Live From Mars

Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Bon Iver—oh my. This week on Live From Mars , Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars) dives into the biggest moments from Coachella 2025 and the best of New Music Friday. From Lana’s orchestral country pivot to Gaga’s career-defining headlining set, it’s a full-on pop culture breakdown you don’t want to miss. In this episode: • Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, come on” — a...

This week’s  Live From Mars  is packed! Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars on TikTok and Instagram ) dives into the latest New Music Friday releases, breaks down the perfect release timing for a potential  Song of the Summer,  and answers your AMA questions in celebration of hitting 100,000 followers on TikTok!    In this episode: Miley Cyrus returns with...

We did it — 100,000 followers on TikTok . A huge milestone, a huge thank you, and a huge episode to match. This week on Live From Mars , Alex reflects on the journey from faceless vinyl recs to full-blown music commentary, the wildness of hitting six figures in followers, and what’s coming next for the show (spoiler: it’s an AMA — so send those questions in!). Then we dive into a chart update pack...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m breaking down the biggest stories in pop this week — from Kendrick Lamar dominating the charts to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem debuting at No. 1. But the spotlight is on Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s new album I Said I Love You First , and we’ve got a lot to unpack. We explore: • Billboard Chart Highlights – Why Kendrick is the name all over the Hot 100 and how Gaga...

How much do artists really make from streaming? Spotify just paid out $10 billion in 2024, but where does that money go—and is streaming actually sustainable for artists? In this episode of Live From Mars , Alex (@vinylbymars) sits down with Sam Duboff, Spotify for Artists’ Global Head of Marketing & Policy, to break down the newly released 2024 Loud&Clear report and what it means for arti...

Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Album Review & Track-by-Track Breakdown Lady Gaga’s new album Mayhem is here, and we’re breaking it all down! In this episode of Live From Mars , I’m joined by Seth Betzler for a deep dive into Lady Gaga’s 2025 return to pop . We dive into the road to this moment—how Chromatica left its mark, Gaga’s jazz era with Tony Bennett, the fallout from Joker 2 , and the unexpected sm...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by my dear friend Amanda (@amandasplaylist) to break down Tate McRae’s new album So Close to What . After my initial reaction stirred up some strong opinions, we’re diving deep into what makes this album work, where it falls short, and how Tate’s evolution as an artist impacts her place in pop music today. We explore: • Tate McRae’s Career Evolution –...

In this episode of Live from Mars , Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Seth Betzler (@dramakingbooks, @dramakingvinyl) to break down the best releases from this week's New Music Friday ! With Valentine's Day as the backdrop, we discuss new music filled with love, humor, and surprises. This week, we're diving into Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)’ , analyzing the standout tracks like ‘15...

In this episode of Live from Mars , Alex (@vinylbymars) is joined by Will (@willtalksmusic) to dive into all things Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. They break down Kendrick’s career leading up to this moment, analyze the standout moments from the performance—including his powerful collaboration with SZA—and, most importantly, discuss the explosive impact of Not Like Us being perfor...

This week, Alex is joined once again by his good friend and fellow #MusicTok creator Amanda Leopizzi to break down everything that went down at the 2025 Grammy Awards. From historic wins to shocking snubs, this episode covers all the biggest moments of music’s biggest night. In this episode: • Biggest wins & surprises – Beyoncé finally wins Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar sweeps Record &...

Welcome to Episode 10 of Live From Mars ! This week, Alex is joined by his good friend and fellow #MusicTok creator Amanda Leopizzi to kick off the most exciting week in music – Grammy week! In this episode: A roundup of this week’s New Music Friday releases, including Tate McRae’s viral hit "Sports car" and Teddy Swims’ emotional new album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Pt. 2 . Predictions fo...

Most Anticipated New Music of 2025 (with Seth Betzler) In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by my dear friend Seth Betzler (@DramaKingVinyl, @DramaKingBooks) to kick off 2025 by discussing our most anticipated albums of the year! After a packed 2024, the music industry is set to deliver another round of incredible releases, and we’re diving into everything from confirmed drops to rumors...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by Dan Cash (@DanCashio), a social media star known for his hilarious and insightful takes on pop culture, to dive into Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine . As the fifth and final installment of my Five Favorite Albums of 2024 series, we’re closing out on a deeply personal, meticulously crafted record that deserves all the praise. From heartbreak to hea...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by Sam Murphy (@PopSamCam), music critic and pop culture commentator, to dive deep into my pick for the best album of 2024 —Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft . Billie’s latest album delivers emotional depth, sonic surprises, and career-defining moments, from haunting ballads to bold electronic experiments. Sam and I break down the tracks, themes, a...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by Adam Barrera (@AdamTheFlop), one of the sharpest voices in pop culture commentary, to break down Charli XCX’s groundbreaking 2024 album Brat —a project that dominated both music and pop culture this year. Bold, abrasive, and wildly authentic, Brat redefined the modern album era. Adam and I dive into the music, the marketing, and the cultural impact...

🎶 Top 5 Albums of 2024: Taylor Swift’s “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT" (with Seth Betzler) 🎶 In this episode of Live from Mars , I’m joined by Seth (@DramaKingVinyl, @DramaKingBooks), one of the biggest Taylor Swift fans I know, to break down her monumental 2024 release, The Tortured Poets Department as one of my five favorite albums of 2024. With 31 tracks, groundbreaking achievements, and raw,...

Join me, Mars (@vinylbymars), and my very first guest, Nick Palmai, as we dive into one of my top five albums of 2024—Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet . From record-breaking chart success to lyrical wit and iconic performances, we discuss why this album is a masterclass in pop artistry. Nick shares his unforgettable encounter with Sabrina at the Short n’ Sweet tour and insights into his journey...

In this episode of Live from Mars , I dive into your hottest takes on Taylor Swift, straight from the DMs and Instagram Q&A! From the chaotic genius of Red (Taylor's Version) to the Grammy-winning masterpiece Folklore , we're unpacking every opinion with passion, humor, and a pinch of controversy. Mars kicks things off with a personal recap: two back-to-back concerts at Madison Square Garden—B...

In the very first episode of Live from Mars , I (Alex, aka Mars) take you on a personal journey through the moments that ignited my lifelong passion for music. From early memories of childhood road trips fueled by Britney Spears to the Top 40 days of Z100 radio and the rise of social media, this episode is all about how music became more than just a hobby—it became a lifestyle. I recount my evolut...

Dive into Live from Mars with host Alex as we dissect the biggest music event of the year: the Grammy nominations! In this episode, Alex, known on social media as @vinylbymars, brings a fan’s excitement and a critic's eye to each nomination, discussing which artists and albums hit the mark and which may have missed. From Record of the Year to Album of the Year and beyond, Alex breaks down each cat...