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Candiace Dillard Bassett Teases New Music: “It’s Very Honest, Raw, and A Little Chaotic”

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The Billboard Women In Music Awards returned Wednesday night with the annual celebration designed to focus on emerging female music artists and their contributions to the industry.

The star-studded event took place on the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles and attracted a bunch of celebrity guests. Victoria Monét, Coco Jones, Tems, Tinashe, Ice Spice and Saweetie were among the many evening’s honorees and presenters.

“This next project is very reflective of where I am and where I’m going,” she said. “It’s a very honest, raw and a little chaotic film. I’m excited for people to see my more vulnerable side in this music.”

The R&B singer burst onto the music scene in September 2021 with the discharge of her debut album, “Deep Space.” The 15-track project included one among her most famous songs, “Drive Back,” which has amassed over 1,000,000 streams.

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Dillard Bassett, who is not any longer latest to the music industry, said she is learning to advocate for herself more after not being as outspoken to start with.

“When you start in any industry and on any project, you learn, you grow and you try to make it happen,” she said. “Maybe you don’t speak up as much because you’re not sure.”

Dillard Bassett released a deluxe version of her debut album in late 2022, which included seven additional songs. She then returned to the tour in 2023 to perform favorites from “Deep Space” in addition to deluxe singles from her sophomore album.


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Mariah Carey wasn’t always sure about making a Christmas album. “Merry Christmas” turns 30 this month

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Mariah Carey, All I Want for Christmas Is You, Merry Christmas album, theGrio.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mariah Carey is comfortable that it has grow to be culturally synonymous with Christmas — thanks partly to its longevity her iconic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and its ubiquity yearly when the vacations come around.

However, the Grammy Award winner admits that she was initially unsure about recording a Christmas album when her label approached her. “I was a little apprehensive,” she says, reflecting on her album “Merry Christmas,” which saw her turn 30 this month.

Ahead of her performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards and her upcoming holiday tour, which begins in November, Carey spoke to The Associated Press about the recommendation she would give to young artists rising to fame and using her song “Always Be My Baby, Ari Aster Horror comedy 2023, “Beau’s scared.”

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What was it like celebrating the just about twentieth anniversary of “The Emancipation of Mimi” and reflecting on the legacy of the album?

CAREY: I believe “The Emancipation of Mimi” is certainly one of my albums that pushed some boundaries, and I used to be really comfortable about that because obviously I had to return back. And yes, it was a comeback. But it’s certainly one of my favorite albums. Celebrating it this 12 months and celebrating “Mimi” was really fun because I had never done those songs. I never do them. And this time I did it.

AP: Because of this type of underdog feeling, did you are feeling a creative freedom and strength that you could not have felt before?

CAREY: Yes, I feel like people were able to embrace me again. And you realize how I felt about it? I mean, I feel just like the album “Charmbracelet” was also a excellent album, though not everyone knew it. Well, you realize, when “We Belong Together” got here out after “It’s Like That,” which didn’t do as well, but still did pretty much. Whatever.

AP: “It’s Like That” is a great song.

CAREY: It’s a good song. And I really like doing it. You know, I am going through different stages with these albums. That’s interesting.

AP: Your first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas,” turns 30 this month. This was obviously a formative record for you and your profession. Do you remember anything from its beginnings?

CAREY: So the record company said, (*30*) And I said, “I don’t know if I should at this point.” Because, you realize, I used to be very young, I used to be just starting out, and I felt that folks made Christmas albums later in life. But now people have began doing it at any time, like at the height of their profession. I mean, how did I feel? I used to be a little concerned, after which I said, “I love it.” And I arrange a studio and just had a great time.

AP: Chappell Roan made headlines when she talked about how she was battling sudden fame. As someone who has been in the general public eye for therefore long, do you’ve gotten any advice for young artists who’re battling this issue?

CAREY: Well, I’ve been through a lot of drama, and it is not fun since you grow up pondering, “I want to be famous.” I mean, it was really always like, “I want to be a singer. I want to write songs.” But “I Want to Be Famous” was right up my alley. I believe it was probably because I didn’t feel like I used to be ok due to the things I went through growing up. And that is not a good technique to feel, you realize?

But my advice is this: try as hard as you may to enter this industry with love to your talent and what is actually real for you. You know, if it’s like, “I would like to be famous. I would like to run with these people, whoever they’re, famous people,” that is probably not the most effective idea.

AP: Have you seen “Beau Is Afraid” by Ari Aster? with Joaquin Phoenix?

CAREY: Yes. I needed to approve it. I assumed it was an interesting way they used my song “Always Be My Baby.” It was interesting. I mean, it didn’t really fit the movie, but you realize, I got nervous, like, “You know, OK, that’s fine.” This was completely different. I mean, I wasn’t reluctant, but I assumed, “This is something completely different than I’ve ever experienced.”

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Whitney Houston’s Epic 1994 South Africa Performance to Be Released as Concert Film

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Whitney Houston, theGrio.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston The epic South African concert, which took place on the heels of President Nelson Mandela’s groundbreaking election, will hit cinemas this fall.

Houston’s 1994 performance was fully remastered and released in cinemas under the title “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)” according to a press release released Tuesday by several associates, including Houston’s heirs, Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing.

The limited theatrical release will begin on October 23 and can include: a never-before-seen performance by the late singer from Durban, South Africa. The project will precede a brand new live album, The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) , which will probably be released on November 8.

