Live From Mars

This week on Live From Mars, Alex (still recovering from a cold!) shares a full breakdown of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour stop in NYC — from the visuals to the vocals, the weather chaos, and why Blue Ivy might’ve stolen the show. Plus, New Music Friday highlights from Renee Rapp, Joe Jonas, and Julia Michaels.

Topics covered:

• Renee Rapp’s bold new single “Leave Me Alone” and upcoming album Bite Me
• Joe Jonas’ first solo album in 14 years (Music for People Who Believe in Love) — is it worth the wait?
• Julia Michaels’ comeback EP Second Self and her signature clever songwriting
• A full review of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter stadium show, including standout moments, surprises, and why it’s a must-see tour

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Welcome Back

01:22 - Reneé Rapp's "Leave Me Alone"

04:19 - Joe Jonas' Return

07:15 - Julia Michaels' New EP

09:34 - Cowboy Carter Dominates

17:22 - Wrap Up & Sneak Peek

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This week on Live From Mars, I’m diving into a packed New Music Friday featuring Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, and Calvin Harris — plus, I take you inside the Something Beautiful visual album premiere hosted by Miley and Spotify.

Then I’m joined by fellow music content creator Nick Fry (@nicksmusictaste) for a chaotic and honest deep dive into the albums you called 10/10. We’re reviewing your favorite “no-skip” records and deciding which ones truly deserve the title.

Episode Highlights:

• Miley Cyrus’ new single More to Lose + a behind-the-scenes look at her visual album event
• First reactions to new tracks from The Weeknd, Calvin Harris, and more
• Music news: Lorde’s Ultrasound Tour, Renee Rapp’s new era, and Miley’s commercial moment
• Guest segment: Reviewing fan-submitted 10/10 albums — from Folklore and Melodrama to Blackout, ANTI, Renaissance, and more

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome + New Music Friday rundown

03:08 - Miley Cyrus Something Beautiful visual album experience & "More to Lose" reaction

06:55 - New music from Calvin Harris and The Weeknd

10:50 - Music news from Lorde and Renee Rapp

12:00 - Guest Nick Fry joins: Reviewing Your No-Skip, 10/10 Albums

44:15 - Final thoughts + where to find Nick online

💬 What’s your 10/10 album? Drop a comment or tag me on TikTok/IG @vinylbymars.

—

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This week on Live From Mars, I’m breaking down Ed Sheeran’s nostalgic new single “Old Phone,” the issue with his long promo campaign, and why Maroon 5’s “Priceless” featuring LISA left me completely underwhelmed. Plus, Jorja Smith enters her rave era, and I share thoughts on the final leg of Charli XCX’s Brat Tour in Brooklyn—my first time seeing her live.

I also unpack the deluxe edition of Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s I Said I Loved You First, Lorde’s Virgin album reveal and streaming stats for “What Was That,” and why the Song of the Summer race feels unusually stale in 2025.

For the deep dive, we talk everything Lady Gaga and her record-breaking Copacabana Beach performance: the setlist, Brazilian cultural tributes, her evolving confidence since Coachella, and the massive post-show spike across her entire catalog.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Ed Sheeran’s “Old Phone” + Play rollout breakdown
• Maroon 5’s “Priceless” ft. LISA + the problem with empty K-pop collabs
• Jorja Smith’s “The Way I Love You” rave moment
• Charli XCX’s Brat Tour finale review
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s deluxe: standout tracks + what’s working
• Lorde’s new album Virgin + early success of “What Was That”
• Song of the Summer 2025: Why it’s wide open
• Deep Dive: Gaga’s Copacabana concert — impact, scale, and streaming lift

Chapters/Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + What’s Coming This Episode

02:05 – Ed Sheeran’s “Old Phone” + Album Rollout

06:20 – Maroon 5’s “Priceless” ft. LISA

09:35 – Jorja Smith’s “The Way I Love You”

12:45 – Charli XCX’s BRAT Tour Finale (Brooklyn)

15:20 – Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco Deluxe Reactions

19:05 – Lorde’s “What Was That” + VIRGIN Announcement

21:30 – Song of the Summer 2025 Rundown

23:50 – Deep Dive: Lady Gaga at Copacabana Beach

26:10 – Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Next Week

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This week on Live From Mars, we’re breaking down Lorde’s long-awaited return with her new single What Was That — how it fits into her discography, its early success, and why it has fans divided. Plus, I’m sharing quick reactions to other New Music Friday standouts including Benson Boone, Samia, and Joe Jonas.

Then for our deep dive, we explore how the touring landscape has shifted post-Eras Tour, including the early controversy around Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa’s evolving strategies, and a critical look at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour launch.

Where do pop concerts go from here — and is Beyoncé too legendary to be relatable?

Topics covered in this episode:

• Lorde's What Was That review + lead single ranking
• Streaming performance of Lorde’s new single so far
• New Music Friday picks: Benson Boone’s Mystical Magical, Samia’s Carousel, Joe Jonas’ Heart by Heart
• The Katy Perry Lifetimes Tour controversy and execution critiques
• Sabrina Carpenter’s mini-Eras energy on tour
• Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour: what low ticket sales tell us about the future of pop icons
• The future of live touring after the Eras Tour phenomenon

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Personal Intro (100K celebration)

01:30 – New Music Friday Intro

02:00 – Lorde’s What Was That Review

09:00 – Ranking Lorde’s Lead Singles

12:30 – New Music Friday Highlights (Joe Jonas, Benson Boone, Samia)

17:30 – Deep Dive: Touring After the Eras Tour

19:30 – Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour Critiques

22:00 – Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa Touring Strategies

25:00 – Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour and Touring Reflection

Like what you hear?

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Stay connected:

TikTok: @vinylbymars

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One year later, we’re revisiting Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department in an unfiltered deep dive into its rollout, reception, and legacy. Was the double album drop a mistake? Which songs still hit hardest? And how does it stack up in Taylor’s discography today?

I’m joined by viral Swiftie and returning guest Nick Palmai (@nickpalmai) to break it all down — from our dream rollout (with trailers + music video concepts) to the songs we’ve grown to love (or skip). Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or still on the fence about TTPD, this episode has something for you.

We discuss:

• The one-year anniversary of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department
• Why the 31-song release may have hurt the album’s impact
• Jack Antonoff vs. Aaron Dessner: who delivered the better production?
• What songs have aged well… and which we’ve forgotten
• Fan-submitted questions: Grammy nominations, visuals, and more

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro & Nick returns

03:00 — What the release night felt like

06:30 — Has the album aged well?

10:15 — Our dream rollout strategy (and a music video multiverse)

18:45 — Jack Antonoff vs. Aaron Dessner moments

24:00 — What songs grew on us most

27:45 — Should TTPD have been nominated for AOTY?

31:30 — Cut one track from the album

34:30 — Best/Worst/Fave picks

39:30 — Final thoughts: what’s stuck with us after a year

LISTENER QUESTION:

What’s your Best/Worst/Fav song picks on The Tortured Poets Department? Has your opinion changed in the past year?

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Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Bon Iver—oh my. This week on Live From Mars, Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars) dives into the biggest moments from Coachella 2025 and the best of New Music Friday. From Lana’s orchestral country pivot to Gaga’s career-defining headlining set, it’s a full-on pop culture breakdown you don’t want to miss.

In this episode:

• Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, come on” — a sweeping, poetic Americana ballad and the mysterious unraveling of her next album.

• Bon Iver returns with SABLE, fABLE — a two-part album that blends indie folk with R&B, and is a worthwhile return to the Bon Iver we all fell in love with.

• Lady Gaga’s Coachella set stuns the world — theatrical, gothic, unhinged in the best way. Is this her best performance in over a decade?

• Charli XCX brings Brat to the desert with surprise guests Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan — and ends her set with a powerful, vulnerable message.

• Plus, underrated song picks from Humble the Great, Talia Rae, and a Crux check-in with Djo.

If you’re a pop fan, festival lover, or just here for the cultural tea, this is your recap of the week!

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Live from Mars and Coachella Highlights

00:57 - New Music Friday: Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, come on”

06:55 - Bon Iver’s Return: SABLE, fABLE Review

10:30 - Coachella Highlights: Lady Gaga & Charli XCX

13:04 - Lady Gaga’s Career-Best Performance?

20:32 - Charli XCX’s Raw Minimalist Power

Next week: A special Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department anniversary episode is coming, and Alex wants your voice memos. Got a hot take or burning question? Email [email protected] and be part of the show.

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This week’s Live From Mars is packed! Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars on TikTok and Instagram) dives into the latest New Music Friday releases, breaks down the perfect release timing for a potential Song of the Summer, and answers your AMA questions in celebration of hitting 100,000 followers on TikTok! 

• Miley Cyrus returns with Prelude, Something Beautiful, and End of the World—is she entering another avant-garde era?
• Joe Keery (yes, Steve Harrington from Stranger Things) drops a stunning new album under Djo—why The Crux feels like his most emotional work yet.
• Ed Sheeran's back with Azizam and a brand new concept era—what we think of “Play” so far
• Is April the best month to drop a Song of the Summer? A deep dive into past hits, new contenders (Drake, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley), and streaming trends.
• Your ultimate Record Store Day 2025 guide—what to know, how to prep, and the top releases to hunt for.
• A special Ask Me Anything segment tackling his most anticipated concerts of 2025, the truth about VinylTok in 2025, no-skip albums, what's next for Taylor Swift in 2025, and more!

