TAYLOR SWIFT has become the first music artist to claim twelve number one albums in the 21st century in the UK charts, according to the Official Charts Company. The 14-time Grammy winner, 34, has broken a string of records following the release of her highly anticipated record The Tortured Poets Department, which is thought to contain references to her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn and The 1975’s Matty Healy. Taylor Swift has mastered the art of storytelling through music, weaving complex emotions and relatable experiences into her songs. Known for her vivid imagery and ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level, Swift’s lyrics often reflect themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Her transition from country to pop and into indie/folk showcases her versatility and talent for reinvention. Albums like ‘folklore’ and ‘evermore’ highlight Swift’s ability to craft intricate narratives, often inspired by folklore, personal anecdotes, and fictional characters. On the day of release her album became the first in Spotify history to achieve more than three hundred million streams in a single day, and it has now topped the UK charts and secured the biggest opening week in seven years.
That Spotify record may not ne long lasting though because BILLIE EILLISH has revealed details on her highly anticipated third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT which will see its global release on May 17. Her most daring body of work to date, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is a diverse yet cohesive collection of songs, ideally listened to in its entirety from beginning to end. The album does exactly as the title suggests: hits you hard and soft both lyrically and sonically while bending genres and defying trends along the way. The new record, which will not lead with a lead single, journeys through a vast and expansive audio landscape, immersing listeners into a full spectrum of emotions. It’s what the multiple GRAMMY® and Academy Award winner does best, continuing to affirm Billie Eilish as the most exciting songwriter of her time.
Creative scion BEX is back for 2024 with a brand-new track called ‘sunDae’. She says “sunDae is about the expectation of having to be and look perfect all the time even when the world isn’t. The irony of the constant British drizzly days compared to the expectation of perfection that social media has put on us as a generation. We are requesting only the same from the weather as what the world expects of us. It’s a love song of expectation and disappointment. No one can achieve unrealistic goals and we all need to stop being so hard on ourselves all the time, social media isn’t real.”
The hyped-up, cut-and-paste sounds of ‘sunDae’ encapsulate a hard rock edge, electronic elements and a pure pop sensibility that will see this chorus bleeding from the rafters of venues all around the country. The initial idea for the track was actually sparked by a miserable British day outside and a mutual love of cows amongst the songwriters involved (BEX, Steven Batelle, Will Vaughan, Sam Cramer and Josh Paine). Cow noises and samples remain and permeate the tune so keep a keen ear out. BEX’ creativity transcends the music itself, seeping into all aspects of her life and art. Her work can be seen across diverse and prolific audio, visual and wearable creations. Merch items are designed and stitched by BEX herself to be true one-offs; she has even given her bass its own patchworked leather jacket! Music videos are conceived and directed by BEX, really giving an insight into her motivations and mind. Stages are adorned with charity-shopped creepy doll toys to make even an intimate show feel like it is taking place within BEX’ alternate reality. Having torn festival stages to shreds at 2000trees, Misery Loves Company and Y Not?, as well as embarking on her first ever headline tour of the UK in 2023, BEX kicked off 2024 on tour with St. Agnes and is looking ahead to Girls, Gays and Theys and Burn It Down Festivals this year, as well as a slot on the main stage at this summer’s 2000trees and Leeds festivals.
