https://leahweinstein.journoportfolio.comRSS Feed for Leah WeinsteinenWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/508397/uploads/7d1af963-1df2-44b3-88d9-7e49b7ccc37e.pdfPress release made and distributed for Philadelphia folk quintet Terra CottaWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/508397/uploads/7d1af963-1df2-44b3-88d9-7e49b7ccc37e.pdfhttps://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-dashboard-by-noah-kahan/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're looking at the stomp-clap-hey revivalism of Noah Kahan's "Das...Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-dashboard-by-noah-kahan/https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-feeble-little-horse-are-wired-in/A cultural backlash-induced luddite movement was bound to happen. On Instagram, the product I get advertised to me the most is a hunk of plastic that locks you out of whatever apps you tell it to. "Analog bags" stuffed with screen-free activities has become a rising trend among young adults. In a time where the pope writes an Encyclical rebuking the technocrats of Silicon Valley and their sweeping AI aspirations, it feels obvious young creative types are desperate to turn back the clock. Pittsb...Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-feeble-little-horse-are-wired-in/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-go-away-by-weezer-ft-best-coast/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're looking at the kismet back-catalog spike of Weezer's "Go Away...Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-go-away-by-weezer-ft-best-coast/https://theneedledrop.com/kilby-block-party-2026-our-takeaways-and-highlights/The inaugural Kilby Block Party in 2019 was exactly what is said on the tin: a block party taking place outside of the storied music venue Kilby Court. The name has stuck for tradition’s sake, but the scope of the festival has grown exponentially. In just 7 years, 500 attendees has turned into a figure closer to the tune of 90,000. In the continued absence of Pitchfork festival in Chicago and All Things Go’s mainstream pivot, indie fans nationwide have found themselves flocking to Salt Lake City...Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/kilby-block-party-2026-our-takeaways-and-highlights/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-silent-treatment-by-freya-skye/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at the decaying music arm of the Disney Corpora...Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-silent-treatment-by-freya-skye/https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-broken-social-scene-provide-some-conventional-human-wisdom/When I logged onto my Zoom call with Broken Social Scene songwriter Kevin Drew, I was met with an unexpected second face. At 10:30am on a Thursday morning, Drew was huddled up in multi-instrumentalist (and fellow Scenester) Charles Spearin's garage-turned-studio. The pair gave me a tour of the space before I got a chance to introduce myself, showing me individual pieces of gear that were near and dear to their hearts. They showed me the 8-track tape machine that recorded the group's 2001 debut F...Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-broken-social-scene-provide-some-conventional-human-wisdom/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-jane-by-the-long-faces/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at the unlikely TikTok hit, "Jane!" by The Long...Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-jane-by-the-long-faces/https://theneedledrop.com/dosleeper-hit-support-group-woman-by-kane-brown/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're visiting the world of Wife Guys with Kane Brown's "Woman."For...Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/dosleeper-hit-support-group-woman-by-kane-brown/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-sweet-boy-by-malcolm-todd/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "Sweet Boy" by pop newcomer Malcolm Todd.Unl...Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-sweet-boy-by-malcolm-todd/https://theneedledrop.com/news/d4vd-arrested-in-connection-with-celeste-rivas-murder/After seven months of investigation, R&B singer D4vd (pronounced “David”) has been arrested for his involvement in the murder of 15 year old Celeste Rivas. Rivas’ body was found decomposing in the backseat of a Tesla registered under D4vd’s name on September 8th, the day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The Los Angeles Police Department initially said it was unclear “whether there is any criminal culpability” in the case “beyond the concealment of her body,” as they had yet to deter...Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/news/d4vd-arrested-in-connection-with-celeste-rivas-murder/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-zach-bryan/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "Plastic Cigarette" by Zach BryanCountry mus...Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-zach-bryan/https://theneedledrop.com/concert-review-hayley-williams-at-franklin-music-hall/Hayley Williams has a voice built to radiate across a stadium. For a while, that's what she was doing. Paramore's final leg of touring their 2023 album This Is Why was as support for Taylor Swift on the record shattering Eras tour. They opened the entire European leg, as well as the tour's very first weekend in Glendale, AZ. At that point, though, it was no longer about This Is Why. They would play the hits to a crowd of 70,000 that knew them word for word, and throw in a deep cut or two every s...Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/concert-review-hayley-williams-at-franklin-music-hall/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-ever-since-u-left-me-by-max-b-and-french-montana/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "Ever Since U Left Me" by Max B and French M...Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-ever-since-u-left-me-by-max-b-and-french-montana/https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-b-b-b/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're switching it up and comparing "B.B.B." by Juvenile featuring...Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/sleeper-hit-support-group-b-b-b/https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-snail-mail-ricochet/Snail Mail frontwoman Lindsey Jordan is no stranger to confession. She wrote all of the songs on her 2018 debut Lush before she could vote. Jordan's pointed yet complicated tales of queer heartbreak had critics designating her as a wunderkind wise beyond her years. Now eight years, two albums, and a vocal polyps surgery later, Jordan has new priorities. She moved from a small one bedroom apartment in New York City to a big house in North Carolina, got a dog, and is in a happy long-term relations...Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/interviews/interview-snail-mail-ricochet/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-fame-is-a-gun-by-addison-rae/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're queening out and taking a look at "Fame Is A Gun" by Addison...Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-fame-is-a-gun-by-addison-rae/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-quik/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "Quik Stop" by J. Cole.I'm cheating a bit he...Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-quik/https://theneedledrop.com/news/ekko-astral-addresses-split-with-drummer-and-label/Amid internal issues, DC punk band Ekko Astral have addressed the flurry of changes happening as the rollout of their upcoming record the beltway is burning continues. The record announcement was soon followed by news that drummer Miri Tyler would be leaving the band, and would play her final set with Ekko Astral at the second edition of their trans-rights music festival, Liberation Weekend. Monday night, Topshelf records, which was set to release the beltway is burning, issued a statement procl...Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/news/ekko-astral-addresses-split-with-drummer-and-label/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-darlin/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "Darlin'" by Chase Matthew The 9/11 terroris...Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-darlin/https://theneedledrop.com/news/chappell-roan-leaves-wasserman-agency-roster-amid-epstein-ties/Earlier this evening, pop singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has announced her deliberate departure from the Wasserman agency. The talent agency's namesake founder and CEO Casey Wasserman has recently been found in the latest release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.Wasserman's involvement in said files was due to email corespondance with Ghislane Maxwell, which were sexual in nature. “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” Wasse...Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/news/chappell-roan-leaves-wasserman-agency-roster-amid-epstein-ties/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-drake-21-savage/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, we're taking a look at "MR RECOUP" by 21 Savage & Drake.The time of...Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-drake-21-savage/https://theneedledrop.com/news/kendrick-lamar-becomes-most-awarded-rapper-in-grammy-history/Following a fourth win at today's 2026 Grammys, Kendrick Lamar has become the most awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 awards. This surpasses Jay-Z's previous record of 25 awards, which he tied earlier today.Lamar achieves this with the award for Best Rap Album for 2024's GNX. Earlier today, he won Best Rap Duo Performance for his appearance on Clipse's "Chains & Whips," Best Melodic Rap Performance for "luther" with SZA, and Best Rap Song for "tv off". Check back here for more GRAMMYS upda...Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/news/kendrick-lamar-becomes-most-awarded-rapper-in-grammy-history/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-ice-spice/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a new column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100.In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras.Today, miraculously, we're taking a look at "Big Guy" by Ice Spice. Ic...Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-ice-spice/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-pinkpantheress-zara-larsson/Welcome to Sleeper Hit Support Group, a new column diving into the song currently occupying the bottom spot of the Billboard Hot 100. In a pop landscape that asks more questions that it answers, I'm setting out to answer three questions about each of these songs: how it got here, if the song is good, and where it's going. In this 100th spot we'll find unlikely ascents, falls from grace, and resurgences of hits from bygone eras. Today, we're taking a look at the remix of PinkPantheress' "Statesid...Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/sleeper-hit-support-group-pinkpantheress-zara-larsson/https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/miniseries-review-taylor-swifts-the-end-of-an-era/As it was presented in its promotional material, The End of an Era promised to be an "unprecedented" look behind the curtain of the most successful tour of all time. The six-episode docuseries makes good on that promise – sometimes. There are many clips of Taylor Swift rehearsing acoustic mashups in her dressing room, segments of prep for four different guest appearances, and a couple brief diversions to rehearsals of new choreography. But after spending eight or so hours with this miniseries, i...Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/miniseries-review-taylor-swifts-the-end-of-an-era/https://theneedledrop.com/concert-review-dijon-the-met/It seems as though everything has been coming up Dijon this past year, and the 33-year-old multi-hyphenate is making it look easy. He's the dark horse of the music industry that people never forgot about – even with a four-year wait for his already career-defining sophomore album Baby. His distinct, quirky R&B stylings have penetrated the mainstream via his extensive involvement with Justin Bieber's comeback album SWAG, and its creatively titled companion album SWAG II. While those records were...Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/concert-review-dijon-the-met/https://theneedledrop.com/news/human-too-removed-from-the-1975s-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/In the streaming age, many artists have taken upon themselves to retroactively change aspects of their records. As far as anyone knows, Kanye was the first one to do it with The Life of Pablo. Charli xcx BRAT-ified her album covers for about a year on streaming services. Now, Matty Healy has taken it upon himself to entirely remove "Human Too" from the 1975's 2022 record Being Funny in a Foreign Language. In a reply to a post on Reddit inquiring about the song's sudden disappearance, Healy remar...Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://theneedledrop.com/news/human-too-removed-from-the-1975s-being-funny-in-a-foreign-language/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/eliza-mclamb/eliza-mclamb-good-story-album-reviewThere’s a timeline where Eliza McLamb is nearly finished with a law degree, and another where she’s climbed the corporate ladder in the solar paneling industry. In lieu of that, McLamb has fully committed herself to music, something that was once a hobby. At nineteen she gained TikTok virality from a replayable ditty about adolescent sexual confusion, and used that wit and self-awareness as a jumping off point for the career she’s built since. Now at twenty-four, McLamb’s sophomore album Good St...Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/eliza-mclamb/eliza-mclamb-good-story-album-reviewhttps://theneedledrop.com/dodie-a-career-retrospective/30 year old singer-songwriter Dorothy Clark has been sharing pieces of herself online since she was a child. In a bit-crushed 144p video, a 14 year old dodie stands in an open field in her hometown of Epping, England. Next to her stands her childhood best friend Alice, and they sing a vague song of heartbreak – the exact kind you'd expect a 14 year old to come up with. They giggle in between verses, eventually devolving into the two taking turns riffing "yeah yeahs" and impersonating Michael Jac...Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://theneedledrop.com/dodie-a-career-retrospective/