Latest news with #Weak
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'What Are We Scared To Say?': AJR On 'Betty' and 'What No One's Thinking'
Multiplatinum trio AJR has been burning the house down lately. Composed of brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met, the trio of musicians grew up in New York City, where they made a name for themselves through busking and tap dancing. In 2016, they released their acclaimed EP What Everyone's Thinking, a collection of songs that amalgamate a range of sounds from electronic to hip-hop. The EP spawned the hit single "Weak," and those five songs would go on to find their place on the band's second album, The Click. Ryan and Jack spoke with Newsweek about their new single, "Betty," which comes as the lead single for their recently announced EP What No One's Thinking, set to release on August 29. While not working on music together, the group is performing around the world, having just traveled to China and Italy. "This is probably the most we've traveled, in like the most the amount of countries we travel in the shortest amount of time, most time zones we've hit in a week," Jack said. But that's not the entirety of their collective commitments. Musical trio AJR (from left) Olly, Adam Met, Jack Met and Ryan Met Musical trio AJR (from left) Olly, Adam Met, Jack Met and Ryan Met Busy On and Off Broadway The busy brothers carve out time during flights to "lock in" on their other duties, including working on a Broadway production. "We're doing a Broadway adaptation of 'Harold and the Purple Crayon.' And so it's originally a children's book about a baby that has a magical purple crayon. And we have this idea about five years ago, it takes so long to make a show, but we had this idea to sort of age him up and kind of show what happens to you when you're an adult, and you sort of can't draw your problems magically away when life gets too real," Ryan said. "We've been working on it for about five years, and we have a writer and director and putting it all together. It's a fun, different challenge from the AJR stuff, because we're just constantly putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, putting ourselves in the dad character's point of view. What is he feeling? What is a 60-year-old who has deferred his dreams in life? What is he feeling right now? Sort of totally opposite from us writing the AJR stuff, which is so inward, which is so 'How am I reacting to the world around me right now?'" Beyond that, the artists are set to head out on tour once more with their upcoming "Somewhere in the Sky Tour" with a swath of their favorite bands in tow. The tour includes a stop at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, a first for the group. Regardless of their location, though, hitting the road is a key part of the brothers' experience. "Touring is our favorite thing to do. We consider it sort of equal to the music. It's not really like the cherry on top for us. We've always said that we make the music as almost like the score to the Broadway show, which is our tour," Jack said. But that's not the only connection between Broadway and the brothers' touring efforts. "Broadway influence is like, so, so big in our live shows. You know, you leave a show in New York or on Broadway going, Wow, they did this, and they did this, and there was this up moment and down moment, and they use these special effects. And there's so many things that you can think about for the next, like month," Jack said. "And you know, when we first started touring, we were like, 'Why can't that also be a live concert? Why can't people also leave feeling like that with a show?' And then from then on, it's been, you know, we do play all our songs and all the, you know, the fan favorites, but we really try to work in as much crazy production and magic and Broadway elements and unpredictable moments as possible. So people really leave going, 'Oh my God, that was really an experience.'" The Met brothers of AJR. From left: Ryan, Jack and Adam Met. The Met brothers of AJR. From left: Ryan, Jack and Adam Met. AJR/Kyle Berger What's In a Name? When it comes to EP names, it's easy to imagine a grand plan that's existed for as long as the project has been in the works. For the Met brothers, this one was a bit different. "We didn't have the name 'What No One's Thinking' the whole time we're writing the EP. Actually, we came up with it basically toward the end, when we had four out of the five songs done. I think it feels very much like a successor to we had a EP 10 years ago called 'What Everyone's Thinking,'" Ryan said. "That EP, I think, really put AJR on the map in a lot of ways, because the first album we made was just kind of like us experimenting, 'Maybe we're like Billy Joel, or maybe we're like this, or maybe we're like this,' and then with 'Everyone's Thinking' EP we were like, 'OK, we're the band that is not afraid to say a lot of these embarrassing things that no one's saying but everybody's thinking.' And that really jump started our career in a lot of ways, and really allowed us to have a voice and a point of view in the music industry that we felt like no one else had." Things, however, change over time; just ask the trio about that. "Now we're just at a different place in our lives, for whatever reason, our level of confidence or how much we've been through now, we're very much about less trying to appeal to 'This is what everyone's thinking.' And more like, 'What are we scared to say?'" Ryan said. "I think me and Jack were really obsessed this time around with making music that you felt as opposed to thought about. And it's kind of an interesting distinction. It's probably just where we're at in our lives right now. I think in the past, we've loved these kind of clever ideas of like, we have a song called Inertia that we love, but it's like 'Here's a scientific concept applied to a bunch of different scenarios in life.' That's all very like cerebral, like, 'I need to think about it to enjoy it.' This whole EP for us was like, 'Even if the grammar is wrong, even if it's a little messy, if I'm feeling something that I never knew I could feel before.'" Facing Real Fears One of the fears the AJR is ready to tackle? Commitment. "'Betty,' specifically, we had a lot of conversations about, sort of the idea of committing forever, whatever that means where we're at in our lives. Whether it's relationship or job or just grappling with the idea of this choice I'm making now is for the rest of my life, that's your late 20s and your early 30s, and not everybody's ready to do that. And me and Jack specifically are very not ready to do that. We're very young in a lot of ways, so this was kind of a song us talking to our significant others. It's just something we really felt in the moment," Ryan said. "We've been through a lot in the past few years. We've suffered a big loss. Family stuff, with friends, stuff with our career, and it's been a lot. And we realized we weren't really talking about it much. We definitely weren't talking about it in our music. And I think just through working, we realized, 'Oh my god,' like 'Betty' specifically, it kind of just popped into our head, like, 'Wait, I've been feeling this, like overwhelming sense of fear about commitment. And about the idea of forever. How are we not writing about that? That has to be it,'" Jack added. The "Somewhere in the Sky Tour" kicks off July 18 in Sparks, Nevada.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jesse & Joy's ‘Lo Que Nos Faltó Decir' Album & More Best New Music Latin
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week's picks below. Jesse & Joy, (Warner Music Latina) More from Billboard U2's Bono Calls for Hamas to 'Release the Hostages, Stop the War' During Ivor Novello Awards Speech Rob49 on Viral Stardom, 'Let Me Fly,' Collab Album With G Herbo & Making Music With Justin Bieber Preston Cooper on Offering Genuine Strength in 'Weak,' His First Radio Release With a range of sounds representative of their bicultural upbringing (Mexico-U.S.), Jesse & Joy present an eclectic 13-track album that spans pop, regional music, singer-songwriter styles, and soul. 'A sonic journey between two worlds, five cities, and all the words yet to be said,' as described in the press release, the Huerta siblings' seventh album was produced by Martin Terefe along with Jesse, and recorded across London, New York, Los Angeles, Bogotá, and Mexico City. Collaborators include Carlos Vives, Banda MS, Elsa y Elmar, Eden Muñoz and Poo Bear, on songs as varied as the focus track 'Empinar el Codo' with Vives — a heartbreak-themed pop song with a festive vibe — or the bilingual reggae track 'Nube' with Poo Bear, about feeling on cloud nine when experiencing the excitement of new love. The album opens with the sweet instrumental 'Canción de Mylo' and follows with the uptempo 'Digas Lo Que Digas,' one of the previously released singles, which also include 'Cuando Estamos a Solas' in support of Coming Out Day. Especially moving is the title track, a heart-wrenching ballad in Jesse & Joy's signature style. Lo Que Nos Faltó Decir coincides with the launch of the duo's El Despecho Tour 2025. It also comes at a special moment for Joy, who was recently nominated for a Tony Award as a composer for the Broadway musical Real Women Have Curves. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS Morat, (Universal Music Spain) Morat's fifth studio album Ya Es Mañana showcases a loyal band that skillfully navigates its evolution without sacrificing its true essence. Inspired by the powerful electric guitar riffs of the '90s, this emotional set travels from the engaging 'Faltas Tú' to the captivating 'Me Toca A Mí,' a collaboration with Camilo that thunders with potent drum beats and echoes Def Leppard's classic sound. Among the 14 gems are 'Antes De Cumplir Los 30,' which tells a story of youthful reflection; 'Por Si No Te Vuelvo A Ver,' filled with poignant longing; 'La Policía,' which carries an undercurrent of social commentary; and 'Cuarto De Hotel' with its rich, atmospheric emotion. The standout 'Vuelvo A Ti' captures the spirit of a new awakening with its refreshing and heartfelt approach. 'This is the moment to make the most of life, to be aware of what we must do now to create an incredible future. For us, this album embodies the idea of the band we have always wanted to be, and we hope you enjoy it,' said Juan Pablo Villamil during the band's album release party in Miami on Thursday (May 22). — INGRID FAJARDO Carín León & Maluma, 'Si Tú Me Vieras' (Socios Music) After teaming up for the runway hit 'Según Quién' two years ago, which peaked at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay, Carín León and Maluma join forces once again for 'Si Tu Me Vieras,' one of the new tracks from León's Palabra de To's (Seca) deluxe album. The two songs couldn't be more different from each other: Unlike 'Según,' which leans more pop with horn instruments giving it that regional touch, 'Si Tu Me Vieras' is more acoustic, with prickly guitars and a slapping tololoche leading the way for a more stripped-down approache. Lyrically, both are ultra vulnerable singing about not being able to overcome a heartbreak. 'If you could see how I suffer realizing you're no longer with me,' they sing, almost wailing. León's deluxe release includes three other new songs, including 'Me Está Doliendo' with Alejandro Fernández, 'Tres Pesos' and 'Por La Suave.' — GRISELDA FLORES Sergio George, (Sony Music Latin) In early 2024, Latin producer Sergio George gave the first taste of his ambitious project 'Urban Salsa Sessions' with the release of 'La Puerta' in collaboration with Jay Wheeler. The heartfelt tropical tune set the tone for what would become the hitmaker's new studio album — where he reunited some of the biggest names in urban & pop to create brand new salsa songs. The focus track, 'La Gata y el Ratón,' features Fariana's sensual vocals, Juanes' electric guitar riffs and a sample of Cheo Feliciano's original voice for a bold interpolation of Cheo's 1974 classic 'El Ratón.' Moreover, George reeled in Ryan Castro on 'Amor Material,' Anthony Ramons singing salsa in English on 'I Was the One,' Elena Rose and Oscar D' Leon on 'Me Das Fever' and Cuban newcomer Bebeshito on 'Lo Sabe,' where he cleverly blends salsa music with Cuba's booming urban genre, reparto. Beyond its colorful and flavorful rhythms, Ataca Sergio! Presents: Urban Salsa Sessions, is also home to uplifting and motivational tunes such as the Mike Bahía and Annasofia-assisted 'Gracias,' a modern-day salsa with gospel undertones about gratitude, and closing track 'La Vida es Una FIesta' with Wisin. — JESSICA ROIZ Mau y Ricky, Danny Ocean & Yorghaki, 'Samaná' (Why Club Records) After collaborating in 2024 on 'La Penúltima,' Venezuelan stars Mau y Ricky and Danny Ocean join forces again —this time also with their compatriot Yorghaki— on 'Samaná,' a summer love song whose title is the name of a Dominican coastal city. In this fusion of bachata with Latin and Caribbean sounds, the artists sing about their desire to rekindle a fleeting romance with the woman of their dreams amidst sandy, sun-drenched parties: 'I ask God to take care of you/ And if you're with someone, to be careless/ I don't know if it took me too long to tell you/ But I want to finish what started in Samaná.' ''Samaná' is the result of several friends coming together to do what they love,' Mau y Ricky says in a press release — a camaraderie that's also evident in the music video and the artists' social media posts. — S.R.A. Alex Ponce, 'Como Ella Ya No Hay' (Neon16/Sony Music Latin) Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Alex Ponce addresses his ex's new love in his new single 'Como Ella Ya No Hay.' The lyrics are a manual for loving a lost love well. With an electropop base, an irresistible electric bass groove and enveloping harmonies, the song vibrates between what was and what will no longer be. For those who have loved badly and understood it too late, this song hits straight to the soul. — LUISA CALLE Myke Towers, 'Baja California' (From ) (Atlantic Records/Apple Video Programming) Set against the rugged terrain of the Northern Mexican state it's named after, Myke Towers' 'Baja California' captures the thrill of adrenaline-fueled velocity with unapologetic swagger. Interpolating Black Sheep's early-'90s hip-hop classic 'The Choice Is Yours,' the Puerto Rican rapper turbocharges the track with the chaos and control of dirt bike trails, daunting mountains and the tempestuous coastline. Produced by El Guincho and Oscar, the single also mirrors the tension and raw energy of the Formula 1 universe. Towers weaves sharp bars about risk, mastery, and chasing victory, embodying a speed demon fearlessly living on instinct ('a la adrenalina nunca le he tenido fobia,' he raps). 'Baja California' is part of F1: The Album (out June 27), the official soundtrack for the Apple Original Film, starring Brad Pitt. As the only Latin artist featured on the soundtrack album, Towers holds his own on a star-studded roster that includes Ed Sheeran, Sexyy Red, Burna Boy, and Tiësto. — ISABELA RAYGOZA Bronco, (REC PRIME INC) The iconic regional Mexican group celebrates its four-and-a-half-decade-long career with this compilation of 16 songs recorded live — 13 of which are duets with international acts from various music genres, such as Julieta Venegas, Matisse, Aleks Syntek, Vagón Chicano, Guaynaa, and Los Auténticos Decadentes. The album was recorded throughout 2024, during the group's Tour 45 performances in the U.S., Central and South America, in iconic venues including Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, and the Jockey Club in Asuncion, Paraguay. Among the songs included in this collectors piece are 'Pastillas de Amnesia,' 'Libros Tontos,' 'Oro,' 'Nunca Voy a Olvidarte' and 'Con Zapatos de Tacón.' Definitely a great gift for true fans of Bronco, a legend of Spanish-language music. — TERE AGUILERA Check out more Latin recommendations this week below: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
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Preston Cooper on Offering Genuine Strength in ‘Weak,' His First Radio Release
Life is loaded with contradictions, not the least of which is the 'tough guy' veneer. Everyone has weaknesses in their personality, and showing strength is one way that people hide their insecurities. In reality, it takes an enormous amount of fortitude to admit a vulnerability, and the greatest artists are frequently those who are able to help listeners explore -— and even embrace — their own fragility. More from Billboard 'Hamilton' and 'Girls5Eva' Star Renée Elise Goldsberry on Her New Take on 'Satisfied' for Debut Album Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Shaboozey & More Earn 2025 iHeartRadio Titanium Awards for 1 Billion Spins Morgan Wallen Reclaims ARIA Albums Chart With 'I'm the Problem' New artist Preston Cooper does that right out of the gate with his debut single, 'Weak,' which flips the switch on those soft spots, bringing them into the open with a fierceness that turns them into a source of power. Life experience has made him comfortable with that dichotomy; his girlfriend of six years, Liz, helped him weather a rocky stretch in the earliest parts of their relationship. 'I went through a hard time there a little bit after I met Liz and we started dating,' he remembers. 'It was just a mental period where I was very lost, and she helped me through that. And Jesus obviously did, too.' Both Liz and Jesus show up in 'Weak,' though neither was necessarily the inspiration. Instead, it came from a melody he concocted at work. Cooper delivered mail in rural Fredericktown, Ohio, and he used music so much on his route that he was known locally as 'The Singing Mailman.' Near the end of 2022, he invented a musical passage built around a long note that would eventually trail off as he imagined bluesy chords underneath. He recorded that melodic idea on his smartphone with the drawn-out word 'weak' and another line or two behind it. 'The music drives you to certain words, you know; the emotion of it, the musical part alone,' he says. 'It feels like it's 'weak,' [but] it's this strong relationship. When the intro to that song comes in, I feel that already.' As fate would have it, Skotynsky Financial Group hired Cooper as an opening act for a corporate event on April 21, 2023, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg, Ohio. Mike Severson's Songwriter City had booked Brett and Brad Warren ('Red Solo Cup,' 'Highway Don't Care'), plus JT Harding ('Sangria,' 'Beers and Sunshine') to headline that night, and when the Warrens heard Cooper, they invited him to visit Nashville and try his hand at writing. A few weeks later, on May 8, Cooper and Liz drove six hours to Nashville and headed straight to the Orbison Building, where songwriter Lance Miller ('I Called Mama,' 'Beer With Jesus') kept an office. Liz busied herself in another room while Miller and the Warrens worked with Cooper. Asked if he had any ideas, Cooper launched into the unfinished half-chorus of 'Weak.' 'When he started belting out that chorus, we were like, 'Oh my gosh, this is like driving a musical Maserati,'' Brad remembers. They finished the chorus first, recognizing resilience, but crediting Liz and faith for the ability to overcome the hard times: 'Just you and Jesus/Get me where I need to be.' The last line returned to that one word — 'weak' —threaded through a conclusive run of descending melodic trills. The opening verse was more conversational, exploring a handful of strong elements: an El Paso, Texas, wind; an oak tree; and bourbon. It set up the dramatic chorus, and as that stanza ended on the drawn-out, emotional 'ee-e-e-e-ak,' Miller started verse two with a one-word line: 'Strong.' 'Willie Nelson said simple is complex,' Miller reasons. 'That song,' he adds, 'came out fairly easily. I don't remember this being a laboring process.' Nelson and 'Whiskey River' were counted among the verse-two strengths, and before it was all over, they came up with a bridge about tension and comfort — 'Crazy like a train, amazing like grace' — that referenced Ozzy Osbourne and Jesus side by side. 'We're not comparing him to Jesus,' Brett notes. Once they had finished a second song, the Warrens surprised Cooper with a same-day demo session four blocks away at Curb Studios. The A-list musicians were surprised to find they were playing a blues-inspired number and thoroughly impressed once Cooper locked in at the mic. 'The second he opened his mouth in the studio, all the session players stopped and turned around,' Brett recalls. 'They were like, 'Hey, we got a real singer in the room.' ' The band developed a slow, spacious groove, the sound thickened by Jeff Roach's soulful Hammond B-3. Guitarist Justin Ostrander laid down a chill solo live on the first pass, and drummer Evan Hutchings added some shimmer with his cymbal work. 'It must have been right,' Brad muses, 'because Brett hates cymbals.' Cooper continued working on his newfound career, his voice deepening and his confidence growing. After a year, Brett had him return to the studio to redo the vocals, and he nailed them on the first take. Outside of hiring Greg Barnhill to overdub background vocals, Brett didn't change much about the production — the session that was supposed to be a demo became a master recording. 'Brett was smart enough not to put too much makeup on the mannequin,' Miller says. 'Basically what we did at Curb that day was the foundation of that song.' 'Weak' recognizes that admitting emotional struggle provides an opportunity for strength to arise. While it's written around a relationship, listeners can easily apply the concept to other life facets. 'I'm a recovering alcoholic,' Brett says. 'I remember the first time I raised my hand in a meeting and said, 'My name's Brett and I'm an alcoholic.' Oh, my Lord, I was so scared to say it, but the moment I admitted that I struggled with alcohol, in that weakest moment in my life — boom! — 60% of this weight just came off me. It's really fascinating. So on the lyrical side of it, I think that that side of 'Weak' is really true.' 'Weak' was the first song Cooper performed in an audition for Big Machine Label Group; by the third tune, president/CEO Scott Borchetta was ready to sign him. 'Weak' got a standing ovation at the label's lunchtime showcase during Country Radio Seminar in February, and it cinched BMLG's decision to make it his first single. Subsidiary Valory released it to country radio via PlayMPE on April 23 with a May 19 add date. 'Ever since we wrote the song — like the day of — we always thought this was going to be a first single,' Cooper says. 'It was so much excitement in making the song and the vibe of it. It just felt right.' 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
