Music news: Hive Mind comes to life with the most unexpected line-ups
Hardcore metal and hip-hop/rap have always shared the same rebellious spirit, even though they’d rarely appear in the same playlists together, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Earlier this year, Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry proved just how naturally the two worlds collide with the release of "Hive Mind," a relentless crossover that fused crushing breakdowns with razor-sharp rap verses.
Named after the collaborative single, The Hive Mind Tour will see Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry co-headline a massive 24-date North American tour beginning on September 26th in Newport, Kentucky.
The tour will then be making stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver and more, finishing in Mexico City on November 8th.
As if that wasn't enough, they’ll be bringing along alternative rock favourites Superheaven and metalcore heavyweights Boundaries, making it one of the most exciting lineups announced this year.
Fatboy Slim backs community ownership drive to secure Brighton grassroots venue
Brighton and Hove-based DJ Fatboy Slim has backed efforts to secure the future of grassroots music venues by investing in Music Venue Properties, as Brighton venue The Pipeline becomes the tenth venue protected through the Own Our Venues initiative, writes Music News Blitz's Josh Johnston.
Fatboy Slim has thrown his support behind efforts to safeguard the future of grassroots live music by investing in Music Venue Properties (MVP), helping secure Brighton venue The Pipeline as community-owned.
The acquisition means The Pipeline has become the tenth venue to be protected under MVP’s Own Our Venues £7 million initiative.
Music analysis: Panchiko's mystery that made millions listen
Imagine burning a few CDs with your friends as teenagers, handing them out to people around Nottingham, getting rejected by record labels, and quietly moving on with life.
And then, twenty years later, strangers on the internet track you down because one of those CDs has become one of the biggest mysteries in online music history.
It sounds like the plot of a film, but for British indie band Panchiko, it became reality, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Music analysis: The soundtrack behind Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and why it was outstanding
Collaborating with Nolan for a third film after Tenet (2020) and Oppenheimer (2023), Ludwig Göransson was tasked with creating the score for the Greek epic The Odyssey, writes Music News Blitz's Gabriel Mills.
Based on the 3,000-year-old tale by Homer, Christopher Nolan adapted it for the big screen in the distinctly captivating and surreal way that only he can.
Reading & Leeds Festival ushers in a new era as BBC Introducing Stage gets axed
The long-running platform for emerging artists will be replaced as part of the festival's wider site evolution this year, writes Music News Blitz's Joshua Johnston.
Reading & Leeds Festival is set to say goodbye to one of its most iconic stages, with organiser Festival Republic confirming that the BBC Introducing Stage will not return this year after an 18-year run that began in 2008.
The change is part of a broader transformation of the festival, alongside other stages being rebranded and the introduction of a brand-new dance music stage, The Warehouse.
Music analysis: Ashley Cooke's self-titled album signals a new era
Titling an album with their own name is one of the boldest statements an artist can make, writes Music News Blitz’s Zinhle Radebe.
Music analysis: Ella Langley is having country music's biggest year
A journey that started in a pasture full of cows has taken the Alabama songwriter to the top of the Billboard charts, writes Music News Blitz’s Zinhle Radebe.
Music news: Put Your Phone Down! CORTIS reignites music's biggest concert debate
Before smartphones became part of everyday life, people somehow managed to leave concerts with memories that lasted a lifetime, writes Music News Blitz's Victoria Bruwer.
Watch footage of legends such as Queen, Michael Jackson or Led Zeppelin performing for enormous crowds of hundreds of thousands of people. Nothing but hands in the air, completely immersed in the performance.
Music analysis: Inside the world of Japan’s genre-blurring duo Ziproom
Sometimes you don’t need to understand the language of a song to catch your attention when the flow and vibes are just right, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Kobe-based hip-hop duo, Ziproom, has quietly built a devoted following by making music that feels more like an atmosphere than a performance.
Music news: Nobody builds anticipation quite like Tyla as A*Pop arrives
Grammy-winning singer Tyla has transformed what could have been a routine album rollout into one of the most exciting campaigns of the year, reminding everyone why she has become one of South Africa’s greatest musical success stories.
With A*Pop arriving on July 24, it’s easy to forget just how quickly Tyla’s rise happened, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Music festivals: Creamfields to celebrate 20th anniversary in August
Over the August bank holiday (August 27-30), the Creamfields festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the iconic Daresbury site in Cheshire, writes Music News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes.
Creamfields is known as the largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival in the UK.
Around 80,000 people per day are set to attend, with more than 250 artists performing across 30 different stages.
Hosting the largest indoor festival in the world, their ‘APEX’ stage allows for a 30,000-capacity.
The huge indoor main stage protects festivalgoers from the natural elements until as late as 4am.
Music news: Stop sleeping on EB3N before everyone else finds him
If you’re into artists like Avenoir, Devkota, Alan Vuong, Zuriel, and so many more who are quietly reshaping the alternative R&B scene, then add EB3N to your playlist.
Every music fan loves saying, "I've been listening to them since before they blew up.”
Not because of bragging rights (okay, maybe a little), but because you get to witness the journey in real time.
Waiting for every new release, their older music becomes more personal to you, and it’s exciting to watch that artist achieve every milestone they deserve.
With just over 122,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, the R&B singer-songwriter is still flying under the radar, but that probably won't last for long, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Music analysis: Why fans are finally wearing earplugs to concerts
Whether it’s for Harry Styles at Wembley or this summer's biggest festivals, earplugs have become one of live music's most unexpected accessories as fans discover they don't have to sacrifice their hearing to enjoy the show.
With festival season in full swing and BTS preparing to return to UK stages, plenty of fans are adding a pair to their concert bags, writes Music News Blitz’s Zinhle Radebe.
Music analysis: Highvyn's IN BETWEEN is worth getting lost in
Highvyn is an alternative pop secret that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep, writes Music News Blitz's Victoria Bruwer.
With more than 205,000 monthly Spotify listeners, millions of streams across his catalogue and a growing international audience, the Korean American alternative pop artist is quickly becoming one of those names that keeps quietly appearing on playlists before suddenly becoming impossible to ignore.
Charli XCX past, present and future: New album and movie on the horizon
After Charli XCX's success with Brat, a new era is beginning, and she is showing no signs of slowing down, writes Music News Blitz's Madeline Rhodes.
Dominating the pop music scene with her Brat (2024) album, which brought her three Grammy Awards and five Brit Awards, there's no doubt that fans are excited to hear new music from the global artist.
Away from music, Charli is continuing to build her acting career with the release of her mockumentary, The Moment (2026), in February, featuring Rachel Sennott, Jamie Demetriou and Kylie Jenner.
Music analysis: Where to start listening to classical piano pieces
Do you have an interest in classical music but don’t know where to start listening?
Here are Music News Blitz writer Moe Ikeda’s recommendations of classical music from two perspectives: arrangements and legendary pianists.
Music analysis: Gemini's KNIGHT is a reminder that kR&B deserves your attention
There is something unfortunate about watching an artist quietly reach new creative heights while the rest of the music world barely seems to notice, writes Music News Blitz writer Victoria Bruwer.
Some artists don't need to chase trends to make an impact. They quietly build a catalogue of music that speaks for itself, attracting listeners through consistency, authenticity and a sound that feels impossible to replicate.
Pitbull’s army of fans set Guinness World Record for largest gathering of bald caps
Pitbull performed to a sea of bald caps as he headlined BST Hyde Park on July 10, writes Music News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes.
Before Pitbull was set to perform, his fans gathered by the main stage to be officially counted towards the record.
Music analysis: The Bratz soundtracks that deserved to escape the DVD menu
Nostalgia has become one of Gen Z's favourite pastimes, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Whether it's rediscovering old shows or replaying the songs that soundtracked our childhoods, there's something comforting about revisiting the early 2000s.
Many of the biggest hits from that era have found a second life thanks to social media, with forgotten tracks becoming viral sounds and introducing a whole new generation to the music.
But while we've spent years celebrating the fashion, films and pop stars of the 2000s, there's one soundtrack that deserves far more recognition than it gets: the music from the Bratz movies.
Music analysis: A look at Don Toliver’s Octane era - energetic, but immersive
Don Toliver, real name Caleb Zachary Toliver, has amassed quite the fan base since his first album Donny Womack released in 2018.
The album caught the eye of pop rap star Travis Scott which landed him a record deal with Cactus Jack Records.
Octane, from Houston Texas, has given Don Toliver his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 charts, writes Music News Blitz’s Madeline Rhodes.