“She loved South Africa, she loved the people and she loved Nelson Mandela,” he said. Pat HoustonThe singer’s sister-in-law and executor of her estate in Houston, who’s executive producing the concert film. “This concert is one of the most important concerts of her career. On this important 30th anniversary, we are thrilled to be able to share this film not only with her fans, but also with the people of South Africa and their next generation.”

In 1994, Houston performed three concert events in South Africa, including Durban at Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Her performances took place within the newly unified post-apartheid country following Mandela’s historic election victory.

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The concert events attracted over 200,000 attendees in a show crammed with celebrations of freedom, hope and unity. Proceeds from her concert events went to quite a few local kid’s charities in South Africa through her foundation.

Houston’s performance has been remastered in 4K for the film, together with enhanced audio. The concert film will probably be shown in nearly 900 theaters in greater than 25 countries.

“It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think I was really prepared for how this trip would change me forever,” said Rickey Minor, a three-time Emmy Award winner who served as Houston’s musical director for 25 years. “The energy was electric and the audience was incredible as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and shone her light.”

Earlier that yr, Houston won three Grammy Awards, including album of the yr for the soundtrack to “The Bodyguard.” She won record of the yr and best female pop vocal performance for the smash hit “ I will always love you.”

Houston was certainly one of the world’s best-selling artists thanks to her effortless, powerful vocals rooted within the black church but made palatable to the masses by her pop persona. She sold greater than 200 million records worldwide over her 25-year profession and won six Grammy Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards and two Emmys before her death in 2012.

Houston’s live album will feature a few of her biggest hits from ” I need to dance with someone (who loves me)How will I do know?I even have nothing “And” The greatest love of all It will also feature the unreleased song “Love Is”.

“The message of hope and unity from the performance in Durban, South Africa, is still as relevant today as it was 30 years ago,” said Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing. “Fans will be thrilled to see how powerful it is on the big screen.”

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Yolanda Adams is still dealing with the blessing with ‘Sunny Days,’ her first studio album in almost 13 years

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NEW YORK (AP) — If happiness is a journey, not a destination, then Yolanda Adams has used her faith and smiles to sustain her spirits through life’s ups and downs.

“I think I was born with that happiness gene that people talk about,” the gospel star said. “I want people to leave here feeling like they’re better than they are… I’ve had days when I’ve been up, I’ve had days when I’ve been down. But at the end of the day, the one lesson I’ve learned in every single one of those scenarios is that this too shall pass.”

That theme continues throughout her latest album, “Sunny Days,” her first studio project in nearly 13 years.

“The way you look at anything has a lot to do with how you deal with it,” said the booming-voiced four-time Grammy Award winner.

The 15-track project was six years in the making, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and her role in the television series “Kingdom Business”.

“Sunny Days” is a piece written and produced by gospel music giant Donald Lawrence and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewiswhose work on Babyface also contributed to the delay. The album is promoted by the song “Church Doors”, which after only one week reached number 9 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.

As he has throughout his profession, Adams uses his musical gift of encouragement on songs like the title track “Blessings” and “Powerful,” which has a spoken-word intro: (*13*)

“I try to be the best cheerleader I can be for everyone in my life,” the former elementary school teacher said. “You know how The Lion King says, ‘Simba, remember who you are.’ That’s what it’s all about: You are powerful.”

“When We Pray” – Produced by Jam and Lewis, who rose to fame after working with stars including Janet Jackson, Babyface, Usher and Mary J. Blige — it’s about putting faith into motion. Adams says she has a “lifelong bond” with the duo.

“We write together. We laugh, we cry,” said Adams, 63. “We talk about the problems of the world together and how we can create great music that can make people not only aware of the blessings of their lives but aware of the space they’re in right now.”

Named the #1 Gospel Artist of the 2000s by Billboard, Adams has produced iconic hits resembling “The Battle is the Lord’s,” “I’m Gonna Be Ready,” “In the Midst of It All” and “Be Blessed,” in addition to hits with Jam and Lewis: “Never Give Up” and “Open My Heart,” the latter from her Grammy Award-winning 1999 album Mountain High … Valley Low.

“Open My Heart,” which the late Luther Vandross privately championed when his record company desired to release a special single, reached unprecedented heights, crossing over to R&B radio and peaking at No. 57 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

“I was in the middle of making a business decision that didn’t just affect my family. It affected everyone on the road with me,” Adams said, reflecting on the inspiration for the song. “I’m sitting here today because I made the right decision.”

The Texas Southern graduate starred in the BET+ drama Kingdom Business, currently in its second season, as Denita, a gospel star and music executive determined to guard her family’s secrets. While Adams enjoys playing a personality who is very different from herself, she says it’s been a challenge for some fans.

“I lost a couple of fans who were like, ‘You didn’t have to swear,’” she explained that while she had no input into the script, her character is believable because churchgoers aren’t perfect. “When people are dealing with life, it can make you say things you wouldn’t normally say. And I really hope people take away from ‘Kingdom Business’ this: If you were the person you were trying to judge… how would you feel?”

Adams is currently on the 33-date Kirk Franklin Reunion Tour, which features fellow gospel titans Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp and The Clark Sisters. While gospel has all the time been her passion, she is open to performing a secular R&B song and has spoken to Stevie Wonder a few duet and helping him with a possible gospel project.

For now, nonetheless, she is focused on getting the message of her book “Sunny Days” across, but she won’t measure its success by the variety of copies sold, but by the variety of hearts touched.

“When I hear your testimony and hear how music was a part of your life, it just makes me more accountable: ‘Yes, I have to keep making this music! I have to keep making good music! OK God, give me some good things so I can keep blessing people.'”

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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