Latest news with #WideAwake
Scoop
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
MECHATOK Teams Up With Tohji For New Single '200'
The Mechatok movement is upon us. Following the release of the anthemic ' Expression On Your Face ' with Bladee and Ecco2k, Mechatok returns today with ' 200 ', a collaboration with Tokyo rap icon Tohji. The track is the latest taste from Mechatok's hotly anticipated forthcoming debut album, Wide Awake , out 8 August via Young Recordings. '200' marks the first time Mechatok and Tohji have reunited since the 2022 cult release ' Ultra Rare '. The music comes alongside a video directed by L-DOPA studios' dopesolitary and shot by EternalUSA and Guz Reichwald. Speaking on the new music, Mechatok says, "I made 200 on a shitty winter day Berlin chopping up a vocal Tohji sent me. I was missing the times me and him would roam the streets of Shibuya at speed around Tokyo in his blue car at night.' It follows earlier singles ' Addiction ', ' Virus Freestyle,' ' Expression On Your Fac e', and they reinforce Mechatok's architectural ability to stretch the boundaries of what modern pop and rap can be and preview the ambitious project to come. A precise and emotionally intuitive body of work, Wide Awake explores identity, authenticity, and expression in an era shaped by algorithms and digital overstimulation. Featuring a carefully curated global cast of contributors including Bladee, Ecco2k, Isabella Lovestory, and Tohji, Wide Awake is a future-facing record that positions Mechatok not just as a sought-after collaborator but as a solo artist in full command of his voice. Tokdemir distills pop components until they become addictive, personal mantras; fragments that feel at once fleeting and enduring. Through the Mechatok persona, he accesses forms of expression that feel paradoxically more intimate and timeless. Wide Awake is available for pre-order in digital and physical (black 12' LP and CD) formats. Released digitally on Friday 8 August 2025 and physically on Friday 5th September.
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
FANGZ Release Ferocious Debut Album 'Shui'
Eora/Sydney punk misfits FANGZ have today unleashed their long-awaited debut album ' Shui ', out now via Impressed Recordings. Order Vinyl HERE. 'Shui' is 11 tracks of cathartic punk rock, led by searing guitar leads and frontman Josh Cottreau 's visceral vocals. The album features singles ' Anne Marie ', ' Wasting Time ', ' Wide Awake ' and ' Same Old Story ', each showcasing FANGZ's ability to balance raw punk energy with melody, grit, and vulnerability. Josh talks about the process behind their debut record: "A debut album's always a bit unhinged and slightly rough — bands figuring themselves out in real time. FANGZ Shui has that energy. We locked ourselves in a Melbourne studio, away from all distractions and comforts, and made something that sounds like what it felt like: loud, dangerous, evolutionary, drunk — and ultimately, ours. In real life, I'm thankful to my bandmates for going on this thankless ride with me." To support the album, FANGZ will head out on their most extensive Australian national headline tour to date; tickets are available now via The band have traversed the country multiple times, selling out headline shows, performing at festivals and sharing stages with the likes of FIDLAR (USA), Pennywise (USA), The Bronx (USA), Cancer Bats (CAN), RedHook, Comeback Kid (CAN), and He Is Legend (USA). Last year, FANGZ completed an East Coast tour in 24 hours, launched their own hot sauce (Fang Us Some Sauce), and took their annually curated mini-festival FANGZstock on the road, expanding into Naarm/Melbourne and Meanjin/Brisbane. Frontman Josh Cottreau also holds the Guinness World Record for the most hard-boiled eggs eaten in one sitting (143 eggs in three minutes and ten seconds). FANGZ have also launched orders for a range of exclusive 'Shui' merch bundles, with four different pack options available. Fans can snap up vinyl, shirts, hoodies, hats, stubby holders, patches—and even limited edition FANGZ yo-yos. All items are available now via Since their 2019 inception, the band have released three EPs and a slew of singles, receiving strong support from triple j, triple j Unearthed, Triple M, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Metal Hammer (UK), Loudwire (USA), Classic Rock (UK), Metal Injection (USA), Louder Sound (UK), NME, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Guardian, and many more. 'Shui' is the culmination of five years of mayhem, growth, and everything in between — a career-defining release from one of Australia's most exciting punk bands.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Were ‘Living on an Island of Stress' Before ‘Sad' Split: Sources
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have not publicly spoken out about why they made the difficult decision to end their relationship, but according to a source, communication issues and busy schedules played major roles. 'Katy and Orlando have been suffering through the same problems that have plagued them for years,' an insider told People on Tuesday, July 1. '[They had] too much going on in their lives, which makes it hard to find time for each other and iron out disagreements. When they don't communicate properly, their relationship dips to a low level.' Perry, 40, and Bloom, 48, who share 4-year-old daughter Daisy Dove, had 'been living on an island of stress,' per the insider, and their relationship had been 'rocky' at the time of their breakup. A separate film source called the end of their relationship 'sad and unpleasant.' 'Sometimes love isn't enough to keep two people with different styles and outlooks on how things are done [together],' the source continued. 'It can overshadow the love.' As Star previously reported, the 'Wide Awake' singer and the Lord of the Rings star met at a Golden Globes afterparty in 2016, and they dated on and off for nine years until their most recent breakup was reported by People on June 26. 'It's not contentious at the moment. Katy is of course upset, but is relieved to not have to go through another divorce, as that was the worst time in her life,' a source spilled to Us Weekly, referencing Perry's relationship with Russell Brand, 50, who she was married to from 2010 to 2012. Perry and Bloom had been engaged for six years at the time of their split. Days after the news hit headlines, the Gran Turismo actor took to his Instagram Stories and shared a cryptic piece of wisdom from Buddha. 'Each day is a new beginning,' the quote read. 'What we do today is what matters most.' He later shared another quote from Japanese Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda. 'The important thing is to take that first step,' the post said. 'Bravely overcoming one small fear gives you the courage to take on the next.' That same day, Perry became emotional on stage while performing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, South Australia, for her Lifetimes World Tour. 'Thank you for always being there for me, Australia,' she tearfully told the crowd at the time. 'It means the world!'
