Author: Liberty Dunworth

NME

Lana Del Rey has spoken out about her friendship with Camila Cabello, and quashed rumours about why she brought the singer out during her Coachella set.

• READ MORE: Lana Del Rey live at Coachella 2024: distinctive star stays true to herself

Speculation about the relationship between the two came into the spotlight once again following Del Rey’s recent headline set at the 2024 edition of Coachella. During her performance during the second weekend of the California festival last month, the ‘Candy Necklace’ singer surprised fans by bringing out Cabello as a surprise guest.

The moment saw them come together to perform a rendition of the latter’s recent single ‘I LUV IT’, and caught some fans off guard as it was widely thought that it would be Taylor Swift who would be joining Del Rey as a guest on the night.

Some viewers also questioned why the headliner chose to bring out Cabello, particularly because the track they duetted is unlike anything in Lana Del Rey’s discography and not the obvious choice when it comes to a collaboration.

For some devoted fans, a consensus emerged that the appearance at Coachella may have been somewhat of a peace offering, following the ‘Video Games’ singer seemingly calling out the pop star in a past post.

The alleged tension between the two arose back in 2020, when Lana Del Rey shared a now-infamous post on Instagram titled ‘Question for the culture’. In the update, the singer complained about how so many artists had reached the Number One spot on the charts “with songs about being sexy, wearing no clothes, fucking, cheating, etc”, however, she had faced backlash for “glamorising abuse” and been “crucified” because of it.

In the post, Cabello was one of the artists Del Rey mentioned in relation to topping the charts.

As highlighted by Stereogum, the ‘Summertime Sadness’ singer had already had to clarify that she did not intend to criticise the singer-songwriter when she left the cryptic comment “What the hell?’ under one of the latter’s Instagram posts. “I meant what the hell in a good way,” she said at the time. “As in it’s so good.”

Anyway, following the recent collaboration at the Indio festival, the convoluted history between the two has been drawn into the spotlight once again, with a fan posting that 2020 rant again online, highlighting Cabello’s name and writing a caption “definition of forgive and forget!”.

That being said, Del Rey seems to have put the rumours to rest once and for all – replying to the fan’s post and clarifying that she didn’t intend to name-check the singer in the first place.

“Um it’s not a forgive and forget vibe because, other than one person I didn’t know, most of these people were my friends that’s why I felt safe listing them,” she wrote.

“They knew I was saying I wanted to be able to tell my story which was worse than most peoples, like they could,” she added, before going on to claim that she “was sequestered to wearing turtlenecks for 11 years” after releasing her hit song ‘Video Games’.

“But because everyone critically hated ‘video games’ just ‘cause I was talking about watching my boyfriend playing video games I was sequestered to wearing turtlenecks for 11 years. vibe what you will,” she wrote. “By the way, these were also the only people who had number one hits in the last six months that year that was the whole point, to name anyone else would’ve been irrelevant.”

Following the backlash from Del Rey, the fan who posted the 2020 post immediately shared an apology, and explained why they pulled the rant back into the limelight. “I only meant good things and was simply happy that camila and lana were still friends,” they wrote.

In other news around the singer’s Coachella set, it was reported last month that the festival was facing a fine of around $28,000 (£22,585), due to the singer running over the scheduled time frame.

The time issues with the set last month coincided with a similar problem the ‘Blue Jeans’ singer faced last June, when she arrived on stage late for her performance at Glastonbury, and was subsequently cut off due to hitting the curfew.

The post Lana Del Rey speaks out on friendship with Camila Cabello and shuts down Coachella collab fan theory  appeared first on NME.

NME

University students across the UK have embarked on a fresh wave of demonstrations, following the “horrifying” arrests of those protesting in support of Gaza in the US.

Various protests have already been held across the UK, with students across the country walking out of university in a show of solidarity with Palestine. There have also been calls for their universities to sever ties with firms that supply arms to Israel and withdraw links to universities in Israel.

Over the recent months, it has been the demonstrations in the UK capital that have gathered the most widespread support and media attention, however, the protests in other cities are set to attract more support following the violent scenes from US campuses including Columbia University.

The incidents across America have taken place over recent days, where those protesting in support of Gaza have been faced with aggression and many have been arrested by authorities.

The Hamilton Hall academic building was occupied by students in a bid to pressure Columbia University to divest from Israel. The Gaza Solidarity protest encampment that had been set up on Columbia’s main lawn for nearly two weeks, before it was raided by the NYPD and dismantled on Tuesday night (April 30). Many students were arrested.

As highlighted by The Guardian, a lecturer at Columbia Law School called Bassam Khawaja said that he was “horrified to see Columbia invite police onto our campus for the second time this month to arrest our students”.

Since the arrests, both faculty and non-resident students have been prevented from entering campus, and the scenes at the university have sparked a new sense of anger among UK students – with a shared sense of solidarity leading to more protests being planned.

Speaking with The Guardian, David Maguire – the vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia (UEA) – explained how protests at UK universities have been generally peaceful, but could easily escalate into scenes similar to those in the US.

Among those planning demonstrations are students, staff and alumni from the universities of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam, who form a group called the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine, and have already begun an encampment in solidarity with the people in Gaza.

An encampment is also being held at the University of Warwick, which has been going on since last week, as well as one in Newcastle, which is said to include over 40 students.

For the latter, organisers stated that students were left outraged after the university reportedly signed a partnership with Leonardo SpA – a defence and security company which they claim is responsible for the laser-targeting system used in the Israel Defense Forces’ F-35 fighter jets.

Elsewhere, there was a May Day student walkout in Leeds in solidarity with Palestine, students in Bristol established an encampment in Royal Fort Gardens, and the University of York revealed that it “no longer holds investments in companies that primarily make or sell weapons and defence-related products or services”.

The statement from the University of York came following prolonged pressure and demonstrations from staff, students and alumni since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

As well as demonstrations across London, it is students in Manchester that have also been making waves in support for Palestinians, as reports have emerged that 50 students have set up camp in a push to get the university to terminate its partnership with BAE Systems and other arms companies. The movement in Manchester also aims to make the university sever its ties with Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as stop all “unethical research”.

Speaking with the outlet, a spokesperson for Universities UK – which represents the voice of over  140 institutions – stated: “Universities are monitoring the latest news on campus protests in the US and Canada. As with any high-profile issue, universities work hard to strike the right balance between ensuring the safety of all students and staff, including preventing harassment, and supporting lawful free speech on campus. We continue to meet regularly to discuss the latest position with university leaders.”

Solidarity with Palestine has been seen in the run-up to the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest too, with countless artists signing petitions to have Israel removed from the competition, and pressure being put on UK representative Olly Alexander to boycott the event.

Last year, Alexander was one of many who signed a pro-Palestine letter, calling Israel an “apartheid state” and accusing it of genocide,, however, he recently confirmed that he will still be taking part in the event as a boycott “wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal”.

The 2024 edition will be hosted in Malmö, Sweden – the hometown of last year’s winner Loreen – on Saturday, May 11. At time of writing, Israel is set to take part as planned, but revealed earlier this month that it had changed the lyrics to their song.

Their entry, ‘October Rain’ by Eden Golan, appeared to contain references to the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks. Initially, Israel threatened to withdraw from the competition if any changes were to be made to the lyrics. However, a call from Israeli President Isaac Herzog for “necessary adjustments”  to ensure Israel’s participation prompted their public broadcaster KAN to agree to amend the song.

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NME

Olivia Rodrigo has spoken out about her upcoming shows at Manchester’s Co-Op Live being postponed at the last minute, saying that she is “so disappointed” by the news.

• READ MORE: Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Guts’ review: pop sensation secures her place as a generational talent

The pop star was set to perform at the new arena in Manchester tomorrow night (May 3) and Saturday (4) as part of her ongoing ‘GUTS World Tour’.

However, just two days before the shows were set to go ahead, an update was shared from the venue organisers, confirming that the dates had been pushed back due to ongoing technical issues at the arena.

It marked the latest in a series of shows that have been delayed due to ongoing issues with the opening week for Co-Op Live. Originally, the 23,500-capacity arena, located opposite the Etihad Stadium, was supposed to open with performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24. However, following a test event with Rick Astley, the comedian’s gigs were moved to April 29 and 30 due to a failed power test.

Later, a gig from The Black Keys that was scheduled for April 27 had to be moved to May 15, and the Peter Kay shows were moved for the second time. They are now expected to be held on May 23 and 24.

Initially, organisers ensured those with tickets that all other shows scheduled for the new venue would be going ahead as planned, however, they announced last night (May 1) that  A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie‘s show was cancelled following a “venue-related technical issue”.

The news arrived just 10 minutes after doors had opened for the gig, and fans were instructed to leave the area. Shortly afterwards, it was confirmed that Olivia Rodrigo’s shows would also be pushed back.

Now, the ‘Vampire’ singer has shared a statement about the postponement, and told fans that she has been left feeling “so disappointed” by the news.

“I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m sooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to on-going venue-related technical issues,” she explained, writing on Instagram Stories.

“We’re doing our best to reschedule the show. you can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticket holders,” she added. “I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon”.

Following the venue announcement, a spokesperson for Co-Op Live told Manchester Evening News that the technical issue was caused by part of an air conditioning unit falling from the gantry inside the venue during soundcheck. Nobody was injured.

An employee who was there at the time reported to the outlet that he saw what looked like a “steel bar fall from the ceiling into the bowl” at about 5.30pm.

The circumstances that have led to the cancellation of both Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Olivia Rodrigo’s shows add on to the plethora of issues that have plagued the arena in recent weeks.

Initially, organisers insisted they were “not embarrassed” by the postponements, and instead focused on getting the venue up to scratch. However, just days later, news broke that Gary Roden, the boss of the new arena, had resigned amid the controversy.

Ahead of his resignation, Roden had come under fire for his comments about grassroots music venues, in which he argued that some smaller venues in the UK are “poorly run” and dismissed calls for a £1 ticket levy on all gigs arena-sized and above.

In response, Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, told NME that he believed Roden’s comments were “disrespectful and disingenuous”, while also highlighting the irony of making such “ill-judged, unnecessary and misleading” remarks on the week that their own venue was forced to postpone their own launch, due to a number of logistical problems.

Before then, Co-Op Live and the existing, 21-000 capacity AO Arena in the city came to blows in a licensing row. ASM Global, which operates the latter, objected over “public safety” concerns and accused the application for a licence as being “simply unlawful”. Despite the row, the venue officially had its licence granted in March.

Liam Gallagher, Take That, Nicki Minaj and Keane are among the acts who have been announced to perform at Co-Op Live in the coming months. It’ll also stage the 2024 MTV European Music Awards later this year.

The post Olivia Rodrigo says she is ‘so disappointed’ after Co-Op Live shows postponed appeared first on NME.

NME

Ed Sheeran has announced a one-off show in Brooklyn, celebrating 10 years since he shared ‘X’.

• READ MORE: Ed Sheeran – ‘Autumn Variations’ review: a pumpkin-spiced snoozer 

Announced today (May 1), the upcoming show will be held at the historic Barclays Center in New York, where the singer, songwriter and guitarist will take to the stage on May 22 for an exclusive performance.

The date comes in celebration of his now iconic sophomore album, ‘X’, which he shared back in 2014 and will be turning 10 years old this June. On the night, the concert setlist will reflect Sheeran’s ‘X (Wembley Edition)’ release from 2014.

To ensure that tickets are given to fans, the artist has partnered with Seated for an exclusive fan on-sale, where fans can register to be in with a chance of being selected for the opportunity to purchase tickets. Registration opened this morning and will close tomorrow (May 2) at 11:59 ET.

The general on-sale for tickets will be offered to the selective fans next Monday (May 6) at 10am ET via Ticketmaster.

As well as the upcoming show in Brooklyn, Sheeran will also be celebrating 10 years of ‘X’ by sharing a special anniversary edition of the LP on June 21 – exactly a decade since the original arrived.

The record will be available in various formats including an EcoRecord – a new, more ecologically sustainable LP format – and multiple bonus tracks.

Outside the original tracklist, which includes ‘Don’t’, ‘Sing’, ‘Photograph’, ‘Bloodstream’, and ‘Thinking Out Loud’, nine bonus tracks feature on the individual formats of the anniversary editions. All of these have never been released on vinyl up until now, and include ‘I See Fire’, which featured in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and ‘All of the Stars’, taken from The Fault In Our Stars.

Pre-order the anniversary edition of ‘X’ here and find the full tracklist below.

The ‘X: 10th Anniversary Edition’ tracklist is:

1. ‘One’
2. ‘I’m A Mess’
3. ‘Sing’
4. ‘Don’t’
5. ‘Nina’
6. ‘Photograph’
7. ‘Bloodstream’
8. ‘Tenerife Sea’
9. ‘Runaway’
10. ‘The Man’
11. ‘Thinking Out Loud’
12. ‘Afire Love’

Bonus Tracks
1. ‘Take It Back’
2. ‘Shirtsleeves’
3. ‘Even My Dad Does Sometimes’
4. ‘I See Fire’
5. ‘All Of The Stars’
6. ‘English Rose’
7. ‘Touch and Go’
8. ‘New York’
9. ‘Make It Rain’

In other Ed Sheeran news, earlier this year the pop star sang in Punjabi for the first time during his show in Mumbai, alongside the Indian popstar Diljit Dosanjh.

The artist was playing at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in the Indian city, where he invited Dosanjh on stage with him to sing the latter’s song ‘Lover’ and delivered his lyrics in Punjabi, receiving cheers from the crowd.

Before then, it was revealed that he treated his parents and wife to a private three-hour visit to Paris’ Louvre museum, and Rick Astley performed a rendition of his track ‘Shape Of You’ during an appearance in the BBC Radio 2 Piano Room.

A list of the UK’s highest tax payers was also been published, including famous faces such as Sheeran and JK Rowling.

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