Yesterday, the BBC turned off comments on a video of CMAT’s Big Weekend performance last Sunday as there had been numerous comments body shaming the 28 year old. The video depicted the Irish chart topper ripping off her jacket and revealing a tighter outfit underneath.

The pop star did not shy away from confronting her haters on X, formerly Twitter. She wrote, “yesterday the BBC had to turn comments off a video of me performing at the Big Weekend because so many people were calling me fat in the comments”, followed by her light hearted statement: “I didn’t realise it was ILLEGAL to have a HUGE ASS !!!! I am GUILTY as CHARGED”, showing that she is not going to let the distasteful comments affect her.

However, according to her X post, this is not the first criticism she has received over her weight, as her infamous BRIT awards outfit went viral in South American, and she says “now people are calling me fat in Spanish”. The outfit was spoken about across social media for days after the event, shaking the perception of ‘acceptable’ attire, as it exposed the top of her buttock, in line with the exact amount of breast that is typically exposed in dresses.

The BBC is no stranger to this situation, as last year the guideline that discourages users from posting about artist’s they are not fans of, was violated again after Billy NoMates’, real name Tor Maries, Glastonbury performance. The “insane” levels of abuse resulted in Tor Maries requesting the video posted by BBC 6 Music, to be deleted. The guideline also includes a strict no-tolerance of hateful comments about gender, disability, race, sexuality, and religion.

Mustang. 2.22. https://t.co/oGyhV7IDk0 pic.twitter.com/yi8uRTtPjq

— Kings Of Leon (@KingsOfLeon) February 19, 2024

The teaser offered above is in the form of an instrumental with some toned-down bass riff and a fragment of vocals but with no discernible lyrics, leaving us all in wonder. Frontman Caleb Followill announced the new track towards the end of the set, and this will mark their first new music since their 2021 LP When You See Yourself.  The band who are currently on tour in Mexico, Columbia, and Brazil this March and tickets are available at Songkick.

Excited to see you all in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil this March. Tickets available now! pic.twitter.com/Ia50IJRX6X — Kings Of Leon (@KingsOfLeon) January 18, 2024

Kings Of Leon is a band that was formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band comprises brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill. Their early music was a blend of Southern/Garage rock with blues influences but has since evolved to include a variety of genres, creating a more alternative rock-based sound. They achieved success with nine Top Forty Singles and won two Brit Awards in 2008, and all three of the band’s albums, at the time, reached the top five of the UK Album Charts. And their third album, Because of the Times, reached number one. The release of Only by the Night in September of 2008 garnered them chart success in the United States, and the singles Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, and Notion all peaked at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The new track Mustang will be released this Thursday. So if you are looking to use somebody to cheer you up, then tune in on Thursday to check out the new music. At this point, one can only speculate, but there is always they hope that a new album will follow along with, hopefully, a UK or European tour.

In order to stay up-to-date with all things Kings Of Leon, make sure you subscribe to their mailing list on their website to get the latest news and information direct to your mailbox.

The track from West’s latest project, ‘Carnival’ seems to feature a brief guitar riff from the Black Sabbath track: ‘Iron Man’. Although the original version of ‘Carnival’ was intended to use Black Sabbath’s iconic ‘Iron Man’ riff, the live show switched this sample to one from West’s own discography. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’s ‘Hell of a Life’ was used in place of ‘Iron Man’. However, ‘Hell of a Life’ is itself an interpolation of Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’. Speaking on social media Osbourne said: “Kanye West asked permission to sample a section of a 1983 live performance of ‘Iron Man’ from the US festival without vocals and was refused because he is an antisemite”.

. @KANYEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF “IRON MAN” FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM…

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) February 9, 2024

Kanye West, as of late, has continually entrenched himself in controversy surrounding his frequent antisemitic outbursts. Speaking last year with far-right conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, West said: “I see good things about Hitler.” Elaborating further, West doubled down by saying: “Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler”. Kanye West has spent the last year surrounding himself with far-right personalities like the aforementioned Jones, who has recently lost a court case after he popularised a conspiracy theory that suggested that a 2012 shooting that took place in Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary school was a hoax.

Other associates of West include Nick Fuentes, a far-right ethno-nationalist who is recognised by the Anti-Defamation League as a holocaust denier. As reported by Politico, both West and Fuentes attended a dinner hosted by former Republican president Donald Trump in late 2022. West has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump since 2016. Although not Jewish himself, Ozzy’s wife Sharron Osbourne has gone on record with The Jewish Chronicle to say: “My family, my father’s family, my aunt, my cousins, are all Jewish.” In this light, Ozzy Osbourne’s statement that Kanye West’s antisemitic behaviour “has caused untold heartache to many” appears to have affected him on a personal level.

Although Kanye West posted an apology in Hebrew to his twitter page in late 2023 that read: “I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions.”, West continues to portray himself as an antisemite. Last night’s listening party livestream was cut short after the rapper said: “I’m still crazy, bipolar, antisemite, and I’m still the king”.

Despite his stance against West, Osbourne is not without his own political controversies. In a 1982 interview with Night Flight, a now-defunct American variety show, Osbourne stated that he got his ideas for his live performances from “Adolf Hitler”. The singer went on to say that: “Hitler had a charisma in a bad way and I kind of admired him. He was a freak; he was a lunatic, but he had something about him”.

Whether or not Osbourne’s past comments should be taken seriously, it is clear that he is attempting to distance himself from the antisemitism espoused by Kanye West, signing his tweet off by saying: “I want no association with this man [Kanye West].”

Since 2011, Pool has taken a significant shift right, choosing to focus his work on American culture-war issues like LGBTQ rights. Tim Pool hosts a daily podcast on YouTube and is well known online for his inflammatory and discriminatory comments surrounding the LGBTQ community. One of Pool’s largest talking points surrounds a conspiracy theory that suggests that LGBTQ community deliberately recruits children into their movement for political purposes. This conspiracy also implies that there is a sexual element to this recruitment process. In the wake of a 2022 shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ club in Colorado, Pool attempted to justify the attack by saying “Club Q had a grooming event”.

We shouldnt tolerate pedophiles grooming kids

Club Q had a grooming event

How do prevent the violence and stop the grooming? https://t.co/loVoG3A3ot

— Tim Pool (@Timcast) November 22, 2022

As reported by Loudwire, the post shared by Christianson was a quote tweet by Pool regarding an interview with mixed martial arts fighter, Sean Strickland. When asked whether he would accept having a gay son, Strickland returned the question to his interviewer who said that he would have “no problem with it”. In response to his interviewer, Strickland said: “You’re a weak f*****g man”. The fighter then went on to say that: “ten years ago, to be trans was a mental f****n’ illness and now all of a sudden, people like you have f****n’ weaselled your way into the world… you [Strickland’s interviewer] are an infection”. On January 17th, Tim Pool replied to Strickland’s interview, saying “F*****g A+ guy right here”. Evoking far-right sentiments of social disease with regards to LGBTQ people, both Pool’s and Strickland’s comments are intensely derogatory.

HOLY FUCK Fucking A+ guy right here Thanks bud light for bringing us this message on the infection that is the woke left https://t.co/G17Drog39b — Tim Pool (@Timcast) January 17, 2024

This thread was reposted by Architects’ Adam Christianson for a brief period, before being promptly removed. On January 19th, Christianson apologised for his actions, saying: “that retweet was a total accident!”. However, some online are sceptical of Christianson’s backpedalling, citing his history of reposting and liking tweets that share similar sentiments to those of Pool. Christianson has previously liked and retweeted content from other commentators like Zuby Music who has previously evoked conspiracies reminiscent of those pedalled by the likes of Tim Pool.

Shit! That retweet was a total accident!! I don’t endorse anything that guy says other than fuck Trudeau. Sorry for the panic everyone! Complete all-thumbs moment.

— Adam Christianson (@adamarchitects) January 19, 2024

Speaking at a gig in Paris yesterday the band’s frontman, Sam Carter, said: “nobody on this stage judges anybody for their gender, their race, and whoever they are in love with. We never have, we never will”. Although the video does not explicitly mention Christianson’s online activity, many online have drawn a connection between the two events.

Sam Carter has spoken on stage about Architects views in lieu of a recent post shared by guitarist Adam Christianson. “No one on this stage judges anyone for their gender…” @therottendoll_pic.twitter.com/5B1xcD7P1Z — State of the Scene (@SOTSPodcast) January 24, 2024

After announcing a US tour, starting in May of this year, Architects are currently on their European tour that will run until February.

I’ve been waiting to drop Gas Me Up (Diligent) since teasing it April last year, worked hard getting the artwork right for my album rollout which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80’s, Skinhead, Football culture and it has been taken offensively by many and I can…

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

After the artwork was posted, many were quick to point out that the photograph evoked imagery of the Holocaust. Men lined up with shaved heads in combination with the phrase “GAS ME UP” can understandably be taken as a tasteless pun, in reference to the millions of victims systematically murdered by the National Socialist Party throughout the early 1940s. According to Adenuga, this was by no means the intention, following up his first tweet with another post outlining how the artwork was inspired by British Skinhead and football culture of the 1980s, rather than anything more sinister. Citing the cultural environment that his parents entered when they moved to the UK from Nigeria in the 1980s, the track’s artwork was designed to capture the image of British football culture. In a follow up tweet, Skepta shared a selection of images that were used to inspire the creation of the “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” artwork. Speaking on the matter, Skepta said: “I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention.”

I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention. But after some thought I don’t feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed, I have to… pic.twitter.com/59oUOPe8Hp

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

To ‘gas’ someone or to be ‘gassed’ means to be excited for someone or about something. Pioneering Grime MC Dylan Mills, also known as Dizzee Rascal, used the colloquial term in a similar way with his track ‘Don’t Gas Me’ in 2018. The track is about Dizzee wishing to avoid being hyped up by others because he hypes himself up enough. In a similar manner, Skepta’s “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” means that he wishes for others to be excited for him and his music.

Some fans have applauded Skepta’s hasty removal of the controversial single cover with one Twitter user saying: “Thank you for taking and down and going with different artwork”. However, many other Twitter users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the change, claiming that the decision is a suppression of artistic expression. Given that Skepta has gone on record several times to say that the Holocaust reference was by no means his artistic intention, he is well within his right to remove the work.

Skepta’s single “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” will release on January 26 as planned in the lead up to his new studio album Knife & Fork.

‘Just Another Rainbow’ features dreamy guitar riffs from Squire, accompanied by Gallagher’s signature whining vocals. The track is certainly a sonic call back to the days of Oasis, with Squire replacing Noel Gallagher’s instrumental support. Liam’s collaboration with John Squire marks a cornerstone in Gallagher’s music career, as the 51 year-old singer claimed that, without he and his brother attending a 1988 Stone Roses gig, Oasis may never have happened. Speaking to I Love Manchester in 2017, Liam said: “if I hadn’t gone that night, I’d probably be sitting in some pub in Levenshulme“.

The Track has gathered a rather modest 45,000 views on YouTube so far. Over on Twitter, opinions are mixed, with several users expressing dissatisfaction with poorly crafted lyrics and uninspired vocals. On the flipside, the track has been embraced by many fans expressing excitement for the album’s full release. Old school Gallagher heads will be delighted to hear that the single is available on Liam’s official merchandise store as a limited seven inch vinyl. 

Thank you for the BIBLICAL/CELESTIAL response for RAINBOW the reviews have been HEARTWARMING can’t wait for you all to hear the album stay cool and if you can’t do that stay safe LG x

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) January 5, 2024

For those looking to hear ‘Just Another Rainbow’ live, Gallagher has announced that he will be headlining Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival in July of this year. Joining Liam will be the likes of Calvin Harris, Rick Astley, and Chase & Status. Fans south of the Scottish border will be able to see Liam at Festival Republic’s Reading and Leeds double bill in August of this year alongside Fred Again.., Lana Del Rey and many other big names in popular music. As well as the UK festival circuit, Gallagher will be touring in June and July in Manchester, London, Sheffield, Dublin, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow. However, Liam has taken to Twitter saying that he will avoid playing any of his solo material on his upcoming tour in favour of Oasis classics and a few B-sides from Definitely Maybe. Anyone wanting to catch Liam’s solo work will most likely have to do so at TRNSMT, Reading, or Leeds. 

2024 is shaping up to be a big year for Liam, with a stacked summer tour and a new studio album around the corner, Liam Gallagher listeners are in for a treat.

pic.twitter.com/bA6LVFCRMd

— XL RECORDINGS (@XLRECORDINGS) January 1, 2024

Burial’s most recent release, Infirmary/Unknown Summer was in collaboration with Steve Goodman, also known as Kode9. The 2023 EP takes a more ambient approach, featuring spoken word sections, laid-back beats, and pitch-shifted vocals. In comparison, the new work teased by XL Recordings is aggressive, noisy, and raw. The clips feature distinctly different sounds from the ones produced with Kode9. This tonal shift may explain the change in label, a step away from the relaxed 2023 EP. Although the South London producer is currently signed to Hyperdub Records, owned by Kode9, Burial has worked with XL in the past. 

In 2020, Burial teamed up with XL, Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, and Thom Yorke on two tracks titled ‘Her Revolution’ and ‘His Rope’. Since XL Recordings hosts a wide range of electronic producers, it is not out of the question that we may be getting another collaboration from Burial and another XL signed artist. Some of the major producers currently signed to XL Recordings are Overmono, a Welsh duo made up of Ed and Tom Russell, and Peggy Gou, a South Korean DJ and producer whose real name is Kim Min-ji. A potential collaboration between Overmono and Burial may seem more likely than some would think, with the glitchy aesthetic of both teaser videos matching that of the Overmono brand. 

