Technically, it’s been a while since we got a new Beyonce album, as Lemonade came out back in 2016. Really, though, she has offered a couple new albums since then, albeit not solo efforts: She and Jay-Z teamed up as The Carters for Everything Is Love in 2018, and she collaborated with a bunch of artists on her 2019 soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. Not to mention, she recently made a low-key appearance on DJ Khaled’s new album. Now, it appears she has more new material on the way.
Yesterday, Beyonce’s Destiny’s Child bandmate Michelle Williams shared an audio clip of a group chat between Beyonce, fellow Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, and herself. During the conversation, Rowland talks about making soup and Beyonce adds, “I’m cooking some music.” She added with a laugh, “That’s Chef Boyar-B and Chef Boy-Kelly.”
Beyonce recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of Lemonade with a touching post. Sharing a gallery of photos, she wrote, “I’m grateful that this body of work has resonated so deeply with so many people. I’m so thankful for all the beautiful souls involved in making one of my favorite pieces of art. As I celebrate five years of LEMONADE, I encourage everyone to continue healing, loving, forgiving and uplifting. I hope you find joy today.”
Now that the world is eagerly rushing a return to normalcy after over a year of shutdowns, cancellations, and rigid social distancing rules, the need for music to keep everyone’s spirits up is more integral than ever.
Since music serves as a snapshot of our life experiences, the Song Of The Summer plays a huge role in remembering and cherishing those moments. (I’ll never forget the summer before eighth grade thanks to Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay.”) If 2021 is as massive in real life as it is in theory, this year’s summer hit could be etched in our memories forever.
While we have the power to christen our own Song Of The Summer, there is often one song that the mainstream unofficially dictates as “the one.” This song is inescapable, often catchy, gives you the feeling of being carefree, and sometimes, it’s incredibly danceable. What better way to kick things off than with a prediction of what that coveted track will be?
Here’s a list of 10 potential “songs of the summer.”
Justin Bieber – “Peaches” Feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
The sweet and tangy vibe of the Billboard chart-topper basically oozes fun in the sun, so this pick should be a given. Its continent-trotting chorus — where Biebs mentions hitting up Georgia, California, and his Canadian home up-north — also provides inspiration for listeners’ safe, CDC-regulated summer travel plans.
Dua Lipa – “Levitating” Feat. DaBaby
Lockdown didn’t allow Dua Lipa to have the summer anthem she deserved in 2020 after releasing the Grammy-winning albumFuture Nostalgia last spring. However, the rap remix to her hit “Levitating” continues to sit pretty on the 2021 charts, so there’s a chance her reign will finally hit. (Better late than never!) The song’s disco-heavy energy also capitalizes on the country’s collective yearning for better, simpler times.
Doja Cat – “Kiss Me More” Feat. SZA
Doja Cat owned summer last year with her ‘70s inspired “Say So,” so another hit for the singer/rapper during the sunny season would be most apropos. As with “Levitating,” “Kiss Me More” has old-school club vibes (with an interpolation of Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical”) that brings throwback themes to the forefront, while Doja’s slick-tongued rap and SZA’s laid back swagger modernize the tune.
Kali Uchis – “Talepatía”
In a sea of chart-topping anthems, this is somewhat a dark horse in the competition. However, given the song’s theme about a long-distance lover, it works perfectly given our socially-distanced circumstances. The TikTok-favorite found on Uchis’ sophomore album, “Talepatía” also comes equipped with production befitting of her Colombian heritage, which provides a different sound for those cross-country, top-down road trips.
Olivia Rodrigo – “Good 4 U”
Unlike other Song Of The Summer selections which utilize the disco/R&B sound, the pop-punk style is strong with “Good 4 U.” With Hayley Williams-levels of enthusiastic aggression overlaying the entire track, Rodrigo shows her range as a performer. Plus, if she rules the summer, it’s proof that the *future* Grammys Best New Artist nominee is a singer for all seasons. (Remember, she had winter on lock with “Drivers License.”)
Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
The soulful, smooth, and silky song evokes vintage vibes (do we see a pattern here?), which is perfect for ditching our collective present-day COVID-19 nerves for a few minutes. The inviting, sensual lyrics could provide listeners with the courage to begin a potential summer fling, or to have a chill evening with that special someone…
“Twerkulator,” City Girls
…but if you’re trying to live out #VaxxedGirlSummer or #ShotGirlSummer to the fullest, look no further than “Twerkulator.” Thanks to long-awaited sample clearance (it uses Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock”), the Miami rap mainstays released their highly-anticipated song just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. It certainly may be time for the twerkulator, so shake what ya mama gave ya.
Nicki Minaj – “Itty Bitty Piggy”
If you’re looking to be on your boss b*tch tip this summer, allow Nicki Minaj to give you the anthem. Now that the streets are opening back up, Onika’s enduring hit from her now-streamable mixtapeBeam Me Up Scotty is a perfect contender for the coveted Song Of The Summer honor, especially since it continues to “go awf” 12 years after its initial release. The Queen of Rap could still be on top.
BTS – “Butter”
With synthy, ‘80s-drenched production, the Bangtan Boys’ latest dance-pop anthem (released May 21) hit DSPs just in time for the change in temperature, and is sure to keep things “hot like summer” for both their diehard fans and casual listeners.
Natasha Bedingfield – “Unwritten”
Though it was released in 2004, the English singer’s euphoric pop track was given new life thanks to a trap-friendly TikTok remix (“Like Yhop” by Esco featuring Shawn P). The original musical breath of fresh air has been heavily praised since the dance challenge popped off. Many hope that Summer 2021 is a reintroduction to freedom, and we’re ready to (safely) “feel the rain on [our] skin” again.
Honorable Mention: Whatever Drake Drops
Drake had the summer season in his clutches at least two times in the past. 2016 was the year of “One Dance,” and 2018 gave us “In My Feelings.” Given what he teased fans with his March EP Scary Hours 2, we don’t have any doubts that Certified Lover Boy will provide some sort of summer anthem whenever it drops. Kudos to you, Drake, for keeping us on our toes.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After an especially rough year when it came to criticism, The Recording Academy is changing a number of things about the Grammys. They recently announced some changes, including the elimination of “secret committees” that decide on award nominees (The Weeknd is still boycotting regardless). Now, in the newly published rules and guidelines for next year’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards, the Academy has unveiled a number of other changes, including a significant one for the Album Of The Year category.
The “Rule Updates” section of the new rules and guidelines document notes that at this year’s 63rd Grammys, the “award credited artists, features artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, engineers with 33% playing time of the album.” Next year, though, the “33% playing time rule” has been removed, which means that more people who were involved in making an Album Of The Year winner will be recognized as Grammy winners.
For example, if these new rules had been in effect for the 2021 Grammys, Bon Iver would have won an Album Of The Year Grammy, as they were featured on “Exile” from Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Another historical example: In 2014, Pharrell Williams, Julian Casablancas, and Panda Bear also would have gotten Album Of The Year trophies for their work on Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories.
There are more changes than that for next year, including the establishment of two new categories: Best Global Music Performance and Best Música Urbana Album. Find the full revised rules and guidelines document here.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a chance to shine a light on cultures that are often pushed to the margins in American society. This is just as true in the music world as anywhere else, where artists of Asian and Pacific Island ancestry can struggle for visibility despite making some of the most groundbreaking and engaging art out there. In honor of API Heritage month, Uproxx and Warner Music’s API employees wanted to share just a handful of the incredible artists currently catching their attention, showing just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amazing API tunes being created today. The hope is that this resource introduces you off to your next favorite singer or band, and that it sparks a fire to dig deeper at the countless API acts crafting great music.
ANJL
With an absolutely gorgeous voice and music/lyrics that are deeply relatable, this Indian-Filipina songwriter and producer is a paradigm for talent that deserves massive recognition.
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Some classics never go out of style. This throwback will sure to bring a sense of nostalgia if you first found their music on YouTube in the mid-2000’s, but it’s also not too late to discover them for the first time now.
Hollis
Hollis pulls you into her songs with her dreamy vocals and lyrical imagery. Her greatest strength is in her ability to put emotions into words that listeners often feel but cannot describe. She is also an activist and uses her platform for social change.
Jay Som
Jay Som is strongly influenced by her Filipino roots and expresses her identity and emotions through breathy vocals, funky band production, and romantic music. Plus, she has a new collaborative project with Palehound, called Bachelor, out next month.
Khushi
Khushi’s music is the personification of intellectual conversation with a loved one while you’re snuggled in bed with some coffee. Intimate, sultry, and thought-provoking all at once.
Prateek Kuhad
This Mumbai-based singer-songwriter has already been shouted out by President Obama, but his folk-infused craftsmanship is now ready to be heralded by audiences far and wide.
Raveena
Raveena beautifully blends her South Asian heritage with contemporary, dreamy bedroom pop productions that just wraps you up and comforts your soul.
Rei Ami
With a name based on anime characters who both have very different personalities, this Korean artist creates songs that reflect that dichotomy through a dynamic structure where they can be high energy in the first half and dark in the second half. Or, the other way around. She also has awesome music videos.
Rina Sawayama
If you’re not listening to Rina Sawayama already, what are you waiting for? Rina masterfully blends together pop, rock, and Japanese Visual Kei among many other influences into witty social commentary, heartfelt ballads, and full-out f*ck you anthems.
Tiffany Young
A veteran of the K-pop scene, Tiffany has come a long way from her Girl’s Generation days. Her vocals and creative direction have matured and she is truly shining as a solo artist.
Umi
Umi’s rich voice draws you into her soulful productions. Heavily influenced by her Black and Japanese heritage, her songs are deep and unique but at the same time universal – evoking emotions that anyone can resonate with.
Yerin Baek
Yerin Baek embodies versatility. A Korean singer-songwriter, the music can cover ground from jazzy compositions to more alt and electronic music as well.
Yeek
Yeek is not new to the music scene, but the music is so dang sexy it still feels revolutionary. Blast it up and get someone to cuddle with.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In 2020, Primavera Sound was forced to cancel. The Spanish festival faced the same fate this year as well. Organizers are getting ready for 2022 in a big way, though: They unveiled the lineup for the massive 2022 event today, which takes place over the weekends of June 2 to 4 and June 9 to 11, along with some ancillary performances from June 5 to 8 and on June 12.
The lineup is stacked, but fans seemed most excited about the inclusion of Lorde, as she became a trending topic on Twitter this morning following the lineup reveal. Primavera Sound is Lorde’s first confirmed show in a while: Her last full live set came in November 2018 at the Corona Capital festival (according to setlist.fm).
Alongside Lorde, headliners include Massive Attack, Pavement, Tame Impala, Beck, The National, The Strokes, Gorillaz, Jorja Smith, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Tyler The Creator, Disclosure, Interpol, Jamie xx, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The rest of the poster has too many artists to list, but some of the others include Charli XCX, 100 Gecs, Brockhampton, Big Thief, Jay Electronica, Brittany Howard, Clairo, Run The Jewels, and Slowthai.
Tickets go on sale on June 1, so learn more about tickets and the 2022 festival here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Since their respective passings, late rappers Juice WRLD and Nipsey Hussle have popped up on a number of projects. Now their posthumous catalogs will expand further with the release of Maroon 5’s upcoming album Jordi, on which both rappers feature. Juice guests on a track called “Can’t Leave You Alone,” while Hussle appears alongside YG on a remix of “Memories.”
Last month, Adam Levine explained the meaning of the album title, telling Ellen DeGeneres that it was named after Jordan Feldstein, the band’s former manager who passed away in 2017 at 40 years old of a pulmonary embolism. He said, “[It’s] named after our late, great, fabulous amazing ex-manager, who passed away a few years ago, sadly. And so we thought there was no better tribute than to name the album after our boy.”
Ever since SZA teased her upcoming collaboration with Doja Cat in their interview for V Magazine — where the TDE star also praised Doja’s entire ethos — fans were eagerly awaiting the joint track. When “Kiss Me More” arrived, it was a little different than what we were expecting, an upbeat, jittery track with the girls taking turns on the verses, but it’s been slowly gaining momentum since April, and tonight the pair teamed up for their first live performance of the song at the Billboard Music Awards. The song has been holding steady at No. 5 on the Billboard chart, and tonight’s performance helped prove why — the pair managed to turn the song into a retro-futurist spectacle that was equal parts ’70s throwback and intergalactic vibes.
