Music

The Weeknd Taps Rosalía For A New Spanish-Infused ‘Blinding Lights’ Remix

The original version of ‘Blinding Lights’ came out over a year ago and it’s still near the top of the charts. …

A few days ago was the one-year anniversary of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which amazingly hasn’t really moved that far off the peak of the charts. Even more amazingly, it didn’t rack up a single Grammy nomination despite being perhaps the year’s biggest song. Whatever the case, The Weeknd is continuing to celebrate the track, doing so today with a new remix featuring Rosalía.

The track doesn’t have any big aesthetic changes or compositional changes beyond slotting Rosalía in here and there. She adds new vocal contributions throughout the song, including an opening verse that translates to, “I tried to call / I’ve been alone a lot, actually / Maybe you teach me how to love / Maybe / I no longer consume nothing / And you won’t have to do too much / If you touch me you will light me up / Baby.”

As for Rosalía, she has had a relatively quiet year. That might be because she has resisted the pressure to force creativity during the pandemic, as she said previously, “There’s this kind of pressure to be creative or busy most of the time, with lots of activities and progress, and I’m trying to run from that. I’m trying to do things that help keep me mentally healthy, and if that includes making music, then great. But I won’t lie — there are days when I just watch a show and eat a packet of cookies.”

Listen to the new “Blinding Lights” remix above.

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Album Review

Mt. Kili Mt. Kili delivers quiet power and honest reflection on “The Noticer” (album)

Mt. Kili’s latest album, “The Noticer,” is a warm, contemplative acoustic folk album that finds beauty in the minutiae of life itself, as calm and bare as anyone would call it. Songwriter Rick Sichta of Asheville leads the project with delicate instrumentation and outspoken lyrics, bringing forth an experience that can be both personal and universal.

Recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, the music is refined and mastered by Grammy Award-winning Julian Dreyer and David Glasser. The current lineup still embodies this vision, with Matt Shepard holding down a heavy rhythmic backbone and Laney Barnett’s violin and vocals rounding out the sound, creating emotion.

There is a story and emotion hidden within each track. The EP opens with “Don’t Start a War,” which opens contemplatively, begging for peace rather than war. The title track, “The Noticer,” exudes a sense of awareness and the beauty of watching life unfold. “The Rain Song” features a soothing, near-meditative vibe.

With a hopeful reflection, “The Road Isn’t as Long as It Seems” is about perspective and perseverance. “Her Song” is pretty much a musical love letter, and “Kyle” is defined by its character-driven narrative. With “The Weather Report,” the change of feeling is reflected, while “Scars “ and “Strawberry Fields” hint at memories and softening imagery. “All in Good Time” concludes the record patiently, a soothing sigh of comfort. “The Noticer” is a reflective album with a soft reminder that sometimes the smallest moments mean the most.

Connect with Mt. Kili on | Spotify

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Artist Spotlight

dredge reflects on emotions and unfiltered truth in “doomed from the start” (EP)

“doomed from the start,” the debut EP of dredge is a burst of underground noise, rough around the edges, an ambitious debut that embraces chaos in its own deeply personal way. The EP is raw, recorded in a garage somewhere between Birmingham and Worcestershire, with a cinematic feel that mirrors its emotive honesty.

It begins with “captain oblivious” and portrays the uncertainty and restlessness of a track after meeting someone unaware of the most fundamental part of themselves. “drink beer, hail satan“ takes the mood down a notch, with a bit of black humor about aging and death, presented in an oddly humorous way, but more plainly. The balance of energy and reflection presented on the track makes it one of the most memorable tracks on the project.

“temptress“ is like an idea of running into the wrong people & getting caught up in that familiar feeling of being drawn to harrowing situations. An exploration of the darker, cheeky end, then to round up the EP with “goblins.” The track is dynamic, and it complements the project nicely. “doomed from the start” is concise, coming in at just over 15 minutes, and it’s a crashing, truthful, and unvarnished introduction to dredge’s world.

Connect with dredge on Website | Facebook | Spotify | Instagram |