Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Ray Blk one of the realest, most challenging and important voices in music, dropped her brand new single “M.I.A.”, on July 6 th through Island Records and reveals the title “ACCESS DENIED” and date (September 17) of her long-awaited debut album. The single features exciting new US rising star Kaash Paige, who is signed to Def Jam US and managed by Roc Nation. Described by NME as “an R&B legend in the making”, Kaash Paige has worked with the likes of Travis Scott, Alicia Keys and Moneybagg Yo. Speaking about the inspiration behind the song Ray says: “ MIA is my summer anthem as we’re released from lockdown. It’s just about escaping, or being with someone who feels like an escape, like you’re on holiday and just at peace, away from the noise. After being in lockdown for so long and being overwhelmed or feeling low, I’m ready to be out with the people I love the most in our element with this playing in the background as the soundtrack to our summer.” The single launched

Canadian pop songstress  JESSIA  released the official video to her latest single,  “I Should Quit” New York, NY on June 18 th 2021 – watch HERE . Directed by Nina Kramer, the carefree video highlights JESSIA’s struggle to accept her friends’ advice to stop making impulsive bad choices, while knowing that she should quit but in reality admits she has no intention of doing so. On the track, JESSIA says  “I’m really good at giving advice but not always good at taking it. I know what I SHOULD do but what’s the fun in always playing it safe? Sometimes you just need to fully accept that you are a hot mess.”  Recently, JESSIA   was featured as  Billboard Magazine’s  “ Chartbreaker ”  for the month of June. Her CRIA Gold-certified body acceptance anthem  “I’m not Pretty”  is currently Top 5 at Hot AC radio in Canada and features GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist Bebe Rexha on the official remix version of the track released last month. “I’m not Pretty” recently crossed 100 m

Apple TV+ has announced “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything,” an immersive, new docuseries that will explore the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 1971. Executive produced by Academy, BAFTA and Grammy Award winners Asif Kapadia (“Amy,” “Senna”) and James Gay-Rees (“Amy,” “Senna,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop”), the eight-part docuseries will premiere May 21 on Apple TV+. An immersive, deep-dive rich with archival footage and interviews, “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything,” will show how the musical icons of the time were influenced by the changing tides of history; and, in turn, how they used their music to inspire hope, change and the culture around them. The docuseries will examine the most iconic artists and songs that we still listen to 50 years later, including The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed and more. Hailing from Universal Music Group’s (UMG) Mercury Studios in as