Tag: Japanese Breakfast

‘Materialists’ Director Celine Song Reveals the Inspirations Behind the Film’s Soundtrack

June 13, 2025

Photo credit: Atsushi Nishijima

If you’re a true lover of rom-coms, chances are you’ve had this weekend circled on your calendar. That’s because Materialists, the much-anticipated film starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, finally hits theaters. 

Written and directed by Celine Song, who previously earned an Oscar nomination for her breakout debut Past Lives, the A24-produced film tells the story of Lucy (Dakota Johnson), an actor-turned-romantic matchmaker who avoids true love in her own life. But her world gets turned upside down when she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal) at one of her client’s weddings while simultaneously reconnecting with her old flame, John (Chris Evans).

Like many of the best rom-coms, Materialists features a standout soundtrack that helps the biggest scenes hit the right notes. Whether it’s original music from Japanese Breakfast, or the eclectic range of classic hits that made the final cut, you can find all of the movie’s songs in the Materialists Official Playlist. 

For the Record also spoke with Celine to get the inside scoop on her creative inspirations, how the soundtrack came together, and how those songs help set the tone for the film’s most memorable moments.

Does music play an important role in your creative process? 

Music is in the DNA of the film from the script phase. I write with music on, and usually I play one song on repeat—for Materialists, the song on repeat was “Andalucia” by John Cale. I also scripted most of the songs in Materialists, and my music supervisor, Meg Currier, works closely with me on everything.

How did you use music in Materialists to elevate the storytelling and deepen the audience’s connection to the characters and narrative?

Sound is the most powerful storytelling tool, arguably even more than image—my director of photography, Shabier Kirchner, believes this, too. I created a playlist that I shared with all my department heads early in preproduction. Eventually, for my art department helmed by my production designer, Tony Gasparro, I created playlists for each of the characters that I then shared with all departments. I know they served as inspiration for creating the backstory and fuller life for the characters in every corner of the film.

What was it like to collaborate with Japanese Breakfast?

Heavenly. She loved and understood the film so immediately and deeply. The song “My Baby (Got Nothing At All)” is so beautiful, and it’s the perfect match to the movie.

Were there any themes in Materialists that the music helped bring to life?

There’s such a rich history of songs about loving someone in spite of practical or material challenges, so I was drawn to those songs for the film.

What are some of your favorite movie soundtracks of all time? 

Velvet Goldmine and I’m Not There. Todd Haynes understands music better than any filmmaker.

Discover all of the songs that helped shape the movie with the Materialists Official Playlist:

Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month With Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks That Illuminate a Wealth of Cultural Diversity

May 16, 2025

Globally, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists, creators, and authors continue to make their presence felt with exciting new musical styles and genres, sharp cultural commentaries, and narratives that offer a window into the diverse experiences that shape their perspectives.

Throughout May, Spotify is celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by spotlighting API voices around the world. Whether you’re on your desktop or mobile, our Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month hub is your go-to spot for all the great stuff we’ve got lined up, including brand-new Spotify Singles and refreshed playlists, as well as curated podcasts and audiobooks.

You know our playlists GLOW, Fresh Finds, Frequency, and EQUAL? They’re joining the celebration, too. Keep an eye out because some fantastic API artists will be sprinkled throughout these playlists and featured on playlist cover art all month long. And speaking of playlists, we’re highlighting some dedicated ones like Jasmine, K-Pop ON!, Gacha Pop, Desi Hits, and KALYE that are packed with the hottest sounds from API artists right now.

We’re also teaming up with indie star Japanese Breakfast—one of the earliest faces of our Jasmine playlist—for a takeover featuring the emerging API artists she’s most excited about right now. And if you’re in New York and LA, look for billboards spotlighting rising artists who have been featured on the playlist, including Luna Li, Snow Wife, Chance Emerson, Griff, grentperez, and Debbii Dawson.

Get Ready for the 2022 GRAMMYs With Spotify Singles From the Best New Artist Nominees

April 1, 2022

A gilded gramophone is a coveted item among many musicians, whether they’re an up-and-coming artist or a legendary rock star. And with the 64th annual GRAMMY Awards show taking place Sunday, April 3rd, nominees across 86 categories will be anxiously waiting to hear if that gramophone is meant for them.

As is tradition, Spotify is celebrating the rising talent nominated for the Best New Artist award—and this year, we’re doing it with a special edition of our Spotify Singles program. We collaborated with six of the 10 nominees for Best New Artist to bring exclusive new music to the platform for fans to enjoy. Each singer took to the studio to record two new tracks: a reimagined version of one of their own hits and a cover of a song that serves as a tribute to a past Best New Artist nominee. Gear up for the awards show by giving these tracks a listen.

For his contribution to this new batch of Spotify Singles, singer-songwriter and producer FINNEAS created the first-ever recordings from Spotify’s new Los Angeles–based studio. “I was honored to finally be able to get into the brand-new and beautiful Spotify Studios to record these songs in these special arrangements,” said the LA native. In the reimagined version of his track “Medieval,” FINNEAS offers up an intimate, piano-driven ballad that lets his strong vocals remain front and center. He also used this opportunity to cover 2012 Best New Artist winner Bon Iver’s “Flume.”

 

For her Spotify Singles session, British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks recorded a reimagined version of her song “Softly,” giving it a maximalist flair with orchestral additions. She also covered 2021 Best New Artist nominee KAYTRANADA’s “You’re The One,” allowing her soulful, breathy vocals to flip the original dance track into an R&B jam. “Syd’s voice in ‘You’re The One’ always had this effortless beauty to it in my eyes, and I wanted to cover it to expose the romance and yearning behind the lyrics,” explained Arlo. “It was also an honor to be able to sing my new song ‘Softly’ too. This was a chance to highlight the beginning of a new and beautiful chapter in my career and celebrate being nominated for Best New Artist.”

