Latest news with #BratSummer
Elle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Lorde's Album 'Virgin' Is an Early Contender for Album of the Year
She has risen. Lorde finally returned tonight with Virgin, her first album since 2021, marking one of the most anticipated music releases of the year. No one was likely more excited than these two ELLE editors, who just so happen to be massive fans of the New Zealand alt-pop star. We tried to be as objective as possible, but ultimately, there's no denying the truth: The album is damn good. In the lead-up to this release, Lorde has described this body of work as her rebirth. While it does feel familiar to the synth-heavy music and layered sounds of her Melodrama days, it also feels fresh. As she navigates the rough and murky waters of her late 20s, she expresses it through her music: There are explorations of desire, heartbreak, mother-daughter relationships, gender identity, body image issues, and more. She does it with her unique sound, too, incorporating strings, a cappella arrangements, moments of abrupt silence, and sweeping choral harmonies. For those who wondered what would follow Brat Summer, Charli xcx said it herself: Lorde Summer is next. Sure, with these 11 tracks, there's enough to carry us through our sweat-soaked parties, road trips, and flings, but there's more to it than that. Forget the sound of the summer; Virgin, like most of Lorde's music, is the sound of growing up. Here are our impressions after our first listen of the album all the way through. Samuel Maude, content strategy manager: I know we've heard it before, but it really is such a good opener. Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, culture: I was thinking about that today. On my commute in, I was doing a relisten of Solar Power and then queued up 'Hammer' and the singles she released early, and I thought, if the whole theme of the album is rebirth, this is such a good way to introduce it. She literally says it too [in the lyrics], but even the way it creeps in and then grows and grows, it's like she's opening the door for you. SM: Her gender exploration is also so fascinating to me. 'Some days I'm a woman, some days I'm a man.' I love Solar Power notably, but for fans who were not as thrilled with that album, this feels like a return to form in a new and special way. Of the three singles, this has been my favorite. EG: Banger. SM: It's like a holy text. I think she wrote another coming-of-age song by saying, 'When I was 17.' EG: I think that would be around the time that she released 'Royals' because she was 16 when that song came out. That was when she was becoming famous, so my interpretation of 'What Was That' is: Ever since I've been in the public eye when I was 17, I was kind of making a product for you. Even though it sounds like she's singing to a particular person, it also works in the context of her public image. SM: The imagery in this song is so good. 'MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils out.' The amount of times I've been in a backyard in Brooklyn with friends—not doing MDMA—but smoking a cigarette or something like that. She makes it feel like it's a unique experience. It's such a New York album so far. EG: I've always liked how she's painted imagery in her lyrics. 'I wear smoke like a wedding veil' is so vivid. SM: It's poetry. SM: That was offensive. We're not okay. What was that? EG: How are we supposed to do this 10 more times? That's only the third song on the album. Are you kidding? That was insane. SM: This album's going to change my life. It already has. First of all, I have this playlist on my phone called Kissing Under a Disco Ball. It has two songs on it right now because they embody that feeling, and this track is going to make that list because of the lyric 'I just want to fall.' The strings feel kind of Bridgerton-like too. It just has this starry-eyed, magical feeling that's hard to replicate. EG: She's so singular, because I feel like so many other pop songs that incorporate strings for an uplifting feel end up sounding the same. She just found a way to incorporate orchestral elements without it sounding corny or too earnest. I love that she did that. You could make it sound so basic, but she and her producers made it so cool. SM: I would love to be in the recording studio with them. There've been a few times she's had an unexpected instrument that makes a song, like the trumpets on 'Sober.' EG: I also was trying to, in my state of utter shock, listen to the lyrics. She's saying something like, I've been put on a pedestal. I've been sexualized. And tonight, I just want to let go of all that and do me. Shapeshifting in that context is really interesting, too: I've been the child star. I've been maligned when people didn't like my last album. People have put the pressure on me of being the Next Great Thing in pop. I've been a recluse. It's a little bit of everything. She's like, I've done all of these things, and now I'm falling to my next chapter—again, the rebirth theme. SM: It's such a rich text. Celebrities seem to have a very wonderful life, but they have to be in the public eye and might not get to experience, say, dancing with friends in a club because people are going to notice them… Maybe you just want to fall, or you want someone to fall for you, not because you're Lorde. You want someone to fall for you because you're Ella. EG: How do we move forward from that? Do we just sit here? SM: I need 10 business days to process that. EG: I was