LANA

SZA has just released "Lana" which is the deluxe version of her critically acclaimed and award-winning 2022 second studio album, "SOS". This album came about during the writing sessions for "SOS" with the singer creating almost one hundred songs. The singer had planned on using some of these that didn't make it on the final record for a future project, teasing possible tracks and releasing a single, "Saturn" back in February.

With "Lana" (born Solána Rowe, this was her family nickname during childhood), there are fifteen new songs that precede the standard tracks from "SOS".  This includes "30 for 30" that features Kendrick Lamar and another recent single release, "Drive", a guitar-driven ballad with the music video featuring actor, Ben Stiller lip-syncing to the tune.

As for the exact meaning of the album's cover which features a barely clad SZA with an insect-like creature face surrounded by tall grasses, your guess is as good as mine.







And in addition to new music, SZA will be making her acting debut in the upcoming comedy, "One of Them Days" with Keke Palmer. They play best friends who discover that their rent money has been spent by a boyfriend, forcing them to go on a wild race to come up with some cash before they get evicted. "One of Them Days" is due in theaters on January 17th.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM. . .

COCO JONES

Coco Jones began her career as an actress, appearing as a teen in several programs on the Disney Channel. Throughout this time, she had an interest in making music, releasing a self-titled EP in 2010. Twelve years later, Jones signed with Def Jam Records, releasing another EP, "What I Didn't Tell You". She had a breakout hit with "ICU", earning her five Grammy nominations (winning Best R&B Performance) and the single selling over a million copies.

Although we're still waiting for her debut album to arrive, Jones has delivered a four track EP, "Coco By The Fireplace" that features all-original songs to fill you with holiday cheer. These tracks are smooth and soulful, offering Christmas themed songs on love, empowerment and desire.



CLAY AIKEN

Clay Aiken may have placed second during his time competing on the second season of "American Idol" but he still went on to have a moderately successful music career. He recorded six studio albums and sold over five million records. When his music career cooled down, Aiken would make a move into politics, running as a Democrat for the US House of Representatives in his home state of North Carolina in 2014, winning the primary but losing the election. He tried again nine years later yet failed to win the primary. But he never completely abandoned his love of music. It's been twelve years since his last album and now Aiken has released his second Christmas record, "Christmas Bells Are Ringing". This collection has the now forty-six year old singer delivering his distinctive pop style to versions of classic holiday tunes like "Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "Merry Christmas, Darling" and "Ava Maria".



Last year, Cher released her very first Christmas album which included a disco tune that proved to be very popular. Now she has taken "DJ Play A Christmas Song" up a notch by releasing this as a newly remixed duet with Kelly Clarkson. These two legendary voices are trading verses to make this Christmas dance song even more thrilling.

NEW SOUNDS

SADE 

Sade Adu, the reclusive pop artist who has largely been out of the spotlight since her last album, "Soldier of Love" with her band also called Sade and the world tour that followed to support the record about fourteen years ago. Without her long-time band, she has unexpectedly released a new song that is very important and meaningful to her. In 2016, Adu's only child, now named Izaak, came out as a transgendered man. Sade has contributed the song, "Young Lion" that will be a part of the compilation album, "Transa", which features forty-six songs from over one hundred musicians in celebration of the trans community. This moving song, written by Adu with Aaron Taylor Dean and Ben Travers, offers a mother's apology to her son for not giving enough support during his early days of transitioning. "Young Lion" is based on a letter Sade gave to her son on his 21st birthday. And after deciding the message was so important, especially during these fraught times with attacks on the trans community, the song was created to share with the world.



TYLA

Tyla burst on the scene with her breakthrough single, "Water" last year. This Afrobeat track helped build excitement for the debut album by the twenty-two year old South African performer. With her self-titled album released earlier this year, there is now a deluxe edition of the record, simply titled "Tyla +". There are three new track included; the African drum driven, "Shake Ah", the ballad, "Back to You" and the reggae-fused single, "Push 2 Start". The music video for this track delivers a visual vibe of r&b from the beginning of this century, bringing to mind the colorful styles of Rihanna and Beyoncé.



OMAR APOLLO

The pop singer, Omar Apollo makes his acting debut with a supporting role in director Luca Guadagnino's upcoming film, "Queer". Based on the novella by William S. Burroughs, Daniel Craig stars as William Lee, an American living in 1950's Mexico City and becoming infatuated with a younger American, played by Drew Starkey. Apollo appears as a hombre that Lee picks up in a bar and proceeds to have an intimate encounter. The singer has also provided a song for the soundtrack, "Te Maldigo" which is produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This mournful ballad (which roughly translates to "I curse you") is about damning a former lover for no longer loving him. Guadagino  as directed the music video for this song which is set, much like the film, in a smoky Mexican bar.