from ‘What I’ve Done’ to ‘In My Head.’ There was a familiar DNA to the song that I think Linkin Park fans will recognize. For me, it creates a bridge from the past to a blurry but exciting future.”

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Red Hot Chili Peppers have released details on their new album and twelfth full-length offering, Unlimited Love from 1st of April 2022.

It notably marks their first recording with guitarist John Frusciante since 2006 and first with producer and longtime collaborator Rick Rubin since 2011.

To herald Unlimited Love, the Los Angeles band just shared the first single and music video “Black Summer.”

“Our only goal is to get lost in the music. We (John, Anthony, Chad and Flea) spent thousands of hours, collectively and individually, honing our craft and showing up for one another, to make the best album we could. Our antennae attuned to the divine cosmos, we were just so damn grateful for the opportunity to be in a room together, and, once again, try to get better. Days, weeks and months spent listening to each other, composing, jamming freely, and arranging the fruit of those jams with great care and purpose. The sounds, rhythms, vibrations, words and melodies had us enrapt.

We yearn to shine a light in the world, to uplift, connect, and bring people together. Each of the songs on our new album UNLIMITED LOVE, is a facet of us, reflecting our view of the universe. This is our life’s mission. We work, focus, and prepare, so that when the biggest wave comes, we are ready to ride it. The ocean has gifted us a mighty wave and this record is the ride that is the sum of our lives. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy it.

ROCK OUT MOTHERFUCKERS!” – Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, John Frusciante

Added Frusciante : “When we got together to start writing material, we began by playing old songs by people like Johnny “Guitar” Watson, The Kinks, The New York Dolls, Richard Barrett and others. Ever so gradually, we started bringing in new ideas, and turning jams into songs, and after a couple of months the new stuff was all we were playing. The feeling of effortless fun we had when we were playing songs by other people, stayed with us the whole time we were writing. For me, this record represents our love for, and faith in each other.”

On lead track “Black Summer,” ethereal guitar underlines introspective lyrics as the rhythm unlocks a hypnotic drum groove highlighted by evocative bass. It quietly inhales only to exhale with a massive refrain, “It’s been a long time since I made a new friend, waiting on another black summer to end,” before a guitar solo echoes to the heavens and back. For the music video, the group teamed up with acclaimed director Deborah Chow [Disney+’s The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi]. The result continues a tradition of captivating cinematic visuals, with a twist.

Unlimited Love resumes a three-decade partnership with Rick Rubin [Johnny Cash, Adele]. Their creative collaboration spans legendary albums, including the diamond-selling Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991),  Californication (1999), By The Way (2002), and Stadium Arcadium (2006).

The interplay between the band borders on intergalactic once again—yet elevated to another stratosphere altogether. Unlimited Love represents the united spirit of four individual souls still fearlessly exploring the future of their eternal friendship and musical congregation.

“Here Ever After ”follows a staccato bassline down a rhythmic wormhole as the hook promises, “She’s the kinda girl that make you wanna go faster now.” And whether it be wrangling wild horns and boisterous bass on “Aquatic Mouth Dance” or the poetic dreamscape of confessional ballad “Not The One,” the album twists and turns with gleeful unpredictability On “Poster Child,” a funky riff spiked with wah pedal magic wobbles in tandem with the delivery as a blissful chorus takes hold. “The Great Apes” charges forward towards a primal clarion call. For nearly six minutes, “It’s Only Natural” slips in and out of hypnotic harmonies and magnetic grooves. The slinky funk of “She’s A Lover” bleeds into a chantable gang vocal and dancefloor-ready refrain, while “These Are The Ways” sees a soft melody give way to guitar and vocal catharsis.

