The Kinks, one of the greatest ever British rock groups, continue the 60th Anniversary celebrations of their illustrious musical journey with part two of their career-defining anthology, The Journey, out 17 November 2023 on BMG.

Following the release of The Journey – Part 1 in March this year (featuring hits such as ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Waterloo Sunset’, ‘All Day And All Of The Night’, ‘Supersonic Rocket Ship’ and ‘Dead End Street’) The Journey – Part 2, compiled by the band, will be available on 2CD, 2LP, Digital and HD Digital formats. The physical formats contain a booklet with band photos and track-by-track notes written by original members Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory, sharing their memories of the time and weaving them into The Kinks’ incredible story. Preorder and Presave here The Journey Part 2 here.

image supplied – Getty Images.

The Journey – Part 2 includes singles, B-sides, album tracks and, notably, six new Ray Davies mixes, three of which are previously unreleased live performances from the New Victoria Theatre, London in 1975. New digital single ‘Everybody’s a Star (Starmaker) (Live 1975, 2023 Mix)’, released on 27 September can be heard here. The exciting new video for the track can be watched here

Hits featured on the release include: ‘Lola’, ‘Sunny Afternoon’, ‘20th Century Man’, ‘Dedicated Follower Of Fashion’, ‘Till The End Of The Day’, ‘A Well Respected Man’, ‘See My Friends’, and ‘Everybody’s A Star (Starmaker)’,

This release is accompanied by a brand new Official Kinks merchandise collection also to be launched today (27 September), that represents their 60 years as a group. The full range of merchandise is available from Backstreet.Visit the store here.

Ray Davies: “I thought I knew everything about my songs until I was given the opportunity to put this record together. The new sequencing has enabled us to show the ‘big picture’ and give a more insightful back story about how our music evolved. I learned a lot about myself in putting this together.”

Dave Davies: “Another chance to listen to some of my favourite Kinks releases over the years. A perfect example of our diverse and creative musical legacy.”

Mick Avory: “A strong selection of Kinks songs across the years, that should give the listener some nice surprises.”

The songs on The Journey – Parts 1 & 2, for the first time ever on a Kinks collection, have been handpicked by Ray, Dave and Mick, curated according to themes inspired by the trials and tribulations of their journey through life together as a band since 1963. The tracks are taken from the classic original Kinks albums including: Face To Face, The Kink Kontroversy, Something Else, The Village Green Preservation Society, Lola Versus Powerman and The Moneygoround, Muswell Hillbillies, Everybody’s In Show-Biz, Preservation Acts 1 & 2 and A Soap Opera.

All tracks have been carefully remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Studios in LA, overseen by Andrew Sandoval.

The post The Kinks to Release ‘The Journey – Part 2’ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today, Craig David has released his phenomenal new album 22 via BMG.

The incredible record produced with Mike Brainchild (Sinead Harnett, IAMDDB) shows Craig remaining at the helm of his own unique, authentic sound, which has made waves across the globe, making him the voice of one of the most pivotal eras in music, and in turn, making him one of the most successful artists in UK chart history.

The album features new single ‘Obvious’ featuring R&B artist Muni Long, alongside previously released singles ‘DNA’ with Galantis, ‘G Love’ with Nippa, ‘My Heart’s Been Waiting For You’ with Duvall, and ‘Who You Are’ with MNEK, alongside a plethora of unheard bangers. Craig will also publish his much-anticipated debut book ‘What’s Your Vibe?’ on October 6th, 2022.

The idea of putting a smile on people’s faces is at the heart of 22, Craig’s incredible eighth album whose title itself reflects a myriad of different themes, from spirituality to celebrating 22 years since his debut album. Craig says “There’s a spiritualism in the number 22 and what it represents. In numerology it’s a very powerful number and in terms of angel numbers it’s bringing balance and equilibrium to my life. We’re in a world where there’s a lot of me against you, and so it’s bridging the gap.” He continues “My debut album is probably the most clear expression of who I am because it was my first outing – it’s everything you are. So on this album there’s that energy mixed with the wisdom and experience I can bring to the world. I’ve not mastered anything yet, I’m a newcomer still.”

