ARTIST FEATURE
Bruno Mars Makes History: Holds Record As First Ever Artist With Five RIAA Diamond Certified Songs
Multiple GRAMMY® Award winner Bruno Mars has made history as the first artist ever to receive five RIAA diamond certified singles. Mars’ That’s What I Like” and “When I Was Your Man” have both been diamond certified, selling and streaming over 10 million copies and bringing his total certifications to five. This follows the diamond certifications of “Just the Way You Are, “Grenade,” and “Uptown Funk!(Mark Ronson)” Furthermore, “Just the Way You Are” is twelve times multi-platinum, “Uptown Funk!” and “When I Was Your Man” are eleven times multi-platinum, and “Grenade” and “That’s What I Like” are ten times multi-platinum.
“Congratulations to Bruno Mars – the first artist with five Diamond Single Awards in the history of RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Program! This milestone is a testament to Bruno’s unstoppable creative genius and the incredible partnership he has built with the team at Atlantic Records,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “What Bruno has accomplished is just extraordinary. Fewer than 60 Diamond Single Awards have ever been awarded – and Bruno now has five of them!”
This record-breaking announcement closely follows the success of Silk Sonic’s debut single “Leave the Door Open.” The song returns for the second week to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is Mars’ eighth #1 track on the Hot 100. Additional #1 hits include “That’s What I Like,” “Just The Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out Of Heaven,” “When I Was Your Man,” “Nothin’ On You (B.O.B)” “Uptown Funk! (Mark Ronson).” Currently ascending airplay charts at multi-format radio outlets around the world, “Leave the Door Open” has over 702 million global streams with its official video hitting over 222.5 million views. Silk Sonic made their debut performance with “Leave The Door Open” and served up a powerful tribute to Little Richard at the GRAMMY® Awards.
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Kimberly Dawn Digs Deep in New Single, Speaking Out on Mental Illness
May is national Mental Health Awareness month, and country artist Kimberly Dawn will be releasing her new single “The Bottle” co-written with Jeff Cohen, multi-award-winning songwriter on May 6th, with a message about mental health following a year in which many have suffered. Dawn has committed to sharing her own personal story and encouraging others to participate in the “You are Not Alone” campaign with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The Nashville-based singer/songwriter is best known for setting real life to music in original songs like “‘93” and award-nominated “Slow Dancin’ in the Dark.” In her latest release, “The Bottle,” Dawn gives voice to the pain of so many struggling with depression and loneliness, bravely confronting the often-stigmatized topic of mental health in a heartfelt, soulful ballad. “We all live alone with our mistakes,” Dawn sings in her newest title: “hanging onto hope it ain’t too late — and while I’m waiting on a second chance, watching water slip through my hands.” Behind the song itself lies a hopeful message of courage and connection to community. She intends to spread the word in partnership with NAMI, the largest grassroots mental health organization in the US providing advocacy, education, support, and public awareness. The goal: a better life for all who struggle with mental health challenges. Through their 2021 campaign, “You Are Not Alone,” the group invites the American public to share true stories of struggle and success in managing mental illness. Along with educating the broader public on the rising issue within our country, Dawn’s mission in joining with NAMI is to inspire hope and decrease feelings of isolation. “Over a year since Coronavirus first arrived, people are struggling more than ever with loneliness and disconnection,” says Dawn. “This song is meant to be a powerful reminder that we all need help sometimes. There’s no shame in reaching out to friends when you’re in need — and let’s strive to be that voice of support in the lives of others.” Find “The Bottle” on Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora beginning May 6, 2021. Learn more about Canadian-born singer/songwriter Kimberly Dawn and explore the latest releases, show dates, music videos, articles, and more at www.OfficialKimberlyDawn.com. Join Dawn’s growing Instagram community @OfficallyKimberlyDawn for daily inspiration, plus a peek into the life of a talented country artist and mother of four. About Kimberly Dawn: Kimberly Dawn is a country singer/ songwriter using her natural talent for storytelling and music to express an authentic message of perseverance, humility, courage, and resilience. Through original songs like “Cadillac Lovers” and “Slow Dancin’ in the Dark” — nominated for Best Country Song at the 2019 Hollywood Music in Media Awards — the Canadian-born musician shares timeless stories of real-life triumph in the never-ending struggle to find bold purpose and powerful self-love. As a mother of four, Dawn’s personal journey toward creating inner strength and balance on the road to living out her passion is one to which many women can relate, and one that she feels particularly suited to tell. “All through growing up, raising a family, and finding myself, music got me past the most difficult times. If my song gives someone else strength to get through the day, then I’ve done what I set out to do.” Dawn earned her stripes opening for Wilson Phillips in 2015, along with performances at Los Angeles’ House of Blues and celebrity red-carpet charity events. She has also featured on popular podcasts such as Stripdt Down with Ali Levine and All About You. Don’t miss her brand new single, “The Bottle” — set to drop May 6th — or her weekly blog at www.OfficialKimberlyDawn.com, where she shares the inspirational experiences behind the music. Get a daily dose of Kimberly Dawn now on Spotify and follow along with 50,000 fans on Instagram @OfficialKimberlyDawn. About the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Envisioning a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares, NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. Now the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, NAMI began as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979. It has since blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an alliance of more than 600 local Affiliates and 48 State Organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. Learn more at NAMI.org and discover the 2021 “You Are Not Alone” campaign at NotAlone.NAMI.org.
Rob Georg: Professional Equestrian Athlete To Country Music Star
Country music has always been regarded as an American sound bred in the southern regions, but if fans have learned anything from the likes of Keith Urban, Country music can come up from anywhere in the world. This leads us to the German radio cowboy himself, Rob Georg. Very few would imagine a cowboy from Germany, but Rob Georg just does not wear the label, he lives the lifestyle. He spent the first chapter of his life as a professional equestrian athlete in the discipline of cutting. Here cowboys work cattle from horseback, all in true Country fashion. He has won various championship titles that have led him to participate in the highly endowed tournament, The World Series. For an entire decade Georg was traveling across American cutting arenas with his trainer Dean Terry. With the many miles spent together on the highways, the two soon connected a deep friendship. When Terry passed away in January 2018 and Georg’s beloved soul horse “Primetime Shorty” also crossed the rainbow bridge just one month later, a world broke down for the cowboy. To clear his head, he decided to take a break from ranch life. And so, the passionate amateur singer flew to Nashville “Music City U.S.A.” Tennessee to work on his singing skills with a professional vocal coach Kristin K. Smith (Katie Mac, Jilian Steele, Casey Derhak, Smithfield, and Josh Dorr to name just a few). Encouraged by her words, Georg began recording his music and never looked back. His debut single “Push That Horn”, a tribute which he wrote in memory of Dean Terry, was released in June 2018 and is still being played in every cutting arena in the U.S. Since then, Georg has released several Country singles further demonstrating his songwriting talent, as well as his vocal prowess. Georg also knows how to captivate his audience live, whether on his first U.S. tour from Denver to Seattle, on stages on Nashville Broadway scene or the biggest Country music events in Europe, such as the Country Music Meeting Berlin or the Western Experience in the Netherlands – the cowboy casts a spell over the audience. In 2020 Georg’s debut album “Radio Cowboy” was released to much praise which to date has racked up more than a million streams on Spotify alone. The official videos have been viewed over 2. 7 million times. So far, five singles have been released to radio, reaching an incredible number of 17 #1 positions on various U.S. charts. His latest radio release “This Old House” just spent two weeks at #1 in the U.S. National Radio Hits Country chart and has made the jump to #1 on the New Music Weekly charts. Fans and music critics are equally enthusiastic:
“honestly, there isn’t a sub-par track on the album, mostly because of the wealthy, enticing voice of Rob Georg, oh so appealing.” – Rawckus Magazine
“… Raises the bar in terms of passion, dedication and commitment …” – Artist Tack Magazine “Rob Georg’s skills and talent are unquestionable, and every song is more beautiful than the last” – Indie Pulse Magazine “… A great, very catching album, which is certainly one of the strongest “German” productions of the past 10 years …” – country.de (Germany’s largest Country Music magazine) Georg had an insanely good year 2020 – with his album release, he not only celebrated chart placements, invitations to special live concerts, such as the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville in February, or streaming numbers – he also won his first International Music Award at The New Music Awards “Breakthrough Country Artist of the Year”, and the Fair Play Country Music Red Carpet Award in the Netherlands “Amazing Male Voice Country Pop Original”. So, it will not surprise you that Georg and his co-writers are already busy writing tracks for the second album. In his new project, a Spotify podcast called “Country Music Ain’t Dead,” of which the first episode was released in early December 2020, he supports other Country artists from around the world by interviewing them and then introducing them to his 250,000+ social media followers. Management companies and artists are jockeying for interview slots on the bi-weekly artist talk, which is now booked full into late summer 2021 and is published bi-monthly. But after all, he still is the cowboy that he used to be. Together with his wife Mel Georg, he runs a ranch in the Odenwald forest, Germany with horses, cattle, sheep and a bunch of border collies, which Mel breeds and trains to be stockdogs. Asked why he’s still doing the chores himself, Georg answers “the animals are my life, and i can’t think of doing something else. This is where i find my inspiration. This is what keeps me grounded.” Georg’s songs reflect the life he leads and the stories he lives to tell. ——————————————————————————————- About “This Gift Called Life”: I will never forget that day, it was January 3rd, 1999. It was the day our daughter Lisa was born. It was the day when i discovered a new meaning of life. A new responsibility and knew kind of love that I never felt before. All you parents understand what i am talking about. From day one I had a very deep connection to my daughter which only got deeper through the following years even though we had not only fun times, especially when she was a teenager. But i think that’s part of it, and it cannot be easy always. As a father, you carry this fear in your heart: “what if you give everything you can, but you fail as a father?” I mean, it was kind of an experiment. I never raised a child before and you never know if you do things right. A child does not come with an instruction manual. The years passed by so fast and she will be 21 this year. Looking at her as this young lady that she is now, I feel more than proud to be the dad of this wonderful person that she has become today. It seems like i have done everything right. She has finished school and is a make-up artist today. Lisa is a blessing to her grandparents which she takes care of two times a week by shopping for groceries and taking them to doctor’s appointments. She tends to the ranch and all the animals with my future son-in-law when my wife and I are recording in Nashville or when we tour. She understands the meaning of the word “family” and that makes me so proud because family is the biggest treasure in the world. No matter what will come I know that my wife and I have prepared her in the best way to walk her way in life. With this song, I wanted to say “Thank You” for all you are and will be, you are my Gift Called Life.
Tara Kelly Releases Fierce Visual for Heartbreak Anthem “The River”
Emerging pop-Americana artist, Tara Kelly, has released a new music video for her single “The River.” This dynamic folk/pop-country crossover is a stomp and holler break-up anthem with a melodic structure bound to catch any pop listener’s ear. Her empowered female voice illuminates her lover’s infidelity, while the lyrics portray a dark and stormy dive into a cascade of deception. “The River” is available now to download and stream, and watch on YouTube.
Co-starring Hunter Garner, the moody and vulnerable video follows Tara Kelly as she discovers and contemplates her partner’s infidelity. Shots of the happy couple together are juxtaposed by somber yet stunning frames of Kelly as she comes to terms with the reality of her rocky relationship. Putting a new spin on cosmic country, Tara Kelly’s songwriting style evokes a dark and mysterious edge as her lyrics reflect a gamut of lived experiences from heartache to mental health awareness, all of which are perfectly displayed in the striking video. “I’ve been writing and experimenting with sounds and deeply learning lessons about myself as an artist,” she says. “It has allowed me to collaborate more effectively, speak my truth with kindness, and build my dream team of writers and creatives.” Co-written with Stefan Pajaro-van de Stadt and produced by Alex Wilke, the driving acoustic guitar line in “The River” is laced with pedal steel licks, a cinematic violin, and full harmonies. The production is underpinned by the soft sounds of a storm rolling through, parallel to her southern gothic storytelling.
Hailing from a rural town in southern New Jersey, Kelly moved to Los Angeles to write and perform, securing a show at the iconic venue, Troubadour. Kelly was also asked personally by Rhett Miller of Old 97’s to sing his hit duet “Fireflies” with him on a stop in Los Angeles after posting a cover of the song on her Instagram. Kelly’s sound is deeply influenced by cosmic American music, fathered by Gram Parsons in the late 1960s and popularized by the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Brandi Carlile. She also draws inspiration from bands like Fleet Foxes, The Civil Wars, and Mandolin Orange; while her songwriting is shaped by the word-play of Kacey Musgraves, the raw vulnerability of James Bay, and the unabashed and fierce-feminine power of Maren Morris.
Highlighting themes of infidelity, heartbreak, shame, and love - Tara Kelly’s epochal video “The River,” is bound to make an impact. With her desert-chic appearance stemming from Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin’s fashion influences, this folk-Americana singer puts a new spin on romance and modern folklore. Download or stream “The River” on Spotify and watch the new music video on YouTube. Keep up with Tara Kelly’s musical journey on social media @tarakellymusic and subscribe to her YouTube channel, Tara Kelly.