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Will Rachel Kolisi support Siya Kolisi at the Springboks vs Barbarians clash?
The Kolisi family has long been synonymous with the Springboks, frequently seen in the stands cheering for the green and gold team. Image: Instagram As excitement builds for the historic encounter between the Springboks and the Barbarians on Saturday, questions swirl around whether Rachel Kolisi will join the crowd at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. This match, the first of its kind on South African soil, not only marks a pivotal moment for rugby fans but places Rachel squarely in the public eye as she navigates her high-profile divorce from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. The Kolisi family has been a staple at Springbok matches in previous years, with Rachel and their four children routinely cheering from the stands. However, following the announcement of their divorce last year, which was described as a mutual decision founded on respect and a shared commitment to parenthood, the dynamics have shifted. In the past, Rachel has not shied away from expressing her pride in Siya's achievements, including the Springboks' triumphant World Cup victory in 2019. In an interview on the "Wide Awake" podcast in 2022, she reflected on that unforgettable final, describing it as "one of the most special moments in my life". "Winning, of course, was amazing, but also just being a part of an event like that is such a privilege. You know, in 2007 when we won the previous World Cup, I was 17 years old, I remember exactly where I was sitting, who I was watching with, what we did after the game. I remembered all of that, and it was just surreal to me that in 2019, just 12 years later, I was going to be watching a World Cup final again, but this time married to the Springbok captain, with my children there. "It's just crazy what happens in life. You never know where life will take you and what God has in store for you. She continued: "What was important for me (during that time) was to create a space for Siya where he felt normal even in all this chaos ... Just a space where he can have to decompress." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Siya Kolisi with Rachel and children Nicholas and Keziah. Image: File. Meanwhile, the upcoming match against the Barbarians stands as a historic occasion, marking their first meeting on South African soil. Coach Rassie Erasmus has emphasised the importance of the event as a chance to sharpen strategies ahead of an intense international rugby season. With Italy and Georgia waiting in the wings for matches next month, the urgency to solidify game plans is crucial. Additionally, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup pool draw looming at the end of this year, positioning within the world rankings as December 2025 approaches is of paramount importance for the Springboks. As the weekend draws near, the sports world awaits not just the outcome of the match but also the potential sight of Rachel donning her green and gold jersey, standing proud in the stands.
RTÉ News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Starmer claims Kneecap Glastonbury set 'not appropriate'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed he does not think Belfast rap trio Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate". He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: "No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. "This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate." It comes after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at the festival next week. Ms Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. "As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." The Tory Leader has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. After the case, the band split the money between two community groups - one on either side of the Belfast peace line. Watch: Kneecap's Mo Chara tells Dublin crowd 'I'm a free man!' Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May. The song mocked her attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, whose stage name is Móglaí Bap, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, whose stage name is DJ Próvaí, at Westminster Magistrates' Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts. Speaking to RTÉ News before their gig in Dublin on Thursday, DJ Próvaí said that there was "great support there from 1,000 people" and that fans had gathered because "they know we're going to win". During the proceedings, a prosecutor told the court the 27-year-old is "well within his rights" to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a "wholly different thing". Mr Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on 20 August. Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. "If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. "But most importantly: free, free Palestine." The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. "We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? "To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. "Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. "The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it." Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
