NEWS
Yungblud and Florence Pugh served pints to fans in a central London pub to celebrate his new single, ‘Zombie’.
Released yesterday (May 30), the anthemic and emotional rock track is the latest preview of ‘Idols’ – part one of the Doncaster artist’s – real name Dominic Harrison – double fourth album, which is released on June 20 (pre-order/pre-save here).
Pugh (We Live in Time, Oppenheimer) stars in the powerful official music video for ‘Zombie’, playing a healthcare worker at her emotional brink, overwhelmed by grief and exhaustion.
To celebrate the collaboration, the duo surprised punters at The Devonshire in Piccadilly, central London last night (May 30) by putting in a shift behind the bar to pour pints of Guinness.
It’s not Harrison’s first time as a bartender – recent he showed up at his favourite London pub, The Hawley Arms in Camden Town, where he pulled pints for fans to mark the release of ‘Lovesick Lullaby’.
Check out the footage from last night below.
Yungblud debuted the song at an intimate gig at London’s Scala in March. He later said the ballad was about “feeling you’re ugly, and learning to battle that”, while detailing his experiences with eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
“The song was written initially about my grandmother going through serious injury and trauma, leading her to become a different person to who she was before,” Yungblud explained in a new statement.
“It’s about the feeling of deterioration and ugliness; shutting out the world and the people we love out of the fear of becoming a burden or an embarrassment.”
He added: “We all want someone or something to comfort us, no matter how we are right now or who we become in the future. But it’s fucking scary.”
The soaring, poignant single features a performance from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
‘Zombie’ follows on from Yungblud’s previous singles ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’ and ‘Lovesick Lullaby’. ‘Idols’, described as his “most ambitious” release yet, follows the musician’s 2022 self-titled third album.
Last December, Yungblud exclusively revealed to NME that he had a “double album” on the way. “The new album centres around the idea of self-love and self-reclamation that allows people to feel seen, and emit this light,” he told us at the time.
“You can be seen for who you truly are, no matter where you’re from or what you believe… That’s what I needed to write an album about.”
During an earlier interview, he told NME that he had been inspired by the likes of Oasis, The Verve, Primal Scream, My Chemical Romance, David Bowie and Madonna on the Britpop-influenced LP.
Meanwhile, Yungblud has announced a brief run of intimate UK shows, dubbed ‘Idols – Up Close And Personal’. The dates follow the second edition of Yungblud’s BludFest in Milton Keynes on June 21, and come ahead of his ‘Idols’ headline tour in North America and Europe.
In other news, Yungblud, has criticised the current cost of festival tickets, saying he “100 per cent” agrees that prices have “got out of hand”. Harrison spoke about his vow to make BludFest 2 affordable for fans (£65), “because that’s the way it should be”.
“In this world, there is nothing you can’t achieve if you are doing it from a place of truth, and for the right reason,” Harrison said, having previously declared that “music should be accessible to everyone”.
Elton John has shared his family’s yearly summer playlist on the latest episode of his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music, with songs chosen together with his husband David Furnish and their sons, Zachary and Elijah.
During his appearance on Apple Music 1, the musician revealed that the family puts every song suggestion to a vote at home, with a track needing at least three votes before making the final cut. The playlist is packed with energetic songs, matching the family’s love for lively and feel good music throughout the summer.
The playlist brings together different generations and musical styles, combining iconic names from previous decades with newer electronic artists and dance music producers.
Among the songs chosen are Stevie Wonder’s "Higher Ground," Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Could You Be Loved," and Tom Petty’s "Runnin' Down A Dream." John also praised Petty’s music, describing the 1989 album Full Moon Fever as one of the greatest rock albums ever made.
Zachary and Elijah’s musical tastes are also represented, with the playlist featuring current UK club tracks alongside familiar reggae and pop favorites. John singled out "Free Your Mind," the collaboration between Leeds dance duo Prospa and producer Cloonee, as one song his sons especially enjoy.
The broadcast also features a mix of electronic and crossover sounds, including Peggy Gou and Ayra Starr’s "Wo, man," Jamie xx’s "Baddy On the Floor" featuring Honey Dijon, Barry Can’t Swim’s "Return To Bhibo," and Fisher’s reworking of Bob Sinclar’s "World, Hold On." Other artists included in the selection are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lykke Li, Groove Armada, Kacey Musgraves, Wiz Khalifa, and Role Model.
John noted that the songs played during the radio show are only part of the much larger playlist the family listens to during the summer.
The complete episode of Rocket Hour can be streamed on demand through Apple Music and Apple Podcasts.