Whether you're here for chart talk, new releases, or getting to know Alex better, this episode is your one-stop shop for all things pop.

00:00 - Introduction

01:58 - Record Store Day Tips & Tricks

05:27 - When to Release a Song of the Summer Contender

10:31 - Miley Cyrus' "Something Beautiful"

15:23 - Ed Sheeran's "Azizam"

18:12 - Djo's "The Crux"

21:15 - Ask Mars Anything

26:01 - The State of VinylTok in 2025

29:00 - Two No-Skip Albums

34:08 - Taylor Swift's 2025 Releases

Chime in! What’s your pick for 2025’s song of the summer? What are you planning to grab on Record Store Day? Drop a comment and let Alex know.

To provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey

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We did it — 100,000 followers on TikTok. A huge milestone, a huge thank you, and a huge episode to match.

This week on Live From Mars, Alex reflects on the journey from faceless vinyl recs to full-blown music commentary, the wildness of hitting six figures in followers, and what’s coming next for the show (spoiler: it’s an AMA — so send those questions in!).

Then we dive into a chart update packed with surprises — including a historic week for Kendrick & SZA, massive first-week numbers for Playboi Carti, and unexpected success from Gaga and Chappell Roan.

But the real star of the episode? Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead. With five brand-new songs and one extended version, this release just might solidify Eternal Sunshine as the best album of her career. From “Twilight Zone” to “Dandelion,” Alex unpacks every moment — vocally, emotionally, and sonically.

In this episode, we cover:

• Hitting 100K followers & Alex's view on the journey to Mars so far
• 5 years of Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia + the surprise release of the “Physical” Remix ft. Troye Sivan
• Lana Del Rey teasing her mysterious 10th studio album The Right Person Will Stay
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s chart battle vs. Playboi Carti (and what their last-minute sales push says about the industry)
• Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead – track-by-track breakdown, production details, emotional growth, and why “Twilight Zone” strikes such emotional and nostalgic chords with listeners

📲 Follow me for more:

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 💬 Drop your AMA questions via IG poll, broadcast channel, or comments!

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In this episode of Live from Mars, I’m breaking down the biggest stories in pop this week — from Kendrick Lamar dominating the charts to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem debuting at No. 1. But the spotlight is on Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s new album I Said I Love You First, and we’ve got a lot to unpack.

We explore:

• Billboard Chart Highlights – Why Kendrick is the name all over the Hot 100 and how Gaga just tied Janet Jackson for most No. 1 albums.

• Mayhem by Lady Gaga – A breakdown of the album’s chart success, the Grammy conversation, and why “Abracadabra” might be her ticket to Record and Song of the Year nominations.

• New Music Friday Picks – Jack Harlow & Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and Jon Bellion — the tracks worth your time.

• Selena & Benny’s Joint Album – A deep dive into I Said I Love You First: the love story, vocal production issues, and whether it lives up to the hype.

• Top Tracks from the Album – Why “Bluest Flame” and “Don’t Wanna Cry” are the standouts and what Charli XCX’s involvement adds to the mix.

• The Vision Debate – Why this album plays it a little too safe and what it tells us about Selena’s current artistic confidence.

• What’s Next in Pop – Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead and the rising buzz around Miley Cyrus’ Something Beautiful.

From personal milestones to massive releases, we’re diving into it all. Is I Said I Love You First a step forward for Selena Gomez? Or is she still playing it too safe? Let’s get into it.

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments! Did I Said I Love You First surprise you — or were the singles a red flag?

👉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives on the biggest new releases in pop music!

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How much do artists really make from streaming? Spotify just paid out $10 billion in 2024, but where does that money go—and is streaming actually sustainable for artists? In this episode of Live From Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) sits down with Sam Duboff, Spotify for Artists’ Global Head of Marketing & Policy, to break down the newly released 2024 Loud&Clear report and what it means for artists, streaming, and the music industry.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Truth About Streaming Royalties – How artists actually get paid (no, there’s no fixed per-stream rate)
• The Rise of Independent Artists – Why 50% of Spotify’s payouts go to indie and DIY musicians
• Superfans Are the Future – The 2% of listeners who generate 50% of merch sales
• The Globalization of Music – How international collaborations are reshaping the industry
• What’s Next for Streaming? – The comeback of music videos, new artist tools, and more

Plus, we dive into Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, the magic of Charli xcx and Lorde’s “Girl, so confusing remix,” and play Best, Worst, Fav with Lorde’s Melodrama.

Read the full Loud&Clear report: spotify.com/loudandclear

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Subscribe, rate, and follow for more deep dives into music, streaming, and the industry’s biggest topics.

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