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A new crop of music to freshen up your self-isolation

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Even in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, our favorite musical artists are hard at work to provide us with new tracks for our safe-at-home listening pleasure.

Over the weekend, a number of pop favorites dropped new releases, but maybe the most surprising comes from none other than Lindsay Lohan – and no, that’s not a misprint, and yes, THAT Lindsay Lohan. The track is called “Back to Me,” and there’s no video for it, yet (perhaps a bit surprising for a single from a genuine movie actress) but you can listen to the “Mean Girls” star’s latest effort here.

Another LGBTQ+ fan favorite offering up something fresh was Lauv, who dropped an acoustic version of his recent hit single, “Modern Loneliness.”  The power ballad was written as both a statement and a commentary on society and our relationships with social media, where we are increasingly “alone together” – a sentiment the artist says is “even more relevant” now.  The new acoustic version is part of an exclusive merch bundle previously made available by the singer/songwriter in order to raise money for Partners in Health COVID relief efforts, and all future streams and revenue from the new acoustic track, unveiled on its own last Thursday, will go to the relief efforts as well.

You can download or stream that here, and watch the video for the original version of the song below.

Also bringing the acoustic sound into your mix is Scottish singer/writer/producer ONR (pronounced “honor”), who has shared the acoustic version of “Human Enough,” an alternate rendition of the second single from his forthcoming “Must Stop” EP, due May 15 from Warner Records.

The musician, whose real name is Robert Shields, is also doing his part for the COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts with the “Shed Sessions.” a series of intimate piano sets livestreamed on Instagram Live from his garden shed at his home in rural Scotland. Those are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays at 12pm PT / 3pm ET here, and the video for the new acoustic single is below.

Last but not least, there are three new remixes of Europop-winner Netta’s “Ricki Lake,” a single described by her publicity material as  “a charming, tongue-in-cheek, absurdist love letter to American culture.” The new remixes come from very different corners of the world – the United States, Russia, and Netta’s home of Israel – and bring the new creative perspectives of three unique voices in the global electronic music scene: award-winning stateside DJ Joe Maz  Moscow-based electronic duo Filatov & Karas, and finally a high-velocity reinvention by Israeli songwriter/producer BQ.

All three of those new treats are below.

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Madonna announces release date for new album

‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor

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Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.

Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit. 

The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”

“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”

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PHOTOS: Denali at Pitchers

‘Drag Race’ alum performs at Thirst Trap

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Denali performs at the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show at Pitchers DC on April 9. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Arts & Entertainment

In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI

‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’

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Last year, Baltimore Center Stage refused to give up its DEI focus in the face of losing federal funding. They've tripled down. (Photo by Ulysses Muñoz of the Baltimore Banner)

By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.

Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.

“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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