New Music: The Beach Boys, Rogers and Butler, Florence + The Machine, William Shatner

A mix of new music, deluxe reissues and a special vinyl single are featured in my column this week.

Artist: The Beach Boys

Title: Sounds Of Summer — The Very Best Of The Beach Boys (Capitol/UMe)

You might like if you enjoy: The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Jan and Dean

Tell me more: Originally released back in 2003, the wonderful collection Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys was an immediate commercial success remaining on the charts for 104 weeks and ultimately earning 4x platinum certification for sales of four and a half million albums. Fast forward to 2022 and that 30-track collection has been expanded to a total of 80 tracks in celebration of The Beach Boys' yearlong 60th anniversary celebration. It includes 26 new mixes, two first-time stereo mixes as well as 24 new-and-improved stereo mixes. The good news is that both casual and die-hard fans of the beloved group will be rewarded with this expansive title. The parade of stellar hits that spans disc 1 is certainly a great overview of the band's timeless radio favorites ("California Girls," "Surfing' Safari," "Don't Worry Baby," In My Room," "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations" and so many more), but discs 2 and 3 provide a vast and wider appreciation of the Beach Boys via treasures from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Among the standout selections include the luxurious "All Summer Long," lovely "Disney Girls," tender "Forever," joyous "Sail on Sailor," shimmering "Baby Blue," ambitious "Wind Chimes," harmonies-filled "Add Some Music To Your Day" and rollicking garage rocker "All I Want To Do." Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys is available in a variety of formats including digitally, 3CD soft pack and as a Super Deluxe Edition 6LP vinyl boxed set on 180-gram black vinyl in two options - a standard set or a numbered, limited edition version featuring a rainbow foil slipcase and four collectible lithographs. The Beach Boys are currently on tour and will headline at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 7. Information: TheBeachBoys.com.

Artist: Rogers and Butler

Title: Brighter Day (Think Like A Key Music)

You might like if you enjoy: The Kinks, The Beatles, The Zombies

Tell me more: Rogers and Butler are back with their outstanding sophomore album, the shining Brighter Day, a melody-drenched set of 11 inviting tracks. The terrific return includes the Kinks-flavored title track, shining power pop gem "Where Does The World Hide," affecting piano ballad "Last Reply," the tuneful Baroque pop gem "Marmalade Eyes" (which captures the magic of Beatles and Zombies favorites), melodic rocker "Desire" and wistful "The Sun Won't Shine." Along the way, the talented songwriting team of Edward Rogers (lead vocals) and Steve Butler (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion) are joined by a skilled cast of players (guitarist Don Piper, bassist Sal Maida, drummer Konrad Meissner, keyboardist Joe McGinty, accordion player Joe Chiofalo and strings player Chris Carmichael) to further elevate the album. Information: ThinkLikeAkey.com. 

Artist: Florence + The Machine

Title: Dance Fever [Deluxe Edition] (Republic)

You might like if you enjoy: Kate Bush, Florence + The Machine, Bat for Lashes

Tell me more: Expanded beyond the standard 14-track version, Florence + The Machine's Dance Fever [Deluxe Edition] find's the artist's fifth studio album packaged in a hardback book; the audio CD includes five bonus tracks. Described as a "Fairytale in Fourteen Songs," Dance Fever marks the first release by British songstress Florence Welch and company since 2018. The majestic opener "King" (bolstered by all manner of sonic shifts), propulsive electronica-tinged "Free," soulful "Dream Girl Evil," anthemic "Cassandra," driving "Daffodil," acoustic "The Bomb" and intoxicating "My Love" are among the many standouts on the terrific return. Welch is a singer armed with a soprano that is both powerful and expressive, and the track listing across Dance Fever is the perfect expression of those marvelous gifts. The bonus tracks also serve to more fully appreciate Welch's artistry; she revisits four of the LP's cuts with sparse arrangement anchored by her poignant vocals — "Cassandra," "Free" and "My Love" are especially moving. Closing out the title is "Search and Destroy," a fiery take on the Iggy Pop-penned 1973 Stooges classic. Fans of Welch's singular vision will definitely want to pick up this version. Florence + The Machine are set to embark on a North American tour on Sept. 2, 2022, including two dates at The Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. Information: florenceandthemachine.net. 

