KEHLANI IS “SWEETSEXYSAVAGE”

Press release

GRAMMY® NOMINATED R&B SENSATION UNVEILS DEBUT ALBUM AT LAST

EAGERLY AWAITED COLLECTION FEATURES HIT TRACKS INCLUDING

“CRZY,” “DISTRACTION,” “DO U DIRTY,” AND MORE

SWEETSEXYSAVAGE WORLD TOUR BEGINS FEBRUARY 21^ST IN MONTREAL – STOPPING IN NEARLY 70 CITIES

 Rising R&B star Kehlani has announced the release of her eagerly anticipated debut album. “SWEETSEXYSAVAGE” is available everywhere today.

Recently named among Complex’s “50 Most Anticipated Albums of 2017,” “SWEETSEXYSAVAGE“ featured a number of instant grat downloads, giving fans a sneak peak of what to expect on the album.  In addition, a deluxe album bundle featuring a limited edition 7” picture disc vinyl of the singles “CRZY” & “Distraction” – is on offer exclusively via Kehlani’s official website.

What’s more, both “CRZY“ and “Distraction“ have been joined by hugely popular companion videos, each now boasting over 12 million individual views at Kehlani’s official YouTube channel alone.

The GRAMMY® Award-nominated R&B sensation will celebrate “SWEETSEXYSAVAGE” with a truly epic headline tour. The SWEETSEXYSAVAGE WORLD TOUR begins Saturday, February 21^st at Club Soda in Montreal and then travels the planet through mid-June (see attached itinerary), wrapping on June 18^th in Los Angeles, CA. Alongside the tour Kehlani is scheduled for a few highly anticipated performances at such upcoming festivals as Indio, CA’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Sunday, April 16^th and Sunday, April 23^rd) and New York City’s Governors Ball NYC Music Festival (June 2^nd-4^th). For complete details and ticket information – including very limited VIP packages – please visit www.kehlanimusic.com/tour. 

In addition, Kehlani has made several high profile appearances including last night’s performance of “CRZY” on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a feature alongside Atlantic Record executives in this year’s Billboard Women in Music issue.

As if all that weren’t enough, Kehlani is also pleased to announce a very special partnership with MAKE UP FOR EVER, the professional makeup reference brand who unleashes stage artists’ creativity by providing high performance makeup products. The international makeup brand officially support Kehlani’s creative efforts throughout 2017, including music videos, live performances, and much more. A major surprise announcement detailing further artistic collaborations between Kehlani and MAKE UP FOR EVER will be unveiled later this year.

Acclaimed by Complex as “a special talent, making the kind of personal music that speaks to her fans as much as it functions as a therapeutic release for her,” Kehlani received her first ever RIAA gold certification last year for the massively popular “Gangsta,” featured on “SUICIDE SQUAD: THE ALBUM,” Atlantic Records’ RIAA platinum certified musical companion to the Warner Bros. Pictures blockbuster. Directed by Benny Boom and featuring the Bay Area-based R&B star in full Harley Quinn regalia, the track’s companion video has proven an equivalent sensation, amassing over 125 million views at YouTube alone.

Critically acclaimed R&B pop songstress Kehlani embodies the title of her 2017 full-length debut album, SWEETSEXYSAVAGE. Her self-actualization comes as the result of an unbelievable journey that began in 2014 with her debut mixtape Cloud 19. A year later, the 19-year-old got the world talking on 2015’s You Should Be Here. After bowing at #5 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart and at #1 on the iTunes Top R&B Albums Chart, the mixtape garnered a 2016 GRAMMY® Award nod for “Best Urban Contemporary Album.” Upon release, Pitchfork praised how, “You Should Be Here’s dynamism and generosity is something to be amazed by,” while Billboard proclaimed it, “The year’s first great R&B album.” It landed on Complex’s “Best Albums of 2015,” Noisey’s “50 Best Albums of 2015,” and Rolling Stone’s “20 Best R&B Albums of 2015.”

For more news and information, please see kehlanimusic.com, https://twitter.com/kehlani, https://www.instagram.com/kehlani/,  www.facebook.com/Kehlanimusic, www.youtube.com/user/kehlanimusic, and www.atlanticrecords.com.

MISSY ELLIOTT KICKS OFF NEW YEAR WITH “I’M BETTER (FEAT. LAMB)”

Press release

Atlantic recording artist Missy Elliott has announced the release of her hugely anticipated new song. “I’m Better (Feat. Lamb)” will be available this Friday, January 27^th at U.S. and Canadian DSPs and streaming services, followed by worldwide release on Saturday, January 28^th.

