Cruz Beckham... future rock star?

02:36 |

Friday 27 March 2026

The hunt for the next big thing in rock is on. Cruz Beckham threw his hat into the ring with three nights at the Courtyard Theatre in London, where you could buy hoodies with his band's faces on for £55 or grab a free fake gig ticket (attendees at his concert in "Cardiff, England" might have passed on those).

Among the crowd were fashionable Gen Zs, a group of older women (Beckham fans? Aunts?) and David and Victoria themselves, along with son Romeo and Cruz's girlfriend. "It's good to be back!" Cruz exclaimed, perhaps practising for the day he plays a triumphant homecoming after a 50-date stadium tour around the world. I wasn't actually sure where he was back from… Cardiff, England, perhaps? Anyway, that was his catchphrase for the night, repeated after his single "Optics" (you know the one, it goes, "Optics, optics (nah nah nah nah optics), optics, optics (nah nah nah nah optics), optics, optics (nah nah nah nah optics), optics, optics." THAT one, yes.

That very same day I was lucky enough to get a first listen to new music from Paul McCartney, who just announced his first album in six years, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, and released the poignant single "Days We Left Behind". Both were produced with the brilliant Andrew Watt (Elton John, The Rolling Stones), and find Macca in a distinctly reflective mood. I love that he and Watt did nothing to disguise the age and experience in his voice, as that's a major part of the song's charm, and plays a big role in enhancing the nostalgia of the lyrics.

Check out McCartney's new single along with the other music I've been enjoying this week (RAYE, Robyn and Courtney Barnett's albums are major highlights) on our Apple Music playlist.

Have a great weekend!Roisin x

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ON THE RECORD

I wasn't always happy with my dad. He wasn't always happy with me

Elbow's Guy Garvey to The Independent, March 2026

Courtney Love is a maniac and a hero – and yes, you can be both

Hole's Melissa Auf der Maur to The Independent, March 2026

It's good to be back!

Cruz Beckham, March 2026

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Tracks of the week

Subscribe to the official Now Hear This playlist on Apple Music and stay up to date with all the best new releases

1. "One Thing at a Time" - Courtney Barnett

2. "idk idk" - Jim Legxacy

3. "Sucker for Love" - Robyn

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Q&A

Spotlight on... Lola Blue

Hello! Tell me about yourself

Hi! I'm Lola Blue and I make music. I grew up in a small town called Carlisle, Massachusetts, and I'm the biggest horse girl at heart. Growing up in a quiet town meant I had a lot of time and space to be creative, which is honestly where my love for music and songwriting started. My music comes from my personal experiences as a young woman in her 20s figuring out relationships, dealing with loss, and navigating all the confusing and sweet parts of girlhood and growing up. Writing songs has always been my way of processing life and turning those moments into something meaningful.

What are the inspirations and influences behind your music?

I'm really inspired by the music I grew up listening to. Bands like Arcade Fire and Phoenix shaped a lot of my sonic taste and the kind of atmosphere I love in songs. Beyond that, most of my inspiration comes from my own life. I write from a very personal place about what it feels like to be a young woman learning how to move through the world, relationships, and all the changes that come with this stage of life.

What do you have lined up for 2026?

I'm in such a great creative space right now, have been making a lot of music, and will be putting out a debut project this year. I'm very excited to start playing some of my first live shows, which feels like a big step for me. It's exciting to see my music world starting to take shape and to finally share it in every way I imagined.