‘My whole life’s interconnected’: Neneh Cherry on the relationships that inspire her, leaving home at 15, and the joy of a trashy box set

The celebrated musician answers questions from Observer readers and famous fans including Michael Stipe, Bernardine Evaristo, Questlove and Sadiq Khan

Jungle review – like a puzzle with a piece missing

The Brit award winners keep their audience in happy shuffle mode with a plush set of disco-flecked retro bangers

One to watch: Friedberg

The London-based four-piece led by Austrian singer-songwriter Anna F serve up the coolest dance punk this side of LCD Soundsystem

‘This janitor’s daughter became a state deputy’: Leci Brandão, the Brazilian samba star turned communist lawmaker

Born in poverty, Brandão became a socially conscious samba singer who satirised Rio’s bourgeoisie – then a politician championing gay rights and Black culture. As she turns 80, she recalls a remarkable life

Caribou review – small-scale sweaty return showcases potent pivot to pop

Playing mostly new material from upcoming album Honey, this mainstream club fare is given huge personality by Dan Snaith’s croon and yearning songcraft

Fred Again: Ten Days review – pop house with unfulfilled pretensions

An album of lofty intentions and muttered musings from the dance artist de jour is saved by a gift for a nagging hook and uplifting melody

Leeds indie band English Teacher win Mercury prize

The band take home the £25,000 prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas, beating artists including Charli xcx and the Last Dinner Party

‘We were exhausted – mentally unwell’: Empire of the Sun on the downside of success – and rising again

In the eight years since Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele’s last album, there have been hits, clashes, babies and illness – and a new appreciation for one another

Danielle Moore, lead singer with Crazy P, dies aged 52

Band members say she died in ‘sudden and tragic circumstances’ and pay tribute to ‘a life driven by love, compassion, community and music’

Leeds festival review – Lana Del Rey and Liam Gallagher are sublime after the storm

An eclectic line-up – from Lambrini Girls to Fontaines DC and Fred Again – defied Storm Lilian to deliver a fiery, heartfelt festival

Rally festival review – thrilling blend of cult DJs and indie darlings

Mount Kimbie’s electro-acoustic jams capture the ethos of this celebration of the boundary pushing that included sets from Two Shell, Nilüfer Yanya and bar italia

‘You should be partying when you write party music’: pop hedonists Confidence Man on their super-sweaty new album

They want to hurl cash over their audiences, fire lasers, and make pantomime horses sexy. But, the Australian band say, there’s a dark side to their DayGlo dance-pop

All for you! Janet Jackson, Snõõper, Bob Dylan and more: the best music of autumn 2024

From Chat Pile’s apocalyptic noise to Nala Sinephro’s celestial bliss, plus posthumous releases from MC5 and Sophie, here are the albums and tours not to miss – while in classical, Kahchun Wong takes over at the Hallé

Mura Masa: Curve 1 review – relentlessly above par

The Grammy-winning UK producer’s first album on his new label is a masterclass in hardcore dancefloor and bittersweet feeling

Critic’s pick: X Club, the hard and fast DJ duo raving around the world

Since breaking out in the early pandemic, the Brisbane pair have captured dancers globally craving raucous, strobing techno. They’ll leave you breathless