Doja kicked things off with fringe-y, orb-filled outfit surrounded by dancers, only to have SZA appear just in time for her own verse, rocking bright yellow hair and eventually joining Doja at the front of the stage to end the song with a final dramatic dip. The song is likely going to be on Doja’s long-rumored new album, Planet Her, but who knows… SZA also has a record on the way soon. Check out their performance above.
One of, if not the most heartwrenching, moment in Ariana Grande’s career is one most artists will not have to go through. Four years ago on Saturday, the pop sensation’s concert in Manchester was tragically used as the venue for a terrorist attack. A normal overseas show quickly turned for the worst as a bomb at Manchester Arena was detonated as attendees left the area. In the end, 22 people were killed and it was an incident that left the singer forever scarred. Four years later, Grande took to her Instagram story to remember the victims.
Ariana Grande
“Although grief is ever-present and our relationship to it is constantly evolving and expressing itself in different ways every day, year round,” she wrote on her Instagram Story above a list of the victims from the bombing. “I know that this anniversary will never be an easy one. Please know that I am thinking of you today.” She concluded her message and added, “Manchester, my heart is with you today and always.”
The singer’s message comes after she married her fiance Dalton Gomez last weekend. The pair were engaged since December and had been dating since early 2020. According to TMZ which cited “sources with direct knowledge” about the situation, the wedding occurred at Grande’s home in Montecito, California with “no real ceremony and few guests.”
Pride Month is just a couple weeks away now and iHeartRadio has announced how they’ll kick off June: They (along with Procter & Gamble) will be hosting their second annual “Can’t Cancel Pride” virtual event on June 4.
Bebe Rexha is set to co-host alongside Elvis Duran and will also perform her single “Sacrifice.” Meanwhile, also taking part are Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Hayley Kiyoko, Pink Brothers Osborne, Marshmello, Busy Phillips, Gus Kenworthy, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, and more.
Gayle Troberman, Chief Marketing Officer for iHeartMedia, said in a statement, “As the country is returning back to normal and we are slowly starting to gather again, LGBTQ+ communities around the world are still feeling the devastating effects of COVID-19. “We look forward to once again celebrating the incredible voices and allies of the LGBTQ+ community with an amazing night of music that will honor Pride and the communities’ fight for equal rights, all while benefitting six remarkable nonprofits that make an everyday positive impact.”
This news comes a few days after Lil Nas X declared, “i wanna do something special for homosexual month in a few weeks.” It also quickly follows Lovato revealing she now identifies non-binary and changing their pronouns to they/them.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The Austin City Limits music festival announced they’re making a 2021 comeback, just in time for their 20th anniversary. The Texas festival will take place over two weekends this year, and they’ve officially unveiled their 2021 lineup, which features headliners like Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, and DaBaby.
While most music festivals this year have pushed their event dates back to account for COVID-19 safety, ACL has booked their usual time. Taking place at Austin’s 350-acre Zilker Park, ACL kicks off the weekend of October 1 to 3 and runs the following weekend of October 8 to 10.
Along with headliners Eilish, DaBaby, and Cyrus, ACL has also booked more than 125 acts to perform across their eight stages. They’ve secured artists like Stevie Nicks, Erykah Badu, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly, Black Pumas, Greta Van Fleet, St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, Phoebe Bridgers, Jack Harlow, Band Of Horses, Bleachers, Future Islands, Polo G, Finneas, Chet Faker, Dayglow, Freddie Gibbs, Tierra Whack, Moses Sumney, Channel Tres, Omar Apollo, Tate McRae, Hinds, Goth Babe, Kennyhoopla, Toosii, Holly Humberstone, and more.
Check out ACL Festival’s full lineup above. Tickets go on sale 5/20 at 12 p.m. CDT. Get them here.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Tickets go on sale on 1st June at 11:00 CEST 
Check out who’s playing our 20th Anniversary and score your tickets TODAY at 12pm CT.