The desire to heal was also at the forefront of his mind when he started working on the album in the summer of 2020, as the world briefly emerged from lockdown. Craig says “I want to raise people’s vibrations. I want to give people a ‘musical healing’ without preaching or trying to tell people what to do.”

The groundwork had already been laid in his home studio, where he set up his gear in a way that recalled the early days when he was a teenager making music in his bedroom in his mum’s flat in Southampton. On creating the album over lockdown, he says “It was the time I had to just create. For someone who is creative, that’s the most freeing thing you can offer.” Eventually, as the world opened up, Craig would drive his car to the studio. “I got into my Mini and drove down the studio and again it reminded me of being this little kid in a Peugeot 206 going down to the Ocean Village in Southampton. But that journey everyday changed the game. I was seeing life happening around me and drawing inspiration. The first thing I’d do when I got into the studio was say to Mike ‘put the mic on, let’s go’.”

New track ‘Obvious’ showcases Craig’s ability to cross multiple genres whilst firmly pointing back to the smooth and sultry bops he has become synonymous for, and is another seamless collaboration, this time with Muni Long. On the single, Craig says  “Initially when I started to write it, it was a song of ‘we know that we’re right for each other but we’re trying to make each other jealous’. The beauty of it is when Muni wrote her verse, she showed me what the song really was – she spoke her truth and was like ‘I’m an empowered woman, we’re not getting back together, the vibe I see from this is let’s be honest’ – it’s more obvious that this isn’t right, and that’s the beauty of a collaboration like this, being able to write lyrics from both perspectives.”

Across his 22 year career, Craig has collaborated with everyone from Sting to Kano to Diplo to KSI, while also becoming one of the biggest DJs in Ibiza via his TS5 soundsystem. Award-wise Craig has received 14 Brit Award nominations, two Grammy nominations, four MOBO awards, three Ivor Novellos honouring his songwriting, and most recently an MBE for his services to music.

Since he first emerged at the end of 1999 with instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK top 40 singles (16 of them top 10), nine UK top 40 albums (five of them top 10) and amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide. In fact, over 1.5 billion of those came via his most recent releases, 2016’s chart-topping comeback album, ‘Following My Intuition’, and 2018’s career consolidating ‘The Time Is Now’.

As one of the most loved artists, Craig has continually soundtracked the charts all whilst crossing multiple genres, his now iconic first record ‘Born To Do It’ made a huge impact and brought garage from the underground and to the forefront of the mainstream.

In addition to this, Craig has one of Ibiza’s most successful and long standing residencies playing Ibiza Rocks for 5 seasons. 2022 is no exception, finishing his ‘Hold That Thought’ UK tour, Craig returned to Ibiza Rocks this summer.

Aussie fans can catch Craig David perform live this November at the R&B Fridays Presents: Fridayz Live 2022 Australia Tour in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

The post CRAIG DAVID RELEASES NEW ALBUM – ’22’ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Spirals is the highly anticipated sixth solo album from violinist and composer Diana Yukawa, following her five solo albums with Sony Music, BMG and her own indie label, Longbody Music.

The solo violinist released her debut album with BMG RCA at age 14 and was acknowledged as one of the country’s top 10 artists. Following her second release a year later, Diana decided she wanted to write and perform her own original music – and this passion has driven the direction of her career ever since. The first single from the new album, ‘Unfolding’, will be released in August, followed by ‘Returning’ on September 2nd, 2022 and the focus track ‘For You’ on September 30th, 2022.

“…it is the violin of Yukawa that elevates the music close to a spiritual plain.” – Ben Hogwood, Music OMH, on Diana’s collaboration with Ghost Harmonic.

The first single – soon to be released on 5th August – “Unfolding” is a piece Diana wrote with all the excitement, fear and wonder of entering a new chapter of her life. Surrendering fully with trust and a heart full of love. Her second single “Returning” touches upon the sense of “coming home”, returning to herself and her music which this album is a full celebration of; “Remembering who I was before and embracing the expansion of identity and my music”.

Diana was born in Tokyo before moving to London at three months where she lived until seven years ago, before relocating to the Cotswolds to start a family. She began learning the violin at the age of five and had the privilege of studying with the late, great master, Ruggiero Ricci as well as such distinguished Professors as Maurice Hasson, Hu Kun, Rodney Friend and Natasha Boyarsky.

