Louder: Can a Pop Star Turn Pandemic Fame Into... Fame?

March 26, 2021

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

As the music industry begins tentatively moving toward reopening, one of the young talents who had a pandemic smash is testing whether he can capitalize on his big-song moment from 2020: 24kGoldn. (The song is “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior, and it’s one of my favorites from last year, blending a pop-punk vibe with a sing-rap base.) Joe Coscarelli tells the story of this savvy artist who figured out how to live on his college campus on scholarship while promoting his music and navigating the wilds of the West Coast music biz. “Goldn very much reminded me of a young Will Smith,” said Barry Weiss, the veteran music executive who signed him. You’ll see why here.

Plus: One of the first events canceled last March returned (online), and Jon Pareles, our most intrepid live-music devotee, watched as much SXSW 2021 as possible and plucked out 15 standout acts; critic’s picks reviews of new albums from Lana Del Rey and Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders (and a non-pick for Justin Bieber); Jon’s profile of the singer-songwriter Bonzie; Brad Farberman’s explanation of how Iggy Pop ended up on a Dr. Lonnie Smith album; and Giovanni Russonello’s farewell to the bassist Paul Jackson.

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24kGoldn Became a Pandemic Pop Star. Now Comes the Real-World Test.

The 20-year-old rapper and singer had one of the biggest hits of last year with “Mood,” and is easing into the life of a celebrity with the release of his debut album, “El Dorado.”

By Joe Coscarelli

SXSW	Critic’s Notebook SXSW Came Back With Genuine Joy. Here Are 15 of the Best Acts. The festival in Austin, which was canceled last year, returned online with more international performers and music forged during the pandemic. By Jon Pareles

THE CRITICS

Critic’s Pick

Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points Meet in the Atmosphere

On “Promises,” their new collaborative album, Sanders’s tenor saxophone becomes one with the electronic composer’s web of humming synthesizers.

By Giovanni Russonello

Album Review

Lana Del Rey Takes a Road Trip Into the Past

On “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” her latest album, the singer leaves Los Angeles and arrives somewhere more sharply personal, yearning for a lost time.

By Lindsay Zoladz

Album Review

Justin Bieber, Still Seeking a Sound

His sixth album, “Justice,” tries out several production styles, but never nails a mood.

By Jon Caramanica

The Playlist

Lil Nas X Makes a Coming-Out Statement, and 9 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Taylor Swift, Rod Wave, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Iggy Pop and others.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Giovanni Russonello

Critic’s Pick

‘Tina’ Review: A Music Icon Looks Back With Grace

The documentary about Tina Turner, who is now in her 80s, is not just a summing up of her life, but a kind of farewell.

By Glenn Kenny

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Bonzie Longs for a Post-Pandemic ‘Reincarnation’

On her third album, the Chicago-based songwriter offers melody, mystery and prized imperfections.

By Jon Pareles

Don Was

How Lonnie Smith Found an Unlikely New Collaborator: Iggy Pop

The soul-jazz organist and the punk frontman worked together on a pair of covers and discovered a musical kinship.

By Brad Farberman

Christopher Lee for The New York Times

Mariachis Play On, Their Music Unsilenced by the Virus or the Deaths

Even as the birthday parties and weddings grew scarce during the pandemic, the musicians were increasingly hired to play at funerals, including those of band members.

By Christina Morales

OBITUARY

Paul Jackson, Funk Bassist With Herbie Hancock, Dies at 73

He was an integral member of Mr. Hancock’s jazz-funk band the Headhunters, whose albums reached millions in the 1970s.

By Giovanni Russonello

NEWS

Janet Jackson and Kermit the Frog Added to National Recording Registry

The Library of Congress has designated 25 recordings, from modern pop hits to one of the earliest recordings of an American voice, as “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time.”

By Jennifer Schuessler

The Charts

Morgan Wallen Tops Chart for a 10th Week

“Dangerous” has benefited from little competition and is at No. 1 even as promotion for the album came to a standstill after Wallen was caught using a racial slur.

By Ben Sisario

A Volcano Erupted in Iceland. Björk Was ‘Sooo Excited.’

No injuries were reported after the rare eruption near Reykjavik — only joy, on the part of the singer, volcanologists and other Icelanders.

By Mike Ives and Elian Peltier

Live-event businesses will be able to apply for a relief grant program starting April 8.

Applicants are eligible for grants of up to $10 million from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant fund, which Congress created in the economic relief bill passed in December.

By Stacy Cowley

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What Is March Madness Without the Bands?

Neither the men’s nor women’s N.C.A.A. basketball tournaments will allow bands this year — and canned music just can’t compare.

By Sarah Bahr

The Saturday Profile

Bridging Time, Distance and Distrust, With Music

Neta Elkayam, an Israeli singer, plumbs the rich culture of the Moroccan Jews she descended from, and introduces it to new audiences in both countries.

By Aida Alami

A Tiny Icelandic Town Campaigns for the Oscars

First Husavik was the setting for the Netflix film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” Now, a song named after the town is up for an Oscar.

By Egill Bjarnason