NAOMI CAMPBELLRETURNS WITH ANOTHER EPISODE OFPOPULAR YOUTUBE SERIES NO FILTER WITH NAOMIFEATURING D-NICE
International supermodel, activist and philanthropist Naomi Campbell welcomes American disc jockey, beatboxer, rapper, producer, photographer and DJ for an enjoyable conversation today on No Filter with Naomi – a limited-time series under her highly popular Being Naomi YouTube channel. With more than 500,000 views, the web series has invited fans to #stayhome during this unprecedented era to save lives and has focused on intimate conversations conquering multiple topics between Naomi and a diverse collection of her friends, including a variety of designers, musicians, actors, beauty gurus and media personalities.
The series debuted on April 6, 2020 and has since featured guests Lionel Richie, Iman Abdulmajid, Michael Kors, Usain Bolt, Dave Chappelle, Paris Jackson, Pharrell Williams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Chelsea Handler,
Cameron Diaz, Lenny Kravitz, Whoopi Goldberg, James Charles, Charlamagne Tha God, Mary J. Blige, Gabrielle Union, Kate Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, Cindy Crawford, Marc Jacobs, Nicole Richie, Ashley Graham, Pierpaolo Piccoli, Lee Daniels, Christy Turlington, Adut Akech, Sharon Stone, Paris Hilton, Serena Williams and Venus Williams, Karlie Kloss, Anna Wintour, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The No Filter with Naomi series returned after hiatus on June 23rd and featured a select group of episodes focused on impactful conversations dedicated to #BlackLivesMatter, social justice issues, racial and human inequalities. These critical conversations, reflective of our times, included featured guests: Opal Tometi, Rev. Al Sharpton, Alphonso Reed, Cleo Wade, Bethann Hardison, Tyler Mitchell, Indya Moore, Chase Strangio and Tori Cooper.
WHO: International Supermodel, Activist and Philanthropist, Naomi Campbell
WHAT: YouTube exclusive series No Filter With Naomi featuring special guest D-Nice.
WHEN: May 25, live at 3pm EST. Replay available HERE.
About Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell was born in London, England and discovered as a fashion model at age 15. Throughout her career, she’s fronted the covers of over 1000 magazines, been featured in campaigns for celebrated houses including Burberry, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton, and walked iconic shows for Chanel, Azzedine Alaia, Christian Dior, and Versace. Beyond her work in the fashion & entertainment industries, Campbell has used her celebrity for an array of fundraising and non-profit initiatives across the globe. Environmentalism, as well as Human Rights and Global Health, as it specifically pertains to women and children, have been critical sectors of Campbell’s work. She has also formed her own non-profit, Fashion For Relief, a charitable organization founded in 2005 that has raised funds for various environmental and humanitarian causes. It holds events in association with the London-based non-profit organization CARE. Today, Campbell is undoubtedly solidifying her place as a cultural innovator- using her incredible platform and success for positive change across industries around the world.
AFISHARES NEW TRACKTIED TO A TREEAND UPCOMING ALBUM BODIES
AFI has shared Tied To A Tree, the latest track from their eagerly-awaited new album Bodies, dueJune 11, 2021 via Rise Records.
“This is not only my favorite song on the record, but an exemplification of the evolution of the band,” guitarist Jade Puget says.
Last week, AFI launched a remix contest for their recent single Dulcería. The contest can be found within The Bodies Experience interactive 360° website, where fans can download song stems and create their own take on the track. Top submissions will be showcased online and will win exclusive prizes, including a “golden ticket” to future AFI shows. Deadline for entry is Friday, June 4 at11:59pm PT.
The band also recently unveiledThe Ritual Collection, a new line of merch that can be found exclusively in The Bodies Experience. This includes a special deck of oracle cards (with one card for each song), soy prayer candles and incense — all fitting counterparts to the dark and brooding new track. The artwork for the Tied To A Treevisualizer is based on the art found on the oracle card deck.
AFI are leaders, not followers. A collective in a perpetual state of creative evolution as fluid as the evocative figures contorting on the cover of Bodies, their newest collection of songs. The record is a snapshot of unrelenting artists in motion, unconcerned with compromise or outside demands.
AFI’s unshakeable connection with their audience is a testament to the band’s knack for reinvention, renewal, and exploration, anchored by an unblemished authenticity. AFI songs are embedded in the spiritual DNA of a legion of supporters and Bodies is further demonstration of AFI’s unwavering commitment to artistic exploration, a dark conjuration of an uncapturable muse. The album was produced by the band’s own Jade Puget, mixed by Tony Hoffer (M83, Phoenix, Silversun Pickups), and mastered by Vlado Meller (Oasis, Pink Floyd).