Throughout her colourful career to date, the half English half Japanese violinist has performed solo at some of the world’s most auspicious venues – recently dazzling audiences at Latitude and Wilderness Festivals, the Royal Albert Hall, Place Des Arts, Burh Dubai and to a sold-out Hollywood Bowl, to name but a few.

Diana is also a keen collaborator and has worked with Craig Armstrong, Jeff Beck, Nitin Sawhney, John Foxx and Ghost Harmonic as well as some of the world’s greatest Orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, English Chamber and BBC Concert Orchestra. Diana has also featured as a special guest for various TV shows including MTV’s Coke Studio, Blue Peter and PBS.

The post DIANA YUKAWA RETURNS W. HER NEW ALBUM ‘SPIRALS’ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Craig David has released his new dance track titled “My Heart’s Been Waiting For You” featuring Duvall – out now via BMG.

In further exciting news for fans around the world, Craig’s anticipated new album titled ‘22’ is due for release on September 30th, 2022.

The new single brings all round good vibes, ‘My Heart’s Been Waiting For You’, is both new and nostalgic. A glorious concoction of soulful melodies that dance throughout the track and instantly anthemic house beats, the new single showcases an artist truly at the top of his game.

Across his 22-year career, he’s collaborated with everyone from Sting to Kano to Diplo to KSI, while also becoming one of the biggest DJs in Ibiza via his TS5 soundsystem. Award-wise Craig has received 14 Brit Award nominations, two Grammy nominations, four MOBO awards, three Ivor Novellos honouring his song writing, and most recently an MBE for his services to music.

Initially scheduled to take place two years ago to mark the 20th anniversary of his ground-breaking and career defining hit ‘Born To Do It’, Craig David’s ‘Hold That Thought’ UK Arena Tour finally makes its eagerly awaited return which kicked off in Nottingham on the 7th April 2022 and ending at Hull’s Bonus Arena on April 26th. Craig’s last arena tour sold out in a matter of seconds and received 5 star reviews and critical acclaim across the board.

Since he first emerged at the end of 1999 with instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK top 40 singles (16 of them top 10), nine UK top 40 albums (five of them top 10) and amassed over 5 billion (!) streams worldwide. In fact, over 1.5 billion of those came via his most recent releases, 2016’s chart-topping comeback album, ‘Following My Intuition’, and 2018’s career consolidating ‘The Time Is Now’.

As one of the UK’s most loved artists, Craig has continually soundtracked the UK charts all whilst crossing multiple genres, his now iconic first record ‘Born To Do It’ made a huge impact on UK culture and brought garage from the underground and to the forefront of the mainstream.

In addition to this, Craig has one of Ibiza’s most successful and long-standing residencies playing Ibiza Rocks for 5 seasons. 2022 is no exception as he will travel across the UK for his 2022 Anniversary ‘Hold That Thought’ UK Arena Tour kick starting in April 2022. Craig continues to remain at the helm of his own unique, authentically British sound.

A sound that made waves across the globe, making him the voice of one of the most pivotal eras in UK music, and in turn, making him one of the most successful artists in UK chart history.

The post CRAIG DAVID DROPS NEW SINGLE appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Multi-Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Carlos Santana has released his star-studded, masterful new album, Blessings and Miracles – out now.

On Blessings and Miracles, music legend and guitar master Carlos Santana aims higher than ever, delivering one of the most ambitious, inspired, intelligently crafted and flat-out magical records of his storied career.

 Every so often a record comes along that manages to hit all the marks, and Blessings and Miracles does so in remarkable fashion. There’s thrilling feats of bravura musicianship that pair the guitar master with fellow icons like Chick Corea and Steve Winwood; there’s knockout rockers with Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Living Colour’s Corey Glover; and there’s undeniable, genre-bending, hook-filled celebrations featuring guest artists such as Rob Thomas, G-Eazy, Chris Stapleton, American Authors and Ally Brooke, among others. It’s an album that could only had been created by a true visionary whose commitment to his art is a sacred bond that never waivers.

“The title of this album comes from my belief that we’re born with heavenly powers that allows us to create blessings and miracles,” Santana says. “The world programs you to be unworthy of those gifts, but we have to utilize light, spirit and soul – they’re indestructible and immutable. Those are the three main elements on this album.”

Santana immersed himself in the creation of Blessings and Miracles over the past two years, serving as producer and collaborating with other record makers and writers such as Diane Warren, Narada Michael Walden, Chris Stapleton, Peter Stengaard and Gregg Wattenberg. The realities of recording during the Covid pandemic created a challenge only in that some musicians were separated geographically, beamed into sessions via technology; inspiration, however, was never in short supply. “It’s amazing how we can record together these days without being in the same studio,” Santana notes. “To me, it’s not a hindrance at all. I just close my eyes and I’m in the same room with whomever I’m playing with, even if they’re somewhere far away. We share frequencies together.”

Ever since the multiple Grammy-winning smash “Smooth” became a worldwide staple, music fans have been longing for another pairing of Santana and Matchbox 20 vocalist Rob Thomas. Their wishes have been answered with the album’s aptly named first single “Move.” Call it a new classic – a grinding, grooving and altogether breathtaking mix of pop and Latin rock with sure-fire hooks for days, it’s like hearing old friends reuniting and tearing it up. Thomas is dynamic, sensual and utterly magnetic, and he’s ably backed by the punchy vocal talents of American Authors (especially the band’s Zac Barnett, who takes the lead spot in the second verse). Santana matches these supreme performances as only he can, with scintillating solos that explode with tectonic force.

“The way that ’Move’ came about was very much like how ‘Smooth’ happened,” Santana recalls. “It was like divine intelligence behind the scenes, and I just knew I had to record it with Rob. The song is about awakening your molecules. Ignite and activate yourself – you know, move. When Rob and I work together, we have a sound that’s splendiferous.”

The album’s second single, “She’s Fire,” is a hypnotically soulful ballad that works its way into your body chemistry. It’s one of two cuts that the mega-award-winning, chart-topping composer Diane Warren sent to Santana (“Break,” featuring Ally Brooke, is the other), for which the guitarist expresses heartfelt gratitude. “I’m so honoured that Diane reached out to me,” he says. “Both of the songs she sent have staying power. You’ll play them 10 or 20 years from now, and they won’t sound dated.”

On “She’s Fire,” Santana wraps his exquisite guitar melodies in and around an enticing narrative spun by the rapper G-Eazy – they converse, completing each other’s thoughts at times. Santana and Warren discussed numerous guests for the track, but before landing on G-Eazy – a decision the guitarist calls “brilliant.” “G-Eazy is so talented. I’m thrilled at how we both sound on this song,” he says. “It reminds me of when Bill Graham once told me: ‘Your music is spiritual and sensual. That’s who you are.’ And that’s the message of ‘She’s Fire.’”

Spend a few minutes around Carlos Santana, and you’re bound to hear the word “joy” more than a few times, so it’s only fitting that the album’s third single, which teams the guitarist with Grammy-winning country titan Chris Stapleton, is called “Joy.”

It’s a soul-enriching marvel that unfolds almost cinematically – one can envision mountain vistas and expansive plains – blending country, reggae, blues and gospel with a widescreen sing-along chorus. Stapleton is in peak form, plaintive and passionate, and Santana’s guitar playing, each immaculate solo and response, rises to meet him.

“America for Sale” is equally timely. Fueled by a galvanising main riff inspired by his own iconic track “Soul Sacrifice,” Santana explains, “Anything is for sale. Nothing is holy ground. We’re selling America by the pound, and you see it everywhere, too. The Olympics – people train for years to break records, and right next to them they’re selling beer.”

Featuring underlying basic production by Rick Rubin, “America for Sale” is a gnashing, psycho-metal blues bruiser sung by Death Angel’s Marc Osegueda, and it sees Santana going toe to toe with Metallica six-string whiz Kirk Hammett on not one, but two gloriously sustained programs of fireworks. “Kirk and I were able to record in the same room together,” Santana says, “and we went for it like dueling banjos. There’s a part of me that loves Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Jeff Beck, and I love what Kirk does in Metallica. Playing with him, I get to prove that you can create good energy with explosive fire.”

“If I’m not feeling it, how can anybody else feel it?” he asks rhetorically. “I feel very blessed that I can feel chills when I play this music, and what I love about the album is how pure and innocent it feels. There’s a freshness to it. I’m not trying to rubber stamp and duplicate Abraxas or Supernatural. This record is like waves of light, and I’m a surfer riding those waves that become songs by different artists, creators and architects. I’m very fortunate that I have the opportunity to do that. It’s a gift I don’t take for granted.”

