Live From Mars

• New Music Friday Breakdown: Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Selena Gomez & More!

  In this episode of Live from Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Seth Betzler (@dramakingbooks, @dramakingvinyl) to break down the best releases from this week's New Music Friday! With Valentine's Day as the backdrop, we discuss new music filled with love, humor, and surprises.This week, we're diving into Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)’, analyzing the standout tracks like ‘15 Minutes’, a clever mix of humor and wordplay, and ‘Please Please Please’ featuring Dolly Parton, a fun, yet divisive remix. We also explore the melodic similarities between ‘Couldn’t Make It Any Harder’ and ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, Sabrina’s Sandy-inspired aesthetic, and why Busy Woman feels like the clear hit.We also dive into SZA’s ‘LANA’ Deluxe, analyzing her strategy of releasing additional music nearly two years after SOS, and how this creates a "living, breathing" album experience. We contrast this with Sabrina’s six-month deluxe drop and discuss the different purposes deluxe albums serve in today’s streaming era.Plus, we talk about Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s surprise album announcement, the newly released ‘Scared of Loving You’, and Selena’s unexpected return to music despite previously hinting at stepping away. We also break down new singles from Addison Rae (‘High Fashion’), Bon Iver (‘Everything Is Peaceful Love’), and Olivia Dean’s ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be’ for the Bridget Jones soundtrack.🎧 Listen now and let us know your favorite tracks from this week!Topics Covered:Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)’ – The best new tracks and why ‘15 Minutes’ and Busy Woman stand outSZA’s ‘LANA’ – A breakdown of the four new songs and how this deluxe release strategy differs from Sabrina’sSelena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s album announcement – What ‘Scared of Loving You’ tells us about the projectAddison Rae’s ‘High Fashion’ – Where she fits in today’s pop music landscapeBon Iver’s ‘Everything Is Peaceful Love’ – A rare happy and optimistic Bon Iver trackOlivia Dean’s ‘It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be’ – Why we love her sound but want to see her push into new territoryWhere to Listen:Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms. Don’t forget to rate and review!Follow Us:🎶 @vinylbymars (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)📚 @dramakingbooks / @dramakingvinyl (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show (with WillTalksMusic)

  In this episode of Live from Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Will (@willtalksmusic) to dive into all things Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. They break down Kendrick’s career leading up to this moment, analyze the standout moments from the performance—including his powerful collaboration with SZA—and, most importantly, discuss the explosive impact of Not Like Us being performed in front of 120+ million viewers. This diss track, fresh off winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, solidified Kendrick’s dominance over Drake in their ongoing feud, and Alex and Will break down why this moment was so monumental.Beyond Kendrick’s performance, they explore the deeper political and artistic messaging behind the set, from Samuel L. Jackson’s role as Uncle Sam to the striking visual storytelling. They also touch on Taylor Swift’s undeniable presence at the Super Bowl and how she continues to be part of the cultural conversation, even when she’s not on the stage.After dissecting the halftime show, Alex and Will shift gears to discuss who should headline the Super Bowl in 2026. They debate potential contenders, from pop icons to hip-hop powerhouses, and throw in some wild card picks. Finally, Will shares his latest music recommendations, giving listeners insight into the albums and songs that have been on repeat for him.Topics Covered:Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show: performance highlights and deeper meaningsThe impact of Not Like Us being performed on such a massive stage and its role in Kendrick vs. DrakeThe artistry and messaging behind Kendrick’s setTaylor Swift’s presence at the Super Bowl and her cultural influenceWho should headline the 2026 Super Bowl?Will’s latest music recommendationsWhere to Listen:Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms. Don’t forget to rate and review!Follow Us:@vinylbymars (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)@willtalksmusic (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 2025 Grammys Recap: Biggest Wins, Snubs & Wildest Moments (with Amanda Leopizzi)

  This week, Alex is joined once again by his good friend and fellow #MusicTok creator Amanda Leopizzi to break down everything that went down at the 2025 Grammy Awards. From historic wins to shocking snubs, this episode covers all the biggest moments of music’s biggest night.In this episode:• Biggest wins & surprises – Beyoncé finally wins Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar sweeps Record & Song of the Year, and Chappell Roan takes Best New Artist.• The biggest snubs of the night – Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish walk away empty-handed.• Best performances of the night – Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, RAYE, Doechii, and the Best New Artist showcase.• The Weeknd’s return to the Grammys – After years of boycotting, what does his performance mean for next year’s awards?• Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” premiere – Is Fame Monster-era Gaga officially back?• Records broken & major milestones – Bruno Mars extends his Grammy-winning streak, Doechii makes history in rap, and more!Did the Recording Academy get it right? Or did your favorites get snubbed? This episode is filled with bold takes, heated debates, and plenty of Grammy hot takes!Who was your biggest winner of the night? Leave a comment.🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the NOTIFICATION BELL to stay updated with all things Live From Mars!Follow Alex:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymarsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896Follow Amanda:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandasplaylistInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandasplaylistYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amandasplaylisttt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 2025 Grammy Predictions: Who Will Win and Should Win (with Amanda Leopizzi)

  Welcome to Episode 10 of Live From Mars! This week, Alex is joined by his good friend and fellow #MusicTok creator Amanda Leopizzi to kick off the most exciting week in music – Grammy week!In this episode:A roundup of this week’s New Music Friday releases, including Tate McRae’s viral hit "Sports car" and Teddy Swims’ emotional new album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Pt. 2.Predictions for the biggest Grammy categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.Bold takes on pop icons like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish.Get ready for a fun and opinionated breakdown of who the Recording Academy might crown versus who truly deserves to win. Whether you’re a fan of Billie’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, or Taylor’s The Tortured Poets Department, there’s something for everyone in this episode.Don’t miss Alex and Amanda’s final Grammy predictions before the big night! Be sure to follow Live From Mars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and subscribe to Vinyl by Mars on YouTube for more music content.Follow Alex:TikTok: @VinylByMarsInstagram: @VinylByMarsYouTube: Vinyl by MarsSpotify: @abm0896Follow Amanda:TikTok: @AmandasPlaylistInstagram: @AmandasPlaylistYouTube: Amanda’s Playlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Most Anticipated New Music of 2025 (with Seth Betzler)

  Most Anticipated New Music of 2025 (with Seth Betzler)In this episode of Live from Mars, I’m joined by my dear friend Seth Betzler (@DramaKingVinyl, @DramaKingBooks) to kick off 2025 by discussing our most anticipated albums of the year! After a packed 2024, the music industry is set to deliver another round of incredible releases, and we’re diving into everything from confirmed drops to rumors that have us buzzing.We explore:Taylor Swift’s Next Re-Records: Reputation (Taylor’s Version) and Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)—what to expect from the vault tracks.The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow: Trilogy connections, female collaborators, and the potential “end” of The Weeknd.Lady Gaga’s LG7: What Die with a Smile tells us about the album.Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey: Where are these artists heading next?Stars on the Rise: New projects from Aly & AJ, Chappell Roan, Madison Beer, and Olivia Dean.Rumored Returns: Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, and more.From pop legends to emerging voices, we cover it all in this packed episode. If you love music and want to get hyped for what’s to come, this one’s for you!Chapters:01:05 - Welcoming Seth and Recapping 2024’s Big Year in Music03:48 - Taylor Swift’s Reputation and Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) Vault Predictions07:45 - The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow: Breaking Down the Trilogy17:13 - Aly & AJ’s Silver Deliverer25:28 - Lady Gaga’s LG7: Will It Live Up to the Hype?30:14 - Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, and Lana Del Rey: What’s Next?35:45 - Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan: The Next Era44:43 - Stars on the Rise: Madison Beer and Olivia Dean47:32 - Wrapping Up with Lorde, Final Thoughts, and FavoritesFollow Mars!InstagramTikTokYouTubeLinktreeFollow Seth!Books InstagramBooks TikTokVinyl InstagramVinyl TikTok💬 Share your thoughts in the comments or reviews—what’s your most anticipated album of 2025?👉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more episodes exploring the best of music and pop culture! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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