“Whatchu Thinkin’” leans on head-nodding percussion as the vocals flutter with the tempo only for guitar to ignite the chorus. An analog synth choir colors the intro of “Bastards of Light,” while a heavenly crescendo elevates “White Braids & Pillow Chair” beyond the clouds. Hitting the highways, “One Way Traffic” revs up funk at an intersection of airy bass and drums. “Veronica” trades the band’s sunny Los Angeles for the South Side of Chicago and a near-cinematic story about the title character. Then, there’s “Let ‘Em Cry” where trumpet punctuates the momentum before peaking on an emotionally charged guitar solo. “The Heavy Wing” takes flight on a climactic burst of distortion and vocal conjurations. The ride culminates on “Tangelo.” Threaded together with delicate guitar and emotionally charged vocals, this otherworldly lullaby leaves off on a vibrant, vulnerable, and vital final note as it slips into the arms of feedback.

This summer, Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch their first tour in support of Unlimited Love. They’ve invited a dynamic cohort of guests along for the ride at select dates, including Anderson.Paak & The Free Nationals, A$AP Rocky, Beck, HAIM, King Princess, St. Vincent, The Strokes, and Thundercat.

Experience Unlimited Love from Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2022.

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Palmerston North born, Auckland based musician Rory Noble, unleashes his new single ‘What If I Can’t (feat. Mikey Dam)’ today.

The single is the third taste to his forthcoming debut EP WHERE DO WE GO WHEN THE WORLD ENDS.

‘What If I Can’t (feat. Mikey Dam)’ explores the dynamic of a relationship between two people. One having a hard time with work and life, and the other who is doubting themselves when it comes to what to do or say, but knows they want to make it right.

“I originally wrote a lot of this track out on paper, then thought it would be cool to add Mikey Dam to the song as I knew he had written about a similar message in the past. Plus, he’s my palmy brother and an amazing writer and artist”, comments Noble on the creative process and collaboration with Mikey Dam.

Kiwi singer / songwriter Mikey Dam – known for his rich R&B and hip-hop talents – offered something special to the track just as Noble had suspected. Having worked together previously on Mikey’s hit single ‘Time’ the artistic chemistry is undeniable between the pair who are set to rein once more with this magnetic new tune.

With the arrival of his debut EP on the horizon, Noble’s ‘What If I Can’t (feat. Mikey Dam)’ packs all the punch of a hit and indicates that this only the beginning.

Speaking on his forthcoming EP, Noble explains “The project represents stories of the last three years of my life, and a lot of the times when anxiety was ruling my head. For me, it’s a vent. I hope other people can hear that I’ve been through all sorts of crazy situations but I’m still standing, breathing and here to tell the tale.”

WHERE DO WE GO WHEN THE WORLD ENDS will also feature the 2020 single ‘Team’ – a captivating slow-burner which won widespread acclaim – and ‘High Again’ which Noble recently released in Te Reo Māori (‘Tīkoke’).

With a global, limitless mindset, Noble is gaining momentum fast with production credits alongside household names Kanye West and Ruel. His acclaimed single ‘Team’ was the #1 most added song to NZ Radio on release, peaked at #2 on the Hot 20 NZ singles chart, and #7 on the NZ Radio Chart. ‘High Again’ followed in its footsteps landing the #4 spot on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.

The EP is rooted in emotion and introspection and fuelled by personal anecdotes from his whirlwind career so far. It relies heavily on acoustic guitar, but Noble promises that it’ll be a glorious clash of his sonic palette; or as he more succinctly states, “I just want to put out the most interesting music I can, regardless of genre.”

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New Zealand indie duo group, DUAL delight fans with the drop of new single ‘Magic’ today; a taste of their forthcoming EP (coming in 2022).

Hypnotising tune ‘Magic’ seduces listeners by exploring the complex dynamics of relationships. The track details the full circle that comes with a ‘push/pull’ relationship, from start to finish. Meeting, connecting, then suddenly vanishing into nothing and disappearing – just like magic.

The psychedelic duo made up of lead vocalist Maurice Miller and guitarist Jamie Pyne, explain the new single was drive by “some other force” when at a song writing camp that they visited to work on their craft.

“Each day we were randomly paired with different producers with the aim to write a song. One day we were paired with Henry Beasley (Balu Brigada) and Abi (Missy) whom we’d never meet or worked with before. ‘Magic’ flowed freely, it was one of those moments in music making where we all knew it was special and that we were on to something – we chased that spark right into the evening and left that night with a finished song,” DUAL explains of the track.

“We were given a studio that was filled with so many great instruments, so we knew from the get-go that we had to make use of them. Sonically everything was recorded using analog gear, upright piano, Rhodes, xylophone, mandolin, guitar, bass, gang vocals, there’s even the sound of a glass dropping on the floor in there!”

“We wanted it feel warm, live and organic – windows down on a sunny summers day on your way to your favourite spot”.

Warm, live, and organic track ‘Magic’ is available to stream and download now.

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Today, the music video of “Measure of a Man” was released, following the single’s premiere last week on Clara Amfo’s Hottest Record on Radio 1 in the U.K.

A collaboration of two of the U.K.’s most groundbreaking artists, FKA twigs and Central Cee,  “Measure of a Man” (released by MARV Music) is from the upcoming 20th Century Studios’ film,  “The King’s Man,” and was released by MARV Music, a joint venture of MARV and Warner Records.

Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man,” in a story that follows one man who must race against time to stop a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gathering to plot a war to wipe out millions.

“The King’s Man” is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.

Matthew Vaughn, David Reid and Adam Bohling are the producers, and Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons, Stephen Marks, Claudia Vaughn and Ralph Fiennes serve as executive producers.

“The King’s Man” is based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, and the story is by Matthew Vaughn and the screenplay is by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek. “The King’s Man” opens in New Zealand cinemas January 6, 2022.

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Dua Lipa, global pop superstar, multi Grammy and BRIT award winning singer-songwriter, is proud to announce her new project, Service95, launching in early 2022.

Service95 is a global style, culture, and society concierge service created to help the reader make sense of the world. It will serve up a witty and considered curation of lists, recommendations, stories, information, thoughts, perspectives and conversations you won’t hear, see, or read everywhere else.

There will be powerful articles from the world’s most compelling voices alongside savvy social commentary, laugh-out-loud features and  left-of-center recommendations  that will include  late-night gnoshes, little-known hotspots,  up-and-coming artists,  grassroots activists and the sorts of travel tips only an extensively travelled international pop star could offer, “The more we share with each other, the closer we become, the wider our circles grow,” Dua says.

Service95 was inspired by Dua’s lifelong habit of personally curating extensive recommendations and lists, highlighting under-the-radar people,  pieces of pop culture, travel destinations, hidden gems and  global issues to her closest friends.

Now, with the impending launch of the Service95 newsletter and podcast, everyone will be invited to Dua’s inner circle.

Subscribers to Service95’s free weekly newsletter will receive up-to-the-minute intel on everything and anything;  from an underground new gallery in Sao Paulo, hidden diners in Louisiana and the best manicurist on Lagos island  to articles spotlighting the activists, causes, and complex world issues we could all learn more about.

Every issue will be capped off by a personal letter from Dua herself, reporting from wherever it is in the world she happens to be, complete with whatever she’s been streaming, visiting, hearing, and consuming. “I find huge joy in telling people what I’ve learned about in any given city and love finding connection in our shared experiences,” she says. “Service95 is going to take that idea and bring it to anyone who’s as curious as I am about life.

Meanwhile, At Your Service podcast listeners can expect a sweeping companion piece to the newsletter consisting of deep, thoughtful conversations between Dua and a lineup of high profile guests – many of whom you won’t find on just any podcast.

You’ll hear frank discussions about pressing global concerns, heartwarming chats between old and new friends, and some of the most considered lists and recommendations you can imagine.

“Though a lot of my guests have done their fair share of talking, I want to go deeper with them,” Dua says. “Not only am I probing them about the things I’m most curious about, I’m also treating them like the experts they are.”

Stay tuned for more information about Service95 in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, subscribe here to receive  the first-ever Service95 newsletter when it lands  in January 2022.

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Forenzics, an exciting new project from former Split Enz members Eddie Rayner and Tim Finn, announce the release of their debut album.

The band also share the first official taste of the album with lead single “Chances Are”.

The project sees two artistic endeavours meet in the middle. Eddie and Tim had been revisiting some of their favourite sections from lesser-known Split Enz works, using them as inspiration and the basis for new songs.

This idea had been percolating in Tim’s mind for many years, since 1976, in fact, when Brian Eno visited a recording session of Split Enz’s Second Thoughts album at Basing Street Studios in London, where Eno’s Roxy Music bandmate Phil Manzanera was in the producer’s chair. Listening to a section of the Enz song “Walking Down A Road”, Eno declared “that was the best bit and [you] should just develop that”.

This mild provocation led, more than 40 years later, to Tim suggesting to Eddie they try it: write a brand new song over a section of one of their older ones. A little like an artist painting over one canvas to create another.

Eddie Rayner notes “Post Enz, I’d been wanting to start a jamming / recording band…my belief being that it’s actually impossible to fail at creating something from nothing, given a willing spirit, enthusiasm to believe in the concept and process, and a positive and upbeat attitude by all involved”

At the same time, Eddie had been developing an instrumental project – titled ‘Double Life’ -with fellow musicians Adrian Stuckey (guitars), Mark Dennison (sax, flute and clarinet) and Patrick Kuhtze (drums, percussion). Eddie passed the “jammed”, instrumental ‘Double Life’ musical beds to Tim who, inspired, dived into a creative stream of consciousness – delivering brilliant original lyrics and vocals covering a broad range of subjects and styles. The sum of the parts make an album of inventive, diverse and evocative songs.

Delving into the rich potpourri of sounds and ideas the early Enz songs contain – Tim and Eddie have sourced some ‘shades’ and ‘echoes’ to construct some of the new Forenzics songs. In the case of “Chances Are” – Enz trainspotters might hear a hint of “Spellbound” – a brilliant song by Tim and former Enz luminary Phil Judd first heard on their ‘Mental Notes’ album released in 1975.

“I sent Eddie a garage band sketch and once again loved how he developed it. We live in different parts of Auckland, different strands of the isthmus, and avoid traveling across town as much as possible. So we were summoning memories and working blind throughout” says Tim Finn on the making of “Chances Are”. “I really love Phil Manzanera’s guitar on this one. It’s slightly unhinged and multo expressivo! It was energising to hear Eddie revisiting his “Spellbound” mellotron swipes.”

Also adding to the mix of the forthcoming album are Enz’s Noel Crombie on percussion, Megan Washington adding some harmonious vocals and, on Guitar, Phil Manzanera; each dialed their parts in during Covid lockdown.

And even though Eddie and Tim live in the same city they followed the same process. Tim says: “I love working this way, sharing files. You work when you want to, and my singing has an unforced intimacy that is very hard to achieve when there is someone else in the room.”

The Forenzics repertoire, like paintings in an exhibition, is an album of individual works that together form an immersive and cohesive whole. It is a genuine sabbatical journey into the artistic unknown, mapped out by two artists at the height of their creative powers.

Shades and Echoes is out on the 4th of February 2022.

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Sir Rod Stewart’s rekindled love of songwriting grows stronger on his 31st studio album, THE TEARS OF HERCULES.

It’s Stewart’s fourth new album of original songs since 2013 when he reconnected with his songwriting muse to record Time, the chart-topping album which entered the Top 10 in the US and ten countries worldwide, including #1 in the U.K., where it’s been certified platinum double-platinum.

For his latest, Stewart wrote nine of the album’s 12 songs, including the first single, “One More Time,” which is available today on all digital and streaming services.

On November 12th, 2021, THE TEARS OF HERCULES will be available on CD, LP and through digital and streaming services.

THE TEARS OF HERCULES is a project close to Stewart’s heart, especially the song “Touchline,” which he dedicated to his father, who taught him and his brothers to love football, a tradition Sir Rod has passed down to his sons.