 

Country phenom Jimmie Allen shares a new version of his debut single that propelled him to Nashville stardom: “Best Shot.” The singer also gives listeners a twangy, acoustic cover of “Un-break My Heart” from 1994 Best New Artist nominee Toni Braxton. “It’s super cool when you’re recognized for doing something you love,” shared Jimmie. “As for ‘Un-break My Heart’—I love the song; it’s one of my favorite songs ever. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to sing it, and this is my chance—hopefully Toni approves.” 

Fans of Jimmie can learn more about the Delaware native on our podcast Spotify: Mic Check. In the episode, Jimmie opens up about overcoming barriers, the influence of his family, and the evolution of country music.

 

Acclaimed artist Japanese Breakfast also recorded new songs for Spotify Singles. The Best New Artist nominee reimagined its hit “Be Sweet,” funking it up with a disco beat and call-and-response vocals. The group also covered Bon Iver’s track “Skinny Love,” giving it a folk-rock spin with orchestral additions. “We decided to record Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’ because it felt like a very surprising cover for Japanese Breakfast. It’s so moving and sparse,” said Michelle Zauner, lead singer for the band. “We felt we could add some interesting instrumentation to the track and celebrate our fellow labelmate.”

 

British chart-topper Glass Animals rerecorded its newest single, “I Don’t Want to Talk (I Just Want to Dance),” for Spotify Singles by incorporating a tinge of psychedelia into this new rendition. They also covered Lorde’s “Solar Power,” giving the mellow original a big, sunny blast of hand-clap-filled pop. “I chose ‘Solar Power’ because in a time when we were all stuck indoors a bit, this song made me feel like I was on a beach,” explained band frontman Dave Bayley. “We all needed a bit of that! It’s a stunning song, and then I just had a version of it in my head where it was faster with a gospel choir behind it . . . so . . . we made it!”

 

The final Best New Artist nominee releasing exclusive new tracks through Spotify Singles is Arooj Aftab. The Pakistani singer, composer, and producer reimagined her song “Baghon Main” with a stripped-down, twinkling version that highlights her hauntingly powerful vocals. She also covered 2020 Best New Artist nominee ROSALÍA’s “DI MI NOMBRE,” transforming the Spanish superstar’s single into a Qawwali-inspired version all its own. “I’ve always felt a very strong kinship to flamenco music, and recently having visited the south of Spain, even more undeniably so. It’s always been in my periphery to make something with that energy,” shared Arooj. “The opportunity to cover a previous Best New Artist nominee pointed me directly to ROSALÍA. And while it was a very ambitious choice, I had a great time versioning [‘DI MI NOMBRE’]!”

Arooj’s nomination marks the first time a Pakistani woman has been nominated for a GRAMMY award. The artist is also no stranger to Spotify: She was named the ambassador of Spotify’s EQUAL program in Pakistan for the month of March, which was amplified with a corresponding billboard in Times Square. To hear more from Arooj, check out her recent interview on Spotify: Mic Check. In the podcast episode, she opens up about her historic GRAMMY nomination and Pakistani culture.

 

Hear these Spotify Singles and more from this year’s Best New Artist nominees below. 

Spotify and Gold House Name Anik Khan, Ruby Ibarra, and Thuy as Gold House Futures Music Guild Creators—And Share Why They’re So Excited for the Partnership

March 21, 2022

Asian and Pacific Islander creators have varied and dynamic stories to share—but issues such as economic inequity, media misrepresentation, and societal stereotypes often serve as barriers that keep their voices from being amplified. These roadblocks can—and must—be addressed in order for more API creators to share their music with the world.

To elevate the next generation of changemakers, Gold House, the premier nonprofit collective of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) leaders, has launched Gold House Futures. This initiative will advance the success of emerging API creatives, entrepreneurs, and social impact leaders through investments with prominent partners, skill building for successful leadership, and world-class mentoring. And on the music side, Gold House is collaborating with Spotify to bolster three API music artists and give them the opportunity to take their music and their careers to the next level. 

After an open call for submissions, a selection committee of industry API titans (including Spotify representatives) whittled the entries down to a shortlist that reflected diversity both in ethnic backgrounds and genres. Ultimately, three names rose to the top: Bengladeshi American hip-hop artist Anik Khan, Filipino American rapper Ruby Ibarra, and Vietnamese American R&B artist Thuy.

Electric Lady Studios’ Lee Foster Introduces a New Live EP Series in Partnership With Spotify

July 13, 2021

The legendary Jimi Hendrix founded NYC’s Electric Lady Studios in 1970 as an alternative to the dull, staid recording spaces that came before it. “He felt he needed a more playful environment to encourage creativity—so he built it,” the studio’s General Manager and Partner, Lee Foster, told For the Record. 

Playfulness and creativity are also two cornerstones of Spotify, so our initial partnership between the audio streaming service and Electric Lady Studios—Spotify Singles—was a perfect match. Now, we’re joining forces with the studio once again to announce Live at Electric Lady, a series of EPs featuring high-quality live audio recordings from the studio, distributed exclusively on Spotify.  

The upcoming slate of live EPs will include Jon Batiste, Patti Smith, Japanese Breakfast, Dominic Fike, Faye Webster, Bleachers, Remi Wolf, and Natalie Bergman, with surprise artists to come.