WATCH THE “I’M BETTER (FEAT. LAMB)” MUSIC VIDEO:

https://missyell.io/tt/imbettervideo

The track, produced by Lamb (Beyoncé, SWV, Monica) and written by Elliott, is accompanied by a groundbreaking companion video, co-directed by Elliott and her longtime GRAMMY® Award-winning collaborator Dave Meyers (“Lose Control,” “Work It,” “We Run This”). “I’m Better (Feat. Lamb)” premiered today via Missy’s official YouTube channel.

One of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history, Elliott has returned to her rightful place in the spotlight in recent months, include this week’s announcement of an impending guest star appearance on FOX’s new Lee Daniels-produced series, Star, airing Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT (check local listings). Last year saw the GRAMMY® Award-winning icon making a wide range of high-profile appearances, spanning Amazon Echo’s “Dance Party” commercial for Super Bowl 50 co-starring Alec Baldwin and soundtracked by her 2016 fan favorite, “Pep Rally” to a remarkable collaboration with Marc Jacobs on the designer’s Fall 2016 campaign.

Elliott officially returned to the music scene with 2015’s “WTF (Where They From) (Feat. Pharrell Williams),” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. Produced by Williams (Adele, Kendrick Lamar), the track was first unveiled as the official theme to ESPN’s kickoff coverage of the 2015/2016 NBA season and had its official world premiere with hourly plays across all iHeartRadio Urban Mainstream outlets. In addition, the “WTF (Where They From) (Feat. Pharrell Williams)” companion video – directed by Elliott and Meyers – premiered high above New York City’s Times Square via Apple Music’s massive Beats 1 billboard and has earned over 48 million individual views thus far via YouTube alone.

March 2016 saw Elliott unite with former First Lady Michelle Obama for “This Is For My Girls,” an all-star anthem to female empowerment executive produced by AOL’s MAKERS and performed by Kelly Clarkson, Chloe x Halle, Missy Elliott, Jadagrace, Lea Michele, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, & Zendaya. Elliott also joined the First Lady for a number of public appearances, including her 2016 keynote address at Austin, TX’s South By Southwest (SXSW) as well as a surprise drop-in on CBS’ The Late Late Show With James Corden’s classic “Carpool Karaoke.” “This Is For My Girls” is available now exclusively on the iTunes Store, with all proceeds going to support the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund.

Missy Elliott is of course a groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering producer/songwriter, and across-the-board cultural icon. The four-time GRAMMY® Award winner – with nominations spanning three decades – has achieved unprecedented success, including U.S. sales in excess of 30 million. Missy’s six studio albums (including 2001’s landmark “MISS E… SO ADDICTIVE” and 2002’s blockbuster “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”) have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, marking her as the only female rapper to achieve that milestone accomplishment.

The last half decade has seen Elliott featured on tracks from artists including Ginuwine, Ciara, K. Michelle, Demi Lovato, The Black Keys, J. Cole, G-Dragon, Fantasia, Monica, Busta Rhymes, Jazmine Sullivan, and of course, Katy Perry, with whom she famously teamed up for 2011’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Remix).”

Missy lit up 2014 with a series of surprise event appearances, joining Pharrell Williams to open the BET Awards with a “Come Get It Bae/Pass That Dutch” mash-up, reuniting with Da Brat and Lil Kim at the Soul Train Music Awards for their 1997 breakthrough, “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)” – the trio’s first live performance together in more than 16 years – and of course her unforgettable performance at 2015’s Super Bowl XLIX. Missy joined Katy Perry for the historic happening, wowing 118.5 million viewers – the largest ever audience in Super Bowl history – with a medley of “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It,” and “Lose Control.” Digital sales skyrocketed in the following days, with both “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It” returning to the top 40 on Billboard’s “Top Singles” chart more than 10 years after their initial successes.

In addition, Elliott has been heard on such tracks as Faith Evans’ 2014 single, “I Deserve It (Feat, Missy Elliott & Sharaya J),” Jack Ü’s 2015 “Take Ü There (Feat. Kiesza) (Missy Elliott Remix),” and Janet Jackson’s “BURNITUP! (Feat. Missy Elliott).”

For more news and information, please visit www.missy-elliott.com, www.facebook.com/missyelliott, www.twitter.com/missyelliott (@missyelliott), www.youtube.com/missyelliott, https://instagram.com/MissyMisdemeanorElliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott), and www.atlanticrecords.com.

MAJOR LAZER’S “RUN UP” FEATURING PARTYNEXTDOOR AND NICKI MINAJ

Press release

“Run Up,” the new single from international superstars Major Lazer—the group comprised of Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, premiered last January 27. The track, inspired as ever by the group’s Caribbean roots, features PARTYNEXTDOOR and Nicki Minaj. “It’s always important for us to work with people who are on the same wave,” says Diplo. “Nicki and Party really helped us bring the classic Major Lazer style to create this perfect party record.” “Major Lazer is all about making the world smaller by making the party bigger,” says Walshy Fire. “This felt like the perfect song to start off 2017.” The band’s documentary Give Me Future, filmed at their historic 2016 show in Havana, Cuba, premiered last week at Sundance and is set for release later this year.

Gallant x Tablo x Eric Nam Unveil ‘Cave Me In’

Press release

Grammy®-nominated artist Gallant presents a new single, Cave Me In in collaboration with Asia’s superstar artists Tablo (from EPIK HIGH) and Eric Nam on January 26th at 9:30 A.M. (PST) via Warner Bros./Mind Of A Genius.

 Cave Me In, is a true organic collaboration of three artists from different sides of the world. What started off with no pressures from the business side, just pure chemistry resulted in a chilled R&B track that “has a bit of a throwback 90's vibe but remains trendy and easy to listen to,” says Eric Nam. Tablo adds "feelin' blessed to be a part of this beautiful song. With my verse, I wanted to talk about the inherent double-bladed nature of love. As the title of the song implies, love is often simultaneously gentle and violent. Hope it hits close to home for ya.” 

"When we all met for the first time, our energy just clicked-- and that synergy manifested itself into this record,” Gallant stated. “Everything just happened so naturally,” Tablo said. “It was just jamming together between performers,” Eric said. None of the three remember the exact date they started on this project, according to their interview with W Korea, despite the unexpected combination of individuals who come from different backgrounds and places. Since they all constantly travel the world, this song took some time to be officially released. Cave Me In turned out to be simply “a song three talented guys wanted to sing together.” 

 Cave Me In, produced by Lophiile, will be premiered worldwide on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show on January 26th 9 A.M. PT, broadcasted in more than 100 countries. The single will be released globally on the same day at 9:30 A.M. and will be released on local DSPs in South Korea on the noon of January 27th. The music video will also be released. The video was shot in Hong Kong. 

Gallant, one of the most talked about R&B artists in the world, is making a name for creating new sounds with his own blends of R&B, soul, alternative rock, and more. His 2016 debut album, Ology, has been Grammy® nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The legendary Elton John, who has performed Weight In Gold together with him says “when I hear his voice, I just lose it” In 2017, Gallant made it to Forbes 30 Under 30, and was introduced as “the next big thing in R&B”. 

Tablo is a Seoul born rapper, record producer, songwriter, author, and entrepreneur who established a legendary Korean Hip-Hop group Epik High, and founder of the music label HIGHGRND. He has lived around the globe in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Canada, Korea, and California, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in English Literature at Stanford University. As Epik High, Tablo released 8 Hip-Hop albums and also released hisfirst solo album in 2011, which hit #1 on the US and Canadian iTunes Hip-Hop chart and #2 on Billboard’s World Album Chart. In 2016, Epik High became the first major Korean music group to ever perform at Coachella, which is where Tablo first met Gallant. 

Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, is a Korean-American singer-songwriter who first appeared in Korea’s music scene in 2013 and released a mini-album Cloud 9 with the title track Heaven’s Door. He was praised for his smooth vocals and known for his approachable character. Now he is a multi-talented musician, television host and entertainer. His recent EP Interview with title track Good For You was well received in both in the Korean and International markets. In 2016, he took a further step to the international scene, with singles Into You (with KOLAJ) and BODY, co-written and produced by Timbaland.

JAMES BLUNT NEW SINGLE “LOVE ME BETTER”

Press release

BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘THE AFTERLOVE’ ON MARCH 24TH.

Britain’s very own Twitter all-star is back… James Blunt will release his fifth studio album, ‘The Afterlove’ on March 24th through Atlantic Records. The new album is the follow-up to ‘Moon Landing’, which reached platinum status in the UK and spent 33 weeks in the UK Top 40 after it was released in 2013. James worked with a wide range of talent when writing and recording ‘The Afterlove’ including Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder, Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran, Shannon Saunders), Johnny McDaid (Example, Biffy Clyro), Stephan Moccio (Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd) and MoZella (Miley Cyrus, One Direction). James Blunt will also be embarking on a UK headline tour, The Afterlove Tour, which includes a date at London’s Eventim Apollo. This is the first tour for James following his extensive Moon Landing Tour, which saw him perform over 140 shows across the world over the course of twelve months. James Blunt has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and 12.8 million singles. He’s also amassed over 625 million views on YouTube and over 680 millions global streams on streaming platforms. 

