May 2, 2022 - Music Observer

Amanda Rakel’s Long Journey of Self-expression and Finding Her True Passion

Music Observer Staff on May 2, 2022

Self-discovery is often a life-long journey, especially for someone who became self-aware and expressive at a very young age. For Danish-Swedish singer and songwriter, Amanda Rakel, she spent years developing herself and honing her skills in the area she felt she fitted into best, and with the support of her family, she grew from the little girl who always sang with her mother and siblings in the car into a young woman taking the music world by storm.

Influenced early by music from ABBA, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams and Michael Jackson, Amanda Rakel had ears for good music from a very young age. She also attended an international school with a comprehensive music program with her siblings and they all got accepted into the school’s choir. Outside school, Amanda learned to play the piano and enjoyed it, and thus, became a part of her as a budding musician.

Despite having all the resources to succeed musically and her innate potential to thrive as a musician, Amanda Rakel’s life was not without a few hiccups. She had a car accident at the age of four in which she sustained a bloody nose after unbuckling her seatbelt at the time her mom hit the car brakes. When she was 19, she got hospitalised for clinical depression and that period defined the most significant part of the musical career she has today. She started writing long journal entries before she took to poetry to express herself. The poetry words transcended into melodies, and she began voice recording those songs. Even though she never put it out there that she was writing songs, by the time she did, two of the songs she wrote at the time, “Sweet Tongues” and “Into My Lungs,” are part of her discography.

For her education, she attended a university in Staten Island after having her bachelor’s degree studies in London interrupted by her hospitalization. She left the university in Staten island after two years and took her music seriously as a profession. During the time she was structuring her music career, she returned to school and completed her bachelor’s degree online. In November 2015, she began to work with her long-term co-writer, Mette Damn, after moving to Copenhagen to pursue her music career. She released her first single, “Sweet Tongues,” earlier in September of the same year.

“Sweet Tongues” gave her the perfect start in the music industry as it helped her to make some valuable connections early in her career. The song was played on Denmark Radio’s Karriere Kanoen, and Sony Music Denmark reached out to Amanda in a musical partnership. She has not looked back ever since, with numerous songs filling up her catalog. Her songwriting sheds light on her life experiences, which explains why many of her listeners find her songs relatable.

Since 2015, Amanda Rakel has released numerous singles like “Sweet Tongues,” “I Tried” (featured on New Music Friday Denmark), “2 AM Friends,” “Magnetic,” “Indigo Blue,” “Wine Stained Lips” (recommended on DR Karriere Kanonen),” “I Don’t Wanna Dance” and “August.” In addition, she released the EP Soaked in 2017, which featured five songs and was produced by Nikolai Kornerup (Mø, Kwamie Liv) & Mette Damm. In 2021, she released only one single, “Higher Ground” with Boom Dice, which became a favorite song in Footlocker stores in the United Kingdom.

Over the next few years, Amanda Rakel sees her music traveling beyond borders and making it to international charts in different countries. Her come-up has been inspiring, and she hopes to continue showing young people that it’s all right to take their time deciding on what they want to pursue in their lives.

Currently, Amanda is working on several new projects involving The FifthGuys and Grammy Nominated Producer, Stonebridge. Slated for release later this summer, expect to be moved by more intense vocals surrounded by uplifting production, bringing to life the soul of this talented artist.

You can also follow Amanda Rakel on Instagram.

Bill Hader Has No Idea Whether Barry has Psychological Conditions

Music Observer Staff on May 2, 2022

Photo: CNN

Barry Berkman, a hitman-turned-actor, may or may not be a psychopath; either way, actor Bill Hader does not have a clue.

In the show Barry, Hader is a hitman from Cleveland who goes to Los Angeles. He ends up in an acting class with Gene Cousineau (played by Henry Winkler) as the teacher and realizes he likes it. The show is directed by Hader and written by Alec Berg.

However, he is still on the move on killing people because of numerous conditions.

“The acting’s kind of the last thing I think about,” said Hader in an interview with CNN, further stating that he only attempts to execute what’s in the script. “The one nice thing about wearing all these other hats or whatever while you’re doing the show is once it gets to the acting, it’s a thing I don’t really think about too much. It’s kind of best not to think about it or dissect it. I just do it and see what works and what doesn’t work.”

So then, does he think that Barry has a particular condition? Or maybe even more of an illness called “psychopathy.”

“Oh my gosh. I don’t know. I really don’t know,” he answered. “That would be interesting to see what someone would think about him. You know, I should ask a therapist.”

Some part of Barry wants to end his career as a hitman.

“I think in Season 1, he was telling himself that he had been manipulated to do this for a living. And then by Season 2, it’s kind of like maybe this is a part of me, can I change my nature? And now it’s the consequences of it. I think he’s never understood the consequences of himself being violent physically.”

Hader has been a part of some memorable TV shows, including Weekend Update and Superband. But making Barry was by far his most successful experience on set.

“The DNA of the show is hard. I think honestly, the idea of doing live television in front of the nation was hard for me,” he comments. “And you go, if I ever have my own thing, I will do it this way, or I clearly wouldn’t do that.” Barry will come back on HBO on April 24 and can also be streamed on HBO Max.

