Music

So, How Was Your 2020?is a series in which our favorite entertainers answer our questionnaire about the music, culture and memorable moments that shaped their year. We’ll be rolling these pieces out throughout December. Brandi Carlile had been riding a wave of successes in early 2020 when the pandemic hit. …

Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin have closed out their “Hanukkah Sessions” with a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll.” The eight-night series saw the Foo Fighters’ frontman and producer release a new cover of a song by a Jewish artist for each night of the Festival of Lights. …

Paul McCartney will reflect on his life and musical legacy during a roving conversation with producer Rick Rubin in an upcoming “documentary event.” McCartney, who releases his McCartney III this Friday, shared the first teaser for the mysterious project, which features the Beatles legend and the famed producer discussing the …

Jazz is a web. Because of the genre’s inherently collaborative, often mix-and-match nature, singling out a supporting player we like on a given record might lead us to dozens of other sessions featuring that same artist in various contexts. Or we might pick up a certain current in the music …

When Taylor Swift announced Evermore, her second surprise album of the year, she alluded to some of the subjects in the songs. “[There’s] one starring my grandmother, Marjorie, who still visits me sometimes,” she said. “If only in my dreams.” Now, Swift has dropped a lyric video for “Marjorie,” featuring …

Julien Baker has called on fans to remix and reinvent her new single “Faith Healer,” off her upcoming album Little Oblivions. Baker released stems of the track through Isolate/Create, hoping to spread creativity while practicing social distancing during Covid-19. Fans can upload their creations to YouTube or Soundcloud with the …

Ariana Grande will release a new concert film Excuse Me, I Love You on December 21st on Netflix. The film will document the singer’s world tour in support of her 2018 album, Sweetener, which kicked off in March 2019 (a month prior, Grande had released Sweetener’s surprise follow-up, Thank U, …

A special one-hour livestream airing Tuesday, December 8th, will offer a deep dive into Tom Petty’s music videos and conclude with the premiere of a new video for “Something Could Happen.” The special, hosted by journalistDavid Fricke, will air on Petty’s YouTube channel and feature appearances from artists and directors …

Canadian heartthrob Shawn Mendes made his bones playing a version of boy pop that was more James Taylor than Justin Bieber — strumming his acoustic guitar and singing earnestly about the battle scars of romance. He was a dress-shirt-and-sport-coat guy in a sleeve-tat world, and on his self-titled third LP, …

Carly Rae Jepsen has unwrapped the festive music video for her new yuletide single “It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries.” The video plays out the song’s lyrics — including the verse about grandpa eating weed gummies — to showcase a zany Christmas celebration where each member of Jepsen’s family eventually …