Primadonna Reeds Nominated For 2021 New Music Awards
The Primadonna Reeds are honored today as an Official Nominee at the 2021 New Music Awards sponsored by New Music Weekly Magazine. The Primadonna Reeds’ 2020 hit single “Glitter Girl” placed high on both Top 40 and AC/HotAC charts. The song was also featured in the highly acclaimed feature film, “Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones”. The Primadonna Reeds is an independent band led by the songwriting and performing team of JC Ryder and Karena Reiter, and recorded at the The Townhouse Studio in Harlem, New York City by internationally known recording engineer Vlad Moshnin. The band’s eclectic repertoire of original pop songs derives from such diverse influences as punk rock, flamenco, funk, blues and classic rock. Karena, the band’s beautiful diva was a promoter at CBGB’s and other New York clubs during the heyday of punk rock and now provides lead and back-up vocals as well as being the group’s primary lyricist. JC’s music writing and solid rhythm guitar playing stem from his background as an awarded classical and flamenco guitarist. Lead guitar fireworks are provided by Quincy Sheppard who is clearly destined to be a star instrumentalist. JC’s hard driving lead vocal on “Glitter Girl” nails the central idea of the song…”Welcome to the bitter world, you’re hungry for the glitter, girl…”, a lyric superbly crafted by Karena. The Primadonna Reeds’ recently released single, “So Far So Good” featuring Karena as lead vocalist. “So Far So Good” is currently impacting radio nationally. Be on the look out for a host of new material in the pipeline for release later this year.
Wu-Tang’s RZA Talks Second Chances and Cut Throat City Film
Wu-Tang’s RZA Talks Second Chances and Cut Throat City Film
By Allison Kugel
As leader of the legendary multi-platinum selling rap group, The Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, or Bobby, as he is known to close friends and colleagues, had a particular way of putting beats to razer-sharp lyrics that made you feel part of a song’s creative process. Fans feel RZA’s music, both from Wu-Tang and his solo and collaborative efforts, on a cellular level.
An urban-bred intellectual who expresses through a mic or camera lens, RZA is considered prophetic to his community and perhaps a unicorn to mainstream culture. With a penchant for Eastern philosophy as is evident in the name Wu-Tang Clan and lyrical nods to Shaolin Kung Fu, RZA shared, “One thing I’m looking forward to doing in the near future… I’ve never been to India, and I have to check that one off,” referring to the top item on his bucket list. I recommended he connect with Indian author and yogi, Jaggi Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru, when he makes the trip. RZA is so well-read and well-versed, it felt novel giving him someone and something beyond his scope to Google.
As a film director, RZA paints complex portraits with colorful multi-faceted characters that inspire engagement and empathy. His latest directorial effort, the allegorical Cut Throat City (streaming on Netflix) features an all-star cast and examines the lives of people living in New Orleans’ economically depressed Lower Ninth Ward in the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The historically disastrous storm broke through poorly constructed levees, flooding out the city’s most vulnerable residents, and leaving them with little hope or help from FEMA. Much like our current pandemic, Katrina shone a light on shameful racial and economic inequities. Though the film’s story is a sobering one and the lead character’s decisions are morally ambiguous, he insists the film portrays “a story of redemption,” with parallels to his own life.
“No one [in this film] is completely bad and no one is completely good. They were all flawed. It exemplified their humanity and it comes down to a choice. The theme of [Cut Throat City] examines the importance of dreams against a backdrop of survival.”
Reflecting on his early days in the spotlight, RZA denounces some of his youthful bravado as he recites a trademark Wu-Tang lyric for me, “Wu-Yang Clan ain’t nuthing ta fuck wit,” and laughs out loud at an ego-driven existence that took center stage early on. It’s now tempered, he says, by a need to serve something greater than himself. Throughout our conversation, RZA’s words are prophetic, culturally provocative and spiritually centered. We talked about a life lived outside the matrix of material trappings; a topic initiated by him and encouraged by me.
Allison Kugel: Do you believe anything is possible, or that circumstances dictate our destiny?
RZA: Wow, that’s a strong question. I think that persistence overcomes resistance. Therefore, every possibility is actually expressed in our children’s wishes. The things we wish for as young minds and things we thrive in our spirits for, I think they make that which seems impossible, possible. The whole Greek study of Icarus and the idea of men flying… that seems like it would be magic or some other thing. We fly every day now in many different variations of flight, for example, flights that leave our basic atmosphere and travel across the whole world. So, what seems impossible, I think positivity and possibilities are probably boundless.
Allison Kugel: What lessons can be learned from poverty, and what lessons can be learned from wealth?
RZA: Poverty and wealth are two very different circumstances, but those are physical circumstance. I think we have to be conscious to not have the physical circumstance truly shake our spiritual and our personality. I grew up in poverty, but I was never unhappy. Joy and love were in our household. My mother was a single mother, but joy and love made up for the lack of food and shelter. The point I make in saying that is, of course, in a capitalist society our freedoms are compartmentalized. Therefore, you could be physically free and not spiritually free. You can be spiritually and physically free, and not economically free. Since economic freedom is a requirement for proper food, clothing, and shelter, it can become something that transcends the physical, and bleeds into the spiritual. If life was simple, everything we want is already provided for us by the planet. There is nothing on this planet that we eat, ingest, take, dance with, fly with, that is not from the planet. It’s just that when you are dealing with certain [economic] systems, they take control over us. Even in some religious traditions they have ways of controlling what is naturally ours. I’m out here in New Jersey in the woods right now, and I just saw some deer walk by. A whole family [of deer] eating whatever they ate and they keep walking.
Allison Kugel: I had a similar moment when I looked at a family of birds outside my house, and they don’t need anything. They’ve figured all of it out for free, on their own.
RZA: Yes! There is a beautiful verse in the Holy Quran that speaks on that. I’ll paraphrase it. It says something like, “The birds and the bees are taking care of every day with no worries. Do you think Allah would do less for man, his greatest creation?” Everything they have access to, we have access to. It’s that we grabbed control over it and denied access to certain people. That’s playing into the theme of my film (RZA’s latest directorial effort, Cut Throat City, streaming on Netflix).
Allison Kugel: Yup! That’s why I’m asking about it…
RZA: One of the biggest issues of the situation in this film that I hope the audience catches is that Blink (played by Shameik Moore) goes in with his wife (played by Kat Graham) and child for help from FEMA and they ask, “What is your salary?” She says, “About $32,000.” Not a bad salary and not a great salary…
Allison Kugel: It’s a hard salary. It’s a salary that would be very challenging to raise a family on. Would you agree?
RZA: Yes, I would agree. And within that salary she’s paying a third of that in taxes. Her tax money is paid into a system to protect her when the time comes that you need the protection. Now here it is, I’m in need of what I paid into and I’m being denied because of my community or because of my race. That is the equation we overlook in our capitalist society. The money that they spend every year is not their money, it’s our money that they are controlling.
Allison Kugel: After watching your film, Cut Throat City, which depicts the lives of people living in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward in 2005, post-Hurricane Katrina, I researched and read that in 1965 there was also a catastrophic hurricane in the area. Same thing happened, where the levees were not maintained properly and they broke. They already knew there was a strong possibility it could happen again, and yet they did nothing to protect these people.
