Tuesday, March 19, 2024

VARIETY: Listen to Ariana DeBose’s Disco ‘Argylle’ Single ‘Electric Energy’ (EXCLUSIVE)

by Jazz Tangcay

 

Ariana DeBose, Boy George and Nile Rodgers have teamed up for "Electric Energy," the disco-infused bop featured in Matthew Vaughn's "Argylle." Rodgers, who produced the track which plays over the film's end credits, says he got a call from Vaughn asking if he wanted to be involved. Speaking with Variety over Zoom, the musician said although Vaughn sent him a demo track he still asked to see the film. "I have to see the film and have real context because I didn't want to play blindly." After seeing the film, his response was, "I was so overly sold. It was fun. I'm totally down."

DeBose shot the film during the pandemic. "Before the big change," she says referring to her 2022 awards season sweep as best supporting actress for her role in "West Side Story." "We made the movie, and I had a wonderful time, and then I won the Oscar." She continues, "Matthew called me and said, ‘So, you won an Oscar. I think we need to do some more with you. Would you like to do a song?' I thought it sounded fun and would be a new challenge."

The solo version of "Electric Energy" in the film differs from the Boy George and Rodgers mix that is heard at the end of the film. "Nile jumped in and said, ‘This is so funky, let's make it funkier," says DeBose. "I love that it gets to serve as this energetic underbelly for the film that furthers this storytelling."

As for the song's retro disco vibe, Rodgers learned that Vaughn and the songwriting team (Gary Barlow, Stuart Price and Lorne Balfe) were inspired by Disco star Sylvester when writing the lyrics. He recalls, "I grew up back in the day gigging with Sylvester, so I knew right away where the vibe was coming from."

His greatest concern was whether he could bring "that level of happiness that I was feeling when I heard it. I want to take it one step higher," he says. And he loves the results. As for working with DeBose, he says she is "off the charts. She's killing it, and she's got everything."

The accompanying music video for "Electric Energy" features the film's all-star cast including DeBose, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson. Rodgers and Boy George also make an appearance.

"I couldn't believe that Matthew got all of my colleagues to do it," says DeBose about the video.

When Vaughn said he was going to make a music video, DeBose had her doubts. "When Matthew Vaughn takes something on, he takes it on! He said, ‘We're gonna make this music video and it's gonna feel joyful.' I said, ‘You're going to get Henry Cavill to bop around?' and they all said yes. Talk about Bryan Cranston living his whole disco life," notes DeBose of the actor's moves.

And what is she singing in front of the mirror, or listening to? "Dove Cameron's ‘Lethal Woman.' But I love a throwback as well. These are my morning tunes: ‘Do You Want to Funk' by Sylvester, it gets me going. Cher's ‘Chiquitita,' and ‘Baby Was A Dancer' by Billy Porter is one of my staples. It gets me in the right mood for the day," DeBose says.

Stream "Electric Energy" HERE. Watch the video below.

 

Read the original article HERE:
https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/listen-ariana-debose-argylle-song-electric-energy-1235888242/

Daft Punk Release Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition): Stream

The re-release arrives at the 10th anniversary of their final studio album

Daft Punk have released Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) via Columbia Records. The re-release, which has removed all drums and percussive elements from their final studio album, arrives at the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 Grammy-winning Album of the Year. Stream the album below.

According to the album's press release, the drumless edition of hit album Random Access Memories aims to give listeners "the ability to dive deeper into the layers of each track."

The record arrives shortly after the release of Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition), which included nine unreleased tracks for a total of 35 minutes of all-new music. The release saw Random Access Memories return to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Daft Punk have also commemorated this anniversary with an ongoing content series called Memory Tapes, which pulls back the curtain on the French house duo's creation of Random Access Memories. Directed by Warren Fu, the series includes guest interviews with names like Julian Casablancas and Pharrell Williams.

Though surely a sentimental victory lap for Daft Punk and fans alike, Thomas Bangalter recently shared his "relief" over Daft Punk's 2021 breakup on BBC's The First Time with Matt Everett. "The last thing I would want to be, in the world we live in, in 2023, is a robot," he said. Bangalter shared solo orchestral album Mythologies earlier this year.

Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) is now available on all streaming platforms. The album is also available for purchase on CD, Double LP and digital formats.

 

 

Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) Tracklist:

01. Give Life Back to Music (Drumless Edition) [feat. Nile Rodgers]
02. The Game of Love (Drumless Edition)
03. Giorgio by Moroder (Drumless Edition)
04. Within (Drumless Edition)
05. Instant Crush (Drumless Edition) [feat. Julian Casablancas]
06. Lose Yourself to Dance (Drumless Edition) [feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers]
07. Touch (Drumless Edition) [feat. Paul Wiliams]
08. Get Lucky (Drumless Edition) [feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers]
09. Beyond (Drumless Edition)
10. Motherboard (Drumless Edition)
11. Fragments of Time (Drumless Edition) [feat. Todd Edwards]
12. Doin’ it Right (Drumless Edition) [feat. Panda Bear]
12. Contact (Drumless Edition)

 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
https://consequence.net/2023/11/daft-punk-random-access-memories-drumless-edition-stream/

The Zutons announce first album in 16 years, produced by Nile Rodgers and Ian Broudie

Details of a 2024 tour have been shared, as well as an album trailer featuring three new singles

By Liberty Dunworth - 14th November 2023

The Zutons are back with their first album in 16 years, as well as an upcoming run of UK tour dates.

Titled 'The Big Decider', the new album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers, alongside the band's original producer Ian Broudie. It is set for release on April 26.

Completed by Dave McCabe (guitar, lead vocals), Abi Harding (saxophone, vocals) and Sean Payne (drums, vocals), the forthcoming album follows on from the three LPs the multi-platinum selling band released between 2004 and 2008, and is one "born under the weight of family tragedies".

According to a press release, the album was "wrestled into shape under the kind of steam that only decades-long friendships – with all their messy fall-outs, make-ups, breakdowns and ultimately love – can muster", and became symbolic of the love of creating music rising above all else.


The Zutons 'The Big Decider' album artwork. CREDIT: Press

The members were also brought together after McCabe's stay in rehab, which sparked a turning point for the artist and a closer bond being formed between the members.

"Dave has been through an awful lot in the last few years, and these things have obviously really impacted him. But his songwriting has only got better. Now he spends more time on his songs. He's in touch with his own and others' emotions, and that all goes into the songs. It has been so nice to watch him grow. I'm so proud of him," said Harding.

Speaking of the upcoming album, McCabe said it was "great to reconnect with Ian Broudie", and that working with Chic legend Nile Rodgers was "an amazing experience" which "gave me a confidence that I've never felt before making a record".

The announcement of 'The Big Decider' also comes with a new album trailer video – featuring new songs 'Creeping On The Dancefloor', 'Pauline', 'In Your Arms' and 'Rise'. Check it out below, as well as the full album tracklist.

'The Big Decider' tracklist is:

1. 'Creeping On The Dancefloor'
2. 'Pauline'
3. 'Water'
4. 'In Your Arms'
5. 'Disappear'
6. 'Company'
7. 'The Big Decider'
8. 'Rise'
9. 'Best Of Me'

To celebrate the announcement of the new LP – which marks the band's first new album in 16 years – The Zutons have also shared details of an intimate UK tour, set to run throughout the new year.

Kicking off on January 31, the tour will commence with a slot at the Old Fire Station in Carlisle, before continuing in February with stops in Blackpool, Huddersfield, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Northampton and more.

From there, the band will also play through the first two weeks of March, with intimate shows set to be held in Leicester, Stoke, Dundee, Rossendale and more. The 2024 tour dates will conclude with a stop at St Laurence Church in Reading on March 9.

Tickets are available from 10am GMT next Friday (November 24) and can be found here. Additionally, pre-sale options are available to those who pre-order the new album – which you can do here. Find a full list of dates in the tour poster below.

 

Read the full article on NME:
https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-zutons-announce-first-album-in-16-years-tour-new-singles-preorder-buy-tickets-3538958

Nile Rodgers & CHIC: Tiny Desk Concert

Sheldon Pearce | October 25, 2023

Before Nile Rodgers & CHIC set the Tiny Desk off, the icon established a sort of mission statement for the group's sound: "If we can funk in this, you know we can funk." They surely can. In stints since 1972, CHIC has assured its position as funk ambassadors — a position its members clearly relish — and no space is resistant to their grooves. When Rodgers asks singer Kimberly Davis to show the audience "how we do it in the CHIC organization," she launches into high-powered vocals that vaporize every note. And when he asks drummer Ralph Rolle to lead them to "maximum funkocity," Rolle ignites call-and-response with an electrified crowd. As the ringleader of the CHIC experience, Rodgers crams a lifetime's worth of nightlife into every strum of his guitar.

Rodgers' career is epic in both scope and impact. The 1979 CHIC album Risqué was a disco milestone that became a hip-hop cornerstone. Standing at inflection points for two different genres is enough to make a career, but Rodgers was far from done. An incomparable songwriter and session musician, his call sheet as a producer is emblematic of his immense range: David Bowie, Diana Ross, Madonna and Mick Jagger, just to name a few. His work is embedded in the very fabric of popular music, and he continues to add to his resume decades after first making changes to the sonic landscape. In 2014, Rodgers won the Grammy for record of the year with Daft Punk. This year, he amassed more honors for his work on Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE.

His wondrous set spans his massive catalog — songs he wrote for CHIC, songs he wrote with collaborators, songs he wrote for other stars and a surprise song he wrote for a classic movie. Throughout, Rodgers is the pulse for an ever-amplifying funk. The band's performance of "I'm Coming Out" builds to a rip-roaring sax solo. A rollicking performance of "We Are Family" breaks down in the middle before erupting to a triumphant finish. And atop the rippling bassline of "Good Times," Rodgers breaks into an impromptu version of "Rapper's Delight," which samples the song. It all leads to the maximum funkocity of Bowie's "Let's Dance," a tribute to the genre's reach and power.

SET LIST
"Le Freak"
"I'm Coming Out"
"We Are Family"
"Get Lucky"
"Good Times"
"Let's Dance"

MUSICIANS
Nile Rodgers: guitar, vocals
Russell Graham: keyboards, vocals
Jerry Barnes: bass, vocals
Ralph Rolle: drums, vocals
Richard Hilton: keyboards, vocals
Ken Gioffre: saxophone
Steve Jankowski: trumpet
Audrey Martells: vocals
Kimberly Davis: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene
Audio Assistant: Ted Mebane
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Grace Widyatmadja
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

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