Netflix Announces Production of BioShock Live-Action Movie

Music Observer Staff on May 2, 2022

Photo: The Verge

Netflix has announced that they will create a live-action movie based on the retro-futuristic video game series BioShock.

In an unexpected move, the streaming giant announced they would collaborate with 2K and Take-Two on a live-action adaptation of Ken Levine’s well-known immersive game set in an underwater city supposed to be home for Earth’s most remarkable minds before falling into havoc.

The film’s production has been in motion for a year now, but the lineup of actors and filmmakers who will be involved remains unclear.

BioShock is a game in an underwater city named Rapture; it was released in 2007 as a successor of SystemShock. The players are drawn to the depths, only for them uncovering details about this supposed haven’s past; it turns out not all inhabitants were downfallen as they thought, with armored giants called Big Daddies haunting the place.

BioShock is one of the most famous games in a decade. So it created two follow-ups: BioShock 2 and BioShock: Infinite. But the latest version currently in development is under a new studio, Cloud Chamber, without Levine in the team.

“Netflix is among the best and most forward-thinking storytellers in all of entertainment today. We are thrilled that they share our vision and commitment to the BioShock franchise, which is beloved by millions of fans around the world,” says Strauss Zelnick, CEO at Take-Two, in a statement.

“2 K’s Cloud Chamber studio is deep in active development on the next iteration of the series, and coupled with our partnership with Netflix, we remain highly confident that BioShock will continue to captivate and engage audiences like never before,” Zelnick continued.

For some time now, BioShock has been aimed for a Hollywood adaptation. Briefly following the pilot of the first game, Gore Verbinski, Pirates of the Caribbean director, wanted to do a live-action movie. However, producers put the project on hold due to the director’s planned budget and R-Rating, and eventually, the project was laid aside entirely.

Dallas Good, Lead Singer for the Sadies, Has Died at 48

Music Observer Staff on May 2, 2022

Photo: Billboard

Dallas Good, the lead singer and guitarist for The Sadies, has died at 48. Good died “of natural causes while under doctor’s care for a coronary illness discovered earlier this week,” said the band’s US label, Yep Roc.

He was born to a musician father, Bruce Good. The core member of The Good Brothers folk group was admitted into Canada’s Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

Dallas and his brother Travis founded their band in 1994, together with Sean Dean on bass and Mike Bellitsky on the drums. They released the “Precious Moments” album in 1998, which became a huge hit.

With their unique sound flavored with punk, country and Americana roots, the Sadies were one of Canada’s most celebrated bands for eclectic music. They reached widespread fame in the 2000s when they were featured on the ‘alt-country’ scene best captured through the double album “In Concert: Volume One.”

Over the years, the Sadies have teamed up with Neko Case, Neil Young, the Mekons, Kurt Vile, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and a lot more artists. In 2017, they issued their latest album “Northern Passages.” In addition, they have been nominated for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize over the track “Darker Circles.”

One month ago, the Sadies released their most recent single, “Message To Belial,” with Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire as producer.

Here is the statement from Yep Roc Records:

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our dear friend, Dallas Good, of The Sadies. He died on Thursday, February 17, of natural causes while under doctor’s care for a coronary illness discovered earlier this week. He was 48 years old.

“Dallas was such a special individual who is in one of my favorite bands of all time,” said Glenn Dicker, co-owner of Yep Roc Records. “We’ve lost a cornerstone of the label. The Sadies have always been the band to watch and hear out there for me. I am grateful to you, Dallas, for so many great shows, spine shaking music and good times. I’ll never stop listening.”

Since their formation in 1994, Sadies have developed, even perfected, a style of music that is uniquely their own. Their first record with Yep Roc was 2002’s Stories Often Told and over the past 20 years on the label, they’ve released six studio albums, a live record, a soundtrack and collaborations with both Andre Williams and John Doe. Last month, the band shared their latest single, “Message to Belial,” produced by Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire.

We send our love + condolences to Dallas’ family, friends and fans during this devastating time. The stage is dark today with the all too soon passing of one of music’s brightest lights.

We love you, Dallas. Rest In Peace.

Paul McCartney Announces a Tour

Music Observer Staff on May 2, 2022

Photo: Forbes

The Beatles’ fans will twist and shout at this news.

The Beatle Paul McCartney has announced his first tour dates since 2019. This coming April, he’ll be launching in Spokane and ending in New Jersey by mid-June.

“I said at the end of the last tour that I’d see you next time,” said McCartney in a press release. “I said I was going to get back to you. Well, I got back!”

In 2020, McCartney released “McCarney III,” his most recent album, before signing up a long list of collaborators – including Beck, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Devonté Hynes, Damon Albarn, and many more – for “McCartney III Imagined,” the accompanying LP, the following year.

An astoundingly lengthy documentary called The Beatles: Get Back was released by Peter Jackson last year. It talked about the creation of “Let It Be.”

Take a look at the schedule below.

04-28 Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena

05-02 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

05-03 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

05-06 Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

05-13 Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium

05-17 Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

05-21 Winston Salem, NC – Truist Field

05-25 Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

05-28 Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium

05-31 Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena

06-04 Syracuse, NY – Carrier Dome

06-07 Boston, MA – Fenway Park

06-12 Baltimore, MD – Orioles Park

06-16 East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium