Crème Brulée

Photo credit: Irvin Rivera

 LADYGUNN MAGAZINE CELEBRATES DAVID’S NEW FOUND “FREEDOM” – HERE

 

Singer-songwriter David Archuleta returns with his first taste of new music and what is sure to be his most delectable pop confection of a song with his new single, “Crème Brulée” HERE  The sweet and sexy track is the first single off of David’s upcoming EP release out this summer and was written by David, Ryan Nealon & Robyn Dell’Unto and produced by Michael Blum.

 

David Archuleta is stepping into a bold new era with “Crème Brulée” - a playful and irresistibly flirty pop anthem that highlights his impressive vocal range and Latin roots like never before.

David blends English and Spanish in a way that feels as smooth and addictive as the namesake dessert, “All this time I’ve been singing Spanish covers, but I’ve never had that Spanish flare in my own pop music. I wanted to get in touch with my Latin roots, have fun, be flirty, and explore the sensual side of David.”

 

With infectious energy and a hint of Latin flair, "Crème Brulée" is a confident, fun-loving track that showcases David’s evolution as an artist—sultry, charismatic, and completely in his element.

With smooth, dynamic vocals and a hook that sticks like caramelized sugar, David teases the listener—giving just enough to leave them wanting more. “Someone was really after me and wanted everything from me right away, but you’ve gotta work for it if you want more from me. You may have had a taste that makes you go crazy (“yo te vuelvo loco” is “I make you crazy” in Spanish) but I’m not going to give it all just yet unless you’re really worth my time and it’s worthwhile for me.”  "Crème Brulée" has all the ingredients to be a pop anthem for the year and is too irresistible to listen to just once.

 

The official music video for "Crème Brulée" is also out now HERE . The intricately choreographed dance video is directed by Nathan Kim, who has collaborated on projects for Charli XCX, David Guetta and Lady Gaga and features David embracing his love of the art of dance with the JA Collective dance trio.  “The "Crème Brulée" video was so much fun to make with the choreography and a new creative release for me. I’ve always loved moving to music and so the more I’ve taken choreography/dance classes I’ve found a better outlet to feel liberated and express myself. Working with Aidan, Jordan, and Nathan Kim introduced me to a new style that was really satisfying. Dancing brings me a newfound confidence, and makes me feel like I’m more in touch with my body and sensuality.” States David

 

Whether with his viral Sabrina Carpenter moment on stage at Hudson Yards in NYC HERE or his recent cover of George Michael’s timeless hit, “Freedom” HERE  - David is clearly having a renaissance back into pop culture. To celebrate his new music, including “Crème Brulée,” he’s curated a spectacular live show experience with his upcoming AFTERHOURS dance party event where he is set to perform live in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 3 at The Bellwether alongside beloved House DJ @tysunderland and @alexandrajohnmusic.  Tickets available HERE

In addition, the ultra-cool Ladygunn Magazine and art collective showcases David in their latest issue HERE

 

Y-100 iHeart Miami radio - HERE

The Terrell Show - HERE

Louis Levanti Tik Tok - HERE

Access Hollywood - HERE

 

David’s most recent releases include:

Freedom - HERE

Rather Be Lonely - HERE

Hell Together - HERE

Afraid To Love - HERE

I’m Yours - HERE 

“Up” - HERE

Faith In Me: HERE

Movin’: HERE

OK, All Right: HERE

 

Follow David Here:

Twitter 1.1M Followers 

TikTok 1.2M Followers +  19.6M Likes

Instagram 640k Followers 

Facebook 3.4M Followers

YouTube 842k Subscribers 

Spotify 1.6M monthly listeners

www.davidarchuleta.com   

Paper Lady

Photo by Renee Newman

 Paper Lady Unveils New Single "Static" with Exclusive Premiere on The Luna Collective  

Boston’s ethereal indie band Paper Lady is set to release its latest single, "Static," from the debut album Idle Fate on Friday, March 14, with an exclusive premiere on The Luna Collective.

