Music

Burna Boy Gives A Spirited Performance Of ‘Way Too Big’ On ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’

The Nigerian superstar brought his ‘Twice As Tall’ hit to Meyers’ show with a pre-recorded performance. …

It’s a new year, but stars continue to deliver their late-night performances via pre-recorded video rather than live onstage. That condition looks to continue in 2021 but that may not be the worst thing in the world. Aside from keeping performers and their fans safer, the pre-recorded performances allow some creative staging and camera work that might not otherwise be feasible in a live setting. Burna Boy, who kicks off his 2021 with a performance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, proves this with “Way Too Big.”

Standing on a plinth overlooking his band and backup singers, Burna literalizes his album’s title Twice As Tall, surveying the scene from his raised vantage point and evoking a historical monument. Burna closed out his 2020 with a video for the song, which similarly set him up as a model of success, appearing on a billboard in Lagos. Here, although the staging is stripped-down in comparison, he’s able to take advantage of a larger space than would be allowed on the usual late-night stage to keep the same epic mood.

Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

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