Charli XCX’s ‘Crash’ is an effortless ride, ready to dance on the ashes of Atlantic contract
For “non-Angels” avoiding close attention to Charli XCX’s career, it may appear that Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” co-star faded out of existence after the mid-2010s. “Crash” marks the end of XCX’s five-album recording contract she signed at 16 with Atlantic Records. A dream for most young artists, XCX’s 13 years of employment was more of a nightmare. The “Vroom Vroom” singer could take anyone in mainstream pop’s sound and outdo them, this is not a challenge for her. Returning to her traditional pop roots was a successful detour, but now that the trailblazer’s deadbeat label is out of the picture, hopefully, she can return to driving pop’s future forward.
themiamihurricane.comNew this week: 'Deep Water,' Charli XCX and 'WeCrashed'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a Charli XCX album release, an erotic thriller on Hulu starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, and a series about the rise and fall of the business WeWork, which promoted the concept of shared workspaces.
Most anticipated releases of 2022
While music releases might not be as predictable as other mediums — and surprise releases continue to become the norm — some musicians have already hinted that they will release music this year. Between covers of Metallica and Bo Burnham — and appearing on Taylor Swift and Lorde releases — Bridgers kept busy in 2021. Embed from Getty ImagesRosalíaWith an album confirmed for 2022, all the Grammy winner needs to reveal is the date. SZAThe followup to 2017’s “Ctrl” is among music’s most anticipated releases. After an active and acclaimed 2021, including the hits “I Hate U” and “Good Days” Grammy nominated collaboration with Doja Cat “Kiss Me More,” 2022 could bring a new album.
themiamihurricane.comDoc films about Demi Lovato, Tom Petty headline SXSW 2021
This combination photo shows Demi Lovato performing at the o2 in east London, on June 25, 2018, left, and Tom Petty performing during the Vegoose music festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 28, 2006. Documentaries about Lovato and Petty are among the films set to premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival this year. (AP Photo)Documentaries about Demi Lovato, Tom Petty, Selma Blair and Charli XCX are among the films set to premiere at next month's South by Southwest Film Festival. They held a makeshift virtual festival later that spring in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video, although some opted out. The Sundance Film Festival on Monday said that its virtual festival reached an audience about 2.7 times larger than its typical in-person gathering.
Sophie, Grammy-nominated Scottish musician, has died at 34
Sophie, the Grammy-nominated Scottish disc jockey, producer and recording artist who had worked with the likes of Madonna and Charli XCX, has died following an accident in the Greek capital of Athens. In a statement, U.K. label Transgressive said the musician, whose full name was Sophie Xeon, died in the early hours of Saturday morning. "Tragically, our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident," the statement said. "True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell." Burak Cingi/RedfernsA police spokesperson Athens confirmed that Sophie slipped and fell from the balcony of an apartment where she was staying and no foul play was suspected in her death.
cbsnews.comSophie, pioneering Grammy-nominated Scottish musician, dies at 34 after climbing accident
British singer-songwriter Charli XCX, who had been pursuing a successful but more conventional pop career, abruptly changed direction with the release of her Sophie-produced 2016 EP, “Vroom Vroom.” Charli, who with collaborator A.G. Cook was awarded Variety’s Hitmakers Innovator award in December, said she had long been seeking a more aggressive pop sound in her music. “It was only when I met Sophie and then A.G. that I finally found what I was searching for,” she said. “We just immediately spoke the same language -- we didn’t even have to talk.”
chicagotribune.comNew this week: 'Enola Holmes,' Public Enemy and Bonnaroo
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— “Enola Holmes”: It’s somewhat fitting that “Stranger Things” breakout Millie Bobby Brown gets her first starring role in a Netflix film, “Enola Holmes,” coming to the streamer Wednesday. — The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was supposed to take place in June in Tennessee but was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. This week, though, the festival is launching Virtual ROO-ALITY, a three-night live broadcast featuring new performances as well as content from the Bonnaroo archive. The two-hour film will be available at 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday at pbs.org/frontline and on YouTube at 9 p.m. EDT.