A2IM Previews Indie Week Panels: Queerness, NFTs and Advocacy

Alfie Templeman has shared a new song called ‘Living In A Universe’ for Earth Day, with proceeds going to Brian Eno’s climate change charity EarthPercent.To mark Earth Day (April 22), EarthPercent shared a list of exclusive tracks – including live versions, collaborations and previously unreleased songs – that have been donated by such artists as Coldplay, Michael Stipe, Anna Calvi and Jarvis Cocker‘s JARV IS…, while Declan McKenna also shared a new track called ‘Elephant’.“Buy the track to help fund the most effective organisations working on the climate emergency, under the guidance of an advisory panel of climate experts, leading scientists & youth activists,” Templeman wrote of the release of ‘Living In A Universe’.At least £1.30 of the £1.99 price tag goes to EarthPercent and it can be purchased here.Today, I released 'Living In a Universe' via @earthpercentorg. Buy the track to help fund the most effective organisations working on the climate emergency, under the guidance of an advisory panel of climate experts, leading scientists & youth activists.https://t.co/TwB8Laor3B— Alfie (@alfietempleman) April 22, 2022Proceeds from sales of these songs will go towards funding EarthPercent’s five core areas of work: “greening music, energy transition, climate justice, legal and policy change, and protecting nature”.

Pavement have announced a 30th anniversary reissue of their debut album, ‘Slanted & Enchanted’.The 1992 album came out 30 years ago earlier this week via Matador Records, and comes ahead of the band’s live reunion this summer.The new reissue, set to come out on August 12, will see the original LP released on red/white/black splatter vinyl, alongside a cassette edition titled ‘Courting Shutdown Offers’, which features demo versions of the album that the band used to shop the alnum to record labels.The band’s latest reissue follows the release of ‘Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal’, a special reissue of their final studio album ‘Terror Twilight’. The band’s fifth studio LP was originally released in June 1999 and was produced by Radiohead collaborator Nigel Godrich.See the tracklist for the 30th anniversary edition of ‘Slanted & Enchanted’ below, and pre-order your copy here.‘SLANTED & ENCHANTED’ 1. ‘Summer Babe’ (Winter Version) 2.

Declan McKenna has shared new track ‘Elephant’ with all proceeds going to charity – however it’s only available for the next two weeks.Described by McKenna as a demo, ‘Elephant’ carries on the dystopian themes of 2020’s second album ‘Zeroes’ but pushes things further, taking on a more industrial vibe.The track is available until May 6 with at least £1.30 of the £1.99 price tag going to Brian Eno’s climate change charity EarthPercent. Check out the song here.Announcing it on Twitter, McKenna wrote: “A new tune ‘Elephant’ is available from Bandcamp for the next 2 weeks only.

Foals gave their latest single ‘Looking High’ its live debut during a show in Edinburgh this week – check out the fan-shot footage below.The song is set to appear on the Oxford band’s seventh studio album ‘Life Is Yours’, which comes out on June 17.On Wednesday (April 20), Foals performed ‘2am’ and the as-yet-unreleased cut ‘2001’ for the first time as they kicked off their 2022 UK headline tour at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.The trio returned to the venue the following night (April 21) where they debuted ‘Looking High’. Tune in here:‘Looking High’, frontman Yannis Philippakis explained, “is looking back to a more hedonistic time in my life, and a more innocent time in society in general, pre-pandemic and before the existential threat of climate change”.He continued: “It takes place in an alley in Oxford with two clubs – The Cellar and The Wheatsheaf – that all the city’s nightlife gravitated towards.”Foals’ current run of UK gigs continues in Birmingham tonight (April 23) ahead of various festival appearances this summer.

Arcade Fire have spoken about Peter Gabriel and Father John Misty‘s contributions to their upcoming new album, ‘WE’.The Canadian band are due to release their sixth studio effort on May 6 via Columbia Records. It was produced by long-term Radiohead collaborator Nigel Godrich along with the group’s Win Butler and Régine Chassagne.During a recent interview with the Montreal Gazette, it was noted that Gabriel contributed to a dance-orientated album track called ‘Unconditional II (Race and Religion)’ on which Chassagne takes the lead.“[Gabriel] came to the studio and we had a day to work on it,” Butler told the outlet.

Tom Grennan has shared an update after being attacked in New York, while thanking fans for their “incredible” support.The singer-songwriter was hospitalised following an “unprovoked attack and robbery” outside a bar in Manhattan after playing a headline show in New York City. As a result, he was forced to postpone his scheduled performance in Washington, D.C.

