It appears new Mariah Carey music could be on the horizon…
During a conversation with Rolling Stone‘s Rolling Stone Music Now, the 53-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer/songwriter revealed that she’d recorded multiple projects in her Butterfly Lounge studio during the pandemic.
“It’s about three or four different things,” Carey said. “One is a project that I’m almost finished with that I was doing some background vocal tweaks on. One is [new] songs that could be for the scripted series [by Lee Daniels] or a documentary. And then there’s a themed album. It’s something that people have been asking me to do for years, but it’s not done in the traditional sense. It’s not done yet, but I’m really excited about it. I’m working [on that album] with some very eclectic, newer artists, as well as some legendary folks.”
For the 25th anniversary of her sixth studio album Butterfly, Carey is releasing an expanded version of the LP with eight new bonus tracks, including a remake of “The Roof (When I Feel the Need)” with Brandy. However, she still looks back on the 1997 album and feels its single “Breakdown” wasn’t appreciated or supported by the label at the time.
“People did not believe in it, or believe in me in that genre and that moment,” she said, recalling that the label feared her change in sound was “too urban.” “By people, I mean the corporate morgue, the entities that run things. I mean, ‘Tha Crossroads’ was such a big record!”
Meanwhile, any new album would be a follow-up to Carey’s 2018 fan favorite studio set Caution, which featured singles “GTFO,” “With You” and “A No No.”
Stream Carey’s’s complete interview about her upcoming music and more on Apple Podcasts.
Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired the North American rights to A Place in the Field, the feature directorial debut of the Honduran filmmaker.
Shot safely over the course of the pandemic, A Place in the Field is a drama infused with magical realism.
It follows Army Veteran Gio Scuderi (Don DiPetta) who, after receiving a package and a letter from an old friend, sets out on a journey across the American Southwest to fulfill a promise made long ago during his deployment. The film tackling the issue of PTSD in veterans through a female filmmaker’s lens is billed as a road trip story about loss, friendship, perseverance, and the will to carry on.
DiPetta, Khorri Ellis, Bluesmon Del Vecchio and Xochitl Portillo-Moody wrote the film, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Santa Barbara Film Festival. DiPetta and Mejia produced alongside Heliya Alam.
“A Place in the Field is a powerful and honest look at the impact of PTSD,” said Grindstone’s Stan Wertlieb. “Nicole Mejia is a real talent – her film honors our veterans as it inspires and touches our hearts.”
Mejia is a Los Angeles-based writer, director and producer who recently was selected as one of the inaugural directing fellows for the Adelante Lab — a television shadowing fellowship created by the Latinx House, in partnership with Netflix, Sundance and Shondaland.
Her recently released short film Mancha was awarded the LALIFF/Netflix Fellowship, with her AFI thesis film, My Life Stopped at 15, claiming the ASC Heritage award. The latter film, based on Mejia’s personal story of healing from sexual abuse, is also shortlisted for the Young Director Award.
Originally from Honduras, Mejia is the first in her family to hold a BFA (in theater, from Cornish College of the Arts), as well as an MFA. She attained the latter as part of AFI’s Directing program, where she was awarded the Audi Fellowship for Women.
Jordana Brewster is dealing with an uninvited guest…
The first images from he 42-year-old half-Brazilian Panamanian actress’ COVID-themed comedy feature Who Invited Charlie?” have been released, and they show her character Rosie frantically applying hand sanitizer as the pandemic takes hold.
Directed by Xavier Manrique, the film, which was previously titled Charlie In The Pandemic, tells the story of a New York City family who decamp to the Hamptons to hide out the pandemic. But their COVID-safe bubble is popped when Charlie – complete with Blood Marys and pot – turns up bringing with him a “lifetime of hurt that might heal them all.”
Joining Brewster are Adam Pally as Charlie, Reid Scott as Phil and Dylan Penn as Jess.
Xosha Roquemore and Peter Dager round out the cast.
Nicholas Schutt wrote the screenplay.
“Who Invited Charlie?” was shot in New York and the Hamptons. It is set to have its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October.
The 30-year-old Cuban American actor will star opposite Kate Miner in the horror-thriller Stay Safe, about a pandemic hot zone.
The project, which has entered post-production centers on Canela as Patricio and Miner as Eva. It also stars Katalina Viteri.
Stationed on the front lines of a pandemic hot zone, the film follows Army Surgeon Eva’s attempt to uncover the truth behind a subliminal message she received from a patient, while dealing with the unexpected arrival of an illegal immigrant into her home.
American Entertainment Investors, Synkronized Films and Elipsis Capital are behind the film, with Daniela Delfino, who also features in Stay Safe, Joseph Cohen and Alex Cohen producing.
Writers are David Gregg, Gia Neri, Rolando Vinas and the director is Carlos V. Gutierrez, with a story by Clarence Williams IV.
Canela joined ABC’s The Rookie last year, playing Cesar Madrigal. He has also appeared on A&E’s The Glades, Josh Waller’s Camino, Fox’s Pitchand Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe.
The 32-year-old Dominica American bachata star has announced an upcoming 11-date “greatest hits” trek that he’s called the Classic Tour.
As part of the trek, Royce will not only serenade fans with the songs that catapulted his career, but he’ll also celebrate his decade-long trajectory.
“I am thrilled to be able to share the Classic Tour with all of my fans who have been there for me unconditionally since the very beginning of my career,” said Price Royce in a statement. “I am still here thanks to you all and this tour is for you. I’m filled with gratefulness.”
Produced by Loud and Live, the 11-date tour will kick off September 16 in Miami and take Royce across the U.S., visiting major markets like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles before wrapping up in Santa Barbara, Calif., in October. This will his first tour since the pandemic shutdown, which halted his Alter Ego Tour in March 2020.
Most recently, Royce and Maria Becerra scored a top 10 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with their collaboration “Te Espero.”
For the Argentine artist, the track marked her first top 10 on the tally. Meanwhile, for Royce, it added a 30th top 10 his Tropical Airplay chart account.
The romantic bachata samples British rock band Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” — a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1987 — and was produced by D’lesly “Dice” Lora and Royce, and written by Royce alongside Becerra, Nelsen and Bobby Sierra.
Here’s the complete list of dates and venues for Royce’s “Classic Tour”:
Sept. 16 — Miami — FTX Arena
Sept. 17 — Orlando — Hard Rock Live Orlando
Sept. 18 — Atlanta — The Eastern
Sept. 22 — Dallas TX — Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie
Sept. 23 — Houston — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Sept. 25 — Chicago — Rosemont Theatre
Oct. 1 — New York — United Palace
Oct. 2 — Washington D.C. — DAR Constitution Hall
Oct. 7 — Los Angeles — Microsoft Theater
Oct. 8 — San Jose, Calif. — San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Oct. 9 — Santa Barbara, Calif. — The Arlington Theater
The first trailer has been released for Judd Apatow’s lockdown comedy The Bubble, starring a stacked cast that includes the 46-year-old Chilean actor.
The film looks at the high stakes and high jinks involved in filming a studio tentpole film during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scenario unfolds somewhere in England during the dark days of October 2020 as a group of actors is quarantining at a posh hotel while shooting Cliff Beasts 6, the latest in an action franchise about people battling dinosaurs. And it’s no walk in the Jurassic Park.
“Thank you for wearing proper PPE,” the ensemble is told. “Physical touch is, of course, off the table, so I would recommend making sweet eyes at each other.”
But there’s an incentive to keep the cameras rolling: “We are one of two movies in production right now — if we fail, the studio’s going to go down.”
So the show goes on, and we get the lighter side of greenscreen acting.
Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKinnon and Peter Serafinowicz also star in the Apatow-directed film.
Apatow wrote the script with Pam Brady.
The film-within-a-film will hit Netflix in the spring.
Camila Cabello has the chemistry on lock with Shawn Mendes…
The 23-year-old Cuban & Mexican singer and her boyfriend-singer Mendes’ performance during the One World: Together at Home broadcast won one of the awards at the inaugural LiveXLive Presents: TheLockdown Awards.
The awards show is meant to honor “the best of the best who created and entertained the world amidst the pandemic.”