like, oh, maybe this will be one of the slower ones. And she was like, no, bitch. SM: As a single, this was the weakest one to me, but here, it works. I know this song is so important to her. I feel like she said so many times that this is a song that she needed to write. It makes sense to me here. EG: After hearing all of the big, big sounds of those first three tracks, it's nice to have something a little more introspective and focused, even though it does get big at the end. SM: She said in an Instagram post that this was the song she's 'proudest of on Virgin.' Gender is such a huge point on this project. The music video was about binding, which is fascinating. EG: NO!!! Not a song about a difficult relationship with your mom! Oh my God. SM: He was too stunned to speak. I am not strong enough. You know when you hear music, and you're like, this is going to have a profound impact upon my life? This is that moment for me. EG: I was not expecting that sound-wise or lyrically. SM: Chasing your parents' approval. EG: So that they can live through your success. 'All of the medals I won for you,' so you could feel like you were a favorite as well. SM: Have her parents heard the song? I know some friends who are going to have a tough time with this song. EG: I'm having a tough time right now! SM: What was so profound about Melodrama is that the album's essentially the ending of a relationship from start to finish, and she's very introspective about it. She distills the problem of that relationship to such a fine point. Here, I feel like she's addressing gender, relationships with parents, at a very deep level in a fucking pop song, which is so cool. EG: That's also what I really liked about Brat last year. A lot of people described it as just a party album, a club album, but no, it's profound because it's a club album that also talks about your difficult relationship with your parents, feeling competitive with other women, thinking about 'Should I start a family now?' And I feel like this is very similar. SM: That's what people are craving, music that has substance. That's why Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams do so well, because their music and lyrics are very relatable and something that's speaking to people. And I think this song will really speak to people. EG: It's packaged in that way where it's very uplifting with an upbeat tempo, so you wouldn't think that it would be so devastating at the same time. SM: That hurt. EG: Yeah, that punched me in the stomach. EG: Whoa. That one made me feel like I was floating. That sample, or whatever it was, in the chorus was crazy. SM: I was really sad. It feels very deep. It's clear this song is deeper and has an incredibly important message for Lorde. I think we'll be analyzing the context of this song for a bit, and I just hope she's okay. EG: She captures that feeling of pretending you're okay when you know you're not. And again, she invokes her mom. I'm not going to be good after this. SM: Do I need to take the rest of the day off? EG: Lots of birthing and mothering. SM: Every song has been unexpected so far. EG: I love an a cappella arrangement. It reminded me a little bit of Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek.' SM: The mother is clearly so influential in this. And people kept commenting on the IUD on the album cover. EG: This is also another clear example of her songwriting, how she creates a visual and has you sink into a moment or a memory. SM: I wonder what her label said when she was like, 'I want to write an album about pregnancy and birthing.' That's a risky topic, so to do it in this way is quite incredible. SM: I am really curious about her mom. Also, the song is obviously 'grown woman,' but you don't call it 'GRWM' without also making people think you're saying 'get ready with me.' EG: There's a double entendre of growing up or getting ready to become a woman. SM: I also love how messy Lorde's production is. I felt this way about Melodrama too. It's not clean; it's dirty, it's grimy. I felt that in this song, and it works so well. EG: I felt like I was in a metal box being shaken around. I know we have three more songs left, but I am already seeing myself listening to this whole album, front to back, like I would for Melodrama. SM: Come on, queen. You have three more. Don't fail us now! EG: [Long pause] Just to preface, I am already emotionally exhausted. SM: I have felt like I've lived seven lives through this album. EG: I think this one surprised me the least, as in it didn't have as many unexpected elements as the other songs melodically or even production-wise. SM: I'm thinking of the concept of broken glass, breaking through a glass ceiling, or something like that. What is she breaking through? As someone who has greatly struggled with body image, it's so great to see her really talking about it here. I know it's been a struggle for her as well, and it can be consuming, and something you can never really shake. EG: 'She' could either be herself or her biggest hater. She's talking to critics, but she could be one of them. SM: Which, I am my biggest critic. EG: I also love the way she starts it off like: I'm in the gym. I can lift your body weight. I'm so fucking strong. I can swim waters that bitches would drown in. Say it with your chest! SM: I like the rock elements and the guitar a lot. I like how she uses silence too. I think it's a good example of 'know when to say something, know when to be quiet.' She uses silence very effectively throughout the entire album. EG: It's also interesting seeing her talk about fame a little bit more, thinking back to 'Shapeshifter' and her being put on a pedestal. Here she says, 'You're going to find another starlet, and I'm going to go back to the clay,' to where I came from, back to me. SM: Then I went, is that about her mom again? Is her mom Mama Rose from Gypsy? EG: I can also just see it as her talking to the public, like, you guys wanted so much for me. And then, for example, Solar Power came out, and it didn't please you, and then you found somebody else to become obsessed with—all of the other pop girlies who came up since then or since Melodrama. Honestly, she has inspired so many of them. SM: That was a beautiful song. This is going to be one of those albums that I think about forever. I remember where I was when I listened to Melodrama for the first time. Now, I'm going to remember that we listened to this for the first time together. EG: Wow, I'm crying. That song was really beautifully composed too. She adds some synthy elements to something very choral and peaceful. She's very good at blending contrasting styles and sounds, making something pop but writing about something so heartbreaking. She knows how to work them together. Album of the year. SM: We have the album of the year! This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The 10 best new London theatre openings in July 2025
News From Rachel Zegler in 'Evita' to Rosamund Pike's National Theatre debut, it's another big month on the London stage By the standards of any other city, July in London is a pretty damn busy month for theatre. Here, it's the start of the summer slowdown, with few of the big subsidised venues running a show over the hols, most big new West End shows keeping their powder dry until the autumn, and much of the industry decamping to the Edinburgh Fringe, which this year begins at the very end of the month. Nonetheless, there's still plenty to keep us going, including loads from the National Theatre which is opening a show in each of its three theatres plus one in the West End. Really, though, there's only one show on people's lips at the moment – and it handily takes our number one spot. The best new London theatre openings in July 2025 What is it? If last year was Brat Summer, this one is Balcony Summer. Hollywood star Rachel Zegler's nightly 9pm-ish performances of 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' in Jamie Lloyd's revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's finest hour (don't @ me) has made headlines around the world thanks to the fact she's not singing it in the auditorium but on the outside front balcony, to an increasingly large nightly crowd. Even if the rest of it is rubbish it deserves the number one slot for such an audacious gesture. But as it's essentially a reworking of Lloyd's excellent 2019 Open Air Theatre production, we're expecting it to be pretty damn good. London Palladium, now until Sep 6. Buy tickets here. 2. Inter Alia What is it? It's a month of London shows, heavily dominated by the National Theatre: you can catch last year's Michael Sheen-starring Nye again, plus see The Estate and Till the Stars Come Down below. But pick of the bunch has to be Susie Miller's Inter Alia, the follow up to her massive Jodie Comer-starring smash Prima Facie. Reuniting with director Justin Martin, it stars the mighty Rosamund Pike – making her NT debut – as a maverick high court judge struggling to balance her work and home life. National Theatre, Lyttelton, Jul 10-Sep 13. 3. Girl from the North Country What is it? A welcome return home to the Old Vic for Conor McPherson's Bob Dylan sort-of-musical. A dark and brooding yarn of the American Dustbowl – certainly not autobiographical – it follows the inhabitants of a Minnesota boarding house as they grapple with poverty, madness and worse. There are, of course, Dylan songs – though on the whole they're not the ones you expect. It's an ensemble piece, but Olivier winner Katie Brayben is probably the biggest name as the witchy Elizabeth, who gets to sing 'Like A Rolling Stone'. Old Vic, now until Aug 23. 4. Till the Stars Come Down What is it? This is nice: Beth Steel's poignant, beautifully observed, subtly devastating drama about an Anglo-Polish wedding in the town of Mansfield was one of the best shows to be staged at the National Theatre last year, and while you wouldn't instantly peg it for a West End transfer, it's lovely that it's getting one. The great Siobhan Matthews returns as bride-to-be Sylvia at the head of a partially recast ensemble that also includes The White Lotus 's Julian Kostov as her intended Marek. Haymarket Theatre Royal, Jul 1-Sep 27. Buy tickets here. 5. Sing Street What is it? A little over a decade ago playwright Enda Walsh scored a walloping great transatlantic musical theatre hit when he adapted John Carney's Irish indie film Once for the stage. Now Walsh turns his attention to Carney's 2016 coming-of-age film Sing Street, which follows the exploits of a schoolboy named Conor who forms a band in '80s Dublin. Expect to be charmed. Lyric Hammersmith, Jul 8-Aug 23. Buy tickets here. 6. The Estate What is it? Arguably me and the National Theatre should just get a room. But it's a big month for them, okay? The Estate feels like the great unknown of this list. Starring the excellent Adeel Akhtar as an Asian politician with a sudden, unexpected chance to seize the role of Leader of the Opposition, it's made all the more intriguing by the fact that it's written by Shaan Sahota, a first time writer (who is also a doctor). Most people don't get their debut plays staged at the National – one assumes she's pretty good. National Theatre, Dorfman, Jul 9-Aug 23. 7. The Merry Wives of Windsor What is it? Globe boss Michelle Terry becomes possibly the only artistic director in history to programme Shakespeare's preposterous Henry IV-spin off twice: following an earlier indoor production of The Merry Wives, Sean Holmes directs this outdoor one, starring George Fouracres as Sir John Falstaff, mysteriously reincarnated to the Elizabethan court. Holmes is great on the weirder bits of Shakespearean whimsy – expect something a bit harder and darker than you'd usually expect from the Wives. Shakespeare's Globe, Jul 4-Sep 20. Buy tickets here. 8. Noughts & Crosses What is it? A revival of Dominic Cooke's 18-year-old stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's seminal racial dystopia is probably the randomest moment of Drew McOnie's first season in charge of the Open Air Theatre. But it's also a pretty cool one that shows associate artistic director Tinuke Craig is hopefully going to be allowed to put her own imprint on the theatre, as she heads up her first production here. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, now until Jul 26. Buy tickets here. 9. Nature Theatre of Oklahioma: No President What is it? London's first chance to see this revered avant-garde US company as it plays a string of dates at the Southbank. Subtitled A Story Ballet of Enlightenment in Two Immoral Acts, I have no idea why the show is called No President, but it focuses on a showdown between rival gangs of former actors and ex-ballet dancers, taking each other on to protect a mysterious theatre curtain and whatever might be behind it. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Jul 9-11. 10. Burlesque the Musical What is it? There is a lot of potential for a big glitzy West End musical adaptation of Christina Aguilera's cult-ish 2010 film, which comes with a songbook of tracks from the film written by Aguilera and Sia. There are eccentricities to this production: a very limited West End run, the fact that its original director was dumped after last year's regional dates, and the fact that US reality show contestant Todrick Hall is now director, choreographer, writer of some new songs and the co-star, which is… a lot of hats. These are eccentricities rather than failings though: let's not prejudge.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Glastonbury travel chaos as thousands in queue desperate to bag perfect spot
It's that time of year again, as the gates for Glastonbury have opened for a weekend of live music - and thousands of festival goers are preparing for the weekend antics The Glastonbury fun has already started as hundreds of thousands of festival goers have already arrived at the Somerset festival to bag their place when gates open at 8am. Worthy Farm in Pilton will once again welcome thousands of music fans for a weekend of live music from artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Charli XCX and Rod Stewart. With gates opening on Wednesday morning (June 25) at 8am - festival goers are starting the celebrations early, as they're seen cracking open the cans in the packed out queue. Some dedicated festivalgoers have been queuing through the night - with thousands joining with their tent trolleys. Fans can be seen festival ready in the queue, with bucket hats, rollers in their hair, and of course cans in hand. Despite the weather gloomy weather, fans look in high spirits as they make their way to Britain's biggest festival. Despite showers originally forecasted for Worthy Farm in Somerset, festival goers will be relieved to hear that there has been a wet weather U-turn - and sunshine is expected over the next few days. Following this morning's gloomy weather, , the Met Office has said it's "set to warm up" again, although festivalgoers may need to get their wellies out tomorrow. However, things are set to brighten up on Saturday when Brat singer Charli XCX is set to bring Brat Summer to Glasto. Charli - full name Charlotte Emma Aitchison - has been a regular face at music festivals across the world for over a decade. She's been enjoying huge mainstream success since her sixth studio album last year introduced her to new fans - who are sure to be taking part in the viral Apple Dance. Things seem calm for now, although those who try to 'jump the fence' to avoid the queues and try to gain access without a ticket will face a special 'jail' on site. Not only that, it's there for anyone breaking the rules on site. Security has vastly increased over the years - which is allegedly more expensive than what is offered to the Royal Family. This year, security is thought to have been heightened even further after thousands of people are said to have snuck into the festival last year with fake wristbands and or by vaulting the fences. In 2025, some stages were forced to close due to overcrowding, with some festivalgoers even describing it as the busiest Glasto to date. The 'Glastonbury Jail' is an official holding space before being evicted from the site or when police are called. While it's not technically a jail, many refer to it as one, reports The Times. However, for those abiding by the rules, the festival will open with a theatre and circus act set in the Pyramid Arena tonight at 10pm. The first headline performance from The 1975 taking place on the Pyramid Stage on Friday.
Elle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
There's A White Cotton Summer Dress For Everyone – Here Are 5 Of The Best Styles To Buy Now
In 2024 we had Brat Summer: this year, it's the season of the white cotton summer dress. It's not as catchy, sure, but it's also considerably less sweaty. From minimal maxis to crisp poplin shirt dresses, the white cotton dress is the sartorial equivalent of air conditioning – a welcome respite from the cling of acrylic. (As the owner of one too many vintage nylon dresses, I am speaking from experience.) If the SS25 catwalks were anything to go by, designers are in agreement. Most ubiquitous was the white cotton shirt dress, which manifested in mini, midi and maxi forms at Alaïa, Bottega Veneta, and Erdem, respectively. More classic iterations made way for styles with a difference – a flounced hem, split sleeves, or statement cuffs, as seen on Elle Fanning at Cannes last month. The minimal maxi is another sound option for the white summer dress purists among you – it bears no unnecessary decoration, only exaggerated proportions and one or two interesting details. See Brioni's totally perfect, tent-like T-shirt dress or Khaite's very compelling tunic, which appeared on the runway layered atop a pair of silk trousers. For something with a little more romance, we present the white cotton nightie dress – the more demure cousin of the slinky slip. See Bella Hadid's collab with Frankie's bikini, or Harling Ross's collection with If Only If. Equally lovely would be a Broderie Anglaise dress, as seen at 3.1 Phillip Lim, or something with lace cutwork, as at Tove. And if you're not totally ready to relinquish Brat Summer, may we suggest a bubble hem. Alberta Ferretti and Carven proved that the white cotton summer dress can be all sorts of fun via the gathered-hem dresses they showed for SS25. Ready to slip into something a little more comfortable? Here is our edit of the best white cotton summer dresses. Easy, breezy, and not a bead of sweat in sight. Bristol-based vintage seller DuLievre's edit of antique French cotton dresses is unrivalled, while Smock London, Faune and If Only If all make modern iterations. Wear yours with a pair of block-colour ballet flats, chunky silver jewellery, and a basket bag. You can't go wrong with a crisp cotton-poplin shirt dress. Follow the simple but effective styling at Simkhai and style a sweeping maxi with a skinny black belt or do like Alaïa's Pieter Mulier, who dressed up flouncy mini dresses with strappy mules and layered necklaces. The minimal maxi's allure lies in an interesting silhouette – something with oversized proportions or an open back or split sleeves, for example. You'd be forgiven for mistaking styles by Arket for The Row and Khaite, especially when paired with leather flip flops and a single cuff. Spend all of summer in Broderie Anglaise, either in the form of a demure midi dress (with scarlet ballet flats) or something flirtier and thigh-grazing (with Nineties-inspired mules). A white lace dress will do nicely, too. Play with opacity by layering a coloured slip beneath – or, more daringly, not at all. Another bubble-hem summer is upon us, and we're not complaining; this playful detail makes the simplest of white cotton dresses that much more fun. Team Free People's white cotton mini with sleek flip flops and sea-salt hair, or try Cos's midi with jelly shoes and a beaded necklace. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dua Lipa Brings Surprise Guest Charli XCX to the Stage for ‘360' in London
Brat Summer lived on at Wembley Stadium, where Dua Lipa welcomed Charli XCX to the stage for '360' Saturday night (June 21) at her second Wembley Stadium gig on the Radical Optimism Tour. The 'Houdini' singer had the London stage lights set to neon green with Charli taking center beside her, fan-captured video from the concert shows. More from Billboard 9 Best Moments From Dua Lipa's Crowning Moment at London's Wembley Stadium Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Ariana Grande Win Multiple Awards at 2025 Kids' Choice Awards (Full Winners List) Suga Writes Letter to Fans, Marking End of Mandatory Military Service for BTS 'I thought I'd bring a friend out,' Dua Lipa teased the crowd on Saturday before the pair performed 2024's Brat album opener together. 'Let me tell you, she is the biggest brat I have ever known.' Charli's appearance at Wembley night two follows a surprise on night one from Jamiroquai, who joined Dua Lipa on Friday for a live rendition of 'Virtual Insanity,' the English act's breakthrough single that earned a Grammy for best pop vocal performance by a duo a group in 1998, and a video of the year award at the MTV VMAs the year prior. At Friday's show, Dua Lipa told that crowd she'd invited someone who'd 'really inspired me from the moment that I started making music' and has 'been a trailblazer for British music.' The two-night residency marked Dua Lipa's first time headlining Wembley, a 90,000-capacity venue. The two sold-out concerts were made even more momentous for the British-Albanian pop star by a good-luck letter from the Spice Girls. 'Dear Dua,' read the card, which the singer shared in an Instagram slideshow, 'We just wanted to wish you lots of luck with your sold out shows at Wembley Stadium … that's Girl Power!! We love you! The Spice Girls xxxxx.' Dua Lipa — whose Radical Optimism debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in May 2024 — next performs in Liverpool, headlining Anfield Stadium for two nights (June 24-25), and then Dublin for one night at Aviva Stadium (June 27). The Radical Optimism Tour will make it to North America with an arena run beginning in September. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