Sinead O’Brien has released a new single today called ‘There Are Good Times Coming’ – check it out below.It’s the third single to be taken from her debut album, ‘Time Bend And Break The Bower’, which is set for release on June 10 via Chess Club Records. You can pre-order the album here.Speaking about the new track, O’Brien said in a statement: “It’s a hyper real, close-up look at the surroundings of this place, and a glance to the horizon. Mundane observations weave in and around concepts of RITUALS, MANIFESTATIONS, INTENTIONS.“A mantra anchors me as I spin and fall in an alternate space. Watch the ripple effect of things play out; life, ideas, episodes.

This weekend marks a celebration of both the 15th anniversary of the annual Record Store Day and the very special 10th anniversary of our very own Official Record Store Chart.

Fontaines DC have said they think they could do “a really good tune” with Lana Del Rey.Speaking to NME for this week’s Big Read, the band’s vocalist Grian Chatten said he wanted to write songs with Rey when discussing some possible future collaborations.“I just want to write some tunes with her,” Chatten told NME. “Her music leans into an era of cinema that I love, and she writes in a way where people can find stories in her music.

Universal had the most to boast last night at the box office, hitting the 18-34 arthouse demo with Robert Eggers’ Focus Features Viking epic, The Northman, which drew $1.35M last night in previews, and families with Dreamworks Animation’s The Bad Guys, which made $1.15M. 

Fontaines D.C. have said that the future of the band could see them moving away from using guitars completely.Speaking to NME for this week’s Big Read, vocalist Grian Chatten and drummer Tom Coll discussed the creation of the band’s new album ‘Skinty Fia’, which was recorded live to tape over a two-week period.“Whenever I have an idea for a tune, it doesn’t necessarily exist in a world of guitars and drums, even though those are the tools that we have to express ourselves with,” Chatten said.

Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has spoken about the experience of writing the band’s new album ‘WE’ during the pandemic.In a new interview with the Montreal Gazette, Butler reflected on the making of their upcoming sixth studio album, during which he and his wife and bandmate Régine Chassagne, who were in New Orleans, were separated from the rest of the band due to lockdown.“They were closing the borders to Canada,” he said. “We had written ‘Age of Anxiety’, ‘End of the Empire’ and a bunch of songs.

Sam Fender has announced details of an intimate charity show that he’ll play in Newcastle next month.The ‘Seventeen Going Under’ artist will return to his native north east on May 24 for a special gig at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall, marking the first time that he will have played live at the 2600-capacity venue.The show will raise money for North East Homeless, who provide support to those who are vulnerable and homeless in the north east of England, as well as food and emergency equipment at street outreach sessions.Fender, who is a patron of the charity, dedicated his BRIT Award for Alternative/Rock Act to the organisation back in February.This is going to be next level. Newcastle get ready, I’m coming to you for a special intimate gig at the @O2CityHall on 24th May.

Liam Gallagher has shared the video for his new single ‘Better Days’ – you can watch the clip below.The song is the latest to be taken from the former Oasis frontman’s upcoming third solo album ‘C’mon You Know’, which is set for release on May 27 via Warner.After sharing a preview of the clip on his social media channels yesterday (April 21), Gallagher has now released ‘Better Days’ – described by the singer as “the sound of the summer” and featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner – and its accompanying video.The clip sees Gallagher and his live band performing on the roof of Manchester’s Midland Hotel – a location Gallagher previously teased in a tweet to fans last month.Directed by multiple Grammy nominee Paul Dugdale, you can watch Liam Gallagher’s video for ‘Better Days’ above.All UK proceeds from ‘Better Days’ will be donated to War Child for the rest of this year. “We could not be more grateful to Liam for his incredible, continued support for the charity,” Rich Clarke, Head of War Child Records, said in a statement.

Glass Animals have teamed up with The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. for a new version of ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)’ – you can listen to the track below.The original version of the song was released back in September and added as a bonus track to Glass Animals’ 2020 album ‘Dreamland’.Glass Animals have now linked up with Hammond Jr.

Warpaint have shared a slinky new single titled ‘Hips’, coinciding with the news of a 14-date run of North American shows.‘Hips’ is the third single to come from Warpaint’s upcoming fourth album, ‘Radiate Like This’ – due out on May 6 via Heirlooms/Virgin – following the release of ‘Champion’ in January and ‘Stevie’ last month.First announced back in January, ‘Radiate Like This’ will mark the LA indie rockers’ first studio album in six years; their prior effort, ‘Heads Up’, dropped in September of 2016.Listen to ‘Hips’ below:Following a run in the UK and Europe – which ends with an appearance at this year’s Primavera Sound – Warpaint will embark on two short stints across North America. First up will be a six-date run along the east coast, with gigs booked in Philadelphia, Washington, Cambridge, Brooklyn, Toronto and Detroit.

Cat Power, aka Chan Marshall has today (April 21) shared a new video for her cover of The Pogues hit, ‘A Pair Of Brown Eyes’ – check out the video below.The video has been directed by Paterson director Jim Jarmusch and it’s the first time the pair have collaborated on a work together.Speaking about the project, Jarmusch said: “As someone who deeply loves Cat Power’s music, getting to collaborate with [Cat Power] on this video was like a dream come true,”“She’s so inspiring to me, of course as an artist, but she’s also just such an extraordinary person.”Watch the video here:The track is taken from Power’s latest album, ‘Covers’, which sees the musician interpreting other people’s songs.In a review of the album, NME said: “There’s nothing in the world like a Cat Power cover version. The artist also known as Chan Marshall made herself known as one of the 21st century’s finest interpreters of other artists’ material – her re-imaginings as emotionally devastating as they are decidedly dreamlike – at the very beginning of the millennium.“…Often, cover records are dismissed as simply a bit of fun or as an indulgent aside to an artists’ original output, but when Cat Power does it, it’s nothing less than soul-nourishing.” Meanwhile, Cat Power is among the new support acts that have been announced for Pearl Jam‘s pair of Hyde Park shows this summer.Pearl Jam will play at the BST Hyde Park series in central London on July 8 and 9, with Pixies already set to support the band on the opening night.BST Hyde Park announced a host of support acts for both shows.

Tom Grennan has postponed an upcoming show after he was attacked following his show in New York today (April 21).A statement posted on Grenan’s social media account this evening (April 21) said Grennan was still in hospital following the “unprovoked attack and robbery”, which took place outside a Manhattan bar.A statement about the incident read: “In the early hours of this morning after Tom’s New York show he was the victim of an unprovoked attack and robbery outside a bar in Manhattan.“Tom is currently in hospital being assessed by doctors for his injuries which include a ruptured Ear, torn Ear-Drum and issue with his previously fractured jaw.“Despite this Tom is in good spirits but needs to temporarily recuperate whilst doctors assess his ability to continue with touring.”STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/Zwm3p6ebMx— Tom Grennan (@Tom_Grennan) April 21, 2022“Tom is desperate not to let anyone down, however we have taken the precautionary decision to postpone the Washington show tomorrow to a later date, with details to follow.d”We will update on future shows should changes need to be mate. We wish to thank Tom’s incredible US fans for their support and understanding.” Grennan shared his soaring new single, ‘Remind Me’ last month.Speaking about the track, he said: “I wanted to write a song that reminded me of a moment in my life where I realised I had given up something that was really making a difference in my life – in a good way.“It’s about reconnecting.

Liam Gallagher has shared a clip of a new song and video, ‘Better Days’ – check it out below.Gallagher posted the snippet on Instagram and announced that the new song would be released tomorrow (April 21).He is due to release his third solo studio album, ‘C’mon You Know’, on May 27 via Warner. He’s so far previewed the project with two singles, ‘Everything’s Electric’ and the record’s title track.Check out the clip here:A post shared by Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher)Last week, the former Oasis frontman hinted that his upcoming album will include a few ballads, despite being a rock’n’roll record overall.

Foals kicked off their 2022 tour in Edinburgh last night (April 20) and gave live debuts to their tracks ‘2am’ and ‘2001’ – you can see fan-shot footage from the gig below.The three-piece are set to continue their ‘Life Is Yours’ UK tour throughout this month and into May, with headline dates in Manchester and Leeds also set for this summer.Foals’ show at Usher Hall in Edinburgh last night saw the band perform their new tracks ‘2am’, which was released as a single back in February, and ‘2001’ live for the first time. Both songs will feature on their forthcoming new record ‘Life Is Yours’, which is set for release on June 17.You can see fan-shot footage from Foals’ Edinburgh show below.A post shared by Charlotte (@choiroffuriesssss)A post shared by Charlotte (@choiroffuriesssss)New #FOALS song snippet: the title track from #LifeIsYours album, live from the Edinburgh gig at Usher Hall (20/04/22).

Big Thief frontwoman Adrianne Lenker has asked fans in a video message to stop talking through their support acts’ sets.The Brooklyn band are currently out on a North American headline tour in support of their fifth studio album, ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’, which came out in February via 4AD.Canadian musician and producer Kara-Lis Coverdale is currently opening for Big Thief at the ongoing concerts, per Stereogum.Earlier this week, Lenker took to Instagram to share a video message in which she outlined her “feelings r.e talking during openers and attention/creating respectful show environment in general”.“Hello, friends. Hello.