The band initially summoned a steady subcultural groundswell in the mid-90s, devoid of careerist ambitions. The band first made music as teenaged misfits in an obscure Northern California town, steadily assembling a dense catalog over the years marked by its diversity and authenticity.
“AFI is such an integral part of who I am. What we do with AFI together is a foundation for me,” explains front man Davey Havok. “Coming back is a return to a home I’ve always known.”
It’s a sentiment shared by the entire band. “I couldn’t do what I do in AFI in any other place,” observes guitarist Jade Puget. “Davey and I have written songs together for over 20 years now. I couldn’t find the thing he and I have together anywhere else, nor the thing the four of us have when we come together. AFI is home for me and will always be that.”
“At this point, it’s not even a choice. It’s just what I do,” drummer Adam Carson concurs. “I started this band with Davey when I was 16. It’s something that I love so much. It’s just a part of me.”
“Every album is an opportunity to show people a snapshot of our evolution,” adds bassist Hunter Burgan. “And with this band, it’s always something fresh. We’ve been playing together for so long that I have a deep understanding of each of my bandmates’ musical styles, and yet I am still pleasantly surprised by the new things they bring to each record.”
“Anyone who knows our catalog knows that no two records really sit together,” Puget points out. “Some sit a little closer, maybe. We do certain things, just by virtue of who we are, that are consistent, but those things come about organically. Every time we do something, I have to judge it on its own merits. Some fans are going to judge a new album, or a new song, based on what’s come before. But as artists, we can’t do that, because it would only hinder our creativity.”
AFI never stepped into the mainstream; the masses came to them. The platinum success of Sing the Sorrowblazed a path for a generation of hardcore-punk weaned bands to similarly crossover. Decemberundergroundupended expectations again and earned AFI a second platinum plaque. Crash Lovewas another adventurous turn, with expansive and almost optimistic-sounding melodies, glistening with emotion. The haunting Burialsarrived four years later, debuting in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The self-titled follow-up, commonly referred to as The Blood Album, became AFI’s second-highest charting album since their inception, debuting at No. 5 in 2017. After the release of The Blood Album, the band was hardly content to rest on its laurels. AFI then released yet another highly praised addition to their discography, 2018’s The Missing ManEP.
The Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center Hosts6th Annual Garbage Bag Gala
Unique virtual fashion show featuring recycled materials supports upcoming programs assisting local families at the Kroc Center.
The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Camden will hold its 6th Annual Garbage Bag Gala Fashion Showon Friday, June 4, in support of programs helping local families at the Kroc Center. This year’s gala will be hosted virtually, with the runway fashion show taking place at the Kroc Center and attendees watching from home through a livestream.
COVID has been a time of great pivot for The Salvation Army in meeting emerging needs in evolving ways. The GBG really aims to help us deliver these services in more robust and powerful ways through our Camden ministry. A few stats from The Salvation Army in Camden:
Between onsite and mobile food pantry, in Camden we are on pace for distributing 1,200,000 pounds of food in 2021 to families in great need, this will be an all-time service poundage high!
Every year, we serve 20,000 individuals or more directly in with a holistic approach including mind, body, spirit and community-building. This includes a wide variety of offerings including sports leagues, swim lessons, fitness classes, Bible studies and worship, open gym sports like basketball, open swim and water park visits, fitness center visits, seniors wellness programming and fellowship, arts and dance experiences, and so much more.
This past Thanksgiving and Christmas Season, we served over 1,900 families with food, Christmas toys, gift cards and blessing packages within our Christmas Railroad experience! This includes serving 3,747 children (11,149 toys) within families including 6,826 individuals total.
We have reached the 10,000th vaccination at our COVID-19 vaccination center onsite, in partnership with Cooper University Health Care (celebration this coming Saturday)! From the beginning, our site was designated as an education center as well and for health equity only serves (underserved) City residents.
In a regular year, we host nearly 500 events to serve the community in diverse and powerful ways. These events include family-hosted events, community meetings, interfaces with government agencies, health fairs, job fairs, dance recitals, movie nights in the pool, family dinners, youth nights, and more. Of note, special events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Member & Friends Tree Lighting, the Harvest Festival/GLOW Party and Krocfest Event will typically host 800-1,200 individuals in a span of a few hours.
This event was inspired by our Camden Women’s ministries and the leadership of the event over the years has really pushed the bounds of this event to be “high couture” and an amazing show and experience. Upcycling, sustainability and inclusivity are key themes of the show and flexibility/pivoting to create beauty is a powerful motivator.
Sponsored by The Beringer Group, Platinum Sponsors: Agent06, New Jersey American Water, PSE&G; Gold Sponsors: Subaru, Foundation Title, Hardenbergh Insurance Group, this awe-inspiring runway show will showcase fashions created from recycled and unconventional materials, even garbage bags. Approximately 20 garments created by fashion design students from Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design will be featured in the annual fashion show, which is being produced by acclaimed red-carpet designer, Project Runway runner-up and judge, Nancy Volpe Beringer.
For the first time ever, several well-known journalists from local television and radio stations have volunteered to serve as celebrity models during the show. Confirmed celebrity models include Cecily Tynan, Chief Meteorologist from 6abc Action News; Llarisa Abreu, Meteorologist from CBS 3 Eyewitness News; Jennifer Lewis-Hall, host and producer of PHL17’s public affairs program, In Focus; and Joy Soto, Community Voices & Engagement Fellow, WHYY.
Tickets can be purchased for $99 beginning May 1 and the first purchasers will receive a party pack with fun backdrop designs and other items to use at home while watching. Virtual attendees of this year’s Garbage Bag Gala are invited to participate virtually throughout the event, with attendees being shown on a wall of monitors behind the runway. Those who feel adventurous are invited to dress in theme by creating a garment, gown or accessory made from recycled materials and posting a photo on their social media channels with the hashtag #GBG21.
“The Garbage Bag Gala is a one-of-a-kind fashion show that spotlights rejuvenation and inclusion,” said Kroc Center Associate Administrator Captain Pamela Maynor. “We’re very excited to showcase the hard work and talent of these extraordinary designers, all to help support amazing local families impacted by a most challenging year.”
“The Kroc Center truly does incredible work to serve a struggling population. So many special events have been missed during COVID, we knew we needed to make this 6th year the best ever,” says Garbage Bag Gala Committee Chairperson, Angela Barnshaw.
About The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
Opened in 2014 to enhance The Salvation Army’s service in the City of Camden since 1880, The Salvation Army Kroc Center is a 120,000-square-foot state-of-the-art community center on a 24-acre campus. The Center provides recreational, health, educational, cultural, family and spiritual programming to Camden and the surrounding community. The facility includes a black box theater, water park, pool, commercial kitchen, youth and senior centers, chapel, field house, fitness center, food pantry and much more. Outdoor amenities include a soccer/football field and two baseball/softball fields.
GLASS ANIMALS DELIVER DREAMY PERFORMANCE OF “HEAT WAVES” ON BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
Last night, Glass Animals delivered their first-ever U.S. awards show performance, as they took the outdoor stage at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles to perform their global smash hit Heat Waves live. The band has been delivering some of the most colorful and creative live performances throughout quarantine, and last night did not disappoint. Featuring a pastel art sculpture by French artist Cyril Lancelin titled pyramid pillows, the band gave a signature, high-energy performance to a live audience of vaccinated fans. Not only was this Glass Animals’ first-ever U.S. awards show, but it was also their first live U.S. performance since their last show pre-Covid lockdown in March 2020 at Los Angeles’ iconic Troubadour.
The Billboard Music Awards performance caps a very exciting week for the band. Last Thursday, they released a collaboration with fast-rising UK popstar Bree Runway on their huge track Space Ghost Coast To Coast, taken from their acclaimed 2020 album Dreamland. The band also recently dropped a trippy video for the song. Not to mention, last week Glass Animals were announced as a performer on Good Morning America’s 2021 Summer Concert Series lineup – tune in on Tuesday, July 20th on ABC. Glass Animals are gearing up for their North American Dreamland Tour,which sold over 130,000 tickets in just 3 days and is quickly selling out with new shows being added. The run kicks off August 30th in Lewiston, NY and takes the band across North America well into 2022. The shows add to their already sold-out UK tour dates, previously announced 2022 Red Rocks shows and confirmed festival performances at Bonnaroo, Life Is Beautiful, Firefly Festival, Outside Lands and more.
Dreamland, the band’s hugely popular third full-length album, entered UK charts on its opening week at #2 (their highest ever scoring chart position, a massive 21 spots above their last album, Mercury Prize nominated How To Be A Human Being) and charted inside the top 10 in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. The album clocked up 160 million streams in its first week of release.
Glass Animals have experienced their most successful year to date, with their hit Heat Waves being crowned #1 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 – an accolade not given to a UK band since 2009 with previous winners including Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish – receiving a sync placement on FIFA, then an organic Minecraft affiliation, whereby the YouTuber LoverFella (2.45M subscribers) rebuilt a Glass Animals fan’s base and surprised her with a meet and greet with the band who were waiting inside. Heat Waves peaked at #1 on the Alternative Radio Chart for 3 consecutive weeks, a first for Glass Animals in their career. The track currently nears the Top 15 on the Top 40 Radio Chart and is making similar moves at Hot AC and AAA. Heat Waves held the #1 spot on the ARIA Official Singles Chart in Australia for 6 consecutive weeks, marking the band’s first #1 single globally and the longest #1 in 2021 for Australia. It has had over 530 million combined streams, and to date, “Heat Waves” peaked at over 2 million daily streams and has received over 23 million views of the video on YouTube. Glass Animals hit a new Spotify monthly listener peak of 18.4 million, surpassing the likes of Tame Impala, Gorillaz, The 1975 and The Strokes.
Glass Animals US “Dreamland Tour”
Tickets are available now. See full list of tour dates below.
2021:
August 30th Lewiston, NY Artpark*
August 31st Brooklyn, NY Prospect Park Bandshell*
September 1st Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
September 3rd Manchester, TN Bonnaroo
September 4th Charlotte, NC Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre*
September 5th Wilmington, NC Riverfront Park Amphitheater*
September 7th St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre
September 8th Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy*
September 9th Birmingham, AL Avondale Brewing Company*
September 11th Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall*
September 12th Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park*
September 13th Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
September 15th Phoenix, AZ Arizona Federal Theatre
September 17th Las Vegas, NV Life Is Beautiful Festival
September 18th Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery*
September 19th Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery*^
September 22nd Kansas City, KS Aruza Amphitheater
September 24th Columbus, OH EXPRESS LIVE! – Outdoor Amphitheater*
September 25th Dover, DE Firefly Music Festival
September 27th Richmond, VA Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
September 28th Philadelphia, PA Skyline Stage @ The Mann*
September 29th Boston, MA Leader Bank Pavilion*
October 1st Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica*
October 2nd Detroit, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
October 27th Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl^
October 28th Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl*
October 29th San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Festival
2022:
March 8th Portland, OR Keller Auditorium*
March 9th Portland, OR Keller Auditorium^
March 10th Vancouver, BC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
March 11th Seattle, WA WaMu Theater*
March 13th Salt Lake City, UT The Union
March 14th Denver, CO The Mission Ballroom*
March 16th Madison, WI The Sylvee*
March 17th Minneapolis, MN The Armory
March 18th Chicago, IL University of Illinois at Chicago – Credit Union 1 Arena
March 20th Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theater (Upgraded Venue)
March 21st Indianapolis, IN Old National Centre
March 22nd Louisville, KY The Louisville Palace Theater
March 23rd Saint Louis, MO The Factory
March 28th Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
March 29th Washington, DC The Anthem
April 1st Toronto, ON History*
April 2nd Toronto, ON History^
April 3rd Montreal, QC MTELUS
April 4th Montreal, QC MTELUS^
June 14th Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
June 15th Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
Seattle-based artist on the rise Dempsey Hope releases his new track picture perfect via RCA Records. picture perfect follows Dempsey’s latest trackson my mind and autumn which was featured in Billboard’s “10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week” column.
Dempsey says, “picture perfect is about how life is not like the movies, romance is never laid out for you, and it doesn’t ever go perfectly. but with some true effort it can still be picture perfect.”
Last fall, Dempsey released the dempsey hope project. The project was a collection of 10 songs that Dempsey had spent months working on and featured baby blue ft. Olivia O’Brien, as well as fan favorites such as roller rink which was featured in Billboard’s “10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week,” time flies and elephant in the room feat. gnash.
About Dempsey Hope
Dempsey Hope has been a singer and performer since an early age. In 2009, Dempsey began recording his YouTube videos, gaining fans by doing covers and creating content with his childhood friend Kateel. He then got started with a local community-based recording program in South Seattle, releasing his first original song Game Time, and started busking at local festivals and on the streets of Seattle.
In high school, Dempsey focused on sports, and was a member of the Nathan Hale Basketball Team that went undefeated and won the High School National Championship in 2017. He also led his Ultimate Frisbee Team to a Washington State Championship and the national stage. In 2016, Dempsey began to dive back into the world of music, taking a more serious approach to the craft of songwriting and since then has fully dedicated himself to pursuing music. In 2018, Dempsey linked up with Seattle based producer Jake Crocker and they got to work, developing and crafting much of what you hear in Dempsey’s sound today. Together they created tracks like Commitment Issues, 3 Years, When I Wake Up, time flies, elephant in the room feat. gnash and roller rink. He has been called “an unbelievable talent” by Lyrical Lemonade and was featured in the Seattle Times. Leaning heavily on a sound that he calls “nostalgic,” Dempsey crafts poignant melodies with Pop and R&B influences that will make you a fan after just one listen.
Rising singer-songwriterDeclan J Donovan released his new single Into The Fire. The follow-up to the stirring ballad Before You Let Me Go, which came out in March, Into The Fire is an anthemic ballad that combines Donovan’s mesmerizing vocals with epic instrumentation.
With its captivating hook and huge chorus, Into The Fire is another leap forward for Donovan. Speaking about the song, he says: “Into The Fire is a song about fighting to get someone back in your life again and learning to love yourself in order to be there for that other person.”
Donovan’s tales of love and heartbreak and what it’s like to be a young adult in 2021 are connecting on a huge scale. Donovan has been operating on another level since his 2020 track Perfectly Imperfect became a viral hit across Instagram and TikTok. Its body-positivity message forged a big emotional connection with listeners. The song has over 97 million combined views and has racked up 35 million plays on Spotify.
From Harlow in Essex, Donovan’s breakthrough track was Fallen So Young, a song he uploaded to Soundcloud in 2017 that found millions of fans around the globe. Since then, he has continued to refine his songwriting and amassed a diehard fanbase over a series of knockout singles. Into The Fire is another example of an artist who is in the midst of creative success.
ANNE-MARIE & NIALL HORAN RELEASE THEIR NEW SINGLE OUR SONG
Anne-MarieandNiall Horanteam up for nostalgic new single Our Song. Directed by Michael Holyk, the video is loosely inspired by Bonnie & Clyde as it trails friends, Anne-Marie and Niall, as they hastily flee their town in search for new beginnings. Additionally, Anne-Marie has announced her highly-anticipated new album Therapy, which will be released on July 23.
Therapy is the follow-up to her multi-platinum 2018 debut, Speak Your Mind, which was the UK’s biggest-selling debut release of that year and spawned two global anthems – 2002, written by Ed Sheeran, and the Marshmello collaboration FRIENDS, which reached #2 on the U.S. Top 40 Radio Charts. Therapyis a collection of songs that embody Anne-Marie’s characterful artistry, self-effacing attitude, and beautiful honesty. Anne-Marie wrote Therapy with Max Martin (Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift), Kamille (Little Mix, Mabel), TMS (Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi), Blake Slatkin (The Kid Laroi, 24kGoldn), Plested (Lewis Capaldi), MNEK, Raye, Nathan Dawe and Ed Sheeran. The album will include Our Song, along with previous released tracks Don’t Play with KSI and Digital Farm Animals and the Nathan Dawe and MoStack collaboration Way Too Long.
Of the album, Anne-Marie explains, “Ugh, it feels so good to announce my new album, Therapy! Music is a source of healing for everyone, and music is therapy itself, right? I hadn’t realized until we were hit by the pandemic just how much I needed music. I need to perform. I need to write. My lyrics are my open diary to you all and writing this album has helped me focus and understand my feelings. I needed this album! As well as seeking therapy from writing and music in general, I’ve also been on a journey of seeing a psychiatrist this past year and it has changed my life. I’ve always tried to be as open as I can with my fans about my own journey and through seeing a professional, I’ve been able to start combatting and understand the anxieties my brain has dealt me over the years. I am learning, and I am progressing. This album helped me get to that place too and it encapsulates lots of feelings and emotions, whether it’s tracks that focus on my own ride, or the ones that I just loved making, and I hope you can lose yourself in it. I made this for you and me.”
About Anne-Marie
She has become one of the globe’s most successful pop stars since her breakthrough in 2016. Anne-Marie has over 5 billion streams to her name, a platinum debut album alongside five Top 10 UK singles and two Billboard Hot 100 hits. She has garnered dozens of award nominations, sold out her global headline tour and supported Ed Sheeran in stadiums everywhere. In 2020, alongside charitable work and recording, Anne-Marie released her first-ever documentary titled ‘How To Be Anne-Marie’exclusively with YouTube. She hasn’t slowed down in 2021, her January release Don’t Play with KSI and Digital Farm Animals spent twelve weeks inside the Top 10 of the UK’s Official Singles Chart and is the biggest UK song of 2021 so far by a female artist, she collaborated with Nathan Dawe and MoStack on the feel-good Way Too Long and made her debut as the new, and winning, judge on The Voice UK.
Expanded Soundtrack Of ‘Almost Famous’ Set for Release July 9th
In a limited-edition uber box set, additional formats include 6LP super deluxe in black and colored vinyl, a 5CD super deluxe, a 2CD deluxe edition, original soundtrack on 2LP, and two Stillwater vinyl EPs.
“Look under your bed—it’ll set you free.” With those enticingly enigmatic words, an empathetic, hip older sister bequeaths to her hyper-smart but nerdy 11-year-old brother her Rosetta Stone to life in the late-’60s: a prized trove of expertly curated rock, pop, and folk albums that set into chaotic motion young William Miller’s eye- ear- and mind-opening journey in director Cameron Crowe’s quasi-autobiographical 2000 ode to rock ‘n’ roll fandom, Almost Famous.
Two decades later, the Oscar/BAFTA/Golden Globe Award-winning film remains one of the sweetest love letters to the genre, one that deftly captured the look, sound, feel, and attitude of what rock ‘n’ roll meant to its creators, its most fervent adherents, its hangers-on and its worried parents during a golden era of pop music. The movie’s legacy is celebrated with the first-ever release of all the music that so powerfully fueled Crowe’s story, based on his own power chord-driven odyssey from wide-eyed music-loving kid to respected rock journalist to celebrated filmmaker.
UMe has compiled multiple iterations of the film’s Grammy Award-winning soundtrack, augmented comprehensively in the limited-edition Uber Box set that encompasses an expanded soundtrack with five CDs, seven 180-gram black vinyl discs, and a brand new 7-inch for Stillwater’s “Fever Dog.” The expanded soundtrack includes songs from The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young&Crazy Horse, The Who, and Yes, plus all the songs created for the film’s fictional aspiring rock group Stillwater, most written for the movie by Cameron Crowe, Heart’s Nancy Wilson and Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Peter Frampton.
The Uber Box includes bonus items such as a 40-page photo book and memoir housed in a film-prop-replica of William Miller’s high-school notebook complete with writings by Cameron Crowe, Nancy Wilson, along with cast and crew members; the first-ever complete William Miller cover story on Stillwater as a 1973 Rolling Stone newsprint; two replica ticket stubs from Stillwater’s San Diego and Cleveland concerts; and a Stillwater tour poster. Exclusively available only in the Uber Boxset is a Stillwater Cleveland concert poster and a backstage poster; six film-prop-replica backstage passes (some seen throughout the film); three film-prop-replica business cards for Dick Roswell (Stillwater’s Road manager), Lester Bangs (Creem magazine), and Ben Fong-Torres (Rolling Stone magazine); and three photo prints of cast members.
Among the 103 audio tracks are numerous clips of dialogue released for the first time: including the promise from William’s sister Anita that “One day you’ll be cool,” and crackling exchanges between William and vaunted Creem magazine rock critic Lester Bangs, the real-life mentor who offered early encouragement to then-teenaged rock fan Crowe to pursue his desire to write about the music he loved.
The box set points out how exceptional the Almost Famous soundtrack was and remains. Crowe arranged for a dedicated remix & edit of the Who’s “Amazing Journey/Sparks” instrumental from their rock opera “Tommy” and live album “Live at Leeds.” For another scene, Crowe had grabbed a bootleg live recording out of his stash for Neil Young’s “Cortez the Killer” from a 1999 show, which Young recently unearthed from his extensive archive and newly mixed from the original multi-track analog tape for this release. The set is also highlighted with the inclusion of Elton John’s iconic “Tiny Dancer,” newly mixed with the cast members singing alongside the song as featured in the film.
Crowe found supremely qualified collaborators by drafting Wilson to compose the score and to team with Frampton to help write credible rock songs for Stillwater. For the new release of the soundtrack music, all of Wilson’s brilliant score music is included, along with 14 score outtakes that didn’t make the final film.
Along with the thirteen-disc Uber Deluxe box, Universal is issuing two six-LP editions—one on black vinyl, the other with colored vinyl discs; a five-CD Super Deluxe set including 102 tracks, 36 of them previously unreleased songs; a separate 12-inch vinyl EP with all 6 of Stillwater’s songs; a Record Store Day exclusive with the 7 original demos of the Stillwater songs, five performed by Wilson the other two by Frampton; a two-LP vinyl version of the original soundtrack album; a two-CD Deluxe Edition of the original soundtrack.
“We are extremely proud to revisit Almost Famous with a very special bounty of goodness,” said Cameron Crowe. “For the first time, we’ve created a Deluxe Soundtrack that features nearly every song from the film, along with Nancy Wilson’s wonderfully evocative score. We’re also thrilled to finally preserve both versions of the film, along with a collection of rare new bonus features, on these beautiful new 4K and Blu-ray releases as part of Paramount Presents. Long live physical media!”
To complement the expanded soundtrack, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the film for the first time on 4K Ultra HD, in a limited-edition Steelbook, as well as in a new limited-edition Blu-ray in the Paramount Presents line on July 13, 2021. Meticulously remastered from a new 4K film transfer under the supervision of Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous is presented in stunning 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision® and HDR-10 for ultra-vivid picture quality.
The limited-edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook includes both the original theatrical cut (plus access to a digital copy) and the beloved Bootleg cut (aka “Untitled”), along with new bonus content offering a backstage pass into the creative process through a new interview with Crowe, extended scenes, rock-school sessions, a look at the casting and costumes, and more. Almost Famous will also be available in a limited-edition Blu-ray Disc™ in the Paramount Presents line. With collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments, therelease includes the remastered versions of the theatrical cut for the first time on Blu-ray (plus access to a digital copy) and the Bootleg cut, along with bonus content. The film has become a touchstone not just for music lovers who came of age in the swaggering early 1970s rock era that Almost Famous celebrates, but subsequent generations of music fans who connect with its timeless portrait of how music can offer solace, insight, and joyous release from whatever challenges life throws.
Throughout this rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut, William Miller, Stillwater, and the film’s other players soak in the music of the day, all curated by Crowe using his knowledge of and connections to many of the biggest and most influential rock acts of the era. This manifests onscreen perhaps most memorably in the full-band bus singalong with Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “Tiny Dancer,” the duo’s tribute to their own groupies—or as William is quickly corrected by Stillwater’s female fans when he uses the term, “We’re Band-Aids!”—emphasizing the distinction between those who crassly latch on to rock stars simply for their celebrity versus those who try to get closer because of their love for the music.
“In the late sixties, adventuresome and modern directors like Mike Nichols began moving away from traditional orchestral score in their movies,” Crowe writes in an essay accompanying the new project. “The Graduate, with its deft and emotional use of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Sounds of Silence,’ changed the landscape.”
It surely did in Almost Famous: Led Zeppelin approved the use of five songs for the film—unprecedented at the time. When Crowe showed the film to Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page during his pitch to persuade them to grant use of the songs he wanted, Plant raised a question: “Was your mother really like that?” after taking in Frances McDormand’s endearingly taut performance as William’s over-anxious, over-protective college professor mom, Elaine. Cameron told him, “That and more.”
The original release of the film’s soundtrack included only Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way,” while the new set adds in “Misty Mountain Hop,” “The Rain Song,” “Bron-Yr-Aur” and “Tangerine,” the latter employed so effectively during the film’s finale as Stillwater’s tour bus trundles off into the sunset.
Actor Jason Lee, whose performance as Stillwater vocalist Jeff Bebe nailed a combination of bravado and underlying insecurity, says, “Every time I watch the movie…every time the bus is pulling away as Led Zeppelin’s ‘Tangerine’ plays at the end…it kind of crushes me a little bit. That song is a … killer. And with the dust kicking up as the bus is driving away…that moment for me, watching it as an audience member? Perfect. Watching it as a cast member and an audience member? It’s bittersweet.”
As Crowe puts it about finding the right music for each scene in a film, “Something magical happened when the actor and the scene and the music worked together. Often, it’s a shotgun marriage, but every once in a while, everything clicks. That’s when a movie can sear your soul.”
He had experienced that power while directing his debut film, Say Anything…, and again in his 1992 romantic comedy Singles as well as in 1996’s Jerry Maguire. “By the time we got to the next one,” he said of approaching Almost Famous, “I was ready to put the music at the center of the movie.”
For any Almost Famous fan, this is the ultimate collection, a vibrant, reverberating reminder of the ways rock ‘n’ roll can break your heart and bust your chops–but also the music’s power to set you free.
Limited Edited Uber Box set for release July 9, full tracklist below
One of the most enchanting new voices in pop music, Japan-born singer/songwriter Grace Aimi has released her eagerly awaited debut EP PICNIC. Out today via Capitol Records, PICNIC showcases the 20-year-old artist’s bright and airy but emotionally honest brand of R&B-leaning pop.
True to its title, PICNIC embodies a beautifully breezy sound, perfectly capturing the sensation of lazing about in the sun with your friends and loved ones. At the same time, the EP’s six songs often find Grace reflecting on her experience in heartbreak, revealing her deep sensitivity and radiantly hopeful outlook. Through her music, she wants to show people there is a way to go through something bad and still come out happy, “I can feel sad or lonely, but there is a perfect world out there that I just need to go find,” says Grace.
Merging the intimacy and imagination of bedroom-pop with the lush and languid grooves of R&B, PICNIC includes previously released singles like Rainbow; (a soulful and shimmering track built on trap-pop beats), True Feelings; (a sweetly melancholy piece laced with bluesy acoustic guitar work), and My Eyes; (a piano-driven song that landed on Apple Music’s New in Pop playlist). In addition, PICNIC opens with Grace’s debut single Eternal Sunshine; a gorgeously quirky meditation on the meaning of happiness. All throughout the EP, Grace shows her gift for crafting unforgettable melodies, as well as her soft and subtle but endlessly commanding vocal presence.
Hailing from Okinawa, Grace considers her homeland essential to her sensibilities as an artist. “I come from an island that was decimated during World War II, yet people here are beautifully resilient, genuinely happy,” she says. “I’ve been raised in an environment where you find the good and move forward. I want to share that Okinawan spirit.”
Tracklist for PICNIC by Grace Aimi:
Eternal Sunshine
Open
Friend Zone
Rainbow
My Eyes
True Feelings
About Grace Aimi
Twenty-year-old biracial Gen Z songstress Grace Aimi began her career with her brother posting covers in both Japanese and English on their YouTube channel, Gracie and Gabe. Grace’s radiant but raspy voice complemented her brother playing his ukulele as they performed covers of artists like Ed Sheeran, Anne-Marie, and Post Malone, among others. Their videos quickly garnered buzz, earning over 10M views in total before Grace made her debut as a solo artist. In August 2020, Grace released her summery debut single, Eternal Sunshine; (a track produced by Chaki Zulu, who’s known for his work with Japan’s hottest hip-hop artists). With her debut EP due soon, Grace’s global upbringing and angelic yet husky vocals make her a force to be reckoned with.
REZZ RELEASES NEW TRACK TASTE OF YOU FEAT. DOVE CAMERON
DJ and producer Rezz releases her new track Taste of You feat. multi-hyphenate recording artist and actress Dove Cameron via RCA Records. This is Rezz’s and Dove’s first collaboration together.
Rezz says, “Dove slapped on this and I fuckin love it.”
Dove Cameron says, “I’ve been a fan of Rezz forever so when she asked me to collaborate, I lost my shit. One of my fav songs I’ve ever done.”
Earlier this year, Rezz released Sacrificial feat. PVRIS along with a music video. Alternative Press praised the track by calling it “the perfect blend of both artists’ strengths and distinct artistry” and EDM.com said “It’s both sinister and ethereal in tone, expertly combining elements of rock and electronica into one powerhouse single.
About Rezz
26-year-old Canadian DJ/producer Isabelle Rezazadeh AKA Rezz has racked up tens of millions of streams, sold out legendary venues and headlined top festivals around the world. She oozes originality and produces genre-bending electronic works, striking a sharp balance between bass-heavy and minimal tech compositions. Her first independent project – the adventurous Beyond The Senses EP – was released in 2019 and garnered praise from Alternative Press, SPIN and Billboard who called it “her most impactful project to date” and went on to receive The JUNO Award for Electronic Album of the Year in 2020. She graced the cover of Billboard’s 2019 Dance Issue and has been attributed as being at the forefront of the dance and rock music crossover. 2020 marked a banner year for the producer who released her first single through RCA Records “Someone Else” with Grabbitz which has garnered over 36 million streams worldwide and reached #15 on Alt Radio in the US and #1 in Canada. Alternative Press praised the song upon its release, including it as the lead track in their weekly playlist. They called the video “another high point in Rezz’s canon,” saying, “…the song evokes a sinister groove that will appeal to dance music devotees as well as industrial rivetheads…” Rezz is heavily featured in a documentary called “Underplayed,” available on Amazon Prime Video, which highlights the current issues female DJs face in the dance industry.
About Dove Cameron
Twenty-three-year-old award-winning triple threat Dove Cameron launched her solo music career last fall with singles “Waste” and “Bloodshot,” which received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and more. Followed by the release of her first collaboration with rapper/singer/songwriter BIA. Dove released “We Belong” last summer, which is featured in the trailer for the highly anticipated film After We Collided. Most recently, she released her latest single “LazyBaby” which has over 10 million streams to date.
Dove has starred alongside Renée Fleming in “The Light in the Piazza” at the Los Angeles Opera, which followed their performance in London last summer. She also reprised her role as Mal in Disney’s franchise Descendants last summer. She starred as Cher in the Off-Broadway production of Amy Heckerling’s Clueless, The Musical produced by The New Group and in Netflix’s Dumplin’ with Jennifer Aniston. She’s appeared in Marvel’s Agents of Shield on ABC, NBC’s Hairspray Live!, as Amber von Tussle, and in the film Barely Lethal with Hailee Steinfeld, Jessica Alba and Samuel L. Jackson. Most recently, it has been announced that she will be playing Bubbles in the new Powerpuff Girls live action series. Dove got her start playing the dual twin role as both title characters in Disney’s Liv and Maddie, which went on to complete four seasons. Her double performance garnered her a 2018 Daytime Emmy.