Santana will continue their multi-year residency at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas with upcoming dates from November 3 thru December 11 2021.

The post Legendary Guitarist Carlos Santana Releases New Album appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Craig David today joins forces with pop powerhouse MNEK on new single ‘Who You Are’ as well as announcing his upcoming brand-new album titled ‘22’, available for pre-order now.

‘Who You Are’ is the first single from the album and cocoons an emotive yet uplifting pop lyric about being present in a pristine UK garage casing courtesy of producer Digital Farm Animals.

Across his 22-year career, he’s collaborated with everyone from Sting to Kano to Diplo to KSI, while also becoming one of the biggest DJs in Ibiza via his TS5 soundsystem. Award-wise we’re talking 14 Brit Award nominations, two Grammy nominations, four MOBO awards and three Ivor Novellos honouring his songwriting.

It’s impressive, sure, but that’s the past. It’s ephemera. “I always feel like you need to be more real-time and present in the now,” Craig confirms. That present involves this glorious, MNEK-assisted lead single ‘Who You Are’.

Like all Craig David classics it feels both box fresh and warmly nostalgic. “It will live in the world this song,” Craig says. “It feels so authentic, it has intention. Put on ‘Who You Are’ to try and talk to someone that needs help.”

A genre defying career spanning over two decades, ‘Who You Are’ exemplifies Craig’s versatility and range. Sonically the new track encompasses both an ethereal strings led sound which is juxtaposed by a progressive garage beat all seamlessly brought together by the standout soulful vocals which both artists have become synonymous for.

With authentic collaboration at the heart of both of their music, coming together on this track has been a long time in the making for Craig and MNEK. Both artists are critically acclaimed and highly sought-after mainstays in British music, collectively working with the likes of Sting, AJ Tracey, Ella Mai, Dua Lipa, Madonna, Beyonce and more cementing their status as two of the industry’s most well regarded singers, writers and producers.

MNEK added “I’ve worked with Craig many times over the past several years and have obviously looked up to him for FOREVER, one of my childhood heroes easily and such a pioneer for black men in R&B & dance music… So, now we have this collaboration “Who You Are”. I love this song more every time I listen to it, it’s so beautiful – and there’s just something about it. I wrote the hook, he wrote the verses, he really wanted me to stay on it with him and like… who’s actually gonna say no to Craig David? He’s the best “to do it”! This is absolutely a tick off the bucket list for me and I hope it touches the people who hear it.”

 Since he first emerged at the end of 1999 with instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK top 40 singles (16 of them top 10), nine UK top 40 albums (five of them top 10) and amassed over 5 billion (!) streams worldwide. In fact, over 1.5 billion of those came via his most recent releases, 2016’s chart-topping comeback album, ‘Following My Intuition’, and 2018’s career consolidating ‘The Time Is Now’.

As one of the most loved artists, Craig has continually soundtracked the global charts all whilst crossing multiple genres, his now iconic first record ‘Born To Do It’ made a huge impact on culture and brought garage from the underground and to the forefront of the mainstream.

Famed for his impressive live draw and globally recognised for his legendary ‘TS5’ shows which have toured across the world, Craig has sold out London’s KOKO, Brixton Academy and even London’s O2 Arena all within a matter of seconds. In 2016 he took over Glastonbury’s SonicStage, bringing over 25,000 people to the tent and achieving the record for the biggest crowd at the stage in Glastonbury history.The following year, Craig played The Pyramid Stage with his band and drew in a crowd of over 80,000 which was the second biggest of the festival that year.

In addition to this, Craig has one of Ibiza’s most successful and long-standing residencies playing Ibiza Rocks for 5 seasons. 2022 is no exception as he will travel across the UK for his 2022 Anniversary ‘Hold That Thought’ UK Arena Tour kick starting in April 2022.

Craig continues to remain at the helm of his own unique, authentic sound. A sound that made waves across the globe, making him the voice of one of the most pivotal eras in music, and in turn, making him one of the most successful artists in UK chart history.

The single is available to stream and listen to now.

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