If we had to guess how Mark Ronson, Pharrell and Justin Timberlake have all been using up their spare time for the last few months, home-fried Southern rock remixing wouldn’t have been it.
But even before an official Kings of Leon album was even in the mix, Timberlake and Pharrell were allegedly reworking the Tennessee-based band of brothers’ tunes. And while it’s often been more of a question as to what Pharrell’s not into than what he is, it’s still sort of fun to imagine him listening to say the seven-plus minute epic that is “Knocked Up” and decide where it could use more space drums. Drummer Nathan Followill told Billboard Ronson, Kenna, Lykke Li and Linkin Park will also contribute tracks to the album. The band also just shot footage for an upcoming live DVD in London. Neither of these projects have a slated release date.

Words and photos by JENZ

I almost don’t recognize Chris Cornell as he’s accompanied into his dressing room by his intimidating bodyguard: the vocalist has his hair tied up and has a cool demeanor reminiscent of nonchalance. But after grabbing a Diet Coke and settling into a black couch, the former Soundgarden/Audioslave singer, solo artist, and Paris restaurateur eyes me with a signal to begin.
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Just when we were wondering what Justice was going to remix next, we got our answer — and a quite surprising one at that. The French remixing-master duo will be pairing up with U2 to remix the No Line On The Horizon single, “Get On Your Boots”.
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By Maia Stern

You may be wondering why “Oooo boy your drive is affecting me, ohh as you’re taking the wheel” is the first lyric you hear Awesome New Republic front man, Michael John Hancock sing out in a sensual, Britney Spears-y undertone. The poppy and perfect-for-jogging-jam “Birthday” was originally written for the debut album from the queen of texting, Gossip Girls‘ Leighton Meester. After comparing the high notes, the boys of ANR knew what they had to do. They took it upon themselves to adopt “Birthday”. It is now their duty to soulfully sing about other dudes and basically transform into the love child of the Scissor Sisters and Justin Timberlake for this dance-worthy track that is now their lead single.
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