Superstar producer Calvin Harris has officially announced his new album, his first since 2014. Earlier this year, Harris promised that his new album would feature collaborations “with the greatest artists of our generation,” and it now looks like he’s absolutely delivering on that promise.

Earlier today Harris took to social media to announce his new album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 through a video also featuring the unbelievably stacked list of featured guests. As well as Frank Ocean, Migos, Young Thug, Pharrell and Ariana Grande, with whom he’s already released new singles Slide and Heatstroke, guests include Travis Scott, Kehlani, Future, Pharrell, Katy Perry, Big Sean, John Legend, Khalid, ScHoolboy Q, D.R.A.M., Nicki Minaj, Lil Yachty, Jessie Reyez, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Snoop Dogg.

Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that the album is littered with hip-hop heavyweights. Given the quality of his first two singles, it might actually be a pretty great album.

Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 will be out June 30, 2017. Truthfully, we’re more excited about a new Calvin Harris album than we ever expected to be.

Calvin Harris has been teasing a new song featuring Frank Ocean and Migos for a few weeks now via Snapchat, and the song, called Slide, is finally upon us in all its glory.

The song begins with (what we assume to be) Frank Ocean singing in a really high pitched voice, reminiscent of Nikes and several other tracks off his groundbreaking 2016 record Blonde. The beat is relaxing and laid back compared to the intense beats you might usually expect from Calvin Harris – perhaps an indication of a more subdued, easygoing sound for the Scottish producer. Ocean’s melody is simple, rich and warm, while Offset of Migos’ auto-tuned contribution adds another unique layer to the breezy tune.

It’s not the most exciting track in the world, and certainly doesn’t match up to Ocean’s recent work, but that’s not to say it isn’t melodically lovely. Considering the pedigree of each artist, we have no doubt that it’ll be on heavy rotation on every radio station and nightclub for the foreseeable future.

The track is expected to feature on Harris’ as-yet-unannounced fifth album, which will reportedly feature many collaborations “with the greatest artists of our generation.”

A few weeks ago, word got out that the ever-mysterious Frank Ocean was readying a collaboration with EDM overlord Calvin Harris. Shared via Snapchat, Harris released a video of himself driving around the streets of Los Angeles blaring the track from his car speakers.

Again via Snapchat, Harris has now shared yet another teaser snippet of the track, including a ten second clip of a verse from rapper Offset, who also seems to feature on the as-yet-unnamed bang0r.

As far as we know, the track will appear on Calvin Harris’ forthcoming fifth album. Of the many anticipated collaborations, he promises nothing but “with the greatest artists of our generation.”

While we can’t gather much from just 20 seconds, it does sound like Harris is stepping away form his extreme, heavier EDM roots, preferring a more chilled out sound. A wise move considering EDM isn’t exactly the most popular genre within electronic music these days.

Check it out:

https://youtu.be/D42RvdaReLg

A Frank Ocean and Calvin Harris collaboration is certainly one of the most unexpected, but we’re not ones to judge. The Blonde singer is currently gearing up for his first live dates in years, having been booked for a handful of international festivals across the Europe and USA summer season.

 

Frank Ocean is well known for his choice collaborations. We needn’t look further than Endless and Blonde to witness his elite selections, which included Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, Beyoncé, André 3000, James Blake and Sampha to name just a few. So it might come as a surprise to hip-hop heads and musical elitists that his next song will be coming out in the form of a Calvin Harris collaboration.

Harris posted a video to Snapchat today of himself driving around the streets of Los Angeles pumping this new collaboration with the Nikes artist, who placed twice in this year’s Hottest 100 earlier this week.

It’s unexpected, that’s for sure, but we’re not ones to judge. It would be remiss and arrogant to criticise this collaboration based on Harris’ status as an EDM superstar. Besides, in a world where Kendrick Lamar collaborates with Taylor Swift and Maroon 5, and Chance the Rapper gets Justin Bieber on his album, is it really that far-fetched that Frank is branching out?

There’s no more details regarding the track name or any potential release dates, but Harris did also announce that he’s got ten new releases coming out this year, so we can no doubt expect them to start rolling out some time soon.

February has been a big month for my favourite sister trio, HAIM. Joining their new best friend, Taylor Swift, on her 1989 World Tour, a Grammy nomination and a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! have seen the sisters being extremely busy, making my hopes for a follow –up to their stellar debut album Days Are Gone rise with each appearance.

Whilst that is still to be announced (please, please, PLEASE make it happen!), that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped making music altogether. Coming together in what is one of this year’s most unlikely collaborations, HAIM have teamed up with none other than Calvin Harris for their latest track, Pray To God.

The track is very Stevie Nicks a la Edge of Seventeen meets TV show Charmed, and the film clip (see below) does little to suppress this comparison with the three ladies wearing outfits probably taken from Nicks’ wardrobe. Wolves, bears, white doves and rabbits appear in snow fields and wooded glens as the girls stare down the camera harmonising beautifully as they always do. Danielle’s voice is impeccable as ever, and is actually surprisingly well suited for the pounding beat and synths.

Obviously more dance oriented thanks to their collaborator, the trademark HAIM sounds are still there and although Pray To God appears on Harris’ album – not theirs – this marks a different direction for the ladies and could suggest them taking influence from this project.

Still no official word on when HAIM’s sophomore album will be out, as Alana told Rolling Stone in a recent interview they were, “Always writing and figuring out new vibes and trying to get our inner Kanyes out.” Here’s hoping those Kanyes are let out sooner rather than later, I need more of this in my life!

Calvin Harris – singer, songwriter, music producer, DJ, Armani model (yes this happened) and, most recently, ‘actor’ has been added to that extensive, interminable list. Now, there’s no doubt Calvin has had his fair share of screen time already – let us remember he has starred in a number of his own music clips, such as Blame ft. John Newman, I Need Your Love, Open Wide ft. Big Sean, Summer and so many more. There’s nothing stopping this Brit, who has briefly swapped music clips for movie snips making his film debut in the Entourage movie.

Check out Calvin and all the action in the Entourage movie in the official trailer below:

Although music producers and DJs have been spotted in movies before, they’re not all that common. Here are five movies we’ve caught them in:

1. DAFT PUNK – TRON: LEGACY

French duo Daft Punk made a brief cameo appearance in the 2010 Walt Disney movie Tron:Legacy. Their presence can be felt throughout the movie having composed the film score. The duo can be seen in their famous helmets towards the end of the film DJing at the End of Line Party.

2. SKRILLEX – WRECK-IT RALPH

You know the 30th party anniversary scene in Wreck-it Ralph where Ralph is pretty much not welcome? None other than an animated Skrillex is DJing at that party. A digital model of Skrillex was made and sent to him for feedback before appearing in the movie. It’s safe to say he was happy. He also composed the song Big Hunt for the movie.

3. DEADMAU5 – RUNNER RUNNER

Deadmau5 made his film debut in the 2013 flick Runner Runner. Donning his signature mask he can briefly be seen DJing. Two of his tracks also feature in the film, Fn Pig and Strobe.

4.TIESTO AND OTHERS – IT’S ALL GONE PETE TONG

If you haven’t seen It’s All Gone Pete Tong, know that it is not about BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong, although he does make a cameo. The mockumentary follows the life of a renowned fictional DJ who suddenly goes deaf. Guest appearances include Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox and others. “It’s all gone Pete Tong” stands for “It’s all gone a bit wrong,” a phrase born in Britain in the 80s referring to the real Pete Tong.

5. DJ AM – IRON MAN 2

Two months before his death Adam Goldstein made a cameo for Iron Man 2. Producers decided to keep the scene featuring Adam who appears as himself DJing at Tony Stark’s birthday party. The film was also dedicated in Adam’s memory.

http://youtu.be/aidMKGYZv50