Tag: Kygo

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Out Music: VINCINT, Tommy Boi, Kim Petras & Kygo, Neon Trees

VINCINT (photo: Matthew Takes)
New music from top-notch out artists for your weekend… First up, acclaimed singer-songwriter VINCINT has teamed up with the cast of Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning series, Queer Eye, to unveil the music video for “Be Me.” Directed by Jake Wilson (Cher, Lizzo, Jonas Brothers), the video was filmed by VINCINT and the Fab Five using their iPhone cameras during quarantine. The track is pure musical joy. “It’s a celebration of the self!” says VINCINT. “A moment to believe that you can be more than what you thought you ever could. This video is a burst of light in a time where light is so needed.” “Be Me” premiered in the official trailer for Season 5 of Queer Eye – which is set in VINCINT’s hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I covered VINCINT’s earlier release, “Save Myself,” here.

California-based Tommy Boi serves up a bit of hopefulness with this heart-on-sleeve pop ballad, “blessing in disguise.” “I grew up as a pastor’s kid so coming out was always like this scary thing that I knew I was going to have to do eventually,” says the young out artist. “I was also made fun of in high school because I was new and kids assumed, I was gay before I was ready to come out. “It was really painful and hard to know people were making up rumors and talking about me,” he adds. “Anyways, I think this song was just a culmination. It’s me singing to myself while I’m going through it, hoping that everything turns out to be okay in the end.” I hear Tommy is currently working on a music video for the track, but to be honest – I like being able to experience Tommy’s open, plaintive vocals set atop the haunting, melancholy piano soundscape without a visual to distract me. Look for his new four-song EP due out late July.

Kim Petras in “Broken Glass” (screen capture)
Pop sensation Kim Petras has teamed up once again with producer and DJ Kygo to release the music video for their pop-tastic collaboration, “Broken Glass.” The video for the song, which appears on Kygo’s third studio album, Golden Hour, depicts Petras as the queen of a dystopian-inspired, post-apocalyptic nightscape. Kygo is certainly the artist of the moment. Last week, the producer/DJ held 16 spots on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart beating out Lady Gaga’s 13.

Neon Trees drops their new single, “Mess Me Up,” in advance of their upcoming album, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me due out July 24. “’Mess Me Up’ is the gut-punch of our new album,” says NeonTrees‘ lead singer, Tyler Glenn on the single. “It’s a plea to not let the pain of a break-up linger, set to the tune of a slow dance.” “What I love tonally is it sounds like that one last dance on prom night before we end it all,” adds the out frontman. “If you’re gonna mess me up, get me addicted, ruin a few good years of my life–Act like you know me and don’t do it slow.”

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Whitney Houston Returns To Billboard Charts With ‘Higher Love’

Whitney Houston and DJ Kygo land on the Billboard Hot 100

Pop icon Whitney Houston, who passed away in 2012, lands on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart this week with the newly-remixed version of “Higher Love” by Norwegian producer/DJ Kygo.

“Higher Love” is Houston’s first appearance on the chart since her 2009 single, “Million Dollar Bill,” from her final album, I Look to You.

The track was previously only available as a bonus cut on the Japan release of Houston’s 1990 album, I’m Your Baby Tonight.

I wrote about the track when it dropped recently, and it’s been on my playlist ever since.

I think it’s a spectacular collaboration bringing one of the greatest voices pop music has ever known back to still-adoring fans.

Here’s Houston singing “Higher Love” during her Feels So Right tour in Japan 1990.

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DJ Kygo Delivers New Whitney Houston “Higher Love” From Rare 1990 Recording

DJ/producer Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll (aka Kygo) releases the new single “Higher Love” with the legendary Whitney Houston.

“Higher Love” is the first new Whitney Houston music released in a decade, since 2009’s “I Look To You.”

Previously, Houston’s take on the 1986 Steve Winwood hit was available as a ‘Japan-only’ bonus track on her 1990 album, I’m Your Baby Tonight.

Music industry legend Clive Davis told Rolling Stone the decision to omit the track on the U.S. release was an effort in avoiding her being viewed as a cover artist at that time.

And so, the track has been a prized rarity among hardcore Houston fans over the years.

The Whitney Houston estate presented Kygo with the archival recording of Whitney’s version, and Kygo raced into the studio, thrilled for the opportunity to make music with one of the greatest female vocalists of all time.

“I was honored when the Whitney Houston estate reached out and presented me with the opportunity to work with one of the greatest female vocalists of all time,” said Kygo in a statement. “I reworked the song from scratch and am really happy with how it turned out!”

Recorded when Houston was in peak vocal form, the first notes from the diva feel like an old friend walking in the room. That voice – rich, robust, with just the perfect edge – is full of unbridled joy.

The production – thoroughly modern with threads of gospel choir woven in with undeniable deep beats – is fresh and exhilarating. Instead of merely remastering the track, Kygo stripped away the previous production and started from scratch to create a new track around the gorgeous Houston vocals.

“I was trying to make it sound like something that she would’ve done, but also something that’s my style,” he told Rolling Stone.

Kygo will perform the song this Sunday, June 30th, at PrideFestival Utopia in New York City.

Hit play and enjoy.