This year’s MOBO Awards nominations and the debut album announcement from The Sophs brought some of Live4ever’s trending music news last week.
Little Simz, Olivia Dean and Central Cee are among those with multiple nominations for this year’s MOBO Awards.
“As MOBO enters its 30th year, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary breadth of talent we have championed over the past three decades,” MOBOs founder Kanya King has responded.
“Time and again, artists have taken the recognition of a MOBO Award and transformed it into fuel for lasting success.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea has announced the details of his new album which will be released via Nonesuch Records on March 21st.
Honora will see Flea leaning into his jazz roots and is a collab-heavy affair, not least lead single Traffic Lights which features writing contributions from Thom Yorke and Josh Johnson.
“Deantoni and I played what became Traffic Lights the first day,” he’s explained. “Something about it reminded me of Atoms For Peace, so I sent it to Thom.”
Arlo Parks has highlighted Burial, The Streets and LCD Soundsystem as the chief inspirations behind her new album Ambiguous Desire which has been set for release on April 3rd.
“I danced more than ever as I made this record, I made more friends than ever too, found myself in the weird underbelly of New York juke nights, unleashed, laughed and laughed and laughed,” Parks said.
“This record has desire at its center. Desire is a life force, it’s a wanting, a yearning, a momentum – we are all alive because there is something or someone we want – desire is an engine.”
The Sophs by Eric Daniels
“Sometimes it’s important to write from the perspective of the worst part of yourself so that version of yourself can live through the music rather than exist in your day-to-day life,” The Sophs‘ Ethan Ramon has said upon the unveiling of the band’s debut album Goldstar.
Following on from last year’s Rough Trade singles I’m Your Fiend, Sweat and Death In The Family, the album has been confirmed for release on March 13th, the news coming with a video for the title-track.
“Goldstar is the worst person you know yelling at God to give them a sign that they are good,” Ramon added on the single.
José González has returned after more than four years with the announcement of his new album Against The Dying Of The Light.
González has described the LP as a, ‘reflection on how we create hurdles to human flourishing by clinging stubbornly to dogmatic ideologies’, and has shared a video for its title-track directed by Fredrik Egerstrand:
“It’s a song reflecting on humanity in 2025; about accepting who we are and what led us here, since the past can’t be changed. Then about refocusing our attention on the challenges ahead, like pervert incentives and algorithms that aren’t in line with human flourishing.”
Rough Trade have described Black Midi guitarist Matthew Kwasniewski-Kelvin as an, ‘incredibly talented person who will be truly missed’, after announcing his passing last week.
The band’s label shared a statement from Kwasniewski-Kelvin’s family when sharing the sad news:
“It is with deep sadness that we as a family regret to inform you that Matthew Kwasniewski-Kelvin has died after a long battle with his mental health.”