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Welcome to The Soundtrack, a column where we plumb the depths of our musical knowledge to bring you the best* (subjective) music to listen to for very specific life situations. This week, we help you walk home alone at night with a touch more confidence.

There’s really nothing quite like a solo stroll. Calming, good for the environment and introspective – even cathartic – we wholeheartedly endorse walking as a mode of personal transportation. However, walking alone at night can bring its own set of issues. Of course, violence can occur at any time of day, and let’s dispel the myth of “a stranger hiding in the bushes” being the primary cause of it right off the bat. But that doesn’t mean that most of us don’t feel a little uneasy when trotting home under cover of darkness by ourselves. That goes double for those who identify as women/non-binary/LGBTQ. I’m not saying we’re fragile lil kittens who need constant reassurance we’re going to be okay (altho that does sound pretty nice tbh), but the reality is that these groups are by and large the most targeted by this particular brand of assailant. Of course, listening to music isn’t going to assure physical safety, but what it can do is provide a much needed confidence boost when you’re thinking about recent incidents in your area and flinching at every shadow or cicada noise. We gotchu.

friendships – When I Feel Like Killing, I Murder

I’ve always felt unreservedly intrigued by friendships. The Melbourne duo are more of an art project than a band, pairing Nic’s audio with Mischa’s visual to hypnotic effect. This cut, driven by dark, skittering synths and a monster-esque pitched-down vocal, is positively horror movie worthy. BUT you’re the one listening to it, so guess who the big bad wolf is that everyone within five suburbs should be terrified of? You. You’re a force to be reckoned with, and friendships are gonna make sure you don’t forget it. Ignore every passerby with a steely glare. They scatter to the sides of the pathway as you cleave through the streets to your dwelling with only one thing on your mind: that really great book you’ve been reading and a cup of herbal tea.

Sleigh Bells – Rule Number One

Pretty much any song in Sleigh Bells’ discography would be right at home on this week’s The Soundtrack. But this track – which I’ve already sung the praises of – honestly takes the cake. Pop rocks and coke make your head explode, according to Alexis Krauss, but we beg to differ. It’s this song that really puts you in danger of cranial combustion. And we mean that in the best way possible. Rule Number One marks the part of your journey were you really start to get your strut on; the strut of a person who could burn their enemies to the ground with a snap of their fingers. Nobody is a match for you and your immense power. May god have mercy on the souls of all who’ve wronged you, because you won’t. You’ll just unhinge your jaw, eat their souls, and launch them into the sun.

Grimes – Kill V. Maim [Little Jimmy Urine remix]

One of our favourite things about the endlessly talented producer is that she flat-out refuses to write about romantic relationships, preferring to mine more unorthodox premises for her art. According to the almighty Grimes herself, this track is basically about The Godfather if all of the mobsters were vampires. How fantastically batshit is that? Anyone familiar with this song will know it’s already as ferocious as a rabid jaguar, the sort of song that threatens to throw the earth off its axis. Maybe invest in some anti-gravity boots to wear on your walk, or something, because this remix takes it to a level we didn’t actually know existed. Personally, when I’m feeling a little anxious walking home alone, I like to take one earbud out for maximum awareness of my surroundings, but like I’m not rly sure that’d even make much of a difference with this one cos it’s so ~hectic~.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll [A-Trak remix]

Ahhhh what a classic – except – different? If you saw that (imho) very dumb movie Project X a couple years back you’ll recognise this from the soundtrack of that. Erase that memory and from this day forward, only recognise it as being from The Soundtrack Of This. This is equal parts threatening and bouncy, so you can kind of get your walk-dance on while you give the mental middle finger to the world for being so awful that the simple act of walking home is troubling. There’s enough of a blatant party vibe here to get lost in that hopefully you won’t have the energy to freak yourself out over whether that white car is the same as the other white car that passed you ten minutes ago. That is *not* to say don’t be alert and safe. It’s just to say, take care of yourself, babe.

Sampa the Great – F E M A L E

This is definitely the most chill track on this playlist, sonically speaking. How many tracks in your collection boast a bloody upright bass? Hell yessss, that is cool as heck, and that’s to say nothing of Sampa The Great and what she unpacks on this track. Sampa is a certified badass and she’s all about shouting out to empower others. This song will help you focus on all the things that make you such an untouchable boss. The adversity you’ve overcome (and keep overcoming every day)? I can’t speak for everyone, but that shit feels like water off a duck’s back while I’m mouthing along with Sampa: F E M A L E, F E M A L EEEE. Would recommend screaming the same at anyone who ever gives you grief over the course of your life, honestly.

Image: The Mary Sue/A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

It’s that time of year again: the denim jackets are peeled off, the BBQs begin to sizzle in backyards across Australia, and we’re suddenly hit with a veritable cornucopia of incredible music events to signal the march towards the end of the year. There are festivals being announced left right and centre, sure, but not all of us are wallet-endowed enough to skip from fest to fest just to catch our favourite acts for a paltry 30 minute set. Thank god for the Spring headline tour. But, you might say, there are so MANY tours being announced! I feel overwhelmed with choice – how can I make sure I won’t miss the best of the bunch? Shhh. We got you. Credit cards at the ready, fam, let’s dive into the creme de la creme of upcoming tours over the next few months.

NGAIIRE – Inside Blastoma tour

Ngaiire’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric and we are bloody stoked as hell about it. Her album Blastoma climed to #41 in the ARIA charts, #6 on the Urban charts, and is shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. Ngaiire is fresh off touring with Listen Out festival, before that she absolutely SLAYED at Splendour in the Grass (I should know, I was there). She’s insanely talented, a phenomenal live performer, and even has Grimes‘ stamp of approval. Oh, and the incredible Woodes and Wallace are supporting. Literally what the hell other reason do you even need to pony up the dough and head along to her last headline tour of the year?

Tickets for Ngaiire on sale now via www.ngaiire.com.au

Fri 25 Nov | Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Fri 2 Dec | The Factory, Sydney
Fri 12 Dec | The Zoo, Brisbane

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYmbZkP3LfU]

Polish Club – Beat Up tour

I’ve been on the Polish Club train for a very long time now and it warms my heart to see that they are finally embarking on their very first headline tour. The thing about seeing Polish Club live is that you will feel very euphoric, then utterly confused as to how the fuck two people can make such a glorious racket, and then very euphoric again. You’ve probably heard their rock banger Beeping, because it climbed its way up into triple j’s 15 most played tracks for a while there. They played BIGSOUND this year and have racked up a laundry list of supports featuring music’s who’s who: Courtney Barnett, Northeast Party House, Gang Of Youths… it’s a little bit ridiculous actually. Oh, and they’re releasing their debut album next year. Why are they so talented? I bet you they’re really nice guys, too.

Tickets for Polish Club on sale now via www.polishclub.co

Horrorshow – If You Know What I Mean tour

This one has actually already kicked off, so if you’re a fan of not missing out on cool things then you might want to jump on tickets very, very quickly. Horrorshow are touring the country – yes Perth, you included! – in support of their super-tight track If You Know What I Mean. To add onto the pile of very good reasons to catch the Sydney duo, rapidly rising MC B Wise will be joining Solo and Adit across the run of dates. Watch the Harry Hunter/ENTROPICO (Hayden James, Touch Sensitive, The Meeting Tree) directed video for If You Know What I Mean below and get keeeeeen.

Tickets for Horrorshow on sale now via HORRORSHOW.COM

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rRAc7_Z4G4]

Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win tour

Julia Jacklin seemed to come out of frickin’ nowhere (although, of course, this is never the case) to dominate the back half of 2016. The accolades are stacking up faster than you can say “fuck, I missed out on tickets” – with BBC 6, LA Times, Uncut and Mojo all heaping praise on the alt-country singer and her raw, stunning debut album Don’t Let The Kids Win. There’s only one other Aussie artist whose rocket-fuelled trajectory has taken off this fast in recent memory and her name rhymes with Schmourtney Schmarnett. So you should probably catch Jacklin on this tour before she starts playing her tunes on the US late night television circuit and appearing on Ellen.

Tickets for Julia Jacklin on sale now via Oztix

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fua9nrkUYew]

LANKS x Hein Cooper – Co-headline tour

Q: What’s better than one innovative Melbourne musician embarking on an 8-date tour? A: Two innovative Melbourne musicians embarking on an 8-date tour together. You likely don’t need an introduction to either of these dudes. LANKS, perennial striped shirt-wearer and top notch human being, just wrapped a national support with Vera Blue and released his second EP Viet Rose, and I honestly have no words for how good it is. Basically, he’s been busy dominating and it really doesn’t seem like he intends on stopping. Hein Cooper is like Ed Sheeran if Ed Sheeran was cool and made good music (there I said it). To hear his gorgeous singles Art Of Escape and Rusty (together they boast over 3 million streams on Spotify) is to feel feelings. They’re gonna make a formidable duo and if you don’t go see them you’re dumb.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQNvaGJyraA]

Good Boy – Plum EP tour

Hi, have you been living under a rock? Good Boy are a band that are, as their name suggests, very Good. They are also all Boys I guess. They’re touring in support of their EP Plum, aka one of the best, most self-aware snapshots of the Aussie youth zeitgeist we’ve seen in recent memory. Their set at BIGSOUND was so packed I had to stand on a chair and triple j are smashing their tunes basically on the daily, like new single S.O.G.K. They put on a bloody good show. Get your butt to one of them.

Tickets for Good Boy available from Oztix

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rm6zVEsvXc]

Ever wondered what would happen to the extra .1% that fell off Kaytranada‘s brilliant album 99.9%? Well, he’s just released a brand new mixtape on Soundcloud, titled 0.001% ???

Currently there’s no information or track details whatsoever. The mixtape runs for a continuous eighty-seven and twenty seconds, and begins with Kaytranada introducing the mixtape, before splintering off into a fluid world of rhythms, scratching and effects.

The news comes just days after Kaytranada was awarded the coveted Polaris Music Prize, which is basically the Canadian Mercury Prize. He was up against records by Grimes, PUP, Black Mountain and White Lung among others. The Haitian-born producer even took to Twitter to reveal that fellow Haitian Wyclef Jean called him to congratulate him on the accolade.

The acclaimed artist has not only released his own albm and mixtape this year, but has collaborated with Badbadnotgood, remixed Rihanna, and worked on production for Mick Jenkins, Craig David, Chance the Rapper, GoldLink, River Tiber and more.

Kaytranada is touring Australia next month. Details:

Fri 21 October – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Sat 22 October – Metro City, Perth
Thu 27 October – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri 28 October – Studio, Auckland
Sat 29 October – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Image: Joseph Okpako/Redferns

Laura Marling has begun a new project in which podcasts, photo diaries and studio recordings will be used to discuss the place of women in this male-dominated industry we are faced with in music, particularly the lack of female presence working behind the scenes in recording studios.

Titled Reversal Of The Muse, on the project’s official website, Marling explained how the project began with something as simple as a few conversations about female creativity. It soon, however, became so much more than that.

“In reversing the muse it became an experiment. As a small part of the global conversation about women in the arts, it became an obsession. It occurred to me that in ten years of making records I had only come across two female engineers working in studios,” she said. “Starting from my experience of being a woman I began to ask myself what difference it might have made had I had more women around, if any. I wanted to know why progress has been so slow in this area and what effect it would have on music,” she said.

There is so much evidence to prove that being a woman in the industry is not easy. Many female artists have spoken out about issues such as misogyny, the lack of equality and respect and the common instances of sexual assault and harassment. Some of these women include the Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry and Perfect Pussy’s Meredith Graves and Pitchfork’s Senior Editor Jessica Hopper, along with Grimes and Montaigne.

It’s good to see that this conversation has not stopped, because the issues are just as strong as ever. These brave women are pioneers in the fight against these issues. We need to listen to their words ensure that something is done. Thank you Laura for giving them this platform.

Listen to the first installment of Marling’s podcast with HAIM, who performed at the Women In Music Benefit in May, below.

https://soundcloud.com/reversalofthemuse/with-haim

Image: The Music

Will Butler of Arcade Fire fame can time travel. Are any of us surprised? In the film clip for Friday Night, the titular track from his live album recorded at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, what begins as a simple breakfast with his real-life wife Jenny Shore and son Alvin becomes a screwball flash-forward to Alvin’s presumably inevitable “angsty teen” phase. Comedian Zack Willis is perfectly cast as Teen Alvin – he SERIOUSLY looks related to Butler – and he leaves the family home in a huff to throw a petty, cross-neighbourhood tantrum. It’s a great visual accompaniment to the track, which kinda reads as a scattered, desperate, adult version of spitting the dummy but retains its good humour through a tottering piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOoXr1qp9s4

The clip itself is, unsurprisingly, directed by another comedian: Jo Firestone. She sounds like she basically had the time of her life making it:

“I’m a big fan of Will. His album is incredible. He’s so talented, and on top of that he’s nice – and he’s so talented that he really doesn’t have to be nice at all. I’m certainly not worthy to make music videos for him, but we tried our best.”

Of COURSE he’s super nice to boot. Of course. And if this clip is anything to go by, Will Butler definitely doesn’t take himself too seriously either. As much as I want to be angry about some people winning the personality/talent lottery, I can’t be. You win, Butler. And Firestone’s selling herself short – the clip is irresistibly quirky and charming, and will improve the hell out of your Wednesday.

Friday Night the album was released in June, but will be released again on vinyl on September 9 via Merge. It features five songs from Butler’s debut LP Policy, as well as five new songs (one of which is the title track).

Image: Jo Firestone

PARTYNEXTDOOR – PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3)

The third of his self-titled serious of releases and highly anticipated sophomore album, PARTNEXTDOOR 3 contains Jahron Anthony Brathwaite’s most engaging and personal material yet. PARTY bares his soul on P3 as he croons about failed relationships and lost love over murky, sparse production that’s become a trademark of his sound.

Taking cues from his mentor Drake, P3 opens with the seven and-a-half epic High Hopes. PARTY’s seductive vocals tell the tale of wanting to get back with an old flame over a menacing beat – including an interloping of Blackstreet’s No Diggity – setting the scene for what is to come. Nothing Easy To Please is a sultry number about how hard it is for PARTY to fall in love, You’ve Been Missed finds him wallowing in self pity when his girl is gone and Problems & Selfless delves into issues PARTY’s encountered in past relationships and how it affected him.

While his early work is heavily autotuned, PARTY strips it back a little on P3, allowing his natural vocals to shine on tracks like Temptations and the atmospheric Spiteful, a track that includes a glorious 80s guitar solo. It’s these moments where PARTY’s unaffected voice gives an added layer of emotion to his lyrics and showcases his diversity.

1942 takes a break from the heartache, with PARTY toasting Don Juilo 1942 tequila, in what is one of the albums more commercial sounding tracks. PARTY also changes things up on a number of other songs, mimicking fellow Toronto native Ramriddlz’s flow on Don’t Run and trying his hand at dancehall on the Controlla-esque Not Nice, and to a lesser-extent on the reggae vibe of Only U. Of course it would’d be a PARTY album without a Drake cameo, with the OVO boss jumping on a classic Noah “40” Shebib beat for the booty call sleeper Come And See Me.

Verdict: One for those late lonely nights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ockhq8E2FrA

iLoveMakonnen – Red Trap Dragon

Having left Drake’s OVO Sound label and announced his retirement, iLoveMakonnen has decided he’s not done just yet, returning with the Danny Wolf produced Red Trap Dragon. As the title suggests, the mixtape’s production is heavy with deep 808s and stinging hi-hats, with Makonnen singing and rapping in his unique, stilted style.

As he declares on No Features, Makkonen doesn’t need any help with his career (a possible dig at Drake?), setting the tone for the tape. Makonnen spends the majority of the album talking himself up and how successful he really is. The Atlanta rapper takes shots at everyone biting his flow on Sound Like Who?, raps about his riches and trading his Hummer for a BMW on Always Countin’, and how he started from the bottom on Came From Nothin.

Of course it’s not all sunshine and lollipops, with Makonnen losing his girl on She Don’t Call No More and rapping about how the drugs help him late at night on Get Me Back Up. Man of the moment Lil Yachty and fellow Atlanta artist Skippa Da Flippa are the tape’s only guests, turning up on final track Loaded Up.

Red Trap Dragon is nothing new from Makonnen, and while I enjoy his voice, I can understand why he’s a divisive figure. The real star of the mixtape is Wolf, who has quickly built a reputation for crafting enticing beats capturing the Atlanta sound and providing a solid platform for Makonnen to showcase his stuff.

Verdict: A decent return from Makonnen but nothing to get overly excited about.

https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/277532458

Raye – SECOND

The debut major label release from South London’s Raye, SECOND is a modern take on R&B that justifies the hype surrounding the 18 year old. The five track EP incorporates a number of styles, from the synth-driven, Charli XCX co-written opener I,U, Us to the downtempo 808 slow burner Tell Me, with Raye’s soothing vocals ever present.

To be honest, every song on SECOND is a winner. The electro-meets-pop Shhh has hit written all over it, with Raye telling her former partner, “You can leave, you can leave, I don’t want you to wait,” over a beat that reminds me of 90s R&B. This theme of escaping negative people continues on the spacey, finger-clicking production of Distraction, a track originally released earlier this year as part of her two track Back 2 The Winter EP. Then there’s album closer, Ambition, featuring one of grimes biggest stars in Stormzy. The beat combines elements of hip-hop and electronica and is the perfect foil for Raye’s soulful vocals, with Stormzy reigning in his rapid flow for a more subtle approach.

Verdict: Get around Raye before she blows up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSQF416kUVc

The Get Down – Soundtrack

Over the weekend Baz Luhrmann’s new Netflix series, The Get Down, finally premiered to mixed reviews. Centering on the origins of hip-hop and a group of rag-tag kids caught up in the hysteria, the show appears to be a classic Luhrmann production; visually stunning but with a narrative that often loses its way and makes for complicated viewing. Be that the case, similar to the Suicide Squad soundtrack, this compilation is top notch, featuring a wide array of artists and genres influenced by the sounds of the late 70s.

At 24 tracks long, The Get Down has all bases covered when it comes to highlighting the different musical trends during the shows setting. Miguel and Janelle Monáe bring the funk respectively on Cadillac and Hum Along And Dance (Gotta Get Down), C.J. & Co. flirt with disco on Devil’s Gun while disco legend Nile Rodgers lends his skills to the soaring Set Me Free and dance floor thumper Telepathy, a song featuring Christina Aguilera on vocals. Along with Aguilera, there are a number of notable modern performers featured, with Leon Bridges reworking The Temptations Ball Of Confusion, former One Direction star Zayn Malik hooking up with Teddy Pendergrass and Grandmaster Flash on the smooth You Can’t Hide/You Can’t Hide From Yourself (Touch of Class GMF Remix)”, and Michael Kiwanuka pairing with one of the show’s producers, Nas for a couple of old school hip-hop themed tracks.

Along with the big name musicians, the stars of the show also get the chance to flex their voices, with the most recognised being Jaden Smith. He opens the soundtrack with the blistering Welcome To The Get Down and collaborates with Raury on the folk-meets-hip-hop Losing Your Mind. Justice Smith, who plays the show’s lead Ezekiel, has some of his rhymes and poetry included from the show, but it’s Herizen F. Guardolia, who plays female lead and Ezekiel’s love interest Mylene Cruz, whose singing matches her acting. Be That As It May is a high hitting ballad and the aforementioned Nile Rodgers track Set Me Free is something you’d expect to hear when in the famed Studio 54.Verdict: Quality collection of 70s inspired tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzEUL_vg56U

Image: HipHopDX

Suicide Squad Soundtrack – Various Artists

While the reviews have been poor for the latest DC adaption, the soundtrack to Suicide Squad has a few more positives. Featuring an eclectic list of artists, the compilation of songs covers everything from hip-hop to pop to electronica and old time rock and roll.

The majority of songs are new, with Grimes’ industrial themed Medieval Warfare, Kevin Gates’ rap meets club banger Know Better, and the smooth R&B of Kehlani’s Gangster the clear highlights, but for me, it’s the Action Bronson, Dan Auerbach and Mark Ronson collaboration, Standing In The Rain, that stands head and shoulders above anything else on the album. Ronson crafts a retro-styled beat that harks back to his Version days, with Bronson dropping lyrical bombs about using milfhunter.com and dressing like a playboy, and Auerbach providing the haunting hook that interlopes lyrics from Oran “Juice” Jones’ 80s classic The Rain.

As is the case with most soundtracks these days, a couple of older, well-known tracks get a look in. Eminem’s massive 2002 hit Without Me, War’s Slippin’ Into Darkness and the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic Fortunate Son all feature, while Panic At The Disco’s rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is sacrilegious. It must be said Skrillex and Rick Ross’ Purple Lamborghini and the Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign and Imagine Dragons collaboration, Sucker For Pain, are both songs the soundtrack could go without.

Verdict: A few missteps but on the whole, a satisfying soundtrack that supersedes the film.

https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/276897838

2 Chainz – Daniel Son; Necklace Don

2 Chainz is on somewhat of roll this year. His January mixtape, Felt Like Cappin (read our review here), and Lil Wayne collaborative album, ColleGrove (read our review here), both garnered a positive reception from fans and critics alike, and with anticipation growing for the release of his third solo record, 2 Chainz has come through with surprise mixtape Daniel Son; Necklace Don.

Consisting of 10 tracks with production from the likes of TM88, K Swisha, DJ Spinz, Dun Deal and C4, Daniel Son; Necklace Don is a typical 2 Chainz release, with hard hitting trap beats providing the base for the rapper’s identifiable flow and often hilarious rhymes. 2 Chainz goes in over flute sampling Kilo, reminds us he’s a “blessing” on the track of the same name, and imparts a message of positivity on Ghetto. The tape features only two guests, with YFN Lucci You adding a hook and a verse on In Love Wit Her, and Drake joining 2 Chainz on the ego trip, piano laced Big Amount.

Verdict: Daniel Son; Necklace Don is the perfect stop gap until 2 Chainz drops his next long player.

https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/276887356

DJ Snake – Encore

French electronic producer and rapper DJ Snake is best known for Turn Down For What, his huge collaboration with Lil Jon that went global at the end of 2013. Since then he’s released a number of hit singles and continued work on his debut album, Encore, which was finally released last week.

Even if you’ve only ever heard Turn Down For What, you know what to expect with this album. Over the course of 14 tracks Snake delivers an album of modern EDM bangers with flourishes of hip-hop, shaped by a long list of guest producers, singers and rappers. Skrillex lends a hand for the production of Sahara, resulting in a standard Skrillex thumper, Moksi helps out with another rave number on the pumping Pigalle, while Aussie George Maple provides an alluring hook on the Diplo-esque Talk. UK singer Bipolar Sunshine contributes vocals on the pleasant Middle and bass heavy Future Pt 2, with Justin Bieber’s sweet pop vocals on the rumoured Selena Gomez ode, Let Me Love You, giving the album pop credentials.

While the majority of Encore is fuelled by EDM, there are a number of rapper’s involved and, as a big hip-hop fan, these moments are the album’s best in my humble opinion. While the Swizz Beatz cameo isn’t necessary, both Jeremih and Young Thug make their presence felt on the commercial The Half and Travi$ Scott, Migos and G4SHI join with Snake for the trap anthem Oh Me Oh My.

Verdict: A little too EDM-oriented for my tastes, but worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPB-xmtw2VE

Image: Empireonline

Suicide Squad looks set to be the must-watch movie of the American Summer blockbusters. Not because it’s going to be good (who knows if it will be?), but because of its stunning soundtrack. The movie has already produced the phenomenal Purple Lamborghini from Skrillex and Rick Ross as well as a haunting track from Kehlani, Gangsta exploring the torrid romance between The Joker and Harley Quinn, and the rest of the track listing of the soundtrack is studded with musical heavyweights. The latest peek into the album has come from Mark Ronson, who has previewed the track he made with Action Bronson and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys fame.

The track, called Standing In The Rain, is a reimagining of a 70s song of the same name. It’s a pretty soulful tune, but also has that classic funk that Ronson is known for. This is the third collaboration between Bronson and Ronson and the pair seem to be developing a very nice chemistry.

The preview came via Zane Lowe’s World Record radio show on Apple Radio. After playing a short clip of the song, he brought Mark Ronson on air to discuss the track and the collaboration behind it. Ronson toasted praise of both Bronson and Auerbach’s voices, stating that Dan had one of the most soulful voices in rock at the moment.

Standing In The Rain will be released in full with the rest of the Suicide Squad soundtrack this Friday, August 5, same day as the movie. The track list of the whole soundtrack is below, and if you can tear yourself away from Boys Don’t Cry for a few hours, you can go see the visuals to go with it.

1. Purple Lamborghini – Skrillex & Rick Ross
2. Sucker For Pain – Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons (with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors)
3. Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
4. Standing In The Rain – Action Bronson & Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys) (ft. Mark Ronson)
5. Gangsta – Kehlani
6. Know Better – Kevin Gates
7. You Don’t Own Me – Grace (ft. G-Eazy)
8. Without Me – Eminem
9. Wreak Havoc – Skylar Grey
10. Medieval Warfare – Grimes
11. Bohemian Rhapsody – Panic! At The Disco
12. Slippin’ Into Darkness – War
13. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
14. I Started A Joke– ConfidentialMX (feat. Becky Hanson)

Image: Ace Showbiz

The entire world has been gearing up for the upcoming Suicide Squad film starring Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Cara Delevingne and Viola Davis leading a stellar cast. Seeing as it’s a story about a group of supervillains, we expect the soundtrack to echo the dark and sinister atmosphere of their world.

Kehlani’s eerie new track does exactly that.

The song Gangsta received its first listen on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 before he had a chat to Suicide Squad’s director. The light melody and harmony in the vocals at the beginning of the track gives it a creepy sound that is sure to send chills down your spine.

The electro-pop sound picks up and falls back down again for the chorus as her voice intertwines with the noise. We can tell this track is definitely here to explore the psychotic love Harley Quinn has for The Joker with lyrics like “I need a gangsta// to love me better// than all the others do// to always forgive me// ride or die with me// that’s just what gangstas do.”

Lowe described Kehlani as a “haunting” and “tough artist”, which sounds perfect for the soundtrack. “I think Kehlani really sums up what her appeal is to people, which is a vulnerability,” he says.

He spoke to the film’s director David Ayer who said he knew the song was going to work quite well from the very first listen. “She’s had a life and she comes from some place, you know, and she puts that into her music and you can tell when an artist is really putting everything on the line and, you know, that’s what I like to get from actors.”

Other artists who are also to be featured on the soundtrack include Skrillex and Rick Ross, Grimes, Eminem, Panic! at the Disco, Kevin Gates, Action Bronson, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Mark Ronson.

You can listen to Gangsta via Apple Music now. The soundtrack for Suicide Squad will be released on August 5.

Image: Dazed Digital

Rapsody has overnight announced the news that she has been signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation entertainment company, making her the first female rapper ever to join their roster. She reportedly made the announcement while performing at this year’s Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, an event coincidentally being streamed live on Jay-Z’s Tidal streaming service.

Despite her career as a performing artist stretching back almost a decade, the North Carolina rapper had never been signed to a major label. After making huge waves and a name for herself in the hip-hop community after a stellar turn on Kendrick Lamar’s Complexion (A Zulu Love) from To Pimp A Butterfly though, her star has been on the rise. She announced earlier this year that she would be releasing a follow-up to her 2012 album Idea Of Beautiful by the end of 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH6qPuPSZHU

Rapsody posted the news to Instagram herself and the announcement was also confirmed by Rapsody’s current label Jamla, its founder 9^th Wonder also taking to his own Instagram to toast new beginnings. Young Guru from Roc Nation also offered up his own welcome to Rapsody and Jamla via Twitter.

Welcome to JamRoc. #Jamla #Rocnation

A photo posted by R A P S O D Y (@rapsody) on Jul 16, 2016 at 1:53pm PDT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH6qPuPSZHU

To new beginnings….. #WelcometoJamRoc @jamlarecords is the squad….. @rocnation is the family……. A photo posted by 9th Wonder (@9thwonder) on Jul 16, 2016 at 12:56pm PDT

https://twitter.com/Young_Guru/status/754410959423373312

Few details regarding the arrangements of the deal are available at this time, but judging from the use of the portmanteau ‘JamRoc’ in every post there appears to be some joint agreement between the two labels.

Roc Nation is home to several female artists including Rihanna, HAIM and Grimes, but Rapsody is their very first female rapper. Her signing is yet another step forward for the female voice in hip-hop; a voice that just grew a whole lot louder now that one of the genre’s best up-and-coming artists is signed to one of its biggest labels.

Image: @Rapsody (Instagram)