We can speculate all day but all we currently know is that Burial is working on something new with XL Recordings. 

From Some Friendly to Wham! The Singles.
1,366 albums that we heard together, over 1,213 days from March 23rd 2020. The Twitter @LlSTENlNG_PARTY was a beautiful thing. Thanks to everyone who joined us x x pic.twitter.com/RrZpClawf5

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) August 31, 2023

Tim Burgess, a member of The Charlatans, created this unique listening experience when the UK was plunged into lockdown in March 2020. Realising the loss of live music, he wanted to recreate this experience.

Tim used his Twitter platform to create the incredible show at the end of March 2020. Tim’s Listening Party saw huge success and in March 2023 he took the show to Absolute Radio.

Content Director for Absolute Radio, Paul Sylvester, said “Tim’s Listening Party has become a phenomenon. Giving audiences the chance to listen to the music and conversation while engaging with other fans on social media ties everything together.”

After 3 years of amazing success, at a time when the UK was down on its luck, Tim brought new meaning to live music. Inviting listeners to stream the album and follow along with him, joining other like-minded souls to converse about the songs and albums in real time.

Following on from his recent tweet, Tim reminded fans that there are over 1000 listening parties available to replay on their website.

He also added a further tweet, confirming there would not be a show on Absolute Radio this coming Sunday the 3rd September; however, the former Charlatan member told his listeners that next Sunday the 9th September at 10pm, there would be a special episode and he would be filling that guest spot and the show would be hosted by Danielle Perry.

It is still uncertain, if this will be the final Tim’s Listening Party show or not.

There’s no @LlSTENlNG_PARTY on @absoluteradio tomorrow but back next Sunday at 10pm with a special episode. @danielleperry will be the host, I’m the guest and Tellin’ Stories is the featured album. Join us… pic.twitter.com/q0OV2nRT9U

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) September 2, 2023

Fans and listeners took to Twitter in reply to Tim’s recent news, that it would be the end of Tim’s Listening Party.

One listener tweeted “A sad day if this is how it ends. You made a beautiful thing, Tim. I don’t think any of us who ever took part will ever forget it. A true beacon in dark days. Thanks so much and all at @LlSTENlNG_PARTY.”

A sad day if this is how it ends. You made a beautiful thing, Tim. I don’t think any of us who ever took part will ever forget it. A true beacon in dark days. Thanks so much and all at @LlSTENlNG_PARTY HQ ♥️

— Graham (@GrahamCD272) August 31, 2023

Another fan added to say, “Aye, a wonderful experience! The very best thing to rise from 2020 without a doubt.

Aye, a wonderful experience! The very best thing to rise from 2020 without a doubt.

Congratulations , you should all be very proud

— Alan C (@Konn63) August 31, 2023

No further details have been release by Tim Burgess. at to what those new endeavour’s may be. Only to tune into Absolute Radio next Sunday for that special episode.

The drummer, with a passion for all things related to his instrument, likens the process to a form of cheating, taking to his social media platforms to open up a debate on the issue. An outspoken practitioner of drumming naturally and without the aid of ‘studio tricks’, many agree with Reynolds, while some argue it depends on how individual bands use it.

some of your favourite bands have ALL their kick drums on track and you’re so dumb you don’t notice

— craig reynolds VERIFlED CHECKMARK HERE (@reynlord) May 23, 2023

The debate all started when Reynolds tweeted that some people’s favourite bands do not play certain drum parts during live performances. In a video on Instagram, Reynolds stated that the overall consensus by Twitter users was that this practise was ok, although Reynolds himself compared the use of drums on backing tracks to ‘miming’. The drummer for American hardcore band Stray From the Path not only professed his displeasure at the use but was also left gobsmacked by the reaction his Tweet received.

I’m hoping it’s just because I called everyone dumb but it seems like everyone is okay with this. Don’t bother practicing or becoming proficient kids, it’s the taking part that counts!!!!!!!!

— craig reynolds VERIFlED CHECKMARK HERE (@reynlord) May 23, 2023

With the use of backing tracks becoming a recurring incidence during live performances in this day and age, many people are resigned to the use of them, with Reynolds claiming that people are happy with songs that sound exactly like the record- live. The Glasgow based drummer further elaborated in a tweet, “putting ALL of the kick drum on a backing track is like having a football team with one player who is secretly an android, but then everyone just going ‘ah cool that android is absolutely murdering everyone again and scored 500 goals, love this.'”  

