world music radio

Jon Batiste And Lana Del Rey Reunite For The Emotional Piano Ballad ‘Life Lesson’

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Jon Batiste‘s new album World Music Radio is out now. The highly anticipated record has tons of features, such as “Be Who You Are” with JID, NewJeans, and Camilo, as well as the closing track “Life Lesson” with Lana Del Rey, who unveiled her new album Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd earlier this year.

The piano-driven ballad finds the singers trading off verses. Lana sings of a relationship complicated by a power imbalance and subsequent resentment: “I read an article about a star who said that standing / In the shadow of her husband felt so dark / Reminded me of you and I because / That’s very much the way our story was.”

The two collaborated earlier this year for “Candy Necklace.”

Batiste also recently covered Taylor Swift’s “Sweet Nothing.” “I just went to the Taylor Swift concert and it would be fun to do something with Taylor,” he said. “She was nice enough to invite us and give us tickets to one of her MetLife Stadium shows over Memorial Day weekend, and I’d love to work with any of the living legends, you know, any folks that I can learn something from — even if we don’t put it out.”

Listen to “Life Lesson” above.

World Music Radio is out now via Verve/Interscope. Find more information here.

Jon Batiste Brought Some Magical Flair To A Cover Of Taylor Swift’s ‘Sweet Nothing’

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Who would’ve guessed Jon Batiste was an undercover Swiftie? Today (August 16), during an appearance on Elvis Duran And The Morning Show, Batiste covered a Taylor Swift deep cut.

With nothing but a keyboard and some help from his backing band, the New Orleans artist delivered a cover of “Sweet Nothing” from Swift’s 10th studio album, Midnights. Of course, Batiste had to give it his signature touch. At the bridge of the song, he added some glistening piano harmonies, and delivered some jazzy croons to close out the song. At the conclusion of the performance, the show’s host is heard tearing up.

This isn’t the first time Batiste has shown love to Swift. In an interview with People back in June, Batiste expressed interest in collaborating with her.

“I just went to the Taylor Swift concert and it would be fun to do something with Taylor,” he said. “She was nice enough to invite us and give us tickets to one of her MetLife Stadium shows over Memorial Day weekend, and I’d love to work with any of the living legends, you know, any folks that I can learn something from — even if we don’t put it out.”

Batiste is currently gearing up to release his upcoming sixth studio album, World Music Radio.

World Music Radio is out 8/18 via Verve/Interscope. Find more information here.

Jon Batiste Delivers Simple Advice In His Buoyant ‘Drink Water’ Single Featuring Jon Bellion And Fireboy DML

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We’re just weeks removed from Jon Batiste announcing World Music Radio, his forthcoming album with a world-beating tracklist featuring the likes of Fireboy DML, Kenny G, Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, Jon Bellion, JID, and NewJeans. Batiste punctuated the news by releasing “Calling Your Name.” On Wednesday, July 12, the five-time Grammy winner waded further into his World Music Radio world, with “Drink Water” featuring Bellion and Fireboy DML.

“Traveling with my wife, leaning into the culturally diverse group of friends and family that make up my inner circle birthed the foundations for what is now World Music Radio – much of which was recorded in transit, hotel rooms, basements and on smartphones either abroad or near big bodies of water,” Batiste said in a statement.

The track delivers concise, valuable life advice atop an infectiously buoyant soundscape: “So take a deep breath, drink water / You know that these streets just now calm down / So take a deep breath, drink water / You know that these streets just now / Calm down or calm down or calm down / Whenever you feel like you might drown or calm down or calm down / You know that these streets just loud.”

Upon announcing World Music Radio in June, Batiste posted a lengthy Instagram caption explaining its origins and intended purpose:

“World Music Radio is a concept album that takes place in the interstellar regions of the universe. The listener is led through the album by an interstellar traveling griot named Billy Bob Bo Bob, who takes you sonically all around the world at the speed of light.

I created this album with a feeling of liberation in my life and a renewed sense of exploration of my personhood, my craft and of the world around me unlike anything I ever felt before.

This new album will fill your soul, open your heart and stretch your mind while expanding your vision of popular art. We really wanted to re-examine and redefine terms like world music as they exist in the culture…(more on the later)

A range of collaborations in locations all across the globe made this vision a reality.

There was a lot of joy in making this and it definitely translates to the listening experience, and now to you.

Exec produced this with my friends Jon Bellion and Ryan Lynn. More surprises to come so stay tuned. Welcome to World Music Radio.”

Listen to “Drink Water” above.

World Music Radio is out 8/18 via Verve/Interscope. Find more information here.

Jon Batiste’s Upcoming Album ‘World Music Radio’ Features Everybody From Lil Wayne To Lana Del Rey To Kenny G

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Jon Batiste is back with a new single today. Ahead of his newly-announced sixth studio album, World Music Radio, Batiste has shared a groovy new track called “Calling Your Name.” Over a punchy, percussive beat, Batiste recalls a sweet love, as he delivers silky vocals between breezy harmonica drops.

This first taste of World Music Radio encapsulates the mood of the album, which came from a newfound sense of freedom Batiste had discovered within himself.

“I created this album with a feeling of liberation in my life and a renewed sense of exploration of my personhood, my craft and of the world around me unlike anything I had ever felt before,” Batiste said in a statement.

World Music Radio will arrive later this summer and will boast collaborations with Lil Wayne, Lana Del Rey, Kenny G, Fireboy DML, JID, Camilo, NewJeans, and more.

You can see the visualizer for “Calling Your Name” above, and the World Music Radio album art and tracklist below.

Jon Batiste World Music Radio album cover
Verve/Interscope

1. “Hello, Billy Bob”
2. “Raindance” Feat. Native Soul
3. “Be Who You Are” Feat. JID, NewJeans, Camilo
4. “Worship”
5. “My Heart”
6. “Drink Water” Feat. Jon Bellion & Fireboy DML
7. “Calling Your Name”
8. “Clair De Lune” Feat. Kenny G
9. “Butterfly”
10. “17th Ward Prelude”
11. “Uneasy” Feat. Lil Wayne
12. “CALL NOW (504-305-8269)” Feat. Michael Batiste
13. “Chassol”
14. “BOOM FOR REAL”
15. “MOVEMENT 18′ (Heroes)”
16. “Master Power”
17. “Running Away” Feat. Leigh-Anne
18. “Goodbye, Billy Bob”
19. “White Space”
20. “Wherever You Are”
21. “Life Lesson” Feat. Lana Del Rey

World Music Radio is out 8/18 via Verve/Interscope. Find more information here.