Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday evening joined Twitter owner Elon Musk in an audio-only conversation on the social media site to announce his campaign for president. The virtual event was … Click to Continue »
Lauren Jauregui tells us all about her new music off her EP ‘In Between’, exploring her sexuality through her music, Fifth Harmony’s 10th anniversary, and more!
Lauren Jauregui 0:00
You should listen to my music. That’s what I would say. Go check it out. Check me out, like it’s good sh–. It’s good sh–. Can I say sh–? You can. Hey, what’s up? I’m Lauren Jauregui and this is Billboard News
Tetris Kelly 0:22
It’s Tetris with Billboard News and I’m so happy to be hanging out with my friend Lauren. Hey, beautiful. How are you?
Lauren Jauregui 0:27
Hello, I’m good. How are you?
Tetris Kelly 0:29
I’m amazing. Thanks for hanging out with us. We got to talk about this music. You’re not new to the solo game. I mean, from ‘Expectations’ and all the success you had with that and so many releases. Tell me what about this EP, that’s going to be so different.
Lauren Jauregui 0:39
I think there’s, there’s more movement to this EP. This is a continuation of ‘Prelude’ which is my first EP that I dropped
Lauren Jauregui 0:53
Kind of the sound and vibe that I was, I’ve been cultivating from that point. I’ve been writing since like, 2018. And these songs are from that era, I haven’t really locked in to start writing new stuff yet. So it’s kind of a continuation of a story that would have been told maybe in the past,
Tetris Kelly 1:07
Let’s talk about your lead single. Now ‘Wolves’, you got two amazingly talented people on it: Ty Dolla $ign and Russ. Why were those two guys the perfect people?
Lauren Jaureugi 1:15
This song was written back in like 2019. So Russ and I have always been friends, you know, he’s an independent artist as well. And I learned a lot from him and all of the wisdom he puts out into the world as an artist and I felt very connected to him and we like grew a friendship, just like kind of knowing each other, and then Ty heard the track and loved it and wanted to hop on it. So he did.
Tetris Kelly 1:37
But as we break down this EP, tell me a little bit more about some of the other tracks and what they mean.
Lauren Jaureugi 1:41
I love all of these songs, there are six of them, two of them are already out in the world, which are ‘Always Love’ and ‘Trust Issues,’ which I feel give a very vulnerable kind of take on my songwriting, they’re very just like my vocals and some strings and a guitar, for the most part. But I opened the project with a spoken word piece that’s overseeing music that my friend Powers produced, which is really beautiful and kind of goes even more in depth into the meaning of ‘In Between.’ For me, it’s a poem specifically about that. It’s called ‘Meet Me In the In Between’.
Tetris Kelly 2:24
And something that I also have felt I’ve watched you do is kind of like grow and bloom into your sexuality as well. I’ve been very proud of you. Because like you were unfairly outed in 2016. But now you’ve kind of just owned your stuff. Yeah. And you’re out and proud and living your life. I loved your Valentine’s Day post. So how was that?
Lauren Jaureugi 2:43
I mean, it’s life. I’m older now. I was 16 when I started in this industry, and I’m now 26. So I feel like you blossom into yourself over the course of those years, you discover yourself, you meet people, you fall in love, you fall out of love, and you learn yourself. And I think even when it comes to expression and identity and sexuality, I’m very fluid. So I feel like I’ll continue to discover and engage with different parts of myself because I grow.
Tetris Kelly 3:13
Talking about growth, obviously growing as a solo artist, you know, you obviously were a part of a massive group. And one of your members recently, Dinah, she said that she quit doing solo music in 2020 because of depression and pressure. So is that something you have ever connected with? Or do you feel like there’s a pressure as being a solo artist?
Lauren Jauregui 3:31
Yeah, I think all of us could connect with that. I feel like we’ve all spoken about our stories and in respect to like that experience overall. And I think each of us needed our individual time to grow and discover our personal stories within the story of it all, you know, so I’m proud of her for getting through it and taking the time that she needed. And I hope she’s feeling beautiful because I love you.