 

"Static" explores the fear of being forgotten, weaving together dreamy, ethereal instrumentation with deeply introspective lyricism. The track features a unique sonic palette, including the omnichord, played by lead vocalist Alli Raina, adding a distinctive texture to the song’s haunting atmosphere.

 

The accompanying music video, directed by Melanie Drew Chambers (known for her work with Cornelia Murr, Razor-N-Tape, and Sarah Goldstone), further enhances the song’s themes of memory and impermanence. The video follows Raina through a stunning landscape, where she carries a basket of apples—symbolizing pieces of herself—that she leaves behind at various points throughout the journey, as if ensuring she will be remembered.

 

“Melanie was amazing to work with. She not only directed the video but also designed all of the props and sets, bringing our vision to life in the most beautiful way,” shares Raina. “We even built the bed used in the video and carried it out to a lake to set it up for one of the scenes. It was a surreal experience.”

 

Adding to the mystique of "Static," its release coincides with the full moon and an eclipse—a cosmic alignment that was purely unintentional but feels serendipitous. “Something similar happened when we were shooting the album cover—we realized it was a supermoon while filming. These unplanned moments feel like magic aligning with our music,” says Raina.

 

The release of "Static" follows the February 7 debut of Paper Lady’s first single, "Silt," and precedes the April 11 release of "Joe Modern," all leading up to the arrival of their debut album, Idle Fate, on May 9.

 

Fans can stream "Static" on all major platforms starting March 14, and watch the music video exclusively on The Luna Collective. For more updates, visit PaperLadyMusic.com and Linktr.ee/paperladymusic.

 

To learn more about Paper Lady, visit PaperLadyMusic.com and Linktr.ee/paperladymusic.

 

ABOUT PAPER LADY:

Paper Lady is an indie dream-rock outfit conjuring enchanting, immersive soundscapes from their home base in Boston, MA. Born in the depths of the Northeast DIY scene in 2019, the band has since become a spellbinding force in the world of ethereal rock and noisy freak folk.

 

The core lineup includes Alli Raina (vocals, primary songwriter, rhythm guitar), Rowan Martin (lead guitar) and Alex Castile (drums) and Taylor Morris (bass), each contributing to the band’s alchemical blend of sound and performance.

 

With influences spanning Mazzy Star, Broadcast, and Jefferson Airplane’s psychedelic explorations, Paper Lady crafts a unique sound that blends dreamy textures with grounded storytelling. Their previous EP, While You Should Be Sleeping, and tracks like “Absentee” and “Return to the Lake” established them as a standout act in the Allston basement show scene, while Idle Fate promises to push their sound into more experimental territory.

 

In 2024, the band wrote and recorded their debut full-length album, Idle Fate, during a retreat in a cabin in upstate New York and at their shared home in Brighton, MA. Self-recorded and self-mixed, the album explores themes of grief, love and fantastical existentialism.

 

Beyond Paper Lady, the band members are prolific creatives in their own right, pursuing solo projects and collaborating with other acts. Their collective artistry makes Paper Lady a true creative community, redefining the boundaries of indie rock and dream pop, and in 2023 the band was nominated for ‘Alt/Indie Artist of the Year’ at the Boston Music Awards. For fans of boundary-pushing music that feels both mystical and deeply human, Paper Lady offers an unforgettable journey.

Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack is an amazing artist known for many great songs, like many of you the one that stands out for me is Killing Me Softly. 

There is a haunting quality to it that gets under my skin, indeed.

Rest In Power great lady your legacy will live on...

Watch Roberta sing Killing Me Softly live after the jump.

Roberta on Wikipedia -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberta_Flack    

Funny Man

Margaret Cho returns with more new music today. The Grammy & Emmy nominated comedian/actress/singer has released “Funny Man” HERE her endearing tribute song about comedian/actor Robin Williams.  Margaret shares, ”I wrote this for Robin Williams after he passed away. It’s really an anthem to the funny guys who didn’t feel so funny on the inside all the time.”

 

Funny Man

 

Written by: Margaret Cho & Roger Rocha

 

CREDITS:
Margaret Cho – vocals

Kate Willett – Backup vocals

Marc Capelle - b-3 organ

Ari Gorman - bass

Danny Luehring - drums

Roger Rocha - guitars, piano, producer

Erma Kyriakos - violin, viola

Lewis Patzner - cello

Morty Okin - trumpet

Cory Wright – saxophone

 

LYRICS:

 

Your eyes looked so tired 
That’s what I thought first
You were greatly admired 
But you were dying of thirst 
There were comebacks 
Felt like thumbtacks 
On your fingertips so fine
You belonged to the many
Never yours never mine
Weren’t we lonely 
Weren’t we sad
Weren’t we beautiful 
Weren’t we bad
Funny man
Turn and ran
In the sun
Golden one
Funny man
I’m your fan
When you died 
Oh how we cried
I was just a kid
You were just a king
Everything you did
A prayer and a wing
You always got my name wrong
Apologies the same song
That you sang to me
Words that set me free 
Weren’t we lonely 
Weren’t we sad 
Weren’t we beautiful 
Weren’t we bad

Weren’t we lonely 
Weren’t we sad 
Weren’t we beautiful 
Weren’t we bad

I can’t forgive you 
I can’t relive you 
I can’t revive you 
But I survive you 

Funny man
Turn and ran
In the sun
Golden one 
Funny man
I’m your fan
When you died
Oh how we cried
Funny man 
Morbid plan
Hearts you wrung
Gone and done 
Funny man
How you ran 
Always mine 
Never die
Funny man
We all do the best that we can 
Funny man 
We all do the best that we can

 

Margaret previously announced she will release a brand new album via her Clownery Records label on February 14, 2025 with the first single and title track, “Lucky Gift” HERE out now. The full album of Lucky Gift is also available to pre-order HERE

 

On “Lucky Gift,” (which was written by Margaret and produced by Garrison Starr here ) Margaret sings in a sultry-pop tone while playing her double neck mandolin-guitar, “The Mandotar.”  “This is my power pop anthem and the first song I wrote on my mandotar. It is definitely giving gay pop in the best way and it’s my favorite song I’ve ever written.” states Margaret.

 

Click here to view the “Lucky Gift” lyric video!!!

 

It’s been 8 years since Margaret released her 2016 Grammy nominated American Myth album HERE

which featured the standout track “Anna Nicole” here written about her friendship with Anna Nicole-Smith.

 

Margaret says of the forthcoming Lucky Gift album – “I am thrilled to share this album which has been many years in the making. There’s tributes to Robin Williams, lost love, found love and anthems to non- binary and gender non-conforming folx. I collaborated with Garrison Starr and Roger Rocha in different cities at different times but it all feels like it comes from the same place and the same heart.”  

Follow Margaret Here:

Website: HERE

Tik Tok: HERE

Instagram:HERE

Facebook: HERE

YouTube: HERE

 

Catch Margaret on her “Live & LIVID” STAND UP COMEDY TOUR with brand new 2025 dates HERE.

 

Watch Margaret in the new Netflix documentary - Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

 

Coming soon in 2025 - Margaret Cho has been cast as one of the Gray Sisters in Disney's season 2 of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" HERE  and in Gregg Araki's next film, "I Want Your Sex" with Olivia Wilde & Charli XCX.  

"No Escape From What You Are"

 

Sudden Death Records is proud to present No Escape From What You Are on October 25th available on black, cherry red, smash and splatter vinyl, as well as CD and digital formats. Last winter the D.O.A. guys came up with an album concept... "Hey why don't we get a bunch of our punk rock pals to record D.O.A. songs?" So Canada's Godfather of Punk Joey Shithead Keithley contacted a bunch of his old friends and his favorite bands. As you can see from this sterling lineup, their reaction to covering D.O.A. material was great.   D.O.A. known as the Godfathers of Hardcore and more specifically Shithead himself invented that term, have influenced bands and fans alike since 1978, having played over 4,500 shows in 50 different countries on 5 different continents. For a lot of the musicians involved here, D.O.A. was one of the first two or 3 punk bands they ever saw in their lives. So what you have here are incredible versions 15 great songs that Joey and friends wrote and D.O.A. recorded and performed during the past 47 years. There's No Escape From What You Are!

TRACKLIST RANCID "Waiting For You" CIRCLE JERKS "The Enemy" ADOLESCENTS "2+2" VOIVOD "World War 3" SLIME "War In the East" FEAR "New Age" TOXIC REASONS "My Old Man's A Bum" DUFF MACAGAN "The Prisoner" DESCENDENTS "Get Out Of My Life" PROPAGANDHI "Fuck You" DUFF MACAGAN "Rich Bitch" WAR ON WOMEN "Liar For Hire" DEAD KENNEDYS "Smash the State" THE DEFECTS "Already Dead" M.D.C. "American the Beautiful" Follow Joe and the D.O.A. gang on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe.keithley and https://www.instagram.com/doapunk

The Bad Ups

 

Philadelphia's The Bad Ups will release their upcoming LP, 'Life of Sin' on September 27 via Jump Start Records. Stream the new lyric video for "Ego Trip" here: https://youtu.be/8Rftu45M_zY Stream on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/BsmNX6daJuKDoNH68 Frontman Travis McKayle says,"'Ego Trip' is about finding your place in the world while staying true to yourself." Pre-order the album here: https://thebadups.bandcamp.com/album/life-of-sin The four-piece punk band draws heavy inspiration from the Epitaph and Fat Wreck bands of the 90s and early 2000s, while also embracing the rhythms of traditional ska and reggae. Channeling the spirit of Bad Brains, they blend these genres into a unique sound. McKayle, who is of Jamaican descent, named the band The Bad Ups after the Caribbean patois term “baddup”—which means to treat someone poorly or violently. This name reflects their intense musical style and their ability to connect with the term's cultural roots. Since their formation in 2018, The Bad Ups have built a dedicated following and shared the stage with prominent acts like Face to Face, The Bouncing Souls, The Adicts, and Street Dogs. Their versatile sound appeals to various punk subcultures, from ska to oi, making them a versatile addition to many lineups. The Bad Ups are gearing up for a national and international tour to support their debut LP, “Life of Sin.” Upcoming Shows: September 28- Landsdale, PA (record release show) @ Round Guys October 24- Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire Follow The Bad Ups on Socials: Instagram Facebook

It Came From Aquarius Records

MVD Entertainment is proud to announce the August 13 digital release of the award-winning, third music documentary in Kenneth Thomas' trilogy about indie music culture, It Came from Aquarius Records, which explores the San Francisco-based independent record shop that helped shape the tastes of Bay Area residents and beyond for nearly a half a century. 

If you are a fan of any independently released music - indie rock, psychedelic, folk, krautrock, weirdo Finnish prog rock, Japanese noise, glitchy black metal, or anything that makes you feel like you've discovered a musical diamond in the rough - there's a chance you directly or indirectly found out about it through Aquarius Records. Walking into the store on any given day would guarantee an exciting music discovery for a lucky patron. The store influenced and enriched countless peoples' musical tastes with their curated selections - but this film also shows the realities of an indie record store trying to survive in an increasingly difficult market of brick-and-mortar music shops, especially in the ever-changing and price-gouging Mission District of San Francisco. 

The store closed in 2016 after 47 years of championing underground and experimental sounds and turning the world onto sound and music of limitless varieties, some of which ended up exploding in popularity out of multiple independent music scenes. 

Over 60 interviews were conducted for this film: all of the store owners dating back to 1970, other record store owners from around the world, musicians, label heads, music journalists, and INTENSE music collectors. A few of these folks include Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats), Marissa Nadler, Emil Amos (Grails, Om, Holy Sons), Ty Segall, and Howie Klein. Six years in the making, the film has a very personal angle, with lots of behind-the-scenes footage (and drama) that shows both the joy and excruciating stress that comes with running - and closing - a store like this.

The film will be available on Amazon, Google Play, TUBI, Fandango at Home/VUDU, NightFlight Plus, and more. 

Watch the trailer here.

Order Here -

https://mvd.cloud/share/sales/20240702024544.html

PrettiBoiRoq

PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS EASTMAN 

Gay Rapper PrettiBoiRoq is revving up engines once again with the release of his steamy new summer jam, “In My Ride.”  The song, with its sweet, catchy hook and its top-down, riding-‘round-the-beach pop vibe, is about a young and innocent California meet-cute.  It was inspired by PrettiBoi’s own short-lived but high-octane romance.  “I had just ended a long-term relationship and was discouraged with the dating scene when I met my ‘In My Ride’ guy,” he recalls. “He showed me I could connect with someone and that I had the ability to love again.”  

After the success of his single, “Bad Bitch Alert”, PrettiBoiRoq says he aimed to show a different side of his music and aesthetic with “In My Ride”. “I wanted to show my versatility as an artist and do more than talk about shaking ass and being bad,” he says from his Los Angeles home.   “In gay hip hop, I don’t feel like we have enough representation of love. We have plenty of tracks about sex and casual hook-ups, but not much about real romance, even though most of us live both pretty equally.” 

 

Sonically, "In My Ride" is very different from anything the artist has released before. It is reminiscent of something out of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream era.   “I wanted a very pop oriented sound,” PrettiBoiRoq explains. “Something that really personified summer love, and the feelings I was experiencing at the time.”

 

Nicholas Eastman directs the music video.  It depicts a young couple on their first date. We watch as they start at the beach, enjoying a typical Southern California day. The guys then walk along the Santa Monica Pier and that’s where things between them start to heat up. “They end the night in a hotel, as all great first dates do,” PrettiBoiRoq laughs. “in all seriousness, it was important that the scene not be sexually gratuitous.  It’s simply about the connection between two people.  There’s no real emphasis on the actual bedroom action, just hints and glimpses.”

 

Diego Escobar stars as the love interest in the video.  “We met while on set filming a music video for a friend of mine,” says PrettiBoi.  “Diego was playing the love interest in that video, too, and I could tell he was more than a pretty face. He was an actor and his ability to create chemistry on camera was amazing.”

 

It helped that Diego Escobar was professional because the day of the shoot was an unusually cold one for Southern California.  “Diego and I had blankets on set and we were constantly under them in between takes. Riding around in that jeep with no roof was particularly bone chilling!”

 

PrettiBoiRoq grew up in a tiny town in North Carolina.  After his mother succumbed to drug addiction, his parents divorced and he was raised by his religious dad and step mother.    He was picked on for the clothes that he wore and for being gay.  “I moved out of the house as soon as I turned 18 because I was desperate to leave my hometown behind.”  

 

He moved to Los Angeles where he started working in films.  “My LA dreams weren’t on modeling or acting, it was always on the music,” PrettiBoiRoq explains.   “I got hooked on hip hop, the lyricism, the lifestyle from 2Pac and Dr. Dre’s “California Love.” I think hip hop resonates with people who face adversity and with everything I had struggled through with my mom and weight and living in poverty, the aggressive nature of the music allowed me to express myself.” 

 

He released his first single, “PrettiBoi Anthym” in December 2015.  His first EP  PrettiBoiRoq, a pop hop record,  was released in June 2016, along with his second single, “New  Sh!t.” “You Don’t Own Me,” with its music video featuring porn star Arad Winwin, was released in April 2017.  

 

In his second album, Haus of Ken, PrettiBoiRoq honed in on his hip hop roots.  The single “‘Wanna Be Me,’ had a slightly darker, Trap sound to it along with a traditional hip-hop beat.  

 

He followed the album with “Bad Bitch Alert”, a duet with rapper Chanel Jole.  It is PrettiBoiRoq’s most successful single to date, with over 85,000 views on Youtube and counting.

 

Over the past couple years, PrettiBoiRoq has matured a lot. “I think working with so many amazing artists and building such a great fan base has really forced me to step out of my comfort zone and continue to get better at what I do,” he says.  

 

“The biggest thing people are going to realize with this upcoming project is how much thought and passion went into it. During my Haus of Ken era, I was making music I thought everyone else wanted to hear. I don't think I was truly comfortable with who I was as a person or an artist. With this project, I’m making music for me, that tells my story and who I am today and I’m hoping everyone else will like it. As you get older, you get wiser, or so they say.”

 

Visit:  https://www.prettiboiroq.com

 

Follow PrettiBoiRoq on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ prettiboiroq

 

#   #   #

 

"Easy Listening"

Sandra Bernhard

New York - Performer, actress, compelling storyteller Sandra Bernhard is back on the road in 2024 with her "Easy Listening" live extravaganza.  

Ride along with Sandy as she takes you on a tour of her musical influences. From the first time she heard the Supremes on AM radio on a snowy night in Flint, Michigan, to her first concert, Simon and Garfunkel… these are the songs you love and remember. The strumming guitars, the singalongs… from Peter Paul & Mary to the Stones – with Slaughter On Tenth Avenue playing on the Fisher HiFi (“Absolutely no one can touch this, do you hear me!” screamed her father) – as Ravel & Debussy drifted up from the basement where her mother just wanted to take a small break. The sounds of home that we all remember… jazz from your brother’s bedroom, your sister shouting along to Janis as she plotted her escape. The cross-country move to Arizona opened new musical vistas, as the ‘60s gave way to the ‘70s and the women of the era acted as our spiritual guides… Tina, Joni, Dusty, Aretha, Laura, Carole… Climb into the Pontiac station wagon and get ready to hit the road.

 

"The holiday vibes floating in the desert, Christmas carols hanging on a Saguaro. We’ll be bringing you old memories and new, just the way you like it:  groovy, cool and cozy." says Sandra

 

Be it on-screen (“American Horror Story,” “POSE” - HERE), radio (Sandyland on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy Channel 102) or on stages across the globe, Sandra Bernhard has been one of the most exhilarating performers for the past five decades.  

A pioneer of the one-woman show, Sandra’s trailblazing style has won her a loyal following and critical praise as she continues to tackle difficult subjects head on with sincerity and her whip smart insight. 

"Bernhard teaches the children – all those burgeoning spoken-word artists and monologists how to perform observational comedy with style, and right on the political edge."  - The New Yorker  

Catch up with Sandra here:

Sandra in-depth -   HERE

New York Times - HERE

The Daily Beast - HERE

Broadway.com - HERE

Good Morning America HERE

The View - HERE

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen - HERE

Sherri Shepherd Show – HERE

Club Random with Bill Maher - HERE

Out magazine - HERE

 

“EASY LISTENING” LIVE TOUR 2024 -

 

Sun., Dec. 8 - Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA - Tickets here

 

Tues. Dec. 10 – Sweetwater Music Hall - Mill Valley, CA -Tickets here

 

Sat., Dec. 14 – Oscar’s - Palm Springs, CA - Tickets here

 

Sun., Dec. 15 - The Canyon Club - Agoura Hills, CA - Tickets here

 

Thurs. Dec. 19 – The Wallis - Beverly Hills, CA - Tickets here

 

 Follow Sandra Here:

Instagram: @sandragbernhard https://www.instagram.com/sandragbernhard/?hl=en

Twitter: @SandraBernhard https://twitter.com/SandraBernhard

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.bernhardt.31

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/18iszIgjQ7mCPo8bNI61Xc

Website: https://www.sandrabernhard.com/