Grammy-winning trio Clean Bandit have shared their highly anticipated trance-inspired new track “Tell Me Where U Go” with award winning DJ Tiësto and German singer songwriter Leony (via B1/Ministry of Sound) – listen here and watch the official lyric video here. The high energy club banger was premiered during Tiësto’s set at Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March, receiving an incredible reception from the crowd. “Tell Me Where U Go” was written after a therapy session the band’s Jack had inspired the title.
Listen to Tell Me Where U Go by Clean Bandit, Tiësto, Leony.
Jack says, “My therapist said I dissociate sometimes. She said to me, “tell me where you go.” After the session I went to the studio, and we made this song. I wrote it with my new best friend Jason Gill and lyrical geniuses Cleo Tighe and Jake Torrey.”
Cellist Grace Chatto adds, “Tell Me Where U Go” is our new genre. It’s called Classical Djembe Trance. We recorded our dear friend Leony in Berlin and finally collaborated with our guy Tiësto.”
The London trio returned to releasing music in September 2024, marking a new era, with the release of the sweet single “Cry Baby” with Anne-Marie and David Guetta. The track sat stoically in the UK singles charts for over 10 weeks and garnered over 100 million streams, with Clean Bandit’s self-directed and produced music video showcasing their signature visual and musical prowess once again.
Since they broke through in 2013, Clean Bandit have given us a succession of era-defining anthems. From “Rather Be” and “Real Love” with Jess Glynne, “Symphony” with Zara Larsson, “Rockabye” with Sean Paul & Anne-Marie, “I Miss You” with Julia Michaels, “Solo” with Demi Lovato, to “Tick Tock” with Mabel and 24kGoldn, and many more; Clean Bandit have achieved four no. 1 hits and ten top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Their incredible talent stretches further than their musical abilities. Known for directing, editing, and producing their own music videos, on YouTube “Symphony,” “Rockabye” and “Solo” have each surpassed 1 billion views, with “Rockabye” at over 3 billion views. In 2023, the trio received a rare BRIT Billion Award in recognition of one billion UK streams and in 2024 they joined an exclusive club of UK bands – made up of only Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, One Direction, and Queen – after garnering over a billion Spotify streams on four songs (“Solo,” “Rather Be,” “Rockabye,” and “Symphony”). They have had 8 Brit nominations as well as 2 top tens in America. Jack, the band’s key songwriter, has won two Ivor Novello Awards for his work, having also penned hits for other artists such as Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes, MARINA, Becky Hill, Jess Glynne and Ellie Goulding.
Today’s release of “Tell Me Where U Go” is sure to resolidify the essential role Clean Bandit play within UK music.
British/Greek singer, songwriter and producer Eleni Drake today unveils her stunning new single ‘A Wonder Day’, out now via MNRK. Produced by Eleni alongside Frank Colucci (Ashnikko, Ethel Cain), the track is her first new offering of 2025 and kicks off a hugely significant year for one of the UK’s best kept musical secrets.
A mellifluous arrangement of delicate guitar interspersed with lapsteel, violin, trumpets and banjo, ‘A Wonder Day’ is a bittersweet reflection on nostalgia and missing someone you’ve loved. Speaking on the track, Eleni says:
“The song is a thank you to my best friend, the way they spark joy within me, make me feel understood, loved, cared for… A song isn’t nearly enough, but it’s essentially an ode to them. I wanted the music to emulate how I see them. Vibrant, warm, nostalgic.”
The new single follows in the wake of Eleni’s celebrated 2024 EP, Above Deep Water; her first release on new label MNRK, having self-released her previous projects, picking up a devoted following in the process. She’s earned fans along the way at tastemakers including The Line Of Best Fit, Consequence, The Independent, The Arts Desk, CLASH, La Blogotheque and Wonderland, and last year took her intimate live set to The Great Escape and SXSW festivals.
Eleni’s hauntingly beautiful sound is at once refreshing and timeless, uplifting and introspective, inspired by a deep love of music that spans from Mazzy Star and Adrienne Lenker to Mac Miller and Cleo Sol. With over 40 million streams to date and still only just getting going, 2025 promises to be Eleni’s biggest year yet with her most personal and profound music on the way.
Grammy nominated pop-rock band, OneRepublic, have released new single “Invincible (from Kaiju No.8)” alongside a music video shot in Japan.
Following the success of “Nobody (Kaiju No. 8 ED theme)”; the very first international song specially wrote for a Japanese anime ending theme, the band once again specially wrote for anime “Kaiju No.8”. The song is about no matter what happens, no matter how hard it is, there is a moment in time to feel nothing. It’s about those moments in life. This single is a collaboration with “Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon”, an original new episode focused on one of the most popular characters; Hoshina, featured after a condensed recap of the first season of “Kaiju No. 8” available only on cinemas.
The music video captures scenes of OneRepublic performing the single as surprise at Ariake show in January 2025 held in Tokyo, the very next day the band completed the song and Tokyo streets and cafes where the band hangs around. Watch below.
The first season compilation of the anime “Kaiju No. 8”and “Mission Recon” will be available as an event-styled screening in some countries and continents for more details visit : https://kaiju-no8.net/en/news/detail_250314_01.html
Wet Leg – the Isle of Wight five-piece founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – have announced their eagerly anticipated second album moisturizer will be released on July 11th.
Joined by Ellis Durand (bass), Henry Holmes (drums), and Joshua Mobaraki (guitar, synth), moisturizer is fun and freaky and fabulous, an unbridled display of the live muscle Wet Leg have built up over a few years of non-stop touring. Punchier, prettier and more perverted where it counts, moisturizer is an album of manic love songs and well-timed kiss-offs, delivered by a clan of the UK’s most beloved oddballs.
Touring all over the world, Wet Leg developed into a taut, caustic live operation that made good on their debut album’s success: #1 chart placements at home and abroad, three Grammys, two Brits and over half a billion streams. If success presents a fork in the road for any new band – to “go pop” or keep following your muse – Wet Leg emphatically chose the latter path – including working with Dan Carey again as their producer. In March 2024, the band decamped to Southwold to write; living together, working all day, watching horror movies all night, they soon locked into a new sense of symbiosis. Subsequently, all five members of Wet Leg have writing credits on moisturizer – “We were just kind of having fun and exploring,” says Chambers. “We focussed on: Is this going to be fun to play live? It was very natural that we would write the second record together” adds Teasdale.
Alongside the album announcement, the band also share the first taste of moisturizer with its frenetic, alluringly combative lead single “catch these fists.” Kicking things off with an untameable, electrified groove from its opening seconds, “catch these fists” is dance-punk par excellence – bass notes ricocheting off a wall of howling synth, thunderous beats catching strays from Teasdale’s cruel deadpan.
Watch the video for “catch these fists”.
The video, directed by the band and shot on the island, nods to Ti West, Cameron Crowe and their own “Wet Dream” video and is a suitably off-kilter introduction to moisturizer valley.
As happens a couple of times on moisturizer, the major animus behind “catch these fists” was an interaction with a belligerent man, as chronicled in the song’s final verse. This is not to say sh*tc*nt men are the sole focus of moisturizer — no matter how much album track “mangetout”, with its withering chorus of “get lost forever” may feel like the Nicole Kidman divorce photo in song form. On the contrary, this largely is an album about being, as the band exclaim on “pond song”, so “DEEP! IN! LOVE!!!!” moisturizer contains love songs of every stripe: stressed-out, gooey-eyed, gratuitously horny, blissed out, obsessive and mysterious.
Although Teasdale previously felt allergic to writing love songs, moisturizer is defined by its sheer exuberance and Teasdale ended up finding the process empowering. That new sense of ownership extends to moisturizer’s album art, an instant-classic freak-fest in which Chambers and Teasdale bare long, ghoulish claws; Teasdale, sporting long, kitschy socks and sans eyebrows, grins fiendishly into the camera. It reflects the album, moisturizer is the band turning the dial up and delivering a record that is unapologetically bolder, stronger and raunchier.
Tracklisting:
1. CPR
2. liquidize
3. catch these fists
4. davina mccall
5. jennifer’s body
6. mangetout
7. pond song
8. pokemon
9. pillow talk
10. don’t speak
11. 11:21
12. u and me at home
Upcoming live dates Tue 8th April – The River, Los Angeles
Wed 21st May – O2 Academy, Birmingham Fri 23rd May – O2 Academy Brixton, London Tue 27th May – Usher Hall, Edinburgh Wed 28th May – O2 Academy, Leeds Thu 29th May – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Fri 6th June – Primavera Sound, Barcelona Sat 14th June – NOS Primavera Sound, Porto Sat 21st June – Hurricane Festival, Scheessel Sun 22nd June – Southside Festival, Neuhausen ob Eck Fri 27th June – Glastonbury Festival, Shepton Mallet
Wed 2nd July – Roskilde Festival, Roskilde Fri 4th July – Rock Werchter, Werchter Sat 5th July – Down the Rabbit Hole Festival, Beuningen Sun 6th July – Festival Beauregard, Herouville Saint-Clair Fri 11th July – TRNSMT, Glasgow Tue 15th July – I-Days Milan, Milan w/ Olivia Rodrigo Wed 16th July – Acieloaperto Festival, Cesena
Fri 1st Aug – All Together Now, Waterford Sun 3rd Aug – Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire Thu 7th Aug – Oya Festival, Oslo Fri 8th Aug – Way Out West, Gothenburg Sun 10th Aug – Boardmasters Festival, Newquay Fri 15th Aug – Green Man Festival, Crickhowell Sun 17th Aug – Cabaret Vert Festival, Charleville-Mézières
Tickets for the May UK tour will be on pre-sale from Wed 9th April at 10am local time, general sale from Fri 11th April at 10am local time.
Pre-order the album for access to the first pre-sale.
moisturizer is available to pre-order on limited edition 3D gatefold cream coloured vinyl w/ signed photo, picture disc vinyl, standard vinyl, cassette, CD and digitally. Pre-order: Wet Leg’s store | Digital
Usher performs on stage at The O2 Arena on March 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for USHER
Saturday night (29 March) saw London come alive as global icon USHER put on the show of a lifetime for 20,000 fans at The O2 in London, the first of 10 London shows as part of the USHER: Past Present Future Tour. The show has already been highly praised by critics with 4 and 5 star reviews.
From the moment USHER ascended to the stage, the atmosphere was charged with pure energy and excitement. Moving seamlessly through his extensive catalogue, he commanded the arena with a show divided into 10 distinct acts. His signature blend of smooth vocals and highly advanced and precision choreography, including a 15 minute skate routine, made each moment feel larger than life. The setlist spanned three decades of hits, taking the audience on a journey through USHER’s evolution. He revisited “Call Me A Mack”, global smash hits like “Yeah!”, “U Got It Bad”, “Love In This Club”, and “There Goes My Baby”. Moving into the 2010s and beyond, he delivered the emotive “Climax” and his recent hit “Good Good”, a reminder of the global entertainer’s incredible longevity.
Taking a moment to reflect on his 30-year career, he spoke directly to the crowd, acknowledging the deep connection he shares with his London fans: “Hopefully my music has been something to you. Maybe we fell in love together, maybe we had a good time together, but something brought you here. And I just want you to know, I appreciate the connection. If I didn’t have you to cheer me on, I wouldn’t continue to do this.”
Usher performs on stage at The O2 Arena on March 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for USHER )
Ever the showman, he made his way through the crowd during My Boo, handing out his own USH POUNDS and pouring shots for fans. Embracing the local spirit, he joked, “I will take a pint as we’re here in London!” to the delight of the audience.
The final act brought a poignant moment, as USHER introduced it with a Zoom call to his younger self, offering a chance to reflect on three decades of music and legacy, before USHER closed with anthemic club tune, Without You.
Fashion was just as much a part of the spectacle as the music. USHER’s wardrobe was a masterclass in style, featuring a bespoke Union Jack jacket and trousers by Mowalola, alongside collaborations with Robert Wun, Ralph Lauren, Edward Cumming, Luis De Javier, Luar, David Koma and Alpine Stars. Each look, for both him and his dancers, was as carefully curated as the show itself.
Plus, the stars came out on Saturday night to see the legend in action, including model Leomie Anderson, presenters Maya Jama and Judi Love as well as A list actor Daniel Kaluuya.
After the show, USHER marked the occasion with a stylish celebration on the River Thames. Joined by over 100 VIP guests, he set sail from North Greenwich Pier on a deluxe Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, taking in iconic landmarks like The London Eye and Tower Bridge before arriving at Embankment Pier. The night was a fitting tribute to his milestone residency; elegant, vibrant, and full of energy. From there, the celebrations continued at his own aftershow “The Yeah Man” at The Box Soho, with guests including musician RAYE and Burberry CCO Daniel Lee, rounding off an unforgettable night in London.
From mid April, USHER continues on to perform in Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, before returning to London on 6th and 7th May to close out the tour.
For tickets visit UsherWorld.com
During USHER’s 10-night UK-exclusive residency at The O2, fans will be able to feel the excitement before entering the arena as active lifestyle company, Flipper’s, heads to The O2. Entertaining the crowds from 6pm each event day, the Flipper’s sQUAD will perform to some of USHER’s biggest hits.
It’s been a spectacular few years for USHER, from his powerhouse Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime performance, where he dazzled millions with an epic medley of hits alongside special guests Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, H.E.R., Will.i.am, and Jermaine Dupri, to his incredible two-year, 100-show My Way: The Las Vegas Residency and a legendary eight-night run at Paris’ La Seine Musicale. In 2024, he kicked off his Past Present Future tour across North America, selling out over 60 shows and delivering unforgettable performances. Now, he makes his highly anticipated return to Europe, his first arena tour since the 2015 UR Tour.
USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE UK / EUROPEAN 2025 TOUR DATES:
Sat 29 March – London, UK – The O2
Tues 01 April – London, UK – The O2
Wed 02 April – London, UK – The O2
Sat 05 April – London, UK – The O2
Sun 06 April – London, UK – The O2
Tues 08 April – London, UK – The O2
Wed 09 April – London, UK – The O2
Fri 11 April – London, UK – The O2
Tues 15 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Wed 16 April – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Sat 19 April – Club Social @ Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Sun 20 April – Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tues 22 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Wed 23 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Fri 25 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Sat 26 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Mon 28 April – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Thurs 01 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Fri 02 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Sun 04 May – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Tues 06 May – London, UK – The O2
Wed 07 May – London, UK – The O2
Ariana Grande is closing the chapter on her Eternal Sunshine era in style, unveiling a brand-new short film, Brighter Days Ahead, as the visual companion to the deluxe edition of her album, Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days.
Set to the music of the expanded album, the film is co-directed by Grande herself alongside longtime collaborator Christian Breslauer. It explores themes of love, loss, personal growth, and the ephemeral nature of memory, delivering an emotional and cinematic farewell to this chapter of her artistry.
The story picks up seventy years after we last saw Peaches (played by Grande). Once again, she finds herself in the waiting room of Brighter Days Inc., but this time for a very different reason. The company now specialises in advanced memory restoration, allowing her to relive carefully selected moments from her life—both joyful and painful. As Peaches embarks on this immersive journey, she revisits the experiences that shaped her, reconnecting with her younger self, who has been waiting in the wings for over a decade.
Through this process, she confronts the challenges of fame (as the daughter of Brighter Days Inc.’s famous founder), the relentless scrutiny of the public eye, and the weight of generational trauma. With the support of her loved ones and the healing power of art, she ultimately finds her way back to herself. But there’s a catch—once a memory is relived, it vanishes forever.
The release of Brighter Days Ahead coincides with the one-year anniversary of Eternal Sunshine, Grande’s critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated album. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking her sixth chart-topping album. Since then, it has been certified platinum by the RIAA, boasting hit singles like We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love), Yes, And?, and The Boy Is Mine. Notably, Eternal Sunshine became the only album of 2024 to produce multiple Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, further solidifying Grande’s place at the top of the pop world.
As she bids farewell to this era, Brighter Days Ahead offers a poignant, visually stunning reflection on the journey so far—one that fans won’t want to miss.
BST Hyde Park have announces some of the line-up of guest acts for acclaimed folk-pop star Noah Kahan’s headliner show this summer.
Kahan will be joined by an outstanding list of artists on Friday, 4 July, including the previously announced Grammy-nominated star Gracie Abrams and newly unveiled support acts Finneas, Gigi Perez, Paris Paloma, Hazlett, Jo Hill, Sebastian Schub, Sydney Rose, Kevin Atwater and Lily Fitts.
Over the past year, Grammy-nominated Vermont singer-songwriter Noah Kahan has exploded from his New England roots into the global mainstream, solidifying himself as one of this year’s biggest and best new artists.
Across three albums and two EPs, Kahan has garnered global renown for his singular mix of Folk, Americana, and Rock, landing more than five billion streams, a Double Platinum Certification for hit single ‘Stick Season’, and collaborations with Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Gracie Abrams, Sam Fender and more.
A major global success, ‘Stick Season’, a song based on the malaise he felt staying in his hometown, became Kahan’s first UK Top 10 single. Climbing all the way to Number 1, it sat atop the UK charts for seven weeks and, in February this year, he landed the Official Chart double – as both ‘Stick Season’ and its accompanying album took the Number 1 spot on both the Official Singles and Albums Chart simultaneously. Last year, the track was named the UK’s Biggest Song of 2024 by Official Charts.
Shows in support of his widely adored, Platinum-Certified album, Stick Season, sold-out across North America, selling over half-a-million tickets – just a prelude to his stadium and arena dates on his sold-out world tour that followed. In 2024 here in the UK, Kahan sold-out two nights at OVO Wembley Arena, following up with two sold-out shows at the O2 Arena just a few months later. Now the singer joins the incredible list of headliners to play BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage, for one of the biggest shows of his career so far.
Since making her debut in 2019, Gracie Abrams has emerged as one of the most compelling songwriters of her generation. Her debut project minor was released in summer 2020, featuring her beloved singles ’21’, ‘I miss you, I’m sorry’, and ‘Long Sleeves’. In 2021, Abrams returned with EP This Is What It Feels Like, before sharing her long-awaited debut album Good Riddance, produced by Aaron Dessner of The National. Praised by Rolling Stone as “one of 2023’s best debuts”, they hailed Abrams as “one of pop’s buzziest young artists”. Her latest offering, the 2024 sophomore album The Secret of Us, was created soon after Abrams took the stage at stadiums across the US as support for Taylor Swift’s blockbuster Eras Tour. Don’t miss her BST Hyde Park debut next July.
Joining Noah Kahan will be 10-time Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Finneas. Known for his standout discography, the 27-year-old has made his name as a front-runner in alternative pop. His debut EP, Blood Harmony, was released in 2019 to wide praise. Since then, the musician has been honoured at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, receiving the Variety Artisans Award for his work as a Songwriter on the Barbie (2023) soundtrack. He has also produced Billie Eilish’s record-breaking dark pop third studio album, Hit Me Hard And Soft. Last year, the singer released his outstanding sophomore album For Cryin’ Out Loud!, which peaked at the top 20 Billboard Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart.
Breakout American singer-songwriter Gigi Perez is known for her intricate songwriting and poignant lyricism. The artist’s haunting debut How To Catch A Falling Knife garnered attention for her powerful, queer songs ‘When She Smiles’ and ‘Kill For You’. Since then, the musician has been known for her sapphic hit, ‘Sailor Song’, which landed at No. 1 in the Official Singles Charts. Perez’s incredible talent has made her a new generation favourite, now with over 28.3 million listeners on Spotify.
Derbyshire songwriter Paris Paloma stormed the internet with her breakthrough single ‘Labour’, which became her first charting success on the UK’s Official Charts and Billboard US charts. The upcoming musician started releasing music in 2021 and released her debut EP, cemeteries and socials, the same year. Paloma’s debut album Cacophony was released in 2024 was was praised by Pitchfork: “[Paloma] taps into genuine, conflicted feelings about womanhood that are, for better or worse, timeless.”
For fans of Hozier, Hazlett has quietly been dominating the internet. A self-labelled “romantic guy”, the Australian-born act is having a whirlwind career. Marked as a rising act by Line Of Best Fit, the singer-songwriter has over 2.5 million listeners on Spotify and has wrapped up an incredible European opening for Calum Scott. Make sure to catch Hazlett live at BST Hyde Park.
Hailing from Cheddar, England, newcomer Jo Hill layers honest lyrics and soulful vocals with combinations of rock and indie pop. For fans of Fleetwood Mac, Remi Wolf, and Kacey Musgraves, Hill channels her hometown charisma across her bold and newly released debut album, girlhood.
German-born and London-based, Sebastian Schub is taking off. With nearly 1 million listeners on Spotify, the singer has quickly become known for his emotional, raw songs. His breakthrough track ‘Sing Like Madonna’ is an ode to letting go and breaking free. Earmarked as an “artist to watch” by Atwood Magazine, you’ll be seeing plenty more of Schub soon.
Plus, Nashville-based singer Sydney Rose will be bringing her viral sad girl hits to the sunny Hyde Park. A rising act, Rose is making waves with her newly released song, ‘We Hug Now’, which landed in the Top 3 of the Spotify US and Global Viral 50 Charts. With an incredible year in the works, Rose will be bringing her songwriter flair to London this summer.
New Yorker singer Kevin Atwater is inspired by folk music. Taking up music, he learned to play the piano, clarinet, guitar and immersed himself in theatre. Learning from his folk and contemporary songwriter idols, including Nick Drake, Adrianne Lenker, Clairo, Moses Sumney and Phoebe Bridgers and Conan Gray. Atwater writes intimate music that taps into topics of queerness, masculinity and identity.
Indie-folk singer Lily Fitts also joins the American Express presents BST Hyde Park bill. Inspired by her upbringing in Boston, the 23-year-old is crafting heartfelt, introspective tunes. Labelled as “the best of folk-infused pop” by Spotify, Fitts brings together modern pop and folk music to a whole new audience.
BST Hyde Park’s headliners for 2025 are: Olivia Rodrigo (27 June), Noah Kahan (4 July), Sabrina Carpenter (5 + 6 July), neil young and the chrome hearts (11 July) and Jeff Lynne’s ELO (13 July). Expect more incredible announcements soon for the 2025 edition of the UK’s
most anticipated summer event.
BST Hyde Park again brought a hugely diverse range of superstars to the Royal Park in 2024
across three weekends – SZA to Kings of Leon, Morgan Wallen, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie
Williams, Shania Twain, Stevie Nicks, Kylie Minogue and Stray Kids.
American Express presents BST Hyde Park has announced its next 2025 headliner, the true music legend Stevie Wonder is topping the bill in Hyde Park on Saturday 12 July as part of the LOVE, LIGHT & SONG UK 2025 performances. Tickets go on general sale at 10am GMT on Friday 21 March.
American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer, Stevie Wonder is one of the most celebrated and prominent figures in popular music who, at the age of 12, was the youngest recording artist to have achieved a #1 single with “Fingertips Part 2”, and subsequently the first to simultaneously reach #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, R&B Singles and Album Charts.
To date he has amassed 49 TopForty singles, 32 #1 singles and worldwide sales of over 100 million units. Stevie has won 25 Grammy Awards, the prestigious Grammy Lifetime AchievementAward, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Stevie’s iconic album, Songs In The Key of Life, is archived in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, for its cultural, historic and aesthetic significance.
While Stevie Wonder’s songs are unequivocally classic and his influence timeless, equally laudable are his humanitarian efforts, philanthropic leadership, and generosity of spirit. He has received numerous accolades including awards from the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the American Association of People with Disabilities.
In 1983, Stevie spearheaded the realisation of Martin Luther King Day as a US national holiday and his song ‘Happy Birthday’, became the rallying song for the movement. His participation in the 1985 ‘We Are The World’ fundraiser for hunger in Africa is a music industry milestone while his involvement to put an end to apartheid in South Africa is legendary. He is the youngest recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, is a Commander of France’s National Order of Arts and Letters and has been inducted into, among others, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the NAACP Hall of Fame. Upon being awarded the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, Stevie performed his commission, ‘Sketches Of A Life’, which placed him in a very select group of eminent composers who have received library commissions. In 2024 Stevie was awarded the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America by Johns Hopkins University. Stevie is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Wolf Prize Laureate, and is a designated U.N. Messenger of Peace with special focus on persons with disabilities. He continues to be a pivotal influence in U.S. and world events, demonstrating the activism that has made him such a vital voice for social progress and world harmony.
Wonder is no stranger to BST Hyde Park either, having dazzled audiences on the Great Oak Stage not once, but twice.
Stevie Wonder joins previously announced headliners for 2025; Olivia Rodrigo (27 June), Zach Bryan (28 & 29 June), Noah Kahan (4 July), Sabrina Carpenter (5 & 6 July) and Jeff Lynne’s ELO (13 July). Expect more incredible announcements soon, for the 2025 edition of the UK’s most anticipated summer event.
BST Hyde Park again brought a hugely diverse range of superstars to the Royal Park in 2024 across three weekends – SZA to Kings of Leon, Morgan Wallen, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Shania Twain, Stevie Nicks, Kylie Minogue and Stray Kids.
www.bst-hydepark.com | @bsthydepark
Tickets:
Amex Presale Tickets® begins 10am GMT on Monday 17 March, ends 10am GMT on Wednesday 19 March
Artist Fanclub – 10am GMT Wednesday 19 March
General On Sale – 10am GMT on Friday 21 March
Sheffield’s Precious Pepala, rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting breakthrough artists in the UK, has today announced her forthcoming EP, Dark Days, set for release 2nd May via Modern Sky. With the announcement comes vulnerable new single ‘First Love’, which sees Precious explore complex, highly personal emotions through expressive, universally resonant lyricism.
Co-written and co-produced with Eg White (best known as Adele’s producer/co-writer) and Jordan Rabjohn, ‘First Love’ sees Precious’ raw vocals take centre stage. Backed by a piano accompaniment and building in sonic power, the track is a pop ballad that’s equally fresh as it is timeless, Precious putting her own signature spin on the subgenre.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that ‘First Love’ is a story about someone in a romantic relationship finding out about their partner’s previous lover. However, carefully disguised behind the lyrics is the real story. The story of someone who grew up thinking that they were their parents’ first-born child, only to find out that they had an older sibling who tragically passed away at a young age. Love, grief, jealousy and guilt are just a few of the complex emotions that Precious explores lyrically when writing about such a uniquely heartbreaking situation in ‘First Love’.
Of the track, Precious Pepala said: “The perhaps misleading nature of the lyrics is completely intentional and meant to make the song more universally relatable whilst guarding the identity and emotions of the people involved in the real story”.
The new single comes as Precious is mid-tour, supporting Victor Ray on his six-date UK run. Fans can catch Precious opening for Ray in Newcastle, Nottingham, Brighton, Manchester, Bristol, and Birmingham, where she’ll captivate audiences with her powerful live vocals and magnetic stage presence.
STREAM ‘FIRST LOVE’ GLOBALLY
‘First Love’ follows the January released ‘Lullaby’, a brooding blend of dark and alternative pop that swells into anthemic production from the eerie tones of a music-box. Her “anthem for introverts”, ‘Lullaby’ is a candid reflection on Precious’ own love for solitude, and an invitation to retreat from the demands of reality. She wanted to imagine the track “as if a Tim Burton movie became a pop song”. Sonically, Precious very much offers something different with each release.
As well as ‘First Love’ and ‘Lullaby’, late-2024 releases ‘Sunday Morning’ and ‘The Effect’ will also feature on the forthcoming EP, set to cement Precious as a uniquely captivating artist and undeniable talent. Sonically, Precious is happy to not fit in a box, blending dark pop, alternative and rock music with gospel and soul influences.
Vulnerability doesn’t come easily to everyone. As the daughter of a preacher, raised in a family where hard discussions and honesty at the dinner table just didn’t happen, Precious needed to find an outlet. “When you don’t find a way of getting negativity out, it comes out in negative ways. The only way for me to talk about my feelings was through music. Especially when I was questioning a lot of things about religion and dealing with years and years of pent up guilt because my parents love this thing so much and I don’t. Writing music about it gave me a way to say to my parents ‘I’m not like you’. Music put it into words for me. It was a way to open the door for those difficult conversations to happen.”
The songs on Dark Days are those conversations. From religion to queerness, sexual assault to finding strength again after becoming an independent artist, the EP doesn’t just track Precious’ journey but is the words she needed to move through it and move past things. Dark Days shares the conversations that saved her to an audience she hopes to help too.
After being signed to a major label when she was a teenager, this EP marks the rebirth of Precious Pepala. “I’m older, so I’m a lot more likely to say no to people than I was when I was 16…I’ve got my voice and I know what I want”. Still only 20 years old, Precious consistently displays an emotional maturity far beyond her years, addressing important themes within her music while tapping into the universal feelings of her own peers. As a black, female artist, who stands at just 5-feet tall, she is “not the stereotypical face of power and change”. However, thanks to her vocal power, songwriting talent and ever-growing social media presence, Precious is rapidly becoming a voice for her generation, as she continues to push boundaries and vital conversation with new music.
Born and bred in Sheffield in the North of England, with family roots in Zambia, Precious began singing at the local church where her father was a pastor. A native of the streaming generation, she used the internet to discover Destiny’s Child, Brandy, and Aaliyah who inspire her laidback 90’s aesthetic; and poured over the performance prowess of Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga – using this rich tapestry of influences to study how to become an artist to be reckoned with.
After learning guitar at school and starting a band with her schoolmates, Precious started writing songs by herself. The result was a fully formed, brilliant new voice who has already won over a legion of fans online and within the media, eagerly awaiting her next move. Precious has had radio support across the likes of BBC Radio 1 (Future Artists with Jack Saunders, Future Alternative, Future Pop and Future Soul shows), BBC Music Introducing Sheffield and Apple Music 1.
Fresh from her triumphant night at the BRIT Awards winning ‘Pop Act’, global music superstar JADE returns with the mighty ‘FUFN (Fuck You For Now)’.
Written by JADE with music icon RAYE, Dave Hamelin and co-produced by Lostboy, ‘FUFN (Fuck You For Now)’ is an electrifying and dramatic pop song packed with attitude. Bursting with raw emotion, JADE sings “Don’t you tell me to calm down” on the song’s explosive chorus.
The song was teased during the new Fendi campaign for their Mamma Baguette bag, which JADE stars in.
JADE says: “FUFN is the escalation of an argument we’ve all had, knowing it’s not the end but feeling all the anger in the moment. It’s the channeling of female rage into a badass big pop banger.”
JADE delivered the stand-out performance of the night at this year’s BRIT Awards, performing her superhit ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. The performance video has been viewed over 1.4 million times and JADE also scooped up her first solo BRIT award in the ‘Pop Act’ category.
The Guardian called JADE’s performance ‘An episodic live performance so peculiar it stole the show’, whilst NME said it was ‘A staggering, theatrical performance’. Clash Magazine named it one of the greatest BRITS performances of all time.
JADE finished 2024 by winning the Trailblazer Award at The Rolling Stone UK Awards and appearing on the cover of the magazine. She was also included on many of the end of year ‘Best Of’ lists. ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ was named the No.1 song of 2024 by DIY Magazine and a Top 10 song by The Guardian, DORK, Clash and NME. In addition Dazed named JADE’s ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ video of the year.
‘Angel Of My Dreams’ has been a huge commercial success. The track has accumulated over 100 million streams to date, entering the UK Official Singles Chart at No.7, the third highest new entry for a British artist last year. The accompanying video was a No.1 YouTube trending video for 10 days and has had 12 million views. The song remained in the Official UK Singles Chart Top 20 for two months.
Since then JADE has dropped three more tracks, ‘Midnight Cowboy’. a sultry, understated bass heavy bop about owning your sexuality, the sleek disco-tinged ‘Fantasy’, complete with a video directed by the iconic David LaChapelle and the bold anthem ‘IT girl’.
