Vera Blue has taken on one of alternative rock’s most enduring songs, covering Radiohead‘s “Creep” for triple j’s Like A Version.

The Australian singer-songwriter stripped the 1992 track back to three elements — electric guitar, piano and vocals — building from the lower end of her range into a soaring falsetto by the chorus. Late in the performance she deployed The Pipe, a mouth-controlled dynamic effects processor and synthesizer made by SOMA Laboratory, adding an eerie texture to the arrangement.

Blue said she was drawn to the song’s emotional core, describing “Creep” as an “epic rock song” whose lyrics are also “heartbreaking,” and aiming for a “very haunting version” that still nods to Thom Yorke’s original.

Blue also performed “Maze,” a track from her forthcoming album Modern Rituals, during her studio session. The album is due Friday, Aug. 21 via Island Records/Universal Music Australia, and Blue will support it with a national tour opening the same night at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre and running through Perth’s The Rechabite on Aug. 28.

Born Celia Pavey, Vera Blue first emerged as a folk artist and finalist on The Voice Australia before reinventing herself under the Vera Blue name in 2016. Her 2017 album Perennial reached No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart, powered by the double-platinum single “Regular Touch.” Her highest-profile chart success came via her collaboration with fellow Australian Flume on “Rushing Back,” which reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Modern Rituals will be her third studio album as Vera Blue, following 2022’s Mercurial.

Vera Blue — Modern Rituals Australian Tour 2026

Aug. 21 — Brisbane — Princess Theatre

Aug. 22 — Sydney — City Recital Hall

Aug. 23 — Canberra — UC Refectory

Aug. 26 — Melbourne — Northcote Theatre

Aug. 27 — Adelaide — The Gov

Aug. 28 — Perth — The Rechabite

Musical icon Angélique Kidjo is set to become the first African musician, and the first Black African performer, to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Kidjo joins Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, in representing Africa on the Walk of Fame. The Oscar-winning actress received her star in 2005. Kidjo will receive the 2,854th star.

Kidjo’s star ceremony is set for Aug. 18 at 11:30 a.m. PT at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard. Joining Kidjo for the ceremony will be Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe and Grammy- and Primetime Emmy-nominated songwriter/producer Harvey Mason jr., better known these days as CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. The ceremony will be emceed by Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson and will be streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com

Kidjo, 64, was born in the West African country of Benin, but left for Paris in 1983. She has amassed five Grammy Awards. She won best contemporary world music album in 2008 and won best global music album four times between 2015 and 2022. She also received a Polar Music Prize in 2023.

Kidjo has released 19 albums since 1981. She has acquired fans across the world with her ability to fuse West African styles with funk, jazz and R&B. Her long list of collaborators includes such diverse artists as Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, Bono and Yo-Yo Ma.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame for the city of Los Angeles. Millions have visited the cultural landmark since 1960.