In the album’s sleeve note, Stewart says he’s proud of the album. “I’ve never said this before about any previous efforts, but I believe this is by far my best album in many a year,” he writes.

To make THE TEARS OF HERCULES, Stewart once again worked with Kevin Savigar, the keyboardist-songwriter-composer who has co-produced Stewart’s last three studio albums: Time (2013), Another Country (2015), and Blood Red Roses (2018).

Their long-running collaboration began in 1978 when Stewart invited Savigar to join his studio and touring band. In addition to “One More Time,” they also co-wrote the standout tracks “Hold On” and “All My Days.”

Stewart co-wrote “Born To Boogie (A Tribute To Mark Bolan)” with Emerson Swinford, the guitarist in his band. Stewart, Savigar, and Swinford share songwriting credit on “I Can’t Imagine.”

Stewart has always had a gift for making any song sound like it was written just for him.

That’s certainly true of the album’s title track, a powerful ballad written by Marc Jordan. Through the years, Stewart has recorded other songs written by Jordan, including “Rhythm Of My Heart” (#5 U.S./#3 U.K.) from Vagabond Heart and “This” from his gold-certified album, A Spanner in the Works. Additional covers include Stewart’s joyful take on Soul Brother Six’s “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” and his stirring rendition of Johnny Cash’s “These Are My People.”

The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee says he’s looking forward to playing some of the new songs live next year during his North American Tour. It will start on July 1, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas, and includes 19 shows.

But first, Stewart will return to Las Vegas to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed residency, “Rod Stewart: The Hits.”

He’ll play nine shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace between October 6th and 23rd, 2022. The performances will feature chart-topping hits that span Stewart’s unparalleled career, including “You Wear It Well,” “Maggie May,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” “Tonight’s the Night” and “Forever Young.”

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New Zealand duo called DUAL are exploding on to the Australasia music scene with their pumpy beats and catchy tracks.

Having just released their single ‘Two Hands Up’ DUAL are powering ahead with even more musical creativity and more tunes to follow up.

Shane was given the opportunity, thanks to Warner Music, to have a virtual chat with the group.

Shane: Hey DUAL thanks for chatting with us here at STG Music. So, how did you guys get together in the first place and create DUAL?

DUAL: We used to be in a band together in high school called Narwhal. When that started to fizzle out we were both keen to keep creating so we went back and forward just for the sake of writing music. Eventually we had a bunch of good songs together and were invited to play at a house party and the rest was history.

Shane: Hot on the heels of your last track and music video for ‘Two Hands’ you’ve just released another single and video for ‘Wipe Your Tears Away’. What’s the inspiration behind this song?

DUAL: I often find that my subconscious articulates things through my songwriting – things that I haven’t readily admitted to myself yet – which makes things kind of scary cos you don’t realise until after. This song is a true testament to that – a personal moment in my life, a stage where I was at a real crossroads. My parents had broken up and I wasn’t sure if I could / should quit my job and decide to really give this music thing a crack.

I knew I had to break free though. The whole message of the track is ‘do what I want when I like – this is my new life right now’. It’s about breaking free, it’s about us being vulnerable and being okay with that. We hope that people can connect to this message – Maurice

Shane: In a few words, describe the music video for ‘Wipe your Tears Away’.

DUAL: Chaotic, Freeing, Spooky

Shane: New Zealand has had some lengthy lockdowns during the pandemic, how have you managed to stay creative?

DUAL: We’ve still both been writing a lot together over video calls – and with some other NZ artists too. It’s definitely not the same as being in the room together but we’ve managed to make it work in our own ways

Shane: Lastly, what’s up next for DUAL?

DUAL: We have a bunch of new tunes coming out starting with one we’re really excited about dropping early December. Pending what happens this summer we’re really hoping to be able to play some outdoor festivals as well as our own headline show early next year.

Be sure to catch DUAL rocking out festivals and releasing more addictive and original singles rom December and of course in 2022.

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