RZA: The line that Ethan Hawke gives in the film, he talks about how it also happened in the early 1900s, but it was more intentional. They let the levees break so the water could flood the lower land and it wouldn’t spread up to the white districts. The thing about separation of people who are of color or [lower] economics, it has existed for a long time in our country and there is no relief and no delivery from the situation. Even if the Lower Ninth was built to be low income, as your city is growing and your tax dollars are coming into your city, those resources should be used to ensure everyone’s safety and security. In the beginning of the city’s history, I understand. I started in a small apartment when I left my house. I was nineteen years old and my mother said the time had come to go. I started in a small apartment and (Wu-Tang Clan member) Ghostface [Killah] was my roommate. We had another roommate, my cousin Rob. We lived there, three guys in a one bedroom, and we stayed there until we raised enough money to get a two bedroom (laugh). You know what I mean?
Allison Kugel: (Laughs) Yes! I do know what you mean.
RZA: We kept going, and it even got to the point where one of us could move out and one of us still stayed, and that lasted until we hit it big. The point is, it’s okay to start at the bottom and struggle, but when there is no relief from the struggle, that is when it becomes insidious, evil, and oppressive. Like I said, the money that FEMA was giving in 2005 for Hurricane Katrina Relief was the money that came from the people. It wasn’t [FEMA’s] money.
Allison Kugel: I’m assuming you spent time in New Orleans prior to directing Cut Throat City?
RZA: I traveled there many times and spent three weeks studying the city. This film wasn’t just about these four guys in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was the fact that this was a story about what happens when your aspirations turn into desperation. That I know, that I’ve felt, and that I’ve lived. I come from a single mother household and so does my whole crew. Seven of the nine members [of Wu-Tang Clan] are that. In this film, Blink (the film’s lead character) was a nerd, in all reality. He was an academic and went to college. He had a talent, you know?
Allison Kugel: That is what is so heartbreaking about this story. Here is a guy who went to Tulane University, who has extraordinary talent for drawing and storytelling, and it’s wasted talent. It’s a squandered life. But then at the end of the film, there are two different endings. Explain that…
RZA: A lot of people have been tweeting about that and asking what’s going on. The artist in me left it up for interpretation. If you go back and look at the film closely, you’ll see that there is an egg in there that should answer the questions. Maybe people missed it, but the reason why I did that is because in life, very few of us get second chances. But, what happens if you give a man a second chance? I, myself, am a second chance-er. When I read this story, I felt the character Blink all in my system. I felt his pain. Then I realized I actually was an artist and a smart guy who got caught up in gangs and the streets, and ended up facing eight years in jail, but I won my trial. When I won my trial, I changed my life. I focused on study and making myself better, looking at my creativity, and I formed The Wu-Tang Clan. I became a success story, because I was given a second chance.
Allison Kugel: Sometimes a single decision can change everything…
RZA: And I wasn’t bad. A lot of people are not bad, they just made a bad decision. [I wish] the criminal justice system could look at it that way. Most of the guys in the Wu were the same. We were all arrested felons or something like that, and we had a second chance. I wanted to express that in this film. In the original screenplay, though, I have to be honest, he dies. But as a director I get to tell the story and I get to shape it. I wanted to shape it with optimism. I said, “I’m going to leave some optimism there and let the people who watch it decide, which pill would they take?” In the film the detective tells him, “A pen will get you further than a gun.” I’m living proof. It was a pen that got me further than anytime I was trying to do something foolish with a gun.
Allison Kugel: Speaking of which pill to take. You strike me as a guy who operates outside the matrix. I know you’re part of the Five Percent Nation. Do you sometimes feel like you don’t quite sync up with the everyday person?
RZA: No. I don’t feel like I don’t sync up. I feel blessed that I see the beauty of what I see. Whether anybody else sees it or not, it’s okay. It’s not like, “Man, wow, they’re missing it.” Even as a vegan and never having a yearning for steak, never having the idea in the back of my head of the pain I’m inflicting on someone else; it’s a very liberating feeling to not be the cause of pain and turmoil to any living thing. I actually feel more required to do what I’m supposed to do, so that if there is positivity in what I’m doing, may others see it. They’ll see it in their own given time, and I’m okay with that.
Allison Kugel: Do you want to explain what the Five Percent Nation is?
RZA: I’m going to tell you something they taught us in studying the lessons of The Five Percent, and it is sometimes misunderstood. What they are trying to say when they say, “Five Percent,” is they took a number of 100% and they separated it into the different types of people in the world. They say that 10% of the people know the same things that the five percent know, but the 10% use it to control other people. They know that there’s falsehood. They know it’s a game, they know the rules of the game. They aren’t playing it, but they’re making everybody else play it. They say 85% of people are easily led in the wrong direction. The 10% will lead them in the wrong direction even though they know the right direction. Then there’s 5% of the people who know the right direction and they strive to teach it. Scientists who deal with quantum physics and the measurement of space, they say all the atoms in the entire universe only represent five percent of the universe.
Allison Kugel: And the rest is space.
RZA: The rest is space. It’s a mathematical equation. They taught us that we should all strive for the Twelve Jewels of Life which is: knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, food, clothing, shelter, love, peace, and happiness. If you have that, you’re rich. I honestly feel I have that, and to me, that is more valuable than anything that is out there. In my art, I try to express those qualities.
Allison Kugel: In the film who would you say was the most fun to direct, who was the most challenging, and who did you vibe with artistically?
RZA: Wow, it’s hard to separate such a great cast and great talents. Every one of us had our moments, like an all-star team. I can say that Kat Graham really shows that it’s not just beauty in her, but it’s her strength and expression. I’m glad that she became the anchor of that family, and she did it beautifully. She could have played it pretty and sexy. Even though she was beautiful on screen, it was natural. She was strong to go and fight for her man. Ethan Hawke, I felt like we were on a natural high working together with the way the ideas were flowing back and forth, and his choices of emotions. And as a fan, it was a joy to have Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes and Isaiah Washington come and work in my film.
Allison Kugel: Did you originally think Kat Graham was too pretty for this role?
RZA: No, that wasn’t a thought. I got lucky to get Kat. We had developed her role for another actress who became unavailable about two weeks before we were shooting. Then our agent said that Kat Graham read the script and was interested, and would I be interested to talk with her? We did a FaceTime and she said exactly what I needed to hear.
Allison Kugel: Which was?
RZA: She said to me, “The strength of this woman is in the pages, Bobby, and I want to bring you that strength.” It wasn’t about bringing beauty; it was about bringing me strength. Then when you look at T.I., he totally shocked me and blew my mind. T.I. also came into the cast late. I had been developing the film for five years, and I always wanted Method Man to play the role of Cousin, but he told me he wasn’t into the bad guy roles right now.
Allison Kugel: What do you want people to take away from the film, Cut Throat City, beyond being entertained?
RZA: I would like to think the people who see these four main characters in the film as criminals can now understand that they are a victim of circumstance. If we can walk away and understand that some people who are in bad situations are victims of circumstances, we can prevent the circumstances. I don’t know if that makes sense to you.
Allison Kugel: That makes sense.
