Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Are a Dream Team on Ethereal New Single "Next To You"
Summary
ForErykah Badu's first lead single of this decade, she's elected to team up withThe Alchemistfor a hypnotic new single entitled 'Next To You.'
Badu wrote, composed, arranged, and produced the single, as well as assisting Alc in the executive production. Per a press release, The Alchemist described the creative process as 'him tossing the beats to Badu, who made the alley-oop,' ultimately 'The Alchemist providing the foundation and Badu putting her 'izm' on it.'
The first credited collaboration between the pair, 'Next To You' also signals the start of the rollout for the pair's highly anticipated collab projectAbi & Alan.
For the first time ever, Badu and Alc will take the stage together for a brief series of Japan shows billedThe Abi & Alan Tour. The tour kicks off on June 24 at Billboard Live Osaka, continuing on June 28 at Billboard Live Tokyo, and concluding on June 30 in Yokohama.
Stream 'Next To You,' out on all streaming services now.
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Hypebeast
10 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Are a Dream Team on Ethereal New Single "Next To You"
Summary ForErykah Badu's first lead single of this decade, she's elected to team up withThe Alchemistfor a hypnotic new single entitled 'Next To You.' Badu wrote, composed, arranged, and produced the single, as well as assisting Alc in the executive production. Per a press release, The Alchemist described the creative process as 'him tossing the beats to Badu, who made the alley-oop,' ultimately 'The Alchemist providing the foundation and Badu putting her 'izm' on it.' The first credited collaboration between the pair, 'Next To You' also signals the start of the rollout for the pair's highly anticipated collab projectAbi & Alan. For the first time ever, Badu and Alc will take the stage together for a brief series of Japan shows billedThe Abi & Alan Tour. The tour kicks off on June 24 at Billboard Live Osaka, continuing on June 28 at Billboard Live Tokyo, and concluding on June 30 in Yokohama. Stream 'Next To You,' out on all streaming services now.
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Tom's Guide
5 best classic rock tracks to test your new headphones
So you just got a new pair of the best wireless headphones. Lucky you! You're now unconstrained by wires, tethered by a 30-year-old connection standard, and you might even have futuristic tech that blocks out all the noise. But, as you pull them from their cardboard prison, you glance at the Led Zeppelin Fallen Angel poster on your wall; 'What's the best classic rock track that I can test these puppies out with?' Well, wonder no more — I am both an insufferable audio nerd and a fan of classic rock music. Here are the 5 best tracks that I use to test headphones, thanks to their sound quality, stereo recording, or specific strength that puts your headphones through the ringer. So get the best music streaming services running — we're going on a trip to the seventies, baby. Don't forget your corduroy. From $10.83 per month If you're looking for the best way to listen to your classic rock tracks, look no further than Qobuz. It's full of all your favorite tracks and boasts the best streaming quality that Tom's Guide has ever heard. In fact, it's what the Tom's Guide testing team uses to test all the headphones we get in for review! Led Zeppelin IV is chock full of some of the best classic rock to ever grace the ears of a headbanger — and while Stairway would normally be a go-to for most (and banned in Guitar Center), Misty Mountain Hop is my choice for testing headphones. It's all down to the rock n' roll beat, immaculate seventies stereo separation, and the expansive soundstage. Before the days of Dolby Atmos and other spatial audio formats, acts wanted to play with two-channel stereo recording to see just what it was capable of. I'm not sure many acts played with it quite like Led Zeppelin — screeching guitars that dance between left and right in the likes of Whole Lotta Love, dancing moans in Lemon Song… you get the picture. But Misty Mountain Hop uses stereo to make the music sound bigger and more layered. I want to see if my new headphones can separate the guitars at the beginning of the track, and nail the vocals directly into the center of the mix. I want to hear the drums move from ear to ear, as Bonham dances across the kit. I want the track to feel huge — and some of that is down to the headphones and their ability to widen a soundstage and replicate the stereo mix with precision. I'll admit, part of this list is just me showing my knowledge of various classic rock acts and their back catalogue. Could I have chosen Shine On You Crazy Diamond or Money as quintessential tracks to test your headphones? Yes, but they're not as fun as the final track on Atom Heart Mother. For 13 minutes, Pink Floyd make you wonder what you want for breakfast, as the (presumably) titular Alan goes about his morning, intertwined with various trippy musical interludes. This is another stereo mix that I like to use. I want to make sure that when Alan is pouring his cornflakes, the left channel is completely silent, before the plucked guitar line picks itself up from the studio floor. The placement of Gilmore's restrained solo needs to be smack bang in the center of the mix, and the steady warming of the track has to build with each low note. The voice that comes in around the seventh minute needs to be just out of earshot, and crackling bacon needs to sound like it's next to me. It's a bizarre fever dream, and the weird, occasional loud voice has to be really loud. Headphones lacking in dynamics often struggle with Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast, so I use it every time. Apart from being one of the most heartfelt love songs ever written, Knights In White Satin is a great way to test how dynamic a pair of headphones is. While not the highest fidelity, it goes from calm and restrained to huge and orchestral in the blink of an eye — and I need my headphones to keep up. The drums need to move from earcup to earcup, and the strange vocal affectations need to be clear and high without being fatiguing and dominating. The bass guitare needs plenty of body, and the track needs to sound huge as the instruments layer onto each other. It's song sung and played from the heart — and I want to hear and feel every beat from my headphones. I am not immune to Geddy Lee's rock epic. Not only is it a wonderful showcase of what rock was becoming in the dawn of the eighties, but it's also a great way to test out your newest pair of wireless headphones. It's big, loud, a little bit silly, and loads and loads of prog-rock fun. From that first synth drop and the instantly catchy drum beat to the closing seconds as the music fades back to silence, there's plenty for a good pair of headphones to get their teeth into. It's detail that I'm looking for when I listen to Tom Sawyer. The cymbals of the drums need to be detailed and precise, and while Lee's almost falsetto vocals need to be high without being too piercing. Then there's the drum beat. The drums are set up tight, with a fairly sharp snare tone. It needs to sound quick — some headphones struggle with timing, and the snare often ends up feeling flabby. Finally, there's that guitar solo that, like the cymbals, needs to be just on the tolerable side of piercing. It is a high note — that is unavoidable — but it shouldn't sound like it's detracting from the rest of the track. Whenever Ann Wilson opens her mouth, brilliance emerges. Magic Man's perfect rock n' roll beat and twanging guitars are a great example, and the perfect way to test how rhythmic your headphones are — and Wilson's voice makes a great test for the vocal clarity of your cans. It also happens to be an excellent piece of seventies rock, reminding you that Robert Plant didn't have a patent on soaring rock vocals throughout the decade. The drums need to be well-timed in your headphones. They're another tight rock and roll kit, and some headphones aren't as exacting in pulling out all their resolution. Similarly, the guitar part needs to be wide and warm, while Wilson's vocals move across the frequency range. Then there's the bongo drum — it has a habit of disappearing with some headphones, overlaid and forgotten by the rest of the ensemble. This is an exacting track, and your headphones need to keep up to give you that 70s rock kick.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Country Singer Cooper Alan Is Expecting First Baby with Wife Hally: 'Sweetest News'
Cooper Alan is going to be a dad! The 'Holy Ghost" singer, 29, is expecting his first baby with his wife Hally, announcing the happy news in a joint post on Instagram of a sweet video set to Taylor Swift's "But Daddy I Love Him." In the clip, the couple begins by sharing intimate moments in an open field, before they come together with Hally holding a sonogram strip. Alan is dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt, while Hally wears a long, flowy off-white dress. "Sweetest news we've ever shared - Praising God for this perfect gift!!!!! 🤍🤍🤍" the expectant mom wrote in the caption. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The country star and his high school crush tied the knot on Sept. 23, 2023, in front of 285 guests at the Grandfather Golf and Country Club in Linville, North Carolina — something Alan tells PEOPLE he's wished for years. "I've wanted to marry Hally since the 10th grade and now it's official!" said Alan, who was friends with Hally in high school before they started dating in college. "I'm so happy to get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend." "Stepping into marriage with Cooper is without a doubt, the joy of my life," Hally told PEOPLE at the time. "Taking those sacred vows in front of everyone we love — but most importantly, in front of God — was so special to me." After their wedding, the two agreed they were excited for their future, including their "epic" honeymoon to Curacao. "We get to navigate all of life's ups and downs together as a team," Alan said. "We are going to have so many incredible moments as well as moments that pull us closer and make our love stronger. I'm just happy we get to do it all together as we build our family and create a legacy!" Hally added, "I'm most excited to do it all as husband and wife. I know we will experience joyous moments together and sometimes heartbreaking ones but I can't imagine doing it all without him by my side." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Alan and Hally got engaged in May 2022 after five years of dating. Alan popped the question in New York City, where they had their first date. "I've been waiting for this moment," he wrote on Instagram. "It's always been you 💍 ❤️ Here's to an incredible life together! I love you forever!" When asked what they love about each other, Alan and Hally both sang one another's praises. "Hally is the most generous, loving, thoughtful, and morally sound person I know," he told PEOPLE. "I am so confident that the moral compass of our family will always point in the right direction because of her. She loves with her whole heart and always thinks of how others feel. Her decisions are guided by her faith. It is an honor to be her husband!' "Cooper's heart is unlike anything I've ever known," Hally said. "He loves his people so so well and is kind to everyone who crosses his path. He is such a light and points people to the heart of Jesus in everything he does. I often find myself wanting to be more like him because he is all things good. I am so thankful I get to do life with him forever." Read the original article on People