Reynolds, a musical purist, is a strong adherent of hard work, talent and artistry and believes the shift to backing tracks will give rise to programs such as AI creating music and stopping support for musicians. Regardless of which side one falls on the issue, Reynolds has certainly stirred up an intriguing debate which will surely continue to gather steam over the coming years.

Reynolds, hailing from Reading, England started his career by serving as a drum technician for the band Architects while also teaching the instrument to young aspiring musicians. Joining the New York based hardcore band Stray From the Path in 2016, Reynolds has become an influential voice in the music scene via his successful podcast show The Downbeat, where he speaks to fellow musicians in the world of metal and hardcore.

Stray From the Path have recently wrapped up a tour of Australia in support of Aussie based band In Hearts Wake. Reynolds’ podcast The Downbeat can be heard on Spotify and all other media outlets.

An obviously deplorable use of the Nazi symbol by slowthai at Osheaga in Montreal.

He's previously displayed a severed head of …. Boris Johnson in concert so will be interesting to see how much the woke left will talk about this. pic.twitter.com/9VbTmG8a95

— Jeff Joseph (@MisterDoubleJ) August 1, 2022

The musician walked on stage wearing a white T-shirt saying “DESTROY” with a large swastika in a red circle below. The shirt was inspired by a shirt designed by Vivienne Westwood and infamously worn by The Sex Pistols.

whether or not the outfit choice was a great idea is a different story but Vivienne Westwood has a series of antifascist designs including the one worn by Slowthai that are anything but new pic.twitter.com/9kAtQ9UxkT — matty (@mattyjones_x) August 1, 2022

Slowthai has since said that the shirt was meant to be anti-fascist and released the following statement on Twitter in response to the backlash: “i’m sorry to anyone who is offended by me wearing an anti-fascist / anti-regime t-shirt and the use of the symbol it represents. i want you to know i stand firmly against antisemitism and fascism of any kind, something the t-shirt was meant to illustrate with the word “destroy” above the symbol.”  Despite his apology the stunt has left festival-goers baffled and angered.

https://t.co/nwB4Hh8bH9 pic.twitter.com/pb4k8Il0MS

— TYRON (@slowthai) August 1, 2022

Osheaga also weighed in earlier in the day in a statement saying, “a performer appeared on stage Saturday wearing a controversial t-shirt displaying a swastika that caused confusion. The t-shirt denounces the regime. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have misinterpreted this message and felt hurt.”

pic.twitter.com/YrWZW1jIFz — OSHEAGA (@osheaga) August 1, 2022

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre For Holocaust Studies, an organisation that aims to stamp out anti-semitism was unimpressed with the festival’s response, tweeting, “While @slowthai’s intent at @osheaga may have been to denounce Nazism, the message was very badly executed. This ambiguous display of the swastika was frightening for Jews and others and should never have made it to the stage“.

While @slowthai’s intent at @osheaga may have been to denounce Nazism, the message was very badly executed. This ambiguous display of the swastika was frightening for Jews and others and should never have made it to the stage. pic.twitter.com/WGp8RwkvRy

— Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (@CanadianFSWC) July 31, 2022

 

 

This is not the first time Slowthai has courted controversy back in September 2020, he was accused of making lewd comments toward comedian Katherine Ryan while on stage at the NME awards, asking her to “smell my cologne”, and : “If you want to do something, see me later. She wants me to tend to her flowers”.

TW: sexual harassment

This video of Slowthai sexually harassing Katherine Ryan at the NME awards is awful. So, so gross. Women shouldn’t have to endure this as part of their jobs. I know his persona is shithouser but there’s a line and he fully crossed it pic.twitter.com/E0lALuF6Ja

— Moya Lothian-McLean (@mlothianmclean) February 12, 2020

The rapper talked to Noisey about the incident, “I didn’t see it as being toxic, but when I watched those clips back, I was like, I can understand why people feel this way and I can understand where I was wrong”. He continued, “People are so quick to point the finger and kill ya, but if you live in fear of what everyone thinks, you’ll never do anything all your life… I can sit and wallow or I can take my lessons and learn from it and become a better person”.

Ryan talked to NME about the award show saying, “When that happened, I thought: ‘We can have some fun with this.’ As far as I’m concerned, that’s all it was – fun in the room. We were both evenly matched and doing a pantomime.” She continued, “Because I’m vehemently against ‘cancel culture’ in most cases. We’re always looking to ruin someone’s career. To take the context and nuance out of the situation didn’t make sense to me”.