Tetris Kelly 3:55
It feels like it was just yesterday that it was July, you guys are celebrating 10 years
Tetris Kelly 4:05
And now, it’s about to be July, again, 11 years.
Lauren Jauregui 4:09
I’m part of anything for 11 years, it’s just like a lot.
Tetris Kelly 4:12
And I feel like every every other week you guys are going viral for some moment or performance. What’s one that sticks out to you that you haven’t spoken on? I need to know like when you see this on the internet, you’re like, oh, man, I can’t.
Lauren Jaureugi 4:26
Oh man. Well, with Fifth Harmony, there is an endless supply of that. There’s so much, there’s so much stuff, definitely our carpet photos. I laughed so hard at y’all’s comments about the carpet photos because I’m, I feel you.
Tetris Kelly 4:41
For people that are checking in and tuning in now. They don’t know Lauren, they don’t know Fifth Harmony. What do you feel like you want to say?
Lauren Jauregui 4:48
Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m a singer songwriter. You should listen to my music, that’s what I would say. Go check me out, like hit me up. It’s good sh–.
Tetris Kelly 4:59
Thank you so much for coming and hanging out with us, I really appreciate it.
Kelly Clarkson‘s song of the summer got an additional dose of sunshine thanks to a beach club-ready remix from David Guetta.
Clarkson unveiled the new version of “Favorite Kind of High” on Wednesday (May 24), along with a lyric video featuring an adorable cameo. In the technicolor visualizer, the singer’s eight-year-old daughter River Rose takes Guetta’s place behind the DJ stand, mixing it up on the turntable with one hand on her headphones.
Clarkson shares River, as well as her seven-year-old son Remi Alexander, with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
“You’re my favorite kind of high / Rushing through me like a fire / And I need you to know / I say I won’t but I do / When it comes to loving you / I have no control,” Clarkson belts along to the beat in the chorus.
“Favorite Kind of High” follows double singles “Mine” and “Me” off the superstar’s upcoming tenth studio album, Chemistry, out June 23 via Atlantic Records.
“Having chemistry with someone is an incredible, and overwhelming, feeling. It’s like you have no choice in the matter,” Clarkson said of the project in a press statement. “You are just drawn to each other. This can be good and bad. This album takes you down every path that chemistry could lead you down.”
Watch the “Favorite Kind of High (David Guetta Remix)” lyric video below.
A Texas grand jury has officially indicted TakeOff’s alleged shooter on murder charges, KHOU reported Thursday (May 25) after receiving confirmation from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Takeoff (born Kirshnik Khari Ball) was shot and killed during a private party he attended at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston with his uncle and bandmate, Quavo, on Nov. 1. The Migos rapper, who was 28 at the time of his death, was killed by “penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm,” according to a report from the Harris County coroner’s office.
The alleged shooter, Patrick Xavier Clark, was arrested on the east side of Houston the same night and charged with murder. Another man allegedly involved in the incident, 22-year-old Cameron Joshua, was arrested and charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon. Clark was subsequently released on $1 million bond in January.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately return a request for confirmation on Clark’s indictment. Clark’s attorney, Carl Moore, also did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In a statement to KHOU, Moore said the indictment was expected, stating, “We would ask people to remember that getting an indictment requires meeting a very, very minimal standard of proof. When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury, where we will be able to put on our evidence and cross-examine the state’s witnesses — where the standard of proof is guilt beyond reasonable doubt – we expect the jury will come back with a verdict of not guilty.”
According to court records, following his release on bond, Clark was put under 24/7 house arrest, forbidden from having contact with anyone involved in the incident and required to wear a GPS monitor that would immediately notify prosecutors and defense attorneys of any violations. He was also asked to submit to drug testing and could not drink alcohol, as court records indicate that “alcohol was a factor in the offense.”
Lauren Jauregui stopped by Billboard News on Thursday (May 25) to spill the tea on her forthcoming EP In Between.
“I think there’s more movement to this EP. This is a continuation of Prelude, which is my first EP that I dropped — kind of the sound and vibe that I’ve been cultivating from that point,” she explained to Billboard‘s Tetris Kelly.
Related
According to the Fifth Harmony alum, the six tracks on her new project were written starting back in 2018, as she hasn’t “locked in to” writing new material as of yet. But don’t consider In Between leftovers from her Prelude era, she insists. Instead, the EP represents “a continuation of a story that would’ve been told, maybe, in the past.”
The EP’s lead single “Wolves” features dual guest appearances by her ex-boyfriend Ty Dolla $ign — who previously collaborated with the pop singer and her 5H bandmates on the worldwide hit “Work From Home” — and Russ, and it also contains previously released singles “Always Love” and the vulnerable “Trust Issues.”
Jauregui also spoke about learning to embrace her sexuality in her music and personal life after being outed by Perez Hilton in 2016. “I’m older now; I was 16 when I started in this industry and I’m now 26,” she said. “So I feel like you blossom into yourself over the course of those years; you discover yourself, you meet people, you fall in love, you fall out of love and you learn yourself.
“And I think, even when it comes to expression and identity and sexuality, I’m very fluid,” the singer-songwriter added. “So I feel like I’ll continue to discover and engage with different parts of myself as grow and as I’m alive.”
Jauregui’s In Between will drop Friday (May 26) via AWAL. Watch her full conversation with Billboard News above.
This Barbie is ready to “Dance the Night” away.
Just three days after she announced her new song “Dance the Night” off the Barbie: The Album, Dua Lipa unveiled the disco-tinged track on Thursday (May 25). “Watch me dance the night away / My heart could be burnin’ but you won’t see it on my face / Watch me dance, dance the night away / I still keep the party running,” she sings in the catchy chorus.
“This Barbie has a song coming this week… FRIDAY MIDNIGHT BST,” Lipa captioned a video on Instagram, in which she’s seen stepping out of a fluffy pair of heels, similar to the shot of Margot Robbie’s arched foot in the Barbie trailer, before blowing a kiss at the camera over the song’s gleaming, dance floor-ready beat.
Lipa is also confirmed to be starring in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Barbie live-action film, in which she’ll play a mermaid doll alongside Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken.
Among the confirmed artists on the film’s Mark Ronson-executive produced soundtrack are Charli XCX, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, FIFTY FIFTY, Dominic Fike, GAYLE, Ava Max, Karol G, Khalid, The Kid LAROI and more. Both Ice Spice and PinkPantheress are also credited, perhaps signifying that their hit “Boy’s A Liar” has a place on Barbie’s playlist. The full track list has yet to be revealed at the time of publication.
The soundtrack drops along with the Barbie film July 21. Listen to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” below.
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Memorial Day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and you still have plenty of time before most of the holiday weekend deals conclude. To make things easier for you, we rounded up a list of some of the best Memorial Day sales and summer savings on items that you can buy online and pick up in stores in some cases.
From Amazon to Zappos, see below for a list of retail destinations with discounts on TVs, headphones, grills, appliances, patio furniture, clothing, jewelry, shoes, beauty items, cookware, mattresses and tons of other savings for the holiday weekend.
Amazon
You can get just about anything on Amazon. Find discounts on appliances, mattresses, clothing, kitchen supplies, headphones, speakers, furniture, beauty and wellness products, toys, games, musical instruments, security cameras, computers, speakers, fitness equipment and other great savings at Amazon. Check out some of the sales below.
Buy: JiaSifu Mini Portable Rechargeable Car Vacuum Cleaner Cordless $169.99
When it comes to Memorial Day weekend, you’re either going out or staying in. For the homebodies who want to use the holiday to tidy up, now would be a good time to shop for vacuums and other cleaning essentials. The handheld vacuum pictured above is 71% off at Amazon and it’s far from the only deal you’ll find on vacuums. Save 10% off the Eureka RapidClean Pro Light Vacuum ($139.49) and 26% off the Dyson Outsize+ Cordless Vacuum Cleaner ($700) at Amazon.
Buy: Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Space Saving Steel Stand $59.99
Feel like lounging around? This cotton hammock is 50% off at Amazon, it’s available in dozens of colors and has a weight capacity of up to 450 pounds.
Buy: Easy to Grow Houseplants (6 Pack), Live House Plants in Plant Containers $18.47
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and plants can not only liven up your space but boost your mood. This plant pack includes six plants in two-inch grow containers.
Large and small appliances and kitchen supplies are some of the items that you’ll find good deals on during Memorial Day. For pizza lovers, this baking sheet provides an easy and convenient way to make a tasty pie at home. Speaking of which, Ooni Pizza ovens are on sale for up to 30% off for memorial day.
Cozy up over the holiday weekend and throughout the summer with this outdoor fire pit. This smokeless fire pit has heat four-foot heat radius and measure 25-inches in outside diameter.
Best Buy
Memorial Day might not be the best time to find the deepest deals on your favorite electronics, but there are a few sales you should know about. Customers will find savings on HP laptops, MacBooks, iPads; cameras and camcorders; up to $500 on select big-screen TVs; up to 40% on appliances, plus receive a $50 Best Buy Gift Card when you spend $1,499.
Vankyo Leisure Movie Projector
Turn your home into an indoor, or outdoor, mini movie theater with this movie projector. VANKYO Leisure 3 has an innovative cooling system with heat dispersion, and noise suppression technology to keep the fan quiet while you watch movies, TV shows and more. The projector supports 1080p with 45ANSI Lumen brightness, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 40000 hours lamp life, and a projection range of 33 to 170 inches.
Sony 6.95 Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Bluetooth Digital Media Receiver
Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. If you plan on hitting the road, this device makes it easy to listen to music, navigation and voice calls – hands free. The Sony high-power media receiver supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also might like the Echo Auto.
Home Depot
Shoppers can save up to 30% off select appliances, up to 45% off grills, up to $125 off power tools in addition to discounts on sheds, outdoor storage, paint, bathroom items, lawn and garden essentials and patio furniture at Home Depot’s Memorial Day sale, which ends on May 29. Lowe’s is also offering similar Memorial Day savings.
Nexgrill 4-Burner Grill$
Grilling season is here, and if you’re looking for a sale, the Nexgrill four-burner grill is 20% off at Home Deport. This stainless steel gas grill features a side burner and enough space for up to six people. Click here for more grill deals at Home Depot.
Ryobi 1 Cordless Drill
Father’s Day is right around the corner, and we all know that power tools tend to land on the list of must-have gift options. If you’re in the market for something simple, save $20 when you purchase this Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Drill during Home Depot’s Memorial Day sale. Click here for more Memorial Day markdowns.
J. Crew
Save 40% off at J. Crew during the holiday weekend, plus up to 50% off sale styles (use code: WEEKEND).
10-Inch Demi Boot Cut Jean
These J. Crew bootcut jeans are available in a range of sizes (23-37) and styles (classic, petite and tall). If you’re looking for new shoes, these strappy block-heel sandals are 30% off and you can pair them with the jeans. Enter the promo code at checkout for an additional $35 off.
J. Crew Relaxed Broken Polo Shirt
A polo shirt is summer staple piece. The relaxed-fit polo pictured above is available in five different colors including white, cotton candy, classic pine, navy and reef blue. The shirt is marked down 27% but you’ll save an extra $20 when you enter the promo code.
Macy’s
Sprucing up your wardrobe? Save an extra 25-40%% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, kitchen essentials, bedding and more during Macy’s Memorial Day sale. Bras, pajamas and other undergarments start at $12.99, plus save 30% off Levi’s jeans, 30-40% off sandals and other shoes, up to 60% off furniture and mattresses; up to 50% off beauty, cutlery and pool floats. Shoppers can also save an extra 20% off select sale and clearance items with the code: MEMDAY.
Trumiracle Diamond Stud Earrings
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!” It’s officially graduation season and if you’re in need of jewelry these diamond stud earrings are on sale at Macy’s for less than $200. These dazzling, TruMiracle stud earrings feature a 3/8 carat diamond and are available in white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold gallery.
Gucci Sunglasses
Luxury at a discount! These Gucci sunglasses discounted almost $100 — and they’re definitely “worth it”, according to one customer review.
Calvin Klein Men’s Quick Dry UPF 50+ Island Camo Shorts
Swim season has arrived! Add a pair of Calvin Klein swim trunks to your collection for less than $25. The trunks feature an ombré sky gradient design and UPF 50+ sun protection. Find more swimsuits and swim trunks here.
Lauren Ralph Lauren Sanders Towels
It’s a great time to shop for premium linens. Lauren, Ralph Lauren towel sets are 50% during the Memorial Day. Each set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash towels. Choose from a variety of colors including white, tan, navy blue and cream.
Anolon Advanced Home Anodized Cookware Set, 11 Piece
Need new cookware? This 12-piece set (available in bronz, onyx or moonstone) comes highly rated from hundreds of customers, and it’s on sale for $299.99 — plus an additional 15% off at checkout. The Anolon Advanced, hard-anodized nonstick cookware set is finished in a sleek bronze and constructed with even heat distribution in mind as the glass lids help seal in moisture while you cook. The set includes: 8-qt. stockpot with lid, 8.5-inch skillet, 3-qt. sauté pan with lid, 4-qt. saucepan with lid, 1.5-qt. saucepan with lid, utensils, and a 12-inch deep skillet with a helper handle and lid.
Sera Luxe Grandmere 14″ Mattress
Dreaming of a new mattress? Get one on a discount! The Serta 14-inch plush pillow-top mattress is 46% off at Macy’s. The mattress offers an exceptionally comfortable sleep surface with layers of memory foam and an 825 Edition Support Coil System for maximum comfort and support. Find more mattresses on sale here.
Nordstrom
No need to wait until the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to score major deals! Right now, you can save up to 60% off during the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. Find deep discounts on apparel, beauty items, sales shoes, accessories and more from top brands like Adidas, Alo Yoga, Free People, Tory Burch, Steve Madden, Zella, Skims, Notori, Converse, Nike, Levi’s, Michael Kors, Crocs, Converse, Versace, Travel & Bond, Herschel Supply Co., Clinique, MAC, Bobby Brown and more. Check below for a couple of the best-sellers that are currently on sale.
Open Edit Wear Two Ways Midi Dress
Another summer must-have: the maxi dress. This two-way, v-neck dress can be worn in the front or back. It’s available in sizes XS (size 00) to XXL (size 18) and you can get it in four different colors including olive dust (pictured above), black, purple ridge, and brown spice.
Tory Burch Kira Small Chevron Bag
A chic little Tory Burch camera bag for formal occasions and casual casual wear.
Samsung
Need a new phone or tablet? Samsung is offering Memorial Day deals on the Galaxy phones, Galaxy Tab, earbuds, TVs, appliances and other products. See one of the available discounts below.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+ and S8 Ultra are discounted 10%, plus an additional $10-$206 off with eligible trade-in. Galaxy Tab 8 is available in pink, silver and graphite.
Target
Shoppers will find hot deals at Target through May 29. The summer savings extravaganza includes 30% off outdoor fire pits and accessories, 20% off pool accessories and other outdoor items, grocery deals; women’s tops and other summer styles starting at $5; kids clothing starting $6 and men’s clothing from $8 and up.
Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty has tons of items on sale for Memorial Day. Head over to Ulta’s sale page to indulge in the many markdowns available including up to 50% off hair tools and other beauty must-haves. For more sales, check out our picks for the 20 best Memorial Day beauty deals.
Walmart
Walmart is packed with Memorial Day savings! The list of deals included TVs, furniture, clothes, shoes, groceries, electronics, small and large appliances, bikes, patio furniture, and up to 65% off flash deals.
Mainstays Albany 6-Piece Outdoor Patio Dining Set
Give your guests some seating room with this affordable outdoor patio set. The Albany Lane Six-Piece Folding Dining Set comes in several colors including tan, black, purple, green and red. It’s perfect for small gatherings, on smaller decks and patios, and includes a dining table, four sling folding chairs and a market umbrella.
Wayfair
Save up 70% off during Wayfair’s Memorial Day sale which includes outdoor and indoor furniture, such as sofas and living room tables, bedroom furniture, kitchen and dining room furniture, in addition to home décor items, TV stands, bedding, bathroom essentials, appliances, wall art, and lighting. Find more Wayfair deals here.
Mercury Row Helmick 6-Drawer Dresser
Add a mid-century, modern vibe to the room with this six-drawer double dresser built from solid pine and engineered wood with a neutral finish that showcases its natural wood grain. Available in black and caramel, the dresser measures 32.75-inches high by 52-inches wide (16-inch depth) with six wood-slide drawers offering plenty of space for your wardrobe.
Zappos
Get shoes and more on a discount during the Joy Fest sale! Shoppers will find markdowns on sneakers and athletic shoes, sandals, heels, shirts and tank tops, swimsuits, dresses, jewelry, accessories, eyewear, sporting goods and bags.
Bill Lee — a well-regarded jazz musician who accompanied such artists as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and Harry Belafonte as well as scoring four of his son Spike Lee’s early films, including the hit Do the Right Thing and two songs for Jungle Fever — has died. He was 94.
Lee died Wednesday (May 24) at his home in Brooklyn, said Theo Dumont, a publicist for Spike Lee. The younger Lee posted several photos of his father on his Instagram page announcing the death.
Lee was a session bassist who has played on albums by Odetta, Woody Guthrie, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, John Lee Hooker and Peter, Paul and Mary, among many others. He can be heard on Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and Lightfoot’s “Oh, Linda.” He played on Aretha Franklin’s Columbia album debut in 1960 Aretha.
Lee wrote the soundtracks to Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do the Right Thing and Mo’ Better Blues. Bill Lee also appeared in Do the Right Thing.
Bill Lee and Spike Lee were estranged after a falling out in the 1990s that the father attributed to his remarriage to Susan Kaplan.
In addition to Kaplan and Spike Lee, the elder Lee is survived by his sons, David, Cinque and Arnold; a daughter Joie; a brother, A. Clifton Lee; and two grandchildren.
At 17, Khea decided to quit school for a year to follow his dreams. It was that same year, in 2017, that his career began to flourish. By the age of 20, the Argentine artist born Ivo Alfredo Thomas Serue managed to scale the Billboard charts with his trap and hip-hop fusions and inked a deal with Interscope Records worldwide in early 2020.
But in the midst of his skyrocketing success, Khea lost himself and his love for his craft.
“I didn’t want to continue writing songs like that, which from my perspective, were somewhat empty,” he tells Billboard of his songs such as “Ayer Me Llamo Mi Ex” (2020) and “Wacha” (2021), both of which entered the Billboard charts. “I was already distancing myself from this world.”
He admits that he fell into severe depression during the pandemic but thanks to a solid support system and an understanding record label, he was not only able to pull through and heal, but also give life to his new studio album Serotonina.
The set — musically charged with R&B, salsa and EDM fusions and lyrically backed by deep content — is his first set in three years and his most ultra-personal production de yet.
Below, the Argentine act opens up to Billboard about his battle with mental health and how he’s coping today.
The powerful intro in Serotonina really sets the tone not only for the rest of the album but also sheds light on your own personal struggles with fame and depression: Why did you feel this is the correct time to open up about your mental health battle?
It’s really not about the “right time.” It was what happened to me and what I wanted to communicate. The moment happened like this. Clearly, I wanted to return to music and I did not want to come back with the message that I was communicating before. Beyond the moment, everything I want to communicate today is found in this album.
Can you take us back to the time in your career when you felt a disconnect with your music?
In the last months, before I fell into depression, I was already writing ultra-deep lyrics. But at the same time, I was releasing songs such as “Ayer Me Llamo Mi Ex” and “Wacha,” and similar songs that made me realize I didn’t want to continue writing songs like that, which from my perspective, were somewhat empty. I was writing other things, and listening to other types of music, like Silvio Rodriguez. I was already distancing myself from this world. But when this began to happen to me personally—looking down on myself and not being able to go outside because I had anxiety attacks—I really thought that one of the things that caused me to be like this was that I was no longer connecting with what my art said. So this whole process also went beyond a search to grow personally and it was rediscovering my musical self.
We know the album was born during a turbulent time in your life: Can you elaborate more on the creative process?
I went to the south of my country to a house in Bariloche for 20 days with my producer Nobeat, my engineer Mariano Bilinkins, and Spreadlof, a composer from Spain that my record label introduced me. Spreadlof helped me a lot in this new part of the composition, but he also helped me a lot personally, that’s why I decided to take him with me to do this album. We connect very well. The ideas and the demos of the album were created in those 20 days. Afterward, it took many months of work, production, and changing lyrics and melodies, it was a 10-month process.
You are an open book in every lyric on the album: Which of the 13 tracks would you say was the most difficult to pen and why?
Really, “Eclipse” was the most difficult. It was even the one that scared me the most to release and that’s why I decided to make it my first single because it was the only way to face my fear. I feel that I show myself super vulnerable and it’s a genre with new melodies and less autotune. I think that was the hardest to finish writing and also to release.
You’re known as a pioneer of the Argentine trap movement but this album is far from that—it’s the most experimental we’ve heard you: What motivated you to create EDM, tropical music, and other genres?
I wanted to create an experimental album. I wanted to travel to the south of my country and work on a conceptual album [inside a home] how artists such as Queen, The Beatles, and Rolling Stones, used to do. I feel that that way of creating music is incredible because it’s like locking yourself in a time machine and training every day to get the best out of you. I had in mind to create all the versatility you hear on the record, and I am very satisfied with the result.
In “Nunca Voy Solo,” there’s a phrase that says: “ya cai, ya falle, con los mios me levante” (I fell, I failed, but I got up with my people): Who would you say was crucial in your healing process?
Everyone in my personal environment, from my girlfriend to my friends to my family, gave me a very strong emotional containment when I was going through this process. My label, Interscope, knew how to give me my time and had patience. They understood that I was going through a very difficult time. I really believe that giving a person time—not pushing, not judging, and just listening and trying to understand that it’s a process and that he or she is going to get out of that place—is the best way to give containment.
One of the two collaborations on this album is “Para Amarte A Ti” with Tiago PZK—a colleague you have joined forces with on multiple occasions: What does he represent in your life?
For me, beyond the fact that he is a colleague in the industry, he’s like a literal brother to me. Since I met him we had a very strong connection. He’s someone who I lean on when I have to talk about something. I always call him and he’s the same with me. We have a very fluid communication and I really feel that people will like our joint track on the album. He is very special in my life and in my career.
How do you navigate depression today? Are there any coping mechanisms that helped?
First, talk things out. You have to at least have one or two trusted people in your life to whom you can tell everything and have another point of view. After, full therapy. I do holistic therapy, which requires spirituality and family trees. I do therapy with microdoses of mushrooms that are being studied and are very healthy for the mind and much better than Xanax and other pills. I meditate, train when I can, and really try to breathe. I think breathing is very key and a free tool that we all have. During any anxious moment, take three minutes to breathe, and it can really change your day. If you do it with constancy, it changes your month, and if you do it with a lot of persistence, it changes your life. I knew how to analyze all these factors and they help me every day.
Beyoncé has shared a message for her “beloved queen” Tina Turner, who died Wednesday (May 24) at age 83.
“My beloved queen. I love you endlessly,” Beyoncé’s message, posted on her website, began. “I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”
In addition to serving as an inspiration to Beyoncé, Turner also collaborated with the singer at the 50th annual Grammy Awards in 2008. The pair teamed up for a high-energy, strutting version of “Proud Mary,” Ike & Tina Turner’s 1971 cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic. The divas traded lines on the song and coordinated outfits, with Bey in a silver sequined mini-dress and Turner in a sleeveless silver lamé bodysuit.
Three years prior, Beyoncé had performed the same song solo at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors in honor of Turner. Bey’s relentless performance got a double thumbs-up from Turner, watching in the audience.
A statement announcing Turner’s death was posted to her Instagram account on Wednesday. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement reads. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
See Beyoncé’s tribute below:
