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South Wales Guardian
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Glastonbury: Matty Healy jokes he is the ‘best songwriter of his generation'
The Cheshire-formed band, backed with a saxophone, opened with Happiness from 2022's Being Funny In A Foreign Language, with Healy wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and blue jeans, with a pint of stout in his hand on the Pyramid Stage. After performing Part Of The Band, sat on a stool and smoked while sipping his drink, Healy said: 'What this moment is making me realise is that I probably am the best songwriter of my generation. 'The best what they say, a poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. 'Generational words, and I just wanted to remind you, over the next couple of minutes, these lyrics are poetry, I believe.' The band then launched into Chocolate from their 2013 self-titled debut, before Healy remarked, 'I was only joking about being a poet' at its conclusion. Made up of four school friends, the group, comprised of singer Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, guitarist Adam Hann and drummer George Daniel, were headlining the festival for the first time. Midway through the set, Healy told festival goers: 'Use your platform, that's what they say, right?' He continued: 'People who are watching this may, I don't know, they might be disappointed at the lack of politics in this show and our forthcoming shows, and probably a few shows, because I always know it's a conscious decision, and we honestly don't want our legacy to be one of politics. 'We want it to be that of love and friendship, because we and I'm not trying to be too earnest, but you can go out into the world, and there's loads of politics everywhere. 'And I think we don't need more politics, we need more love and friendship. 'And I know that's really basic, but if you are a young kid and you are inspired by like about this band or something like that, don't aspire to like play a stage or be a certain size, aspire for like this level of friendship and love in what you do and you'll never fail and I love you, thank you so much.' Love Me, the lead single from 2016's I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, prompts the first sing-a-long from the crowd, with Healy pushing guitarist Hann to the front, announcing: 'Ladies and gentleman, in 2025 with zero irony, a guitar solo.' Their stage set-up included a car, which Healy got into to sing Somebody Else while smoking a cigarette, before getting out during the song and walking on a travelator. While performing She's American, Healy dipped into The Backstreet Boys I Want It That Way, before returning to his own 2016 song. Before Paris, the singer declared 'this is my favourite 1975 song', and prior to playing Robbers from the band's debut album, he said: 'For the first time in my life I don't know what to say.' The band ended their set with About You from Being Funny In A Foreign Language. Before the song, Healy said: 'Ladies and gentlemen it's very cool to be mysterious but I think it's cooler to be honest and we're not going anywhere, we're not going anywhere, everything's going to be fine.' Earlier in the day, festivalgoers were treated to surprise performances from alternative pop star Lorde, who played her new album Virgin in full, and Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who played two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms.
Leader Live
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Glastonbury: Matty Healy jokes he is the ‘best songwriter of his generation'
The Cheshire-formed band, backed with a saxophone, opened with Happiness from 2022's Being Funny In A Foreign Language, with Healy wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and blue jeans, with a pint of stout in his hand on the Pyramid Stage. After performing Part Of The Band, sat on a stool and smoked while sipping his drink, Healy said: 'What this moment is making me realise is that I probably am the best songwriter of my generation. 'The best what they say, a poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. 'Generational words, and I just wanted to remind you, over the next couple of minutes, these lyrics are poetry, I believe.' The band then launched into Chocolate from their 2013 self-titled debut, before Healy remarked, 'I was only joking about being a poet' at its conclusion. Made up of four school friends, the group, comprised of singer Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, guitarist Adam Hann and drummer George Daniel, were headlining the festival for the first time. Midway through the set, Healy told festival goers: 'Use your platform, that's what they say, right?' He continued: 'People who are watching this may, I don't know, they might be disappointed at the lack of politics in this show and our forthcoming shows, and probably a few shows, because I always know it's a conscious decision, and we honestly don't want our legacy to be one of politics. 'We want it to be that of love and friendship, because we and I'm not trying to be too earnest, but you can go out into the world, and there's loads of politics everywhere. 'And I think we don't need more politics, we need more love and friendship. 'And I know that's really basic, but if you are a young kid and you are inspired by like about this band or something like that, don't aspire to like play a stage or be a certain size, aspire for like this level of friendship and love in what you do and you'll never fail and I love you, thank you so much.' Love Me, the lead single from 2016's I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, prompts the first sing-a-long from the crowd, with Healy pushing guitarist Hann to the front, announcing: 'Ladies and gentleman, in 2025 with zero irony, a guitar solo.' Their stage set-up included a car, which Healy got into to sing Somebody Else while smoking a cigarette, before getting out during the song and walking on a travelator. While performing She's American, Healy dipped into The Backstreet Boys I Want It That Way, before returning to his own 2016 song. Before Paris, the singer declared 'this is my favourite 1975 song', and prior to playing Robbers from the band's debut album, he said: 'For the first time in my life I don't know what to say.' The band ended their set with About You from Being Funny In A Foreign Language. Before the song, Healy said: 'Ladies and gentlemen it's very cool to be mysterious but I think it's cooler to be honest and we're not going anywhere, we're not going anywhere, everything's going to be fine.' Earlier in the day, festivalgoers were treated to surprise performances from alternative pop star Lorde, who played her new album Virgin in full, and Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who played two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms.
Tom's Guide
20-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested this $199 portable music player, and it blew me away with audiophile sound
Listening to music with your phone on the go is one of life's great conveniences. It's capable of playing pretty good quality streams, and connects incredibly easily to your best wireless headphones so that you can listen to The Backstreet Boys on the bus without annoying fellow passengers. But it's not without its downsides. Phone storage is often limited, file conversion tools aren't always robust, and constant notifications can pull you out of the moment. That's why I also like to carry a DAP — a digital audio player — when I head out. A DAP eliminates distractions from calls and messages, letting me immerse myself in music. The internal components are usually higher quality, allowing for better audio performance and support for high-resolution tracks. Plus, they often have enough power to drive more demanding wired headphones. The catch? They're not cheap. My current go-to, the Fiio M15S, costs around $1,000. Enter the Fiio JM21. It's a DAP that doesn't cost the earth, only coming in at $199. It's packed with loads of excellent features that mean you don't need to worry about audio shortcomings on the go, while costing less than a second hand Nintendo Switch. I've been testing it for the last couple of months, and I've discovered it's a great device for the price. If you want a way to take hi-res music with you on the go so that you can listen to your favorite wired headphones on the train, the Fiio JM21 is a great inexpensive way. It's more powerful than you might expect, and boasts excellent sound quality. It even comes with a clear case in the box to keep it scratch free when you take it out and about. Alongside a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, the JM21 offers something special: a balanced connector. That might not mean much to most people — especially if you're using Bluetooth headphones — but for audio enthusiasts, it's a big deal. A balanced connector, specifically the 4.4mm type found here, is becoming increasingly common among wired headphones, and for good reason. Without diving too deep into the technical details, it separates the left and right audio channels and delivers them independently to each earcup. The result? Reduced distortion and, often, noticeably improved sound quality. It's a feature clearly aimed at audiophiles, and for anyone curious about getting into high-end wired audio, the JM21 makes for an excellent entry point. The JM21 evokes a time when phones and music players where seperate because they had to be. When you'd have an iPod in one pocket, and your phone in the other. It's like going back in time and seeing what an iPod touch might be capable of now, if Apple continued development of the idea. Everything is easy to use by virtue of a relatively un-molested version of Android. That means you can install all your favorite streaming apps, like Qobuz and Tidal, so that you can stream hi-res tracks without them taking up disc space. There are playback controls on the side so that you don't have to pull the device out of your pocket when you just want to play, pause or skip a track. There are plenty of small details that make it super simple to use — I really enjoy it. Despite it's focus on wired playback and hi-res music either from the internal storage (which can be expanded with micro-sd card slot) or streamed, there's some features so that you can jump straight in without an extra pair of headphones. There's a 5.0 Bluetooth connection, with support for LDAC and aptX of various guises. You can connect it to your laptop as a higher quality DAC so that you can play tunes to your headphones from there. You can even turn it into a Bluetooth reciever, so that you can play your music through a wireless source and listen on your favorite wired headphones. It's even Roon ready so that you can hook it up to a Roon system — it's a very modern device, despite its lower price than similar options. There are a couple of things holding the JM21 back from perfection. I understand that more power is required to run a balanced connector and the more powerful audio circuitry on board, but it would be nice to have more than 9 or so hours of use out the of the device. There are some lag problems when it comes to the Bluetooth and wireless connection (although WiFi streaming is totally fine) that takes a little off the lustre. But then the JM21 is only $199, making those problems a whole lot more palatable. Is the JM21 as good as my $1,000 daily driver DAP? No, but I'd be very worried if it was. If you're looking to get into hi-res audio or you want to step up your sound quality game, then the JM21 might just be the perfect stepping stone into audiophile-dom. Just be aware that's it's a very expensive slippery slope.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘For a while, Wall Street wasn't about finance…': DJ Arjun Shah on 400-strong baraat bringing NYC's money hub to a stop, landing Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma wedding gig, and more
Not a campaign rally, not a protest march — an Indian wedding managed to bring New York's financial district to a halt, with 400 odd baaraatis dancing to upbeat tunes in their designer best. At the helm of it all, DJ Arjun Shah spun his magic and sent the party into frenzy, snippets of which found their way to social media and made headlines right away. 'Watching 400 people dance and celebrate in the middle of New York City's financial district was something I never imagined I'd be part of. The energy was next level, dhols echoing off skyscrapers, guests completely immersed in the moment, and passersby stopping to take it all in. For a while, Wall Street wasn't about finance, it was all about joy, music, and culture,' said Shah — better known as DJ AJ. With over two decades in the industry, he has become the go-to name for wedding entertainment. His impressive portfolio includes some of the biggest weddings in Bollywood and beyond, from Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's Europe cruise celebration to Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas, Athiya Shetty-KL Rahul, Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja and Kiara Advani-Sidharth Malhotra nuptials. Recalling how he landed the Wall Street gig, Shah revealed that he was booked to perform for a multi-day wedding, and at the time, was only given the dates and details of the functions, not the actual venues. 'It was only later that I discovered one of those events would happen on Wall Street. That's when I realized this was going to be something really special. I wasn't part of the planning process, just brought on to handle the music, but I'm grateful to have been involved in such a standout moment,' he said. Known for his ability to curate dynamic, high-energy performances across genres like Bollywood, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Techno, Shah transforms weddings into unforgettable experiences. He has also shared the stage with global music icons such as David Guetta, Katy Perry, Pitbull, The Backstreet Boys, and The Chainsmokers. caught up with him at length to discuss the rapidly evolving wedding industry, his creative process, and the unforgettable moments from celebrity weddings. Edited excerpts below: Arjun Shah: The experience at the Adani wedding was amazing. It was a high-energy crowd that truly loved their Bollywood music. The couple enjoyed a few English mashups that I played, especially my own production—Tere Liye x I Adore You. Arjun Shah: Their wedding playlist was primarily Bollywood-heavy, especially featuring songs from their own movies—the ones they had danced to on screen. Arjun Shah: I was approached by an event company for the wedding, but they didn't reveal the couple's name or any details—just that it was a huge opportunity. At the time, I was attending my best friend's wedding, scheduled on the same dates, so I initially turned it down. A few days later, they reached out again for the reception, and luckily, I was available. All I knew was that I would be performing at The St. Regis, Mumbai. When I arrived, I noticed a lot of paparazzi outside but still had no clue who the couple was. It was only when I saw the couple's logo outside the banquet that I realised it was Virat-Anushka. That moment was truly unforgettable. I do recall playing a lot of Punjabi and Bhangra tracks that night. The energy was incredible! A post shared by DJ AJ (@djajmumbai) Arjun Shah: I usually start with a brief from the couple to understand their musical preferences. Then, we set up a detailed call to get a sense of their vision, audience, and the vibe of the event. We also check if the couple is open to experimenting with different genres. This helps me curate a playlist that aligns with their expectations while also incorporating my own creative touch. Arjun Shah: I've genuinely loved working with all of them. But as a DJ, one wedding I can never forget is Farhan and Shibani's. It was at their house in Lonavala, and the couple danced their hearts out—whether it was English, Bollywood, or Hip-Hop blasting through the speakers. Their energy was unreal. Arjun Shah: My journey started when I was 15, after being selected by my school to DJ at an event. From there, I participated in War of DJs competitions and won five consecutive years. That's when I knew this was my passion. To hone my skills, I attended Point Blank Music School in London, where I learned the technical aspects of DJ'ing. Initially, I started playing at nightclubs, but my first wedding gig happened by chance—it was a family wedding. It turned out to be such a hit that it led to more bookings within the family, and soon, word-of-mouth brought me new clients. Arjun Shah: In recent years, couples have started blending global music genres with Indian music, creating a unique fusion at weddings. Bollywood classics are now being seamlessly mixed with international sounds like Afro House, Techno, and EDM—giving wedding playlists a fresh vibe. India definitely has a huge market for wedding DJ'ing. Weddings here are grand, and music is a core part of every celebration. Millennial and Gen Z couples especially love having a DJ curate unique sets for their wedding events. Arjun Shah: Couples want personalised, immersive experiences. Two years ago, I introduced my hologram act in India—a visual experience that fuses EDM, Techno, and Bolly-Tech, elevating live sets. This trend has taken off, and moving forward, we'll see production become even more technology-driven. Acts like holograms will only get bigger and better, with advancements in AI, augmented reality, and interactive visuals becoming part of wedding entertainment. Digital marketing and social media reels will play an even bigger role in shaping wedding music. Viral mashups are already influencing couples' playlists, and DJs will continue to create custom edits inspired by trending sounds. The focus will be on creating moments that look and sound great on social media, making wedding music not just about the live experience but also its digital impact. Arjun Shah: Seeing the event go viral has definitely been special. The moment already felt big in person, but watching how it resonated with people online, across the world, has added another layer to it. I think moments like these help shine a light on how powerful and joyful cultural celebrations can be, even in the most unexpected places. It's definitely encouraging as I look ahead. Ishika Roy is a is a Trainee Sub Editor for the lifestyle desk at The Indian Express. She shares a keen interest in reading, writing and researching on all things beauty, entertainment, pop culture and lifestyle. Ishika holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Miranda House, Delhi and a Post-graduate degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune. ... Read More