Cabello and Mendes’ performance of “What a Wonderful World” during the all-star telethon organized by Global Citizen took home the award for Digital Chemistry, Favorite Duet.
Cardi B didn’t have to actually perform to earn her prize.
The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar won the Musicians Not Playing Music prize for her DIY Hair Mask.
Swizz Beatz was named the winner for launching a can’t miss series of music moments…
The 42-year-old part-Puerto Rican artist, producer and DJ and Timbaland took home the The New New, Favorite New Music Series for Verzuz, their weekly, real-time, virtual DJ battles.
Chrissie Fit and her fellow Barden Bellas took home the Way-Off Broadway, Favorite Musical Reunion prize.
Trey Songz hosted The Lockdown Awards, which included performances by Ally Brooke, Avenue Beat, Wiz Khalifa, Lauv and Conan Gray, Icona Pop and Sofi Tukker, Joss Stone, Johnny Orlando and Monsta X.
Winners were determined by fan voting at livexlive.com/TheLockdownAwards, as well as through Twitter submissions starting October 6.
“The inaugural Lockdown Awards is in the books,” said Garrett English, chief creative officer, LiveXLive, in a statement. “This was an evening celebrating artists, fans, and the enduring power of music.”
YouTube partnered with LiveXLive to distribute and promote the show across multiple YouTube channels.
Here’s a complete list of winners:
MVP Award: DJ D-Nice Favorite Quaranteam: BTS Digital Chemistry, Favorite Duet: Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes – “What a Wonderful World,” Global Citizen One World: Together at Home The Room Where It Happens, Favorite Home Performance: Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff – “Brand New Funk” A Quarantine Ditty, Favorite Quarantine Song: Charlie Puth – “Untitled Quarantine Song” All the Feels, Favorite Song for the Soul: Restless Road & Kane Brown – “Take Me Home,” Pandora Live Musicians Not Playing Music: Cardi B – DIY Hair Mask I Heart that Song, Favorite Cover: MGK & Travis Barker – “Misery Business” Mind = Blown, Favorite Use of Tech: Katy Perry – Tomorrowland Around the World No Stage, No Problem, Favorite Outdoor Performance: Andrea Bocelli – “Amazing Grace,” Music for Hope Room With a View, Favorite Creative Direction: Keith Urban – “Higher Love,” Global Citizen One World: Together at Home Sights & Sounds, Most Like a Music Video: 24kGoldn with Yungblud – “City of Angels,” The Yungblud Show Stronger Together, Favorite Group/All-Star Performance: Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, John Legend, Lady Gaga, & Lang Lang – “The Prayer,” Global Citizen One World: Together at Home The New New, Favorite New Music Series: Timbaland & Swizz Beatz – Verzuz The Best Fest, Favorite Virtual Festival: Lollapalooza 2020 Way-Off Broadway, Favorite Musical Reunion: Pitch Perfect Cast / The Barden Bellas – “Love on Top,” Universal Pictures Zoom Tune, Zoom Performance: SuperM – “With You,” Global Citizen One World: Together at Home
The global pandemic isn’t slowing down Lenny Tavárez…
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican singer has dropped two new singles, “La Pared 360” and “ACEROLA,” as well as released a special playlist to help you get your mind of COVID-19.
“Health comes first of all, so I hope that everyone is taking the necessary measures and that no one is suffering from serious conditions due to the coronavirus,” Tavárez tells Billboard.“Here is a list of the songs that I have listened to the most and that have helped me disconnect from these current times.”
Tavárez’s playlist, titled “#Crack Music,” includes sensual Latin R&B hits fromDalexand Sechto some of his popular features, like “Bellaquita” and “Hola.”
#Crac kis the name of Tavarez’s upcoming album and makes reference to the popular Spanish saying “sos un crack,” which means “you are awesome.”
“It’s about three or four different things,” Carey said. “One is a project that I’m almost finished with that I was doing some background vocal tweaks on. One is [new] songs that could be for the scripted series [by Lee Daniels] or a documentary. And then there’s a themed album. It’s something that people have been asking me to do for years, but it’s not done in the traditional sense. It’s not done yet, but I’m really excited about it. I’m working [on that album] with some very eclectic, newer artists, as well as some legendary folks.”
