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After opening for major stars, Griff releases debut album

People
Griff

British singer-songwriter Griff’s career has been an undeniable whirlwind. Less than two years after releasing her first single she won the Brit Award for Rising Star. Then she opened for Dua Lipa. Then Ed Sheeran. Then Coldplay. Then Taylor Swift.

In between those gigs, she worked on the songs that make up her debut album, “Vertigo," out now.

“The usual steps that you take as a new artist have been a bit, like, upside-down,” the 23-year-old, whose full name is Sarah Faith Griffiths, said. “An album is such a step hitting the ground, and it’s such a milestone I’ve always wanted to get to.”

In that sense, this moment feels like a career beginning, she said. The pop album tracks the emotions that come with that kind of whirlwind — alongside other destabilizing events, such as growing up and experiencing heartache.

“Astronaut” features piano by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

“For me, music is all about moving people and triggering emotion,” she said, with the catharsis being shared by the artist and her listeners — an approach Martin has encouraged.

“He really believes that as creatives and writers, we’re just kind of vessels, and creativity will flow through us and ideas will find their way to the right people," she said.

Swift said of Griff from the stage during her Eras tour: “This girl, she is so creative on every single level.”

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Meek Mill

A man wanted for committing a lewd act on a woman inside a Philadelphia Dollar Tree surrendered to authorities after Rapper Meek Mill offered a $2,000 bounty for anyone able to track him down.

The incident unfolded June 23. Video shows the suspect being chased from the store, seemingly by the victim, and into the parking lot. She can be heard hurling accusations and curses at the fleeing man before dissolving into tears.

Store employees later told authorities the suspect, identified as Gary Miles, 35, is known to frequent the area. Yet police initially were unable to locate him and called on the community for help.

Meek Mill, a Philadelphia native, reposted the video online and offered a reward for Miles’ location.

Let’s play manhunt with him today in Philly some community service” he wrote on X. “I got 2 bands for his lo???”

Hours later, police announced that Miles voluntarily surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening.

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Ashley Judd

Actor Ashley Judd is adding her voice to calls for President Joe Biden to step aside from the presidential race following his performance in last month's debate, saying she worries he could lose to Republican Donald Trump in November.

On Friday Judd called on Biden to “voluntarily, gracefully step aside” so that his party can support a “talented, robust Democrat” for the presidency. She described Biden during the debate as “incapable of countering Trump, while he, unchecked, gushed a firehose of galling lies.”

Warning she fears Trump “would wield the power of the presidency with unprecedented, incalculable cruelty and unfairness” if voters return him to the White House, Judd said time is of the essence for Democrats to replace Biden with a candidate who can defeat him.

“We do not have another day for distraction or division among ourselves," she said.

Judd did not posit a possible replacement for Biden atop the ticket.

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Alec Baldwin

Following the dismissal of his involuntary manslaughter case on Friday, Alec Baldwin was spotted celebrating with his family, legal team and the documentary film crew that’s been tailing him throughout the trial.

It’s unclear what the crew was filming anything during the festivities, but they were clearly seen huddled with their camera at the El Dorado Hotel in New Mexico, where Baldwin and his entourage were gathered, according to photos obtained by TMZ.

Few details have emerged regarding the crew, but sources told the outlet they’re unrelated to the upcoming TLC reality series“The Baldwins,” which was announced last month.

One camerawoman in particular has appeared to be following Baldwin ever since he arrived in Santa Fe for his criminal trial. She’s reportedly part of two dueling documentaries being made about the tragedy on the set of “Rust.”

On Friday, after the “30 Rock” star celebrated at the hotel bar, he left with with his wife, Hilaria, and other family members to go to a nearby Mexican restaurant called Casa Chimayo.

The night marked the conclusion of a nearly three-year legal battle for the 66-year-old, who broke down in tears in the courtroom when the decision was announced.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case, due to what she felt was misconduct by police and prosecutors to withhold evidence from the defense, regarding the existence of ammunition from the “Rust” set.

From combined wire services

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