Celine Dion to Perform Original Song "How Does a Moment Last Forever" for Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"

Press release

New Soundtrack Art Now Available for download: https://www.relayit.net/pickup.php?c=s4wtnfD3mfnrxsDtBM7HFvm5qdR4KR9HtFjw

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2017) – Five-time GRAMMY® winning and best-selling recording artist Celine Dion will perform an all-new original song, “How Does A Moment Last Forever,” for Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” The song will also be included on the film’s soundtrack.

Written by eight-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin”) and veteran lyricist and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (“The Lion King,” “Evita”), “How Does A Moment Last Forever” is an emotional ballad about holding onto life’s precious moments. Portions of the song are performed throughout the film and interpolated into the underscore before Dion’s full-length version debuts in the film’s custom main-on-end title design.

Says Dion, “Being a part of the original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was such a magical experience in my life, and I'm truly honored to be a part of this film again.”  

President of Music for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Production, Mitchell Leib, approached the artist on behalf of the project with the idea of recording one of the three new songs written for the film. “Celine was the unanimous choice of the filmmakers and studio to perform this song,” says Leib, “And everyone involved with the film is thrilled she agreed to be part of this new live-action adaptation.”

Dion originally performed the duet “Beauty and the Beast” – featuring Menken’s haunting melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics – with Peabo Bryson for the animated film. The song became an instant classic and went on to receive an Academy Award®, Golden Globe®and three GRAMMY Awards.

Menken also provides the film score along with new recordings of the classic songs from the animated film written by himself and Ashman. The original motion picture soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017. 

About the film:

The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic “Beauty and the Beast,” a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s father; Josh Gad as LeFou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Ewan McGregor as Lumière, the candelabra; Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Audra McDonald as Madame de Garderobe, the wardrobe; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, the feather duster; Hattie Morahan as the enchantress; and Nathan Mack as Chip, the teacup; with Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.

Directed by Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast,” the screenplay is written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos and produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman, p.g.a. and Todd Lieberman, p.g.a. with Jeffrey Silver, Thomas Schumacher and Don Hahn serving as executive producers. “Beauty and the Beast” will be released in Philippine cinemas onMarch 16, 2017.

For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/ disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic and Instagram.com/disneymusic/.

ARIANA GRANDE, JOHN LEGEND SINGS “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” THEME SONG

Press release

GRAMMY nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend are set to perform the Oscar and GRAMMY-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast” as the title track for Disney’s upcoming soundtrack to the live-action film adaptation “Beauty and the Beast (read my review here).” The song will also be featured in the film.

The enchanting ballad, originally performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson featuring eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken’s beautiful melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics, received an Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY Award,among other accolades, upon its release in 1991.

The new rendition of the classic song is produced by GRAMMY-winning veteran Ron Fair, whose music career spans 37 years as a major-label record company leader and accomplished producer, arranger, recording engineer and musical director. Fair was brought in to produce by Disney’s president of Music & Soundtracks, Mitchell Leib, who also brought Grande and Legend to the project. The history of collaboration between Leib and Fair in film music goes back to the highly-successful “Pretty Woman” soundtrack. “Ron was the first and only choice to make this particular record,” says Leib. “No one is a better vocal producer and he also has a great understanding of the filmmaking dynamic.”

Fair’s recordings have won six GRAMMY Awards and have been nominated 18 times. Fair discovered and shepherded Christina Aguilera, selling over 50 million albums and winning numerous GRAMMY Awards. He A&R’d Aguilera’s first five albums and championed the Black Eyed Peas to 27 million albums, 4 number-ones and multiple GRAMMY wins, as well as co-producing and arranging the strings on their global breakthrough # 1 hit “Where is The Love?”

Says Fair, “Stepping into the shoes of an Oscar and GRAMMY Award-winning classic is not small potatoes. But with today’s two greatest plutonium singers – John Legend and Ariana Grande – we are bringing the song back with a new school-old school fresh treatment that shows the soulfulness and power of what a great melody and lyric can inspire.”

The music video will be directed by Dave Meyers, the innovative visionary whose long-time collaborations with major artists like P!nk, Janet Jackson, Ice Cube and Britney Spears have resulted in dozens of award nominations and many wins, including a GRAMMY in 2005 for Best Music Video and 11 MTV Video Music Awards, including one for Katy Perry’s smash hit “Firework.” He recently directed the music video for P!nk’s hit single “Just Like Fire” from the Walt Disney Records soundtrack for “Alice Through The Looking Glass.”

Menken also provides the film score, with new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Ashman. Also featured are three new songs written by Menken and veteran lyricist and three time Oscar winner Tim Rice. The original motion picture soundtrack will be released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017. The pre-order is available now at http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrkP.