With the spring break over, the end of the semester seems so far away. April can kind of feel like a rut for many students who are feeling burnt out and grasping at anything for the joy that only summer can bring. Well, here are some upcoming releases that can keep you busy and feeling less stressed in the next month!
Music
Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Unlimited Love”
This 17-track album is the band’s first in sixteen years with former lead guitarist John Frusciante, releasing on April. The group calls this album “the ride that is the sum of our lives” in a recent press statement. With this announcement came the lead single and music video, “Black Summer,” which is now on all streaming services. They also announced a tour coming this summer with openers like Anderson.Paak & The Free Nationals, A$AP Rocky, The Strokes, HAIM and many more. The tour schedule and ticket details are available on the band’s website (1).
Role Model, “Rx”
With nearly 3.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, bedroom-pop artist Tucker Pillsbury, known under the name Role Model, will release his long-awaited debut album on April 8. Releasing a series of singles and EPs since dropping out of college in 2017, he has built his fan base on his unique voice and catchy beats. Role Model tells DIY Magazine, “The challenge for me is fitting a really visual story into these pop structures” (2).
Selena Quintanilla
Often referred to as the Queen of Tejano music, artist Selena Quintanilla passed away due to gunshot wounds from the head of her fan-club and long-time friend Yolanda Saldívar in 1995. After nearly 30 years, her family has decided to release her final album sometime this month. The specific release date has not yet been announced. Selena’s brother, A.B. Quintanilla, and her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, have been working on the album, finishing and producing it since her death. According to npr.org, the first song is one that she made at age 13, but has been digitally edited so that she will sound as she did the day she died. While some fans are excited for this new album, others are wishing her family would let her legacy live on untouched (3).
Movies and TV
“Moon Knight,” streaming on Disney+ March 30
This latest edition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe will technically be released on March 30, however, new episodes will come out every Wednesday throughout April and into May, totaling in six 40-50 minute episodes. Critics say this series will be similar to the story arc of the Iron Man movies, a stand alone series without any obvious connection to pre-existing MCU storylines. It stars Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke and May Calamawy (4).
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” in theaters April 15
After many delays due to the pandemic, the third movie in the Fantastic Beasts franchise will finally be in theaters on April 15. With this movie, there is a major cast change. Johnny Depp asked to resign from his role as Grindelwald and “Hannibal” star Mads Mikkelsen will take his place. However, the beloved core four—Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol—will return to their roles, along with Jude Law, who will play Albus Dumbledore (5).
“Morbius,” in theaters April 1
On April 1, the latest Marvel Entertainment movie will be released. However, it is produced by Sony Pictures, so it will not take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, it will be more in line with the Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies. Jared Leto plays the lead, Dr. Michael Morbius, who, in an attempt to cure himself of a rare-blood disease, gave himself vampiric abilities. He is known to be an enemy of Spider-Man, but this instead will give him a solo story (6).
Books
“Finding Me: A Memoir” by Viola Davis
Actress and producer Viola Davis will release her memoir “Finding Me” on April 26. She tells her story of reflection, self-discovery and making it as a Black woman in a competitive and judgmental world. You can find her book on Amazon or at a book retailer near you (7).
“Blood to Poison” by Mary Watson
Fantasy author Mary Watson tells the story of cursed 17-year-old Savannah in her fifth book “Blood to Poison” coming out April 14. In this book, Savannah goes on a journey of “discovering magic, historical rage and love in all its guises” (8).
1. https://ew.com/music/red-hot-chili-peppers-new-album-unlimited-love-john-frusciante/
2. https://diymag.com/2022/02/18/role-model-debut-album-rx
3. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/15/1086734441/new-selena-quintanilla-album
4. https://www.space.com/moon-knight-streaming-guide
5. https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a675773/fantastic-beasts-3-4-5-release-date-cast-plot-news-trailer/
6. https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2022/01/morbius-cast-trailer-release-date/#:~:text=Who%20is%20Morbius%2C%20the%20living%20vampire%3F&text=Dr%20Michael%20Morbius%20was%20an,giving%20himself%20pseudo%2Dvampiric%20abilities.
7. https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis/dp/0063211092
8. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/blood-to-poison-9781526619167/