RZA: How do we prevent the circumstances? Before I started the movie, I met with a guy who was locked up and he told me he read an article about me and he agreed with what he read about me. I asked him, “Which article was that?” He said it was an article where I said I was a nerd. And I was like, “Yes, I am. I like comic books. I like video games. I like chess.” He said, “I loved reading that about you, because I’m a nerd too!” This guy was serving 15 years for armed robbery. He was saying that really, he is also a creator, but there was no outlet for him. So he got caught up in a hustle. There was another guy that was in the cell with him who ended up fixing all the computers inside the jail, but he’s in for murder. I’m not justifying a murder, but he said that he was bullied and bullied and bullied. He was forced to fight, and once he fought it was like he became a cowboy.
Allison Kugel: Here is the question I ask everybody. What do you think you came into this world to learn, and what do you think you came here to teach in this lifetime?
RZA: Wow, that is a beautiful question. What did I come to learn? One thing I am learning is humility. Even though I may appeared, on the surface, to have it, it was something that I think I lacked. I was pretty conceited, really coming up. If you listen to my old music, I acted like, “I’m the greatest and everybody else is beneath me (laughs).”
Allison Kugel: Well, you were in your twenties, right?
RZA: Yes..
Allison Kugel: Hello! (laugh)
RZA: Exactly. But it’s good to understand that there is a universe out there. You can be a sun, but there’s other suns. But I do think what I’m destined to teach, if anything, is that you can be a living example of your own ideas. Through my art, I’ll be able to inspire and that’s the best thing. I think I was brought her to inspire. I was born to inspire.
RZA Photos Courtesy of CAA, Film Stills Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment/Netflix
Cut Throat City is currently streaming on Netflix. Follow RZA on Facebook and Instagram.
Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment and pop culture columnist and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com.
BREAKING AC/HOT AC NEWS
Bitchin’ Music Group Releases Blessings From Home, Vol. 2 by L.A. Edwards
Bitchin’ Music Group is happy to release their second album Blessings From Home: Volume 2 by L.A. Edwards. The band is composed of singer-songwriter L.A. Edwards, brothers Jesse (keys) and Harrison (drums) and Alex Vo (lead guitar). The album was produced by Ryan Hadlock (Lumineers, Vance Joy) at the legendary Bear Creek studio. Aiding them […]
Max Embers Reveals Lighthearted Vulnerability With New Single “Got To Get You”
LA singer-songwriter Max Embers released his latest single and music video “got to get you” on June 4. Written only a few days after his previous single “wildest dreams,” the new track reflects a different facet of the same topics; an overarching theme of introspection and soul-searching. These two releases serve as the teasers to Embers’ upcoming EP idyllwild, which was entirely sparked during a solo writing retreat in Idyllwild, CA.
Upon first glance, the song’s title may lead one to expect lyrics about wanting a relationship. However, Embers admits that the message is actually derived from the feeling of the never-ending process of getting to know yourself. “I've spent hours philosophizing about what it means to settle into yourself as you get older,” says Embers. “Coming closer and closer to the version of you that feels most authentic and real.” The song references everything Embers - and many others - discover in life: love, fulfillment, success, and escapes from reality.
Max Embers is an independent singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Born and raised in a small town in Germany, he won the internationally renowned music competition Jugend Musiziert shortly before graduating from High School. He went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of the leading contemporary music institutions in the world, where he had the privilege of sharing the stage with multi-platinum selling artist Paula Cole and Emmy, Tony Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Harry Belafonte. Since moving to Los Angeles, Max has worked with major label artists like Noah Cyrus, Felix Sandman, Joji, Matoma, Colton Dixon and renowned writers such as Grammy Award winning writers A-Rod Lambert and Anita McCloud.
In 2019, Max was a finalist on the premiere of NBC's Songland, performing his original song “Back Home” for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner John Legend and collaborating directly with three time Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Tedder with whom he co-wrote his single "Lookin' Up”. In the same year, he partnered up with the British label Frtyfve and the Movember foundation to release two records as part of the ‘Mo Sounds’ initiative. Max’s original music has garnered more than 5 million streams and his debut EP idyllwild is scheduled for summer 2021. Besides working as a songwriter with artists like Swedish Melodienfestivalen star Felix Sandman and Grammy nominee Noah Cyrus, his latest cuts include DJ features with Niiko x Swae, Bhaskar and Enkode, as well as the multi-language duet project “I Dare You” by American Idol winner and three time Grammy recipient Kelly Clarkson featuring the German pop-group Glasperlenspiel.
Andreas Moe’s Highly-Anticipated Pandemic EP – ‘All Our Worries Are Poems – Pt.1’
Critically acclaimed Swedish artist Andreas Moe released his highly anticipated EP All Our Worries Are Poems - Pt.1 on May 28th. Released via Cosmos Music, the EP is an uplifting collection of guitar-pop musings written during troubled times. It features brand new songs including the delicate heartfelt acoustic track “Rise & Fall” and the inspiring anthem “Wholeheartedly”, which finds Moe casting away worries with a huge emotive vocal surrounded by rich bluesy Americana guitar. The EP also features previously released singles including the liberating soaring pop track “Holding On” and the bright feel-good “Hey Lulu” - both of which were teasers for fans over the past few months and have been praised by top industry tastemakers including American Songwriter and Top Shelf Music Mag.
All Our Worries Are Poems – Pt. 1 is a deeply personal reflection of Andreas Moe over the past year as his genuine and sincere songwriting shine through with inescapable warm and glorious tones. Moe’s home-recorded and self-produced collection of songs came to fruition during isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic, which Moe says is some of his most genuine work yet. “I’m so excited to be able to release these new songs that were all born in the middle of a pandemic. I’ve always felt proud and connected to the music I put out because each song has its own story and journey, but I have to say, never before have I released music that I so genuinely feel reflects who I am and want to be as an artist,” says Moe.
As a five-time Platinum-certified songwriter, Moe has worked with artists around the world such as Avicii, John De Sohn, Tiesto, Cheat Codes, Omi & Sabrina Carpenter. Having opened for artists like Gabrielle Aplin, Kodaline and for John Mayer during The Search For Everything Tour performing at the famed O2 Arena in London and the Stockholm Globe Arena, Moe is an experienced performer - garnering millions of fans worldwide. In December 2019, Andreas Moe was invited to perform at the Avicii tribute concert in Stockholm alongside international stars including Rita Ora, David Guetta & Kygo in front of a 60,000 strong audience.
Andreas Moe boasts over half a million Spotify listeners with several of his singles charting over 10 million streams. Moe’s discography includes multiple chart-topping EPs (UK singer/songwriter charts) and several collaborations including a featured vocalist spot on Avicii’s single “Fade Into Darkness”. As a songwriter, Moe’s songwriting credits can be found on the Platinum selling albums of international artists such as Cheat Codes, Sabrina Carpenter, Tiesto, Tinie Tempah, Omi, Boyzone. His songs have been featured on American Idol, with 3 finalists choosing to sing his tracks on the show, the latest winning single on the Voice of USA December 2020 is a song called “Up From Here” written by Andreas, and Universal Pictures featured 4 of his tracks in their 2012 film The Knot. As one of Europe’s emergent leading songwriters, Moe is constantly working with some of the industry’s biggest names including Corey Sanders (Zedd / Katy Perry / Sigala / James Arthur), Jake Gosling, Brit nominated producer (Ed Sheeran / One Direction / Demi Lovato) and Ishi (Tinie Tempah “Written In The Stars”).
BREAKING COUNTRY NEWS
Country-Rock Storyteller, Jeremy McComb, Set to Release “Frontier Rock” EP on June 18, 2021
“Frontier Rock,” a six-song collection recorded by Jeremy McComb and produced by Nick Gibbens will be released via Average Joes Entertainment on June 18, 2021. Fans can pre-order/pre-save “Frontier Rock” on Friday, May 28, and instantly get the nostalgic new song, “Under Glass” written by McComb and Rick Huckaby. “Making this record was incredible,” commented McComb. “It […]
Bellamy Brothers Announce 2022 European Tour Dates
"Well known for maintaining a packed tour schedule that finds them performing all over the globe (Sounds Like Nashville)," the Bellamy Brothers are eager to announce rescheduled dates for their European tour. The iconic duo is set to perform multiple shows in Norway and Sweden in January of 2022 before returning in June of 2022 for additional dates in Norway, Faroe Islands, Austria and Switzerland. Full schedule below. Tickets for the January 2022 dates in Norway along with the June dates are available now, while tickets for the shows in Sweden will go on sale this September. For tickets and more information, visit BellamyBrothers.com/tour. When the stay-at-home orders took effect in March of 2020, the Bellamy Brothers were on the road with Blake Shelton for his Friends And Heroes Tour. They returned to their Florida homestead where their hit reality series "Honky Tonk Ranch" is filmed and stayed busy through a partnership with the Florida-based medical marijuana company Trulieve as well as the release of their Bucket List EP. Earlier this year, the Bellamys released the video for their "No Country Music For Old Men" collaboration with John Anderson, which has amassed over two million views and received praise from Rolling Stone Country, The Boot and Country Rebel. The video, shot by Derrek Kupish of dkupish productions, captures the country music icons lamenting on the loss of the old guard interspersed with shots of Nashville's historic landmarks and murals honoring the legends lost. To keep up with this on-the-move-duo, follow the Bellamy Brothers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and visit BellamyBrothers.com. BELLAMY BROTHERS 2022 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES Jan. 12 Kulturhuset Tromsø - Tromsø, Norway Jan. 13 Stormen Konserthusl - Bodø, Norway Jan. 14 Lillestrøm Kultursenter - Lillestrøm, Norway Jan. 15 Olavshallen - Trondheim, Norway Jan. 16 Maihaugsalen - Lillehammer, Norway Jan. 18 Oslo Konserthus - Oslo, Norway Jan. 19 Moss Kulturhus - Moss, Norway Jan. 20 Ibsenhuset - Skien, Norway Jan. 21 Radisson Blu Caledonia Hotel - Kristiansand, Norway Jan. 22 Radisson Blu Caledonia Hotel - Kristiansand, Norway Jan. 23 Stavanger Konserthus - Stavanger, Norway Jan. 25 Festiviteten Haugesund Theater & Concert Hall - Haugesund, Norway Jan. 26 Grieghallen - Bergen, Norway Jan. 28 Rada Rum - Molnlycke, Sweden Jan. 29 Slagthuset - Malmo, Sweden June 9 Kopervik Festival - Kopervik, Norway June 11 Sorvags Country & Blues Festival - Sørvágur, Faroe Islands June 14 Globe Wien - Vienna, Austria June 15 Stefaniensaal - Graz, Austria June 19 Design Center - Linz, Austria June 20 Congress - Salzburg, Austria June 25 Trucker & Country Festival - Interlaken, Switzerland BELLAMY BROTHERS 2021 TOUR DATES June 17 Arena Theatre - Houston, Texas June 18 Country City Saloon & Grill - Cameron, Texas June 19 Sundance Hall - Canton, Texas June 24 Steiner Ranch Steakhouse - Austin, Texas June 25 The Venue at Freiheit Village - New Braunfels, Texas June 26 House Pasture Cattle Co. - Concan, Texas July 1 Boot Barn Hall - Colorado Springs, Colo. July 2 Boot Barn Hall - Colorado Springs, Colo. July 3 Meeker Range Call Celebration & Rodeo - Meeker, Colo. July 7 Houston, Texas - PRIVATE July 9 Country Concert - Fort Loramie, Ohio July 10 Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, Tenn. July 15 Putters 'N' Gutters - Lampasas, Texas July 16 Music On Main Concert Series - Denison, Texas July 17 Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center - Midland, Texas July 23 Anderson Bash - Alexandria, Minn. July 24 Elroy Park - Elroy, Wis. July 29 Doc's Fest / Doc's Bar & Grill - Abilene, Texas July 30 Honey Grove, Texas - PRIVATE Aug. 5 Winnemucca, Nev. - PRIVATE Aug. 7 Richland County Fair & Rodeo - Sidney, Mont. Aug. 8 Richard Cromwell Memorial Rodeo Grounds - Darby, Mont. Aug. 14 Dunlap, Tenn. - PRIVATE Aug. 19 American Music Theatre - Lancaster, Pa. Aug. 20 St. Rose Summer Concert - Monroeville, Ind. Aug. 21 Red Barn Convention Center - Winchester, Ohio Aug. 26 Dade City, Fla. - PRIVATE Aug. 27 Governors Gun Club - Kennesaw, Ga. Aug. 28 Union County Opry - Maynardville, Tenn. Sept. 3 Thunderbird Casino - Norman, Okla. Sept. 4 Coyote Concert Series - Gail, Texas Sept. 5 Historic Shuler Theater - Raton, N.M. Sept. 6 Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club - Alto, N.M. Sept. 9 Arlington Music Hall - Arlington, Texas Sept. 10 Main Street Crossing - Tomball, Texas Sept. 11 Main Street Crossing - Tomball, Texas Sept. 16 Broken Bow, Okla. - SEMI-PRIVATE Sept. 17 Pope County Fair - Russellville, Ark. Sept. 18 Boom Days - Fort Payne, Ala. Sept. 23 Steiner Ranch Steakhouse - Austin, Texas Sept. 24 Austin, Texas - PRIVATE Sept. 25 Buck's Backyard - Buda, Texas Sept. 30 Waller County Fairgrounds - Hempstead, Texas Oct. 1 Fort Worth, Texas - PRIVATE Oct. 2 Rocheport, Mo. - PRIVATE Oct. 8 Georgia Mountain Fair Inc. - Hiawassee, Ga. Oct. 9 Cumberland River Music Festival - Gainesboro, Tenn. Oct. 15 The Mansion Theatre - Branson, Mo. Oct. 16 Neon Moon Restaurant & Social Club - Yantis, Texas Oct. 17 Texas Music Festival - Yorktown, Texas Oct. 22 Odawa Casino - Petoskey, Mich. Oct. 23 W.C. Peterson Auditorium - Ishpeming, Mich. Oct. 28 Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre - New Braunfels, Texas Oct. 29 Prosper, Texas - PRIVATE Oct. 30 Lawn, Texas - PRIVATE Oct. 31 Autumn Daze - Ennis, Texas Nov. 5 Southern Junction Live - Royse City, Texas Nov. 6 McSwain Theatre - Ada, Okla. Nov. 10 Wickenburg Community Center - Wickenburg, Ariz. Nov. 11 Higley Center - Gilbert, Ariz. Nov. 12 Old Tombstone Western Theme Park - Tombstone, Ariz. Nov. 13 Warehouse 25 Sixty-Five - Grand Junction, Colo. Nov. 19 Northern Lights Casino - Walker, Minn. Nov. 20 Dakota Magic Casino - Hankinson, N.D. Nov. 26 Margaritaville Resort Casino - Bossier City, La. Nov. 27 Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, Texas Dec. 4 The Old Coupland Inn & Dancehall - Coupland, Texas Dec. 9 Trilby, Fla. - PRIVATE Dec. 11 Florida Cracker Christmas - Brooksville, Fla. Dec. 18 Southbound Bar & Grill - Springfield, Mo. Dec. 31 Sugar Creek Casino - Hinton, Okla. ABOUT BELLAMY BROTHERS David and Howard Bellamy continue to prove the trail they’ve ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself—music that is now celebrating more than 40 years of success. The road that started on the pop music charts in the ‘70’s, took a winding turn into country music in the ‘80’s, paving the way for duos to come, such as Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich and The Judds. “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me),” originally scrawled on a dinner napkin by David, rocketed them to the top of the country charts the way “Let Your Love Flow,” had done in the pop market just a few years earlier. It proved to be the first of a string of 14 No. 1 singles in the U.S. alone. They’re the only U.S. country music act who've toured in India, Sri Lanka, New Caledonia and Qatar. The Bellamy Brothers hold the record in both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association Awards (CMA) for the most duo nominations. Numerous Grammy nods have also been directed toward the brothers. The Bellamys are also opening up their lives to television audiences with their reality show, “Honky Tonk Ranch.” Each episode captivates viewers by the unpredictable misadventures the Bellamys face while balancing their globe-trotting touring schedule while running their sprawling family ranch in south Florida. “Honky Tonk Ranch” is executive produced by David Bellamy and directed, shot and edited by Derrek Kupish, CEO/founder of dkupish productions.
Country Artist Kimberly Dawn Announces New Album “Canyon Road”
Kimberly Dawn, a country artist known for her compelling lyricism, is set to release her next album on July 9, 2021. Available now for pre-order on OfficialKimberlyDawn.com, “Canyon Road” is providing a new listening experience for dedicated fans. The album features eight songs that not only put her raw talent on display but also showcase Dawn’s passionate storytelling abilities. Dawn’s soulful energy draws country fans of all kinds into her world. “Canyon Road” will be no exception, as she continues to share her message of mental health wellness, resilience, and courage through music. The album is also a testament to Dawn’s commitment to empowering people to speak up about mental health. “‘The Bottle” is my latest music video out now, you can watch it on You Tube but it’s truly one of my favorite songs on the album and I’m partnered with NAMI to let people know there is help available if they need it,” says Dawn. A devoted mother of four who’s had to balance raising children with the trials of working towards her dreams, Dawn’s story is one that many women relate to. However, she never lets the challenges of being a female musician or a busy mom stop her from doing what she loves. The ballads in “Canyon Road” shed an honest light on her experiences, obstacles and passionate ideals. The album will feature her three latest singles which have had huge success: “The Bottle,” “‘93” and “Nasheville.” Long-awaited by her fans, this will be the country star’s first full-length album since 2016. Don’t miss out on the launch of Dawn’s “Canyon Road '' by pre-ordering a special vinyl record of the album at OfficalKimberlyDawn.com. Listen to the album July 9th on Spotify and Apple Music. Also, stay updated with upcoming tour dates, new music videos, one of a kind merch announcements, and more on Instagram @OfficialKimberlyDawn. About Kimberly Dawn: Kimberly Dawn is a country singer/ songwriter using her talent for storytelling and music to express an authentic message of courage and resilience. Her original songs “Cadillac Lovers” and “Slow Dancin’ in the Dark” were nominated for Best Country Song at the 2019 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. The Canadian-born musician shares stories of real-life triumph in the never-ending struggle to find bold purpose and powerful self-love. Dawn earned her stripes opening for Wilson Phillips in 2015, along with performances at Los Angeles’ House of Blues and celebrity red-carpet charity events. Get a daily dose of Kimberly Dawn now on Spotify and follow her for new music on Instagram @OfficialKimberlyDawn.
BREAKING TOP40/CHR NEWS
Newcomer Songstress Presley Duyck to Release Debut Single
Frisco-based 20-year-old independent singer-songwriter Presley Duyck is thrilled to announce her debut single “Passenger Seat” will be released on all streaming platforms on May 29. Like so many people, Presley needed a creative outlet during the pandemic, so she turned to songwriting. “I have been singing and playing for years, but songwriting was born out […]
Celebrate Pride With John Roberts New Album ‘Lights Out’
Just in time to embrace the joy and celebration of PRIDE, nu-disco electronic artist John Roberts has released debut album, Lights Out (via X-Bop). Produced by Junior Sanchez, it features guest appearances from Debbie Harry, Beth Ditto and babydaddy (Scissor Sisters).
Listen to the Lights Out here: https://snd.click/_LightsOut
Lights Out is a collection of 13 songs influenced by electronic, pop, and new wave of the ’80s and ’90s. It features the more politically relevant, Depeche Mode-fused “Divide People. With a video directed and choreographed by Nina McNeely (Rihanna, Bjork, Banks), Roberts explores the world under the microscope of former administration and coming out of that “hateful, divineness, racism, homophobia, and anti-semitism, Asian hate and kids in cages.” Motioning ahead, Roberts insists the song is beyond “him” now. Other offerings include the title track "Lights Out" featuring Debbie Harry of Blondie, with a trippy animated video directed and animated by Kris Baldwin (Birds of Prey, Cartoon Networks DC Super Hero Girls) and the lead single "Freaks"—called by Billboard Pride ‘…a stunning dance-pop single produced by Junior Sanchez that sees the singer embracing everything that makes him weird and wonderful”--also with a video from McNeely. Then there is “Nobody” with the original Beth Ditto. “Beth Ditto’s voice is church-like. It’s an uplifting song,” Roberts said in a statement to Rolling Stone, adding of the track. “When I was a kid, I used to jump on a mini trampoline in front of the mirror to Janet Jackson and it just reminds me of being alone with yourself, spazzing, and dancing. It’s about showing the world that you’re kind of capable of things that they don’t expect. It’s having those moments alone with yourself where you kind of gain confidence, then bring it out to the rest of the world, and just being a little different, confident, and knowing there’s other freaks out there.” Ultimately, Roberts—who also is an EMMY nominated TV star, LGBTQ icon and comedian best known as the voice of the lovable Linda Belcher on the hit TV show “Bob's Burgers”--has crafted an album he is proud of, the truest representation of his love of music. Lights Out turns everything on. It’s touchy. It uplifts. It makes you shake your ass, and it’s not afraid to bite. Lights Out Tracklist:- Lights Out Feat. Debbie Harry
- Freaks
- Nobody Feat. Beth Ditto
- Divide People
- Stoned In Love
- Lose Your Mind
- The Wave
- Thought Control
- Hyper Critical
- Love Electric
- Our Vibe
- Here It Comes Now
3 Doors Down Announce “The Better Life 20th Anniversary Tour”
3 Doors Down will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their debut album "The Better Life" this summer by hitting major markets in amphitheaters across the US for The Better Life 20th Anniversary Tour. "Kryptonite," which launched their career, has become a juggernaut hit across the globe that generations now sing. 2020 marked the 20th Anniversary of their debut, and for the first time ever, the band will play The Better Life in its entirety, front to back, along with the rest of their hits on The Better Life 20th Anniversary Tour. Produced by Live Nation, tickets for the tour will be available HERE. Special guests Seether, who currently have the #1 Record at Rock Radio, will join the tour as direct support on select dates throughout the summer.
"Especially after the last year everyone has had, I am really looking forward to rocking out and celebrating with our fans this summer. It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since we released The Better Life." 3 Doors Down's Brad Arnold shares. "That album drastically changed our lives, and we are incredibly excited to celebrate the 20th Anniversary with our fans by playing The Better Life front to back this summer. It's going to be a blast, and we can't wait to get on the road and see everyone out there!"Earlier this year, 3 DOORS DOWN released a re-mastered, 20th Anniversary Edition of The Better Life album along with the nine-song "Escatawpa Sessions" as a box set on high-quality 3LP vinyl. The "Escatawpa Sessions," recorded in the band's Mississippi hometown in 1996, features seven demo versions from The Better Life, as well as three previously unreleased tracks. The 3LP box set features a custom lithograph, a six-page booklet with never-before-seen photos and extensive liner notes, and interviews with the band and executives from their label and talent agency. A 2CD and an expanded digital album of The Better Life are also available now, and each feature four new bonus tracks including, "The Better Life (XX Mix)," a new mix by Grammy Award-winning Chris Lord-Alge, "Kryptonite (2000 Acoustic)," "Be Like That (2000 Acoustic)," and "Wasted Me (With Harp Version)." Order THE BETTER LIFE 20th Anniversary Edition now HERE. Tickets for The Better Life 20th Anniversary Tour dates go on sale Friday, June 4 at 10am local time. On select shows, 3 Doors Down will be offering special 20th anniversary VIP packages. All VIP packages will be available starting Wednesday, June 2, at 10am local time. Citi is the official presale credit card of The Better Life 20th Anniversary Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, June 2 at 10am local time until Thursday, June 3 at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment. For complete details, please visit HERE. More information can be found at 3doorsdown.com. Confirmed appearances include: *Not a Live Nation Date
| 06.26.21* | Island Grove Regional Park | Greeley, CO | |
| 07.17.21* | The Rose Music Center | Huber Heights, OH | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.18.21* | Corbin Arena | Corbin, KY | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.22.21 | Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square | New Orleans, LA | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.23.21 | The Wharf Amphitheater | Orange Beach, AL | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.24.21 | Oak Mountain Amphitheatre | Pelham, AL | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.29.21 | Brookshire Grocery Arena | Bossier City, LA | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.30.21 | Smart Financial Centre at Sugarland | Sugarland, TX | (special guest Seether) |
| 07.31.21 | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory | Irving, TX | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.05.21 | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre | Chicago, IL | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.06.21 | TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park | Indianapolis, IN | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.07.21 | Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill | Sterling Heights, MI | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.12.21* | Stir Cove Casino | Council Bluffs, IA | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.13.21* | Mystic Lake Casino | Prior Lake, MN | (special guest Candlebox) |
| 08.14.21* | Sky Dancer Casino | Belcourt, ND | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.19.21 | Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre | Wantagh, NY | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.20.21 | MECU Pavilion | Baltimore, MD | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.21.21 | TD Pavilion at the Mann | Philadelphia, PA | (special guest Seether) |
| 08.27.21* | Harrah's Resort SoCal | Funner, CA | (special guest Theory Of A Deadman) |
| 08.28.21* | The Event Center at Harrah’s AK Chin Casino | Maricopa, AZ | (special guest Theory Of A Deadman) |
| 08.29.21* | Vino Robles Amphitheatre | Paso Robles, CA | (special guest Theory Of A Deadman) |
| 08.31.21* | San Jose Civic Theater | San Jose, CA | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.02.21* | Rolling Hills Casino | Corning, CA | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.03.21* | Grand Theater @ The Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, NV | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.05.21* | Fremont Street Experience | Las Vegas, NV | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.07.21 | USANA Amphitheatre | Salt Lake City, UT | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.08.21 | Bellco Theatre | Denver, CO | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.10.21 | The Rust Belt | East Moline, IL | (special guest Chayce Beckham) |
| 09.11.21 | Allegan County Fair | Allegan, MI | (special guest Chayce Beckham) |
| 09.12.21 | Saint Louis Music Park | St. Louis, MO | (special guest Chayce Beckham) |
| 09.23.21 | Brandon Amphitheater | Brandon, MS | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.24.21 | Walmart AMP | Rogers, AR | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.25.21 | Ascend Amphitheater | Nashville, TN | (special guest Seether) |
| 09.30.21 | Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion | Gilford, NH | (special guest Blackberry Smoke) |
| 10.01.21 | Bold Point Park | Providence, RI | (special guest Blackberry Smoke) |
| 10.02.21 | Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater | Bridgeport, CT | TBA |
| 10.07.21 | Red Hat Amphitheater | Raleigh, NC | (special guest Koe Wetzel) |
| 10.08.21 | CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park | Simpsonville, SC | (special guest Koe Wetzel) |
| 10.09.21 | Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park | Atlanta, GA | (special guest Koe Wetzel) |
| 10.14.21 | Daily’s Place | Jacksonville, FL | (special guest Seether) |
| 10.15.21* | Hard Rock Live | Orlando, FL | (special guest Seether) |
| 10.16.21 | iThink Financial Amphitheatre | West Palm Beach, FL | (special guest Seether) |
Brooke Hogan’s Back with Country Single “Love People”