Artist: William Shatner

Title: Rocket Man (Cleopatra Records)

You might like if you enjoy: William Shatner, Ritchie Blackmore & Candice Night, Steve Hillage, pop culture

Tell me more: In 2021 — at the age of 90 — actor/author/icon William Shatner become the oldest person to fly into space after his flight aboard the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. Now fans of the star can celebrate his historic flight with the limited edition "Rocket Man" single released by Cleopatra Records. The silver vinyl release features Shatner's take on the Elton John classic "Rocket Man" on Side A, where he joined by influential Gong guitarist Steve Hillage. Shatner delivers an especially strong performance of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on Side B; that version is enhanced by the tandem talents of guitar great Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night. Information: CleopatraRecords.com.

Robert Kinsler

Florence + the Machine confirm new album 'Dance Fever' out May 13, share "My Love" + video

Florence + the Machine are set to return with a new album titled Dance Fever on May 13. Get all the official details and watch the wonderful new video for the advance track "My Love" too...Robert Kinsler 

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE CONFIRM NEW LP DANCE FEVER OUT MAY 13

"My Love" debuts today (March 10) with video

Florence Welch / Photo credit: Autumn de Wilde

March 10, 2022—Dance Fever, the fifth album from Florence + the Machine, is set for release May 13. Single “My Love” debuts today alongside a video by acclaimed director Autumn de Wilde. Listen here, watch here and pre-order/pre-save the album here.

Dance Fever was recorded in London over the course of the pandemic in anticipation of the world’s reopening. It conjures up what Florence missed most in the midst of lockdown—clubs, dancing at festivals, being in the whirl of movement and togetherness—and the hope of reunions to come.

Just before the pandemic Florence had become fascinated by choreomania, a Renaissance phenomenon in which groups of people—sometimes thousands—danced wildly to the point of exhaustion, collapse and death. The imagery resonated with Florence, who had been touring nonstop for more than a decade, and in lockdown felt oddly prescient.

The image and concept of dance, and choreomania, remained central as Florence wove her own experiences of dance—a discipline she turned to in the early days of sobriety—with the folkloric elements of a moral panic from the Middle Ages. In recent times of torpor and confinement, dance offered propulsion, energy and a way of looking at music more choreographically.

Starting, as ever, armed with a notebook of poems and ideas, Florence had just arrived to New York in March 2020 to begin recording when Covid-19 forced a retreat to London. Holed up at home, the songs began to transform, with nods to dance, folk, ‘70s Iggy Pop, longing-for-the-road folk tracks a la Lucinda Williams or Emmylou Harris and more, ultimately arriving somewhere that Florence describes as “Nick Cave at the club.” Lyrically, she took inspiration from the tragic heroines of pre-Raphaelite art, the gothic fiction of Carmen Maria Machado and Julia Armfield, the visceral wave of folk horror film from The Wicker Man and The Witch to Midsommar.

Dance Fever is an album that sees Florence at the peak of her powers, coming into a fully realized self-knowledge, poking sly fun at her own self-created persona, playing with ideas of identity, masculinity and femininity, redemption and celebration.

“My Love” follows the recently released “King” and “Heaven is Here,” both of which arrived alongside videos by de Wilde choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Dance Fever was produced by Florence, Jack Antonoff and Dave Bayley of Glass Animals.

Florence + The Machine set to perform new original song “Call Me Cruella" in Disney's 'Cruella'

Media Release: May 10, 2021

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE SET TO PERFORM NEW ORIGINAL SONG “CALL ME CRUELLA” AS FEATURED IN DISNEY’S ALL-NEW LIVE ACTION FILM “CRUELLA”

 CRUELLA ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK WITH SONGS FEATURED IN THE FILM PLUS CRUELLA ORIGINAL SCORE ALBUM BY OSCAR® NOMINATED COMPOSER NICHOLAS BRITELL SET FOR RELEASE MAY 21

 

 

Watch a brand new sneak peek of Disney’s “Cruella” featuring “Call me Cruella” performed by Florence + The Machine: here. 

Listen to the Official Cruella Playlist, with signature hits featured in the film here.

BURBANK, CA— (May 10, 2021)—Multi-platinum and global award-winning artist Florence + The Machine, is set to perform a new original song, “Call me Cruella,” in Disney’s all-new live action film “Cruella.”  “Call me Cruella” will be featured in the film and on the original motion picture soundtrack and the original score album. Both albums, from Walt Disney Records, will be available on May 21. Experience the film in theaters or order it on Disney+ with Premier Access for a one-time additional fee on May 28.

On the “Call me Cruella” collaboration, Florence said, “Some of the first songs I ever learned how to sing were Disney songs. And the villains often got the best numbers. So to help create and perform a song for ‘Cruella’ is the fulfillment of a long held childhood dream. I’m so grateful to Nicholas Britell and Disney for allowing me so much creative freedom, and for trusting me with Cruella’s beautiful madness.”

Welch is the Grammy nominated songwriter and bandleader of Florence + The Machine. Her four critically acclaimed studio albums have sold millions of copies worldwide, with 3 top 10 albums in the US.  In addition to the Brit Album of Year Award for her 2009 debut Lungs, 2015's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, topped the charts in the UK and US.   Florence went on to win the Ivor Novello International Achievement Award for songwriting.  Most recently, Florence made her acting debut in a live TV theatrical broadcast for the HBO and Sky Atlantic series "The Third Day."

Commenting on the song and score, Britell said, "I am a massive fan of Florence’s, so it was a true joy to collaborate with her on Call me Cruella. With both this song and the Cruella score itself, the goal was to really embrace the raw rock aesthetic of 60’s and 70’s London. We recorded everything using all vintage gear and analog tape at Abbey Road and AIR Studios in London, melding orchestral elements with electric guitars and basses, organs, keyboards, and drums."

Twice Academy Award®-nominated and EMMY winning composer and pianist Nicholas Britell scores feature in some of the most acclaimed film projects in recent history, including “If Beale Street Could Talk” “Vice,” “Moonlight,” “The Big Short” and most recently “The King.”  For television, Britell has written the score for Jenkins’ “The Underground Railroad” and also scores the HBO series “Succession,” winning an Emmy® for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme. He is currently scoring the third season of “Succession” and Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up.”

Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense and Sensibility”). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

"Cruella" stars Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Mark Strong. The film is directed by Craig Gillespie, with screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, story by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel & Steve Zissis, based upon the novel “The One Hundred and One Dalmatians” by Dodie Smith. “Cruella” is produced by Andrew Gunn, Marc Platt and Kristin Burr, p.g.a., with Emma Stone, Michelle Wright, Jared LeBoff and Glenn Close serving as executive producers.

 

TJR and Robert Kinsler: Favorite 100 Songs of All Time, #11-#15

Check out the latest episode of 'Favorite 100 Songs Of All Time', where TJR and Robert Kinsler each discuss their top tracks (#11-#15):

Florence + the Machine's 'High As Hope' out today

There are several notable new releases out today, but here is the one I am most looking forward to hearing! I've heard "Hunger" and "Big God," and both will satisfy fans of Florence + the Machine's previous compelling recordings...

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE’S HIGH AS HOPE OUT NOW

TOURING NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL
 
“This time around, her voice is stronger than ever…”  —The New York Times

“Florence Welch’s wonderful fourth album marks the realisation of a singular talent…
Listeners may feel…shaken into awed silence but in no doubt about the
scale of her achievement.” —The Telegraph

NEW YORK, NY (June 29, 2018) – High As Hope, the immensely anticipated new album fromFlorence + the Machine, is out today on Republic Records—get it here. Co-produced by Florence and Emile Haynie and featuring contributions from Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu, Jamie xx and Thomas Barlett, the album includes previous-released songs “Hunger”—currently #1 at AAA radio and Top 10 at Alternative radio, “Big God” and “Sky Full of Song.”

Furthermore, Florence will embark on a 23-city North American fall headline tour, including two nights at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl September 25 & 26 and Washington, D.C.’s The Anthem October 5 & 6, with further stops at New York Barclays Center and in Seattle, Portland, Nashville, Philadelphia, Chicago and more. Tickets are on sale now, visit florenceandthemachine.net for more information.

Watch the video for “Big God,” directed by Autumn de Wilde and choreographed by Akram Khan and Florence, here. 

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE LIVE

5-Aug	Montreal, QC, Canada	Osheaga
9-Aug	Lake Tahoe, NV	Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*
11-Aug	San Francisco, CA	Outside Lands
8-Sep	Vancouver, BC, Canada	Skookum Festival
10-Sep	Seattle, WA	KeyArena†
11-Sep	Portland, OR	Moda Center†
14-Sep	Salt Lake City, UT	Maverik Center†
15-Sep	Denver, CO	Grandoozy Festival
22-Sep	Las Vegas, NV	Life Is Beautiful
23-Sep	San Diego, CA	Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University‡
25-Sep	Los Angeles, CA	Hollywood Bowl‡
26-Sep	Los Angeles, CA	Hollywood Bowl‡
29-Sep	Dallas, TX	The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory‡
30-Sep	Houston, TX	The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion‡
2-Oct	Nashville, TN	Bridgestone Arena§
3-Oct	Charlotte, NC	Spectrum Center§
5-Oct	Washington, D.C.	The Anthem**
6-Oct	Washington, D.C.	The Anthem**
9-Oct	New York, NY	Barclays Center‡
12-Oct	Boston, MA	TD Garden††
13-Oct	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun Arena††
14-Oct	Philadelphia, PA	Wells Fargo Center††
16-Oct	Toronto, ON, Canada	Air Canada Centre††
19-Oct	Chicago, IL	United Center‡‡
20-Oct	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center‡‡

*with Wet

†with St. Vincent and Lizzo

‡with Kamasi Washington

§with Billie Eilish

**with Beth Ditto

††with Grizzly Bear

‡‡with Perfume Genius

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE—HIGH AS HOPE

1. June
2. Hunger
3. South London Forever
4. Big God
5. Sky Full of Song
6. Grace
7. Patricia
8. 100 Years
9. The End of Love
10. No Choir

Florence + the Machine debut compelling new track "Big God"; tickets on sale for second Hollywood Bowl show today!

Florence + the Machine's highly-anticipated new album 'High As Hope' is set for release a week from today. While we wait for the new album, listen to the new song "Big God" and watch the creative video too...



Florence + the Machine debut new song titled "Big God' - watch the new video

SECOND SHOWS ADDED AT
BARCLAYS CENTER, HOLLYWOOD BOWL
 AND D.C.’S THE ANTHEM

'High As Hope' out Friday, June 29, 2018

Florence + the Machine have unveiled a new song, “Big God,” and video —watch it, choreographed by Akram Khan and Florence and directed by Autumn de Wilde, HERE. “Big God” is the third track to be released from Florence + the Machine’s hugely anticipated fourth studio album High As Hope, out June 29 on Republic Records.

Listen to Big God HERE.

Watch the music video HERE.

Says Florence:
"Big God’ was written about that feeling when someone has not replied to your text, the modern phenomenon of ‘Ghosting’ which is one of my favorite words but not my favorite feeling. I was describing it to someone and they said to me ‘You need a big god’, as if the need in me were so cavernous, it would take something enormous to fill it. Probably something bigger than a text message.

"It’s always been a very physical song. I saw a dance piece in my head as I was writing it, so to co choreograph something with Akram Khan was a huge honour. Autumn de Wilde fully understood what I was trying to do. The power of the desire within the void, left with yourself to rage and wonder and really it is yourself you are raging against. Not the ghost."

Akram Khan adds:
"For me, this encounter with Florence and her powerful song somehow navigated itself towards the element—water. But the direction of the dance also became a resistance to all things that wish to oppress, a sort of protest dance and yet a celebratory one towards a new found freedom."

Due to overwhelming demand Florence + The Machine announced a second show at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, September 26 in addition to the previously announced show on Tuesday, September 25.  Kamasi Washington will open both shows. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, June 29, 2018 at 10 a.m. PST. Check florenceandthemachine.net for further information.

Furthermore, in addition to the second Hollywood Bowl show, the band added a second night at Washington, D.C.'s The Anthem on October 6. Tickets are available to the public Friday, June 29. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, June 25 at 12 p.m. local time, through Thursday, June 28 at 10 p.m. local time.

Previously announced dates-on sale now-include New York, Seattle, Portland, Nashville, Philadelphia, Chicago and more. Visit florenceandthemachine.net for more information. 

Visit florenceandthemachine.net for more information.

High As Hope was co-produced by Florence Welch and Emile Haynie and features contributions from Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu, Jamie xx and Thomas Barlett. Watch the A.G. Rojas-directed video for first official single “Hunger” here.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE LIVE

5-Aug	Montreal, QC, Canada	Osheaga
9-Aug	Lake Tahoe, NV	Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*
11-Aug	San Francisco, CA	Outside Lands
8-Sep	Vancouver, BC, Canada	Skookum Festival
10-Sep	Seattle, WA	KeyArena†
11-Sep	Portland, OR	Moda Center†
14-Sep	Salt Lake City, UT	Maverik Center†
15-Sep	Denver, CO	Grandoozy Festival
22-Sep	Las Vegas, NV	Life Is Beautiful
23-Sep	San Diego, CA	Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University‡
25-Sep	Los Angeles, CA	Hollywood Bowl‡
26-Sep	Los Angeles, CA	Hollywood Bowl‡
29-Sep	Dallas, TX	The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory‡
30-Sep	Houston, TX	The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion‡
2-Oct	Nashville, TN	Bridgestone Arena§
3-Oct	Charlotte, NC	Spectrum Center§
5-Oct	Washington, D.C.	The Anthem**
6-Oct	Washington, D.C.	The Anthem**
9-Oct	New York, NY	Barclays Center‡
10-Oct	New York, NY	Barclays Center‡
12-Oct	Boston, MA	TD Garden††
13-Oct	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun Arena††
14-Oct	Philadelphia, PA	Wells Fargo Center††
16-Oct	Toronto, ON, Canada	Air Canada Centre††
19-Oct	Chicago, IL	United Center‡‡
20-Oct	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center‡‡

*with wet
†with St. Vincent and Lizzo
‡with Kamasi Washington
§with Billie Eilish
**with Beth Ditto
††with Grizzly Bear
‡‡with Perfume Genius

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE—HIGH AS HOPE                                                    

1. June

2. Hunger

3. South London Forever

4. Big God

5. Sky Full of Song

6. Grace

7. Patricia

8. 100 Years

9. The End of Love

10. No Choir​

Florence + The Machine confirm North American leg of global tour

Here are the details on Florence + The Machine's upcoming 2018 U.S. tour. Very exciting that the group is returning to the Hollywood Bowl too (on Sept. 25, 2018)! Check out my review of Florence + The Machine's 2015 concert here...

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
CONFIRM NORTH AMERICAN LEG OF GLOBAL TOUR
HIGH AS HOPE OUT JUNE 29

NEW YORK, NY (May 29, 2018) – Florence + the Machine confirm a 23 city North American fall headline tour today, kicking off August 5 in Montreal, QC and including stops at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl and New York’s Barclays Center. Further dates include Seattle, Portland, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and more.

Tickets are on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. local time at Ticketmaster.com. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets for select dates before the general public beginning Tuesday, May 29 at 12 p.m. local time, through Thursday, May 31 at 10 p.m. local time. Visit florenceandthemachine.net for more information.

Florence + the Machine’s hugely anticipated fourth studio album High As Hope—co-produced by Florence and Emile Haynie and featuring contributions from Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu, Jamie xx and Thomas Barlett—is out June 29 on Republic Records. Watch the A.G. Rojas-directed video for first official single “Hunger” here.
 

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE LIVE

August 5               Montreal, QC, Canada                                                                              Osheaga  

August 9                    Lake Tahoe, NV                                 Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*

August 11                San Francisco, CA                                                                        Outside Lands

September 8         Vancouver, BC, Canada                                                              Skookum Festival

September 10                Seattle, WA                                                                                  KeyArena†

September 11               Portland, OR                                                                            Moda Center†

September 14          Salt Lake City, UT                                                                    Maverik Center†

September 15                Denver, CO                                                                     Grandoozy Festival

September 22             Las Vegas, NV                                                                        Life Is Beautiful

September 23             San Diego, CA         Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University‡

September 25            Los Angeles, CA                                                                   Hollywood Bowl‡

September 29                 Dallas, TX                                        The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory‡

September 30               Houston, TX                                     The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion‡

October 2                    Nashville, TN                                                                   Bridgestone Arena§

October 3                    Charlotte, NC                                                                      Spectrum Center§

October 5                 Washington, D.C.                                                                       The Anthem**

October 9                    New York, NY                                                                         Barclays Center

October 12                   Boston, MA                                                                                  TD Garden

October 13                  Uncasville, CT                                                             Mohegan Sun Arena††

October 14                Philadelphia, PA                                                             Wells Fargo Center††

October 16            Toronto, ON, Canada                                                           Air Canada Centre††

October 19                    Chicago, IL                                                                          United Center‡‡

October 20               Minneapolis, MN                                                                      Target Center‡‡

*with Wet

†with St. Vincent and Lizzo

‡with Kamasi Washington

§with Billie Eilish

**with Beth Ditto

††with Grizzly Bear

‡‡with Perfume Genius

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE—HIGH AS HOPE
1. June
2. Hunger
3. South London Forever
4. Big God
5. Sky Full of Song
6. Grace
7. Patricia
8. 100 Years
9. The End of Love
10. No Choir

 

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Aminé, Black Sabbath, DNCE, Florence + the Machine, Gotye, Hailee Steinfeld, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Jordan Smith, Julia Michaels, Keith Richards, Kid Cudi, Liam Payne, Marian Hill, Of Monsters and Men, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers, Towkio), Boominati Worldwide (Metro Boomin), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Casablanca Records (Giorgio Moroder, KUNGS, Tïesto), Cash Money (Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj), Hollywood Records (Sofia Carson, Zendaya), Lava Records (Greta Van Fleet, Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), XO (Belly, The Weeknd), Roc Nation (Jaden Smith, Justine Skye, The Dream), among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift), and Universal Music Latin Entertainment (Luis Fonsi, J Balvin). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey, SING), Fox TV (Lee Daniels' STAR), and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises.